Student Question
How do characters from The Hobbit demonstrate creativity, empathy, curiosity, initiative, and multidisciplinary thinking?
Quick answer:
In The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien, the characteristics of creativity, empathy, curiosity, and initiative are demonstrated by Bilbo Baggins, the titular character. Gandalf the wizard most ably demonstrates multidisciplinary thinking.
In the fantasy novel The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien, the characteristics of creativity, empathy, curiosity, and initiative are demonstrated by the main character Bilbo Baggins. Multidisciplinary thinking is most effectively demonstrated by the wizard Gandalf.
Bilbo demonstrates his creativity several times throughout the book, especially when he and his companions need to escape from dangerous situations. For example, in chapter 5, "Riddles in the Dark," he is lost in a dark subterranean chamber with the creature Gollum, who wants to eat him. He then comes up with riddles to outwit Gollum. Cleverly and creatively, he follows Gollum out of the cave, realizing that he would not have been able to find the exit on his own. Bilbo also shows creativity in chapter 9, "Barrels out of Bonds," when he helps the dwarves escape out of the dungeons of the elves by enclosing them in barrels that are...
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to be sent downriver.
Great empathy is demonstrated by Bilbo when he is escaping from the goblin's caves. The ring has made him invisible and he has an opportunity to kill Gollum, but he does not take it. Tolkien explains Bilbo's reasoning:
Gollum had not actually threatened to kill him, or tried to yet. And he was miserable, alone, lost. A sudden understanding, a pity mixed with horror, welled up in Bilbo's heart: a glimpse of endless unmarked days without light or hope of betterment, hard stone, cold fish, sneaking and whispering.
Bilbo displays great curiosity at the beginning of the book even before he has decided to go with the dwarves on their adventure. He becomes fascinated by their stories and wants to see the lands that they tell about:
Then something Tookish woke up inside him, and he wished to go and see the great mountains, and hear the pine-trees and the waterfalls, and explore the caves, and wear a sword instead of a walking-stick.
This curiosity to see new lands is why he rushes out his door and follows the dwarves on their journey.
Bilbo demonstrates initiative in chapter 16, "A Thief in the Night." He has found the Arkenstone of Thrain, the Heart of the Mountain. Instead of giving it to Thorin, he sneaks out of the Lonely Mountain and goes to Bard's camp. There, he offers it to Bard with the hope that Bard will be able to use it in negotiations to prevent a disastrous war.
The characteristic of multidisciplinary thinking is best demonstrated by Gandalf. This entire quest has been his idea. He enables the entire journey through his multidisciplinary knowledge of the language and legends of the hobbits, the elves, and the dwarves, as well as the additional training that he has as a learned wizard.