Student Question
In J. R. R. Tolkien's The Hobbit, what distinguishes Gandalf from Bilbo?
Quick answer:
Gandalf and Bilbo are distinguished by their roles and characteristics in Tolkien's Middle-earth. Gandalf is a powerful wizard, akin to Merlin, known as Gandalf the Grey, and plays a significant role in manipulating world affairs. In contrast, Bilbo is a hobbit, or halfling, chosen by Gandalf to join Thorin Oakenshield's quest as a "burglar." Bilbo is an unassuming character who becomes a hero through his integrity and spirit.
Gandalf and Bilbo are different in many ways.
Gandalf is a wizard. There are very few wizards in Tolkien's Middle Earth (the
setting of his stories) and Gandalf is one of two that have a significant
effect there; the other is Sauruman the white wizard; he is the leader of the
wizards in Middle Earth. Gandalf is known as Gandalf the grey, friend of elves
and dwarves. Tolkien created Gandalf in the tradition of the wizard Merlin from
Sir Thomas Malory's Le Morte D'Arthur; he is a subtle but powerful
manipulator of world affairs.
Bilbo is a hobbit or a halfling. Bilbo was selected by Gandalf to be the “burglar” for Thorin Oakenshield and his party of dwarves that were making the quest to reclaim Lonely Mountain from the dragon, Smaug who took it from Thorin and his ancestors. Bilbo is an unassuming character that becomes the hero of the story through his honest integrity and spirit.
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