(or There and Back Again)
Author: J.R.R. Tolkien
Number of pages: 389
Type of story
Novel, Fantasy, epic, children’s story
The book, published in 1937, was originally a children’s book. A fairy tale about good and evil
with figures like dwarves, wizards, trolls, elves and dragons. But the book is now also being
read by other generations. In this context it’s more likely to say that The Hobbit is a fantasy
novel. The writer created a fictional world with fairy characters in a made-up setting.
It also contains features of an epic novel. An epic novel is a story about a classic hero
(adventurous, brave, loyal, with strength) on a dangerous mission who must overcome
various challenges. Although the main character, Bilbo Baggins, is more an anti-hero (scared,
cautious, likes to stay at home) in the beginning of the story, at the end, after many changes,
Bilbo becomes this epic hero.
Summary:
One day a Hobbit called Bilbo Baggins is visited by the wizard Gandalf. He persuades him to
go on a journey with thirteen dwarves to recover a treasure from Smaug the Dragon. Bilbo
joins the dwarves and their leader Thorin using a map they got from Gandalf. They all set off
using the map and go through the Misty Mountains on their way to their destination, which
is the Lonely mountain.
On their journey, Bilbo and the dwarves encounter lots of bumps and creepy creatures. First
Gandalf saves them from trolls. Then they are caught by Goblins and Bilbo gets separated
from the group. Lost in the goblin tunnels, he finds a mysterious ring that makes him
invisible. Bilbo encounters a Gollum who gives him a challenge. Eventually Bilbo manipulates
the Gollum to direct him out of the tunnels and rejoins the dwarves.
On their way through they get attacked by gigantic spiders and some elves but the ring gets
them out of trouble.
After a long journey, they reach the mountain where Smaug lives. Smaug is chased away and
killed by Bard, an inhabitant of Laketown. Because everyone wants the treasure (elves,
dwarves and people of the town) it leads to war. But there is another enemy: Wargs and
Goblins. The three groups unite and win the war against this enemy. In this war Thorin dies
and his cousin becomes the leader of the mountain. The Dwarves stay there and Bilbo and
Gandalf go back home, with a small part of the treasure.