the hobbit book review summary

A Summary and Analysis of J. R. R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit

By Dr Oliver Tearle (Loughborough University)

The Hobbit is one of the biggest-selling books of all time. An estimated 100 million people have read Tolkien’s classic children’s novel since it was first published in 1937. The story of its origins, and Tolkien’s supposed invention of the word ‘hobbit’ (of which more below), are well-known. But how should we ‘read’ The Hobbit ? What does the story mean?

Before we offer a textual analysis of Tolkien’s novel, it might be worth briefly summarising the plot.

The Hobbit : plot summary

Bilbo Baggins is a hobbit (a species of small creature which Tolkien invented) who lives in Bag End, in the rural loveliness of The Shire. The wizard Gandalf turns up one day, accompanied by thirteen dwarves, who are on a mission to reclaim their gold, as well as their kingdom, from beneath the Lonely Mountain. This land, which was once theirs, has been taken over by a fearsome dragon named Smaug.

Bilbo has been approached because they need a burglar: someone to break into Smaug’s cave so they can go in and defeat the dragon and recover their gold. Bilbo reluctantly agrees to accompany them. However, the leader of the dwarves, Thorin Oakenshield, is even more reluctantly than Bilbo to have the hobbit come along with them, because Bilbo is not a fighter as the dwarves are. However, the others persuade him, and they all set off together.

They travel to Rivendell, the home of the Elves, where Elrond gives them help with their map. But the gang are then caught by goblins while attempting to cross the Misty Mountains, and Gandalf has to rescue them. Bilbo, however, gets lost deep in the underground tunnels, and encounters Gollum, a mysterious creature whose magic ring Bilbo accidentally acquires.

The ring confers invisibility upon whoever wears it, and – to escape Gollum, having played a game of riddles with him – Bilbo uses the ring and finds his way out of the tunnels. He rejoins the dwarves and they once again have to flee the pursuing goblins. They are assisted by eagles and find their way safely to the house of Beorn, who can transform into a fearsome bear.

In the enchanted forest of Mirkwood, Bilbo uses his sword, Sting, to fight off giant spiders which attack them and ensnare the dwarves in webs. Nearing their destination, the gang are helped by the inhabitants of nearby Laketown, who want Smaug defeated as much as they do. Entering the mountain via a secret door, Bilbo finds Smaug’s lair and identifies a weakness in the dragon’s armour.

When Smaug notices him, he flies into a rage, realising that Laketown has helped Bilbo to find his cave; the dragon flies off to burn Laketown to the ground. Thanks to a thrush overhearing Bilbo’s account of Smaug’s weakness, and then flying to the town to tell them, a man named Bard is able to find Smaug’s weak spot and shoot and kill the dragon with an arrow, halting the destruction.

The dwarves are now able to regain their mountain, and Bilbo finds the Arkenstone, a stone precious to Thorin’s family. But he hides it rather than handing it over to Thorin. When the men of Laketown demand a cut of Smaug’s treasure to help repair their town, Thorin refuses, drawing on the surrounding armies of dwarves to defend his position.

Bilbo attempts to intercede, using the Arkenstone to bribe the Laketowners, but when Thorin finds out he sends Bilbo away, angered at having been betrayed by the hobbit.

With the help of the eagles and Beorn, the dwarves win the Battle of Five Armies. However, in the battle Thorin is mortally wounded. Before he dies, he forgives Bilbo. Bilbo returns home to his hobbit-hole, with a small cut of the treasure.

The Hobbit : analysis

We should, according to Tolkien, resist the urge to analyse The Hobbit as an allegory of any kind. Tolkien disliked allegory, and for this reason he wasn’t keen on his friend C. S. Lewis’s Narnia books (although Lewis denied that these were allegory, too).

In his preface to the second edition of the vast sequel to The Hobbit , The Lord of the Rings , Tolkien wrote that many people confuse ‘applicability’ with ‘allegory’, and this distinction is worth pondering. ‘Applicability’, to use Tolkien’s phrase, gives the reader freedom in how they interpret and analyse the story, whereas ‘allegory’ involves a very top-down ‘you should read X here as representing Y’ instruction from the author.

So if we read one of the most famous allegories in twentieth-century literature, George Orwell’s Animal Farm (which appeared just eight years after The Hobbit : we have analysed Orwell’s book here ), as simply a tale about animals and their relationships with their human masters, we are missing something vital from the story.

With The Hobbit , we may detect possible meanings beneath the leafy Shire, the dragon guarding his gold, the novel’s quest motif, and many other details, but Tolkien refuses to prescribe one meaning that we’re meant to follow.

So it was with the great Anglo-Saxon and Middle-English epics which he admired and wrote about as part of his day job as Professor of Anglo-Saxon at the University of Oxford. Grendel and the dragon in Beowulf may mean any number of things: their meaning is in the eye, and mind’s eye, of the reader or listener.

Of course, it helps with old epic poems like Beowulf and Sir Gawain and the Green Knight that the identity of the author remains unknown to us, so even if they were intended as allegory, we have lost the ‘key’ that supposedly unlocks them.

But even though we know The Hobbit was written by someone who had first-hand experience of war (like many men of his generation, Tolkien had fought in the First World War) as the inevitability of another war was growing even more urgent, we should refuse to draw any clear line between real-world events and the work of imaginative fantasy which Tolkien wrote.

So, if not as allegory, how should we interpret this quest tale for a modern readership, which is clearly indebted to Germanic and Norse myths of the Middle and ‘Dark’ Ages? On a structural level we can be more confident. In his vast and brilliant study of plot structures, The Seven Basic Plots: Why We Tell Stories , Christopher Booker gives us two pointers which we might apply to The Hobbit : Tolkien’s tale is an example of both the ‘quest’ story and the ‘voyage and return’ narrative.

Indeed, Tolkien’s subtitle for The Hobbit , There and Back Again , even spells this out for us. Bilbo is the reluctant hero who must leave home – as in countless fairy tales – and go out on an adventure which will make him a wiser (and certainly richer) person.

In this connection, it’s worth stopping to analyse both the similarities between The Hobbit and many earlier folk tales and myths and the crucial ways in which Tolkien departs from these tropes and conventions. Vladimir Propp, in his influential work on the ‘ morphology of the folk tale ’, identified a number of plot details and character types which we find in various European fairy stories: a hero has to leave home, a hero is challenged to prove his heroic qualities, a hero is tricked by the villain, and so on; ending, of course, with the hero returning home and order being restored to the world.

Identifying many of Propp’s features in Tolkien’s novel helps to explain (or partly explain at least) why The Hobbit has become such a favourite novel among both young and old readers alike. There is something primal and mythic about its plot elements, as well as its local detail (dragons, treasure, giant eight-legged foes, shape-shifting bears, and the rest of it). Tolkien taps into the need for fireside tales told by travelling mythmongers and local bards which seems hard-wired into our brains.

With The Lord of the Rings and The Silmarillion it’s clear that Tolkien set out to create a full-blown mythology for England, drawing on its Germanic and Norse heritage, complete with fully developed languages like Elvish (Tolkien’s speciality was philology, or the study of languages). But with The Hobbit he was doing something less ambitious but no less mythic: creating a sort of modern-day fairy story.

And it is those elements of The Hobbit which depart from the traditional folk tale that make the novel something recognisably modern. The hero is not some wet-behind-the-ears youngster who needs to go out and find his way in the world: he is a middle-aged and perfectly settled creature of habit who has his life all sorted and only agrees to leave his comfortable hobbit-hole with the greatest reluctance.

He is not tricked by the villain but turns out to be the arch-trickster himself, outwitting Gollum and winning, for his efforts, the fated magic ring (another well-worn idea even when Tolkien used it: see the Ring of Gyges ) that would become the centrepiece of The Lord of the Rings .

And, of course, Bilbo is knocked unconscious soon after the climactic Battle of the Five Armies begins. Here, perhaps, we might be permitted a smidgen of biographical analysis: Tolkien, having fought in and survived a mass industrial war which afforded little opportunity for old-fashioned heroism, seems to be commenting on the unheroic nature of war and adventure. You’re more likely to be the fellow zonked out on the ground during the battle than you are the warrior wielding the sword and winning the day.

Indeed, even the story’s other main hero, Thorin, doesn’t survive the battle. The Hobbit offers a very cautious and critical account of war, with the costs often outweighing any perceived benefits.

However, this is not to say that Bilbo fails as a ‘hero’: merely that Tolkien is at pains to highlight a quieter, more diplomatic kind of hero whose work goes on behind the scenes (Bilbo’s role as burglar scouting out Smaug’s lair). He tries to prevent the final battle by bargaining with the Laketown residents and Wood-Elves. Thorin is enraged by this, but he ends up paying an even higher price than his family’s precious Arkenstone, giving his own life in the course of the battle.

Contrary to popular belief, the word ‘hobbit’ did exist before The Hobbit . The famous story is that Tolkien, while marking some of his students’ exam papers in Oxford one day, came to a blank sheet which had not a single word written on it. Out of nowhere – or so it seemed – he had a flash of inspiration, and hastily scribbled down the sentence, ‘In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit.’

For all that Tolkien’s origin-story offers a delightful ‘Eureka’ moment for the novel’s (and word’s) conception, it should be taken with a pinch of salt. And ultimately, the strength of Tolkien’s novel lies not in its originality but in its superlative assembling of existing tropes and ideas into a story that offers a quiet commentary on the meaning of ‘heroism’ in the modern age.

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Bilbo Baggins is a hobbit who lives in a large, comfortable underground house in the Shire and has no interest in adventures. One day, he encounters Gandalf , a wizard who knew Bilbo’s scandalously adventurous grandfather. Though he's uncomfortable that Gandalf talks about Bilbo joining an adventure, Bilbo invites Gandalf to tea the next day. At tea, Gandalf brings with him thirteen dwarves, lead by Thorin Oakenshield , who are trying to reclaim their ancestral home and treasure under the Lonely Mountain from the dragon Smaug . Gandalf and the dwarves offer Bilbo one-fourteenth of their treasure in return for his serving as their burglar. Bilbo doesn't explicitly consent to this agreement, but he's excited by the dwarves' stories of treasure.

The next day, Gandalf tells Bilbo that he must meet the dwarves at the local tavern; Bilbo rushes there, and finds himself traveling with Gandalf and the dwarves on their quest to the Lonely Mountain. Shortly thereafter, Gandalf goes missing, it starts to rain, and the dwarves see a light in the distance. Bilbo goes to investigate the light, and finds three trolls eating their supper. The trolls catch Bilbo, but he slips free; then, the trolls capture the thirteen dwarves. Gandalf imitates the sounds of the trolls' voices, leading them to fight for so long that the sun rises and turns them to stone. The dwarves free themselves and find two swords. Bilbo finds a large knife that will work as a sword for him, too.

The group rests in the Elven city of Rivendell under the care of the elf-lord Elrond. While there they learn that they will be able to enter a secret passageway in the side of the Lonely Mountain on the first day of the dwarf New Year. They travel through the Misty Mountains, where they are all imprisoned by goblins, except for Gandalf who escapes. Bilbo and the dwarves are taken before the Great Goblin , but Gandalf reappears, slays the Great Goblin, and frees Bilbo and the dwarves. In the ensuing flight from the goblins, Bilbo falls down a cavern and loses consciousness.

Bilbo reawakens in a dark cavern and finds a ring lying on the ground. Not long after he encounters a treacherous creature, Gollum , with whom he holds a riddle-telling competition: if Gollum wins, he eats Bilbo; if Bilbo wins, Gollum shows him the way out. Bilbo wins the competition, but Gollum goes to find his ring, which makes the wearer invisible, so that he can kill Bilbo. When Gollum discovers the ring is missing he is enraged and plans to kill Bilbo. But Bilbo accidentally puts on the ring and realizes that the ring makes him invisible when Gollum, searching for him, ends up rushing right past him. Bilbo follows Gollum out of the cave and eludes goblins to escape from the Misty Mountains.

Bilbo reunites with Gandalf and the dwarves, who are impressed with his talent for deception and concealment. As they travel down from the mountains, they're forced to hide in some trees from some wargs (talking wolves); when a fire breaks out, Gandalf summons the giant eagles, who agree to take the group to the Carrock, where they stay with the shape-shifter Beorn .

Gandalf reveals that he must leave Bilbo and the dwarves as they begin the next stage of their quest through the dangerous Mirkwood forest. Despite Gandalf and Beorn's advice to stay on the path at all costs, Bilbo and the dwarves are lured off the path by the sight of wood-elves eating a feast. When the group is then captured by giant spiders, Bilbo uses his ring to free himself, kill many spiders, and free the dwarves; unfortunately, angry wood-elves capture and imprison them all, except for Bilbo who is still invisible, shortly thereafter. Bilbo uses his ring to free his friends from their cells and transports them out of the forest via barrels, which the elves use to send wine in trade down the river to the human town of Lake-town.

Bilbo and the dwarves arrive in Lake-town, where they're welcomed as heroes who will vanquish the dragon, Smaug, and bring prosperity to the cities of men once again. They travel to the Lonely Mountain, where the last ray of sunshine on the dwarf New Year reveals the keyhole to a secret passageway. Bilbo alone is brave enough to enter the mountain, and manages to sneak into Smaug’s lair and steal a cup from the pile of treasure. Smaug is enraged. Later Bilbo sneaks again into Smaug’s lair, but this time Smaug is only pretending to sleep: Bilbo speaks to Smaug in riddles, saying that he is a barrel-rider and learning in the process that Smaug has a weak point on his belly. Bilbo later gives this information to the dwarves, and to a talking thrush who overhears them. Smaug, during that same conversation, poisons Bilbo’s mind with suspicion that the dwarves will not uphold their promise to give him one-fourteen of the treasure; when he raises his doubts to Thorin, Thorin insists that Bilbo can take whatever fourteenth of the treasure he wants. Bilbo secretly takes the Arkenstone, the most beautiful jewel in the dwarves’ treasure.

Interpreting Bilbo’s self-given name of “barrel-rider” to mean that he has been sent by men, Smaug flies to Lake-town and devastates it. But as he does so, an archer named Bard , a descendant of the Lord of Dale (a city that used to thrive as a hub of trade of dwarven gold and crafts before Smaug arrived), learns from the thrush about Smaug’s weak point, and uses the information to shoot and kill him with a black arrow that had long been in Bard’s family line. News of Smaug’s death spreads across Middle Earth, and the men led by Bard ally with the wood-elves and march to the Lonely Mountain to claim some of the treasure, as repayment for the destruction Smaug leveled against them. Thorin refuses these requests, and it seems fighting between men, elves, and dwarves is imminent. Eager to end this conflict, Bilbo secretly gives the Arkenstone to Bard and the elves; when Bilbo admits what he’s done, Thorin expels him from the Lonely Mountain. Bilbo reunites with Gandalf, who has returned from his other business.

Thorin summons his cousin, Dain , to help him defend their regained city and treasure. At the same time, goblins and wolves ride to the Lonely Mountain, eager to avenge the Great Goblin’s death. Gandalf encourages men, dwarves, and elves to from an alliance, and at the Battle of the Five Armies, they unite against the goblins and wolves, defeating them with the help of Beorn and the Eagles. Bilbo uses his ring to hide during the fight. When he meets up with the survivors of the battle, he finds that Thorin has been fatally wounded. Thorin tells Bilbo that he regrets expelling him. Bilbo returns to hobbit-town with two chests of treasure (having given up the claim to the even larger one-fourteenth that had originally been promised to him), enough to make him a wealthy man. A year later, he’s visited by Gandalf and one of the dwarves, Balin , who tell him that Bard is now the master of Lake-town, goblins have been largely killed off, and dwarves, elves, and men now coexist peacefully.

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Summary and Study Guide

J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit is a fantasy adventure novel first published in 1937. Tolkien (1892-1973) was an English writer, philologist, professor of Anglo-Saxon at Oxford University, and a close friend of C.S. Lewis. The Hobbit is the first published work recounting tales from Middle Earth, Tolkien’s fantasy world with fictional races of hobbits, elves, dwarves, and more. After fighting in World War I, Tolkien returned home, worked at the Oxford English Dictionary, and, while at Pembroke College, penned The Hobbit and the first volumes of The Lord of the Rings .

Told from the perspective of an omniscient , third-person narrator who sometimes addresses the reader directly, The Hobbit recounts the tale of Bilbo Baggins , an ordinary hobbit gentleman who is beguiled by a wizard into joining a party of dwarves on their quest to kill a dragon and take back their ancestral home (along with all the silver, gold, and jewels that come with it). Encountering numerous dangers and obstacles along the way, Bilbo discovers that he is capable of quite a wide array of virtues, proving his resourcefulness countless times before eventually returning to his home under the hill after the span of a year. Changed by the experience, and having participated in the victory over Smaug the dragon and the goblin hordes, Bilbo pens his memoirs upon his return home, providing the in-world explanation for the existence of the novel known as The Hobbit , or “There and Back Again.”

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The Hobbit is a tale of high fantasy that recounts the adventures of Bilbo Baggins, a hobbit, who is one day pressed and cajoled into joining up with a party of dwarves—13 of them to be exact—who are venturing out into the wilderness to the far North in order to take back their ancestral home and kingdom under the Lonely Mountain. Their kinsmen were slain many years ago by the fearsome dragon Smaug, who proceeded to kill all who opposed him, lay waste to the surrounding areas, and sequester the vast store of treasure under the mountain. The leader of the dwarves is Thorin (son of Thrain, son of Thror) whose throne has been empty for many years and who intends on returning to the mountain as the rightful king and heir to the throne; he will use a map, composed by his grandfather, that Gandalf had finally returned to him.

Setting out from Bilbo’s house under the hill within the shire, the party of travelers—including the wizard Gandalf, who has been the instigator of the whole affair up to this point—are almost immediately beset by obstacles and enemies. First encountering a trio of trolls who wish to make supper of Bilbo and the dwarves, they narrowly escape and proceed to make their way to Rivendell, the home of Elrond and the elves, who happily give aid and rest to the travelers before they embark on the greater part of their journey. Leaving Rivendell, the company attempt to scale the Misty Mountains when they are kidnapped by goblins and brought underground to the tunnels, where Bilbo discovers a powerful magic ring that grants him the power of invisibility. Escaping the grasp of the creature Gollum, to whom the ring belonged, Bilbo finds his way out of the goblin tunnels and reunites with the dwarves, who have themselves only just escaped the tunnels.

Soon after their narrow escape from the tunnels, they are beset by a pack of Wargs, wild wolves of terrific size, who drive them into the forest and up into the tree canopy where the party are fortunately rescued by the giant, wild Eagles who carry them away to safety. From there, Gandalf leads the company to the house of Beorn, who can take the shape of either a man or a mythically large bear. Beorn stocks them with provisions for their journey through Mirkwood forest, and Gandalf leaves them to traverse the wood alone as he ventures off on a different errand. Once in Mirkwood, the company defeats a clan of giant spiders, escapes from the dungeons of the wood elves, and rides a collection of barrels down the river to Lake-town (also known as Esgaroth).

Here, they are greeted as champions and sent off on their way to the Lonely Mountain, where they use Thorin’s map to find a secret door into the side of the mountain. Bilbo uses the magic ring to sneak into Smaug’s lair, stealing a golden cup and taking note of the fact that there is a weak spot in Smaug’s armor on his chest, which he reports to the band of dwarves outside. Once Smaug realizes that he was burgled, he leaves the mountain in a rage and attacks Lake-town, where a man, Bard, slays him with a special black arrow. Once the townspeople realize that Smaug no longer guards the mountain treasure, they venture out to the mountain gates (along with the elves) to demand a portion of the treasure.

Thorin refuses, and the various groups prepare to go to war. Bilbo attempts to defuse the situation by offering a precious gem (known as the Arkenstone ) to Bard and the Elvenking, hoping the latter two can use the stone as a bargaining chip with Thorin. However, the goblin hordes descend upon the mountain before anything can be done, and the armies of the men, elves, and dwarves do battle with the goblins and the wild wolves. Ultimately, the goblin hordes are killed and subdued, but many die in battle, including Thorin. After the battle, Thorin’s cousin Dain is enthroned in the Lonely Mountain, Bard rebuilds the town by the lake, and Gandalf and Bilbo return home via the valley of Rivendell, arriving home more than a year after initially setting out on their journey. Bilbo is a changed person, rich in gold and in friendship; the other hobbits consider Bilbo to be a strange chap, but Bilbo spends the next few years recording his memoirs, which he entitles “There and Back Again,” providing the in-world source for the tale of The Hobbit .

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Introduction

“In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit.” With this famous opening line, J.R.R. Tolkien invites readers into the cozy yet adventurous world of Bilbo Baggins in The Hobbit . As a lifelong booklover and former English major, I consider this beloved classic essential reading for young and old alike. Tolkien’s captivating tale serves as the perfect introduction to his richly imagined fantasy realm of Middle-earth.

Originally published in 1937 by George Allen & Unwin, The Hobbit has never been out of print. At around 300 pages, it is a quick and enchanting read, especially compared to Tolkien’s more epic Lord of the Rings trilogy that followed. The book was an immediate success and was nominated for the Carnegie Medal and awarded a prize from the New York Herald Tribune for best juvenile fiction.

The story centers on Bilbo Baggins, a respectable and rather timid hobbit who enjoys the quiet comforts of his snug hobbit-hole. Hobbits, Tolkien tells us, are small, peaceful creatures who love food, cheer, and the simple pleasures of home. Bilbo’s contented life is interrupted by the arrival of the wizard Gandalf and thirteen dwarves led by Thorin Oakenshield. The group has embarked on a quest to reclaim the dwarves’ treasure from Smaug, the fearsome dragon who destroyed their kingdom under the Lonely Mountain. To Bilbo’s surprise, Gandalf has volunteered him to join the expedition as the party’s “burglar.”

Reluctant at first, Bilbo soon finds himself swept up into a grand adventure across the magical landscape of Middle-earth. With Gandalf’s wise guidance, Bilbo and the dwarves encounter trolls, goblins, giant spiders, and wood-elves as they make their way toward the Lonely Mountain and a confrontation with Smaug. During the journey, the unassuming Bilbo discovers his own reserves of cleverness and courage. His keen wits enable him to outwit the creature Gollum in a game of riddles and to find the secret entrance into the mountain. Although Bilbo often longs for the comforts of home, his compassion and sense of loyalty keep him true to his companions and their cause.

Tolkien brings Bilbo’s quest to life with vivid descriptions of Middle-earth’s inhabitants and landscapes. From the elven sanctuary of Rivendell to the eerie Mirkwood forest, each new setting is infused with a sense of wonder and ancient history. The novel’s characters are equally memorable, particularly the proud dwarf leader Thorin Oakenshield, the eccentric wizard Gandalf, and of course the unlikely hero Bilbo. Even the dragon Smaug, glimpsed only briefly, looms as a terrifying yet strangely magnificent presence. Tolkien’s use of poetry and song throughout the novel adds to the impression of a fully realized legendary past. The story centers on Bilbo Baggins, a respectable hobbit who enjoys the quiet comforts of his snug hobbit-hole. Hobbits, Tolkien tells us, are small, peaceful creatures who love food, cheer, and the simple pleasures of home. Bilbo’s contented life is interrupted by the arrival of the wizard Gandalf and thirteen dwarves led by Thorin Oakenshield.

With Gandalf’s wise guidance, Bilbo and the dwarves encounter trolls, goblins, giant spiders, and wood-elves as they make their way toward the Lonely Mountain and a confrontation with Smaug. During the journey, the unassuming Bilbo discovers his own reserves of cleverness and courage. His keen wits enable him to outwit the creature Gollum in a game of riddles and to find the secret entrance into the mountain.

Tolkien brings Bilbo’s quest to life with vivid descriptions of Middle-earth’s inhabitants and landscapes. From the elven sanctuary of Rivendell to the eerie Mirkwood forest, each new setting is infused with a sense of wonder and ancient history.

• Powerful and enigmatic wizard who sets the story’s events in motion
• Has great magical abilities but his true power and nature are shrouded in mystery
• Sees Bilbo’s untapped potential for courage and resourcefulness
• Provides guidance and help to Bilbo and the dwarves at critical points
• Has a mischievous sense of humor but also a short temper
• Unquestionably a force for good, working to counter rising evil in Middle-earth
• His knowledge, wisdom and foresight make him an invaluable ally

Bilbo Baggins

• The unlikely hero of the story, going from timid homebody to brave adventurer
• At the beginning, a typical hobbit – fond of comfort, food and his peaceful life
• Has hidden depths of cleverness and courage that emerge over the course of the quest
• Quick wits and humble ingenuity get the group out of many dangerous scrapes
• Has a strong moral compass and sense of loyalty
• Becomes an unlikely leader, facing Smaug alone and figuring out the dragon’s weakness
• Returns home much changed by his experiences, but still with his humble, generous spirit intact

Gollum (Sméagol)

• A strange, slimy creature who lives deep in the caves of the Misty Mountains
• Formerly a hobbit-like creature named Sméagol, but corrupted by the power of the One Ring
• Has a split personality, alternating between his Sméagol and Gollum personas
• Speaks in a distinctive manner, often referring to himself in the third person and making a “gollum” noise in his throat
• Possesses the magic ring that Bilbo finds, which turns out to be the One Ring
• Engages in a game of riddles with Bilbo, with the stakes being Bilbo’s life and a way out of the caves
• Becomes enraged when he realizes his “precious” ring is missing, and pursues Bilbo
• Bilbo ultimately spares Gollum’s life out of pity, a decision that has far-reaching consequences in The Lord of the Rings
• Represents the corrupting influence of power and the way it can twist a person’s mind and body
• His tragic backstory is explored more fully in The Lord of the Rings , where he plays a pivotal role

Although Gollum appears only briefly in The Hobbit , his encounter with Bilbo is one of the most memorable and consequential scenes in the book. It’s a testament to Tolkien’s skill as a writer that he could create such a fascinating and complex character in just a few pages.

Gollum’s riddles are clever and enigmatic, hinting at his cunning and his long, lonely life in the dark. His desperation to get his “precious” back is both pitiable and frightening, showcasing the ring’s power to corrupt. Bilbo’s decision to spare Gollum is a moment of mercy that stands out in the story, and it’s one that has significant ramifications later in Tolkien’s legendarium.

In many ways, Gollum is a foil to Bilbo – a glimpse of what the hobbit could become if he allowed himself to be consumed by the ring’s power. Gollum’s fate is a warning about the dangers of greed and obsession, themes that run throughout The Hobbit and Tolkien’s other works. Despite his brief appearance, Gollum is an essential part of the story and a character that lingers in the reader’s mind long after the book is finished.

• Wise, ancient and in tune with nature, but can also be dangerous and distrustful
• Elrond, the master of Rivendell, is a powerful elf lord who provides shelter and advice
• The wood-elves of Mirkwood, led by Thranduil, are more suspicious and hostile
• Legolas, Thranduil’s son, is mentioned in passing as a messenger
• Depicted as otherworldly and inscrutable, with motives often unclear to other races
• A terrifying, arrogant dragon – the personification of greed and destruction
• Attacked the Lonely Mountain, killing many dwarves and claiming their treasure
• Massive, powerful, cunning and cruel, with armored scales and fiery breath
• Vain, proud and scornful, toying with Bilbo and trying to manipulate him psychologically
• His overconfident pride is his weak spot, allowing Bilbo to learn about his vulnerability
• His wrath is terrible when enraged, unleashing fury on the innocent Lake-town

The Dwarves

Thorin oakenshield.

• The proud, determined leader of the dwarves and the rightful king under the Lonely Mountain
• A formidable warrior and a charismatic leader, inspiring great loyalty in his followers
• Can also be haughty, stubborn and quick to anger
• His driving goal is to reclaim his people’s homeland and treasure from Smaug
• Proves his bravery and leadership, but also falls prey to greed and pride
• Redeems himself by admitting his faults and making peace before he dies in battle
• One of the oldest and wisest of the dwarves, and a close advisor to Thorin
• More cautious and less quick-tempered than Thorin, often taking the lead in negotiations
• Has a special fondness for Bilbo and is one of the first to accept the hobbit
• A powerful warrior and Balin’s younger brother
• One of the tallest and strongest of the dwarves, wielding the elvish sword Glamdring
• Fiercely loyal to Thorin and always ready for battle

Fili and Kili

• The youngest dwarves, Thorin’s nephews and his designated heirs
• Often mischievous and reckless, but also brave and eager for adventure
• Kili is a skilled archer, while Fili wields two swords
• Both are killed defending Thorin in the Battle of Five Armies

Dori, Nori, and Ori

• Three brothers, not as individually distinct as some of the other dwarves
• Dori is the strongest dwarf and often carries Bilbo
• Nori is described as sly
• Ori is the youngest of the three

Oin and Gloin

• Brothers, with Oin being the older
• Oin has a long grey beard
• Gloin (father of Gimli from The Lord of the Rings) has a white beard
• Gloin is the company’s treasurer and banker

Bifur, Bofur, and Bombur

• A trio of dwarves not related to Thorin but still loyal members of the company
• Bifur only speaks in dwarvish, not the common tongue
• Bofur is cheerful and fond of a good meal
• Bombur is Bofur’s brother and the fattest dwarf

The novel’s characters are equally memorable, particularly the proud dwarf leader Thorin Oakenshield, the eccentric wizard Gandalf, and of course the unlikely hero Bilbo. Even the dragon Smaug, glimpsed only briefly, looms as a terrifying yet strangely magnificent presence. Tolkien’s use of poetry and song throughout the novel adds to the impression of a fully realized legendary past.

Analysis & Evaluation

While The Hobbit is often considered a children’s book, the story contains themes and insights that speak to readers of all ages. Bilbo’s journey from comfort-loving homebody to resourceful adventurer suggests that we all possess untapped reserves of strength and ability. The corrupting influence of greed is another recurring motif, as seen in the dragon Smaug’s lust for treasure and the Arkenstone gem’s bewitching effect on Thorin. By contrast, Bilbo’s humble spirit and concern for others mark him as the story’s true hero.

Since its publication, The Hobbit has enchanted millions of readers around the world. The novel’s enduring appeal is a testament to Tolkien’s gifts as a storyteller and the universal journey of self-discovery that Bilbo represents. Readers who fall under the spell of Bilbo’s adventures can explore Tolkien’s wider mythology in The Lord of the Rings and his other writings about Middle-earth.

I wholeheartedly recommend The Hobbit for readers of all ages looking to embark on an unforgettable adventure. Bilbo Baggins may be a small hobbit, but his story has the power to inspire and delight us all. In Thorin’s words to Bilbo, “There is more in you of good than you know, child of the kindly West. Some courage and some wisdom, blended in measure.” May we all strive to live up to Bilbo’s example of humility, compassion, and quiet heroism.

About the Author

J.R.R. Tolkien (1892-1973) was an English writer, poet, philologist, and professor best known as the author of the classic fantasy works The Hobbit , The Lord of the Rings , and The Silmarillion . After serving in World War I, Tolkien embarked on an academic career and began writing the stories that would become his epic tales of Middle-earth. His books have sold more than 150 million copies worldwide and have been translated into over 50 languages. Tolkien was a close friend of fellow author C.S. Lewis and was a member of the literary group known as The Inklings.

Where to Buy

The Hobbit can be purchased at my bookstore Scattered Books and online at Bookshop.org . As the first book in Tolkien’s Middle-earth saga, it makes an excellent gift for any fantasy fan or a young person ready to begin their reading journey.

Spoilers/How Does It End

Warning: Major plot spoilers ahead!

In the climax of The Hobbit , Bilbo and the dwarves finally reach the Lonely Mountain, where Smaug the dragon is guarding the dwarves’ treasure. Bilbo enters the mountain alone and has a confrontation with the dragon. Through flattery and riddling talk, Bilbo discovers that Smaug has a weak spot on his jewel-encrusted underbelly – a bare patch that could be pierced by an arrow.

When Smaug realizes Bilbo’s intent, he flies into a rage and attacks Lake-town, assuming (incorrectly) that the men there helped the dwarves. The thrush that overheard Bilbo’s conversation with Smaug tells Bard, a skilled archer, about the dragon’s weakness. Bard shoots Smaug with a special black arrow, killing the dragon, but Lake-town is destroyed in the process.

With Smaug dead, the dwarves reclaim the mountain and its treasure. However, the men of Lake-town and the wood-elves of Mirkwood also lay claim to a portion of the treasure. Thorin, now consumed by greed, refuses to share and fortifies the mountain. Bilbo tries to defuse the situation by secretly giving the Arkenstone, the most valued jewel in the hoard, to the elves and men to use as a bargaining chip.

Just as war seems inevitable, an army of goblins and wargs attacks. The dwarves, elves, and men unite to fight this common enemy in what becomes known as the Battle of Five Armies. Although the good side prevails, Thorin, Fili, and Kili are killed in the battle. Bilbo returns home to the Shire with only a small portion of the treasure, but rich in wisdom and experience.

The story ends with Bilbo back in his comfortable hobbit-hole, but forever changed by his adventures. Gandalf visits and remarks that Bilbo is not the same hobbit who left. This sets the stage for the sequel, The Lord of the Rings , in which Bilbo’s magic ring turns out to be the One Ring, setting another epic quest in motion.

Publication History

• First published on September 21, 1937 by George Allen & Unwin in the UK
• First print run of 1,500 copies sold out by December 1937 due to positive reviews
• Houghton Mifflin published the first US edition in early 1938
• Tolkien made revisions to later editions, most significantly changing the “Riddles in the Dark” chapter in the second edition (1951) to better align with The Lord of the Rings
• The book has never been out of print and has sold tens of millions of copies worldwide in over 50 languages

Reception and Legacy

• Nominated for the Carnegie Medal and awarded a prize for best juvenile fiction by the New York Herald Tribune in 1938
• Widely read by both children and adults, recognized as a classic in the fantasy genre
• Success led to the publisher requesting a sequel, which Tolkien delivered in The Lord of the Rings, published in three volumes from 1954-1955
• Adapted into various media including a 1977 animated television special and a trilogy of live-action films (2012-2014) directed by Peter Jackson
• John Ronald Reuel Tolkien (1892-1973) was an English writer, poet, philologist, and professor best known as the author of the high fantasy works The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, and The Silmarillion
• Rawlinson and Bosworth Professor of Anglo-Saxon at Oxford University from 1925-1945 and Merton Professor of English Language and Literature there from 1945-1959
• Close friend of C.S. Lewis and member of the informal literary discussion group The Inklings
• Invented several languages, including Quenya and Sindarin, two of the major languages of his Middle-earth legendarium
• The Hobbit began as a story Tolkien told to his children, later developed into a complete novel that set the stage for his more complex Middle-earth works
• Continued to work on Middle-earth writings up until his death in 1973; his son Christopher organized and published much of this later material, most notably in The Silmarillion (1977)

Themes and Motifs

• The growth of an unlikely hero, as Bilbo develops from a timid homebody to a brave adventurer
• The corrupting influence of greed, as seen with the dragon Smaug hoarding treasure and the Arkenstone’s effect on Thorin
• The value of friendship and cooperation, as Bilbo and the dwarves must work together to overcome obstacles
• The clash between good and evil, with the climactic Battle of Five Armies
• The enduring appeal of a well-crafted fantasy world and its inhabitants

Illustrations

• Tolkien provided numerous illustrations for The Hobbit, including drawings, paintings, and maps, which helped establish the visual iconography of Middle-earth
• Subsequent editions have featured the art of renowned illustrators like Michael Hague, Alan Lee, and Jemima Catlin

Certainly! Here’s the full bibliographic information for The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien:

Title: The Hobbit, or There and Back Again Author: J.R.R. Tolkien (John Ronald Reuel Tolkien) Illustrator: J.R.R. Tolkien (original illustrations) First Publisher: George Allen & Unwin (UK) First Publication Date: 21 September 1937 First US Publisher: Houghton Mifflin (US) First US Publication Date: 1938 Genre: High Fantasy, Juvenile Fantasy Pages: 310 (first edition) ISBN: Varies by edition, for example:

• ISBN-10: 0618968636 (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt hardcover edition, 2001)
• ISBN-13: 978-0618968633 (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt hardcover edition, 2001)

Preceded by: None Followed by: The Lord of the Rings Original Language: English Adaptations: Various, including 1977 animated television film, 2012-2014 live-action film trilogy directed by Peter Jackson Translations: Over 50 languages worldwide

Note: Publication dates, publishers, and ISBN numbers may vary depending on the specific edition and country of publication.

For citation purposes, a typical MLA (9th edition) book citation might look like this:

Tolkien, J.R.R. The Hobbit, or There and Back Again . Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2001.

An APA (7th edition) citation would be formatted as follows:

Tolkien, J. R. R. (2001). The Hobbit, or There and Back Again . Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

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By J.R.R. Tolkien

'The Hobbit' tells the story of Bilbo Baggins' adventures alongside a group of dwarves as they quest to take back their kingdom from the dragon Smaug.

About the Book

Article written by Emma Baldwin

B.A. in English, B.F.A. in Fine Art, and B.A. in Art Histories from East Carolina University.

T he Hobbit, Or There and Back Again,  is a children’s fantasy novel that has been enjoyed by a wide variety of readers of all ages . It was published in 1937 to wide acclaim and was nominated for the Carnegie Medal. It was also awarded a prize from the N ew York Herald Tribune  for the best new juvenile fiction. The book is a classic, one that’s read in middle and high schools, universities, and for the simple pleasure of entering the world of Middle Earth .

Key Facts about The Hobbit

• Title:   The Hobbit, or There and Back Again
• Published: September 21, 1937
• Genre: Fantasy, Epic
• Point-of-View:  Third person omniscient
• Setting:  Middle Earth
• Climax:  The Battle of the Five Armies
• Antagonist:  Smaug the dragon

J.R.R. Tolkien and  The Hobbit

Tolkien wrote  The Hobbit  after serving in the First World War . Some scholars have suggested that his experiences in the war helped to inspire The Battle of the Five Armies at the end of the novel. Just like England formed an alliance with France and Russia, and Germany with the Austro-Hungarian Empire, so too did the dwarves for an uneasy alliance with the elves to fight off the orcs. J.R.R. Tolkien is remembered today as a student of Anglo-Saxon poetry and a lover of mythology. Stories like Sir Gawain and the Green Knight,  which he made a translation of, in addition to his translation of  Beowulf,  are studied in schools around the world. These works, along with many others, were integral to his creation of  The Hobbit. 

Books Related to The Hobbit

When readers think of  The Hobbit  it’s likely that they immediately connect it to  The Lord of the Rings  series for which Tolkien is best known. It takes place in the same universe, approximately 80 years before Frodo leaves on his own journey. Readers who love The Hobbit  will also want to read  The Fellowship of the Ring  and  The Two Towers,  both published in 1954, and  The Return of the King  published a year later. These novels are also related to the broader oeuvre that Tolkien left behind after his death. This includes short stories, poems, and lore related to the world of Middle Earth. For example,  The Silmarillion  was published in 1977 after his death. His works are often also compared to C.S. Lewis’s  The Chronicles of Narnia,  and epic works like  The Odyssey  and  Beowulf.  Tolkien was famously inspired by Norse mythology and Anglo-Saxon poetry.

The Lasting Impact of The Hobbit

The Hobbit  is a well-loved work in its own right but it’s impossible to ignore the broader influence that it had on  The Lord of the Rings . It is this series of three novels that truly made Tolkien’s name. It’s clear that Tolkien felt the success of the structure of  The Hobbit  and chose to reuse it to some extent in  The Lord of the Rings.  It focuses on another hobbit, starts and ends in Bag End, and includes many of the same characters and races. Scholars have noted that the main differences come from the audience for which Tolkien was writing. He intended  The Lord of the Rings  to be read by the same readers as had read  The Hobbit  as children. Now, adults, the same readers were introduced to a more adult version of Middle Earth. The novel is also credited with helping students prepare to enter the more complex words of Anglo-Saxon epic poetry, Dickens, and Shakespeare . The Hobbit offers a thrilling story with a more complex plotline , new words, and complex themes that much children’s literature does not. Today, the novel is still read by students around the world who are newly introduced to the tapestry of races, mythology, and lore that Tolkien created more than 80 years ago.

The Hobbit Important Quotes 💬

Throughout ‘The Hobbit,’ J.R.R. Tolkien crafts a story of adventure, bravery, heroism, greed, and loss.

The Hobbit Historical Context 🧙‍♂️

‘The Hobbit,’ or ‘There and Back Again’ was published in September of 1937. It was received with rave reviews and was nominated for several awards, including the Carnegie Medal.

The Hobbit Review ⭐

‘The Hobbit’ is a children’s fantasy novel published in 1937. It is one of the best-known and best-loved novels of the genre.

The Hobbit Themes and Analysis 🧙‍♂️

Within ‘The Hobbit,’ J.R.R. Tolkien taps into a number of interesting themes, uses powerful symbols of courage and history, and makes use of figurative language in new and memorable ways.

The Hobbit Character List 🧙‍♂️

In ‘The Hobbit’, there are many wonderfully interesting characters who help fill the novel with life.

The Hobbit Summary 🧙‍♂️

‘The Hobbit’ is one of J.R.R. Tolkien’s best-known works.

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The Hobbit by JRR Tolkien

J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit is one of the best known and best loved fantasy books. First published by George Allen & Unwin in 1937, The Hobbit has been translated into over 50 different languages and sold well over 100 million copies.

The Hobbit was written by Professor Tolkien for the reading pleasure of his own children, of whom Christopher became the editor of Tolkien's posthumous work such as The Silmarillion and The Book of Lost Tales.

This is a far more light-hearted tale than the Lord of the Rings and introduces to the world the unforgettable Bilbo, Gandalf and Gollum. The Hobbit is a book that can be enjoyed by children and adults alike and authors from J.K. Rowling to David Gemmell class it as an inspiration upon their own work.

A book full of adventure, heroism, song and laughter, featuring landscapes that are quintessentially English - the Shire the Hobbits inhabit could easily be an England of yesteryear. But soon the Shire is left behind and Bilbo, our reluctant hero, encounters Dwarves, Elves, Goblins, Eagles and Wizards as the party passes through Rivendell, The Misty Mountains and Mirkwood on their way to the Lonely Mountain, in order to take back treasure stolen by the great dragon Smaug.

One of the most appealing aspects of The Hobbit is that we can all find our inner-Hobbit; the part of us that wants nothing by an easy and comfortable life. But there is still something inside all of us that perks up at the thought of adventure and a journey into the unknown and I think this is why The Hobbit is such a firm favourite and fondly remembered by all who read it.

I would suggest reading the illustrated version if you have the choice, the artwork by Alan Lee* is so good that it manages to improve a story that is already fabulous.

The Hobbit is quite simply a must read, a real delight.

* Alan Lee is an English artist, he has studied Celtic and Norse myths and remains fascinated by mythology. He was inspired by The Lord of the Rings and as well as providing the artwork for the Hobbit he also illustrated the centenary edition of The Lord of the Rings.

10/10 The Hobbit is fondly remembered by all who read it, a real delight.

• Buy on Amazon

Review by Floresiensis

137 positive reader review(s) for The Hobbit

JRR Tolkien biography

Nat from United States

Short chapters and wonderful characters make The Hobbit a real page-turner. It is by turns funny and scary.

Anita from India

This book is awsome!!!

Krste from Croatia

While it lacks the sheer epicness of Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit is definitely a much easier and better paced read. Not only is it a perfect intro to Middle Earth, but its also a great and thrilling story itself and one of my personal favourites.

The Gladiator from Aherad

This book really grabbed my attention and it conveys the message perfectly! I'll never forget first reading this book, only bested by Chris Colfer.

Undisclosed from US

This was such a good book! I'm an eleven-year-old from America and I read it shortly after watching the movie. Definitely good for people who like fantasy.

Jacob from US

Amazing book, hands down the best one I've ever read in my 18 years of life. Excited to read the Lord of the Rings next.

Emma Grantham from England

This book is amazing. I don’t like reading and I read every single page and every single word all the way to the end.

Eoin from England

This book is fantastic🖕🏿🖕🏾🖕🏽🖕🏼🖕🏻🖕

Evie from England

I am young and will not say my age as anyway this is gooooooooooooooood the best

Georgia from Ireland

It is a very good book. There are very good characters and it's a brilliant story. I am nine years old and I have read many books including the hobbit. It is by far one of my favourite books.

Victor from Italy

One of the greatest books ever written.

Suzie from New Zealand

At first this book was dull and boring but it took me some time to appreciate The Hobbit. Once they reach Smaug things start to get a lot more interesting. I do not regret reading this book at all! Just try to hang in there at the first bits.

Mayank from India

Best book I have ever read !!!!!!

Joppe from Belgium

The Hobbit is a great book in the marvellous world of Tolkien's best-recieved trilogy, it tends, however, to be a slow read due to the language used. Professor Tolkien has a passion for languages, real or not, and this tends to be shown in his work. This is however a minor flaw, as well as an advantage: sometimes passages feel too stretched while others are a masterful wordplay.

Chodra from Bhutan

This book was really interesting and fascinating. I must say this is the best book that we have in our Earth or world. Thank you.

Andrei from Sapin

Bob from Bobland Place of Bobness

Love it. Read it more than once.

Misty from America

It's a GREAT book I thought it was boring at first but turns out it's awesome!!!

Belle from America

To read this book, you'll need patience and time, and if you have patience and time, it is a waste of both not to read this book. It is worth it beyond measure.

Saujan from Nepal

The book is good and interesting to read. Though some lines are difficult to understand but it is interesting.

Marinette from France

All in all, it was a good book. I read in my literature class once and I loved it! And to all the haters who gave it one star, PUT DOWN YOU STUPID PHONES.

J from Bermuda Triangle

Really good book. I recommend it to people who love the Harry Potter and Eragon books. Beautifully written with little to no confusing words. I read this book in the 7th grade like some of you.

Mikolaj from Poland

Simply amazing!

Alan from UK

It is a great story - a fantastic example of great English literature, even though I was made to read this book. I don't really understand why people would dislike it - or more, hate it. Maybe it is just me. Honestly, I have to admit that at times, it may get boring, but if you have the guts to finish it, you will, without doubt, enjoy it.

Jonah from Canada

Very good. Much wow.

Kate from USA

I loved the book but it is a little slow in some parts.

Gavin from North Carolina

I don't understand all these sad little 12 year olds, I read the book when I was ten and I loved it.

Jimjoe from UK

I notice there are a lot of one star reviews here from people who were made to read this at school. Personally I am a fan of The Hobbit and Tolkien, however I would never choose it as a book to study with a class. At a young age I was behind my peers when it came literacy, reading and writing as little as I could get away with. One day I picked up The Hobbit from the reading corner, the teacher quietly asked me if I was sure about my choice, as it was two bands above my recommended level (the books had a colour system to give an indication of reading difficulty) she seemed pleased enough when I said yes. The book had appealed to me for a while, I had heard a friend talk of it and had read the blurb on the back, however at that young age the size of the book and the grey sticker on its side were daunting. That night I took it home and spent what seemed like hours reading, many paragraphs I read twice trying to process the information (all those dwarfs with similar names.. which ones where related.. all those Hobbit surnames). Those early chapters were hard going and my bookmark showed I’d hardly made a dent in the story. Something happened when the company left the shire, suddenly the pace of my reading quickened, I wasn’t worrying trying to understand who was who or what was happening, I could immediately visualise the landscapes that were being described to me, was gripped by each new character that was introduced. It took me ages to finish that book and when I did I was buzzing.. then I realised I wanted more. The following autumn I picked up The Lord of The Rings, pleased to see it was even longer and even more pleased when I started reading and quickly decided that this was going to be even better than The Hobbit. This book was the first to capture me emotionally, taking me from reluctant reader to avid consumer of fiction. (However I would never choose this as a book to study with a class. It’s not going to appeal to all and forcing young readers to slug through something that for a children’s book is pretty long and slightly niche is likely to have the opposite effect to the one it had on me) I realise that this has to a certain extent been an anecdote more than a review, so.. I thought this was a brilliant book, deserving of it’s place as the godfather of modern fantasy. My advice to anyone who isn’t immediately hooked or immediately put off (particularly those who tend to enjoy fantasy and adventure) is stick with it till the journey really gets going, then make a decision.

Emmy from U.S.

"The Hobbit" was a brilliant written book with a great sense of adventure. The book made me realize that I am too a very home person (as Bilbo at first is) but, I know inside me I want a little adventure. I love the way Tolkien had made the English language. The English really made an impact on the vibe of "The Hobbit". I was given this assignment for a summer reading project but, even without the assignment I would have read the book anyway because, it was just calling my name!!!

Palwasha Atif from Pakistan

This book is so good. I love this book because it has many things in this. I love all of them except why would you think I hate this one dragon Smaug so I recommend this book to read it. Thank you.

Gaurav from India

I have watched the movie and also read the book. It is a great trilogy written by J. R. R. Tolkien. It is an adventurous book, filled with stories about the dwarves, elves, orcs and the history of Middle Earth.

Priyam from India

In this book we get to know that it is only under uncomfortable situations we develop to become the best. As our protagonist, the hobbit Bilbo Baggins finds himself in an unexpected adventure, we see his growth as he makes his way out of many tough situations thrown at him with his intellect and courage, which he thought didn't have in him. The book has many great characters, especially Gandalf and Gollum and many others, a lot of funny situations and a great story, the best u can get out of this genre. So overall a great book and a must read.

Annie from USA

This is one of my favorite books of all time. I have read it several times, and it never gets old! A classic, must-read for all ages. Even younger kids can enjoy it when it is read aloud to them! The story is captivating and set the foundation for many other amazing stories, and the character development is superior. Tolkien is one of the greatest word smiths of all time. Most of the people who gave it one star are in middle school reading it because they have to. But I am in sixth grade and can enjoy this book outside of school! I know from experience that over analyzing a book at school can kind of ruin it for you, so I would recommend reading it outside of school so you can appreciate it and read at your own pace and not have to do work on it. In short, this book is a masterpiece.

Yeet boi from Yeet land

Really good book, enjoyed it a lot.

Dadddi from Antartica

This books explores so much of the english language and history as it incorporates Anglo-Saxon style epics with medieval ideologies all while representing middle-class English. WIth great representation of identity and love of home. <3 dadddi

Pranav from India

It is a very nice and adventurous book.

Mia from US

It's sooooooooooooooo gooooood.

Carter from Minnesota

In my opinion this book report is very good. The reason I say this is because It doesn’t just say a summary or just say the summary and the theme. I tells you a lot more stuff such as life lessons, Questions that we might ask, and the answers to those questions. The summary is for the whole story and has lots of imagery and details. The theme tells us specifically that we all have an “inner hobbit” which means don’t be scared of something just because you were scared last time. If you want to go on an adventure or do something that your scared of but on the inside you want to do it, Listen to your inside. The question that stuck out to me the most was “what is a hobbit”. Nobody has truly seen a “hobbit” but nowadays we refer to short or small people as hobbits. I hope you like my “Book Review Review”.

Bronadh from Ireland

This is the BEST book I have EVER read it's AMAZING ❤ I love it

Stan from York

This is a very good book, from what I’ve noticed reading the reviews most of the people that rated it low are saying that because they had to read it at school and had to do loads of tests on it now I’m just saying but maybe if these people tried to read it again then they would enjoy it more. I’m 13 and have read it 2 times and the LOTR series once.

Euan from England

The more I read the more I love it, such a good book👍

FireKitten from Kitten Landia

I LOVE THIS BOOK SO MUCH EVEN THOUGH IT TAKES A WHILE TO GET IN ACTION IT IS WELL PLACED AND IS A GREAT INTRO TO LORD OF THE RINGS.

Bob from Bob land

Very interesting and easy to follow. Definitely recommend this book to all ages

Shankar from India

It is an amazing book. The language is pretty good and the storyline is amazing though it can be slow-paced at times.

Carol from California

It's a wonderful read. The pages literally turn themselves! A must-read book.

Me from Somewhere

It was a very interesting book. Very slow at first but once you got into the book it was was hard to put down. It was a “Tolkien” of excellence... sorry bad pun.

Kristian from Denmark

A great introduction to the Lord of the Rings universe. It's well written and super exciting.

Charlotte from United Kingdom

I love this book, it has so much excitement and imagination and it was hard to put the book down!

Nathan from Australia

Amazing book. Never forgot the storyline because I read it too much!!

Anson from Hong Kong

This book was totally AWESOME. It’s plot is pretty nice and the story flows. How could people not like this? Bilbo Baggins was an amazing character and he ROCKS!!! A few months ago, I had a hard time finding a classical book to read, so I asked my parents and my friends what I should read. A few of them told me to read Harry Potter, but I got tired of those books. Others told me to check out the Hunger Games series, but I thought it was meaningless. The remaining few told me to take a look at Tolkien’s work, so I checked out The Hobbit. I spent 2 hours reading it and it was awesome. Best book ever.

Jasmine from USA

LOVED the book. My classmates had a hard time understanding and so did I.

Allen from Philippines

I watched the movie of this and I think the book was okay, but it was so simple and straight forwards! There were no deeper meanings and it didn't make you think, excluding the part of the riddles. But I would expect this book to have made a bunch of metaphors and stuff like in the movie. I like LOTR better than this so far. After Bilbo left Gollum, it got really really boring. (But I'm imagining the movie part while I reading the book because it's awesome while imagining it).

Izzy from England

AMAZING BOOK LOVE IT SO MUCH BETTER THEN THE FILMS!!!!!!

Evelyn from USA

I liked this book ok, but it was really hard to read, and almost impossible to fully understand what was going on without having to re-reading the chapter.

Max from Aus

I am 11yo and have already read this book 7 times. I have also read the whole of the Lord of the Rings twice and the Silmarillion once and loved them all. The Hobbit is my favorite book in the whole world.

El from Australia

Great, went bit slow sometimes but when it got into the exciting books I couldn't stop reading!!

Emily from USA

If I could rate it an eleven out of ten, I would. A beautifully written book. It makes me want to live there!

Juliet from England

I am a twelve year old reading the book for homework given to me by school. I am currentley on the fourth chapter of the book and I can't stop reading it! Each chapter is beautifully written and the storyline is amazing! This is a book that when you get to the end you will remember all the characters and the story and it will leave you wanting more! I highley recommend this book to anyone willing for an exciting adventure with some of Tolkien's best work!

Jonah from South Africa

It was an awesome book to read. I watched the movie first and I prefer the book over the movie! It's also full of adventure and one of the best books I've read.

Someone from The Netherlands

I'm a fourteen year old learning English as a second language. I had to pick and read a book for my English class. Our teacher said that we had to pick something not too hard, like The Hobbit or Lord of the Rings. As you might guess I didn't really listen to her and decided to prove her wrong with reading The Hobbit. I really enjoyed the story and the use of words didn't really bother me at all. This book totally deserves a 10 out of 10. (Sorry for bad grammar)

Trenton from America

Really inspiring book.

Anon from UK

This book was truly amazing. The first chapter was a little hard to understand, but once I got going I was hooked. The classic writing style was kind of hard to comprehend for me at some points. But overall, great story, great characters, and great details. *Please note that I am only in the fifth grade

Angel from Australia

It's a really good book with so much detail and mystery! We have to read it for a school assignment and all of my friends say it is dull and confusing. Personally i don't agree. Love it!

Anisio from long Island

THE BOOK IS WAY BETTER THAN ANY OTHER!!!

Taylor from Australia

It is a great book.

Alex from America

You can tell that a linguistic professor wrote it.

Amber from Australia

I believe that this is a very well written and inspiring novel. I am in 8th grade and are reading it as the class novel. While it can be a slow read at times it is overall a brilliant read. just as a side note, I don't understand why people giving this a 1/10 are even here, like if you hate the book so much and are to dumb to even slightly understand the quite simple storyline, then why waste more time leaving a review??? just saying XD

Jeff from England

A brilliant book.

Steve from America

I'm by no means a literary critic or an avid reader, but it is quite a good book, very mystical and exciting, though it can be boring at times, although this is the case with any book. If you're looking for a good classic then this would be a good book to pick up.

Seth from Canada

MnM from UK

This book is amazing!!!!!! Love it!!!!!! :)

Paul from Australia

Lol the only people that didn't like the book were because they were in year 7 or something. I'm still pretty young, and I'll admit the vocabulary, etc. is a bit old-fashioned and hard to understand, but otherwise 10/10. The movies are great too.

Car from Hong Kong

Those who rated 1 is total **** who knows nothing of literature.

Rob from Round the roundabout

Great book and all but a little confusing at times as well.

Ashley from North America

This book is a great introduction (and standalone) for anyone interested in reading the Lord of the Rings! I've seen a lot of complaints about the book being too "complicated," but I had this book read aloud to me at 8 years of age and I understood it just fine. This book is narrated beautifully with dark and light themes of heroism and with characters that you don't easily forget. Tolkien is a magnificent writer and this is a book that you don't want to pass up.

It is a good book.

Jackson from United States

A Fantastic Journey Through Middle Earth. Are you craving an extremely immersive book that you just can’t stop reading? The Hobbit is one of the few books that has ever done this to me, being the beginning of a series of books that is probably my favorite of all time. The Hobbit is a fictional fantasy book appropriate for 10+ ages. The Hobbit follows the story of Bilbo Baggins, a hobbit, who is on a journey to steal back the magnificent treasures of the dragon Smaug. The book managed to cover many things that I wanted to see whilst reading. I was immersed in the world, the characters, and the storyline. The plot never failed me. I always felt like I was in a productive part of the book, rather than a slow, unimaginative, and boring section. It is fun to read, and the series of books that it continues into, the Lord of the Rings, is an addition to it all, and provides nothing but more content to explore. The Hobbit has the power to draw in any reader, and keep them for the entire ride. It has an amazing story, colorful characters, and an unforgettable adventure. The only problem was that it didn’t last very long, I just couldn’t stop reading!

allaboutBooks from United States

Loved this book! Have been a fan of Lord of the Rings and Tolkien since I was four years old. The author never lets down. It's an intriguing story as well as fun read; a great prelude to a great trilogy. If you liked this book like I did, you'll probably like the book Some Must Fall. There's a cool website at: thecomingcrown.com

Jet from United States

This is an amazing book full of adventure and even thrilling at times, I have read it multiple times and always have enjoyed it. If you like a book about adventure then i highly recommend this one.

Tanya from India

Its an amazing book. I think everyone should read it.

Alex from Williams

One of my first books that I read (and some of you can relate yes?). The story is fairly linear, and no real character progression. Black and white stuff here. But saying that, it still has that great fantasy feel. Strongly believe its best to read this at a younger age and might seem to simple for an adult reader.

Micah from Illinois

#greatest book ever# blessed

Bilbo Baggins from The Shire

Very good. But harder to read then your average Harry Potter book.

Tommy from W.V.

I love it!!!

Barin from India

It is the one of the best books I ever read. It is quite a simple language and is easy to read.

Agrima from Nepal

Liked it very much. Great work J R R Tolkien.

Luna from Denmark

Bilbo Baggins became my - and I am sure many other readers - favourite fantasy character of all time. The Hobbit has everything a fantasy lover could want: hobbits, dwarves, trolls, goblins, wargs, giant eagles, wizards, shape-shifters, elves, giant-spiders and of course, a dragon. Add to this a mythology that feels authentic and a love that shines out in all the locations and characters and you have a masterpiece of children's literature, Read it to your kids. Read it your yourself.

P****t from Canada

In class we're reading this, and nobody thought it would be good, because the majority of the class only ever read either books about romance (the girls), comics or celebrity magazines. Whenever we read short stories in English class, we would be sooo bored, but this book was actually good (well so far it's good; we haven't finished it yet). It also helped, that we didn't read it all in a couple of days, we spent time with each chapter, really taking the time to understand it, and that helped the class to fall in love with the book. I never thought I would be searching up this book and now actually writing a review for it, especially since I was one of the people who wanted to read The Hobbit the least, but here I am. I really like this book. I'm a teen in grade 9 right now, and this book really isn't bad, you just have to take time to really understand it and eventually (or hopefully) you'll start liking it too!

BANTERMAN from Over the hill and round the bend

I read this book a few years ago and loved it. I own the Xbox game and the box set of movies. By the end of the book you really start to "feel" for all the main characters. I also love the LOTR trilogy.

Dhisana from India

Hobbit!!!!! It's so great!! Even if it's a classic it's very interesting to read! And Bilbo will always remain close to my heart! Great work JRR Tolkien.!!

Fili and Kili of the dead from Dwarf Heaven

I found it amazing. I read it while in my last year of primary school and found it amazing. It was interesting to say the least. But all in all, I loved it in every way. I can't wait until I read the Lord Of The Rings series.

Daniel from Australia

This is a brilliant book. I first read it when I was 11 and I love it. I am doing it for a project right now because of how good it is. A brilliant modern classic recommended to all.

Me from Here

This is a really good book, the language too is pretty good. I did this for my drama exam and there are a lot of good excerpts and there is good scope for improvement... if you can imitate Gollum's voice its even better. :)

Ian Phares from US

THE BEST BOOK EVER!!!

Tracy from England

I love this book immensely!!!

Kaylee from New Zealand

The book is amazing! It's such an interesting read and seeing what Peter Jackson has done with the book is interesting. I would totally suggest this book to other readers if they haven't read it already.

Petwa from Murica

Well Julia you should go back to reading Twilight!

Himika from India

A fitting prequel to Tolkien's epic!! I liked LOTR better but The Hobbit is also a wonderful book!! Bilbo is simply adorable! The only thing I did not like was the lack of females (which is why I am giving it a 9), but that does not reduce the book's charm. While LOTR is a more dark novel, The Hobbit captures every young readers' imagination. I read the book when I was thirteen, and two years later my heart still lingers in the green fields of the Shire, the dark forest of Mirkwood and the steep slopes of the lonely mountain. A definite masterpiece!

Bilbo from The Shire

I love this book, it is literally my life and Frodo's in a little trilogy.

Jasmine from Slovenia

The only reason that I have given it a one, is because there are no zeros or N/A options and I have not actually read the book yet. I plan to check it out of the library tomorrow, because I feel as if I owe it to a good friend of mine to read at least one of his favorite books, because he's read two of my favorites already. Truthfully, I haven't had a lot of exposure to the fantasy genre, being more of a realistic fiction person, but I suppose that there's a first time for everything:) Thanks for letting on-the-fence readers such as myself your opinions. It always helps:):):):)

Christine from The United States

The Hobbit is one of my favorite books. It's a great story, full of adventure and laughter and sadness. My favorite part is when they go to Mirkwood. I've always been fascinated by elves, especially Legolas and was happy when I got to read about where he was from and meet his father. I absolutely adore this book and really enjoy the movies as well!

Rakshit from India

I felt bad when this story ended, I was lost in story. And Bilbo, my friend, I felt like I was with him throughout the story, doing adventures... Love this book.

Aasim from India

Awesome book. Love it.

Aniya from US

This was an amzing fairytale. It left me wanting more and feeling like Fili, Kili and Throin at the battle of the five armies. Tolkien to me is an amazing author that created a fantasy land where it doesn't end with happily ever after. He shows that fantasy isn't necessarily a happy thing. He showed me this. Thank you J.R.R. Tolkien.

Ridz from India

Oh gosh!!!!!!!! Love dis book ;) Dis can't be compared to Harry Potter or Percy Jackson n stuff coz this falls in a different league..... the descriptions r so vivid I really think I am ready to meet d Hobbit n party n go for an adventure. Book is better dan d movie.

Navid from Bangladesh

The book was just spectacular . The story was amazing, awesome, astounding, fantastic and mindblowing.

Jen from US

The Hobbit is a children's book that fully deserves the tag classic. I have read it twice now and each time have found myself completely lost in the world that Tolkien has created. The book is definitely better than the film.

Max from USA

Although this book is slightly hard to read, once you get into the story it is interesting and exciting. J.R.R. Tolkien conveys a great message that there is more to a person than meets the eye. Through all of the adversity that Bilbo has to endure, he uses his wits to be the unlikely hero in every situation. Although he is not the ideal hero, Gandalf sees that Bilbo is a courageous person inside. This book is appealing to all ages and to both men and women. Just as there is more to Bilbo Baggins than meets the eye, this book is much deeper than just an adventure story.

Everybody from Everywhere

This book is the Jesus of fantasy novels!

RJ from Philippines

BEST BOOK EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Henry from Not telling

I LOVE THIS PIECE OF LEGEND BY DR.LEGEND HIMSELF J.R.R.TOLKIEN

Levi from America

It's a great book that deserves more than just my mere praise. I applaud Tolkien not only for his brilliant series, but his vast imagination and contribution to the world of writing.

Pelle from Sweden

Fantastic! I have read The Hobbit several times, and it is one of my favorite books of all time.

Ignacio from United States

This is the best book ever, the description was so vivid, it was like I was in the book, and the adventure thrilled me with every word.

Classified from Australia

Awesome book, I think everyone should get it. I can't wait until the move comes out, so exited!

Kevan from India

I am surprised that The Hobbit is as low as the 18th in your list. It is an outstanding novel with few peers.

Darin from USA

Amazing book, I love how it describes everything, it feels like I could envision being there. A must read.

Nobody from Nowhere

I love this book, it's full of adventure danger, and self conflict.

Joshua from England

I gave the hobbit a 10 because it is dynamic and so well written and so detailed that I could never possibly vote it lower then a 10, never. For those of you who have read the brilliant The Lord of the Rings would realise the structure of the book and how diffrently it is written. So to the point, The Hobbit is a classic and Tolkien is the king of all fantasy and as a 13 year old school-nerd would like to become an author so in a word I will describe The Hobbit as brilliant. Thanks for reading.

Luffy from One Piece

It was a really epic book but some of the words were kind of hard...

Tom from UK

Great for ages 14+ if you love fantasy. Not as complicated as The Lord of the Rings, so it's a great taster for the fantasy genre and Tolkien's books meaning a younger audience will enjoy it just as much as the older audience.

Henry Pickup from Leeds

I think the book is gripping because when I read the first page I went on and read a 100 pages in one night and then the next day I finished it!

A.R. Fallaha from Syria

This is the best book I've ever read.

Jonathon from Glasgow

A great read, just finished reading it for the first time and I'm sure I'll read it many more times. It chronicles the quests of the hobbit Bilbo Baggins on his journey to the Lonely Mountain and his adventures when he finally arrives. It is a deceptively large adventure in a deceptively small book.

Mariah from Arizona

I really enjoyed reading The Hobbit. I like fantasy in general, and I like seeing the backstory to Lord of the Rings, which I am currently reading. Both are good stories, but The Hobbit is faster-moving, more lighthearted, and somewhat easier to get through.

Je from Banbry

I love The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings is just as good. I love them both!

JOJO from Miami

The Hobbit will have any reader lying on the couch for hours not wanting it to end.

SIMPLE SPLENDID IMAGINATION AND BRILLIANT ADVENTURE Simple - splendid imagination and brilliant adventure.

Mimi from Manila

Would love to read it over and over. Tolkien could bring the stuff in children's dreams and nightmares to life.

Peter from Canada

The Hobbit is a recital of events, expressing divinity abroad an air of nothingness, an otherwise logical mind will find it will be able to start an unquenchable, superabounding desire to know more about Tolkien and his works of secondary identity.

Anthony from Cardiff

This book is brilliant and a must read! I preferred it to the Lord of the Rings.

Rob from Huddersfield

Thank you to my year 1 high school english teacher (sorry, I forget your name). This was the first book he assigned me to read, and I have loved it ever since. What else is there to say but perfection and when my son is old enough to appreciate it, I will read it to him too.

Aaron from USA

This book was recommended to me by my freshman English teacher in high school. It is one of my, if not my favorite book of all times. I will keep reading this book until the day I die, and I will also have it berried with me. :)

Nicolau from USA

This is the best book I've ever read and I believe it is his best work, much better than LOTR.

Likkamatti from Finland

It was so much fun reading The Hobbit. It wasn`t better than LOTR but it`s still one of my favourite fantasy books. It was happier than LOTR and it`s more comfortable for younger readers. A very good book.

My favorite fantasy book. Tolkien is simply amazing when it comes to writing. Bilbo is such a good and solid character!

Unknown from Coolsville

I love all the Tolkien books but this one is my favourite!

Lara from Stoke

This book is now over 70 years old and reads as well today as it did back then. The label "Timeless classic" is given to too many books but in the case of The Hobbit it is fully deserved. Bilbo Baggins is the best character ever and even without the Lord of the Rings this book would still be around today. What can I say? A timeless classic!

Jane from England

The Hobbit is a lovely book, I must have read it at least 15 times between the ages of 12 and 30 and it gets better each time. I think you have the rating spot on with 9 out of 10.

9.7 /10 from 140 reviews

All JRR Tolkien Reviews

• The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrún
• The Lord of the Rings
• The Children Of Hurin
• The Silmarillion
• Tales from the Perilous Realm
• The Art of the Hobbit
• The Story of Kullervo
• The Lay of Aotrou and Itroun
• Beren and Luthien
• The Fall of Arthur
• The Fall of Gondolin
• Sauron Defeated (The History of The Lord of the Rings: Part 4)

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The Hobbit by JRR Tolkien - review

This book has got to be one of the greatest books I have ever read. While the Lord of the Rings was targeted at a much older audience, I think that The Hobbit appeals more to younger people because it is less complicated and a whole lot shorter. The Hobbit is based on events that took place before the Lord of the Rings trilogy begins – before the ring was discovered essentially - but it has no less adventure. J.R.R. Tolkein delivers yet again!

In The Hobbit, young Bilbo Baggins casually living in his comfortable little hobbit hole is whisked away by the legendary wizard Gandalf and a group of fearless dwarves to reclaim their stolen treasure. Long ago, back in the day when dwarves inhabited the lonely mountain, they were renowned for their mining skills. They put these to good use in digging out gold from beneath their feet.

But as their gold treasure pile grew and grew, it caught the attention of the evil dragon Smaug. Dragons of course are known for their love of gold and must have more of it at any cost. Smaug, an especially large and selfish dragon attacked the lonely mountain and drove the dwarves away (unable to get any help from the elves).

This situation persisted until, one day, thirteen dwarves and Gandalf descended unannounced at Bilbo Baggin's little hobbit hole. There they appealed to Bilbo's innate sense of adventure and managed to convince him to accompany them on their epic journey to reclaim their long lost gold. And hence commenced a journey that promised to change Bilbo's life and reputation forever (only if he returns from it alive of course).

The adventure begins as soon as the trolls arrive on the scene, intent on kidnapping dwarves and putting them into their stew. If they can get past these evil creatures, they would still need to cross the enchanted Mirkwood forest with its elephant sized spiders, wicked trees that are really traps, and a myriad of illusions. Only if they can manage to get out alive, they still have to defeat the goblin king and fend off the Wargs (think mutated wolves ridden by Orcs).

This is an adventure of a lifetime. You will not be disappointed. I would give this book a solid 9/10 because it was just a great read overall. Being at the same level as the Lord of the Rings is no mean feat, but this book manages it with ease!

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by J.R.R. Tolkien

• The Hobbit Summary

The Hobbit is the story of Bilbo Baggins , a hobbit who lives in Hobbiton. He enjoys a peaceful and pastoral life but his life is interrupted by a surprise visit by the wizard Gandalf . Before Bilbo is really able to improve upon the situation, Gandalf has invited himself to tea and when he arrives, he comes with a company of dwarves led by Thorin. They are embarking on a journey to recover lost treasure that is guarded by the dragon Smaug , at the Lonely Mountain. Gandalf has decided, much to Bilbo's chagrin, that the hobbit will make an excellent addition to the team and Bilbo is going to play the role of a burglar. As they start on their way, Bilbo has serious misgivings.

On the journey, Bilbo and the dwarves encounter all sorts of villains and obstacles. They have not traveled very far when they stumble upon a group of trolls. A combination of Gandalf's wizardry and Bilbo's burglary land the group out of harm's way. They are able to replenish their supplies with the food that they find in the trolls' lodging place and they soon move on, pensive and fearful.

Gandalf leads the group to a place where they can get a short rest and they pass through the country of the elves. It is June and all of the joys and songs of midsummer are on display. Bilbo and the dwarves stay at the house of Elrond , an old friend of Gandalf. As they continue on their journey, Bilbo is depressed and nostalgic. The group passes through a mountain chain and two of the dwarves, Fili and Kili , locate a cave for the group to sleep for the night‹but the cave turns out to be inhabited by Goblins. Bilbo's startled yell helps to save the group.

And after these difficulties, there is trouble with giant spiders and with elves before the group actually arrives at Smaug's mountain. In these travels though, Bilbo has outwitted a creature called Gollum , and gained a ring that makes him invisible. This is certainly helpful in battling the Giant Spiders and getting the dwarves out of the Elvenking's prison. But the ring is especially needed when the group arrives at Smaug's mountain. Once there, the dwarves argue about who will enter Smaug's cave and since Bilbo is the burglar, Bilbo must go ahead and face the challenge. He follows the treacherous course into the heart of the cave and though he is sure he is in danger, he is attracted by a red glow that compels him to approach. This is the glow of Smaug. Bilbo manages to steal a cup and hurriedly exits but Smaug awakens and begins to rage. The lake-town of Esgaroth is the victim of Smaug's terror, for the information that he learns from Bilbo gives him reason to believe that they are involved in the theft of his cup. Bard , the grim-voiced, grim-faced man, is willing to challenge Snaug and he has help from a messenger bird, called a thrush. The thrush relays information that Bilbo discovered while in Smaug's lair: the hollow of Smaug's left breast is not plated with his red-gold armor. When Bard strikes this spot, Smaug falls dead, his massive body crushing the city of Esgaroth. The survivors seek Bard as their new king but Bard provisionally declines the offer, though he intends to establish his own city. As the news of Smaug's death spreads, various groups advance towards the mountain‹for there is treasure to be had.

Thorin continues to speak of the Arkenstone because it means so much to him, as it is an heirloom and he threatens to take revenge on whoever has prevented him from getting it. In spite of this warning, Bilbo decides that he will leave the mountain and offer the Arkenstone to Bard; then, Bard can offer the Arkenstone to Thorin in exchange for a fair portion of the treasure. Thorin is thinking of ways to avoid a fair bargain and when battle erupts, it includes men, elves and dwarves. They are ready to attack one another until Gandalf announces the approach of the Goblins, bats, wolves and Wargs. The armies re-align themselves and conduct what became known as the "Battle of Five Armies." The Goblins and Wild Wolves battle against the Elves, Men and Dwarves. Gandalf has expected some sort of assault but it did come swifter than he had expected. The Goblins are initially repelled and ambushed by the Elves, but a reinforcement of Goblin troops tilts the balance of the battle. It is only with the final arrival of the Eagles, that the forces of good are sustained. Unfortunately, Bilbo is "smote" with a "stone hurtling from above...and he fell with a crash and knew no more."

When Bilbo regains consciousness, he finds that he is alone and he has to take his ring off so that the individuals who were sent for him can find him. After recovering in the company of Gandalf, Bilbo makes his way back home and their journey‹though covering the same perilous terrain‹is far more pleasant and mild than it was the first time. As Bilbo says, "So comes snow after fire, and even dragons have their ending." Gandalf and Bilbo pass through Rivendell and eventually make their way to Hobbiton. It is summer and Bilbo is disappointed to learn that he is legally dead. Greedy cousins, the Sackville-Bagginses are auctioning his property because he is "Presumed Dead." They are more than a little displeased at his arrival and it takes several years for Bilbo to sort out the legalisms. In fact, Bilbo had to buy back a good deal of his own furniture‹his reputation, for better or worse, was harder to reclaim. But as for Bilbo, son of Belladonna Took , "for ever after he remained an elf-friend, and had the honour of dwarves, wizards, and all such folk as ever passed that way.

The Hobbit Questions and Answers

The Question and Answer section for The Hobbit is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel.

find one sentence on pages 175, 186, and 187 which demonstrates a narration that speaks directly on the reader.

"Poor Mr. Baggins - it was a weary long time that he lived in that place all alone, and always in hiding, never daring to take off his ring, hardly daring to sleep, even tucked away in the darkest and remotest comers he could find."

Chapter 16 A Thief in the Night

Gandalf is proud of Bilbo's problem solving skills. Bilbo knew his actions would have consequences, and yet, he did what he believed to be right anyway.

Who are Bilbo’s visitors? How does Bilbo react to them?

Thirteen dwarves and one wizard. Bilbo feels irritated and annoyed by them, yet interested in what they have to say.

Study Guide for The Hobbit

The Hobbit study guide contains a biography of J.R.R. Tolkien, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis.

• About The Hobbit
• Character List
• Chapters 1-4 Summary and Analysis

Essays for The Hobbit

The Hobbit essays are academic essays for citation. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien.

• Tolkien's Hobbit: From Children's Story to Mythic Creation
• Heroes and the Hobbit
• Sting and Bilbo: Significance of the Small in The Hobbit
• Archetypes of Englishness in The Hobbit and Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland
• The Impact of Setting in The Hobbit

Lesson Plan for The Hobbit

• About the Author
• Study Objectives
• Common Core Standards
• Introduction to The Hobbit
• Relationship to Other Books
• Bringing in Technology
• Notes to the Teacher
• Related Links
• The Hobbit Bibliography

Wikipedia Entries for The Hobbit

• Introduction
• Concept and creation
• Critical analysis

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Brilliantly written, inventive pre-LOTR tale.

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this book.

Dig deeper into J.R.R. Tolkien's world, and reader

Shows how greed for riches can blind you and that

Bilbo is hired as a thief and does do some stealin

Fights with a dragon, trolls, giant spiders, wood

"Hell" (spelled "'ell") and "curse it!"

Lots of tobacco smoking with pipes -- trying to ge

Parents need to know that, of J.R.R. Tolkien's many excellent books, The Hobbit is the better choice for tweens. It makes a great read-aloud for kids 8 and up and read-alone for 10 or 11 and up. Kids younger than 8 will probably have a tough time with both the vocabulary and some of the violence. Of…

Educational Value

Dig deeper into J.R.R. Tolkien's world, and readers will find out more about his made-up languages and runes, as well as art inspired by this book and the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Younger readers will also build up their vocabulary, so keep a dictionary handy. Words like "flummoxed" should be looked up so kids get the full enjoyment out of Tolkien's beautiful writing.

Positive Messages

Shows how greed for riches can blind you and that peace is more important than shiny possessions. Also, that giving up the comforts of home is worth it for adventure, but it's always nice to find home again. Throughout the book, a big value is placed on bravery, friendship, and using brains over brawn.

Positive Role Models

Bilbo is hired as a thief and does do some stealing from enemies, but mostly he shows bravery, cunning, and loyalty to his group of travelers while helping them get out of a number of sticky situations. Most heroically, he takes a stand against Thorin, hoping to show him that his greed for gold isn't worth spilling blood over. Gandalf is a mentor for the dwarves and Bilbo, advising them on how to reach their goal and avoid danger but also imparting much wisdom along the way.

Violence & Scariness

Fights with a dragon, trolls, giant spiders, wood elves, goblins, and evil wolves. The dwarves and Bilbo are captured a few times, whipped once, almost cooked once, and strung upside down to be eaten later. Swords and arrows kill in a big battle that includes some sad deaths. There's talk of how a dragon destroyed whole towns of men and dwarves around his hoard. Bilbo has a creepy encounter in the dark with Gollum, who keeps thinking about how he'd like to eat him. Few truly gory details except a goblin head and a wolf skin propped up on a gate.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.

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Drinking, Drugs & Smoking

Lots of tobacco smoking with pipes -- trying to get big rings and magically float them. Drinking, too, by dwarves, elves, and Gandalf. Two elves fall asleep drinking.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Drinking, Drugs & Smoking in your kid's entertainment guide.

Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that, of J.R.R. Tolkien's many excellent books, The Hobbit is the better choice for tweens. It makes a great read-aloud for kids 8 and up and read-alone for 10 or 11 and up. Kids younger than 8 will probably have a tough time with both the vocabulary and some of the violence. Of particular note for bedtime readers: scary scenes in the pitch-blackness when Bilbo the hobbit is threatened by goblins and trolls in caves, and a very creepy scene with Gollum, who keeps thinking about how he'd like to eat Bilbo. The dwarves and Bilbo are captured a few times, whipped once, almost cooked once, and strung upside down to be eaten later. Swords and arrows kill in a big battle that includes some sad deaths. Few truly gory details except a goblin head and a wolf skin propped up on a gate. And there are fights with big spiders and evil wolves. Dwarves, Gandalf, and Bilbo love their drink and making smoke rings from their pipes. This classic adventure brings out the best in the little hobbit at its center: bravery, loyalty, cunning, and the guts to take a stand against friends blinded by greed so he can help bring about peace. Rob Inglis reads the audiobook version.

Where to Read

Community reviews.

• Parents say (30)
• Kids say (135)

Based on 30 parent reviews

J. R. R. Tolkien’s classic left a lot to be desired with one-dimensional characters and a repetitive plot.

What's the story.

Bilbo Baggins, a simple Hobbit, never asked for adventure. It literally came knocking on his door -- 13 dwarves (Tolkien's spelling with the \"v\") and Gandalf the wizard show up to tea to hire Bilbo as a thief in their quest to reclaim a hoard of treasure. It's stashed far away and guarded by a fierce dragon, Smaug. Bilbo will have to cross the Misty Mountains -- troll and goblin country -- and the untamed wilds of Mirkwood, where straying from the path can be deadly. In exchange, he gets an even share of the treasure and quite a story to tell. But is one little hobbit really up for such a big adventure?

Is It Any Good?

There are few worlds more richly imagined than Tolkien's Middle Earth. Readers would get caught up just in his exquisitely imaginative details if it weren't for the nonstop adventure; it's a perfect balance. Add to that a wonderful main character -- the hairy-footed little hobbit who truly triumphs -- and you have the perfect fantasy-adventure. This is how it's done.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

Families can talk about how Bilbo changes over the course of the book. Why is he reluctant to have an adventure at first? Would you choose a comfy hobbit-hole over a meeting with a dragon (and riches), or would you face adversity and adventure head-on?

For those reading as a family, what parts are the best to read aloud? Is it easier to get through the scary scenes with company? What other books appeal to readers of many ages?

Can you see why the fimmakers decided to break the movie version of The Hobbit into three installments?

Book Details

• Author : J.R.R. Tolkien
• Genre : Fantasy
• Topics : Magic and Fantasy , Adventures , Friendship , Great Boy Role Models , Monsters, Ghosts, and Vampires
• Book type : Fiction
• Publisher : Houghton Mifflin Children's Books
• Publication date : September 21, 1937
• Publisher's recommended age(s) : 9 - 12
• Number of pages : 272
• Available on : Paperback, Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Audiobook (abridged), Hardback, iBooks, Kindle, App
• Last updated : July 12, 2017

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Plot and Themes of J.R.R. Tolkien's Book 'The Hobbit'

A precursor to 'The Lord of the Rings'

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"The Hobbit: Or, There and Back Again" was written by J.R.R. Tolkien as a children's book and first published in Great Britain in 1937 by George Allen & Unwin. It was published just before the outbreak of WWII in Europe, and the book acts as a prologue of sorts for the great trilogy, The Lord of the Rings . While it was originally conceived as a book for children, it has been accepted as a great work of literature in its own right.

While "The Hobbit" was by no means the first fantasy novel, it was among the first to combine influences from multiple sources. Elements of the book draw from Norse mythology, classic fairy tales, Jewish literature, and the works of 19th century Victorian children's authors such as George MacDonald (author The Princess and the Goblin , among others). The book also experiments with a variety of literary techniques including forms of "epic" poetry and song.

The novel takes place in the fictional land of Middle Earth, a complex fantasy world which Tolkien developed in detail. The book contains carefully drawn maps showing various parts of Middle Earth including the peaceful and fertile Shire, the Mines of Moria, the Lonely Mountain, and Mirkwood Forest. Each area of Middle Earth has its own history, characters, qualities, and significance.

Main Characters

The characters in "The Hobbit" include a wide range of fantasy creatures, most drawn from classical fairy tales and mythology. The hobbits themselves, however, are Tolkien's own creation. Small, home-loving people, hobbits are also called "halflings." They are very similar to small human beings except for their very large feet. Some of the main characters in the book include:

• Bilbo Baggins , a quiet, unassuming Hobbit and the protagonist of the story.
• Gandalf , a wizard who initiates Bilbo’s journey with the dwarves. Gandalf causes Bilbo to set aside his reputation for cautious respectability and go on an adventure that will change the hobbit forever.
• Thorin Oakenshield , the leader of a group of 13 dwarves who wish to recover a treasure horde stolen by a dragon.
• Elrond , a wise leader of the elves.
• Gollum , a once-human creature who found and is governed by a great ring of power.
• Smaug , the dragon and antagonist of the story.

Plot and Storyline

The story of "The Hobbit" begins in the Shire, land of the hobbits. The Shire is similar to a pastoral English countryside, and the hobbits are represented as quiet, agricultural people who shun adventure and travel. Bilbo Baggins, the protagonist of the story, is surprised to find himself hosting a group of dwarves and the great wizard, Gandalf. The group has decided that now is the right time to journey to the Lonely Mountain, where they will retake the dwarves' treasure from the dragon , Smaug. They have nominated Bilbo to join the expedition as their "burglar."

Though initially reluctant, Bilbo agrees to join the group, and they head off far from the Shire into the increasingly dangerous sections of Middle Earth.

Along the journey, Bilbo and his company meet up with a wide range of creatures both beautiful and terrible. As he is tested, Bilbo discovers his own inner strength, loyalty, and cunning. Each chapter involves an interaction with a new set of characters and challenges:

• The group is captured by trolls and nearly eaten, but are saved when sunlight strikes the trolls and they are turned to stone.
• Gandalf leads the group to the Elven settlement of Rivendell where they meet the Elvish leader, Elrond.
• The group is caught by goblins and driven deep underground. Although Gandalf rescues them, Bilbo gets separated from the others as they flee the goblins. Lost in the goblin tunnels, he stumbles across a mysterious ring and then encounters Gollum, who engages him in a game of riddles. As a reward for solving all riddles Gollum will show him the path out of the tunnels, but if Bilbo fails, his life will be forfeit. With the help of the ring, which confers invisibility, Bilbo escapes and rejoins the dwarves, improving his reputation with them. The goblins and Wargs give chase, but the company is saved by eagles.
• The company enters the black forest of Mirkwood without Gandalf. In Mirkwood, Bilbo first saves the dwarves from giant spiders and then from the dungeons of the Wood-elves. Nearing the Lonely Mountain, the travelers are welcomed by the human inhabitants of Lake-town, who hope the dwarves will fulfill prophecies of Smaug's demise.
• The expedition travels to the Lonely Mountain and finds the secret door; Bilbo scouts the dragon's lair, stealing a great cup and learning of a weakness in Smaug's armor. The enraged dragon, deducing that Lake-town has aided the intruder, sets out to destroy the town. A thrush has overheard Bilbo's report of Smaug's vulnerability and reports it to Lake-town defender Bard. His arrow finds the chink and slays the dragon.
• When the dwarves take possession of the mountain, Bilbo finds the Arkenstone, an heirloom of Thorin's dynasty, and hides it away. The Wood-elves and Lake-men besiege the mountain and request compensation for their aid, reparations for Lake-town's destruction, and settlement of old claims on the treasure. Thorin refuses and, having summoned his kin from the Iron Hills, reinforces his position. Bilbo tries to ransom the Arkenstone to head off a war, but Thorin is intransigent. He banishes Bilbo, and battle seems inevitable.
• Gandalf reappears to warn all of an approaching army of goblins and Wargs. The dwarves, men, and elves band together, but only with the timely arrival of the eagles and Beorn do they win the climactic Battle of Five Armies. Thorin is fatally wounded and reconciles with Bilbo before he dies. Bilbo accepts only a small portion of his share of the treasure, having no want or need for more, but still returns home a very wealthy hobbit.

"The Hobbit" is a simple tale when compared to Tolkien's masterpiece "The Lord of the Rings." It does, however, contain several themes:

• It explores the process by which an untested individual develops the insight and skills to become a leader;
• It guides the reader to question the value of wealth as opposed to peace and contentment;
• It builds on Tolkien's personal experience in World War I to consider the question of whether victory, though desirable, is worth the price of war.
• Selected Quotes From 'The Hobbit' by J.R.R. Tolkien
• The Best Editions of The Hobbit for Young People
• The Definition of Quest in Literature
• 9 Books From the 1930s That Resonate Today
• Dante's Inferno: A Guide to the 9 Circles of Hell
• Quotes About Dragons
• About The Spiderwick Chronicles
• Famous First Lines of Novels
• Exercise in Identifying Prepositional Phrases
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• Fronting: Definition and Examples
• Famous Last Words: Fictional Characters, Books and Plays
• What Is a Kurultai?
• Air, Ere, and Heir: How to Choose the Right Word
• 10 Common Themes in Literature

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Book Review

The hobbit, or there and back again.

• J.R.R. Tolkien
• Adventure , Fantasy

Readability Age Range

• Houghton Mifflin in the U.S.; George Allen & Unwin, Ltd. of London was its original publisher.

Year Published

This book has been reviewed by Focus on the Family’s marriage and parenting magazine. It is a prelude to the “Lord of the Rings” series.

Plot Summary

In the fantasy world of Middle Earth, hobbits are half the size of humans. Bilbo Baggins is a respectable hobbit who enjoys his calm life until Gandalf the wizard tells him to prepare for an adventure. Gandalf has volunteered Bilbo to join a group of dwarves who are going to a faraway mountain. The dwarves want to steal their gold back from a dragon named Smaug. Bilbo is hired as the burglar of the company, even though he has no experience in stealing treasure or having adventures.

Bilbo is used to the comforts of home and finds the journey uncomfortable. Trolls capture Bilbo and the dwarves, but Gandalf rejoins the company in time to save them. The companions travel to Rivendell, a city of elves, and learn of a secret entrance to the dragon’s lair. As they travel, they are captured by goblins, chased by wolves and taken prisoner by Wood-elves. Every time trouble arises, either Bilbo or Gandalf manages to save everyone from destruction.

Along the way, Bilbo gets lost in an underground tunnel and finds a ring. He meets an evil creature named Gollum and escapes by putting on the ring, which makes him invisible.

When the dwarves finally reach the Lonely Mountain, Bilbo goes into Smaug’s cave and talks to the dragon, but Bilbo does so with the ring on his finger, which makes him invisible. Bilbo discovers a weak spot in Smaug’s armor. Later, a human archer kills Smaug by shooting an arrow into that weak spot.

The dwarves reclaim their stolen gold, but men and elves also lay claim to the treasure. The different armies are about to fight each other for it, but an army of goblins arrives and the dwarves, men and elves join forces against the goblins. The goblins are defeated, but some of the dwarves that started the adventure are killed in battle.

Bilbo returns home with a small share of the dragon’s gold and settles back into a quiet life in his hobbit village.

Christian Beliefs

Christianity does not exist in Middle Earth, but many Christian readers find biblical principles in Tolkien’s writings.

Other Belief Systems

The dwarves are superstitious; they are reluctant to travel with only 13 companions. Bilbo is mainly accepted into their company because he makes 14.

Gandalf is a wizard. His use of magic is intermittent. Often, he simply solves the dwarves’ problems by applying his superior knowledge.

Three trolls turn to stone when they are caught outside in the daylight. Trolls were supposedly made out of stone originally, but their maker is not mentioned.

Elves are said to be magical.

Bilbo’s magic ring makes him turn invisible. The ring’s power is explained in J.R.R. Tolkien’s later book The Fellowship of the Ring .

Beorn is a skin-changer who spends part of his time as a bear and part as a man.

Gandalf mentions a black sorcerer called the Necromancer.

Authority Roles

Gandalf maintains a grumpy attitude, but he always acts in the best interests of others.

The dwarf Thorin acts formally and thinks highly of his own importance, though he usually does whatever is best for all of his companions. However, once he gains greater authority and is dubbed King Under the Mountain, he becomes greedy and his pride nearly destroys his friends.

Elrond is a wise and kind leader of the elves in Rivendell.

The king of the Wood-elves is greedy and suspicious. He imprisons the dwarves even though they are weary travelers looking for shelter. He later joins forces with them to fight the goblins, and he shows kindness to Bilbo.

Profanity & Violence

The word queer is used to mean something unusual. One of the trolls says h— , and the trolls insult each another with the word booby . The word faggots is used in the archaic sense and means a bundle of sticks or firewood.

Most of the violence is confined to spoken threats. The trolls are cannibals and have an argument about how they are going to cook and eat the dwarves. Goblins sing about killing and eating the dwarves, and giant spiders also discuss how to eat the dwarves. Gollum wants to eat Bilbo.

There are many deaths and casualties at the Battle of Five Armies.

Sexual Content

Discussion topics.

Get free discussion questions for this book and others, at FocusOnTheFamily.com/discuss-books .

Additional Comments

Alcohol: Characters drink wine and beer with meals. Bilbo helps the dwarves escape from prison because the Wood-elves who guard them are drunk.

Tobacco: All the main characters smoke pipes.

Movie tie-in: Producers often use a book as a springboard for a movie idea or to earn a specific rating. Because of this, a movie may differ from the novel. To better understand how this book and the movie differ, compare the book review with Plugged In’s movie reviews for The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey , The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug and The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies .

You can request a review of a title you can’t find at [email protected] .

Book reviews cover the content, themes and worldviews of fiction books, not their literary merit, and equip parents to decide whether a book is appropriate for their children. The inclusion of a book’s review does not constitute an endorsement by Focus on the Family.

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The latest book reviews and book news, the hobbit: book review.

The Hobbit book review

There may be many great children’s novel but one that takes the throne for me is The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien. Everything from the world building to the adventure style of the novel make it a great read. And the great characters that have stayed with us since the book was first released in 1937.

The Hobbit: Summary

All it starts with Bilbo Baggins (a hobbit) hosting a party that he had no idea he was going to host. Galdalf the wizard tricks Bilbo to host Thorin Oakenshield and his twelve companions whom are all dwarves. During the party, Gandalf tells the dwarves that Bilbo should be their “burgler” for the hunt for the dragon Smaug’s guarded treasure. Bilbo decides to tag along despite hobbits not being the adventures type.

As the group enters the wild, they face many challenges. Bilbo and his friends have to navigate across the country with some help from Gandalf. But Gandalf comes and goes as urgent matters call him. Thus, Bilbo must use his wit to survive and not be killed by Goblins or worse.

The Hobbit is a simple adventure tale yet that is exactly why it is great. Now, there are a lot of adventure novels and a lot of them do burrow from Tolkien and his world. It is no surprise that almost a century later, Tolkien’s novel along with The Lord of the Rings Trilogy is still inspiring authors and novels.

While the Hobbit does take place before the Lord of the Rings, you don’t have to read it to follow the series. Tolkien gives a short recap which doesn’t capture the epic tale of Bilbo Baggins. But most likely, you will want to read The Hobbit and want to experience the whole world Tolkien has built with meticulous care.

If you are a fan of the fantasy genre, then reading Tolkien is a must. He is the father of the genre and you will definitely see his mark in other books once you read his novels. And even now, there are few novels that are as complicated in their world as the Lord of the Rings. So make sure to add this novel and the main series to your reading list if you haven’t already read it!

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I loved The Hobbit–I’m reading the main series right now. Fantasy is my favorite 💕💕

The Hobbit and the main series are the best fantasy novels there are. You’ll notice how many fantasy novels took inspiration from LOTG.

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The Hobbit: 20 Differences Between The Book & The Movies

• From Gandalf seeking out Bilbo for the quest to the dwarven contract and Bilbo leaving Bag-End, key changes enhance the cinematic experience.
• Film additions like the White Council and new characters like Tauriel and Azog add depth and dramatic tension, although some changes may divide fans.
• Sting's history, Bilbo's age difference, and Frodo's cameo all depict divergences from the original book, shaping the cinematic adaptation.

When it comes to The Hobbit book vs movie there are many notable differences, and some are quite surprising. When Peter Jackson announced that he’d be directing a trilogy based on J. R. R. Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings prequel, The Hobbit , the response was one of excitement. However, the trilogy left some fans of the book were confused, given how little the amount of source material was available to flesh out such an ambitious project. In his transformation of the book into a trilogy of big-budget Hollywood action blockbusters, Jackson took many creative liberties.

This inevitably meant that the differences between The Hobbit book and movies were stark. Jackson implemented changes galore, adding in plenty of new content which was loosely adapted from Tolkien's other works. Some of it hit the mark, while the rest felt like superfluous filler. There's no question that in the case of The Hobbit book vs movie, Jackson did his best to please audiences. However, there were a few alterations that many fans didn't feel fit the story at all, making it seem like Jackson was trying to add extraneous connections to LOTR to capitalize on its success.

11 Lord Of The Rings Movie Changes Peter Jackson Was Right To Make

Gandalf's reason for seeking out bilbo, the gandalf of the novel never met child bilbo.

Gandalf's reasons for finding Bilbo are different when looking at The Hobbit book vs movie. In the novelization of The Hobbit , it is established that Gandalf seeks out Bilbo for the quest, particularly because of a memory he had of his mother. According to Gandalf, he was impressed by Belladonna Took, because of her adventurous spirit and personality, and he hoped that side would come out if Bilbo joined them on an adventure.

In the film, Gandalf reminisces about knowing Bilbo as a young boy, who adored the thought of danger, excitement, and adventure. The change isn't a huge one, but it does say a lot about Bilbo's character as he appeared in the book, versus the film adaptation. Either way, it's an opportunity for Gandalf to deliver one of his best lines of the trilogy .

The Dwarven Contract

Peter jackson made the paperwork longer for comic effect.

Another one of the biggest differences between The Hobbit book and movie is the dwarven contract. The dwarves play a central role in both The Hobbit movies and the original book, with the presence of the race as a whole far greater than it was in Lord of the Rings. In fact, it's partially due to a contract with the dwarves that Bilbo leaves the shire in the first place. The details of the dwarven contract with Bilbo Baggins are never explicitly specified, which is why it's so comical to see the film version go on forever when unrolled.

It was Jackson's way of injecting some comedy into the film, especially at such an early start to the story.

It was Jackson's way of injecting some comedy into the film, especially at such an early start to the story. In the book, the contract is a simple note left on his mantle, with two short paragraphs acting as content. That's a stark contrast to the film version, and one of the few changes Jackson made that actually helped make the story better.

Bilbo Leaving Bag-End

In peter jackson's version of the tale hobbits never travel light.

Even the way that Bilbo leaves Bag-End contrasts in the case of The Hobbit book vs movie. This change was small, but noticeable, and it occurs when Bilbo finally decides to make a go of it and join the dwarves on their adventure. In the film, he races after them with a backpack full of stuff and catches up with them before they get too far down the road. In the book, however, it is said that Bilbo left Bag-End without even a handkerchief in his pocket.

In truth, Jackson's change was probably for the best, as any Hobbit would never run off without a few of the comforts of home. It's established in the Lord of the Rings movies that Hobbits enjoy their creature comforts, with the likes of Samwise Gamgee bemoaning his of any food other than Lambas bread even while in grave danger, and Pippin insisting on second breakfast. With this context in the cinematic franchise, it makes much more sense that Bilbo left The Shire well-prepared.

Knowledge Of The Necromancer

Gandalf already knew about the antagonist in the book.

Sauron is a mystery to those who only watched the movies , but changing Gandalf's knowledge of the Necromancer arguably broke canon when it comes to The Hobbit book vs movie. In The Hobbit films, Gandalf learns of the Necromancer when he speaks to Radagast, which is what Peter Jackson used as the reason for Gandalf leaving Thorin and company.

This change was likely made to ensure audiences weren't lost along the way as the story unfolded

However, in the book, Gandalf is already well aware of the Necromancer. In J.R.R Tolkien's version of The Hobbit , Gandalf has already visited Dol Guldur, and heard of the Necromancer, as it was there that he encountered Thráin, the father of Thorin Oakenshield, and received the map and key that he later gives to Thorin . This change was likely made to ensure audiences weren't lost along the way as the story unfolded, as having to flashback to Gandalf's goings-on prior to the events of The Hobbit would have required even more screentime in an already lengthy trilogy.

Dwalin's Beard

A subtle yet noticable aesthetic difference.

Though it was not a massive change that impacted the plot, there was one element of Dwalin's appearance that classifies as one of the differences between The Hobbit book and movie. Interestingly enough, the book says, " It was a dwarf with a blue beard tucked into a golden belt, and very bright eyes under his dark-green hood. " This is a stark change from how Dwalin is shown in the movie, with a brunette beard and dark eyes.

While some readers have argued over the ages that it wasn't meant to literally be blue, others believe Dwalin's beard really was meant to be that way, in order to seem "otherworldly." When the script was written for the Hobbit film, Jackson opted to take out a lot of the whimsy to make it more in line with The Lord of the Rings , meaning Dwalin's blue beard was one of the first things to go.

Contacting The Eagles For Help

Once again the eagles created conversations in the lord of the rings prequel.

Another one of the biggest changes in the case of The Hobbit book vs movie sees Gandalf acting when he canonically did not. When Azog and his orcs descend upon the party at the end of the first Hobbit film, Gandalf contacts Gwaihir, the Lord of the Eagles , via a carrier moth. This was done primarily to act as a nod to the first Lord of the Rings film, where Gandalf escapes imprisonment from the rooftop of Orthanc, in much the same way.

Given Gandalf's relationship with the Eagles, the film version is probably the better one, despite the small change made to Tolkien and Lord of the Rings canon.

In the book, however, Gandalf never makes the attempt. Rather, Gwaihir himself notices the ruckus from afar, and soars through the skies to come to their rescue. It's hard to tell which version is better, but given Gandalf's relationship with the Eagles, the film version is probably the better one, despite the small change made to Tolkien and Lord of the Rings canon.

Lord Of The Rings: 25 Most Powerful Beings In The Tolkien Universe, Ranked

Thranduil's face, almost everything about the elven lord has been expanded.

More key differences between The Hobbit book and movie include Thranduil having a much more fleshed-out backstory that isn't in the novels. Interestingly, Thranduil is never referred to by name in The Hobbit book, but is simply called "the Elvenking." However, there's an even bigger difference between the text and the movie, which is Thranduil's burned face that he hides with magic.

Thranduil attributes this to the "fire serpents in the North," but this is not mentioned at all in the book, nor is there any record of elves being able to hide old wounds. It was primarily added to give Thranduil a more menacing and obsessive character, even though he proves himself to be one of the most powerful heroes in The Hobbit . Thranduil is one of several character in The Hobbit Peter Jackson added more dimensions to in order to turn a single book into a trilogy of movies, and it's one change that definitely makes the story better.

Tricking The Trolls

The hobbit movies granted bilbo a great hero moment.

The great The Hobbit book vs movie debate also sees a cunning act perpetrated by Bilbo originally belonging to Gandalf. In The Hobbit movies, it is Bilbo Baggins who cleverly tricks the trolls as they discuss the best ways to cook the dwarves . Eventually, the sun rises, and they are caught unawares, leading to their permanent demise.

Giving him this achievement certainly makes him seem more cunning and valuable to the overall quest.

In the book, it is Gandalf who actually deceives the trolls by throwing his voice, pretending to be one of them, and making them argue among themselves until dawn arrives , and turns them to stone. In the films, Gandalf was not present during the scene. The reason for this change is most likely to make Bilbo seem like a more competent hero, and giving him this achievement certainly makes him seem more cunning and valuable to the overall quest.

The White Council

Saruman and galadriel make an appearance the book doesn't include.

Differences between The Hobbit book and movie also see the inclusion of the White Council. The Hobbit movies feature the White Council, with both Saruman and Galadriel present in Elrond's home of Rivendell. However, neither Saruman nor Galadriel are mentioned in The Hobbit book, and the White Council does not meet during the narrative.

Though this is different from the book, it does act as fan service, as it means that viewers got to see some more of their favorite characters from The Lord of the Rings movie trilogy, as well as adding some more depth and drama to. The lack of the White Council in The Hobbit may also be because Tolkien wrote The Hobbit several decades before Lord of the Rings. Including Galadriel and Saruman in the cinematic prequel deepens ties between the two, and it's entirely possible Tolkien would have included them had the order he wrote the stories been reversed.

Jackson Added A Lot Of Material To Turn The Hobbit Into A Trilogy

Arguably the most glaring change brought up in The Hobbit book vs movie debate is the length. The Hobbit is a rather short book, especially in comparison to the intimidating size of Tolkien's Lord of the Rings trilogy . The question remains as to why Jackson or the studio would ever think it was a good idea to flesh the story out across three films.

Opinions on whether the additional length of The Hobbit trilogy definitely vary.

By placing various amounts of filler in between established moments from the book, Jackson tried to fill in the blanks and create a stronger story. In truth, the entire tale could have been told in two parts, avoiding unnecessary filler and focusing on a tight narrative. Opinions on whether the additional length of The Hobbit trilogy definitely vary. However, it does make sense from a business perspective for obvious reasons (as it meant 3 movies worth of profits), and it does seem thematically fitting that the prequel to Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings trilogy is also one.

The Prologue

A welcome and scene-setting addition to the story.

One of the most welcomed differences between The Hobbit book and movie was the addition of a prologue. The world of Lord of the Rings is particularly complex, which is why the prologue in Fellowship of the Ring was so effective. Audiences were given something very similar at the start of The Hobbit , and even though it didn’t occur in the book, it did actually help establish the narrative moving forward.

Middle-earth lore was built across many books, with plenty of interesting details only appearing in footnotes. With such a wellspring of detailed information, these prologues helped create exposition and further pull audiences into the magnificent fantasy world. The introduction of a prologue to The Hobbit movies was also helpful for established Tolkien fans who'd read the novel. Since there were many changes to come, the prologue in The Hobbit established Peter Jackson's vision of Middle-earth before Lord of the Rings and that it would be different from the novel.

The Presence Of Radagast The Brown

Elevating the wizard was a wise move.

In The Hobbit , Tolkien mentions the wizard Radagast The Brown only a handful of times as one of the five wizards of Middle-earth. In the movies, Peter Jackson greatly expands his role, allowing the character to interact with the likes of Gandalf and Bilbo, while starring in his own scene in which he helps avert a group of goblins from catching up with the main characters. Having an additional wizard definitely enhanced the cinematic version of Middle-earth, and showed that Gandalf and Saruman weren't the only ones out there.

Radagast also provides comic relief as an innocent, eccentric, and bumbling character who hides a deep, vast power.

Radagast also provides comic relief as an innocent, eccentric, and bumbling character who hides a deep, vast power. The expanded story of Radagast's character is another welcome change in The Hobbit book vs. movie debate. Obviously, these parts of his personality never came across through Tolkien’s brief mention of his existence, but it was nice to see another wizard besides Gandalf and Saruman on Middle Earth.

All Wizards/Istari In Lord Of The Rings

The presence of tauriel, some felt evangeline lilly's character was unnecessary.

Sometimes new characters work, but Tauriel's addition is another one of the differences between The Hobbit book and movie that had audiences scratching their heads because of the way Jackson handled her arc. Played by Lost’s Evangeline Lilly, Tauriel is a character exclusive to the film adaptation of The Hobbit, and she isn’t in any of The Lord of the Rings films, the first The Hobbit movie, or the book, at any point.

This was one of the more controversial additions to the film trilogy, and one many fans felt was unnecessary. She was seemingly created to provide a strong, relatable female character that doesn’t really exist in The Hobbit , and also to act as one part of a tragically romantic love saga between herself, and the dwarven character Kíli. It also led to what seemed like a Hobbit plot hole, due to her character's unfinished story arc.

The Presence Of Azog

An additional villain in peter jackson's trilogy caused some chagrin.

The topic of Azog in The Hobbit book vs movie debate causes an issue, as his presence in the film speaks to a timeline problem. The character of Azog is one of the most powerful villains in the Hobbit/LOTR universe , and he does exist in Tolkien's established lore, but he was beheaded by the character Dain long before the events of The Hobbit took place . As such, the character was essentially lifted from the pages of Middle-earth history, and deposited into the trilogy to act as a principal antagonist.

Some readers took umbrage that Azog was included as another antagonist when he didn't originally have a part in the central story of The Hobbit .

With one arm missing, Azog proved to be an effective and intimidating villain that could act as a counterweight to Thorin Oakenshield's character. His story arc ended in suitably dramatic fashion during a final showdown between the two, in the third and final film. However, some readers took umbrage that Azog was included as another antagonist when he didn't originally have a part in the central story of The Hobbit .

The Presence Of Legolas

Orlando bloom's return had no literary basis.

One of the more debated negative differences between The Hobbit book and movie was the inclusion of Legolas. Peter Jackson wanted to establish some consistency between The Hobbit and Lord Of The Rings , even if the former was a prequel. As such, audiences see Legolas appear in both The Desolation of Smaug, and The Battle of the Five Armies .

However, Legolas doesn’t appear in the book at all, and it feels as if he was deposited into the film trilogy as a way to bring back an audience favorite. In truth, he added little to the overall story, and in some cases, actually deprived other characters of the limelight. Much like some other changes, it is entirely possible that Tolkien would have included Legolas had he wrote The Lord of the Rings first. Since he didn't, though, it's impossible to know for certain, which is why Orlando Bloom's return for the prequel movies will forever be a controversial change for hardcore Tolkien scholars.

The Barrels

A simple alteration that enhanced the cinematic experience.

It might not be as important as many other differences between The Hobbit book and movie, but the barrel scene is nevertheless worth mentioning. When the dwarves escape the hall of the elven king, they float down a river using barrels as boats. The movies shows the dwarves in open barrels, allowing them both to communicate with one-another and be seen by the audience. In the books, these are sealed, rather than open with the characters sticking out.

Unlike some differences between The Hobbit books and movies, the alteration here didn't disrupt the established plot in any way

Unlike some differences between The Hobbit books and movies, the alteration here didn't disrupt the established plot in any way, and was purely aesthetic. This allowed for a more visual connection to the scene, as it established the dwarves' presence, and also the battle that followed shortly thereafter. It also added more tension and excitement to the story, by introducing such a chaotic battle.

The Dwarf Deaths

Peter jackson's movies did three characters a serious injustice.

One of the most heated points of debate in the case of The Hobbit book vs movie has to do with Kíli, Fíli, and Thorin. One piece of storyline mentioned consistently between The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings is the death of Kíli, Fíli, and Thorin. However, the manner in which they died in the movies quickly became a point of contention among readers of Tolkien's works.

The movies show the three being slaughtered rather brutally during a fight with Azog and his orcs. The book finds them charging into a battle that they know they won’t survive, dying as brave heroes as a result. This might seem like a small change, but it's one that many have felt disrespected their characters. The book versions of the characters died fearlessly, whereas their cinematic equivalents were simply overpowered in a fight they likely believed they could win.

The Frodo Cameo

Some felt elijah woods returning to link both trilogies was unwise.

More scrupulous readers of Tolkien's works were a little put off by Frodo's inclusion in The Hobbit movie, as he didn't appear in the book at all. It can be argued that one of the more pointless moments in The Hobbit was Elijah Wood’s cameo appearance as Frodo Baggins. It occurred when Bilbo told him a very rough version of his original adventures. Since Tolkien would not write The Lord of the Rings until many years after The Hobbit, Frodo was not even a concept.

The cameo scene felt similar to what Jackson was trying to accomplish by including Legolas.

In fact, Tolkien’s version of this was the reverse, something that only further upset readers. At the start of The Fellowship of the Ring , it is likely that the opening scene of The Shire was built around the aging Bilbo, in order to glean some connection to the previously released Hobbit book. Therefore, it wasn't worth bringing Frodo into the Hobbit films at all, and the cameo scene felt similar to what Jackson was trying to accomplish by including Legolas.

Why The Ring Didn't Affect Bilbo The Way It Did Frodo

The history of sting.

The act of Bilbo finding, choosing, and naming his sword Sting was an important piece of development for the character, given its status as one of the most iconic weapons of Tolkien's works . Of course, this also turns out to be one of the biggest differences between The Hobbit book and movie. In the movie, he is simply given it by Gandalf, after the wizard finds it on the floor of the troll hoard.

The entire scene of the company finding the dwarven weapons seems a bit lazy in comparison to the books. It was more of a convenient way to establish the presence of the blades, with very little exposition or attention given to each of them. Tolkien goes into much more detail about Sting and the swords history in his writing, and it seems surprising that of all the elements of the story, Sting is one that Jackson dumbed-down, since the sword was already an established presence in his cinematic Lord of the Rings trilogy.

Bilbo's Age Difference

One of the biggest issues audiences had about the Hobbit trilogy was the changing of lead actor Ian Holm to Martin Freeman. This was understandable from a production perspective, as the late Ian Holm was already in his 70s by the late 2010s when The Hobbit was being produced. However, the chagrin from some fans wasn't due to disliking Martin Freeman, as his performance in the role was widely praised.

It was rather that Bilbo's age in the movies was a complete contradiction of Bilbo's character from the books , and by far the biggest sin cited in The Hobbit book vs movie debate. It is clearly established that Bilbo's possession of the One Ring meant that he maintained his youthful appearance for decades after finding it. Yet, the stark contrast in physicality between the two actors pretty much robs the story of that fact and creates a gaping plot hole.

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

As Bilbo Baggins celebrates his 111th birthday, he recounts the extraordinary journey that changed his life. Guided by the enigmatic wizard Gandalf, Bilbo joins a band of Dwarves on a perilous quest to reclaim their homeland from the fearsome dragon, Smaug. Along the way, they face treacherous foes, unearth long-buried secrets, and discover unexpected courage within themselves. With danger lurking at every turn, Bilbo's adventure unfolds in a tale of friendship, sacrifice, and the enduring power of hope.

Director Peter Jackson

Release Date December 14, 2012

Distributor(s) Warner Bros. Pictures

Writers Philippa Boyens, Fran Walsh, Peter Jackson, Guillermo del Toro

Cast Hugo Weaving, Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen, Andy Serkis, Richard Armitage, Martin Freeman, Cate Blanchett, Ken Stott, James Nesbitt, Ian Holm, Christopher Lee

Rating PG-13

Sequel(s) The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug

Screen Rant

Lord of the rings' gollum prequel can bring back the hobbit character lotr ignored.

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How To Read J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord Of The Rings Books In Order: Chronological & Release Date

Every upcoming lord of the rings movie & tv show, 10 lord of the rings characters who can return in the hunt for gollum.

• Andy Serkis returns to direct and star in The Hunt for Gollum, focusing on Gollum's perspective in a new Lord of the Rings movie.
• The film will occur early on in the events of The Fellowship of the Ring and could feature Lee Pace's Thranduil from The Hobbit movies.
• Thranduil was busy defending Mirkwood from Sauron's forces during the events of The Lord of the Rings, not mentioned in Peter Jackson's trilogy.

The new Lord of the Rings movie, The Hunt for Gollum , can bring back a pivotal character from The Hobbit movies. Warner Bros. has announced the new film as the first in their latest slate of Lord of the Rings movies, hoping to expand on their franchise after years away. Andy Serkis, who gave an iconic performance to Gollum in Peter Jackson's original trilogy, will return as the film's director and star. The Hunt for Gollum will be shown primarily from Gollum's perspective rather than the likes of Aragorn and Gandalf, who should also appear.

The Hunt for Gollum is planned for 2026. In the meantime, The Rings of Power returns for season 2 in late 2024, and The War of the Rohirrim will be released in theaters on December 13.

There are limited plot details regarding The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum so far, but inferences can be made based on events from the books. In the Lord of the Rings chronology, The Hobbit takes place around the year 2941. The beginning of The Fellowship of the Ring is roughly 60 years later, in the year 3001. However, Frodo's quest to Rivendell doesn't happen in the books until 3018. The events of The Hunt for Gollum should take place between 3009 and 3017 and should provide some context for one particular character from The Hobbit .

J.R.R. Tolkien wrote more than just The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, but his Middle-earth books weren't released in chronological order.

The Hunt For Gollum Can Bring Back Lee Pace's Thranduil From The Hobbit Movies

Aragorn captures gollum and brings him to thranduil in mirkwood.

Peter Jackson's The Hobbit trilogy aren't the best Lord of the Rings movies , but one aspect they nailed was the casting of Lee Pace as Thranduil, also known as the Elvenking in the original Hobbit book. Thranduil is the ruler of the Woodland Realm, a kingdom in Mirkwood, and is the father of Legolas. Despite being an immortal ruler who commands a significant force and whose son is deeply involved in the conflict of the War of the Ring, Thranduil never makes an appearance in The Lord of the Rings movies .

In the Appendices of The Return of the King , the text The Hunt for Gollum is based on , Gandalf sends Aragorn to capture Gollum. After eight years of searching, Aragorn captures Gollum and brings him to Thranduil in Mirkwood for interrogation. Subsequently, Gollum escapes, and Legolas travels to Rivendell to report this matter to the Council of Elrond. Since this is skipped over in The Fellowship of the Ring movie, The Hunt for Gollum could see Lee Pace reprise the role, filling in some gaps.

Since starring in The Hobbit movies, Lee Pace has had a small role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and, most notably, stars in the Apple TV+ series Foundation . In the sci-fi space opera series, he plays Emperor Cleon, channeling some of his similar posh elegance from the Thranduil role. He's an excellent actor, and it would be fantastic to see him return to the world of Lord of the Rings . Casting outside of Andy Serkis is currently unknown, but it seems like the film will be in continuity with Peter Jackson's movies, therefore retaining many of the same actors as possible.

What Was Thranduil Doing During The Lord Of The Rings?

Thranduil was busy defending mirkwood from sauron's forces in dol guldur.

To clarify, Thranduil wasn't omitted from Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings movies; he's also not prevalent in the books and is only referred to occasionally. The films depict Sauron's force of Orcs from Mordor and Saruman's force from Isengard as being the two primary fronts, but The War of the Ring spread further across Middle-Earth in ways that aren't mentioned in Peter Jackson's trilogy. While the fighting occurred in Gondor and Rohan, Mirkwood was also being attacked by Sauron's forces , keeping Thranduil occupied.

The War of the Ring spread further across Middle-Earth in ways that aren't mentioned in Peter Jackson's trilogy

The Hobbit movies explore some tangents that aren't from the original text, such as Gandalf's mission to Dol Guldur to explore the threat of the necromancer. While this isn't directly from The Hobbit , Gandalf explains in The Lord of the Rings that those events did actually occur, with The White Council attacking Dol Guldur around the time of Bilbo's quest. However, Sauron later reoccupied the stronghold, using it as an outpost in Mirkwood to launch assaults on Thranduil and also Lórien, which is defended by Galadriel and Celeborn.

Could Legolas Appear In The Hunt For Gollum Too?

Legolas could feasibly be in mirkwood at the time, but he wouldn't serve any narrative purpose.

Legolas's appearance in The Hobbit was a strange and divisive choice, given that he has no history written before The Fellowship of the Ring , aside from being Thranduil's son and the prince of the Woodland Realm. However, in both The Hobbit and The Hunt for Gollum , it's not an impossible stretch of the imagination to think he would be at Mirkwood with his father. There's no distinct narrative purpose for him to be in the movie, but given Warner Bros.'s desire to franchise Lord of the Rings , it's certainly not impossible that Legolas could be in The Hunt for Gollum .

The Lord of the Rings

The Lord of the Rings is a multimedia franchise consisting of several movies and a TV show released by Amazon titled The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. The franchise is based on J.R.R. Tolkien's book series that began in 1954 with The Fellowship of the Ring. The Lord of the Rings saw mainstream popularity with Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies.