The Hobbit in depth

This is an essay that my sister Emma wrote and I wanted to share it because I really liked it! She did a great job :) Btw, here is her blog if you want to check it out - http://emmalouiseliston.wordpress.com/

Emma Liston

Professor Comer

English Composition I: Achieving Expertise

October 20th, 2014

                                             Fantasy Fiction: “The Hobbit” in Depth

     “The Hobbit” is a uniquely told and inspiring story; a story of brilliance, bravery, and battle. It was written by J.R.R. Tolkien and published in 1937. Preceding “The Lord of the Rings”, it’s role was invaluable in capturing the reader's’ attention and introducing the key characters. Fortunately for the many people who enjoy entertainment, the book was made into 3 movies, the last of which has not yet been released. Oftentimes though, movies present a misleading representation of the book. But aside from a few differences, the Hobbit movies have formed memorable characters based on Tolkien’s book, becoming enthralling to many around the world. The image above is a scene from the 1st movie, the start of many adventures.

    This essay will analyze the image, discuss the context and theme surrounding it, and define expertise through the image.

   The scene is a vibrant rendering of the cozy Hobbit hole in which Bilbo Baggins lived and the entire quest began. The walls are covered with neat shelves, and the shelves covered with rare articles of sentimental value:

     “In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit. Not a nasty, dirty, wet hole, filled with the ends of worms and an oozy smell, nor yet a dry, bare, sandy hole with nothing in it to sit down on or to eat: it was a hobbit-hole, and that means comfort.” (Tolkien, The Hobbit, 1)1

    The content of the image depicts two totally different people, people with different expressions on their faces and obviously, different priorities in mind. To be more concise however, neither are people, they are a hobbit and a dwarf. A hobbit is a small 4-foot tall creature, similar to a very short man. But their ears are bigger and pointier, they always have curly hair, and their feet are big and covered with hair. They are very habitual creatures, and as the background in the image shows, they consider every useful or unuseful item valuable. Dwarves, however, are very gruff, short, stocky, and hairy men. They prefer to fight and don’t care for sentimentality. The dwarf in the image is correctly depicted, as he finished eating and is banging his fork on his plate for a second serving.

   There is a repetition of symmetrical shapes in the background, making the house look well cared for and neat. The contour of the doorway arch on the left also matches the shape of the shelves behind the hobbit and dwarf, and though it is only suggested, the fireplace is also an arch. The composition of the image consists of many cooking articles, such as the numerous pots, rolling pins, jars, and silverware. Hobbits are known to spend their lives growing and saving food, especially since they usually have six meals a day.  

  Realizing that this is a scene from a movie, we can imagine that beyond the frame of this picture, there is a movie crew, perhaps smiling as they watch Bilbo’s facial expressions change. Maybe they are getting things ready for the next scene, or even fixing things inside the set. This leads us to examine the context of the image.

   It was late in the afternoon, and Bilbo’s first surprise visitor, Dwalin the dwarf just arrived. Taken unawares, poor Bilbo didn’t realize what was yet to come.

    “He hung his hooded cloak on the nearest peg, and ‘Dwalin at your service!’ he said with a low bow. ‘Bilbo Baggins at yours!’ said the hobbit, too surprised to ask any questions at the moment.” (Tolkien, The Hobbit, 9)2 Following this, he offered the dwarf some tea and cake, which considering the following events would be unfortunate for the hobbit. “He had a horrible thought that the cakes might run short, and then he-as the host: he knew his duty and stuck to it however painful-he might have to go without.” (Tolkien, The Hobbit, 10)3

   As Bilbo was pondering what to do with the strange dwarf, another knock came on the door, and not used to having visitors, he quizzically ponders the situation. His feeling of complete surprise is written all over his face, as he hears the dwarf asking for another heaping plate of food and the sturdy knock on his door. This is the story behind the image.

   Some questions could be asked at this point, like “how is expertise defined in this image?” Or, “is there a deeper meaning beneath this image?” In this image, I see that expertise is being defined by habit, frugal spending, and the general priorities depicted. For example, he has saved years of food in his home, but since his home looks neat and orderly, it stands to reason that space for food is a priority to him. Perhaps to Bilbo, he would consider expertise in a practical way, so that instead of creating artwork or changing his home decor, provisions for future needs are more important.

     In conclusion, there is definitely a deep undertone beneath this image. If you have read “The Hobbit”, you know that a few days after this scene, Bilbo starts out on a life-threatening journey with 13 dwarves and a wizard. The picture shows Bilbo before the spirit of adventure was revived in him and before he was willing to lay down his lives for others. He was a boring creature of habit, blaming his love of homelife on his ancestors. But when faced with a chance to change the world for good and make someone else’s life better, he realized the truth. Even if we feel insignificant, there can be a moment in our lives when we realize that life is important. Our lives don’t have to be spent pleasing ourselves, because the richest time in our lives can be helping someone else. Great people have started small, and that’s the important concept.

                   “All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.”4

                                       Gandalf the Wizard, The Lord of the Rings