HomeThe Hobbit (Pages 1-30)

Note on the NotePublication dates of first

and second editions straddle WWII.

Focus shifted onto the Ring as corrupting influence of power.

VerisimilitudeIllusion of depth, as if there is historyAccomplished best through hints of legend

and mythSame world as oursThis is a new version of history explaining

various things

PhilologyLove of languageSpecificity adds to

sense of realityAlways focus on

spelling and the like as windows to meaning

Dwarves connected to Aule, god of making

Born of disobedienceLeads to love of

material objects

Exposition and CharacterizationExposition- Beginning of

story when authors give background information about characters and setting

Characterization- Revealing of characters’ personalities

Mood, Tone, and DictionAuthors use

diction (word choice) to set a tone and establish a mood among the audience

For your considerationBased only on the first page of text, how does

Tolkien communicate information concerning the physical characteristics and personality traits of most hobbits?

ForeshadowingTolkien tells readers that this will be a tale of growth for Bilbo (bildungsroman)

ImageryImagery is language that

helps readers form a picture in their minds

Tolkien uses it in his establishment of setting and in his initial characterization of Bilbo

The Past and the PresentBloodlines of characters play a big role in

determining their actionsTolkien has Bilbo with conflicting bloodlines

with respect to adventurousness

Nature and HobbitsTolkien carefully

associates hobbits with many aspects of the natural world

Assists in his characterization

For your considerationWhy might Tolkien focus so much on

associating hobbits with nature?How does this end up revealing his tone

toward hobbits?What do we know about Tolkien that leads us

to believe these things?

Gandalf!Tolkien’s use of

exclamatory and short sentence translates excitement about Gandalf.

Characterization TechMotifs- Repeated symbols in literature

Example: Gandalf as old man with staffJuxtaposition- Side-by-side contrast, revealing more info

Example: Different takes on, “Good morning.”Stereotype- Specific assumption based on general idea

Example: Bilbo saying they might be more interested in adventures “over The Hill or across The Water.”

NamesFor Tolkien, names are keys to characters’

essences and always have meaningExample: Gandalf’s explanation of his nameExample: Bilbo = Rapier = SwordExample: Smaug = Smog = Smoke = Industry =

Destruction = Evil

For your considerationWhy does Bilbo seem to have contradictory

ideas about adventures?

RhetoricRhetoric- Methods

of argumentationEthos- Appeal to

characterPathos- Appeal to

emotionLogos- Appeal to

logic

Here we are now; entertain usTolkien varies his approach in terms of language

to keep the story entertainingOnomatopoeia- Words that represent soundsAlliteration- String of words with the same

beginning soundsRhyme- String of words with the same ending

sounds

For your considerationWhat is the purpose of the poetic break for song

when the dwarves begin to eat with Bilbo?How about the break when they sing about their

journey?How does figurative language play a part in

helping readers understand the importance of certain aspects of the text?

Light vs. DarkTolkien and other

authors rely on light as a motif of good and darkness as a motif of evil.

When Bilbo feels threatened, he wants a lamp.

SlapstickSlapstick- Physical

and silly comedyTolkien and others

use this for characterization and to lighten the mood

For your considerationHow would you describe the diction styles of

Tolkien (the narrator), Thorin, Gandalf, and Bilbo?

What do you think Tolkien is trying to communicate with these contrasts?

Expectations vs. RealityImportant theme for

Tolkien is that people’s expectations often do not match what actually occurs

Especially important in Bilbo’s growth as a character

ThemesMoney and greed→

Poor consequencesFriendship and

generosity→ Good consequences

The past cannot be recovered

Those who cannot let it go are doomed to suffer

Creation vs. DestructionGood has the ability

to createExample: Dwarves

Evil only has the ability/desire to destroy

Example: Smaug

Luck, Fate, and ChoiceMany characters will often ascribe certain

results to luck or choiceFate is the hidden hand that is moving things

alongExample: Thorin’s escape from Smaug

For your considerationWhy does it make sense that Tolkien might

believe fate is moving people along in a particular, mostly positive, direction?

MalapropismMalapropism- Play on

words that results from words becoming jumbled in readers’/speakers’ minds

Example: Hear, hear→ Hear what?

POV / Perspective ShiftPoint of view /

perspective- Place of narrator in story

Tolkien shifts to second person to talk directly to readers

Characters shift perspectives for various purposes, as well

StyleAn author’s style is what makes them uniqueThis comes from their choice of words and

topicsSome authors’ styles are more unique than

others’