Blog Fantasy
Post 6 - The Hobbit by JRR Tolkien
Part II of the Vicarious Journey will reiterate and further explain the ideas that were presented in the first Post named: Vicarious Journey.
Short Summary of Vicarious Journey 1:
“Why is one drawn to Fantasy Worlds? What properties or qualities do these worlds posses that make them so captivating to one?
A journey is one of the properties that Fantasy Worlds posses. In The Hobbit, by JRR Tolkien, Bilbo, the protagonist goes on a journey with a party of dwarves to obtain riches. According to How to Read Literature Like a Professor, by Thomas C. Foster, “Every Trip Is a Quest” (How to Read Literature Like a Professor, Foster 1). Foster also says that every journey is meant to be a quest for self-knowledge.
What makes these properties or qualities so captivating?
The thing that makes Fantasy World journeys so interesting is the fact that it allows one to experience a grand scenario without having to physically be there. One is able to gain the sense of the self-knowledge that the quester in a Fantasy World experiences without having to literally be the character. A Fantasy World journey is so interesting to one, because it allows a reader to experience the adventure vicariously. A limitless quest for self-knowledge, therefore, is a quality that The Lord of the Rings has that draws one to its Fantasy World.”
What is Bilbo, the protagonist in The Hobbit, by JRR Tolkien, truly searching for? What is the true purpose of his journey?
Bilbo is seen to have found his sense of self-knowledge on page 221 as Tolkein says,
“Already [the dwarves] had come to respect little Bilbo. Now he had become the real leader in their adventure. He had begun to have ideas and plans of his own” (221).
Initially, Bilbo was characterized as a helpless little Hobbit, or ‘half-ling’ (23). The little Hobbit was totally oblivious to the dangers that he would face on his journey for gold. But as the events unfolded, he found more than untold riches; Bilbo, the quester, found a sense of respect from himself as well as others. Through the many adventures, he attained the knowledge of his own potential as a leader.
Bilbo’s quest for self-knowledge, therefore, is now fulfilled.
Vicarous Journey II
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1 comment:
Timmy: Wow, this was a great post. It’s great how you connected your 6th post all the way to your first post. Was that intentional ha-ha? Anyhow, you did a great job by first restating your previous post which addressed one of the many purposes of a fantasy novel which was for self knowledge. The great part about it is that you analyzed Bilbo’s character and connected it to the idea making this blog really complete and fulfilling.
“Already [the dwarves] had come to respect little Bilbo. Now he had become the real leader in their adventure. He had begun to have ideas and plans of his own” (221).
The quote reflects greatly on how Bilbo had realized his change, and you did a very good job executing that and making it known to myself as your audience that this is what Bilbo has come to realize after the epic journey and struggles along the way.
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