The Hobbit "The Hobbit"ÃÂ is a fantasy book written by J.R.R. Tolkien originally for children but has grown into a book for people of all ages and has certain points and themes in it which relate to us today.
Throughout this essay I will describe and comment on the setting of the story and choose at least one theme in the book and describe how it is used and how effective it is. The theme I have chosen is "The Motivation Of Lust"ÃÂ Although the setting is based on an imaginary world, some of the themes and points made in this book are still carried on today. The book is based on an imaginary world called "ÃÂMiddle-Earth' which suits the characters in it like Hobbits, Dragons, Wargs, Goblins, Elves and Wizards. Tolkien only gives a deep description of places where important things are going to take place but in other places he gives a more general description.
Ian Holm as Bilbo Baggins in Peter Jackson's The L...
Gollum from The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit b...
Gollum in Rankin/Bass's animated version of The Ho...You can compose images of middle-earth in your brain throughout the whole book due to the very detailed description given and appropriate words used. The story takes about a year to occur and starts and ends around the same time the year after. The story also takes place during the night as well as the day and the mood is of fantasy world where anything can happen.
Anyone who had something of great value stolen from him would try to get it back. Even if that person had to go to high risks to reclaim what was theirs. In the book The Hobbit, a hobbit named Bilbo Baggins, a wizard named Gandalf, and thirteen dwarves have to get back their lost treasure that a character named Smaug stole. To reclaim their treasure they have to travel a long distance to the Lonely Mountain where Smaug is hiding . Throughout their journey they encounter many life-hindering experiences. Dangers and obstacles pop up everywhere. The reason why this group goes to such great lengths to get their treasure is because of one reason, which is their motivation of lust.
Lust created the conflict in this story. The conflict is the most important literary element because it directly affects everyone in the story. There are many conflicts, but the main one is between the dwarves and their lust for their lost treasure that Smaug has stolen. This conflict creates the basis for the story. Plus, there were conflicts added on because of this main conflict. Their journey to the Lonley Mountain consisted of one conflict after another.
Even though the conflicts on their journey are not as important as the main conflict, they are what make this book interesting. Tolkien's choice of the main conflict is not the most creative. It is based upon the traditional story of "going out and taking back what is yours." If I had to choose something I didn't like about the book, it would be this simple plot. It is a good thing he added such adventurous conflicts to this story, otherwise it would not be a good piece of literature.
Through the conflicts in this story, the author has a lesson for the reader. The lesson is if one wants something bad enough, he must be ready to suffer the consequences. To claim the treasure the group has to go through a lot. Some examples of this are being abducted by an army of goblins, being captured by giant spiders, and being captured by woodland elves. The same happens with people today, if a person has a goal for himself, he too will have to go through hard times. The only way the group succeeded is by having lust and pride to drive them on. A person with a goal must also have something to drive him towards his goal.
Lust is what carries them to their goal. They have loads of troubles from this, but this is what made them win in the end. Another main point in this story is greed. Money is usually what they are after. Gold and silver is what the group is after. It is their motivation to go on. Even though lust is not always good to have, in this book it helps them out. This story proves that anyone can overcome the impossible if he has strong motivation, understanding that lust does not have to be the motivation.
Motivation is the one thing the group needs to make it through the book's setting. The setting is an element that is important to the conflict. The terrain was rough, the distance was long, and the surroundings were dangerous. The group has to travel through the treacherous Misty Mountains, being hassled by goblins. It almost dies while going through the Mirkwood forest by having gruesome spiders chase them. It has a big problem when Bilbo gets separated from the group. He gets lost in the caves where he meets Gollum, a mean creature that wants to eat him. This awful setting shows what a great conflict the group has, and how the motivation of lust keeps them from giving up. Not only is the setting an important element to the conflict, it is one of the things I liked most about the book.
I enjoyed many attributes of this book, specifically the setting and the characters. The author's very detailed descriptions of all the places are excellent. Most of the scenes are dark and mysterious. Many of the things the group goes through are so perilous that the setting has to be like this to make up for the danger. Each character in this story is described in a way that makes each individual unique. Bilbo, the main character, is very loveable and sentimental. He is short, fat, and hairy, and gets joy from blowing smoke rings and cooking. Gandalf is an extremely powerful wizard who accompanies Bilbo through their quest. He is very random and unpredictable, which makes him human-like. Thorin is the leader of the dwarves. He is very respectable and stubborn in his ways. The setting and characters help make this book enjoyable for almost everyone.
This book should be recommended to people that like to daydream and have an active imagination. Those who would appreciate The Hobbit the most would be people that like adventure and fantasy books. Readers who like action should read this novel. Some people, on the other hand, would not care for this book that much. A person with an inactive imagination would not find this book enjoyable because it is filled with things of fantasy, such as finding a ring with powers of turning someone invisible. Realism will take all the fun and enjoyment from this fairy tale. Having all the fantasy and adventure in this book is one of the things I liked most about it.
I enjoyed reading this book very much. I liked the characters the most, having Gollum as my favourite. I especially liked it when he calls himself "my precious." This book was very appealing to me because of the surprising adventures. I liked how it kept my attention the whole way through, and also that it is a short novel. The dialogue is also something I liked. the way the characters spoke was very interesting. An example of interesting dialogue is Bilbo's riddle contest with Gollum. That is one of my most favourite parts in the book.
To conclude, I would like to say that this book is very, very good. The cause of conflict, which is lust, is the perfect lesson for us all. The motivation of lust is what kept the group going. Themes such as this are hard to find in adventure books. The group of friends overcome several difficult and deadly obstacles in their quest for their heart's desire. This shows how anyone can overcome anything if his motivation is strong. Usually there is one major motivation that will lead one on, just like the "The Motivation of Lust"ÃÂ
Smaug as he appears in the animated film.
Cover of the cassette edition of Nicol Williamson'...
Gollum in The Hobbit comic adaptation (1989). Art ...