The Hobbit Book Log #7

11/17/12

The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien

Pages 102-111

            If you recall in the previous section, our group of adventurers had tried to hide in a tree from wolves.  In this one, the wolves discover them in the tree.  Then, it just so happened that wargs and goblins were showing up because they were planning a meeting.  Worried about what might happen to them, Gandalf tries to fend off the creatures by throwing flaming pinecones at them, starting a big fire in the forest.  However, the creatures tame the flames and start directing them towards the trees that the dwarves are in.  Just before the trees are engulfed in flames, they are all saved by eagles who owe a debt Gandalf.  They are all taken to the eagle’s perch in the mountain where the eagles feed the adventurers. 

            “At best of times, heights made Bilbo giddy.  He used to turn queer if he looked over the edge of quite a little cliff; and he had never liked ladders, let alone trees (never having had to escape from wolves before).  This is an important quote because recently in the story we have seen great feats of bravery from Bilbo.  Also during this part, Bilbo is hanging from someone’s leg, not feeling he can hold on any longer; ready to drop at any moment.  This reminds us that he is still a fragile little hobbit, not completely ready for this adventure. 

            While Bilbo is being taken to the eagle’s perch, he looks down at the land below him and begins to feel queasy.  Being afraid of heights, this experience makes him feel very, very sick. I can relate to this because, while not completely afraid of heights, being at high altitudes makes me feel a little anxious.  I am hardly able to be at the top of eagle tower without feeling that I can’t go any higher.  I don’t think I could be any higher than that.  For me, it’s the fear of falling that really gets to me, just like Bilbo.

The Hobbit Book Log #6

The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien

11/10/12

Pages 91-100

            This section begins with Bilbo walking away from the mountain where he escaped from Gollum and Goblins.  As he walks away from the mountain he wonders if he should go back to look for the rest of the dwarves in the mountain, but soon finds them at a campfire.  They are all happy to see him, but are very surprised that he had escaped from the goblins.  He told them how he managed to escape, but decided not to tell them about the ring.  As night began to fall, they set out to continue their journey, but they were without food.  As they walked through a forest, they started to hear wolves.  They ran and decided to hide in trees. 

            “I brought him, and I don’t bring things that are of no use.  Either you help me to look for him, or I go and leave you to get out of the mess as best you can.  If we can only find him again, you will thank me before this is all over.”  This quote said by Gandalf shows that he has faith in not only his choice to bring Bilbo along, but also in Bilbo.  In the previous section, we’ve seen that Bilbo is capable of making good choices in a heartbeat and will be able to help the team of dwarves immensely.

When the dwarves run from the wolves they climb into trees.  I can relate to that, but only in the sense of climbing the tree, not running from anything. Well, I probably shouldn’t say that because I may have used the tree I used to climb all the time as a hiding spot for hide and seek when I was a lot younger.  The tree I’m talking about is a very big tree, and used to be very good for climbing.  I would always climb it with friends and family, and it would be used for games like hide and go seek, and playing things like army or something like that.

The Hobbit Book Log #5

11/3/12

The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien

Pages 64-77

            In this section, Bilbo awakens alone from unconsciousness in the dark.  He feels a ring on the ground and without thinking slips it in his pocket.  Not, knowing what to do, he moves through a river to try and find his way out.  He soon meets a small humanlike creature named Gollum who intends to murder and eat Bilbo.  He gives Bilbo a chance to save himself through a game of riddles.  They exchange riddles and answers, and Bilbo ends up winning.  Gollum decides to use his magic ring to turn in visible and sneak up on Bilbo.  When he can’t find the ring, he blames Bilbo and chases after him.  Bilbo puts the ring that he has in his pocket on his finger, and turns invisible, disappearing from Gollum.

            “He guessed as well as he could, and crawled along for a good way, till suddenly his hand met what felt like a tiny ring of cold metal lying on the floor of the tunnel.  It was a turning point in his career, but he did not know it.  He put the ring in his pocket almost without thinking; certainly it did not seem of any particular use at the moment.”  This is an important part in the book, because for anyone who knows anything about The Lord of the Rings series could guess that this is the special ring that will turn you invisible. It starts a major part in the story that becomes vital to Bilbo’s own story. 

            During Bilbo’s riddle contest with Gollum, Bilbo is unable to think of a riddle and hesitates to put out a riddle.  Gollum starts to pressure him and backs him into a corner, and Bilbo continues to get more and more nervous.  I kind of know what that’s like because one many years ago time I was in a room with an old dog.  It began to back me into a corner and I got really nervous.  The dog started barking and I screamed.  My dad came in and backed the dog away from me.  It’s really a scary experience to be backed into a wall by something that seems to be threatening you.