The Hobbit, by J.R.R Tolkien Essay Example
Important quotations explained:
1. “Let’s have no more argument. I have chosen Mr. Baggins and that ought to be enough for all of you. If I say he is a Burglar, a Burglar he is, or will be when the time comes. There is a lot more in him than you guess, and a deal more than he has any idea of himself. You may (possibly) all live to thank me yet.”
Explanation:
Gandalf speaks these words in Chapter 1 shortly after Bilbo faints from terror at the prospect of going on the quest with the dwarves. After Bilbo’s display of fear, the dwarves are skeptical that Bilbo will make a good addition to the party, and Gandalf gives this speech to ease their doubts. The speech is important both because it exemplifies Gandalf’s habit of insisting that his own authority be taken as definitive proof and also because it foreshadows Bilbo’s transformation into a hero. The trajectory of the novel from this point forward essentially involves Bilbo’s discovery of the “lot more in him” that even he does not yet know.
2. “It’s got to ask uss a question, my preciouss, yes, yess, yess. Jusst one more question to guess, yes, yess.”
Explanation:
Gollum speaks these words during his riddle game with Bilbo in Chapter 5. These sentences perfectly capture Gollum’s corrupt, sibilant, hissing form of speech. He never addresses Bilbo directly but speaks only to his mysterious “precious,” calling Bilbo “It.” Gollum’s infatuation with his precious also acts as a bit of foreshadowing. “Precious” turns out to be the magic ring that Bilbo had discovered and placed in his pocket. Gollum’s devotion to the ring highlights its extreme, seductive powers.
3. “Somehow the killing of this giant spider, all alone by himself in the dark . . . made a great difference to Mr. Baggins. He felt a different person, and much fiercer and bolder in spite of an empty stomach, as he wiped his sword on the grass and put it back into its sheath. ‘I will give you a name,’ he said to it, ‘and I shall call you Sting.’ ”
1. “Let’s have no more argument. I have chosen Mr. Baggins and that ought to be enough for all of you. If I say he is a Burglar, a Burglar he is, or will be when the time comes. There is a lot more in him than you guess, and a deal more than he has any idea of himself. You may (possibly) all live to thank me yet.”
Explanation:
Gandalf speaks these words in Chapter 1 shortly after Bilbo faints from terror at the prospect of going on the quest with the dwarves. After Bilbo’s display of fear, the dwarves are skeptical that Bilbo will make a good addition to the party, and Gandalf gives this speech to ease their doubts. The speech is important both because it exemplifies Gandalf’s habit of insisting that his own authority be taken as definitive proof and also because it foreshadows Bilbo’s transformation into a hero. The trajectory of the novel from this point forward essentially involves Bilbo’s discovery of the “lot more in him” that even he does not yet know.
2. “It’s got to ask uss a question, my preciouss, yes, yess, yess. Jusst one more question to guess, yes, yess.”
Explanation:
Gollum speaks these words during his riddle game with Bilbo in Chapter 5. These sentences perfectly capture Gollum’s corrupt, sibilant, hissing form of speech. He never addresses Bilbo directly but speaks only to his mysterious “precious,” calling Bilbo “It.” Gollum’s infatuation with his precious also acts as a bit of foreshadowing. “Precious” turns out to be the magic ring that Bilbo had discovered and placed in his pocket. Gollum’s devotion to the ring highlights its extreme, seductive powers.
3. “Somehow the killing of this giant spider, all alone by himself in the dark . . . made a great difference to Mr. Baggins. He felt a different person, and much fiercer and bolder in spite of an empty stomach, as he wiped his sword on the grass and put it back into its sheath. ‘I will give you a name,’ he said to it, ‘and I shall call you Sting.’ ”