Middle Earth- The Hook.

In an earlier post I examined the connection between The Hobbit and the archetypal journey, attempting to discover why this novel is so timeless. It was briefly touched upon, but the amount of detail that went into Middle Earth merits its own reading response. Tolkien created an entire new world for his story, including new languages, deep history, vast landscapes and mythical creatures. "What is a hobbit? I suppose hobbits need some description nowadays, since they have become rare and shy of the Big People, as they call us. They are (or were) a little people, about half our height, and smaller than the bearded dwarves. Hobbits have no beards. There is little or no magic about the, except the ordinary everyday sort which helps them to disappear quietly and quickly when large stupid folk like you and me come blundering along" (Tolkien 4). Tolkien introduces his story by describing the characters and locations he's created, immediately setting the tone for a fantasy tale rich with powerful imagery and imagination. I would argue that this fantasy element is what has caused The Hobbit to be such a timeless piece.

At its core, The Hobbit is a story of a protagonist who journeys with a group of strangers to slay a villain and claim their reward. Built upon this is a delicately pieced landscape with magical beings and enchanting visualization that effectively communicate to the reader an imaginative world to gaze upon. The amount of work Tolkien put into creating Middle Earth is astounding, and while reading this novel I truly was amazed by the stunning creativity and detail poured into The Hobbit. Like any great fantasy story, it draws the reader in so powerfully one could easily get lost in this world. I truly believe this is what has captivated so many readers around the world. The story alone is not significant enough to warrant The Hobbit's success, but combined with an incredibly unique atmosphere, and it is metaphorically raised up to an entirely new level of excellence.

An interesting topic to dive into would be observing the hooks in novels that make them so appealing. As seen in The Hobbit, the story itself is not the most interesting part of it, the setting is. Does this lie true in most classic novels or is plot usually the most prominent aspect? You might quickly assume that plot is the leading factor in hooks, but if it were to be investigated the answer may differ.

Greed

Chapter after chapter, I couldn't help but notice that greed is the central them of The Hobbit. Nearly all of the key decisions made by the characters are done out of selfishness. One might suspect that this behavior would be eradicated near the end, signifying an underlying moral to the story, yet the characters rely on greed up until the last words of the novel. It makes me wonder if Tolkien created the characters this way as a reflection on his personal outlook on humanity.

At first, the selfish acts are mostly made due to hunger or thirst. During the beginning of their adventure, the dwarves often get themselves into trouble as a result of snooping around for food where they shouldn't, such as the first encounter with the goblins. This greed escalates to a point where the dwarves put each other's lives at risk in order to obtain treasure. ""You! You!" cried Thorin, turning upon him and grasping him with both hands. "You miserable hobbit! You undersized burglar!" he shouted at a loss for words, and he shook poor Bilbo like a rabbit. "By the beard of Durin! I wish I had Gandalf here! Curse him for his choice of you! May his beard wither! As for you I will throw you to the rocks!" he cried and lifted Bilbo in his arms" (Tolkien 254).After overcoming goblins and spider and dragons, the dwarves still feel no compassion when there is treasure in it for them.

Are we as a society much like the dwarves? Is material gain at the forefront of our minds, more important than the desires of others? In my opinion, this is the dogma of Tolkien. It may be a rash analysis, but the prominence of greed and selfish infatuation is too strong in The Hobbit to be ignored. A further examination of the life of Tolkien may provide evidence of why such a striking theme is presented throughout. The Hobbit was first published in 1937, meaning it was written during the years shortly before. Surely Tolkien would have been exposed to the consumerism and greed of the 1920s, so perhaps the societal greed is what inspired Tolkien to create such selfish characters.

Regardless of the history, The Hobbit is a story rooted in greed, with the dwarves lusting over treasure and Bilbo overcoming it.

-Dylan & Samuel, BFFs

The Archetypal Journey Again

The Hobbit is a prime example of the archetypal journey. We all know what this journey is, subconsciously at least. It's the fundamental elements that combine to create an entire adventure, from the "Ordinary World" to the "Return with the Elixir". Nearly every story utilizes this format, and The Hobbit is no exception. If anything, Tolkien's use of the archetypal is more prominent than most. It makes the story easy to understand and rooted in familiarity. Does this simplicity contribute to why the novel has lasted throughout the ages? I'm banking on "no" (the fantasy elements are the most intriguing), but let's take a look at this adventure anyway.



The novel doesn't need to be broken down much in order to reveal the archetypal elements. The title itself infers this relation. The Hobbit or There and Back Again. "There and Back Again" doesn't encompass the entire theory of the archetypal journey, but certainly the concept is present. The title implies a journey beginning in a simple place (an "ordinary world", perhaps?), traveling to a destination to achieve a goal and then coming home. These themes are all present in the archetypal journey, and that's all taken from the title! In the actual story, these connections are even more obvious.

Looking at the graphic above, it's actually quite shocking to me as to how easy it is to connect a plot point with each stage of the archetypal journey. In The Hobbit the "Approach to the Inmost Cave" is literally an approach to an inmost cave. The fact that Tolkien's novels were fabricated upon stories he told to his children may contribute to The Hobbit's deep connection with the archetypal journey. I say this because a familiar story base would be easy for a child to understand, which is probably the audience Tolkien constructed his stories for (eventually revamping them to accommodate a more mature audience).

Is a story that is easily comprehended essential to the lasting power of a novel? The Hobbit certainly shows that even a simple basis with intricate details can face the test of time, but this might not hold true for other novels. Unfortunately, this is a blog dedicated to one piece of fiction, so that question is for you to answer yourself.

-Dylan Woodley, a BFF

post #2

post 2 coming soon!!!! don't go away yet it's gonna be out soon! I wish i had a trailer for it :(

-Samuel L. Jackson, a BFF

Bilbo Baggins- A New Hobbit

I believe that the internal growth of the protagonist is an essential element of good storytelling. We as readers, feel compassion for the characters that lead the story (if this is the authour's intention), and generally we like to see the character succeed in their quest. As such, there is genuine disappointment and despair when the hero fails in a part of their journey. Over the course of the story, the protagonist should learn from their mistakes and grow as a person to ultimately achieve their goal, which is exactly what happens in The Hobbit.

Bilbo begins his journey as a meek hobbit, but like many great protagonists, his role changes during the journey. The major turning point in Bilbo's character is his encounter with the giant spiders. Up to this point, Bilbo hasn't yet defeated an enemy on his own, and still feels vulnerable to the new world he has been thrust in to. He relied on his comrades in order to conquer the obstacles in their path, leaving the reader wanting more to go in Bilbo's favour. When Bilbo slays the spider with his sword, a feeling of excitement and fulfillment rush over him. "Somehow the killing of the giant spider, all alone by himself in the dark without the help of the wizard or the dwarves or of anyone else, 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 in its sheath" (Tolkien 146). From hear on in, Bilbo displays a new level of leadership and bravery. He is now a real hero, which is satisfying to the audience. This internal growth is something readers yearn for, and Tolkien delivers exactly that in The Hobbit.

Think of any great story. Chances are, the protagonist goes through a change similar to the metamorphosis of Bilbo's character. It likely doesn't involve giant spiders, but the symbolism itself is still there. In one of the most famous films of all time, Citizen Kane, (spoilers coming up, so either skip this part or watch a two hour movie) Charles Kane is depicted as a mean spirited man that had everything he could have ever wanted. The portrayal of his life keeps the audience from feeling empathy towards the man, yet wanting something positive to be revealed so that they can side with the protagonist. Ultimately, Charles Kane is revealed to have said his famous last words as an allusion towards the sled he owned as a child, which is implied to be the only moment in his life where he was truly happy. The audience is then satisfied with Charles' character, as he is no longer seen as a greedy old man who got everything he wanted, rather, he is a poor soul who led his life in disappointment and sadness. The change of character (although Kane himself didn't change, the attitude towards him does) makes the journey worthwhile because as an audience, we revel in the character's achievement. Proper character development causes the audience to unconsciously grow attached to the character, eventually making them share in the character's emotions and victory.

If we were to delve into other classic stories we would see this trend continue. Simply put, the development of character and personality growth is a vital element in the successful telling of a story. Because of this, Bilbo's rite of passage is a significant turning point in The Hobbit, and is crucial for his character to complete the journey.

-Dylan & Samuel, BFFs

my book

is pretty good so far. It's got hobbits and stuff. I'll post some reading responses eventually.

-Dylan & Samuel, BFFs

Found Poem

So I finished my found poem but before I hand it in I'd like some feedback. My computer's copy-paste function broke, so I just took a pic of it. All criticism is welcome! (except for bad criticism)



-Dylan & Samuel, BFFs

My Links List

I've already completed my excellent introductory blog post, so now all I have left to complete is my links list. Here goes *nothing:

1. http://www.echeat.com/essay.php?t=32285
From eCheat.com, **not that I cheat or anything, it's just relevant to the subject, as it represents the views of other people.
2. http://classiclit.about.com/library/bl-etexts/rfletcher/bl-rfletcher-history-preliminary.htm
Let's face it, I don't read a lot of novels that weren't written before the invention of the printing press, so my knowledge of classic novels is a bit skewered. This website will surely help me learn the learns.
3. http://www.lordotrings.com/interview.asp
This here is an interview with JRR Tolkien, ***cause he's a cool guy
4. http://www.bookrags.com/The_Hobbit
It's like cliff notes, but not for when you get stuck reading Romeo & Juliet.
5. http://eng3ue2011.blogspot.com/
This is the class blog. It is important. No questions.
6. http://www.thehobbitblog.com/
The Hobbit is being adapted into a film, directed by Samuel's brother!
7. http://www.readingmatters.co.uk/book.php?id=71
Gotta get some additional perspectives on the novel, ****am I right?
8. http://www.lord-of-the-rings.org/hobbit.html
This is another summary of The Hobbit. I haven't read the whole novel however, so I refuse to read it yet (if this website is actually spreading anti-English propaganda, I am deeply sorry. I haven't read it.)
9. http://tolkien.cro.net/mearth.html
Bilbo Baggins' adventure takes place in Middle Earth, a fantasy themed place with much to learn about. This website has some neat information on several different topics regarding the setting for The Hobbit
10. http://www.tolkiensociety.org/tolkien/biography.html
Some biographical info on Tolkien.

*something
**I do cheat
***cause he is the authour of The Hobbit
****or am I right?

-Dylan & Samuel, BFFs

Hello World

Many blogs start off their blogging, err, career with a post that says "Hello World". This is generally meant to simply greet the three readers they have, though I mean "Hello World" in a very literal sense. One day, Samuel L. Jackson's Classic Novel Study of Movies will reach the farthest corners on the globe (which is a curious saying, as the Earth is spherical and as such has no corners. That is of course, unless this saying is a reference to the improperly proportioned rectangular map of Earth, which actually has four (!) corners.)

How will I do this, you may be wondering? By doing nothing. The world population shall flock to this blog for a source of mental nourishment, and I will be their king.

-Dylan & Samuel, BFFs