Finish reading chapters 9-12 of The Hobbit. Choose an important quote and explain its importance.

-- Anonymous, December 13, 2004

Answers

"The King beneath the mountains, The King of carven stone, The lord of silver fountains, Shall come into his own!"

~"A Warm Welcome", pg. 190.

I like this quote a lot because it's so unexpected. The company has been through High Elves, orcs, Wargs, Eagles, Beorn, spiders, and Wood Elves, and they've been treated with practically no respect with each. Now, these Men who have held the story of Thorin and his line for ages randomly hold this immense celebration and are overjoyed at their arrival. It's odd to see that these characters who were so depsised or ignored by almost all other members of the book are suddenly held in reverence by these humans.

-- Anonymous, December 13, 2004

"Very Well," said Bilbo, very downcast, and also rather annoyed. "Come along back to your nice cells, and I will lock you all in again, and you can sit there comfortably and think of a better plan-but I don't suppose I shall ever get a hold of the keys again, even if I feel inclined to try."

p175 in the sweet old-skool version.

I like this quote because it shows Bilbo coming into his own and kind of letting the dwarves know he won't be taken lightly, no matter his appearance.

-- Anonymous, December 13, 2004

It was at theis point that Bilbo stopped. Going from there was the bravest thing he ever did. The tremendous things that happened afterwards were as nothing compared to it. He fought the real battle in the tunnel alone, before he evere saw the vast danger that lay in wait.
I think this quotes showes a climax in Bilbo's character. Here he makes the choice to go forth and see the dragon. He here is finally a complete person, not just a shell of one. We have seen him working up to this throughout the story.

-- Anonymous, December 14, 2004

[I]But Bilbo was not quite so unlearned in dragon-lore as all that, and if Smaug hoped to get him to come nearer so easily he was disappointed[/I]

p. 212 in the oldest small version (take that Bains)

I think this once again demonstrates that Bilbo is not as naive as we would like to think. Like his interest in maps at the begining of the book I think this shows that Bilbo pays more attentiton to travel tales and adventure stories or old flok lore than Hobbits would approve of and we are let on to believe. My reasoning is that if Bilbo could barely remeber Gandalf at the begining, who was probably the biggest adventurer he knew up until that point, what is the likelyhood that he would remember some random bit of dragon-lore.

-- Anonymous, December 14, 2004

How's this: "[Smaug] had passed from an uneasy dream (in which a warrior, altogether insignificant in size but provided with a bitter sword and great courage, figured most unpleasantly) to a doze, and from a doze to wide waking."

Smaug, with the magic perception and wisdom of the dragons, sees waht perhaps even Bilbo himself does not - that the hobbit is, despite his claims and wishes for his nice hobbit-hole and tea-kettle, is a hero on par with those in the stories. All through the story, we have seen Bilbo growing into his role as a hero; Smaug's dream signals the final stage of his development, when he finally will become a hero in full.

-- Anonymous, December 14, 2004

This is page 206 in my version (Chapter Ten)...

"Well, are you alive or dead?" asked Bilbo quite crossly. Perhaps he had forgotten that he had had at least one good meal more than the dwarves, and also the use of his arms and legs, not to speak of a greater allowance of air. "Are you still in prison, or are you free? If you want food, and if you want to go on with this silly adventure--it's yours after all and not mine--you had better slap your arms and rub your legs and try and help me get the others out while there is a chance!"

Bilbo's character is changing radically over the quest, and this quote is important because of how clearly it illustrates the changes not only in him, but in his relationships to others, in this case, Thorin. He's basically just sassed this lordly Dwarf who's just gone through a soggy version of heck. He's becoming a lot less reverent and a lot more practical and daring thanm he used to be.

-- Anonymous, December 14, 2004

"Old fool! Why there is a large patch in the hollow of his left breast as bear as a snail out of its shell!"

p216 In the "sweet old-skool version"

This quote illustrates one of the pinacles of Bilbos's acheivements. He is able to trick a dragon! I mean come on, if that's not impressive what is. This is essentially the culmination of the transformation of Bilbo. He goes from incompetent to clever. His only mistake in this scene is trying to put in a last word.

But Remember Bains and Caroline I still had the Oldest version of the Silmarillion: with the dust jacket intact no less!

-- Anonymous, December 14, 2004

"There it is: dwarves are not heroes, but calculating folk with a great idea of the value of money; some are tricky and treacherous and pretty bad lots; some are not, but are decent enough people like Thorin and Company, if you don't expect too much."

p. 204, Larsenkhan Edition (2nd page of Chapter 12)

This is the first time, in all of our Tolkien readings this semester, that Tolkien has given the reader a good explanation of the character of dwarves. All there has been to go on before were their actions, which were sometimes not particularly flattering (case-in-point: Nim the dwarf from the Silmarillion). We finally learn that beneath all the desire for wealth there is some basic good nature in a good percentage of dwarves, including good ol' Thorin et al.

-- Anonymous, December 14, 2004

"If you mean you think it is my job to go into the secret passage first, O Thorin Thrain's son Oakenshield, may your beard grow ever longer," he said crossly, "say so at once and have done! I might refuse. I have got you out of two messes already, which were hardly in the original bargain, so that I am, I think, already owed some reward. But 'thrid time pays for all' as my father used to say, and somehow I don't think I shall refuse. Perhaps I have begun to trust my luck more than I used to in the old days"-he meant last spring before he left his own house, but it seemed centuries ago- "but anyway I think I will go and have a peep at once and get it over." p.212 (1st page in chapter 12)

This quotation serves to express Bilbo's growing independence and authority in the group. He is no longer a timid burglar who is afraid of everything. He has completely transformed into a confidant burglar who is not afraid to speak his mind, even to the Great Thorin Oakenshield himself. He feels he is entitled to recognition and is becoming very annoyed about Thorin's constant oration and the lack of acknowledgment that without Bilbo they would have been spider food. He is fed up but he also finally realizes his worth and bravery and is willing to steal from Smaug anyway.

-- Anonymous, December 14, 2004

Well, lets see.

Suddenly Bilbo's arm went towards it [the Arkenstone] drawn by its enchantment. His small hand would not close about it, for it was a large and heavy gem; but he lifted it, shut his eyes, and put it in his deepest pocket. [...] "They did say I could pick and choose my own share; and I thing I would choose this, if they took all the rest!"

I think that this quote shows how Bilbo was affected by Smaug's trickery. By taking the Arkenstone, he is taking to heart what Smaug told him that the dwarves would cheat him of his share. By taking the greatest jewel, Bilbo is also making a very bold move, not one to be expected from a simple hobbit from Bag-End. It further shows Bilbo's transformation and new-found courage.

-- Anonymous, December 14, 2004

"The Elvenking was very powerful in those parts and the Master wished for no enmity with him, nor did he think much of old songs, giving his mind to trade and trolls, to cargoes and gold, to which habit he owed his position." pg 177 of the cool version. (a.k.a the newest edition)

I think this quote is important because it kind of goes along with our whole theme of Expect the Unexpected. Even the lives of men that are outside of the Isolated Shire have found a daily grind. They don't believe in the old legends, and hardly believe in the dragon. It's like saying elves exist but there's no chance of aliens in our modern society. It's very odd and it shows how even the Men need to expect the unexpected of this legend of Thror and Thrain returning and gold flowing.

-ror

-- Anonymous, December 14, 2004

"It was at this point that Bilbo stopped. Going on from there was the bravest thing he ever did. The tremendous things that happened afterwards were as nothing compared to it. He fought the real battle in the tunnel alone, before he ever saw the vast danger that lay in wait." -pg 193, newest edition (Ch. 13)

This quote shows that Bilbo, in spite of his "least Tookish" side, is really quite brave once he gets going. In the midst of danger, he seems to lose his fear, and the only struggle for him is plucking up the courage to jump in, like when he was "helped" out his door.

-- Anonymous, December 15, 2004

"Go on! Go on! I will do the stinging" Page165 green book.

This represents a reversal of roles in the adventure. Usually, the dwarves do the fighting, while Bilbo uses words or is used as bait. Now, he's 'doing the stinging' by fighting the spiders.

-- Anonymous, December 15, 2004