Gandalf is known for leading young hobbits off on adventures, although respectable hobbits do not do such things. Books about tolkien back to the author aside from the number of short guides to tolkien and his works by publishers such as york notes, barrons book notes, sparknotes, and even dummys guide, there are also many excellent books that deal with his created works. This novel details the adventure of bilbo baggins as he assists a group of dwarves on a quest to reclaim their treasure from a dragon named smaug. Tolkien set out a fictional etymology for the word hobbit in an appendix to the lord of the rings, to the effect that it was ultimately derived from holbytla. Before bilbo is really able to improve upon the situation, gandalf has invited himself to tea and when he arrives, he comes with a company of dwarves led by thorin. Chapters 2 through 10 depict bilbo, gandalf, and the dwarves traveling out of the hobbitlands toward the lonely mountain far to the east. Since its first publication in 1937 it has remained in print to delight each new generation of readers all over the world, and its hero, bilbo baggins, has taken his place among the ranks of the immortals of fiction. He enjoys a peaceful and pastoral life but his life is interrupted by a surprise visit by the wizard gandalf. Tolkien claimed that he started the hobbit suddenly, without premeditation, in the midst of grading a set of student essay exams, writing on a blank piece of paper. Tolkien is an internationally renowned fantasy writer. Tolkien plus historical and literary context for the hobbit. Bilbo is quite content at bag end, near the bustling hobbit village of hobbiton, but one day. Supersummary, a modern alternative to sparknotes and cliffsnotes, offers highquality study guides for challenging works of literature. Tolkien was rawlinson and bosworth professor of anglosaxon at oxford from 1925 to 1945, and merton professor of english language and literature.
The hobbit is the prequel to the lord of the rings series written by j. Namesakes this is a list of characters from the stories of j. In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit fictional etymology. Cliff notes are cliff notes, theyre the lazy way of reading a book that you have absolutely no interest in reading. The hobbit remains one of the most wellknown books of our time, and its not just because of peter jacksons movies. Heres where youll find analysis about the book as a whole. Tom shippeys top 10 books on jrr tolkien jrr tolkien. If a virtual private party is more your thing, go here for details.
It also shows how undertaking different experiences allow people to grow in ways they did not think possible. The inklings and his own family were the first audience for tolkiens tales and poems as well as his academic work. It is best known for being the prequel to the lord of the rings. It was boring work, and one day, finding a blank page in one of the exam booklets, he wrote impulsively, in a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit. Theyre todays most popular study guideswith everything you need to succeed in school. Author of 476 books including the hobbit, or there and back again follow author john ronald reuel tolkien, cbe was an english writer, poet, wwi veteran a first lieutenant in the lancashire fusiliers, british army, philologist, and university professor, best known as the author. Tolkien the hobbit is a tale of high adventure, undertaken by a company of dwarves, in search of dragonguarded gold. Take a study break every shakespeare play summed up in a single sentence. Bilbo baggins, an unambitious hobbit is unwillingly recruited as a burglar by a party of dwarves and sent on a most extraordinary adventure. Tolkien first published the adventure in 1937, the tale has. Tolkien published the hobbit, or there and back again. Join a live hosted trivia game for your favorite pub trivia experience done virtually. The story of bilbo baggins, a hobbit who likes to stay home and live a quiet life. As the landscape becomes less hospitable and the group faces hunger, bad weather, and attacks from hostile creatures, bilbo often thinks fondly of home and questions his decision to come on this journey.
It was an instant success as a childrens book but has captured the hearts of generations ever since. While recovering in 1917, tolkien developed the book of lost tales, the stories that would later form his mythology of middleearth, the silmarillion. Originally written for his children, it came to the attention of a publisher and was an instant hit with young and old. Bilbo leaves with gandalf, elvenking, and beorn to go back to the hobbitlands. The hobbit sparknotes literature guide and millions of other books are available for amazon kindle. His books have been translated into more than fifty languages and have sold many millions of copies worldwide. The hobbit study guide from litcharts the creators of. Tolkiens the hobbit quiz with the release of the second film in the hobbit trilogy, test your knowledge of the source material jrr tolkiens book and find out if youre set for treasure or. Created by the original team behind sparknotes, litcharts are the worlds best literature guides. The hobbit is the story of bilbo baggins, a hobbit who lives in hobbiton. First page next page free study guidethe hobbit by j.
The hobbit by tolkien, jrr and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. When bilbo arrives home, he finds that his house and its contents are being auctioned, because he is presumed dead. Read a plot overview of the entire book or a chapter by chapter summary and analysis. A lot of it was stories that later became the silmarillion. A reluctant partner in this perilous quest is bilbo baggins, a comfort loving, unambitious hobbit, who surprises even himself by his resourcefulness and his skill as a burglar. He is best known for authoring the hobbit and the lord of the rings trilogy.
Tolkien, is a work in five parts that serves as a mythological creation story and history of the middle earth, the fictional universe created by tolkien that served as. Tolkien, which include the hobbit, the lord of the rings and the silmarillion. Learn more enter your mobile number or email address below and well send you a link to download the free kindle app. Tolkien books, jrr tolkien news, tolkien library, tolkien shop. Tolkien summary, chapterbychapter analysis, book notes, essays, quotes, character descriptions, lesson plans, and more. This free synopsis covers all the crucial plot points of the hobbit. More tales from tolkiens notes and drafts of the first, second, and third ages of middleearth giving readers more background on parts of the lord of the rings and the silmarillion. Tolkien share tweet submit pin john ronald reuel tolkien led the quiet, hobbitish life of an oxford professor for 34 years, working in.
Bilbo lives in a hole because he is a hobbitone of a race of small, plump people about half the size of humans, with furry toes and a great love of good food and drink. The hobbit is a wondrous tale of adventure and heroism set in the fantasy realm of middleearth. One day bilbo baggins, a hobbit who lives at bag end in hobbiton, receives a visit from gandalf, the wizard. He was soon commissioned to continue the story in the lord of the rings trilogy. Tolkien, which became an instant classic and worldwide bestseller. Tolkien 18921973 is the creator of middleearth and author of such classic and extraordinary works of fiction as the hobbit, the lord of the rings, and the silmarillion. Tolkiens inspirationsnotes i shant call it the end, till weve cleared up the mess. They stay with beorn over yuletide and return to elrond in the spring. Anderson the hobbit has undergone several changes since its first publication in 1937. Summary bilbo baggins is a hobbit, one of a race of short, timid creatures who live in cozy tunnels and who prefer to keep their lives ordered and predictable. Sam this article or section needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of article quality. John ronald reuel tolkien, cbe, was an english writer, poet, philologist, and university professor, best known as the author of the high fantasy classic works the hobbit and the lord of the rings. Written by harvard students for students, since its. This book brings us tolkiens own hobbitinspired poetry and includes previously unpublished poems and notes, and is.
Seldom has any book been so widely read and loved as j. Bilbo baggins lives a quiet, peaceful life in his comfortable hole at bag end. Every book on your english syllabus summed up in a quote from the office. The hobbit is a book full of adventure, but it also has an underlying theme of perseverance and how former foes can work together to defeat a common enemy. Tolkiens the hobbit cliffnotes like summary 9781614640486 from dymocks online store. Tolkien graded school certificate exams in the summers to supplement his rather meager faculty salary.