The Hobbit

The Hobbit

This book began with Biblo Baggins smoking a pipe after breakfast. This is one of his favorite things to do and he feels good in doing it. He is middle-aged, and lives in a burrow in the ground. One morning Gandalf, a wizard stops by to talk with Biblo. He tells Biblo that he is looking for someone to go on an adventure with him. Although Biblo is tempted he decides not to go, but invites Gandalf for tea the next morning. The next day Biblo hears his doorbell and he remembers inviting Gandalf for tea, but instead of finding the wizard at the door, he finds 13 dwarves. Thorin son of the dwarf king starts to make a plan on how to regain the treasure stolen by the dragon Smaug. Biblo is shocked that these plans involve him. He then realizes that Gandalf has tricked him by writing on his door that he was a burglar looking for an exciting job. With all the talk of quests and glory Biblo decides to join the group on their adventure. Gandalf reveals a key and a map of their journey to the Lonely Mountain. It is there, that Smaug guards the treasure of Thorin's ancestors.

The journey begins and the group meets at the Green Dragon Inn. From there they travel into the Lone-lands. As heavy rains begin to fall, Biblo sees that Gandalf is missing. When it starts to pour they stop to investigate a light. Their Biblo finds three trolls grumbling about food. Biblo decides to live up to title of burglar and tries to pickpocket one of the trolls. However they quickly catch him. The dwarfs see what's going on and try to save Biblo but all of them except Thorin are caught. Thorin creates a plan to free them but fails. Gandalf returns and keeps the trolls attention till dawn, and then they turn into stone. The group takes the two swords and a knife that the trolls were carrying.

The travelers come across the Secret Valley. There they stop at Elrond's Last Homely House. Elrond tells them the only way to use the key that Thorin has is to wait where the thrush knocks and the setting sun will shine up on the keyhole. The next morning the group heads toward the Misty Mountains. A storm has caused them to look for shelter in a cave. The cave however turns out to be an entrance to the goblin kingdom. Again the group is captured. Only Gandalf is free, and he slays the Goblin King, and once again frees the group from doom.

During the escape Biblo is knocked unconscious and is left behind. He awakes to find a ring of power that belongs to Gollum. Biblo slips the ring on his finger and disappears. He follows Gollum toward the entrance to the outside world. He then jumps over Gollum's head into freedom. Outside he finds his dwarf friends.

Later they run into Wargs, which are large savage wolves. The Wargs chase the party into the trees. High in the trees Gandalf uses a spell to start the pine cones on fire, in order to drive the wolves away. However the plan backfires and the very trees they tried to make safe are now burning. Luckily for them the king of the eagles spots them. He and his eagles drop out of the sky and saves the group. The eagles drop them off near Mirkwood Forest.

This is where they run into Beorn; a bear like man who can change into a bear. He gives them a place for the night and outfits them with supplies for their trip into Mirkwood. He also warns them to stay on the trail in the forest. When they are ready to enter the forest, Gandalf announces he will not be accompanying them in this part of the journey. The group feels lost without him but they go on.

They come across a black river. It is there that Bombur, one of the Dwarves falls