Bilbo's Sense For Adventure example essay topic

967 words
This hobbit was a very well-to-do hobbit, and his name was Baggins. The Baggins es had lived in the neighborhood of The Hill for time out of mind, and people considered them very respectable, not only because most or them were rich, but also because they never had any adventures of did anything unexpected; you could tell what a Baggins would say on any question without the bother of asking him. This isa story of how a Baggins had an adventure, and found himself doing and saying things altogether unexpected. He may have lost the neighbors' respect, but he gained- well, you will see what he gained in the end. (p. 1-2) Bilbo Baggins lived a very simple life, a life he enjoyed very much, until the day when the wizard Gandalf arrived at his door one spring morning. Gandalf was searching for someone to share an adventure with, but Bilbo quickly declined, saying, "Wedon't want any adventures here, thank you! You might try over The Hill or across The Water", (p. 3) and with that the hobbit dismissed the wandering wizard, but not before he had given the wizard an invitation for tea the next day.

This of coarse, was the polite thing to do. But Gandalf saw something more in Bilbo and would not be discouraged. He left the hobbit, but not before he had scratched a sign on Bilbo's door. The following day, Gandalf showed for tea, along with thirteen.

This was the beginning of the adventures between the hobbit and the. The next day, Bilbo somehow found himself leaving his comfortable hobbit-hole, and on what seemed to be an adventure. Thiswas the beginning of not just one, but many adventures for Bilbo. The were on a quest to find and reclaim their famous treasure from the great dragon Smaug. It would be along and difficult journey, and they felt it would be made simpler with the help of a burglar. This was what Bilbo was for, even if he didn't know it.

Bilbo didn't want to be on the adventure, let alone play a vital role in it. But by the time the story concluded, Bilbo had changed from a well-to-do homebody into an adventuresome burglar. The first time Bilbo exposed his hidden sense of adventure was early in the trip when he encountered a group of trolls. Bilbo was sent by the to investigate a strange fire in a forest, and he went reluctantly.

When he reached the blaze, he saw it was being attended to by trolls. Bilbo had the option to turnaround at that point, but he felt the need to do something. His feelings could be shown by the following quote: "he wished himself a hundred miles away-yet somehow he could not go straight back to Thor in and Companyemptyhanded". (p. 36) Bilbo's thievish side was already beginning to show itself because Bilbo felt the need to impress the. But Mr. Baggins' first adventure was not a successful one, and it took Gandalf to save Bilbo and the from the trolls. Bilbo's first successful adventure came by accident.

After Bilbo had been accidentally left behind in the Goblin caves, he ventured into the realm of the Gollum. Gollum engaged the hobbit into a game of riddles, with Bilbo's life as the prize. Bilbo won the game, but Gollum would not give up easily. After Bilbo had defeated him, Gollum paddled to his island in search of his ring that will make him invisible. With this ring he planned to sneak up to Bilbo and devour him. But Gollum didn't know that Bilbo had had it in his possession until he couldn't find it on his island.

It is here were a character views Bilbo as a burglar. Gollum shrieks, "Thief, thief, thief! Baggins! We hates it, we hates it, we hates it for ever!" Gollum chased after Bilbo, but luck was with Bilbo because he had slipped on the ring, and Gollum could not find him.

Bilbo's sense for adventure grew more with this experience. He enjoyed the challenge Gollum had presented him. Of course, Bilbo probably never would have participated in it if his life had not been on the line. Bilbo's sense of adventure reached new heights when he and the were on the doorstep to the secret entrance ofSmaug's mountain. After the hobbit and the had finally opened the secret passageway, the thought Bilbo should be the first to go into the cave and investigate. Although Bilbo did not like being volunteered, he was not unwilling to go, saying, "Perhaps I have begun to trust my luck more than I used to... but anyway, I think I will go and have a peep at once and get it over". (pp. 210-211) Thiswas a new Bilbo, a Bilbo that was not present at the beginning of the story.

Bilbo even had the nerve to steal a golden cup from the dragon. He was a completely new hobbit. Bilbo Baggins changed a great deal from the beginning of the story to the end of it. He was a simple and reluctant hobbit when he set off with the wizard Gandalf on a spring morning.

He was reluctant to leave the comfort of his own home and more reluctant to take part in adventures. But by the end of the story, a new Bilbo Baggins has emerged. He had changed into a courageous and adventuresome burglar. He became well respected by everyone, everyone that had a sense of adventure, that is.