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Essay / Research Paper Abstract
A 7 page research paper that examines the topic of heroism in J.R.R. Tolkein's 'The Hobbit.' The writer argues that while the overall pattern for this narrative fits with the typical mythical depiction of an heroic epic, Tolkien departs from this template in many important respects. Bibliography lists 4 sources.
Page Count:
7 pages (~225 words per page)
File: KE9_99bilbo.rtf
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Unformatted sample text from the term paper:
nothing in it to sit down on or to eat: it was a hobbit-hole, and that means comfort" (Tolkien 15). This long, rather rambling, sentence begins one of
the most interesting and unusual tales in heroic literature. If you look for "The Hobbit" at your local book store, you will probably find it under "fantasy," however, "The Hobbit"
reads more like a myth or a fable than a fantasy (Straus: OLeary 29). In many ways, the story of a hobbit named Bilbo Baggins and his adventure fit the
criteria of a mythical heroic journey, yet it also deviates from the typical pattern of such a journey in several significant ways, which serves to give the story a deeper,
richer metaphorical meaning. As Giddings and Holland assert, for example, that there is a distinction that is frequently overlooked or misunderstood, which is that the "affinity of a particular
literary work with mythology often goes quite a bit further than a discernible parallel with specific myths of the ancient world" (18). This observation is particularly true when applied to
"The Hobbit." Yet, to understand how Bilbos adventure differs from the prototypical hero story, it is necessary to first examine what characteristics are typical of this genre. According to
Joseph Campbell, the renowned expert on mythology, there is a standard form to heroic tales in all cultures. The typical scenario for a mythological adventure that centers on a hero
follows the formula for a rite of passage?i.e., separation, initiation, return (Campbell 30). A hero ventures forth from the world of common day into a region of supernatural
wonder: fabulous forces are there encountered and a decisive victory is won: the hero comes back from this mysterious adventure with the power to bestow boons on his fellow man
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