This discussion forum is hosted by the UNM Hobbit Society at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque, NM, USA. The purpose of our group is to meet and associate with others interested in Tolkien, and to learn more about the author, his written works, and his sources through discussion, guest lectures and academically oriented activities. This blog is intended to expand discussion among UNM Hobbit Society members beyond what meeting times allow.
Choose one idea raised by one of your classmates in the class discussion today that you find interesting or problematic. Write a blog posting that discusses your thoughts about that idea.
One of the most interesting points to me that was brought up today in class was something also brought up in one of our earlier readings - the idea that Tolkien's decision to make Bilbo so timid and "unheroic" almost is one of the aspects about Bilbo that most allows us to relate to him. The same idea occurs with Frodo as well - these two main characters are not who you would expect to be the heroes of such an influential fantasy world. Bilbo is literally rushed out of his door, after he'd already had a slow morning where he could have decided personally to run after the Dwarves to try to find them. Instead, he sits, cleans, eats, ponders, and then frantically throws things on and runs out his door when Gandalf tells him he is late!
I really do think that making Bilbo and Frodo so unassuming allows us all to identify with them more - we aren't Aragorn, who has adventured and protected people for years, living with Elves and growing up with the idea of this grand destiny he is working toward. We are certainly not Gandalf - who knows how much HE knows, but we are just learning everything as we go. Instead, I can see us all as Bilbo or Frodo. Sitting at home, eating, until something or someone pushes us out the door, not quite ready for what is ahead and maybe looking longingly toward what we leave behind, but doing our best as we go. And really, doesn't that make the entire world so much more relatable, seeing it through the eyes of someone who could be us, in another life?
One of the most interesting points to me that was brought up today in class was something also brought up in one of our earlier readings - the idea that Tolkien's decision to make Bilbo so timid and "unheroic" almost is one of the aspects about Bilbo that most allows us to relate to him. The same idea occurs with Frodo as well - these two main characters are not who you would expect to be the heroes of such an influential fantasy world. Bilbo is literally rushed out of his door, after he'd already had a slow morning where he could have decided personally to run after the Dwarves to try to find them. Instead, he sits, cleans, eats, ponders, and then frantically throws things on and runs out his door when Gandalf tells him he is late!
ReplyDeleteI really do think that making Bilbo and Frodo so unassuming allows us all to identify with them more - we aren't Aragorn, who has adventured and protected people for years, living with Elves and growing up with the idea of this grand destiny he is working toward. We are certainly not Gandalf - who knows how much HE knows, but we are just learning everything as we go. Instead, I can see us all as Bilbo or Frodo. Sitting at home, eating, until something or someone pushes us out the door, not quite ready for what is ahead and maybe looking longingly toward what we leave behind, but doing our best as we go. And really, doesn't that make the entire world so much more relatable, seeing it through the eyes of someone who could be us, in another life?