— Ch. 1 · The Hobbit Narrative Arc —
Bilbo Baggins.
~7 min read · Ch. 1 of 6
In the quiet village of Hobbiton, a hobbit named Bilbo Baggins sits at his breakfast table. He enjoys tobacco and waits for guests who never arrive until the wizard Gandalf knocks on his door. The 13 Dwarves led by Thorin Oakenshield enter with their king in exile demanding a burglar to help reclaim the Lonely Mountain from Smaug. Bilbo initially objects to leaving his comfortable home but eventually accepts the role despite his fear. The company travels through wilderness areas where they face goblins and escape across the Misty Mountains. They reach Rivendell before crossing into the black forest of Mirkwood. A lucky encounter with Gollum leads to the acquisition of a magic ring that grants invisibility. Later, Bilbo steals a golden cup from Smaug's lair while wearing the ring. The dragon awakens and nearly catches the Dwarves outside the mountain door. Bilbo returns to tell them about a gap in Smaug's armor after a riddling conversation. An old thrush hears this information and flies off to warn Bard in Lake-town. Smaug destroys Lake-town in rage before being killed by an arrow. The Dwarves refuse to share treasure with Lake-men or Wood-elves which horrifies Bilbo. He hides the Arkenstone heirloom to prevent fighting between Thorin and other groups. Thorin banishes Bilbo for betrayal when he tries to ransom the stone. Dain arrives with an army of Dwarves to face Elves and Men at the Battle of Five Armies. Eagles and Beorn join the fight against goblins and wargs who arrive to take over the mountain. Thorin dies making peace with Bilbo before the battle ends. Bilbo accepts only a small portion of his share though it remains great wealth for a Shire hobbit.
Legacy In Middle-earth
Sixty years after the beginning of The Hobbit, Bilbo celebrates his eleventy-first birthday on June 22nd. His cousin Frodo Baggins turns thirty-three and legally comes of age on that same day. Gandalf persuades Bilbo to leave behind the magic ring he has kept all those years. The ring has prolonged Bilbo's life leaving him feeling thin and stretched. Bilbo travels to Rivendell where he visits dwarves from the Lonely Mountain. He writes books there before returning to retire in the peaceful valley. Two years later Bilbo accompanies Gandalf Elrond Galadriel and Frodo to Grey Havens. They board ships bound for Tol Eressëa across the sea to the Undying Lands. As narrator of The Hobbit Bilbo translates works from elvish languages into Westron. He authors poems including A Walking Song and The Road Goes Ever On. The poem All that is gold does not glitter uses glisters instead of glitters based on Shakespeare. Another work called The Man in the Moon Stayed Up Too Late adapts nursery rhyme Hey Diddle Diddle. Bilbo's Last Song describes his contemplation of the voyage ahead. Frodo finds Bilbo looking very old but peaceful and sleepy when they return via Rivendell. The Red Book of Westmarch contains these writings as translations from fictional volumes.