Week 6: A Rich Fantasy Life
Discuss how the work you read for this week reflects or doesn't reflect elements of the classic journey of the hero.
This week I read The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien, and although I've watched snippets of the movie series, I haven't had a chance to read it until now. When comparing The Hobbit to the classic stages of the Hero's Journey, I believe it follows most of the elements. According to the 12 Stages of the Hero's journey, it begins with the Ordinary World. The beginning of The Hobbit also showcases Bilbo's ordinary world, living as a hobbit and living in his homey hole in the ground where he enjoys good food and a comfortable lifestyle. The second and third aspect of the Hero's journey is the Call to Adventure and the Refusal to the Call, this comes when Gandalf approaches Bilbo and invites him to join him in an adventure, but Bilbo is happy to be living at The Shire in the comfort of his home and doesn't want anything to do with Gandalf. As much as Bilbo refuses, he is eventually forced into being the "burglar" for Gandalf and a group of dwarves. Therefore, this is the fourth and fifth step of the Hero's Journey, where Gandalf becomes Bilbo's mentor and Bilbo finally agrees and leaves the Shire to begin his adventure. The following steps: Tests/Allies/Enemies, Approach to the Inmost Cave, Ordeal and Reward involves Bilbo facing and defeating multiple obstacles such as goblins, Gollum and the ring, a dragon, and the biggest ordeal is Thorin, the leader of the dwarves after he selfishly refuses to share the treasure of Smaug with the people of Laketown. All the conflict leads to the Battle of the Five Armies and when it was over, Bilbo’s reward was not only a portion of the treasure, that he humbly turns down a larger portion of. But Bilbo also gains courage from his adventure. He then returns to the Shire, completing the final stages of the Hero’s Journey: Return. The only parts of the classic elements of a hero is Bilbo’s character and personality. When we think of “hero” we usually associate the term with a male, tall, young, strong and a warrior. However, Bilbo completely defies the stereotype of heroes, being a small, older hobbit with no experience in fighting or warfare, he’s more of a homebody who enjoys the smaller things in life.
This week I read The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien, and although I've watched snippets of the movie series, I haven't had a chance to read it until now. When comparing The Hobbit to the classic stages of the Hero's Journey, I believe it follows most of the elements. According to the 12 Stages of the Hero's journey, it begins with the Ordinary World. The beginning of The Hobbit also showcases Bilbo's ordinary world, living as a hobbit and living in his homey hole in the ground where he enjoys good food and a comfortable lifestyle. The second and third aspect of the Hero's journey is the Call to Adventure and the Refusal to the Call, this comes when Gandalf approaches Bilbo and invites him to join him in an adventure, but Bilbo is happy to be living at The Shire in the comfort of his home and doesn't want anything to do with Gandalf. As much as Bilbo refuses, he is eventually forced into being the "burglar" for Gandalf and a group of dwarves. Therefore, this is the fourth and fifth step of the Hero's Journey, where Gandalf becomes Bilbo's mentor and Bilbo finally agrees and leaves the Shire to begin his adventure. The following steps: Tests/Allies/Enemies, Approach to the Inmost Cave, Ordeal and Reward involves Bilbo facing and defeating multiple obstacles such as goblins, Gollum and the ring, a dragon, and the biggest ordeal is Thorin, the leader of the dwarves after he selfishly refuses to share the treasure of Smaug with the people of Laketown. All the conflict leads to the Battle of the Five Armies and when it was over, Bilbo’s reward was not only a portion of the treasure, that he humbly turns down a larger portion of. But Bilbo also gains courage from his adventure. He then returns to the Shire, completing the final stages of the Hero’s Journey: Return. The only parts of the classic elements of a hero is Bilbo’s character and personality. When we think of “hero” we usually associate the term with a male, tall, young, strong and a warrior. However, Bilbo completely defies the stereotype of heroes, being a small, older hobbit with no experience in fighting or warfare, he’s more of a homebody who enjoys the smaller things in life.
Bilbo is my hero and he's basically Luke Skywalker.
ReplyDeleteThe Hobbit is a classical tale that portrays the Hero's Journey as well. The story pinpoints many elements from the diagram and I agree with your statements in your blog.
ReplyDelete