The Hobbit

This week I read The Hobbit, written by J. R. R. Tolkien. I found the plot and characters very compelling, and this is probably the best book I have read so far for this class. Although it does reflect most of the elements of the classic hero's journey, it feels very fresh, fantastic and fun. The novel begins like many other heroic stories. We find our hero in relative comfort, unaware that a strange journey is about to come knocking on  his door. Of course our hero does not answer the call of adventure initially, but after a little push from our magical helper, Gandalf, Bilbo accepts the call of the Dwarves and enters the threshold into the outside world of the unknown. The story then goes on to address other elements of heroism. Although The Hobbit pretty much follows the exact structure of any other great adventure story, I think what makes this story different is the characters. From Bilbo to Gandalf, Thorin and company, trolls, elves, and goblins, there are so many interesting creatures and personality types. There is always someone to laugh at, someone to hate or blame, and someone who knows the next step in the journey.