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The Hobbit
The Hobbit Summary and Complete Study Guide
by J.R.R. Tolkien
Published: 1937FantasyCarnegie Medal Nominee
Complete Study Resources:
✓ Full plot summary
Bilbo Baggins, a comfort-loving hobbit, gets dragged into an unexpected adventure involving dwarves, a dragon, and a magic ring.
Complete Plot Summary
Gandalf tricks Bilbo into joining the dwarves on a quest to reclaim their homeland from a dragon. Bilbo protests but ends up going anyway. They cross mountains, get captured by trolls (Bilbo's quick thinking saves them), get captured by goblins (Bilbo gets separated and finds a magic ring that makes him invisible), encounter giant spiders (Bilbo names his sword Sting), get imprisoned by elves (Bilbo rescues everyone using his ring), and finally reach the Lonely Mountain where Smaug is sleeping on gold.
Main Characters in The Hobbit
The Hobbit features complex characters representing different aspects of society and the human condition.
Bilbo Baggins loves his quiet life until Gandalf and thirteen dwarves show up demanding adventure. Thorin Oakenshield leads the dwarves trying to reclaim their mountain from Smaug the dragon. Gollum is the creepy creature Bilbo meets in a cave, who loses his ring to Bilbo. Smaug is the arrogant dragon sitting on a mountain of stolen gold. Bard is the human archer who becomes important later.
The Ending Explained
Bilbo sneaks into Smaug's lair and has this tense conversation with the dragon. Smaug figures out the dwarves came from Lake-town and attacks it in revenge. Bard kills Smaug with his last arrow. Now everyone wants the treasure—dwarves, elves, men. Thorin becomes obsessed with gold and won't share. A battle is about to start when goblins attack, forcing everyone to unite in the Battle of Five Armies. Thorin dies heroically and reconciles with Bilbo before dying. Bilbo returns home rich but changed—he's no longer content with just comfort; he's tasted adventure. The message? Ordinary people can become heroes when circumstances demand it. Greed destroys (Thorin), generosity builds alliances, and sometimes you need to leave your comfort zone to discover what you're capable of. It's lighter than Lord of the Rings but sets up the same themes about courage and temptation.
Famous Quotes from The Hobbit
“In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit.”
Why This Book Matters
Published 1937, prequel to Lord of the Rings. Has sold over 100 million copies. The Peter Jackson films introduced it to new generations.
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