English
Chip Walker
Honors English 116
Mrs. Bauer
11 November 2004
Magic and the Supernatural in The Hobbit
The Hobbit, by J.R.R. Tolkien, is full of magic and things having to do with magic.
There are all sorts of supernatural creatures in this novel, including dwarves, trolls,
goblins, elves, wizards, and the main character is a "hobbit". Overall, magic and the
supernatural plays a very big part in The Hobbit.
One major magic entity in the book is Gandalf. He shows his magic power a few
times. One of those times was when the little party was in the Misty Mountains, sleeping
in the cave. The goblins came in and captured all the dwarves and their ponies, but as they
reached Gandalf, he jumped up, killed some goblins with magical lightning, and
disappeared. He then snuck into the goblins caverns and saved the dwarves and Bilbo.
Another time he showed his magic prowess was when he and the dwarves were in the
trees surrounded by the wargs. He lit pine cones with a supernatural fire and chucked
them at the demented wolves, causing mass confusion and chaos in the wargs' company.
Without the help of Gandalf and his magic, Bilbo and the dwarves would never have
gotten to even Rivendell, let alone the Lonely Mountain of Smaug the dragon.
The other item of the supernatural is the ring that Bilbo finds in Gollum's cave.
Gollum has been completely taken over by this powerful piece of jewelry, and is livid
when he loses it. Bilbo happens to stumble upon the ring, only then to run into Gollum,
who challenges Bilbo to a game of riddles, with the hobbit's life at stake. Bilbo wins, and
Gollum figures...
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