Imagery in "The Hobbit"

     Tolkien used imagery profusely in his novel "The Hobbit". Through the use of this imagery, he was able to make Bilbo's great adventure come to life. For example, in chapter 10 "A Warm Welcome", Tolkien incorporates vivid imagery of Lake Town as well as the dwarfs' miserable journey over there. The wet straw in Thorin's draggled beard gave the readers a mental image of the soggy dwarf. Also, in chapter 13 "Not at Home", he describes the Arkenstone with imagery. It is described as a large gem that took in light and changed it into sparks of white with the colors of the rainbow. Through this visual imagery he describes the Arkenstone's brilliance. Additionally in chapter 11 "On the Doorstep", imagery is used to describe the ominous Lonely Mountain. Tolkien writes that the Lonely Mountain was towering grim and tall in front of them. By this description the mountain feels very intimidating. Imagery in this novel creates feelings from fear to humor. Tolkien utilizes both functions of imagery in his book thoroughly.

e s s a y

     What is a good book without vivid, descriptive vocabulary? No one likes to read a monotonous, bland story without imagery to lean on; fortunately, we do not have to face such a miserable case with The Hobbit. The Hobbit is filled with numerous accounts of imagery. Not only does the imagery Tolkien employs help to provide a visualization for the reader, but it also evokes a deeper meaning.

     First and foremost, to understand Tolkien's use of imagery, one must understand imagery itself. Imagery is vocabulary that requires the reader to use all five senses, providing mental images, motifs, or bringing memories to mind. There are two types of imagery: literal and figurative. In the case of The Hobbit, Tolkien focuses and utilizes figurative imagery more than literal.  Figurative imagery can be classified as meaning more than just what is says, mainly by applying simile, metaphor, and personification (and the like), as Tolkien does in The Hobbit.

     For instance, similes are used to describe Elrond, the master of the house, by saying, "He was as noble and as fair in face as an elf-lord, as strong as a warrior, as wise as a wizard, as venerable as a king of dwarves, and as kind as summer" (49 Tolkien). All of these similes act as foreshadows to Bilbo's upcoming journey, almost in an ironic way. Ironically because the summer months were not kind to them, for example.

     Tolkien takes advantage of metaphor in his epic as well. When describing Gandalf, he says, "Gandalf looked at him from under long bushy eyebrows that stuck out further than the brim of his hat" (5). In the same way that it provides a mental image of Gandalf's appearance, Tolkien is also implying that Gandalf is slightly shady in his ways. We do not come to this realization until further reading the story when Gandalf departs from Bilbo and the dwarves unexpectedly.

     Furthermore, personification is found in The Hobbit too. While journeying on, it is stated that the "wind got up, and willows along its banks bent and sighed" (30). Obviously, wind cannot bend and sigh as we humans can - this is personification. In addition to this personification adding imagery to the text, it leaves me feeling eerie; almost like something in the air is mysterious. A few sentences later, it is revealed the Gandalf is gone.

     J.R.R. Tolkien does an excellent job providing readers imagery that will hold attention. He does so by leaving the reader to ponder the deeper meaning of similes, metaphors, or personification. All readers appreciate something to visualize; and it is because of that, that Tolkien holds a high place in literature.

    

     
     
    

Homework

- finish The Hobbit

The Blog

-essay how does tolkien use imagery to create meaning
 (OR)
- 3 minute video blog explaining why Bilbo is the real hero, rather than Thorin who the leader of the quest.

Next week is Review week. come with questions!

Also- if you need video blog inspiration, youtube Jordy Searcy- The Author Project. 

Homework

Easy Week!
Just read the first half of the Hobbit!
Make sure you annotate and I suggest you take a few minutes every day looking over the material we've covered to prepare for the exam in a couple weeks! (definitions in each chapter, character arcs, essay tips etc)

have fun!

The Life of J.R.R Tolkien

Born January 3rd, 1894 J.R.R Tolkien is one of the greatest authors in our history. Growing up was no walk in the park for Tolkien. His father died when he was young and then was home schooled by his mother before heading to oxford for collage. Starting out as a poet, Tolkien soon discovered that writing was his true calling. He also enjoyed making up languages which eventually turned into elvish. Lord of the rings was Influanced strongly by Germanic mythology, Greek mythology, and the bible. The Lord of the rings trilogy and the hobbit were by far his most esteemed and popular work. Sadly, Tolkien died on The 2nd of september 1973 and was buried next to his wife Edith. 

J.R.R. Tolkien

J.R.R. Tolkien was born to an English banker and his wife on January 3rd, 1892. When he was still a young child his father died of a fever while J.R.R. and the rest of the family was visiting family in England. Until attending college at King Edwards’s School he was exclusively schooled by his mother. Tolkien did not immediately join the fight upon the outbreak of World War 1, but instead waited until he graduated from college so that the could commission instead of enlisting. In 1925 he took a job at Oxford as a professor. During this time he would go on to write The Hobbit and the beginning of the Lord of the Rings series which are considered his greatest works. Tolkien would eventually die in 1973.

Drinking Writing, and Puffing on a Pipe.

             John ronald Reuel Tolkien was born in 1892 in Bloemfontein, in what is now South Africa. His name was fairly normal but Reuel was a family name that meant “friend of God” in Hebrew. Arthur and Mable, his parents, were from england and met and married in africa. Tolkien was a weak child and the wildlife and climate didn’t agree with him and his brother Hilary. A tarantula bit him and that began his lifelong fear of spiders. Maybe influencing Shelob in the Lord of the Rings and the horrors of Mirkwood in the Hobbit. Mable finally decided to take the two boys to England and meet back in Africa with Arthur when the boys were strong enough. Soon after they left, Arthur died of an untreated flu. Tolkien always felt like it was his fault, because his mother could have helped his father if he hadn’t been weak. Tolkien and the rest of the family settled in Sarehole, a town near Birmingham. When writing, Tolkien would base the shire and hobbits from the people who lived there. The long walks through the fields were good for Tolkien and inspired his imagination. He invented three or four languages before he was 10. Mable disapproved of such activities because they took away from studies. Tolkien was already a lazy student but so smart that he learned wether he wanted to or not. In 1903 he won a scholarship to the King Edward the sixth school in Birmingham, the best school in the area. Mable died in 1904 but Mable had prepared and they were sent to an private orphanage.

             Tolkien never stopped loving languages, and by the age of 16 he mastered Greek, Latin, and was very close to mastering Anglo-Saxon. He also fell in love with another orphan, Edith mary Bratt, she was two years older than him. She was worried that him and his brother did not get enough to eat so she persuaded a maid to help her create a trolly between the kitchen to their bedroom. When they were found out, their relationship was also uncovered and she was forbidden to see, visit, or write to each other. That kept them apart until she was an adult and he was in oxford.

           The war was coming quickly when he was in Oxford, but he was determined to finish before going to war. When he did, he was rewarded second lieutenant because of his degree. The war left scar after scar on his life until he went down with trench fever. While in the hospital he wrote the Silmarillian to create a mythology and background for his Elvish language. He was released from the war in 1919. when he returned, he found most of friends dead.

             He had recently married his childhood love, Edith, and they had their first son John Francis Reuel Tolkien. He became a tutor and substitute teacher. He had his second son in 1920 and in 1921 he was named Reader of the English Language at the university of Leeds. later he was named the Professor of the English Language in 1924. His students remember him puffing on a pipe, drinking large quantities of beer and telling jokes. A year later he accepted a position at Oxford, The chair of Bosworth and Rawlinson Professor of Anglo-saxon. Tolkien had a group of friends like C.S. Lewis and Owen Barfield that met and conversed about their writings, for 30 years, they were called the inklings. The Hobbit was published in 1936 and he began on the Lord of the Rings in 1937. the Inklings helped to shape these great books through the years. The final draft was in 1949. At first he opposed the though of splitting them up but he was soon persuaded. He became outrageously famous. Receiving many awards. His mail was always full and he spent a lot of time writing back and answering question after question. He was one of the most famous writers in the world, as was his friend C.S. Lewis.

            In 1972 Edith died from illness and Tolkien was never the same. He was very lonely for the last year of his life, no matter how many visits his children made. He died in 1973.