The Hobbit: Battle of Five Armies

Chapter 17 and 18

Bard reveals the Arkenstone

The story continues the following morning with Bard and two other men tries to form a peace agreement with Thorin. Thorin refuses to share his treasure so Bard reveals the Arkenstone, a gem that Thorin has been seeking for awhile. Thorin rages on Bilbo who reveals that he founded the Akenstone and never told Thorin. Thorin is about to turn violent on Bilbo until Gandalf reveals himself and stops Thorin.

"“You! You!” cried Thorin, turning upon him and grasping him with both hands. “You miserable hobbit! You undersized—burglar!” he shouted at a loss for words, and he shook poor Bilbo like a rabbit." (page 276; paragraph 9)

Gandalf allows Bilbo to explain himself about the burglar contract which only specify that he could take whatever her wants as payment. This forces Thorin to agree and bitterly give 1/14 of the treasure to the humans and elves. However, Thorin secretly hopes that his dwarf army led by Dain will be able to come and take the stone by force before the arrangement begins.

The dwarf army arrives in large numbers and they threaten the elves and humans. Before both sides could wage a war, a dark force looms toward them and Gandalf announces that Bolg of the North has come. Bolg of the North leads an army of Wargs and goblins hoping to take the treasure in the mountain. The humans, elves, and dwarves joined forces to fight off against the Wargs and goblins.
This battle is called the Battle of Five Armies. Both sides fight fiercely against each other.

The Battle of Five Armies

"It was a terrible battle. The most dreadful of all Bilbo’s experiences, and the one which at the time he hated most...." (page 283; paragraph 3)

The elves and dwarves are able to make the goblins flee, but the Wargs keeps forcing them to fall back. Thorin and his small group of dwarves fight alongside the humans with lots of courage and bravery. The enemy slowly gains land and Bilbo is forced to retreat to the mountain. Believing that they will lose, Bilbo feels terrible for his dwarf friends who will eventually be overwhelmed and slaughtered. However, when all hope was just about to be lost, Bilbo spots the Great Eagles joining the fight. Bilbo keeps on yelling "The Eagles" and later loses consciousness after a stone hit his head.

"“The Eagles! the Eagles!” Bilbo cried, dancing and waving his arms. If the elves could not see him they could hear him. Soon they too took up the cry, and it echoed across the valley..."
(page 287; paragraph 1)


Bilbo regains consciousness and sees that they have won the battle. A man tries to search for Bilbo and Bilbo had to take off his ring to reveal himself that he is still alive. Bilbo returns back to a delighted Gandalf who thought Bilbo's luck had run out. Bilbo is sent to a mortally wounded Thorin. Thorin asks Bilbo to forgive him for his harsh actions and wishes him well as he dies.

"“Farewell, good thief,” he said. “I go now to the halls of waiting to sit beside my fathers, until the world is renewed. Since I leave now all gold and silver, and go where it is of little worth, I wish to part in friendship from you, and I would take back my words and deeds at the Gate.”"
(page 290; paragraph 1)

Bilbo cries after the loss of his friend and king under the mountain. He later learns the the Great Eagles arrives to help out after the eagles saw suspicious goblin activity in the mountains prior the battle. The great Eagle of Misty Mountain rallies a large number of eagles to aid the humans, dwarves, and elves. However, they were still outnumbered, until Beorn charges in out of nowwhere. Together, they managed to chain the tide of the battle into their favor. Beorn arrives and carries Thorin's body and they buries him deep beneath the mountain.  Bard also places the Arkenstone onto Thorin's chest.

Thorin's deathbed with the Arkenstone

The dwarf, Dain, becomes the new king of the dwarves. Of the twelve dwarves who journey with Thorin, only ten remained.  Bilbo learns that Kili and Fili died by Thorin's side defending him for Thorin is their mother's elder brother. The others were fighting alongside Dain. One fourteenth of the treasure was split towards the elves and the humans. Bard uses the gold to rebuild the destroyed Lake Town. Bilbo was rewarded with two small chests. One is filled with silver and the other is filled with gold. Bilbo then departs and says goodbye to his dwarf friends. The group of friends told each other to visit anytime they want.

"“Farewell, Balin!” he said; “and farewell, Dwalin; and farewell Dori, Nori, Ori, Oin, Gloin, Bifur, Bofur, and Bombur! May your beards never grow thin!” And turning towards the Mountain he added: “Farewell Thorin Oakenshield!And Fili and Kili! May your memory never fade!”....“Goodbye and good luck, wherever you fare!” said Balin at last...." (page 293-294; paragraph 1-2)

Bilbo and Gandalf takes the long way back. They stopped by Beorn's cottage to rest. Eventually, they head back towards Bilbo's homeland.

The Hobbit: Chapter 15-16 Summary/Review

Summary

Chapter 15

The thrush returns to the company and has a raven translate telling the dwarves that Smaug is dead. The dwarves were overjoyed, but it was short-lived when the thrush informs them that an army of elves and humans are marching toward their location. They all want to have a share of the treasure especially the struggling Lake Town townspeople. Thorin is greedy and believes that the treasure is his inheritance. Bard and some elvin representative asks Thorin to be generous enough to share the treasure since Thorin and his dwarves took hospitality in Lake Town. Thorin strictly refused, but Bard gives Thorin time to reconsider.

“You put your worst cause last and in the chief place,” Thorin answered. “To the treasure of my people no man has a claim, because Smaug who stole it from us also robbed him of life or home..... nothing will we give, not even a loaf’s worth, under threat of force. While an armed host lies before our doors, we look on you as foes and thieves." (Page 265-266; Paragraph 4)


After they left, Thorin told his dwarves that they will fight for their treasure and make sure no one gets it. Bombor, Fili, and Kili are the only dwarves that do not believe Thorin's idea.

Chapter 16

Bilbo hands the Arkenston to Bard and Elven Leaders

Thorin continues to search for the missing Arkenstone not knowing that Bilbo has it. The other dwarves worries about the army of humans and elves camped outside their doorstep. Bilbo believes that he must take it himself to prevent a war. Bilbo sneaks out using his ring and hands the Arkenstone to Bard and the Elven leaders. He tells them to use the Arkenstone as a peace offering so both sides don't start a war with each other. Amazed by Bilbo's courage and bravery, Bard takes the Arkenstone, and asks Bilbo if he would like to stay with them. Bilbo refuses and returns to the mountain. Bilbo meets Gandalf who is proud of Bilbo's actions. Bilbo, believing he did the best thing for both sides, walks back into the mountain.

Review

Tolkien showed the power of greed is destructive and can corrupt one's mind. Thorin's lust for the treasure and the Arkenstone proves this. Thorin turned on the people of Lake Town and the elves who helped him and his dwarves throughout their journey. Instead of paying them back with some treasure to help rebuild the destruction of Lake Town, Thorin told the once friends to scram. In Middle-Earth, humans, dwarves, and elves should stay allies because they are considered the "good guys". I think that Bilbo's act of wanting peace reflect to Tolkien wishing that World War I could end. Tolkien served in the British military and he wished that it would end.

Chapter 17 represents that the greatest thing to prevent war is peace. Although Bilbo is friends with the dwarves, he believes that the only way to prevent a war is for both sides to have a peace agreement. I have to agree to this myself because it is unwise to betray an ally or allies who had already helped you so much. Overall, I believe that Bilbo did the right thing.

The Hobbit: Chapter 13-14 Summary/Review

Summary

Chapter 13

The Arkenstone

Smaug flies off to Lake Town in vengeance after solving Bilbo's riddle and believes that the villagers there are responsible. The dwarves, unable to contain their curiosity, slowly sneak into Smaug's chamber where they find piles of golden treasure. Unable to contain their excitement, they scurry towards the treasure after Bilbo was sure the dragon left. Bilbo finds the Arkenstone which is a gem that Thorin wants, but he keeps it for himself. He also keeps a coat of mail made from mithril. After the excitement dies, Thorin leads the group out and they wonder what are they going to do when Smaug returns. They are also starving so they travel down the river to an old cavern where they rest, eat, and wonder.

Chapter 14

The story's setting switches to Lake Town where the people gather archers to shoot the dragon and buckets of water to extinguish the flames. Smaug sets the roofs on fire and the arrows bounce harmlessly of his diamond-like skin.

"Fire leaped from thatched roofs and wooden beam-ends as he hurtled down and past and round again, though all had been drenched with water before he came. Once more water was flung by a hundred hands wherever a spark appeared....Another swoop and another, and another house and then another sprang afire and fell; and still no arrow hindered Smaug or hurt him more than a fly from the marshes." (page

A thrush lands on one of the archers who is the captain. The archer's name is Bard and the thrush tells him about Smaug's Achilles's heel in a small spot of its left breast. Bard shoots his last arrow and it flies towards the weak point killing Smaug. Smaug crashes into the town completely destroying it. The surviving townspeople thought that the dwarves were dead and realized that there is an empty mountain filled with treasure that they can take. News of the unguarded treasure spread like wildfire bringing the Elvenking and his army who came to help the humans. Together, they march towards the mountain where most of them believed that no one is in there.

Review

Chapter 13 reveals a gem called the Arkenstone and Bilbo finds it, but we do not know what does he want with it. What we do understand is that the dwarves recklessness caused him to do it. The narrator tells us that dwarves are greedy when it comes to treasure which reflect Tolkien's inspirations
of creating them based on old European legends. I also think that the reason Bilbo is alive is because of his wits. If the company had taken another warrior, this warrior would had fallen against Smaug easily. Thus, Gandalf did a very smart move to add a hobbit into the journey.

When Smaug was burning the town, it is just like every legendary dragon story. A dangerous dragon with armorlike scaled hide, fire-breath, and a love for treasure. It attacks the helpless people and in every story...there is a hero. For Tolkien, this hero is the archer captain, Bard. Bard was told by a thrush about Smaug's weakness. Tolkien says that there are certain birds used as messengers who have an ability to talk to people.

Destruction of Lake Town

Overview of the Hobbit: Chapter 1-12

Overview

Character Development

Bilbo Baggins

Throughout The Hobbit, I am impressed with Tolkien building up character development for his characters especially Bilbo Baggins. Bilbo was living a comfortable and cozy life in his hobbit hole. Bilbo at first was a bit stubborn and sheepish. He was too comfortable in his little hobbit home and didn't believe that  After he decided to joined the dwarves and Gandalf, Bilbo Baggins gradually gained courage and bravery as he journeys with the company. Unlike the other characters, Bilbo actually faced life-threatening situations and had to solve most of them by himself.

For example, when the dwarves and Bilbo were surrounded by Giant Spiders who were about to eat them. Bilbo single-handedly fought and killed one of them, and drew the rest of them away from the poisoned dwarves. This shows that Bilbo was forced to develop some courage and determination that he lacked.

Thorin Oakenshield

In the beginning, Thorin was determined to recover his kingdom that was stolen by the dragon, Smaug. He also doubted and judged Bilbo because he thought that Bilbo did not had what it take to journey with the dwarves and become the burglar to steal the treasure from Smaug. This determination eventually turned to stubbornness and greed as he got closer to the Misty Mountains.

For example, when the company reached the mountains. Thorin wanted Bilbo to sneak inside the mountain and get pass Smaug just so Bilbo can steal some treasure. This frustrated Bilbo because Thorin was blind with greed of the danger of Smaug melting Bilbo with his fiery breath. Bilbo nearly died when Smaug breathe blazing hot fire at him and he barely escaped. When he did return, the dwarves, especially Thorin, were more focused on the mass amount of treasure. When Bilbo told Thorin that Smaug is going to destroy the people of Lake Town mistaking Bilbo as one of the villagers, Thorin did not really care about it.

The Journey....so far....

Another thing I enjoyed about The Hobbit was the entire journey from Bilbo's hobbit hole to harsh journey towards the Misty Mountains. I enjoyed how Tolkien used his war experience on his character Bilbo. He set up the story of a comfortable hobbit minding his own business to the same hobbit slaying Giant Spiders and sneaking pass a deadly fire breathing dragon. This is just like how he lived a peaceful life in his home and was later forced in battle in foreign lands. I also enjoy the inspirations Tolkien had on European mythology to create his Middle-Earth dwarves, elves, goblins, trolls, etc.

What I think about it

Overall, The Hobbit so far is turning out to be a really interesting and extraordinary novel to read. I really enjoy it and I can see why Tolkien was asked to write another one. I like The Hobbit and I am sure that I will enjoy the following chapters.