|
|
Post by Sparrow on Aug 31, 2004 19:49:53 GMT -6
The company's continued pursuit of the elven feast results in the separation of Bilbo from the rest of the group and his first encounter with the great spiders. Examine Bilbo's character: how far has he come at this point (before and after the spider attack)? What character traits does he exhibit in this incident with the spiders and the rescue of the dwarves?
Bonus question: In addition to his sword, what else does Bilbo use as "weapons" in this chapter?
|
|
|
|
Post by jerseyshore on Sept 5, 2004 10:22:53 GMT -6
In rereading this chapter after a few years, I was particularly struck with how quickly Bilbo rose to the challenges of this adventure. Even after finding the ring and besting Gollum, he didn't take the lead. Of course Gandalf was still with them for most of the next time period, so there was no need for any other leadership. Once they entered the wood, and were on their own, he seemed to defer to Thorin. At the crossing of the stream his good eyesight spotted the boat, but the plan and its execution came from the dwarves. He reluctantly climbed the tree to check their location as directed by the dwarves. It was only when separated from the group and attacked by the spiders that he had to stand on his own two feet and use his wits and weapons to rescue his companions. Here Bilbo finally shows what he's made of, and it is an amazing transition.
By the way, the other weapons he made use of were rocks and a good throwing arm. Add to this his use of taunting poetry to confuse and lead the spiders away from their prey. Are poems weapons?
|
|
|
|
Post by Stormrider on Sept 5, 2004 13:14:46 GMT -6
The poems taunted the Spiders and led them away from the Dwarves. They insighted the Spiders and stirred up their fury to charge after where the songs were coming from. It also made them angry to be called "attercop", "Old Tomnoddy", "lazy" and "crazy". This helped infuriate them so that they were not thinking clearly and wisely. In that view they were not really a weapon but an effective distractive technique that worked very well!
|
|
|
|
Post by Stormrider on Aug 25, 2012 5:19:46 GMT -6
Bilbo did not really want to be the leader or a person to look to in times of trouble while he was with the group. He didn't feel that it was his place so he followed orders when given to him. But when faced with being all alone and discovering the dwarves were in trouble and incapable of helping themselves, he acted. He was very creative with his techniques, too. He realized he had to lure the spiders away from the web-wound dwarves inorder to save them. Singing the insulting name calling song and throwing rocks was a good way to get the spiders away so he could get back and unbind the dwarves later.
|
|
