A Real and Wondrous 'Imaginary' World. (The Hobbit - J.R.R. Tolkien)

Member Name: Smile

Product:	The Hobbit - J.R.R. Tolkien
Date:	19/03/01 (850 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Suitable to be read by or read to anyone! Original. Exciting. Fantastic but not necessarily fantasy!

Disadvantages: Those who prefer to read of more 'tangible' things will require patience.

Every story must have a beginning … and in his own words, John Ronald Reuel Tolkien (1892-1973) was marking examination papers when he found one in which the examinee had left a single blank page in the answer-book. On this leaf, he simply wrote, "In a hole in the ground there lived a Hobbit". Nobody claims to know what inspired him!

Published in 1937, “The Hobbit” is set in an imaginary world known as “Middle-Earth”, which is supposedly a pre-historic period and I believe the name derives from Middle English (Tolkien was a scholar of Old and Middle English). However, “The Hobbit” is so far removed from reality it somehow turns full circle and effectively becomes real. At least, I believe! For all I know “Middle-Earth” actually exists inside the top of my click-pen! And why not! It is so much more enjoyable to believe Bilbo Baggins, his associates, friends and enemies really exist. (And if I feel nasty I can always bite the pen top or waggle it about! Ha! Ha!)

In this sense, “The Hobbit” is not fantasy – that is, it fits into the genre because people do not know where else to put it. It does not read like a story either – because instead it reads like a fairy tale: simple and elegant, with words gliding effortlessly into the reader’s mind and metamorphosing into magical dreamscapes. It is enchanting because Tolkien’s original and intended audience comprised children (his own, I believe), subsequently he holds readers by a ‘mysticism’ which extends beyond childhood dreams and enters the realm of adult fantasies.

As a consequence “The Hobbit” is a novel which spans genres and is an alluring read because it draws readers into a world which either existed and is long forgotten, or is mystical and imaginary. Either way, despite the funny little hobbits and elves and dwarves and trolls, it is actually quite
convincing; probably because readers want to believe this enchanting little tale of an enchanting little world.

The tale follows the adventures of Mr Bilbo Baggins, who is a hobbit – and a hobbit is a creature which lives in a hole in the ground, and is short and furry and looks (in my mind) like a cross between a leprechaun and an elf! Hardly your archetypical hero – after all, as he treks across foreign terrain, like in an Indiana Jones type of adventure, you’d expect him to look more like Harrison Ford!

Do not be confused by the setting, although Bilbo lives in a tiny little hole, his set-up seems fairly respectable, bordering on rich! Tolkien has created a mystical world which is as close to reality as the view from your window by ensuring Mr Baggins possesses a range physical items readers can identify with on a daily basis. Combined with a mystical setting, this makes “The Hobbit” real-life fantasy-based story.

The aforementioned fairytale factor I have ascribed to “The Hobbit” has its limitations in that it is not as fairytale-like as, for example, “The Tinder Box” or “Thumbelina” (by Hans Christian Andersen); neither is it as clear-cut as “Rumpelstiltskin”, “Rapunzel” or “Cinderella” (by The Brothers Grimm). For Tolkien, good and evil blend a little more than classic fairytale telling, and as his settings are more identifiable (despite their fantastic nature) the story is not as outlandish many other children’s stories.

Whilst “The Hobbit” is a worthy predecessor to the “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy, it does not overshadow it or any of Tolkien’s later work. Each has been received with worthy praise and should be on your reading list! Although I would suggest “The Hobbit” be your first point of call if you are introducing yourself to Tolkien’s realm.

&#
8220;The Hobbit” has a number of characters which range from dragons to dwarves to elves to goblins to orcs to trolls, and the manner in which they are described makes them all the more believable. Rather than becoming unwieldy, the range of characters helps readers to navigate through the novel and through Bilbo’s journey. It is similar to trekking across any series of foreign lands, you see array of different flora and fauna and people. This element of “The Hobbit” allows readers to live through the experience of Mr Baggins’ journey rather than just read it.

Of course, it is far more ‘authentic’ for younger minds, as they have fewer socially implanted conceptual blocks; hence I urge older readers to free their minds of any pre-conceived notions of what is real and what is not. Remember everyone’s perception of life is based upon the analysis of what they perceive; so my physical view is different from yours, and this gap increases when we refer to mental vision instead. Try not to analyse the words and search for images; let them come ‘naturally’, and you will see Middle-Earth in front of you!

“The Hobbit” has enchanted children for years, and has become famous because Tolkien has an ability to entertain adolescents and adults alike. Even pre-school children can have the story read to them and giggle along with the reader. In addition, to add to its fame is a cult following which has ‘members’ drawing pictures and writing short stories based upon the original characters. In this manner “The Hobbit” has surpassed the usual status of ‘modern classic’.

Whilst the story is wildly original in scope and incredibly realistic, it really shines through with its sense of adventure. Essentially, it is the fictional account of an exciting exploratory escapade, whose participants are as loveable as they are realistic. In addition, 
220;The Hobbit” is fantastic, and it does have a number of fantasy-like elements, written for young minds. So where does this leave the categorists? Is it a children’s fairytale or is it a serious work of fantasy fiction?

Neither! (I think!). It sits between several genres: the first real fantasy novel? Perhaps. A children’s story? Yes! Adult fiction? Definitely. And, of course, it has become a ‘classic’. Something for everyone. There is a vast chasm between Tolkien’s work and mainstream children’s fiction where (usually) Roger meets Billy and Sally and they skip together (hand-in-hand) playfully to the shops. The chubby greengrocer sells them healthy apples and the skip back to their garden. Yawn, yawn, yawn … bring on “The Hobbit” and get ready for some action!

And it works! Because Tolkien’s humour is wonderful and reminds me somewhat of Roald Dahl in that it actually appeals to what children want to hear, rather than politically correct twaddle. Kids love adventures where, for example, their heroes take perilous holiday-journeys on giant peaches with human-sized insects, just after crushing nasty grandmothers! (“James and the Giant Peach” – Dahl) Or, as in the case of “The Hobbit” an adventure where good triumphs over evil in an exciting voyage across strange worlds, where the bad-guys are as ugly as sin and the heroes are hardly any better looking – but at least they’re cuddly!

Some will say “The Hobbit” is suitable for all ages above for example 10 or 12. I beg to differ! As soon as children learn to speak and, more importantly, listen, they can be enchanted by having the story read to them; and this is likely to encourage them to read the book as and when they are capable.

The vast majority of characters Mr Baggins encounters are either unusual in appearance or alien to him, but he seems
to learn to accept as what they are. He is also able to identify with many of them by quickly discovering their virtues and their vices. And because he is able to do this, and because of Tolkien’s descriptive ability, readers learn to accept them too. It is almost a lesson in tolerance, although I doubt it was Tolkien’s intention to add a moral significance to the story.

Another message related to the conquering of one’s reservations is also evident: Bilbo is reluctant to leave his comfortable surroundings to venture forth on a hazardous voyage from which he may not return. He overcomes this fear and eventually achieves all his objectives. Also, the point in which he wins a golden ring in a riddle contest illustrates how the pen (or in this case, intellect and verbal expressiveness) is truly mightier than the sword. Both are laudable lessons for anyone! Again, I doubt this was Tolkien intention.

Messages of morality or not, “The Hobbit” is likely to enchant readers of all ages for generations to come. It is fantastically entertaining, has a depth not to be found in the majority of children’s classics, and the imagination behind the novel is inspiring. If you have not read it, disregard any preconceived ideas about adults reading children’s fiction, open your mind and enter a magical world.

Middle-Earth, Mr Bilbo Baggins and his friends do exist!

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