the effect of the adventure towards bilbo baggins' personality ...

THE EFFECT OF THE ADVENTURE

TOWARDS BILBO BAGGINS’ PERSONALITY DEVELOPMENT

AS SEEN IN

TOLKIEN’S THE HOBBIT OR THERE AND BACK AGAIN

AN UNDERGRADUATE THESIS

Presented as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements

for the Degree of Sarjana Sastra

in English Letters

By

YUDEA RITOPALDA

Student Number: 154214113

DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH LETTERS

FACULTY OF LETTERS

UNIVERSITAS SANATA DHARMA

YOGYAKARTA

2020

PLAGIAT MERUPAKAN TINDAKAN TIDAK TERPUJI

ii

THE EFFECT OF THE ADVENTURE

TOWARDS BILBO BAGGINS’ PERSONALITY DEVELOPMENT

AS SEEN IN

TOLKIEN’S THE HOBBIT OR THERE AND BACK AGAIN

AN UNDERGRADUATE THESIS

Presented as Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements

for the Degree of Sarjana Sastra

in English Letters

By

YUDEA RITOPALDA

Student Number: 154214113

DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH LETTERS

FACULTY OF LETTERS

UNIVERSITAS SANATA DHARMA

YOGYAKARTA

2020


vii

사랑하고 싶어 in this world I want to love, in this world

빛나는 나를 소중한 내 영혼을 The shining me, the precious soul of mine

이제야 깨달아 so I love me I realize only now, so I love me

좀 부족해도 너무 아름다운 걸 Though I’m not perfect, I’m so beautiful

I’m the one I should love.

Epiphany – Jin (BTS)


viii

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

First of all, my biggest gratitude goes to Jesus Christ for all the blessings

and guidance that He gives to me. My special gratitude goes to my grandparents,

my parents, my sister, and my aunt, who always supports and encourages me

during every step of my life.

I dedicate my deepest appreciation to my thesis advisor, Drs. Hirmawan

Wijanarka, M. Hum., for his advice, suggestions, and patience in guiding me

through the making process of this thesis. My appreciation also goes to my co-

advisor, Theresia Enny Anggraini, Ph.D., for her constructive advices and

suggestions in improving this thesis. I also would like to thank both of my

academic advisors, Dr. B. Ria Lestari, M. Sc., and F.X. Risang Baskara, M. Hum.,

along with all the staff and lecturers in English Letters for sharing and giving their

time, help, supports, and knowledge during my study in this university.

I would like to say how blessed I am to have my best friends, Sulung and

Geng Halu: Oriza, Ayu, Sita, Vita, and Bertha, for their constant involvement in

my university life and making it to be more bearable. Moreover, lots of love for

my roommates from Konkuk 1309: Angel, Oci, Kak Pande; my housemates from

kost Narliem: Kak Ella, Mbak Dian, Kak Elin, and Ike; also to Andriyani, Ardhia,

and Lintang, for the help and supports. Last but not least, I want to give my

regards to my favorite group, BTS, for their music and entertainment that helps

me a lot and makes me realize that I should love myself. Thank you.

Yudea Ritopalda


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TABLE OF CONTENTS

TITLE PAGE ..................................................................................................................... ii

APPROVAL PAGE ........................................................................................................... iii

ACCEPTANCE PAGE ..................................................................................................... iv

STATEMENT OF ORIGINALITY ................................................................................. v

LEMBAR PERNYATAAN PERSETUJUAN PUBLIKASI KARYA ILMIAH ................ vi

MOTTO PAGE .................................................................................................................. vii

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS .............................................................................................. viii

TABLE OF CONTENTS .................................................................................................. ix

ABSTRACT ........................................................................................................................ x

ABSTRAK ........................................................................................................................... xi

CHAPTER I: INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................... 1

A. Background of the Study ......................................................................................... 1

B. Problem Formulation ............................................................................................... 3

C. Objectives of the Study ............................................................................................ 4

D. Definition of Terms ................................................................................................. 4

CHAPTER II: REVIEW OF LITERATURE ................................................................. 6

A. Review of Related Studies ....................................................................................... 6

B. Review of Related Theories ..................................................................................... 10

1. Theory of Characterization ................................................................................. 10

2. Theory of Personality ......................................................................................... 12

3. Theory of Personality Development ................................................................... 14

4. Theory of Adventure ........................................................................................... 15

C. Theoretical Framework ............................................................................................ 17

CHAPTER III: METHODOLOGY ................................................................................. 19

A. Object of the Study .................................................................................................. 19

B. Approach of the Study ............................................................................................. 20

C. Method of the Study ................................................................................................ 21

CHAPTER IV: ANALYSIS .............................................................................................. 23

A. Bilbo Baggins’ Personality before the Adventure ................................................... 23

B. The Adventure that Bilbo Baggins Experiences ...................................................... 31

C. The Effect of the Adventure towards Bilbo Baggins’ Personality Development ..... 43

CHAPTER V: CONCLUSION ........................................................................................ 58

REFERENCES .................................................................................................................. 60

APPENDIX ......................................................................................................................... 62


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ABSTRACT

RITOPALDA, YUDEA. (2019). The Effect of the Adventure towards Bilbo

Baggins’ Personality Development as Seen in Tolkien’s The Hobbit or There

and Back Again. Yogyakarta: Department of English Letters, Faculty of Letters,

Universitas Sanata Dharma.

In literary writing, especially novel, a life-changing event often happens

toward its protagonist character. Then, this event can develop the said character

into one strong, defined character, through the turns and twists throughout the

story in order to make the story to be more realistic and relatable to its reader.

This development is defined as personality development. An example of

personality development that happens toward the main character of a story is

shown by Bilbo Baggins, the protagonist in the novel The Hobbit or There and

Back Again by J. R. R. Tolkien. This novel is about Bilbo Baggins, a home-loving

hobbit, who goes into an unexpected adventure far away from home in order to

win a share of the dwarves royal family treasure which guarded by Smaug the

dragon.

The problem formulation of the study consists of three points. They are (1)

the personality of Bilbo Baggins before the adventure, (2) the kind of adventure

that Bilbo experiences, and (3) the effect of adventure towards Bilbo’s personality

development.

This study applied the psychological approach and the method used was

library research. The primary source was The Hobbit or There and Back Again by

J.R.R. Tolkien. Meanwhile, the secondary sources consist of related books, essays,

website articles, and journals.

The results of the study are summarized as follows. First, the personality of

Bilbo Baggins before the adventure was good-natured, pessimistic and

convetional as he scored high in Agreeableness, high in Neuroticism, and low in

Openness. Second, the adventure that Bilbo experiences was not only spontaneous

but also physical which mirrored by an interior one, because even though he went

unprepared, Bilbo learnt something more about the outside world and he also

discovered something more in him which made him gain an understanding about

his true personality. Third, the effect of the adventure towards Bilbo’s personality

development was the changes in his personality which caused by several factors,

such as the individual’s hereditary endowment, important events in later life

outside the home environment, self-reflection, and perception of others or

reflected appraisals. Therefore, Bilbo became optimist, liberal and hardy as he

scored high in Conscientiousness, high in Openness and low in Neuroticism.

Keywords: Bilbo Baggins, personality development, adventure.


xi

ABSTRAK

RITOPALDA, YUDEA. (2019). The Effect of the Adventure towards Bilbo

Baggins’ Personality Development As Seen in Tolkien’s The Hobbit or There

and Back Again. Yogyakarta: Program Studi Sastra Inggris, Fakultas Sastra,

Universitas Sanata Dharma.

Dalam penulisan karya sastra, terutama novel, kejadian yang mengubah

hidup sering terjadi kepada karakter protagonis utamanya. Maka, kejadian ini

dapat mengembangkan karakter tersebut menjadi satu karakter yang kuat dan jelas

melalui kejadian di sepanjang cerita yang berliku-liku supaya lebih realistis dan

berhubungan kepada para pembacanya. Oleh karena itu, perkembangan ini

didefinisikan sebagai perkembangan kepribadian. Suatu contoh dari

perkembangan kepribadian yang terjadi kepada karakter protagonis utama dalam

sebuah cerita yang ditunjukkan oleh Bilbo Baggins, seorang hobbit yang senang

berada di rumah, yang menghadapi petualangan tak terduga agar mendapat bagian

dari harta keluarga kerajaan kurcaci yang dijaga oleh Smaug, sang naga.

Rumusan masalah dari studi ini terdiri dari tiga pertanyaan, yaitu (1)

kepribadian Bilbo Baggins sebelum petualangan, (2) jenis petualangan yang

dialami oleh Bilbo, dan (3) pengaruh dari petualangan terhadap perkembangan

kepribadian Bilbo.

Studi ini mengaplikasikan pendekatan psikologis dan menggunakan

metode studi pustaka. Sumber primer adalah novel The Hobbit or There and Back

Again oleh J.R.R. Tolkien. Sedangkan, sumber sekunder terdiri dari beberapa

buku yang terkait, esai, artikel situs web, dan jurnal.

Dengan demikian, hasil dari studi ini dijelaskan sebagai berikut. Pertama,

kepribadian Bilbo Baggins sebelum petualangan adalah bersahabat, pesimis dan

konvensional karena ia mencetak skor tinggi dalam Keramahan, tinggi dalam

Neurotisme, dan rendah dalam Keterbukaan. Kedua, petualangan yang Bilbo

alami tidak hanya spontan namun juga fisik yang dicerminkan oleh yang di dalam,

karena meskipun ia pergi tanpa persiapan, Bilbo belajar banyak mengenai dunia

luar dan ia juga menemukan sesuatu dalam dirinya yang membuat ia mendapatkan

pemahaman tentang kepribadiannya yang sejati. Ketiga, pengaruh dari

petualangan terhadap perkembangan kepribadian Bilbo adalah perubahan dalam

kepribadiannya yang disebabkan oleh beberapa faktor, seperti kepribadian bawaan

individu, kejadian-kejadian penting yang terjadi dikehidupan kelak di luar

lingkungan rumah, refleksi diri, dan persepsi orang lain atau penilaian yang

direfleksikan. Oleh karena itu, Bilbo menjadi optimis, bebas dan kuat ketika ia

mencetak skor tinggi dalam Kesadaran, tinggi dalam Keterbukaan, dan rendah

dalam Neurotisme.

Kata Kunci: Bilbo Baggins, personality development, adventure.


1

CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

A. Background of the Study

Literature consists of those writing which interpret the meanings of nature

and life, in words of charm and power, touched with the personality of the author,

in artistic forms of permanent interest (Dyke, 1922, p. 242). One of the most

essential elements in any literary works is a character. A character holds a great

significance in order to build a literary work because a character is the one that

brings the readers or the audiences into the story.

Therefore, since literature is a writing that reflects human nature with a

touch of the personality of the author, a character in literature can be developed

into one strong, defined character, through the turns and twists throughout the

story in order to make the story to be more realistic and relatable to its reader.

This development is defined as personality development. However, in some cases,

this development is viewed as unnecessary to be included.

The researcher chooses J. R. R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit or There and Back

Again as the literary work to be analyzed because of some reasons. Firstly, the

novel is a classic children’s fantasy novel which is well-known and well-loved by

the public until today. Even though the novel is not as popular as its sequel, The

Lord of The Rings, however, it has its own charm that makes it interesting. Aside

from the fact that the names of the character along with some of the words and

phrases used in the novel are referenced even constructed by Tolkien himself that


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based on several languages, both ancient and modern, like Old English, Old

Norse, Welsh, and so forth; the novel also talks about self-discovery and give an

invitation to its reader to step outside their comfort zone, no matter how old they

are. It is never too late to make a change.

Still it is probable that Bilbo, her only son, although he looked and

behaved exactly like the second edition of his solid and comfortable father,

got something a bit queer in his make-up from the Took side, something

that only waited for a chance to come out. The chance never arrived, until

Bilbo Baggins was grown up, being about fifty years old or so... (Tolkien,

1966, pp. 3-4).

The quotation above shows Bilbo Baggins’ case, which points out that he

goes into the adventure to release and embrace his other side of character or his

true self, when he already fifty years old or so. Besides, the novel is neatly written

due to the fact that the author, J. R. R. Tolkien, was a scholar specialized in Old

and Middle English language and literature.

Secondly, the novel itself is one of many books that uses personality

development in its story that leads to self-discovery in Bilbo’s case. Bilbo

Baggins is described as a hobbit from a prestigious family line, the Bagginses, and

also a very well-to-do hobbit just like his father, Bungo Baggins. However, there

is also a hint of the family trait from his mother’s side, the famous Belladonna

Tooks, in his personality, since his mother comes from the Took-clan which is

defined as a clan that would go and has adventures. However, Bilbo himself does

not realize the existence of this trait in him before, until Gandalf appears in front

of his door, invites him to join in an adventure with and the famous dwarf, Thorin

Oakenshield and the other twelve dwarves, to take back Oakenshield’s family

kingdom and treasure which are invaded and taken away by the main antagonist


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of the story, the greedy, strong and wicked dragon, Smaug. Bilbo accidentally

finds a magic ring during his journey which helps him to escape from Gollum and

Smaug. Therefore, Bilbo’s adventure does not end there as he later on involves in

a war called the Battle of Five Armies against the armies of Goblins and Wargs

alongside the armies of Men, Elves, and Dwarves.

Furthermore, the reasons mentioned above encourage the researcher to

study this novel in-depth with an aim to reveal and have a better understanding of

Bilbo Baggins’ character which develops from a common hobbit into a hero, as

frequently explained in various essays on the internet, through his harrowing

adventure.

B. Problem Formulation

Based on the description in the background of the study, there are three

problems that can be discussed in this analysis, they are:

1. What kind of personality does Bilbo Baggins have before the adventure?

2. What kind of adventure does Bilbo Baggins experience?

3. How does the adventure develop Bilbo Baggins’ personality throughout the

story?

C. Objectives of the Study

Based on the problem formulations, this analysis has three objectives of

the study. The first objectives of the study are to identify Bilbo Baggins’s

character, or specifically, personality, before the adventure. The second objective


4

is to find out the kind of adventure that Bilbo goes through in the story that

resulted in his personality development. Meanwhile, the third objective is to find

out and to understand the effects of the adventure toward Bilbo’s personality

development throughout the story.

D. Definition of Terms

It is necessary to understand several terms that would be used in this

research in order to avoid misinterpretation by the readers. The keywords are

personality development, and adventure, which would be explained as follows.

Firstly, as based on Corr’s & Matthew’s (2009) personality development

is personality as accumulating over time through significant learning experiences.

Personality development also result from complicated transactions between

individuals and situations. Therefore, a strong motivation to change is required for

the success of personality development (pp. xxvii, 198–200).

Secondly, adventure as in adventure in literature, is an event or series of

events that happen outside the protagonists’ mundane lifestyles and usual

environment, commonly accompanied by danger, often by physical action.

Sometimes the adventure is intellectual rather than physical, as the result of

exposure to a series of revelations that changes the protagonists’ view about the

world. More often there is sharper conflict, either with an antagonist character or a

force of nature, or there may be some other obstacles to be overcome. Adventure

usually happen either by the protagonist own decision to have an adventure, or, in

other cases, is thrust upon the characters, and they have to survive as best they can


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from the threats that come with it. Most, but not all, adventure stories require their

protagonists to be displaced from their usual environment, commonly by go on

some journeys, and these journeys might be conscious choices or involuntary

responses to circumstances. Therefore, in most of the stories, the physical journey

is mirrored by an interior journey, in which the protagonist learns something

about the world at large, or about his or her own personality due to the change in

the protagonist’s environment, most likely into previously unknown territory, of

the mind if not of the body (D’Ammassa, 2009, pp. vii-viii).


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CHAPTER II

REVIEW OF LITERATURE

A. Review of Related Studies

In this part of the research, the researcher reviews other related studies

previously done by other researchers. There are four related studies that would be

reviewed. The researcher uses two theses and two journals on the same work and

topic. Those studies are Sugiyanto’s Bilbo Baggins’ Heroic Qualities in J. R. R.

Tolkien’s Novel The Hobbit (2006), Megale & Sunardi’s “The Development of

Bilbo Baggins’ Character through Leadership in J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit”

(2017), Arslan’s “‘There and Back Again’: The Quest and Self-Discovery in

J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit” (2015), and Purnamasari’s The Influence of

Father’s Involvement towards Aristotle Mendoza’s Personality Development as

Portrayed in Sáenz’s Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe

(2018).

The first is Sugiyanto’s (2006) undergraduate thesis Bilbo Baggins’ Heroic

Qualities in J. R. R. Tolkien’s Novel The Hobbit. She states in her study that

I put my interest on how a weak and last expected person like Bilbo could

become a hero instead of a wizard with magical power or the dwarves with

their ability ‘of stonework. This novel The Hobbit gives me a complete

process of transformation that happens to someone’s character (Sugiyanto,

2006, p. 3).

In her study, using psychological approach, she discovers three findings, which

are: (1) The influences of Bilbo Baggins’ self-conflict in the beginning of the

story toward his life, (2) the changes of Bilbo’s character into a completely


7

different character which differs from what he used to be because of the journey,

and (3) the heroic qualities of Bilbo Baggins. Therefore, she concludes that first,

the conflict that Bilbo had at the beginning of the story leads him to a decision to

join the journey with the dwarves to the Lonely Mountain. Second, the journey

takes Bilbo to the turning point of his life that also provides some difficulties to

shape Bilbo’s character. Last, Bilbo’s heroic qualities are his luck, his bravery, his

intelligence and his leadership.

The second study is Megale & Sunardi’s (2017) journal article “The

Development of Bilbo Baggins’ Character through Leadership in J.R.R. Tolkien’s

The Hobbit” from the Journal of Language and Literature, they state that

The Hobbit (1973) by J. R. R. Tolkien, can be a great showcase to explore

human lives’ representation. Readers can learn about, among others, the

topic of leadership through the exploration of its character development.

Despite the fact that Tolkien (as cited in Carpenter 1981) meant it as

children story, The Hobbit is undoubtedly a representation of leadership in

real life (Megale & Sunardi, 2017, p. 134).

Consequently, in this article, they discover (1) the description of how the

character of Bilbo Baggins develops in The Hobbit which requires the exploration

into the intrinsic elements of the novel, and (2) the identification of servant

leadership attributes that appear in Bilbo Baggins as his character develops.

Therefore, they conclude that (1) servant-leadership is cultivated along the

personal development of its main character, Bilbo Baggins, (2) at the end of the

story, Bilbo succeeds in developing nine leadership attributes, i.e. vision, honesty,

integrity, trust, service, modeling, pioneering, appreciation of others and

empowerment, also (3) the attribute of service, as the heart of servant-leadership,

is dominant in Bilbo. Thus, the findings confirm the presumption that Bilbo


8

Baggins is a round and dynamic character due to its complexities and

developments throughout the story. Then, these attributes are not something Bilbo

naturally inherited, but he develops, practices, and cultivates them. Moreover, the

findings also suggest that leadership as a trait is something that can be learnt from

an exploration into a literary work.

The third study is Arslan’s (2015) journal article “‘There and Back Again’:

The Quest and Self-Discovery in J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit” from Tarih Kültür

ve Sanat Araştırmaları Dergisi (Journal of History Culture and Art Research). He

states that “the novel, which is written in the form of bildungsroman, is an

excellent example of personal development and self-discovery” (Arslan, 2015, p.

143). In his article, he focuses on (1) the main character’s change throughout the

novel, and (2) exemplify his (Bilbo) challenge both physically and

metaphorically.

Therefore, he concludes that (1) the novel can be considered as a

bildungsroman in which the main character Bilbo Baggins is in the quest of his

own identity and gains self-discovery in the end, and (2) the main character, Bilbo

Baggins has his own self-discovery through this journey, Bilbo passes through

many obstacles gradually and each one of them raises his Tookish side and he

gains a perfect harmony as an individual.

The last study is Purnamasari’s (2018) undergraduate thesis The Influence

of Father’s Involvement towards Aristotle Mendoza’s Personality Development as

Portrayed in Sáenz’s Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe. In

her thesis, she aims to (1) identify the characteristics of Ari and Jaime, his father,


9

(2) reveal of Jaime’s involvement in Ari’s life, and (3) examine the influence of

Jaime’s involvement in Ari’s personality development. In order to support her

aims of the novel, she states that

This novel, actually, covers not only the romance story of teenage but also

the family issue. The novel itself tells about the lack of father’s

involvement on Ari’s life. The writer finds the novel is worthy to be

discussed due to father’s involvement does affect children life. The lacking

of father’s involvement in taking part of children development has the

chance to lead their children to psychological problem later, such as

emotional problems (Purnamasari, 2018, p. 3).

Therefore, based on the analysis that she conducts in the thesis using

psychological approach, she finds that (1) Ari is a loner, an observant, a reticent

and a short-tempered person, whereas Jaime is a reclusive and caring person, (2)

Jaime only contributes in Ari’s life in component of the process of responsibility,

and (3) the factors of significant person and strong motivation from Jaime affects

Ari’s personality development since Ari becomes an open person and has good

confidence in perceiving himself as a gay.

Furthermore, reviewing those four studies, there are some similarities in

relation to this study. First, between this study, Sugiyanto’s, Megale & Sunardi’s,

and Arslan’s study, all of those studies have the same primary source of the study,

which is The Hobbit or There and Back Again. Second, all of the studies are

focused on the character and the personality of a character in the literary work,

especially the main protagonist in the story. Last, this thesis, Megale & Sunardi’s

study and Purnamasari’s study, they have the same topic, which is the

development that happened to the character’s personality and character.

Moreover, there are also some differences among all of the studies

reviewed in this part and this study itself. They are, first, Sugiyanto’s study


10

focuses on the heroic qualities of Bilbo Baggins meanwhile this study focus on

the personality development of Bilbo Baggins. Second, Megale & Sunardi’s study

focuses on the character development of Bilbo Baggins through leadership,

meanwhile this study focus on Bilbo Baggin’s personality development through

the adventure that Bilbo went through in the story. Third, Arslan’s study focuses

on the quest and Bilbo’s self-discovery. Last, Purnamasari’s study uses different

work, which is Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by

Benjamin Alire Sáenz.

B. Review of Related Theories

1. Theory of Characterization

Characterization is one of the most essential elements in a literary work

since it is the act of characterizing a character and according to Kessler (2012)

characterization should be done by describing the characters not only from the

outside but also within. They must have a past, present, and future, which can

drive them and cause them to judge and make the decisions they must make in the

current story. They must overcome adversity in the present story by using their

past to influence them in coping with or resolving current conflicts. Then, give

them sexual tension to deal with and have them choose to make sacrifices or,

perhaps, choose not to lift a finger. These seemingly minor aspects of a story will

help flesh out and make the viewpoint character three dimensional.

Characterization can also come from what other characters see, how they look at

and respond to the subject character (p. 21). Moreover, in order to give more


11

specific ways in characterization, according to Murphy (1972) there are a few

ways for the authors to make their characters to be understandable and come alive

for their readers, which is explained as follows.

a. Personal description, in which the author describes its characters through their

appearances and clothes;

b. Character as seen by another, in which instead of describing a character

directly, the author describes him/her through the eyes and opinions of the

other character. The reader gets, as it were, a reflected image.

c. Speech, in which the author gives the readers an insight into the character of

one of the characters in the book through what he/she says. Thus, it gives us

some clues to his character.

d. Past life, in which the author gives the readers a clue to events that contribute

in shaping a person’s character by letting the reader learn something about

his/her past life. This can be done through the direct comment by the author,

through the person’s thought, through his conversation or through the

medium of another person.

e. Conversation of others, in which the author gives the readers clues to a

person’s character through the conversations of other people and the things

they say about him.

f. Reactions, in which the author gives the readers a clue to a person’s character

by letting them know how that person reacts to various situations and events.

g. Direct comment, in which the author describes or comments on a person’s

character directly, usually through the narrative of the story.


12

h. Thoughts, in which the author gives the readers directly of what a person is

thinking about. The author can tell us what different people are thinking

about. The reader then is in a privileged position since he/she can know the

inmost thoughts of a person in a novel.

i. Mannerisms, in which the author describes a person’s mannerism, habits, or

idiosyncrasies which may also tell the readers something about his character.

(Murphy, 1972, pp.161–173).

Therefore, this theory is viewed as necessary in order to characterize the

personality of Bilbo Baggins.

2. Theory of Personality

According to Allport (1961) personality is a dynamic organization, inside

the person, of psychophysical systems that create the person’s characteristic

patterns of behavior, thoughts, and feelings (p. 11). Thus, this definition suggests

that personality is both physical and psychological; human beings are both

product and process; people have some organized structures of personality,

however, these structures also possess the capability of change since the patterns

coexist with growth, order with diversification (Feist, 2006, pp. 374-375). In

addition, Costa and McCrae (2006) suggest that personality rests on five factors

which known as the Big Five or OCEAN, which they explain as follows.

a. Openness to experience. People who are high on O generally creative,

imaginative, curious, liberal and have a preference for variety. Meanwhile,


13

people who are low on it typically conventional, down-to-earth, conservative,

and uncurious.

b. Conscientiousness. In general, people who score high on C are conscientious,

hardworking, well-organized, punctual, ambitious and persevering.

Meanwhile, people who score low on it are typically disorganized, lazy,

negligent, aimless, and more likely to give up when what they do give them

difficulties.

c. Extraversion. People who score high on E tend to be affectionate, jovial,

talkative, joiners, and fun-loving. In contrast, low E scorers are likely to be

reserved, quiet, loners, passive, and lacking the ability to express strong

emotion.

d. Agreeableness scale. People who score high on A tend to be trusting,

generous, yielding, acceptant, and good-natured. Meanwhile, those who score

low on it generally suspicious, stingy, unfriendly, irritable, and critical of

other people.

e. Neuroticism. People who score high on N tend to be anxious, temperamental,

self-pitying, self-conscious, emotional, and vulnerable to stress-related

disorders. In contrast, people who score low on it are usually calm, even-

tempered, self-satisfied, and has control over their emotion. (Costa and

McCrae as cited in Feist, 2006, pp. 415-417).

Therefore, this theory is viewed as necessary to be applied since this study

aims to analyze Bilbo’s personality as stated in the first problem, by using these

five factors of personality.


14

3. Theory of Personality Development

Based on Corr’s & Matthew’s (2009) personality development is

personality as accumulating over time through significant learning experiences.

Personality development also result from complicated transactions between

individuals and situations. Therefore, a strong motivation to change is required for

the success of personality development (pp. xxvii, 198–200).

Moreover, a set of mechanisms may explain personality changes. First,

individuals are responsive to the rewards and punishments of a given setting and it

is possible that long-term exposure to specific contingencies may produce lasting

personality changes. In particular, changes in contingencies are one reason why

scholars have suggested that behavior changes are associated with ‘turning points’

in the life course. Secondly, self-reflection may lead to personality changes.

Although it might not be accurate, lasting personality changes may result from a

considerable amount of deliberate attention to the self. Thirdly, observing others

might serve as the catalyst for personality changes according to social learning

principles. For example, watching a co-worker receive a large raise because of

fastidious work habits may promote imitation of those work behaviors to obtain a

similar reward. Finally, perceptions by others or reflected appraisals may create

personality changes. According to the looking glass self-model, having important

close others such as a romantic partner sees an individual as responsible and

caring may motivate personality changes in that direction. However, the

countervailing force is the pervasive and likely automatic tendency for individuals


15

to process feedback from others in ways that confirm pre-existing self-views (Corr

& Matthews, 2009, pp. 199-200).

In addition, Hurlock (1974) states that there are three major factors in

order to determine the development of the personality pattern: first, the

individual’s hereditary endowment; second, early experiences within the family;

and third, important events in later life outside the home environment (p. 19).

Thus, the theory is viewed as necessary to be applied in this study since

the main point of the study is analyzing the personality development of the main

character, Bilbo Baggins, in the novel The Hobbit or There and Back Again and

the involvement of the harrowing adventure that caused this rapid development

toward his personality.

4. Theory of Adventure

Adventure in literature, as based on D’Ammassa (2009) is defined as an

event or series of events that happen outside the protagonists’ mundane lifestyles

and usual environment, commonly accompanied by danger, often by physical

action. Sometimes the adventure is intellectual rather than physical, as the result

of exposure to a series of revelations that changes the protagonists’ view about the

world. More often there is sharper conflict, either with an antagonist character or a

force of nature, or there may be some other obstacles to be overcome. Adventure

usually happen either by the protagonist own decision to have an adventure, or, in

other cases, is thrust upon the characters, and they have to survive as best they can

from the threats that come with it. Most, but not all, adventure stories require their


16

protagonists to be displaced from their usual environment, commonly by go on

some journeys, and these journeys might be conscious choices or involuntary

responses to circumstances. Therefore, in most of the stories, the physical journey

is mirrored by an interior journey, in which the protagonist learns something

about the world at large, or about his or her own personality due to the change in

the protagonist’s environment, most likely into previously unknown territory, of

the mind if not of the body (pp. vii-viii). Based on this, the researcher draws a

conclusion that the meaning of ‘the phsyical journey is mirrored by an interior

journey’ is that the interior journey, the journey that affect the protagonist’s

psychological well-being, mirrored in the physical journey that the protagonist go

through. For example, the protagonist wants to learn how to love him/herself, so

in order to do that, the protagonist must face the challenges from the outside

world, thus making the challenges as the protagonist’s physical journey. Let us

say that the protagonist has some insecurities with his/her appearance due to the

society’s beauty standards. In the beginning the protagonist might try to follow

these standards, however at some point the protagonist would realize that he/she

does those for the society, the other people but not for his/herself. In the end, the

protagonist needs to choose between the mask that was not his/herself or his/her

trueself. Therefore, as the protagonist choose to be true to his/herself, he/she

learns how to accept and love his/herself as it is through the supports from those

who believe in the diverseness of beauty.


17

Thus, the theory is viewed as necessary to be applied in this study in order

to find out the kind of adventure does Bilbo experience, as the adventure itself is

the main subject of the study.

C. Theoretical Framework

There are three problems that the researcher tries to solve in this study.

The researcher uses the theories explained in the review of related theories in

order to analyze the problems.

The first theory is the theory of characterization, which is applied in order

to support the second theory to answer the first and the third problem about

Bilbo’s personality. It is an important theory since the researcher needs to identify

the personality of Bilbo Baggins before the adventure.

The second theory is the theory of personality and its factors, which is

applied in order to answer the first and the third problem. Therefore, by using this

theory, the researcher can make a conclusion about Bilbo’s personality after

identifying Bilbo’s traits with the first theory.

The third theory is the theory of personality development, which is applied

in order to answer the third problem about Bilbo’s personality development. It is

an important theory since the researcher needs to know the personality

development that happens to Bilbo which triggered by the adventure he

experiences.


18

Lastly, the fourth theory is the theory of adventure, which is applied in

order to answer the second problem about the kind of adventure does Bilbo

experiences that affect and lead his personality to its development.


19

CHAPTER III

METHODOLOGY

A. Object of the Study

The object of the study is a novel entitled The Hobbit or There and Back

Again by J. R. R. Tolkien. The novel itself was first published by George Allen &

Unwin Ltd in 1937. The first edition novel consists of 310 pages until the revision

by Tolkien himself of the book. Tolkien’s The Hobbit was recognized as a

bestseller based on an article from The New York Times, Behind the Best Sellers:

J. R. R. Tolkien by Herbert Mitgang in 1977. Moreover, the novel has been

adapted in many forms, like radio drama, audio adaptation, animation, live-action

television dramatization, graphic format adaptation (e.g. comic book), video

games, and movie trilogy. Therefore, the success of the novel with its idea about

the story of ‘Middle-earth’ people, had lead Tolkien to wrote its sequel, The Lord

of the Rings which is known as one of the best-selling novels ever written, with

over 150 million copies sold, and The Silmarillion which by its publication day

Houghton Mifflin had received orders for more than 750,000 copies of the book.

Generally, the story is about a hobbit, Bilbo Baggins with his two sides of

personality yet imbalance as one of the sides which known as the Tookish side,

never has the chance to come out until one day he decides to join into an

adventure along with the wizard Gandalf, Thorin Oakenshield and the twelve

other dwarves to the Lonely Mountain in order the retrieve the vast treasure of the

Royal House of Durin’s from the dragon, Smaug. In this adventure, he goes


20

through a series of events that gradually lead him to his personality development,

self-discovery as he learns more about the world outside the comfort and the

stability of his home country, the Bag End ant the Hill and embraces the two sides

of his personality as his one, true personality.

B. Approach of the Study

This study used the psychological approach in order to analyze the object

of the study. According to Daiches (1981),

psychological approach comes from two ways, in the investigation of the

act of creation and in the study of particular authors to show the relation

between their attitudes and states of mind and special qualities of work.

Moreover, it can help to explain the general creative process, it can provide

a means of illuminating a writer’s work with reference to his life and vice

versa, and it can to explain the true meaning of a given text (Daiches, 1981,

pp. 340-341, 355).

In addition, based on Pope’s (2002) statement,

the ostensible focus of the study is now less likely to be the psychological

problems and possibilities realized by these figures in the minds of

contemporary audiences and readers. In this respect, current psychological

approaches have much in common with those of Reader Response and

Reception (Pope, 2002, pp. 96-97).

Since the topic of the study, personality development is related to

psychology, thus psychological approach is applied. The approach would be

applied to analyze the personality of Bilbo Baggins and the development of the

personality through a series of events that affect the way he thinks and he feels in

the adventure that he go through. Therefore, the researcher used the psychological

approach in this study since it would be focused on the development in Bilbo

Baggins’ personality and what happened with Bilbo during the adventure which

triggered the development itself to occur.


21

C. Method of the Study

This study is a library research. It meant that the researcher collected and

read books and sources which were related to this study. Therefore, in gathering

the data, the researcher used two required sources, they were primary source and

secondary source. The primary source was Tolkien’s The Hobbit or There and

Back Again. Meanwhile, the secondary sources consist of related books, website

articles, and journals, they are McCrae’s & Costa’s which retrieved from Feist’s

& Feist’s Theories of Personality (6th ed) (2006), Corr’s and Matthews’ The

Cambridge Handbook of Personality Psychology (2009), Hurlock’s Personality

Development (1974), Murphy’s Understanding Unseens (1972), D’Ammassa’s

Encyclopedia of Adventure Fiction, other books and website articles.

After collecting the sources, several steps to do the analysis were

conducted. The first step was to conduct a close reading on the primary source,

Tolkien’s The Hobbit or There and Back Again. Then, the researcher chose the

topic about the effect of adventure that caused Bilbo Baggin’s personality

development and formulated three specific points to analyze in the study, they

were; (1) the personality of Bilbo Baggins before the adventure, (2) the kind of

adventure that Bilbo experiences, and (3) the effect of adventure towards Bilbo’s

personality development. The second step, based on the problem formulation, was

to collect and read related references, theories, and approach from books, articles,

journals and theses, namely theory of characterization, theory of personality,

theory of personality development, theory of adventure, and psychological

approach. The third step was to analyze the novel by applying the theories and the


22

approach to answer the problem formulation. Specifically, with psychological

approach, theory of characterization and theory of personality were applied to

answer the first point about the personality of Bilbo Baggins before the adventure;

theory of adventure to answer the second point regarding the kind of adventure

that Bilbo experiences; and both theory of personality and personality

development to answer the third point about the effect of adventure toward

Bilbo’s personality development. Finally, the last step was drawing the conclusion

as based on the analysis of the study.


23

CHAPTER IV

ANALYSIS

In this chapter, the three research questions presented in the first chapter of

this study are answered. The theories presented in chapter two are applied in order

to support the analysis. This chapter consists of three parts. The first part

discusses about the personality of Bilbo Baggins before the adventure and applies

both the theory of personality and the theory of characterization. The second part

discusses about the kind of adventure that Bilbo goes through by applying the

theory of adventure. Meanwhile, the last part discusses about the effect of

adventure towards Bilbo Baggins’ personality development and applies the theory

of personality, theory of characterization, and the theory of personality

development.

A. Bilbo Baggins’ Personality before the Adventure

Bilbo Baggins, as the main character of the story and also the focus of this

analysis, as mentioned in the book that before he goes through the adventure

which affects the development of his personality, he has two sides of personality

in him, the Bagginses side and the Tookish side, however, the Tookish side of him

is hidden, suppressed as the Bagginses side dominates his personality as a whole

due to his upbringing and his environment.

Thus, in order to identify Bilbo’s personality before the adventure, this

study applies McCrae and Costa’s Big Five theory of personality and Murphy’s

theory of characterization. McCrae and Costa’s Big Five theory offers five types


24

of personality factors, meanwhile, Murphy’s theory offers nine ways in

characterizing a character in a literary work. However, this study only uses six out

of nine ways from Murphy; they are character as seen by another, speech,

conversation of others, reactions, direct comment, thoughts, and mannerisms.

This study also uses only three personality factors from McCrae and Costa; they

are high in Agreeableness, high in Neuroticism and low in Openness to

experience.

1. Agreeableness of Bilbo

As mentioned in McCrae and Costa’s (2006) theory, people who score

high on A tend to be trusting, generous, yielding, acceptant, and good-natured.

Thus, the researcher states that Bilbo has a high score in Agreeableness because,

throughout the earliest chapters (before the adventure) of the story, Bilbo appears

to be trusting, polite, good-natured, and generous.

Bilbo is trusting toward another person and it can be seen through the

author direct comment in the narrative when Bilbo saw Gandalf for the first time

in the front of his hobbit-hole.

All that unsuspecting Bilbo saw that morning was an old man with a staff.

He had a tall pointed blue hat, a long grey cloak, a silver scarf over which

his long white beard hung down below his waist and immense black boots

(Tolkien, 1966, pp. 3-4).

Bilbo is polite not only in the way he talks with another person but also in

his mannerisms. If by any chance he did offend someone with his words or his

behavior, which of course was unintentional, he would not hesitate to admit his

mistake and apologize. Like the time when he offends Gandalf by pretending to


25

take no more notice of him in hope that he will get rid of him. However, Gandalf

knows what he is doing and tells Bilbo that he uses a lot of “good mornings” to

him with different meanings, and now he meant to get rid of him. He ends up ask

for his pardon twice when he finds out that the old man in front of him is Gandalf.

When Gandalf tells him about his plan to send him to an adventure, Bilbo politely

rejects the idea, but he still invites him to come back the next day for tea, which

can be seen in his following speech and mannerism.

“Sorry! I don’t want any adventures, thank you. Not today. Good morning!

But please come to tea – any time you like! Why not tomorrow? Come

tomorrow! Good bye!” With that the hobbit turned and scuttled inside his

round green door, and shut it as quickly as he dared, not to seem rude.

Wizards after all are wizards (Tolkien, 1966, p. 6).

Even Smaug compliments him for his manners though he views him no

more than a thief and a liar after he hears Bilbo’s acknowledgment of him. This

evidence uses Murphy’s character as seen by another. “You have nice manners for

a thief and a liar,” (Tolkien, 1966, p. 204)

Bilbo is good natured due to the fact that he is fond of visitors and when

Dwalin comes and brings himself in as if he had been expected, it takes Bilbo by

surprise, but in the end, he welcomes and invites him for tea. This evidence uses

Murphy’s mannerisms way.

When the silence that followed had become uncomfortable, he added: “I

am just about to take tea; pray come and have some with me.” A little stiff

perhaps, but he meant it kindly. And what would you do, if an uninvited

dwarf came and hung his things up in your hall without a word of

explanation? (Tolkien, 1966, p. 7).

Bilbo is generous, by using Murphy’s speech way, it can be seen that he

gives his utmost hospitality such as all the best foods he has, a place to stay for the


26

night, even offer to cook anything they want for breakfast toward the dwarves,

even though they practically are strangers to him and no other than Gandalf’s

acquaintances.

“... And well, don’t you know, I think we have talked long enough for one

night, if you see what I mean. What about bed, and an early start, and all

that? I will give you a good breakfast before you go” (Tolkien, 1966, p.

25).

2. Neuroticism of Bilbo

Bilbo appears to score high in Neuroticism, which is shown through his

anxious, emotional, hot-tempered, self-pitying, self-conscious, and pessimistic

traits.

Bilbo is anxious, which is identified by using Murphy’s direct comment

when Balin comes not too long after Dwalin and making a remark that ‘they’

have begun to arrive as he sees Dwalin’s green hood hanging up on the peg

which makes Bilbo extremely anxious because he prefers to know about his

upcoming visitors before they arrives.

It was not the correct thing to say, but they have begun to arrive had

flustered him badly. He liked visitors, but he liked to know them before

they arrived, and he preferred to ask them himself. He had a horrible

thought that the cakes might run short and then he – as the host: he knew

his duty and stuck to it however painful – he might have to go without

(Tolkien, 1966, p. 7).

Bilbo is emotional, like the time when Thorin delivers a speech after their

feast in Bilbo’s house and as he mentions about their upcoming adventure and its

risks, Bilbo shows an intense reaction in the realization that the said adventure

might cost him his life.


27

Poor Bilbo couldn’t bear it any longer. At may never return he began to

feel a shriek coming up inside, and very soon it burst out like the whistle

of an engine coming out of a tunnel... and in its firework glare the poor

little hobbit could be seen kneeling on the hearthrug, shaking like a jelly

that was melting. Then he fell flat on the floor, and kept on calling out

“struck by lightning, struck by lightning!” over and over again; and that

was all they could get out of him for a long time (Tolkien, 1966, p. 16).

Bilbo weeps at a drop of a hat meanwhile the others only groan when Gandalf

tells them that he will not accompany them when they go into Mirkwood because

he has a more pressing business that he needs to attend. Both of these evidences

are identified by using Murphy’s reaction way.

The dwarves groaned and looked most distressed, and Bilbo wept. They

had begun to think Gandalf was going to come all the way and would

always be there to help them out of difficulties (Tolkien, 1966, p. 105).

Bilbo is hot-tempered, which can be seen from how easily he gets angry

and annoyed, like when someone banging on his green beautiful door in a loud

knock with a stick while Bilbo attends on his guests.

Bilbo rushed along the passage, very angry, and altogether bewildered and

bewuthered – this was the most awkward Wednesday he ever remembered.

He pulled open the door with a jerk, and they all fell in, one on top of the

other (Tolkien, 1966, p. 9).

Also like when Bilbo cleaning up the mess after the feast, he gets annoyed that

none of the dwarves lend him a hand. Both of these evidences of Bilbo that show

his hot-tempered trait use Murphy’s reaction way.

By the time he had got all the bottles and dishes and knives and forks and

glasses and plates and spoons and things piled up in big trays, he was

getting very hot, and red in the face, and annoyed. “Confusticate and

bebother these dwarves!” he said aloud. “Why don’t they come and lend a

hand?” (Tolkien, 1966, p. 11).

Bilbo is self-pitying, especially when on his own, like at the time he gets

separated from the others in the goblins’ tunnel. He just wakes up after losing his

consciousness without anyone nearby and any source of light. His head is still


28

swimming, yet he decides to crawl along the tunnel’s floor to look for the others.

This evidence is identified with the reaction way by Murphy.

He did not go much further, but sat down on the cold floor and gave

himself up to complete miserableness, for a long while. He thought of

himself frying bacon and eggs in his own kitchen at home – for he could

feel inside that it was high time for some meal or other; but that only made

him miserabler (Tolkien, 1966, p. 63).

Then, at the time when Bilbo once again gets separated again from the others

because the dwarves are seized by the Wood-elves in Mirkwood, he, with the help

of his magic ring, manages to follow them and sneak into the Elvenking palace

where they imprison the dwarves. Bilbo spends quite some time there looking

around for the dwarves whereabout and for an escape route while remaining in

hiding. This evidence is identified using Murphy’s thoughts way.

“I am like a burglar that can’t get away, but must go on miserably burgling

the same house day after day,” he thought. “This is the dreariest and

dullest part of all this wretched, tiresome, uncomfortable adventure! I wish

I was back in my hobbit-hole by my own warm fireside with the lamp

shining!” (Tolkien, 1966, p. 161).

Bilbo appears to be self-conscious since he is a well-to-do hobbit who

borns in a respectable family. So, when Gandalf introduces him to Beorn, Bilbo

cannot help but feel self-conscious about his appearance. This evidence is

identified using Murphy’s way of direct comment.

“That is Mr. Baggins, a hobbit of good family and unimpeachable

reputation,” said Gandalf. Bilbo bowed. He had no hat to take off, and was

painfully conscious of his many missing buttons (Tolkien, 1966, p. 109).

Moreover, Bilbo also appears to be pessimistic. It can be seen from when

he and the dwarves listen to Gandalf’s explanation for going out all day. Gandalf

explains that he has been picking out bear tracks that belong to Beorn and these

tracks go way back to the location where they get surrounded by the Wargs and


29

goblins. Hearing this, Bilbo already assuming for the worst situation, even though

it is proved to be wrong after Beorn comes back and shows them a goblin’s head

which stuck outside the gate along with a Warg-skin nailed to a tree nearby. This

evidence uses Murphy’s speech way.

Bilbo thought he knew what the wizard meant. “What shall we do,” he

cried “if he leads all the Wargs and the goblins down here? We shall be

caught and killed! I thought you said he was not a friend of theirs”

(Tolkien, 1966, p. 120).

3. Openness to Experience of Bilbo

Bilbo scores low in Openness to experience since he, himself is a hobbit

that like any other common hobbit, appears to be comfort-loving, unadventurous,

and conventional.

Bilbo is comfort-loving, a trait which he inherits from his comfortable

father, Bungo Baggins. This evidence uses Murphy’s direct comment.

Still it is probable that Bilbo, her only son, although he looked and

behaved exactly like a second edition of his solid and comfortable father,

... (Tolkien, 1966, p. 3)

It is mentioned in the novel, that the hobbit folks including Bilbo’s family,

especially from his father's side including Bilbo himself, are unadventurous and

prefer to avoid anything unexpected. Thus, it makes the Bagginses to be seen as a

respectable family by the people in The Hill, aside from the other fact that most of

them are rich. This evidence also uses Murphy’s direct comment.

This hobbit was a very-well-to-do hobbit, and his name was Baggins. The

Bagginses had lived in the neighbourhood of The Hill for time out of

mind, and people considered them very respectable, not only because most

of them were rich, but also because they never had any adventures or did

anything unexpected: you could tell what a Baggins would say on any

question without the bother of asking him (Tolkien, 1966, pp. 1-2).


30

When Gandalf told him that he has difficulty in looking for someone to join in an

adventure he arranged, Bilbo indeed responded like how any other hobbits would

say. This evidence used Murphy’s speech.

“I should think so – in these parts! We are plain quiet folk and have no use

for adventures. Nasty disturbing uncomfortable things! Make you late for

dinner! I can’t think what anybody sees in them,” said our Mr. Baggins,

and stuck one thumb behind his braces, and blew out another even bigger

smoke-ring (Tolkien, 1966, p. 4).

Moreover, Bilbo before the adventure is also conventional, since he, as

one of the Bagginses, is exposed to the mindset that being adventurous or doing

anything unexpected is improper. That is why Bilbo keeps refusing Gandalf’s

invitation to go on an adventure until the arrival of the dwarves at his hobbit-hole

indirectly provoking his suppressed Tookish side which is known as the

indifferent side due to its adventurous trait. Besides, when Bilbo listens to Dwalin,

Balin, Kili, and Fili who join in a throng, though he does not understand what they

are talking about, he chooses to not acknowledge it further since it sounds too

adventurous for him. Therefore, the evidence itself uses Murphy’s reaction.

He had only just had a sip – in the corner, while the four dwarves sat round

the table, and talked about mines and gold and troubles with the goblins,

and the depredations of dragons, and lots of others things which he did not

understand, and did not want to, for they sounded much too adventurous –

... (Tolkien, 1966, p. 8).

From the chosen three out of five personality factors along with its

evidences that the researcher analyzes, which are high in Agreeableness, high in

Neuroticism and low in Openness to experience, the researcher draws a

conclusion that Bilbo’s personality before the adventure, which is determined by


31

using McCrae and Costa’s Big Five theory of personality and Murphy’s

characterization theory, are good-natured, pessimistic and conventional.

B. The Adventure that Bilbo Baggins Experiences

At the beginning of the novel, the author clearly points in the narrative that

the story itself is about how Bilbo, a Baggins, has an adventure and does things

that totally the opposite from what a Baggins, even a hobbit in common would do.

This adventure may make him lose the neighbours’ respect, however the author

hints that Bilbo may also gain something from it.

This is a story of how a Baggins had an adventure, and found himself

doing and saying things altogether unexpected. He may have lost the

neighbours’ respect, but he gained – well, you will see whether he gained

anything in the end (Tolkien, 1966, p. 2).

The adventure begins when Bilbo and the dwarves look for shelter from

the sudden pour of rain during their journey, they see a red light shining among

the dark mass of the trees and decides to approach it with caution since now they

are in a not well-known territory. The closer they are to the light, Bilbo, as the

group's burglar, goes off alone to examine the light and there he sees three large

trolls sitting around the light. Since they do not notice Bilbo's presence near them,

Bilbo finds himself to be in a dilemma that he should either going back and warn

the others or do some quick-burgling first.

He was very much alarmed, as well as disgusted; he wished himself a

hundred miles away, and yet – and yet somehow he could not go straight

back to Thorin and Company emptyhanded (Tolkien, 1966, p. 33).

Bilbo eventually chooses to pick from the trolls' pockets and when the two

other trolls go off to the barrel, Bilbo begins to approach the last one.


32

Bert and Tom went off to the barrel. William was having another drink.

Then Bilbo plucked up courage and put his little hand in William's

enormous pocket. There was a purse in it, as big as a bag to Bilbo. "Ha!"

thought he, warming to his new work as he lifted it carefully out, "this is a

beginning!" (Tolkien, 1966, p. 34).

However, this new experience of burgling does not run as well as he

thought. Bilbo ends up getting caught by the trolls, as well as the other dwarves

who come to check on him. Just as the trolls decide to roast the dwarves, Gandalf

comes for them. He manages to trick and stalling the trolls until dawn, which

lights turn them into stone, saving Bilbo and the dwarves.

The journey continues all the way toward the Misty Mountain, the only

path that goes to the Lonely Mountain. When they spend the night at a nearby

cave, Bilbo and the dwarves along with their belongings are seized and taken

away to the inside of the mountain by the goblins, except for Gandalf who

manages to escape due to Bilbo's warning. Thus, making Gandalf capable to make

a ruckus to rescue them from the goblins, as well as killing the Great Goblin.

However, it makes the goblins angrier and they make a silent counter-attack

towards the group which separates Bilbo from the others as he falls from Dori

who walks at the back while carrying him, making him bump his head onto a rock

and fall unconscious.

When he wakes up, he crawls in the passage to look around for a way out

and the others. Later on, he finds the magic ring on his way and without thinking

puts it in his pocket. He continues, however he decides to stop and surrender to

complete miserableness for a long while.

He could not think what to do; nor could he think what had happened; or

why he had been left behind; or why, if he had been left behind, the

goblins had not caught him; or even why his head was so sore. The truth


33

was he had been lying quiet, out of sight and out of mind, in a very dark

corner for a long while (Tolkien, 1966, p. 63).

This miserableness does not last long when Bilbo reaches for his pouch

and finds the little elvish dagger that he previously takes from the trolls' hideout.

Somehow he feels comforted as it shines pale and dim before his eyes. Therefore,

he makes up his mind and decides to keep going on.

"Go back?" he thought. "No good at all! Go sideways? Impossible! Go

forward? Only one thing to do! One we go!" So up he got, and trotted

along with his little sword held in front of him and one hand feeling the

wall, and his heart all of a patter and a pitter (Tolkien, 1966, p. 64).

On his way, Bilbo encounters an underground lake and there he meets

Gollum, the creature that lives on the island in the middle of the lake. He invites

Bilbo to play the Riddle Game with a bet if Bilbo wins, Gollum would show him

the way out but if Bilbo loses, Gollum would eat him. Bilbo eventually wins the

game, but when he asks Gollum to keep his promise, Gollum decides to play foul

by using his precious magic ring to kill him. However, without Gollum's knowing,

the ownership of the ring already goes to Bilbo. Gollum becomes mad and

suspicious towards Bilbo as he starts to chase him. Realizing the impending

danger that comes at him, Bilbo goes back to the passage and escapes. However,

Bilbo almost gets caught as he tripped on his way, but he manages to save himself

as he becomes invisible with the help of the magic ring. Bilbo is confused at first

when Gollum just pass him by, but he finally finds out that it is the ring that helps

him as he overhears Gollum's talk about it. Thus, Bilbo decides to follow behind

Gollum, and Gollum, in his search of Bilbo, unintentionally leads Bilbo to the

mountain's Back Door. However, Gollum sitting humped upright in the opening,

and now the only way to escape is by leaping over him.


34

Bilbo almost stopped breathing and went stiff himself. He was desperate.

He must get away, out of this horrible darkness, while he had any strength

left. He must fight. He must stab the foul thing, put its eyes out, kill it. It

meant to kill him. No, not a fair fight... A sudden understanding, a pity

mixed with horror, welled up in Bilbo's heart: a glimpse of endless

unmarked days without light or hope of betterment, hard stone, cold fish,

sneaking and whispering. All these thoughts passed in a flash of a second.

He trembled. And then quite suddenly in another flash, as if lifted by a

new strength and resolve, he leaped (Tolkien, 1966, p. 80).

Unfortunately, the Back Door is heavily guarded by the goblins that he

sneaks carefully towards the door, but just as he turns to the last corner, the ring

slipped out, making Bilbo visible to the goblins. Soon, there is a terrible ruckus.

Bilbo was dreadfully frightened, but he had the sense to understand what

had happened and to sneak behind a big barrel which held drink for the

goblin-guards, and so get out of the way and avoid being bumped into,

trampled to death, or caught by feel (Tolkien, 1966, p. 82).

In the end, Bilbo manages to escape through the door as he goes to the other side

of the mountain and later on reunites with Gandalf and the dwarves.

After the counter with Wargs and goblins that tries to hunt them, the

ancient Eagles that helps the group to escape from their 'hunters', and the meeting

with Beorn. Bilbo and the dwarves continue their journey to Mirkwood, a dark,

difficult and dangerous forest, this time without Gandalf, as he has more pressing

business in the South. Therefore, the responsibility to help the dwarves all goes to

Bilbo. It is going well until they run out of supplies, making them lost and

separated from each other as they straying from the path to look for some food

and water. This is one of Bilbo's most miserable moments, but he soon makes up

his mind to rest and wait till the day comes with some little light.

Suddenly, a giant spider comes at him while Bilbo is asleep. While the

spider has been busy tying him up, Bilbo wakes up and struggles to break free. He


35

beats up the spider with his hands and the spider jumps back when he pulls out his

little dagger towards it. Thus, Bilbo manages to break free and make a counter-

attack.

The spider lay dead beside him, and his sword-blade was stained black.

Somehow the killing of the giant spider, all alone by himself in the dark

without the help of the wizard or the dwarves or of anyone else, made a

great difference to Mr. Baggins. He felt a different person, and much

fiercer and bolder in spite of an empty stomach, as he wiped his sword on

the grass and put it back into its sheath (Tolkien, 1966, p. 144).

After that, Bilbo sets out to explore and look for the dwarves. Later on,

Bilbo finds out that the others have been caught and seized by the other giant

spiders. Using his ability in throwing rocks, Bilbo manages to make a commotion

and distract the spiders. He then provokes and leads them as far as possible from

the dwarves. He realizes that he only has a little time before the spiders go back,

so he tries to rescue as many dwarves as he can. Unfortunately, the spiders go

back and Bilbo notices that now they gather around one of the dwarves, the old

Bombur. However, with his daggers, Bilbo manages to kill half of a dozen of the

spiders and drives the rest away. A battle ensues between Bilbo along with the

dwarves and the spiders. Things are looking bad as Bilbo and the dwarves grow

tired against hundreds of spiders. The only plan he can think of is to let the

dwarves into the secret of his ring. In the end, with the help of Bilbo and his

magic ring, the spiders finally let them go as they now have come to the edge of a

ring where elf-fires had been that the spiders hate due to its good magic. The

group finally takes a rest, but soon the questions regarding the magic ring begin to

pour out as the ring spikes their interest for a while that they forget about their

troubles. As the forest becomes darker, other questions come out about their


36

whereabouts, what are they going to do next, etc., and they expect that the

answers come from Bilbo.

From which you can see that they had changed their opinion of Mr.

Baggins very much, and had begun to have a great respect for him (as

Gandalf had said they would)... Knowing the truth about the vanishing did

not lessen their opinion of Bilbo at all; for they saw that he had some wits,

as well as luck and a magic ring – and all three were useful possessions. In

fact they praised him so much that Bilbo began to feel there really was

something of a bold adventurer about himself after all, ... (Tolkien, 1966,

p. 154).

The day after the battle, they make the last attempt to find the path of the

forest before they die of thirst and hunger, yet it ends in vain as the day becomes

night. Suddenly, Wood-elves leap out from the dark with their bows and spears

and call the dwarves to halt. There is no resistance comes from the dwarves as

they surrender to the elves who seizes and brings them to the Elvenking's palace,

except for Bilbo who manages to slip in the magic ring in time.

In the Elvenking's palace, while the dwarves are imprisoned, Bilbo goes

into hiding and wandering around the palace without slipping out the ring. After a

week or two, he finally finds out the place where they keep the dwarves. He also

finds Thorin, who gets caught first when they are get separated in the forest. Soon,

Bilbo becomes the messenger between Thorin and the other dwarves. They

become hopeful and believe that Bilbo would help them.

Bilbo, however, did not feel nearly so hopeful as they did. He did not like

being depended on by everyone, and he wished he had the wizard at hand.

But that was no use, probably all the dark distance of Mirkwood lay

between them. He sat and thought and thought, until his head nearly burst,

but no bright idea would come. One invisible ring was a very fine thing,

but it was not much good among fourteen. But of course, as you have

guessed, he did rescue his friends in the end, ... (Tolkien, 1966, p. 162).


37

Bilbo helps the dwarves to escape through the palace's watergate by using

the barrels that the elves use to ship goods from outside the forest by the river,

which then floats them away to the Lake-town, the nearest place to the Lonely

Mountain. They are welcomed by the Lake-town people and they stay there for a

few days before they continue their journey.

When they arrive at the mountain, they make several attempts to look for

the door, however, all of those attempts end in failure. The dwarves become down

and hopeless, but not for Bilbo.

Now strange to say Mr. Baggins had more than the others. He would often

borrow Thorin's map and gaze at it, pondering over the runes and the

message of the moon-letters Elrond had read. It was he that made the

dwarves begin the dangerous search on the western slopes for the secret

door (Tolkien, 1966, p. 189).

At last, after a few more searches, they finally find what they are looking

for. They do find the secret door but not for its keyhole. Until one time, when the

sun begins to sink, with the help of Thrush, an ancient type of bird, Bilbo tells the

dwarves and finally sees a secret door magically appears behind a large grey stone

in the middle of a grassy bay as the last rays of the sun of Durin's Day shining on

its surface.

Bilbo then overhears the dwarves' conversation since they are on the rocks

above him, where Dwalin talks about his high expectation of Bilbo.

Bilbo heard this – the dwarves were on the rocks just above the enclosure

where he was sitting – and "Good Gracious!" he thought, "so that is what

they are beginning to think, is it? It is always poor me that has to get them

out their difficulties, at least since the wizard left. Whatever am I going to

do? I might have known that something dreadful would happen to me in

the end. I don't think I could bear to see the unhappy valley of Dale again,

and as for that steaming gate!!!" (Tolkien, 1966, p. 192).


38

In the end, Bilbo volunteers himself to go explore inside the tunnels of the

mountain to look for the treasure room. He slips in his magic ring, then with a

great determination goes down to the tunnels.

He was trembling with fear, but his little face was set and grim. Already he

was a very different hobbit from the one that had run out without a pocket-

handkerchief from Bag-End long ago. He had not had a pocket-

handkerchief for ages. He loosened his dagger in its sheath, tightened his

belt, and went on (Tolkien, 1966, p. 196).

Consequently, he does not only finds the said room but also Smaug, the

dragon, who is asleep on top of the countless piles of treasure. Fortunately, he

manages to take two cups full of treasure with him and flee without waking the

dragon, that angers the dragon when he wakes up.

The next morning, after the debates on what they should do about Smaug

or how to removes treasure, Bilbo gives them a piece of advice to stay still and

there are only one or two of them who should go to the river to replenish their

supplies, he also offers to goes in the tunnels again to check on Smaug which

eagerly accepted by the dwarves.

Naturally the dwarves accepted the offer eagerly. Already they had come

to respect little Bilbo. Now he had become the real leader in their

adventure. He had begun to have ideas and plans of his own. When

midday came he got ready for another journey down into the Mountain. He

did not like it of course, but it was not so bad now he knew, more or less,

what was in front of him (Tolkien, 1966, p. 203).

However, this time Smaug is awake and only pretends to be asleep when

Bilbo comes back to the treasure room. Of course, Smaug does not see Bilbo, but

he still can smell him. Therefore, Bilbo manages to keep a conversation with

Smaug without giving out his identity or fall into his traps. He even manages to

make Smaug unconsciously show his weak spot, a bare large patch in the hollow


39

of his left breast, and after he sees that, Bilbo decides that now is his time to go

away. It angers Smaug even more that he destroys the side of the mountain that its

remnants fall all over the secret door, trapping Bilbo and the dwarves inside. After

Smaug has let off his rage he decides to take a further vengeance towards the

Lake-town as he notices that Bilbo somehow comes from there. In spite of that,

Smaug is defeated by Bard, a bowman from the Lake-town who finds out about

his weakness from a Thrush and then shoots him right at the bare patch, instantly

killing the dragon.

The news of Smaug's death spread like wildfire, and since no one guards

and claims the treasure now, its possession falls into the dwarves' hands.

Therefore, the Lake-town people along with the Elves led by Bard and the

Elvenking, go to the Lonely Mountain for a share of the treasure as compensation

for the help they have rendered to the dwarves, as well for the damage Smaug

inflicted during his attack. Thorin, now the King under the Mountain, refuses all

negotiations of sharing the treasure with them since he is under the bewitchment

of the treasure, and instead choose to summon his kin from the Iron Hills to

strengthen the position of the party, which means war. Bilbo dislikes this whole

situation and tries to avert it by bringing the Arkenstone to Bard and the

Elvenking to help them to negotiate with Thorin, as the stone itself holds great

importance to him. This makes the Elvenking look at Bilbo in a new light and he

offers Bilbo to stay with them instead since the Elvenking knows of how the

dwarves will react if they find out about this, however, Bilbo choose to refuse the

offer and goes back to the dwarves.


40

"Thank you very much I am sure," said Bilbo with a bow. "But I don't

think I ought to leave my friends like this, after all we have gone through

together. And I promised to wake old Bombur at midnight, too! Really I

must be going, and quickly" (Tolkien, 1966, p. 250).

Nonetheless, the last negotiation by using the stone also does not end well

and when a war about to happens between Men, Elves, and Dwarves, suddenly

armies of Goblins and Wargs come for an attack. Men, Elves, and Dwarves decide

to join forces since they have the same enemy. Thus, the Battle of the Five Armies

ensues. Unfortunately, Bilbo does not see the war until the end since a stone

hurtling from above and knocks into his helm, making him fall unconscious.

Bilbo wakes up alone on the flat stones of Ravenhill. The battle has ended.

Later on, he notices that a man climbing up the stones and coming towards him.

The man comes to Bilbo after Bilbo slips out his ring and tells him that he is Bilbo

Baggins, the companion of Thorin. The man replies that Bilbo is needed and then

he carries Bilbo back before a tent in Dale. There, Bilbo meets Gandalf, and the

wizard brings him in to see Thorin. Thorin looks up and says his farewell to

Bilbo. Hearing this Bilbo kneels on one knee in sorrow.

"Farewell, King under the Mountain!" he said. "This is a better adventure,

if it must end so; and not a mountain of gold can amend it. Yet I am glad

that I have shared in your perils – that has been more than any Baggins

deserves" (Tolkien, 1966, p. 264).

Consequently, Thorin replies that there is more goodness in Bilbo that Bilbo

himself does not know.

"There is more in you of good than you know, child of the kindly West.

Some courage and some wisdom, blended in measure. If more of us valued

food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world.

But sad or merry, I must leave it now. Farewell!" (Tolkien, 1966, p. 264).


41

Finally, after all that has happened, this marks the end of Bilbo's adventure

which later on followed by his return journey to his home country.As based on

D’Ammassa’s theory of adventure, the researcher draws a conclusion that Bilbo

goes through a spontaneous adventure along with Gandalf and the dwarves to

retrieve the Oakenshield’s family treasure from the dragon, Smaug, due to the fact

that Bilbo begins the adventure without any preparation at all. He does not see the

others when he wakes up the next morning after the feast, so, he assumes that they

already leave, till Gandalf comes back to his hobbit-hole to check on him and tell

him that the others already waiting for him. Bilbo hesitates at first since he is still

not prepared for an adventure, but Gandalf hurried him to go as he only has 10

minutes left if he wants to catch them on time.

To the end of his days Bilbo could never remember how he found himself

outside, without a hat, a walking-stick or any money, or anything that he

usually took when he went out; leaving his second breakfast half-finished

and quite unwashed-up, pushing his keys into Gandalf’s hand, and running

as fast as his furry feet could carry him down the lane ... (Tolkien, 1966, p.

28)

However, even though the adventure that Bilbo goes through is

spontaneous, nonetheless it happens by his own decision, which made up after he

overhears the dwarves' conversation with Gandalf, which mainly about their

doubts of Bilbo as Gandalf’s chosen burglar. Thus, Bilbo decides to confront

them.

“... I don’t pretend to understand what you are talking about, or your

reference to burglars, but I think I am right in believing” (this is what he

called being on his dignity) “that you think I am no good. I will show

you... Tell me what you want done, and I will try, if I have to walk from

here to East of East and fight the wild Were-worms in the Last Desert...”

(Tolkien, 1966, pp. 17-18).


42

Bilbo even asks Thorin the details of their upcoming adventure to show them that

he is serious about it, after Thorin indirectly mocking him, saying that he

supposed to give them some ideas and suggestions anyway since Gandalf refers

him as the burglar-expert.

“First, I should like to know a bit more about things,” said he, feeling all

confused and a bit shaky inside, but so far still Tookishly determined to go

on with things. “I mean about the gold and the dragon, and all that, and

how it got there, and who it belongs to, and so on and further” (Tolkien,

1966, p. 21).

Moreover, this adventure makes Bilbo learns something more about the

outside world, far away from his home., which he recites into a song during his

return journey:

“Roads go ever on,

Over rock and under tree,

By caves where never sun has shone,

By streams that never find the sea;

Over snow by winter sown,

And through the merry flowers of June,

Over grass and over stone,

And under mountains in the moon.

Roads go ever on

Under cloud and under star,

Yet feet that wandering have gone

Turn at last to home afar...” (Tolkien, 1966, pp. 275-276).

Bilbo also learns about his own personality, especially the side of him

which Tolkien refers to as the “Tookish side”. It makes its appearance after Bilbo

overhears Gloin talking behind his back about his doubts toward him.

Then Mr. Baggins turned the handle and went in. The Took side had won.

He suddenly felt he would go without bed and breakfast to be thought

fierce. As for little fellow bobbing on the mat it almost made him really

fierce (Tolkien, 1966, p.17).


43

Therefore, as based on these evidences, the researcher also concludes that

the adventure which Bilbo goes through is physical which mirrored by an interior

one. This conclusion is made by referring to D’Ammassa’s (2009) theory,

...the physical journey is mirrored by an interior one, in which the

protagonist learns something about the world at large, or about his or her

own personality, ... (p. viii)

due to the fact that Bilbo indeed gaining something through this adventure,

because the said physical journey that he goes through not only affect his physical

being but also his spiritual nature, as in his mind and his way of thinking,

therefore, the adventure itself opens his way of thinking as he learns about

different races, creatures, and cultures from outside of his hobbit-hole in Bag End

and the Hill; and he also discovers the other side of him which makes him gain an

understanding of his true personality that consists of both Bagginses and Tookish

sides.

C. The Effect of the Adventure towards Bilbo Baggins’ Personality

Development

From the first part of the analysis, the researcher finds out how Bilbo’s

personality before the adventure is concluded. Bilbo before the adventure is

concluded to be good-natured, pessimistic and conventional. Then, as Bilbo

undergoes the adventure, identified as the physical mirrored by an interior one, he

develops his personality into conscientious, liberal and hardy, which is determined

by using Murphy’s theory of characterization.

In this part of discussion, the researcher tries to reveal the effect of the

adventure towards Bilbo’s personality development. It can be seen that Bilbo’s


44

adventure with Gandalf and the dwarves brings significant changes toward his

personality, which is indicated through Gandalf’s statement after he hears Bilbo

reciting a song about his adventure during their return journey, “’My dear Bilbo!’

he said. ‘Something is the matter with you! You are not the hobbit that you were’”

(Tolkien, 1966, p. 276).

Correspondingly, as based on Hurlock’s and Corr’s & Matthews’ theories,

the researcher concludes that Bilbo’s personality development is caused by

several factors. They are Hurlock’s the individual’s hereditary endowment and

important events in later life outside the home environment, along with Corr’s &

Matthews’ self-reflection and perceptions by others or reflected appraisals.

Therefore, these factors develop Bilbo’s personality and its factors which

previously high in Agreeableness, high in Neuroticism, and low in Openness

(good-natured, pessimistic and conventional) into high in Conscientiousness, high

in Openness, and low in Neuroticism (conscientious, liberal and hardy).

1. Conscientiousness of Bilbo

Bilbo, after the adventure scores high in Conscientiousness as he becomes

conscientious, careful, persevering, brave, quick-witted, sharp-eyed/observant and

wise. These traits are identified by using five out of nine ways from Murphy’s

theory, which are speech, direct comment, thought, reaction and conversation of

others. Meanwhile, the factors of the development are determined by using

Hurlock’s important events in later life outside the home environment and the


45

individual’s hereditary endowment, also Corr’s & Matthews’ self-reflection and

perceptions by others/reflected appraisals.

Bilbo is conscientious, as in when he makes a decision, he is guided by a

sense of doing what is right, like when he decides to inform Bard and the

Elvenking about the coming of Dain and the dwarves of the Iron Hills, and hands

them the Arkenstone of Thrain, the Heart of the Mountain, instead the dwarves.

He wants to avoid the upcoming war that will happen between them and thinks

that by handing the Arkenstone, it will help to expedite the negotiation of the

treasure between Men, Elves and Dwarves.

“This is the Arkenstone of Thrain”, said Bilbo, “the Heart of the Mountain;

and it is also the heart of Thorin. He values it above a river of gold. I give

it to you. It will aid you in your bargaining” (Tolkien, 1966, p. 249).

When Bilbo hands Bard the Arkenstone without any hesitation, Bard asks him

how the stone is his to give, knowing the fact that the stone is a precious item to

Thorin. Both of these evidences are determined by using Murphy’s way of speech.

“O well!” said the hobbit uncomfortably, “it isn’t exactly; but, well, I am

willing to let it stand against all my claim, don’t you know. I may be a

burglar – or so they say: personally I never felt like one – but I am an

honest one, I hope, more or less. Anyway I am going back now, and the

dwarves can do what they like to me. I hope you will find it useful”

(Tolkien, 1966, pp. 249-250).

Moreover, even though he states that he does not feel like a burglar, he seriously

takes on his duty as one. It can be seen from when he just escape from Gollum

and a horde of goblins, he wanders for a while on the other side of the Misty

Mountain, hoping that Gandalf and the dwarves already escape too. However, he

has this very uncomfortable thought inside his head and he wonders if he should

go back and look for them. Therefore, this evidence uses Murphy’s thought.


46

He wondered whether he ought not, now he had the magic ring, to go back

into the horrible, horrible, tunnels and look for his friends. He had just

made up his mind that it was his duty, that he must turn back – ... (Tolkien,

1966, p. 84).

These evidences which prove Bilbo’s conscientious trait are determined by using

Corr’s & Matthews’ self-reflection factor, due to the fact that every time he makes

a decision or do something, he reflects on himself and realizing that he wishes to

follow his values of doing something that morally righteous to him, like the time

he explains to Bard the reason of why he hands him the Arkenstone though it is

not his to give, and also the time when he decides that he must turn back to the

tunnels for his friends.

Bilbo is careful, especially now that he is outside, away from his peaceful

country and hobbit-hole, when danger constantly lurking around him. Like the

time when Bilbo is alone in the dark tunnel, looking for the others and a way out,

he suddenly trotting splash into the water. This evidence uses Murphy’s thought.

“So it is a pool or a lake, and not an underground river,” he thought. Still

he did not dare to wade out into the darkness. He could not swim; and he

thought, too, of nasty slimy things, with big bulging blind eyes, wriggling

in the water (Tolkien, 1966, p. 65).

Also during their journey in Mirkwood, he has to sneak on the giant spiders to

rescue the dwarves who are held captive by them. This evidence uses Murphy’s

direct comment.

Having made up his mind he crept along as cleverly as he could. Hobbits

are clever at quietness, especially in woods, as I have already told you;

also Bilbo had slipped on his ring before he started (Tolkien, 1966, p.

145).

These evidences prove that Bilbo becomes careful, which is determined by using

Hurlock’s important events in later life outside the environment, since like the


47

researcher has mentioned before, he, for the very first time is outside and far away

from his hobbit-hole, his home environment. Thus, he needs to be on guard all the

time as the dangers can come at him anytime.

Bilbo is persevering, due to the fact when Gollum unintentionally brings

him to the way out. As he sitting hump right in the opening, waiting for Bilbo who

now has the possession of his magic ring. It makes Bilbo desperate, especially

when he sees Gollum begin to be alert as he sniffs the air. However, Bilbo ends up

making it to the said way out. This evidence is determined by using Murphy’s

reaction way.

Bilbo almost stopped breathing, and went stiff himself. He was desperate.

He must get away, out of this horrible darkness, while he had any strength

left... All these thoughts passed in a flash of second. He trembled. And

then quite suddenly in another flash, as if lifted by a new strength and

resolve, he leaped (Tolkien, 1966, p. 80).

Thus, this evidence shows that Bilbo becomes persevering as determined by using

Corr’s & Matthews’ self-reflection factor because he reflects in his desperation to

do something quickly since Gollum begins to take notice of his presence. Bilbo

finally takes a leap though it seems impossible to him at first with Gollum sitting

on the only opening to the way out.

Bilbo becomes braver, as the result of always being oppressed by dangers

as soon as he comes out from home, with the need to defend himself and the

dwarves. Although the fact is dangers can be found everywhere, even at home,

however, from the way Tolkien writes this novel, he choose to deviate from this

fact. This conlusion is made based on Jackson’s (2015) doctoral thesis which

states that the novel starkly and consistently emphasizes the dangers of leaving

home, which in turn reinforces the idea of home as the safest place for Bilbo. It


48

shows that as soon Bilbo leaves his home in Bag End and the Hill, he get seized

and almost being eaten by trolls. Then, after his stay in Rivendell, a series of

dangers comes at him, such as get seized by goblins, get separated from his party

to almost get killed and being eaten by Gollum, then almost get caught by Wargs

and being burned alive by goblins, before finding refuge in Beorn’s house. It also

shows from the way Bilbo keep repeating his desire after each episode of the

journey to return to what is known and safe, embodied by place called home (pp.

234-235). Therefore, just like the time while the dwarves are kidnapped by the

Mirkwood’s giant spiders, he attacks and kills the spider that tries to tie him up

when he is dozing off, thus, makes him discover the brave side of him. This

evidence uses Murphy’s way of reaction.

Somehow the killing of the giant spider, all alone by himself in the dark

without help of the wizard or the dwarves or of anyone else, made a great

difference to Mr. Baggins. He felt a different person, and much fiercer and

bolder in spite of an empty stomach, as he wiped his sword on the grass

and put it back into its sheath (Tolkien, 1966, p. 144).

Thus, this evidence shows that Bilbo is braver, which is determined through

Corr’s & Matthews’ self-reflection factor because from the time after he kills the

giant spider, he realizes a different side of him which is fiercer and bolder than he

has ever been before.

Bilbo is quick-witted since he is always oppressed by the situation that

requires quick decisions. Like when Bilbo is seen by the goblins who guards the

only way out from the mountain which instantly makes them to be in alert and

rush upon him. Fortunately, Bilbo manages to slip the magic ring on his finger

right on time and vanish from their sight. Then, there is a terrible outcry, to-do,


49

and disturbance as the angry goblins looking for him. Even though Bilbo is

frightened, he makes a quick decision to avoid the commotion so he would not

ends up getting caught.

Bilbo was dreadfully frightened, but he had the sense to understand what

had happened and to sneak behind a big barrel which held drink for the

goblin-guards, and so get out of the way and avoid being bumped into,

trampled to death, or caught by feel (Tolkien, 1966, p. 82).

Also when he runs around and calls for the dwarves, who suddenly gets seized by

the giant spider and taken away from him while screaming and crying for help in

the pitch darkness of Mirkwood.

That was one of his most miserable moments. But he soon made up his

mind that it was no good trying to do anything till day came with some

little light, and quite useless to go blundering about tiring himself out

without no hope of any breakfast to revive him (Tolkien, 1966, p. 143).

Moreover, both of these evidences are identified by using Murphy’s way of

reaction and these evidences show that Bilbo is quick-witted through Corr’s and

Matthews’ self-reflection since Bilbo reflects and learns when facing a situation,

which might be the-life-death one, he needs quick thinking and quick decision-

making.

Bilbo turns to be sharp-eyed or observant, as stated by Gandalf toward the

dwarves, after he calls them fools for complaining when he tells them to keep

their promise to Beorn to let go of the ponies before they enter Mirkwood. This

evidence uses Murphy’s conversation of others.

“Beorn is not as far off as you seem to think, and you had better keep your

promises anyway, for he is a bad enemy. Mr. Baggins’ eyes are sharper

than yours, if you have not seen each night after dark a great bear going

along with us or sitting far off in the moon watching our camps...”

(Tolkien, 1966, p. 126).


50

Later on, when they reach the enchanted stream in Mirkwood, Bilbo manages to

see a boat against the far bank in the pitch darkness of the forest. This evidence

uses Murphy’s way of direct comment.

Bilbo kneeling on the brink and peering forward cried: “There is a boat

against the far bank! Now why couldn’t it have been this side!”. “How far

away do you think it is?” asked Thorin, for by now they knew Bilbo had

the sharpest eyes among them (Tolkien, 1966, p. 131).

Both of these evidences show that Bilbo is sharp-eyed/observant, which is

determined by using Hurlock’s the individual’s hereditary endowment factor,

since Bilbo already has this trait in him, only it rarely shows up because before the

adventure he has never been away from his home environment for a long time.

Bilbo becomes wiser, as stated by Thorin in his farewell to Bilbo during

his final moment. This evidence is identified by using Murphy’s conversation of

others.

“There is more in you of good than you know, child of the kindly West.

Some courage and some wisdom, blended in measure. If more of us valued

food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world.

But sad or merry, I must leave it now. Farewell!” (Tolkien, 1966, p. 264).

Thus, this evidence proves that Bilbo is wiser, which is determined by using

Corr’s & Matthews’ reflected appraisals factor, as Bilbo finds out the fact that he

has this trait through Thorin’s perceptions of him after spending a whole

adventure together.

2. Openness to Experience of Bilbo

The adventure affects Bilbo who previously scores low in Openness,

increases into high, which is determined by using way of direct comment and way

of speech from Murphy’s theory of characterization along with Hurlock’s factor


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of important events in later life outside the home environment. Consequently,

after the adventure, Bilbo becomes curious and liberal.

Bilbo is curious, especially due to the fact that it is his first time to undergo

an adventure, far away from his home. He will not hesitate to ask if he is curious

about something. Like the time when Elrond tells Gandalf, Thorin, and Bilbo that

the map which leads to the treasure contains moon-letters. Since he never hears of

such a thing before, Bilbo asks him right away, aside from the fact that he likes to

learn and collect maps. This evidence uses Murphy’s way of direct comment.

“What are moon-letters?” asked the hobbit, full of excitement. He loved

maps, as I have told you before; and he also liked runes and letters and

cunning handwriting, though when he wrote himself it was a bit thin and

spidery (Tolkien, 1966, p. 49).

Also, like the time when they are in an area near Beorn’s Carrock, Bilbo

questioning Gandalf when he tells them about Beorn who lives nearby and his

ability to shift his appearances from men into bear and vice versa., as he never

knows or sees someone with such kind of ability before. This evidence is

identified by using Murphy’s way of speech.

“What! a furrier, a man that calls rabbits conies, when he doesn’t turn their

skins into squirrels?” asked Bilbo. “Good gracious heavens, no, no, no,

NO!” said Gandalf. “Don’t be a fool Mr. Baggins if you can help it; and in

the name of all wonder don’t mention the word furrier again as long as you

are within a hundred miles of his house, nor rug, cape, tippet, muff, nor

any other such unfortunate word!” (Tolkien, 1966, p. 107).

These evidences which prove the curious trait of Bilbo are determined by using

Hurlock’s important events in later life outside the home environment factor, as

the adventure makes Bilbo sees and learns about a lot of new things that

inevitably trigger the curious side of him.


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Bilbo becomes liberal, after seeing different places and meeting new

people from different kinds, also undergoes various life-death situations. Just like

the time when he stays with the others among the elves in Riverdell. He takes an

interest in their kind since they somehow know everything about him though he

never meets them before.

Also he would have liked to have a few private words with these people

that seemed to know his names and all about him, although he had never

seen them before. He thought their opinion of his adventure might be

interesting. Elves know a lot and are wondrous folk for news, and know

what is going on among the peoples of the land, as quick as water flows, or

quicker (Tolkien, 1966, p. 46).

Thus, this trait makes Bilbo lost his reputation among all the hobbits of the

neighbourhood, and they label him as ‘queer’, except by his nephews and nieces

from the Took side; because of the adventure that he goes through and the people

that he befriended from it. However, Bilbo does not mind at all.

Indeed Bilbo found he had lost more than spoons – he had lost his

reputation. It is true that for ever he remained an elf-friend, and had the

honour of dwarves, wizards, and all such folk as ever passed that way; but

he was no longer quite respectable. He was in fact held by all the hobbits

of the neighbourhood to be ‘queer’ – except by his nephews and nieces on

the Took side, but even they were not encouraged in their friendship by the

elders. I am sorry to say he did not mind. He was quite content; ...

(Tolkien, 1966, p. 277).

Both of these evidences are identified by using Murphy’s way of direct comment

through Hurlock’s factor of important events in later life outside the home

environment since Bilbo becomes liberal as during the adventure he is always

exposed to a lot of new, different things, especially those that he considers as

‘queer’ before. Therefore, he leaves his traditional values of seeing these as

something ‘queer’ and chooses to learn to be more open in accepting these things

as they are.


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3. Neuroticism of Bilbo

Bilbo who previously scores high in Neuroticism, now develops into low

in Neuroticism as he appears to be optimist, self-satisfied, and hardy, which is

determined by using Murphy’s theory of characterization, which are direct

comment, thought and reaction. Meanwhile, the factors of the development are

determined by using Hurlock’s important events in later life outside the home

environment and the individual’s hereditary endowment, along with Corr’s &

Matthews’ perceptions by others/reflected appraisals.

Bilbo who previously tends to be pessimist, becomes more optimist, just

like the time when he is being stuck in the Elvenking Palace for quite some time,

he manages to make an escape plan after observing the watergate which is used by

the Wood-elves to get wine and other goods that can only be obtained from the

outside world, especially the Lake-town. Fortunately, as soon as he comes up with

the plan, he begins to feel optimist to try his plan at once after he overhears that

the king’s butler and the chief of the guards will go together to tries the new wine

in the cellar, as seen in the narrative of the story, “When he heard this Bilbo was

all in a flutter, for he saw that luck was with him and he had a chance at once to

try his desperate plan” (Tolkien, 1966, p. 164). Thus, this evidence is identified

through Murphy’s way of reaction.

Bilbo’s optimism also can be seen from the time when he and the dwarves

are trapped inside the mountain for a few days. While the dwarves are despairing,

Bilbo begins to feel a sudden surge of hope in him. This evidence uses Murphy’s

way of direct comment.


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But somehow, just when the dwarves were most despairing, Bilbo felt a

strange lightening of the heart, as if a heavy weight had gone from under

his waistcoat. “Come, come!” he said, “While there’s life there’s hope!” as

my father used to say, and “Third time pays for all.” I am going down the

tunnel once again ...” (Tolkien, 1966, p. 215)

Thus, these evidences which prove the optimism of Bilbo are determined by using

Hurlock’s the individual’s hereditary endowment factor and it shows through the

second evidence, where Bilbo tells about his father’s saying to the dwarves to

cheer them up. It means that Bilbo actually inherits this trait from his father, even

though previously he tends to be pessimist.

Bilbo becomes self-satisfied as seen from the time after he escapes from

the mountain, he decides to surprise Gandalf and the dwarves by suddenly appears

before them. This makes Bilbo’s reputation as a burglar goes up with the dwarves,

especially after he calls out Balin and asks of what he thinks for letting people

walk right into them without warning since he is their party’s lookout man. This

evidence uses Murphy’s way of reaction.

Indeed Bilbo was so pleased with their praise that he just chuckled inside

and said nothing whatever about the ring; and when they asked him how

he did it, he said: “O, just crept along, you know – very carefully and

quietly” (Tolkien, 1966, p. 86).

Then, during their adventure in Mirkwood, right after their escape from the giant

spiders, the dwarves ask Bilbo for the full story behind his ability to vanish. Bilbo

finally tells them about the magic ring and even after knowing the truth, it does

not lessen their good opinions toward him. This evidence is identified by using

Murphy’s way of thought.

Knowing the truth about the vanishing did not lessen their opinion of Bilbo

at all; for they saw that he had some wits, as well as luck and a magic ring

– and all three were useful possessions. In fact they praised him so much

that Bilbo began to feel there really was something of a bold adventurer


55

about himself after all, though he would have felt a lot bolder still, if there

had been anything to eat (Tolkien, 1966, p. 154).

Furthermore, these evidences are determined by using Corr’s and Matthews’

reflected appraisal factor due to the fact that Bilbo, who used to be self-conscious,

begins to feel self-satisfied because of the dwarves who previously doubts him,

starts to praise him and have great respect toward him, especially after knowing

his ability to vanish.

Lastly, Bilbo becomes hardy and it can be seen during his time at the

Elvenking Palace where he, all by himself, wanders around the palace for quite

some time to look for the imprisoned dwarves, while stay in hiding with the help

of his magic ring.

Poor Mr. Baggins – it was a weary long time that he lived in that place all

alone, and always in hiding, never daring to take off his ring, hardly daring

to sleep, even tucked away in the darkest and remotest corners he could

find (Tolkien, 1966, p. 160).

It can also be seen during the time after Bilbo offers himself to go and take a peep

inside the Lonely Mountain. Even though he feels scared, knowing the fact that

there is Smaug inside, he decides to face his fear and continue his way in.

He was trembling with fear, but his little face was set and grim. Already he

was a very different hobbit from the one that had run out without a pocket-

handkerchief from Bag-End long ago. He had not had a pocket-

handkerchief for ages. He loosened his dagger in its sheath, tightened his

belt, and went on (Tolkien, 1966, p. 196).

Therefore, both of these evidences are identified by using Murphy’s way of direct

comment and determined through Hurlock’s important events in later life outside

the home environment factor. It can be seen that Bilbo becomes hardy after the

adventure since it is the adventure itself that shapes Bilbo to be one through its


56

various life and death situations. Thus, it makes Bilbo becomes more capable of

enduring difficult conditions that are thrown at him.

In the end, it may be concluded that the adventure affects in a way that it

makes Bilbo’s personality to reach its development through a series of events

which are identified through Murphy’s ways of characterization, such as speech,

conversation of others, reactions, direct comment, and thoughts. The adventure

itself has a big role in triggering these events, due to the fact that Tolkien

represent Bilbo’s home in Bag End and the Hill not only as the safest place, but

also remains a constant, as in nothing ever changes in this place. According to

Jackson’s (2015) doctoral thesis, Bag End and ‘the neighbourhood of the Hill’

considered as ‘respectable’, as is Bilbo, because there are no shocks, no surprises,

and no changes. As in for Bilbo, he is respectable, because, he and his clan from

his father’s side, the Bagginses, known for never have any adventures or do

anything unexpected. Consequently, Bilbo’s rejection of Gandalf’s offer to join

him in an adventure is a reaffirmation of not only his unchanging nature, but also

the unchanging nature of his world (pp. 230-231). Thus, the researcher concludes

that it is the adventure that changes Bilbo, specifically his personality

development. As for Bilbo’s personality development, it is determined by using

several factors, which are Hurlock’s the individual’s hereditary endowment and

important events in later life outside the home environment, along with Corr’s &

Matthews’ self-reflection and perceptions by others or reflected appraisals. Just

like what the author states in the beginning of the story, whether Bilbo gains

something, in the end, he actually does. From this adventure, he discovers his


57

previously hidden, suppressed Tookish side and it becomes in balance with his

Bagginsses side as Bilbo who previously good-natured, pessimistic and

conventional develops into optimist, liberal and hardy. Therefore, Bilbo gradually

becomes a new hobbit, who embraces his two different sides as they are into a

perfect harmony of personality.


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CHAPTER V

CONCLUSION

In this chapter, the researcher is going to conclude the results and findings

from the analysis of the three research questions regarding the effect of adventure

toward Bilbo Baggins' personality development in the book The Hobbit or There

and Back Again.

Firstly, the researcher applies the theory of characterization by M. J.

Murphy and the theory of personality by Robert McCrae & Paul Costa to solve

the first research question regarding Bilbo Baggins’ personality before the

adventure. Thus, the researcher discovers that Bilbo’s personality before the

adventure not only scores high both in Agreeableness and in Neuroticism, but also

low in Openness, and based on these findings, the researcher then draws a

conclusion that Bilbo personality is good-natured, pessimistic and conventional.

Moreover, it shows that this personality leans more onto his Bagginses side as it is

shaped by his upbringing and his home environment.

Secondly, the researcher applies the theory of adventure by Don

D’Ammassa to solve the second research question. As based on this theory, the

researcher finds that the adventure that Bilbo experiences is not only spontaneous,

but also physical journey which mirrored by an interior one, since even though he

goes unprepared, in the end, the physical journey that he goes through not only

affect his physical being but also his spiritual nature, that opens his way of

thinking as he learns about different races, creatures, and cultures, away from the

safety and the unchanging nature of his home in Bag End and the Hill. In addition,


59

he also discovers something more in him which makes him gain an understanding

about his true personality.

Thirdly, the researcher applies M. J. Murphy’s characterization theory, the

personality theory by Robert McCrae & Paul Costa, and the theory of personality

development from Philip J. Corr & Gerald Matthews along with Elizabeth

Hurlock to solve the third research question about the effect of the adventure

towards Bilbo’s personality development. Thus, the researcher finds that the effect

of the adventure is the changes in Bilbo’s personality which is now scores high in

both Conscientiousness and Openness, then low in Neuroticism. As based on

these findings, the researcher once again draws a conclusion that Bilbo, after the

adventure, becomes optimist, liberal and hardy. Moreover, this development is

caused by several factors, such as the individual’s hereditary endowment,

important events in later life outside the home environment, self-reflection, and

perception of others or reflected appraisals.

Finally, it can be concluded that the effect of the adventure is the

development in Bilbo’s personality since it makes him discover the hidden

Tookish side of him which shaped him into a new, different hobbit who embraces

the two sides of him as one.


60

REFERENCES

Allport, Gordon W. (1961). Pattern and Growth in Personality. New York: Holt,

Rinehart and Winston, Inc.

Arslan, Murat. (2015). ‘There and Back Again’: The Quest and Self-Discovery in

J.R.R Tolkien’s The Hobbit. Journal of History Culture and Art Research,

4(2), 136 – 143.

Britannica.com. (2018, December 07). Psychological Development. Retrieved

from https://www.britannica.com/science/psychological-development.

Corr, Philip J. & Gerald Matthews. (2009). The Cambridge Handbook of

Personality Psychology. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

D’Ammassa, Don. (2009). Encyclopedia of Adventure Fiction. New York: Facts

on File, Inc.

Daiches, David. (1981). Critical Approaches to Literature (2nd

ed.). London:

Longman.

Dyke, Henry Van. (1922). The Spirit of America. New York: The Macmillan

Company.

Feist, Jess & Gregory J. Feist. (2006). Theories of Personality (6th

ed.). Singapore:

McGraw-Hill.

Hurlock, E. B. (1974). Personality Development. New York: McGraw-Hill Book

Company.

Jackson, Aaron Isaac. (2015). Narrating England: Tolkien, the twentieth century,

and English cultural self-representation (Doctoral Thesis). Manchester

Metropolitan University, Manchester.

Kessler, Gordon A. (2012). Novel Writing Made Simple [Kindle Version].

Retrieved from https://gordonkessler.com.

Megale, Iline & F.X. Dono Sunardi. (2017). The Development of Bilbo Baggins’

Character through Leadership in J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit. Journal of

Language and Literature, 17(2), 134 – 143.

Murphy, M. J. (1972). Understanding Unseens. London: George Allen & Unwin

Ltd.

Pope, Rob. (2002).The English Studies Book: An Introduction to Language,

Literature and Culture. London: Routledge.

Purnamasari, Ratih Melur Dwi. (2018). The Influence of Father’s Involvement

towards Aristotle Mendoza’s Personality Development as Portrayed in

Sáenz’s Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe

(Undergraduate Thesis). Universitas Sanata Dharma, Yogyakarta.


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Sugiyanto, Erlita Monika. (2006). Bilbo Baggins’s Heroic Qualities in J.R.R.

Tolkien’s Novel The Hobbit (Undergraduate Thesis). Universitas Sanata

Dharma, Yogyakarta.

Tolkien, J. R. R. (1966). The Hobbit or There and Back Again. London: Unwin

Books.


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APPENDIX

Appendix: Summary of J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit or There and Back Again

The Hobbit or There and Back Again is a story about Bilbo Baggins, a

comfort-loving hobbit, who during the fifty-year of his life never doing anything

unexpected, outrageous or adventurous since those are considered as queer by the

other hobbits like the Took clan from his mother side who are known for their

adventurous trait. Until one day, Bilbo finds himself going into an adventure

along with Gandalf and the other thirteen dwarves, in a quest to take back

Thorin’s family treasure at the Lonely Mountain from Smaug, the dragon.

Bilbo’s adventure does not start off well as he almost missed the start of

the journey and go without bringing any supplies with him. Then, they encounter

three trolls on their way, get caught and nearly eaten by them, but Gandalf

manages to trick and stalling the trolls until dawn comes which lights turn them

into stone. They check the trolls’ cave and find their storage of supplies, including

several weapons. Bilbo takes a dagger in a leather sheath which later on he named

it Sting, meanwhile, Thorin takes Orcrist, the famous Goblin-cleaver blade, and

Gandalf takes Glamdring the Foehammer. Then, the group travels to Riverdell,

where Elrond lives in the Last Homely House to gain more information about the

treasure map. Since Elrond knows all about runes of every kind, when they show

him the map, he tells them that it contains moon-runes which only can be seen

when the moon shines behind them, giving information about a secret door which

its key-hole will be shined upon by the setting sun with the last light of Durin’s

Day. They then continue their journey toward the Misty Mountain, the only way


63

to reach the Lonely Mountain. However, they are seized and taken away to the

Great Goblin except for Gandalf who manages to defend himself with Bilbo’s

warning and later on rescues them including killing the Great Goblin. Thus, it

makes the goblins angrier and they make a silent attack towards them which

separates Bilbo from the party.

When Bilbo was looking for a way out, he finds a ring on the passage’s

floor and takes it with him. Then, Bilbo continues his way all the way to the shore

of an underground lake and there he meets Gollum, the creature that lives on the

island in the middle of the lake. He invites Bilbo to play the Riddle Game with

him and from his meeting with Gollum, Bilbo finds out that the ring he found is a

magic ring that can make him invisible. Thus, with the help of the ring, Bilbo

finally finds the way out to the other side of the mountain and reunites with

Gandalf and the dwarves. Soon, they continue their journey, but encounter the

Wargs, the evil wolves, on their way, followed by the goblins who make a deal

with them to hunt the party down. However, the Lord of the Eagles sees the

commotion and rescue them. The Eagles also help them to carry their group

somewhere far away which nearby to Beorn’s, a man who can transform into a

bear, house. They go to the house and Gandalf manages to persuade Beorn to

invite them inside his house to rest and eat, even agree to help them on rides and

supplies for their journey to Mirkwood.

At the very edge of Mirkwood, they part with Gandalf who has more

pressing business in the South. The party enters the forest but after walking the

path which they were being told to follow and never stray from for any reason,


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due to the forest’s nature which is dark, difficult and full of dangers, for quite

some time, they finally run out of supplies, get lost and are separated from each

other after straying from the path to look for food and water. Then, the dwarves

are captured by giant spiders, but Bilbo with his dagger and magic ring, rescues

them. However, Bilbo’s effort turn to be in vain as soon the dwarves are captured

again even imprisoned by the Wood-elves. Bilbo manages to follow them and

sneak into the Elvenking’s palace unnoticed with the help of the ring. Bilbo then

helps the dwarves to escape the palace through the empty barrels that the elves

used to ship goods from outside the forest by the river, which then floats them

away to the Lake-town, the nearest place to the Lonely Mountain. There, the

townspeople welcome them with cheer and treat them like royalties since they

recognize Thorin as the descendant of the King from under the Mountain. The

party stays there for a few days before they continue their journey to the mountain.

In the mountain, they make several futile attempts in search of the secret

door for a few days, until one day Bilbo finds out about its whereabout with the

help of the thrush, an ancient type of bird, when the sun begins to sink down.

Therefore, just like what Elrond told them in Riverdell, a secret door magically

appears behind a large grey stone in the middle of a grassy bay as the last rays of

the sun of Durin's Day shining on its surface. Bilbo is sent down to explore inside

the tunnels of the mountain to search for the treasure room. He does not only find

the room, but also Smaug, the dragon. Their meeting does not go smoothly as it

only angered Smaug which makes him go down the tunnels to hunt him. Smaug

does not find him, however, he realizes that Bilbo has been receiving help from


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the Lake-town people and sets out to unleash his anger towards them and destroy

their town. As the dragon is away, Bilbo and the dwarves go back into the tunnels

to the treasure room. There, Bilbo finds the Arkenstone that Thorin has been

looking for, but instead of reporting to them about his finding right away, he

decides to get ahold of it and tell them sometime later.

Meanwhile, it is chaotic in the Lake-town as Smaug comes for an attack.

Among the chaos, there is Bard, the bowman, whom with his last arrow shoot

Smaug right into the bare patch on his chest which kills him instantly. The news

of Smaug’s death spread like wildfire, and since no one guards and claims the

treasure now, its possession falls into the dwarves’ hands. Therefore, the Lake-

town people along with the Elves led by Bard and the Elvenking, go to the Lonely

Mountain for a share of the treasure as compensation for the help they have

rendered to the Dwarves, as well for the damage Smaug inflicted during his attack.

Thorin, now the King under the Mountain, refuses all negotiations of sharing the

treasure with them, and in turn summon his kin from the Iron Hills to strengthen

the position of the party, which means war. Bilbo dislikes this whole situation and

tries to avert it by bringing the Arkenstone to Bard and the Elvenking to help them

to negotiate with Thorin, as the stone itself holds great importance to him.

However, the last negotiation by using the stone also did not end well.

When Thorin’s kin from Iron Hills come, they cannot pass the Lake-town

men and the Elves that besiege the Mountain. A war about to happen between

them, but suddenly armies of Goblins and Wargs come for an attack. Thus, Men,

Elves, and Dwarves decide to become allies since Goblins are the foes of all. Soon,


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a terrible battle, known as the Battle of Five Armies, ensues. Though they suffer

heavy losses and almost get defeated by the Goblins and Wargs, they prevail with

the help of the Eagles and Beorn who appear in the last hour. However, Thorin, as

well as Fili and Kili, do not survive the war and die after he bid his last farewell to

Bilbo. After the war, Dain, Thorin’s cousin from the Iron Hills becomes the next

King and the treasure is apportioned equally between the Men, Elves, and

Dwarves, together with Bilbo and Gandalf. Bilbo refuses the share that is

promised to him as his payment and instead take two small chests, each filled with

golds and silvers, then go on his journey back home with Gandalf and live happily

ever after as a new, different hobbit.


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