Dear World Traveler,

I think it is interesting that you have traveled so much. Wow,

I have only been to Russia, where I was born, and America, where I live.

My itinerate dreams are sitting on the shelf beside my stack of books “to be read.”

Your story was amazing.

How did you make it to your flight with just two minutes to spare?

Your story reminded me of that scene in the Hobbit.

Bilbo is content that the dwarves have gone off without him.

Although peeved, he set to work cleaning the kitchen.

Right before his “second breakfast” is consumed, Gandalf comes in.

Now Bilbo learns that the dwarves are actually waiting for him at the Green Dragon Inn.

He runs off and meets them there. He forgets his “hat, a walking-stick or any money, or anything that he usually took when he went out,” most especially his pocket-handkerchief. Huffing and puffing he meets the dwarves.

They, on the other hand, are well prepared having already packed the ponies and made a plan.

Tolkien describes Bilbo’s initiation of the journey comically:
“To the end of his days Bilbo could never remember how he found himself outside, ….and running as fast as his furry feet could carry him down the lane, past the great Mill, across The Water, and then on for a mile or more. …
“I’m awfully sorry,” said Bilbo, “but I have come without my hat, and I have left my pocket-handkerchief behind, and I haven’t got any money. I didn’t get your note until after 10.45 to be precise.
“Don’t be precise,” said Dwalin, “and don’t worry! You will have to manage without pocket-handkerchiefs, and a good many other things, before you get to the journey’s end. As for a hat, I have got a spare hood and cloak in my luggage.”
That’s how they all came to start, jogging off from the inn one fine morning just before May, on laden ponies; and Bilbo was wearing a dark-green hood (a little weather-stained) and a dark-green cloak borrowed from Dwalin. They were too large for him, and he looked rather comic. What his father Bungo would have thought of him, I daren’t think. His only comfort was he couldn’t be mistaken for a dwarf, as he had no beard.”

(chapter 2)

Why did Tolkien write it this way?

I believe he did so to make a sharp contrast between Bilbo and the dwarves.

Bilbo is disorganized, unprepared, and reluctant; whereas, the dwarves have a clear mission, plan, having prepared everything already.

We are meant to see the contrast with a bit of humor but also sympathy for Bilbo. Click To Tweet

We are meant to see the contrast with a bit of humor but also sympathy for Bilbo, as one of my students pointed out.

I would argue there is another contrast being prepared for the reader.

Tolkien contrasts this comic scene of Bilbo being unprepared with Bilbo at the end, someone who is self-confident and changed into a real hero. Click To Tweet

Tolkien contrasts this comic scene of Bilbo being unprepared with Bilbo at the end, someone who is self-confident and changed into a real hero.

As Gandalf says: “Something is the matter with you! You are not the hobbit that you were” (chapter 12).

He even ends up with a red silk handkerchief, far better than the ones he originally owned.

All of this leads me to say that you should be glad of the inauspicious start of your journey.

It very well could lead to a wonderful end…or, at least, a funny story. 😉

All of this leads me to say that you should be glad of the inauspicious start of your journey. It very well could lead to a wonderful end…or, at least, a funny story. 😉 Click To Tweet

Sincerely,

Maria