English

Chip Walker

Honors English 116

Mrs. Bauer

11 November 2004

Magic and the Supernatural in The Hobbit

The Hobbit, by J.R.R. Tolkien, is full of magic and things having to do with magic.

There are all sorts of supernatural creatures in this novel, including dwarves, trolls,

goblins, elves, wizards, and the main character is a "hobbit". Overall, magic and the

supernatural plays a very big part in The Hobbit.

One major magic entity in the book is Gandalf. He shows his magic power a few

times. One of those times was when the little party was in the Misty Mountains, sleeping

in the cave. The goblins came in and captured all the dwarves and their ponies, but as they

reached Gandalf, he jumped up, killed some goblins with magical lightning, and

disappeared. He then snuck into the goblins caverns and saved the dwarves and Bilbo.

Another time he showed his magic prowess was when he and the dwarves were in the

trees surrounded by the wargs. He lit pine cones with a supernatural fire and chucked

them at the demented wolves, causing mass confusion and chaos in the wargs' company.

Without the help of Gandalf and his magic, Bilbo and the dwarves would never have

gotten to even Rivendell, let alone the Lonely Mountain of Smaug the dragon.

The other item of the supernatural is the ring that Bilbo finds in Gollum's cave.

Gollum has been completely taken over by this powerful piece of jewelry, and is livid

when he loses it. Bilbo happens to stumble upon the ring, only then to run into Gollum,

who challenges Bilbo to a game of riddles, with the hobbit's life at stake. Bilbo wins, and

Gollum figures out that