Home

The first thing we know about Bilbo (and Elrond and Beorn) is that they have homes. And one of the defining characteristics of Thorin and Gollum is that they do not have permanent homes (or else, they're separated from their places of origin). Having a home seems to give Bilbo a sense of security and moral stability that Thorin, even though he is a decent person, does not have. What's more, as we discuss in "Symbols, Imagery, Allegory," the most important treasures in The Hobbit also seem to represent different ideas of home.

Questions About The Home

  1. Bilbo's hobbit-hole is only one of many important refuges in The Hobbit. There's also Elrond's Last Homely House in Rivendell, and Beorn's giant home just beyond the Misty Mountains. How do these homes compare to Bilbo's? What do they have in common?
  2. Which of the characters in The Hobbit appear to be homeless? How does their loss of home change or harm them? In what ways is the dwarves' quest for treasure also a quest for home?
  3. Generally speaking, why might the idea of home be important in a novel about adventure? How do the different homes in the novel contrast with the book's more action-packed passages?

Quote #1
In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit. Not a nasty, dirty, wet hole, filled with the ends of worms and an oozy smell, nor yet a dry, bare, sandy hole with thing in it to sit down on or to eat: it was a hobbit-hole, and that means comfort. (1.1)
Quote #2
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. 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. (1.3)
Quote #3
"To think it will soon be June," grumbled Bilbo, as he splashed along behind the others in a very muddy track. It was after tea-time; it was pouring with rain, and had been all day; his hood was dripping into his eyes, his cloak was full of water; the pony was tired and stumbled on stones; the others were too grumpy. "And I'm sure the rain has got into the dry clothes and into the food-bags," thought Bilbo. "Bother burgling and everything to do with it! I wish I was at home in my nice hole by the fire, with the kettle just beginning to sing!" It was not the last time that he wished that! (2.24)