Tag Archives: books

The Hobbit, Chapter-By-Chapter: The Last Stage

And so, the end. “The Last Stage” rounds off the story in concise fashion, as Bilbo undertakes the second half of his journey home, and Tolkien draws his narrative to a close. The conclusion of The Hobbit seems positively tiny compared to … Continue reading

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The Hobbit, Chapter-By-Chapter: The Return Journey

The central events of The Hobbit have come to a conclusion, all that’s left is the mopping up and the going home. “The Return Journey” gives us just what it says on the tin, but the more interesting part is … Continue reading

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The Hobbit, Chapter-By-Chapter: The Clouds Burst

We have come to the climax of the story, in the suitably titled “The Clouds Burst”. The chain of events that began back in Bilbo’s kitchen – or maybe even further back, to the sack of Dale and fall of … Continue reading

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The Hobbit, Chapter-By-Chapter: A Thief In The Night

Having set up the central conflict of what remains of the narrative in the last chapter, Tolkien must now execute the final instigating act of the plot, in one of The Hobbit’s shortest, but most important, chapters. “A Thief In … Continue reading

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The Hobbit, Chapter-By-Chapter: Not At Home

“Not At Home” is an odd chapter in many ways. It’s partially another transition chapter, and when viewed in line with what comes after, it’s natural to think that its placement is a little strange. After all, “Inside Information” ended … Continue reading

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The Hobbit, Chapter-By-Chapter: Inside Information

This is the last large chapter, before the story really breaks into smaller bitesize chunks: here, just as in “Riddles In The Dark” and “Flies And Spiders“, Tolkien lets loose, crafting a large self-contained narrative, with its beating heart being … Continue reading

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The Hobbit, Chapter-By-Chapter: On The Doorstep

We go from one short chapter to an ever shorter one. “On The Doorstep” is a bit of an odd entry, a set-up chapter for the more momentous events to come when we get to meet Smaug. As such, there … Continue reading

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The Hobbit, Chapter-By-Chapter: A Warm Welcome

It hasn’t been all that long since our last transition chapter really, though it may seem like it’s been an age since the company trooped up to Beorn’s home in “Queer Lodgings“. But here we are again with “A Warm … Continue reading

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The Hobbit, Chapter-By-Chapter: Flies And Spiders

Tolkien is on record as regarding forests in his works as synonymous with the “Otherworld” of Faeries, places of the supernatural and of magic, where normal rules do not apply. He did not, obviously, invent the concept: enchanted forests have … Continue reading

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The Hobbit, Chapter By Chapter: Out Of The Frying Pan Into The Fire

It won’t take a genius to figure out what general direction the story is going, just from a look at the chapter title here. “Out Of The Frying Pan Into The Fire” will not be a transitionary affair as the … Continue reading

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