Questions tagged [the-hobbit]
For questions about The Hobbit, a 1937 Children's novel by Tolkien. Please always use with the [tolkiens-legendarium] tag. For questions about the film adaptations use in conjunction with the film tags, [an-unexpected-journey], etc.
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What happened to the Arkenstone?
The Arkenstone, a.k.a. The Heart of the Mountain was buried at the end of The Hobbit. Was it recovered at some later date?
It seems unlikely that something that valuable wouldn't have been dug up at ...
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Did Gollum eat an orc child?
While looking for answers to another question about orcs on Quora, I read an answer that referred to Gollum killing and eating an orc child in the Hobbit, but I don't recall coming across that when I ...
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Why did Gollum want the Ring so badly when he was still a hobbit?
The Dwarves could not be enslaved using rings of power; nor could the Elves, as the bearers of the Three took them off and hid them when they became aware of Sauron's influence over them. Men, on the ...
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Did Tolkien ever address Gandalf's propensity to take risks? [closed]
Gandalf wanted to get rid of Smaug, fearing that Smaug could eventually become an ally and tool of Sauron. But at the time of The Hobbit, Smaug was slumbering in Erebor. Gandalf explicitly discouraged ...
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How did demolishing the bridge to the lake town Esgaroth help against Smaug’s attack?
From Chapter XIV of The Hobbit, describing the preparations the men of the lake-town Esgaroth made against Smaug’s attack:
Every vessel in the town was filled with water, every warrior was armed, ...
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What is the mount that Thranduil is on when he arrives in "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey?"
As shown here:
What is this creature?
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Where can I find the black speech dialog used in 'Desolation of Smaug'?
I want to read the actual Black Speech sentences uttered by the Orcs and by Sauron in The Desolation of Smaug. Does anybody know what they were or where can I find them?
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In which of Tolkien's works does the Witch-King of Angmar appear?
Where can I read all about the Witch-King of Angmar? Does he appear anywhere other than the Lord of the Rings trilogy and its appendices?
The appendices talk about the Angmar vs Arnor war very ...
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Why didn't Sauron find Bilbo when he put on the ring like Frodo?
When Frodo put on the One Ring, both the Nazgûl and Sauron himself found Frodo. However when Bilbo had the ring and possibly used it many times, Sauron sought Gollum to get a hint on where to look for ...
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Why model Smaug after a cat?
In the 1977 animated film version of the Hobbit, the dragon Smaug is drawn similar to a cat- the shape of his head is distinctly feline (complete with whiskers), and his posture when awoken from his ...
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Has Tolkien ever commented on the similarity between the name "Baggins" and the French word for "ring"?
There is some discussion on the origins of the name Baggins in this question. However, it only revolves around whether or not it is related to Bilbo being a thief, and I am interested in something ...
CommunityBot
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Is there a difference between "elvish" and "elven"?
Throughout Tolkien's works, we frequently come across the terms "elvish" and "elven". Is there a difference between these terms? For example, does one refer to characteristics of the Elves ...
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Compass/magnetic directions in Middle-earth
Maps in The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit have North/South/East/West marked on them, and I am wondering if anyone can tell me what these directions mean and how they are determined in-universe.
The ...
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Had Bilbo with Thorin & Co. camped before the rainy night or hadn't they?
From The Hobbit, chapter 2, "Roast Mutton:"
In the Lone-lands they had to camp when they could, but at least it
had been dry.
Then in the sixth paragraph later:
They decided in the end ...
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Does Tolkien ever talk about battle formations and tactics in his books?
During the movies you never really see any battles in an open field, it usually behind walls. So when I saw the Dwarves set up the shield wall it got me really excited and thinking, who is the best ...
