Reference no: EM131740662

Discussion 1:

In the novel, The Hobbit, the 17 stages of Monomyth can be analyzed. The first five stages focus of the departure of the hero/future hero. The stages include the call to adventure, refusal of the call, supernatural aid, crossing of the first threshold and belly of the whale. The first stage (call to adventure) is seen early on in the book. This stage is portrayed when the wizard (Gandalf) offers him to go on an adventure. The offer was a bit forced on Bilbo but Bilbo does not exactly agree. This leads the reader to the second stage of the monomyth, refusal of the call. In more detail, Bilbo turns down Gandalf's offer but quickly but frantically counteroffers with tea instead. As one can determine, Bilbo really does not want anything to do with the adventure. However, he soon agrees to accompany Gandalf on the journey. Next, the third stage is a supernatural aid. Bilbo's magical helper is clearly Gandalf. Gandalf aids Bilbo throughout the beginning of the adventure. Because Gandalf is a wizard, he has special powers. Those powers were used to help protect the dwarves and Bilbo against many obstacles such as the trolls. As we know, Bilbo was not the typical hero; he did not have the characteristics of one until later in the story. Once Bilbo becomes oriented, grows as a hero and begins to develop typical hero characteristics, the reader can interpret the change/impact Gandalf had on Bilbo. He was finally starting to fill the role a hero. In addition, the fourth stage is crossing the first threshold. Like I stated earlier, Bilbo was eventually convinced to go on the adventure after talking to Gandalf and having a night to sleep on it. Bilbo leaves everything behind to attend this adventure. He left the limits of his world and ventured out into the unknown. The next stage is known as the belly of the whale. Bilbo experiences this stage when he encounters his first real challenge. Bilbo entered the Misty Mountain caves where he met Gollum. This stage changed Bilbo's confidence greatly.

The next couple stages are part of the initiation. These stages include the road of trials, meeting with the goddess, woman as temptress, atonement with the father, apotheosis, and the ultimate boon. Starting with the road of trials. Most of the trials occurred in Mirkwood. There, they encountered many challenges including spiders, elves, and even getting lost. The goddess/ woman of temptress is Lady Galadriel. The goddess represents a possible "temptation" to the actual goal of the quest. Atonement with the father is portrayed when Bilbo determines what Smaug's weakness when Bilbo confronted him. Apotheosis occurs when Bilbo regains consciousness after the battle and finds three of his members are dead (Fili, Kili, & Thorin). But before Thorin passes, Bilbo is able to talk to him. The last stage is the ultimate boon or the goal of the quest. The goal was to regain the treasure and they did. Bilbo was given a gold and silver chest.

The last couple stages fall under return. These include refusal of the return, the magic flight, rescue from without, crossing of the return threshold, master of two worlds and freedom to live. First, Bilbo refused to return to his home because he has grown fond of his new friends. The magic flight was when Bilbo left his ring on but he was saved when he removed it from his hand. Rescue from without was when Bilbo finally returns home. He was safely guided by Gandalf and Beorn. Crossing the return threshold was when Bilbo crosses the river to visit the other hobbits. He found that all of his belongings were sold. The other hobbits thought Bilbo was dead. Bilbo was able to buy some of his belongings back with his money. But nothing could buy his hero-like qualities he gained while on the adventure. Bilbo is able to master the two worlds because he has had experience in both. After the journey, he is more respected in the East when he adventured. Lastly, freedom to live was demonstrated because he feels much more confident and comfortable than he did before the journey. However, Bilbo resides to his old lifestyle. With this, Bilbo and the Hobbit novel demonstrate nearly every stage of the monomyth.

I think that the book demonstrates mythology because it was a story in which it described life and death, good and evil and also beliefs in one's culture. In addition, I think the story was written in a way to describe a certain culture and their life and beliefs but indirectly. For example, the adventure could symbolize war or a fight to regain something that was once lost such as power or land etc. However, I think there is no true answer for this question as it is more of an opinion or a point of view question. That is how I viewed the events in the novel.

Discussion 2:

The Hobbit does include some of Campbell's 17 Stages of Monomyth. The best examples from each stage would be. The first stage for Bilbo is ''Refusal to Call). After, Gandalf asking Bilbo to join him for an adventure Bilbo politely declines. This makes Gandalf approach Bilbo differently. Playing off his pride by inviting the dwarves into Bilbo's home without his knowledge only to wait for Bilbo to let his pride get in the way of saying no once again. (Tolkien, The Hobbit, Chapter 1, pg 3-31). The second stage he would fit into would be ''The Road of Trails''. Starting off Bilbo was the underdog, not being proficient in battles like the dwarves, or Gandalf. He was scared/unsure how he fit in at all, as were the dwarves. He showed his true hero when needed in (Tolkien, The Hobbit, Chapter). He frees himself from the spider's web, also naming his sword in this chapter. As for the final stage, he fit into ''Freedom to Live''. After his adventure he returns home with stories, taking after his Tookish side now. Not the normal hobbit who has no tales of adventures or being so sheltered. The Stages it omits would be. ''The Meeting of the Goddess'', ''Refusal of Return'', ''The Magic Flight''.

I do believe this qualifies as a mythological work. He left his normal mundane life to come back a hero. Not with magic abilities, other than the ring he took from Gollum. He was no longer sheltered, he understood much more of things people do not usually see. Such as orcs, trolls, giant eagles, and elves. All of which carry mystery with them being out of the ordinary. Bilbo also proves himself to be a hero despite how he may have started his journey. To me, this sounds like many mythological stories.