Esgaroth or Lake-town, a human town near the Lonely Mountain, where the dragon lives.
Bilbo, however, did not feel nearly so hopeful as they did. He did not like being depended on by everyone, and he
wished he had the wizard at hand. But that was no use: probably all the dark distance of Mirkwood lay between
them. He sat and thought and thought, until his head nearly burst, but no bright idea would come. One
invisible ring was a very fine thing, but it was not much good among fourteen. But of course, as you have
guessed, he did rescue his friends in the end, and this is how it happened.
Tolkien, 1937:126
3.3. Climax
At this time, an army of Wargs and goblins approaches the mountain, so the humans, elves and dwarves have to unite, and The Battle of Five Armies
begins. The heroes nearly lose, but Beorn and the eagles arrive and help them win the battle. Thorin is hurt and before he dies he expresses regrets for his actions
against Bilbo; the leader of the dwarves is buried with the Arkenstone and Orcrist.
It was a terrible battle. The most dreadful of all Bilbos experiences, and the one which at the time he hated
most – which is to say it was the one he was most proud of, and most fond of recalling long afterwards, although
he was quite unimportant in it. Actually I must say he put on his ring early in the business, and vanished from
sight, if not from all danger. A magic ring of that sort is not a complete protection in a goblin charge, nor does it
stop flying arrows and wild spears; but it does help in getting out of the way, and it prevents your head from
being specially chosen for a sweeping stroke by a goblin swordsman.
Tolkien, 1937:200
Universitas Sumatera Utara
3.4. Falling Action
There was, of course, no longer any question of dividing the hoard in such shares as had been planned, to Balin and Dwalin, and Dori and Nori and Ori,
and Oin and Gloin, and Bifur and Bofur and Bombur-or to Bilbo. Yet a fourteenth share of all the silver and gold.
In the end he would only take two small chests, one filled with silver, and the other with gold, such as one strong
pony could carry. That will be quite as much as I can manage, said he. At last the time came for him to say
good-bye to his friends. Farewell, Balin he said; and farewell, Dwalin; and farewell Dori, Nori, Ori, Oin,
Gloin, Bifur, Bofur, and Bombur May your beards never grow thin And turning towards the Mountain he
added: Farewell Thorin Oakenshield And Fili and Kili May your memory never fade
Tolkien, 1937:207-208
The elf-host was on the march;. and if it was sadly lessened, yet many were glad, for now the northern world would be merrier for many a long day. The
dragon was dead, and the goblins overthrown, and their hearts looked forward after winter to a spring of joy.
Gandalf and Bilbo rode behind the Elvenking, and beside them strode Beorn, once again in mans shape,
and he laughed and sang in a loud voice upon the road. So they went on until they drew near to the borders of
Mirkwood, to the north of the place where the Forest River ran out. Then they halted, for the wizard and
Bilbo would not enter the wood, even though the king bade them stay a while in his halls. They intended to go
along the edge of the forest, and round its northern end
Universitas Sumatera Utara
in the waste that lay between it and the beginning of the Grey Mountains. It was a long and cheerless road, but
now that the goblins were crushed, it seemed safer to them than the dreadful pathways under the trees.
Moreover Beorn was going that way too. Tolkien, 1937:208
Bilbo and Gandalf return to Hobbiton, where Bilbo continues to live. He is no longer accepted by respectable hobbit society, but he does not care. Bilbo
now prefers to talk to elves and wizards, and he is deeply content to be back among the familiar comforts of home after his grand and harrowing adventures.
It was on May the First that the two came back at last to the brink of the valley of Rivendell, where stood the
Last or the First Homely House. Again it was evening, their ponies were tired, especially the one that carried
the baggage; and they all felt in need of rest. Tolkien, 1937:210
As all things come to an end, even this story, a day came at last when they were in sight of the country where
Bilbo had been born and bred, where the shapes of the land and of the trees were as well known to him as his
hands and toes. Tolkien, 1937:213
3.5. Denouement
