Summary/Discussion Prompt by Jeff Pratt

The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien could be considered one starting point of the epic tales of a fictitious land called “Middle Earth.”  Like our own, real, epic stories, it is often difficult to mark “the beginning.” Bilbo Baggins discovered he was homesick at home and thus reluctantly followed Gandalf’s invitation to go on an adventure.  The dwarves suffered from homesickness in exile after being violently forced from their home by Smaug the dragon. All were called together by the wizard Gandalf at Baggin’s home in The Shire, and here the adventure began.

Like all adventures in life, the story of The Hobbit is really no different.  Perhaps a true adventure is defined by juxtaposition — the known with the unknown;  creaturely comfort with sleepless discomfort; good wit and sanity with intoxication & the psychotic;  security with danger; humility with pride; genteel and unassuming with powerful, brash & reckless; cowardice with courage; merciful….with vengeful & unforgiving.

Sometimes we discover that our adventures bring us to places that “stink of dragon” and the only food is “cram” which sticks in one’s throat (p. 278).  Such is life.

The Hobbit (& the Lord of the Rings) appears to be an extraordinary story about what the soul craves.  Whatever a person deems ultimate authority in life directly governs one’s ability to manage power, for where your treasure is there will your heart be also.

So, Ink & Stone comrades — I wonder if something “Tookish” will awaken in us which will lead us to wear a sword in exchange for our “walking sticks,” and, discover if there is, as Gandalf might say — “more about us than anyone (including ourselves) expects?” (Gandalf, p. 285)