Smaug, the dragon of Middle Earth

There has been a lot of confusion among my friends about the nature of dragons in the Middle Earth. Smaug especially has caused many arguments between people. However, in "The Hobbit" Smaug is very clearly described and so is his obsession with gold and jewels. Smaug's love of treasure can be compared to Gollum's love of the Ring - they both end up living alone, in a cave, away from others, and have gone insane because of it.

   "There he lay, a vast red-golden dragon, fast asleep; a thrumming came from his jaws and nostrils, and wisps of smoke, but his fires were low in slumber. Beneath him, under all his limbs and his huge coiled tail, and about him on all sides stretching away across the unseen floors, lay countless piles of precious things, gold wrought and unwrought, gems and jewels, and silver red-stained in the ruddy light. Smaug lay, with wings folded like an immeasurable bat, turned party on one side so that the hobbit could see his underparts and his long, pale belly crusted with gems and fragments of gold from his lost laying on his costly bed." - J.R.R. Tolkien

Gollum and the Ring

Inside the Goblin Cave, Bilbo got lost and found his way to the insane creature, Gollum.  Gollum has been sitting, cooped up in that cave for over 300 years powered by the Ring of Power.  Gollum has gone crazy because he hasn't been around normal people for many, many, many years and he is obsessed with the Ring - his Precious (the Ring of Power, the "Ring that Rules Them All" which is explored in more details in the "Lord of the Rings").  Bilbo finds the ring in Gollum's cave and hides it in his pocket.  Gollum is crazy and likes to have a little fun from time to time, he likes to play a little game of riddles with himself.  Here are some of the riddles that Gollum used in the Game of Riddles with Bilbo:

"Voiceless it cries, 
Wingless flutters, 
Toothless bites, 
Mouthless mutters". p. 63
(answer: Wind) 

"A box without hinges, 

key or lid, 

yet golden treasure inside is hid". 

p. 64 

(answer: Eggs) 

"This thing all thing all things devours: 

Birds, beasts, trees, flowers; 
Gnaws iron, bites steel; 

Grinds hard stones to meal; 
Slays kings, ruins town, beats high mountain down". p. 65 

(answer: Time) 

"What have I got in my pocket?" p. 66

(answer: The Ring) 

Gollum never gets that one - Bilbo wins the game.

 

The Goblin King

I really liked the part of the book when Bilbo and the dwarves are captured by the goblins.  They should've known the cave that seemed safe was not safe at all - it was more of a trap.  The goblins took them down to their cave and were planning to eat them.

The Goblin King was so awesome in the movie!  Super gross with a giant growth on his chin.

And then, Gandalf came, defeated the Goblin King and helped the dwarves escape. Very cool!

stone giants

The dwarves and Gandalf just left Rivendell and are taking a narrow path down the Misty Mountains. While on the path, a huge storm broke out. It wasn't just a storm, it was the Stone Giants battling on the mountaintops. Both the dwarves and Bilbo had never seen the "gods" in person, but then was the first time. Fili and Kili (who, if you didn't already know, they are brothers and the youngest dwarves out of the whole lot of them and had the best eyes) were sent to scout out for a safe cave to rest in for the night. They found one that wasn't so far but on a more then skinny path. When they were going, a huge foot swung out of the side of the mountain. Unfortunately, carried some of the dwarves with it as it went. But in the end, they made it to the cave and they were safe and sound.

Or were they?...

Rivendell

The dDwarves have been on their journey for quite some time now and the have seen many things and battled many beings, but they never have had a time to relax and have a delicious meal. So, after getting about half way done with the book, the dwarves came across the Elven City, Rivendell. Rivendell has been around for thousands of years and is home to Elrond, the Lord of Rivendell. Elrond is a courageous Elf that knows how to rule, he has lead battles, killed beasts, and won many wars. The dwarves happen upon his humble city, they request help (even though the dwarves don't fancy asking for help). Elrond kindly showed them what their map said and was a huge help to the dwarves, giving them food, and weapons. He also showed Gandalf and Thorin that the swords they picked up in the mountain trolls' cave, were the famous Orcrist, Goblin-Cleaver and Gandalf's, Glamdring, Foe-Hammer. With that, the dwarves set off for the Misty Mountains.

mountain trolls

As the dwarves traveled through a forest, they set up camp and sent Bilbo to find out what the strange light was.  Bilbo soon saw big mountain trolls: Bill, Tom and Bert, gathered around a fire, arguing over what to have for dinner.  As he was sneaking around them, they caught him and considered eating him.  The dwarves heard the big commotion and ran to help Bilbo.

They were not very successful.  The trolls wanted to cook the dwarves, they caught them and put them over the fire.

Luckily, Gandalf came just in time, distracted the trolls, and they didn't realize that the sun was coming up.  They turned to stone, as sunlight hit their bodies.

The dwarves

As I read "The Hobbit" I have fallen in love with Thorin and his buddies.  They are all equally strong, smart, and loyal.  But they also have a bit of an obsession with gold and treasures.

They used to live in The Lonely Mountain, they had a fancy city carved inside, and they were very wealthy.  Until one tragic day, when Smaug came.  Smaug is a dragon of Middle Earth and he is truly a beast - he attacked the dwarf city because he wanted their gold.  Many dwarves were killed and some were run out of their home and their city under the mountain was destroyed.  Smaug took over and settled in.

Until one day when Thorin and company make a plan to travel back to Lonely Mountain and take back what I rightfully theirs.  This long journey is what the plot of "The Hobbit" is about.