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Question March 11, 2010

A good story contains conflicts to keep the reader reading. Three types of conflict frequently found in literature are:  Examples  Character against Character  (Ponyboy's conflict with older brother Darry)  Character against Nature (Conflict in survivor stories like //Hatchet//)  Character against Self (Conflict when a character must choose between right and wrong)

 Choose one conflict in The Hobbit, and explain how Tolkien uses it to move the story forward. Don't forget to cite page number when appropriate.

Wargs, Goblins, and Fire

Have you ever had to climb up a tree to hide from something that completely terrifies you? If you have, Bilbo Baggins knows exactly how you feel. One major conflict in the book The Hobbit is when Bilbo, Gandalf, and the dwarves had to scurry up some trees to hide from the vicious, wolf-like creatures called Wargs. I would be completely terrified if I was being chased up a tree by some wolves, but when the goblins came it was probably the most terrifying moment in Bilbo’s life. Then the fire came from Gandalf trying to burn the Wargs and goblins, and I bet Bilbo thought that it was all over and that he was surely dead. The Lord of the Eagles heard all the noise and it was a good thing too otherwise Bilbo, Gandalf, and the dwarves could have been killed by the Wargs or goblins if they were not killed by the flame. Suddenly the great eagles came and swooped down to grab Bilbo, Gandalf, and the dwarves. Even though everybody was probably scared to suddenly be picked up like that by giant eagles, they probably were overflowing with relief to be carried away from the vicious Wargs and murderous goblins. This conflict set the whole adventure off course and slowed them down a lot, but it let them get help later on from a man named Beorn.

This was a good conflict! There were so many to choose from, and I see why so many of you chose this one. It was certainly Tolkien at his best. You did a good job summarizing this part of the book. I think that to mention the eagles is to stray from the main topic which is the conflict. It would have been more on point to discuss the history of the conflict between the dwarves and the goblin/warg group. Mrs. Best