[SpaceWeavil]

Discussion on the chapter - 'The Return Journey' will officially begin on Monday 28/2/05.

Space Weavil will begin the discussion of this chapter.

Anyone wandering by this thread should feel free to raise questions or make comments.

Please try to keep the comments on this thread strictly related to discussion of the Hobbit.

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As a note, I'll be posting about this chapter later tonight or tomorrow at the latest. Slight delay as I've been working on my mock trial for university. I know, I know...'excuses'...

[SpaceWeavil]

The Return Journey – Summary

Bilbo wakes up and discovers that the battle is over, and the elves are clearing up. He then realises that he hasn’t been rescued because he still has the ring on and is invisible, so quickly takes it off and is found by a man from Dale, sent by Gandalf to look for him. He is taken to Dale to a tent, and finds Gandalf, who has been slightly wounded, and Thorin, who is more gravely hurt. As Thorin dies, he commends Bilbo’s contribution to the endeavour. Bilbo then sits by himself, weeping.

Bilbo then learns about Beorn and the Eagles’ contribution to the battle and how they came to fight after he was knocked out, how Beorn rescued the wounded Thorin and how the battle was eventually won. A few days later they bury Thorin, with the Arkenstone, beneath the Mountain, and the Elvenking returns Thorin’s sword, Orcrist, which had been taken from him during his captivity. Dain then takes the throne and becomes King Under the Mountain. Dain then gives a fourteenth share of the treasure to Bard, although a fourteenth share is still an immense amount of wealth. Bard then gives a portion of that treasure to his followers, to the master of Laketown, and gifts the Elvenking some emeralds. Bilbo ends up with only two small chests, one filled with silver and one with gold, which is all that a strong pony can carry. Any more he says would bring him hassle on the way home. Finally he sets off for home.

Bilbo and Gandalf travel for a while with the elves and Beorn, until they get to Mirkwood again, where they go their separate ways. Bilbo though offers the Elvenking a gift of a pearl necklace given him by Dain, as late payment for the things he burgled from the king’s halls, and the king names him Elf-friend.

After travelling a while with Beorn, Gandalf and Bilbo then start on the road home, and by that point Bilbo is very much looking forward to being back in his own home after his adventures.

[SpaceWeavil]

A lot of this chapter is concerned with tying up loose ends. A lot is explained as to how the eagles helped defeat the goblins and Beorn’s contribution to the battle. But it is also an extremely touching chapter, I think. What I loved was the sense that even though there had been victory, it had been sorely paid for. Thorin’s death was very poignant, as were the reminders that Fili and Kili had fallen. Even Bilbo’s comment that victory was a gloomy business as he looked down over the battlefield at the beginning was very dark and sad. Though through all the nastiness that had happened, there was still a sense of hope, in that differences were all resolved, the Elvenking seems to be on speaking terms with people again, the Dwarves seem set to do well in their renewed kingdom, and Bard has gone off to make a go of it with his new wealth.

Also touching was Bilbo’s tiredness, which I felt was really evident throughout the chapter. I thought you really got a sense of how weary it had all left him, and despite his restlessness and need for adventure earlier, at the end of the day he just wanted to go home.