Summary On May 1, Bilbo returns to Elrond and then goes on to his house, which is being sold at auction, because he is presumed dead. The story ends with Bilbo settled once again in his hobbit-hole, more comfortable than ever before and yet thinking back on his great adventure. […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Chapter 19 – The Last StageSummary and Analysis Chapter 18 – The Return Journey
Summary Bilbo regains consciousness and is carried to Thorin, who is dying after having been wounded in the battle. He finds that the eagles have routed the Goblins from the Mountain and that Beorn, too, has come to their aid. Thorin is buried with the Arkenstone and Orcrist; Kili and […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Chapter 18 – The Return JourneySummary and Analysis Chapter 17 – The Clouds Burst
Summary Bard comes to Thorin and produces the Arkenstone. Bilbo explains how it has come into his possession, which enrages Thorin. Gandalf then appears. Thorin promises Bard to redeem the stone with one-fourteenth of the hoard. Bard goes out to meet Dain, approaching with his five hundred dwarves, and refuses […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Chapter 17 – The Clouds BurstSummary and Analysis Chapter 16 – A Thief in the Night
Summary Thorin looks for the Arkenstone, the most valuable object in the hoard. A raven brings the news that Dain is coming with five hundred dwarves. Bilbo takes the Arkenstone and goes to Bombur, who is on guard during the night, and volunteers to take his watch for him. When […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Chapter 16 – A Thief in the NightSummary and Analysis Chapter 15 – The Gathering of the Clouds
Summary The thrush that had attracted Bilbo’s attention outside the secret door to the Lonely Mountain is revealed to be Roac son of Carc. He tells Bilbo and the dwarves that Smaug is dead and that they should not trust the Master of Lake-town, but Bard. Thorin, assuming his ancestral […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Chapter 15 – The Gathering of the CloudsSummary and Analysis Chapter 14 – Fire and Water
Summary The story flashes back to the point two days before, when Smaug smashed in the door of the Mountain in a range. The men of Lake-town saw the flashes produced by Smaug’s destruction and at first thought it was the King under the Mountain and his gold. Alerted, they […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Chapter 14 – Fire and WaterSummary and Analysis Chapter 13 – Not at Home
Summary The dwarves are trapped in darkness, not knowing where Smaug is. Bilbo decides to go down the tunnel once again, and the dwarves watch as he makes his way. After he is in the dragon’s lair, Bilbo pockets the Arkenstone, making excuses to himself for the theft. He drops […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Chapter 13 – Not at HomeSummary and Analysis Chapter 12 – Inside Information
Summary Thorin prevails upon Bilbo to enter the Mountain. Bilbo slips on his ring and descends through the tunnel. He feels the heat of Smaug the dragon and hears its snoring and, in a moment of great bravery, he determines to go on despite his fear. He then comes upon […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Chapter 12 – Inside InformationSummary and Analysis Chapter 11 – On the Doorstep
Summary The townsmen row Bilbo and the dwarves up the lake for three days. They disembark near the Lonely Mountain, and the townsmen row away in fear. The travelers set out through Desolation of the Dragon, a waste land, toward the Mountain. They gaze out on the ruined and abandoned […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Chapter 11 – On the DoorstepSummary and Analysis Chapter 10 – A Warm Welcome
Summary As they float down the river, Bilbo sees the Lonely Mountain far off. From the raftmen’s talk, he understands that the landscape had changed a lot since Gandalf last saw it, and that the dwarves had gotten out of Mirkwood the only way they could. Unknown to Bilbo, Gandalf […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Chapter 10 – A Warm Welcome