Jan. 25th, 2021 09:11 am
Progress on The Hobbit, Part 3
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
bunnybooThere's been less posts for The Hobbit than the other books I've read, simply because I've been speeding through it - not because there's not things to say! Though, to be fair, I think I'm focusing less on analysis this time.
I really like the authorial voice that Tolkien created. I can just imagine a person sitting in front of a fire in a comfy chair, telling this story verbally with witty asides and a bit of personality. It also adds to the idea that this is a true history of a bygone age. Many imitators have cribbed this style from Tolkien, but I don't think any have done as well or as naturally. I think it has to do with Tolkien being heavily influenced and a translator of folklore (Beowulf being the example I got off of Wikipedia, though he clearly incorporated other Anglo-Germanic stories) - most of which was recorded from verbal retellings.
At the time of this writing, Bilbo has just rescued the dwarves from the spiders and Thorin has been captured by the wood elves. Their escape is easily one of my favorite parts of the book because it's another moment where Bilbo's quick thinking saves the day (despite the dwarves grumbling and doubt) and it always reminded me of a log flume ride. The movie (which I think I could do a whole other post or even posts on) added a bunch of unnecessary elements to this scene in particular that ruined the effectiveness, but that can be said of the entire Hobbit trilogy.
I really like the authorial voice that Tolkien created. I can just imagine a person sitting in front of a fire in a comfy chair, telling this story verbally with witty asides and a bit of personality. It also adds to the idea that this is a true history of a bygone age. Many imitators have cribbed this style from Tolkien, but I don't think any have done as well or as naturally. I think it has to do with Tolkien being heavily influenced and a translator of folklore (Beowulf being the example I got off of Wikipedia, though he clearly incorporated other Anglo-Germanic stories) - most of which was recorded from verbal retellings.
At the time of this writing, Bilbo has just rescued the dwarves from the spiders and Thorin has been captured by the wood elves. Their escape is easily one of my favorite parts of the book because it's another moment where Bilbo's quick thinking saves the day (despite the dwarves grumbling and doubt) and it always reminded me of a log flume ride. The movie (which I think I could do a whole other post or even posts on) added a bunch of unnecessary elements to this scene in particular that ruined the effectiveness, but that can be said of the entire Hobbit trilogy.
