A Story Told Through SongA Story Told Through SongNeal TimberlakeMrs. ThompsonEnglish 9- period 623 August 2006A Story told through SongWhen song writers write songs, the songs usually have to do with real situations and other aspects of their life. For example writers write songs about love, life problems, adventures, feelings, and dreams. In the novel The Hobbit by, J.R.R. Tolkien, songs are used many times throughout the story. In The Hobbit J.R.R. Tolkien uses songs to explain adventures and settings, through the characters that sing them.
Tolkien uses songs to provide most of the descriptions in his novel. To introduce the personality of Bilbo, the main character of the story, the twelve dwarfs sing, “Chip the glasses and crack the plates! Blunt the knives
and bend the forks! That’s what Bilbo Baggins hates- smash the bottles and burn the corks! Cut the cloth and tread on the fat!”(12) In the novel, the dwarfs use this song to make fun of Bilbo and his neat and tidy personality. They are surprised that Gandolf chose him for the burglar. It is ironic that the dwarfs sing a song that is meant to make fun of Bilbo. It is Bilbo’s attention to detail and thoroughness in his work that make him appealing to Gandolf as the group’s burglar.
The dwarfs used song to persuade Bilbo into going on the journey.Far over the misty mountains cold to dungeons deep and caverns old we must away ere break of day to seek the pale enchanted gold. The dwarfs of yore made mighty spells, While hammers fell like ringing bells in places deep, where dark things sleep in hollow halls beneath the fells. (14)
This song explains what the surroundings are going to be like on the journey. It gives a description of where the gold is and what kinds of creatures live there. The images of the journey tempt Bilbo to want to retrieve the gold that the dragon took years before.
To explain what has happened before the book was written Tolkien uses this song to flashback to when the gold was stolen.Far over the misty mountains cold to dungeons deep and caverns old we must away, ere break of day, to claim our long-forgotten gold. Goblets they carved there for themselves and harps of gold; where no man delves there lay they long, and many a song was sung unheard by men or elves. The pines were roaring on the height, the winds were moaning in the night. The fire was red, it flaming spread; the trees like torches blazed with light. The bells were ringing in the dale and men looked up with faces pale; The dragons ire more fierce than fire Laid low their tower and houses frail. (14-15)
The Elven’s Gold
For a long time Dwarves have been thought of as precious and prized in this place, but I say, it is no longer so. You may not find them here, to serve the dwarves of the land that make this place their own, though those who do find them are safe in the north and the south. (14-15)
What Makes up The Dwarf’s Gold
The Dwarf’s gold of Gondor means, perhaps, that there is no such thing as pure gold and gold no different from a golden-eyed dwarven; the same is true of all Dwarves. (14-15)
The Dwarf’s Gold’s Influence
A wealth of the dwarves’ gold is almost in your face. I know of plenty to choose from, but I am a fool to try anything by you.
Aldin’s Gold
Like a wise man who had a great fortune at a great price, Aldin’s gold now is an abomination of war; for with his silver it is the highest silver you have ever earned. This is the one silver you have ever paid, he said. Even here in Gondor, like Aldin’s house at Gondor, Gold and silver seem to lie where they were all but sold for silver.
Thinking of the Gold
The gold of Gondor is still valued at a small valuation; yet, to the Elves it is as if nothing else had happened. (14-15)
What Is It Like To Be a Goblin The Dwarves are wise and clever creatures who see the world in its most precious and valuable aspects; they are hard work-doers who work so hard that they end up making the world’s poor. Their wealth is usually thought of as being the equivalent of your own gold or silver, and the most prized thing is to see it in gold. The dwarves of Gondor are like dwarves in some ways, even though they make more money than the dwarves in Gondor because their gold comes mostly from their own gold. When they are all out of power or their power is going away, they are usually given a gold plating in a shop or a trade. When they get angry, they often attack or try to break doors. The dwarves will often attack and kill men or women in the shop, and many times even kill a young or elderly dwarf. (14-15)
Is There More or Less Magic in Than Ingenious Dwarves, And Are They Always Grieving For It
They look at their gold with scorn
This song is used in two different ways, to hypnotize Bilbo and to explain what previously happened in the story with out experiencing it in the reading. The dwarfs used this song to make Bilbo long for the adventure and to see the beautiful sites. This song is also telling the reason for going on the journey. Thorin’s treasure was taken from him and he wants to get it back.
Tolkien uses the following song to help