tree and created a bolt of lightening to kill many of the Goblins who had
surrounded the group in a cave. The magical ring, which was a key to
helping the group succeed in the book, allowed he who was wearing it to
become invisible to others. Also, there was a black stream in Mirkwood
that made he who drank out of it suddenly very drowsy and forgetful of
previous events. All of these examples of happenings and objects found in
Middle Earth are physically impossible in a world such as ours.
Several of the organisms in the book are not known to exist on Earth.
Hobbits, of course, are fictional characters, as are dwarves, elves,
goblins, and trolls. Many species of animals are able to vocally
communicate with humans and dwarves in the novel, which is not possible on
our planet. Beorn, a human who is able to morph into other creatures at an
instant, is an excellent example of such fiction. The dragon, Smaug, is
the main adversary of the fourteen adventurers and is a type of creature
that has long been used in fantasy writing. Although most of the
characters' species are merely creations of the author, they all exhibit a
sense of realism that causes them to seem almost human.
There is a vast difference between Middle Earth and the modern world, but
there are also several similarities. In Middle Earth, there live humans,
and hobbits, which are very much similar to miniature people. The language
spoken and food consumed in the novel's world are found in modern society.
Also, the fact that Thorin Oakenshield is heir of the throne of the King
under the Mountain and inherits all of the riches of the kingdom is like
the parliamentary system of England. The environment and terrain the group
passes through on their adventure is primarily the same as lands unchanged
by humans and surrounded by nature appear today. In the novel, there are
forests with miles of trees, high, rocky mountains, and flowing rivers just
as there are here on Earth.
It is not possible that a fantasy story such as The Hobbit could occur in
real life. However, I do believe that fantasy can effectively teach us
about reality. There are morals, lessons, and themes to be found within
the text that can help us gain knowledge and live our lives more
productively.
Bilbo Baggins took a stand and raised enough courage to do something he had
never thought of doing before, going on a great adventure. This choice
caused Bilbo to gain endurance, bravery, an appreciation of his life, and
many valuable experiences that made him a wiser person. Thorin's selfish
act of not wanting to share the dragon's riches with the other towns'
citizens caused only bad events to occur. This teaches us that kindness
and giving to others will not only benefit them, but will also cause you to
feel more content inside. When the group of fourteen was staying with
Beorn to rest, he gave them suggestions and information about the journey
that lie ahead of them. He informed them about a black stream out of
which they should never drink, no matter how thirsty they may be, for it
would put them to sleep for days. If they had not listened to his words,
their adventure would have ended, as they all would have consumed the water
and probably been captured by enemies. Their experiences teach us that it
is wise to listen to those with more knowledge than us, as it is likely
that they have been in our position before and have experience. If we shun
them and take their words as mere bragging, then we are missing an
opportunity to learn and will probably make a mistake that we could have
prevented. Although The Hobbit is fictional, one can learn much about
reality in the morals it contains.
