Shrinking Classics

The Hobbit, Part 1: When Life Tries to Crack Your Plates


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J.R.R. Tolkien’s "The Hobbit" explores the hero's journey and personal growth through Bilbo Baggins, who evolves from a timid hobbit to a courageous hero, reflecting stages of identity and self-discovery. The narrative highlights the tension between the ordinary and extraordinary, showing how challenges evoke change and reveal potential. Bilbo's interactions with characters like Gandalf and Gollum represent internal struggles of fear, morality, and agency, prompting readers to consider their own quests for meaning amid external pressures. Tolkien’s fantastical narrative encourages confronting fears and embracing the unknown for self-actualization.

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Shrinking ClassicsBy Caleb Nelson