The Hobbit
Without The Hobbit, without Tolkien’s “children’s” story that he created for his own kids, we’d have no Lord of the Rings. Get deep into The Hobbit in this detailed read-through!
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Discover The Hobbit Again!
The Hobbit is a different tone, a different style, and maybe even a different world than The Lord of the Rings. Going into the details of The Hobbit and how it was the springboard into The Lord of the Rings is actually quite a journey of discovery!
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105. Tolkien Changed The Hobbit Twice : The Hobbit #1
Did you know Tolkien revised the Hobbit from his first edition in 1937 to a updaed edition that’s more in line with The Lord of the Rings in 1951 to an abandoned rewrite in 1960.
106. The Hobbit was NOT Originally in Middle-earth : The Hobbit #2
We examine if The Hobbit was originally set in Middle-earth, and how Bilbo’s Tookishness is starting to take over.
107. How the Baggins Side of Bilbo Lost : The Hobbit #3
Bilbo loses the comfort of his home and finds that the Tookish side of his mind is starting to overcome the Baggins side
108. What Went Wrong with Tolkien’s 1960 Hobbit Rewrite : The Hobbit #4
When Tolkien set out to rewrite The Hobbit in 1960, much was lost, but much was gained. In the end, do the gains outweigh the losses?
109. Gandalf Gets Pushy : The Hobbit #5
Bilibo finally makes his way out the door–but was it his decision or did Gandalf force him out? And what is “the king” that’s mentioned?
110. A Brave Burglar and Deficient Dwarves : The Hobbit #6
In this episode we get into how the trolls find a balance, of sorts, between, fear and goofiness–and maybe it all starts with their accents.
111. This is why Tolkien SHOULD have rewritten The Hobbit : The Hobbit #7
We weren’t huge fans of Tolkien’s changes to chapter 1 of The Hobbit in his abandoned 1960 rewrite–but chapter 2 surprised us with its pitch perfect changes!
112. Are these Really the Same Elves from The Lord of the Rings? : The Hobbit #8
In Chapter 3, A Short Rest, for the first time we meet the elves of Rivendell… and they certainly seem different than the same characters in The Lord of the Rings.
120. Where the Children’s Story Ends and the Epic Story Begins : The Hobbit #9
In the second half of Chapter 3, A Short Rest, Tolkien seems to start a shift from a children’s story to more of an epic quest.
121. Tolkien Gave Up on Fixing The Hobbit : The Hobbit #10
When Tolkien attempted to rewrite the Hobbit in 1960, he just gave up halfway through Chapter 3. In this episode we look at: Changes in time and distance Changes in Prose and style Why he gave up His detailed notes on timeline and itinerary that outlined his changes...
122. The Real Misty Mountains : The Hobbit #11
The first part of Chapter 4, Over Hill and Under Hill, is unique for it's direct correlation with Tolkien's own past. We discuss: Tolkien's hiking experience and how it influenced this section of The Hobbit VERY obviously. Stone Giants... are they even necessary or...
123. Nightmare in Moria : The Hobbit #12
The goblins of moria grab the dwarves (and hobbit) who decided to camp out on their “front porch”, leading to some real terrifying moments!
124. Miserable Riddles in the Dark : The Hobbit #13
“Riddles in the Dark” is not only the most memorable event from all of Middle-earth — it’s also the turning point that ultimately let to The Lord of the Rings.
125. Bilbo Trembled and Found Pity : The Hobbit #14
The 2nd half of “Riddles in the Dark” is the most rewritten part of The Hobbit in the 1951 rewrite! And it’s where Bilbo takes a giant leap (so to speak) into the future of his adventure.
126. Why Did Tolkien Change The Hobbit (and what did he change)? : The Hobbit #15
Once Tolkien finished writing The Lord of the Rings, it became clear to him that The Hobbit needed to change–particularly Bilbo and Gollum’s interaction. But what exactly did he change?
128. A Courageous Hobbit and Disloyal Dwarves : The Hobbit #16
Bilbo makes it out of the Misty Mountains with more courage than ever before, while the dwarves prove their disloyalty.
129. Tolkien Loved Eagles (too much?) : The Hobbit #17
Stuck in trees with fire at their heels, the company find themselves surround by intelligent wolves and taunting orcs.
130. Where did Beorn Originate (and what was Tolkien’s inspiration)? : The Hobbit #18
Bilbo, Gandalf, and the Dwarves are dropped off on the Carrock, and find themselves in the company of a man who rather doesn’t like dwarves–but who loves a good story!