The Hobbit
by J.R.R. Tolkien
Table of Contents
Cast of Characters
Bilbo Baggins: A hobbit and the protagonist of the novel. Bilbo leaves his comfortable hobbit-hole near Hobbiton at Gandalf’s urging to join the dwarves on a quest to recover their stolen treasure from the dragon Smaug.
Gandalf: A wizard who serves as Bilbo’s mentor. He helps Bilbo and the dwarves on their quest and negotiates peace alliances after the climactic Battle of Five Armies.
Thorin: Leader of the dwarves. He is the direct descendant of Thrain, who had been King under the Mountain at the time when Smaug razed the area and stole the dwarves’ treasures. His grandfather Thror gave Gandalf a map to the Lonely Mountain where Smaug guards the treasure, and Thorin assembles the dwarves and hires Bilbo to help him reclaim his birthright. Thorin is mortally wounded during the Battle of Five Armies, and dies shortly therafter.
Dwalin, Balin, Kili, Fili, Dori, Nori, Ori, Oin, Gloin, Bifur, Bofur and Bombur: The 12 dwarves who join Thorin on the quest to reclaim their treasure. Balin comes with Gandalf to visit Bilbo in the last scene of the novel.
Tom, Bert and William: Trolls who capture the dwarves in order to eat them but are turned to stone by the rising of the sun before they have a chance. Bilbo finds the key to their cave, where the company discovers gold and several weapons, some of which are ancient, elven-made swords.
Elrond: A wise and generous elf leader who presides over the Last Homely House in the valley of Rivendell. He deciphers the moon-letters on Thorin’s map, as well as the runes on the swords which Gandalf and Thorin have acquired from the troll’s cave.
Goblins: Evil, cave-dwelling creatures who capture Bilbo and his compatriots. Gandalf and Thorin kill several of them, including the Great Goblin, during their escape from the cave. Goblins also represent one of the groups fighting over the dwarves’ treasures in the Battle of Five Armies.
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