MY TEACHER WANTS TO CALL MY MOM HURRY!!! One theme in The Hobbit is that ordinary individuals can make extraordinary differences. Explain how this theme is illustrated in the episode in which Bilbo rescues the dwarves from the spiders. What traits help him achieve success? Describe another episode that illustrates this theme. Use evidence from the novel as support. Remember to use three of your module vocabulary words.

TPR: The theme that ordinary characters can make extraordinary differences is illustrated in at least two episodes in The Hobbit because Bilbo repeatedly surprises both himself and the dwarves with his actions.

Introduction/background: About 100 pages into the novel, after wandering forever through a dark forest, Bilbo and the dwarves encounter ferocious spiders who have already dragged off the dwarves and one really ugly spider tries to attack Bilbo too.

Proof: However, Bilbo proves he can do great things. For example, even though he is partially wrapped in webbing, “Bilbo came at it before it could disappear and struck it with his sword right in the eyes” (109). Bilbo continues to defeat the spider and saves the dwarves.

Analysis: This shows how brave a little hobbit can be when he is pushed to his limits.

Introduction/background: Just a little later on in the story, the dwarves are captured by the Elves and Bilbo comes up with a plan for them to escape inside of barrels. As usual, the dwarves don’t believe in the hobbit.

Proof: For example, the dwarves all grumble, “We thought you had got some sensible notion, when you managed to get hold of the keys. This is a mad idea!”(124). However, Bilbo does convince the dwarves to try his plan and sure enough,they manage to escape.