Just in time before the world premiere of the Hobbit movie begins to spread spoilers, we finish our re-reading of the book. Thanks to those of you who have contributed!
The final chapter begins with a date - Bilbo's arrival at Rivendell took place on the 1st of May. We know that Tolkien deliberately chose dates for events in his stories - what do you think this date signifies?
Two long Elvish poems are cited. The first is a variation on the Tra-la-lally song earlier in the book, though more serious than that one was. The second, "Sing all ye joyful", reminds me of the Eagle's song "Sing now, ye people" near the end of RotK. The lyrics and the way it was apparently sung make it singularly inappropriate for the purpose it was supposed to have as a lullaby!
I find it interesting that Bilbo stayed at Rivendell for only a week after his long stay at Beorn's house. I would have chosen Rivendell, but perhaps that was due to the winter season and the surrounding mountains. What do you think?
Bilbo's own poem "Roads go ever ever on" is of course the predecessor to the Old Walking Song in LotR. I find the latter version improved over this one. What is your opinion? Interestingly, it is the poem that marks the change in Bilbo, with Gandalf commenting on it.
The Hobbit's arrival at home brings him back to the prosaic world - he has now left all traces of the heroic world behind him. We have bourgeois legalism as the strongest sign of that! Why would the peaceful hobbits need lawyers?!
A ruined reputation can make people unhappy, but in Bilbo's case, he is very happy to be independent of other's opinions of him. There is a good deal of freedom in that situation! And he stays in touch with the heroic world - Gandalf, the dwarves, the elves.
The end shows the difference between this adventure and that of Frodo - Bilbo is only a little fellow in the world, whereas Frodo had to rescue Middle-earth itself.
Here is the previous discussion.