The Hobbit

The Hobbit Summary | Chapter 1 Summary

Bilbo Baggins, a hobbit and a definite homebody, is surprised by a visit from an old acquaintance, the wizard Gandalf. Bilbo remembers magical fireworks Gandalf used to create Midsummer's Eve when he was a boy. Hobbits are not known for their adventurous nature, but Gandalf knows Bilbo has some Tookish blood in him—a bit of adventurous ancestry on his mother's side of the family. Gandalf has come to take Bilbo on an adventure. Bilbo is not having it. In his desperation to get out of having tea, he tells Gandalf to come back for tea anytime, even tomorrow. Gandalf makes a strange, probably magical sign on Bilbo's door, and the next day 13 dwarves and Gandalf appear for tea.

The dwarves arrive mostly one by one, with no explanation of who they are or why they have come. Being trained to be a good host, he asks them all to stay for supper as well. Just when Bilbo is getting grumpy about all the mess, the dwarves jump up and start washing dishes while they sing.

As the evening turns dark, Bilbo hears about the adventure in another song. It tells about how the dwarves of your made gold and silver treasures: harps of gold and goblets, swords and mail. Then a dragon came and laid low their towers and houses, and stole their treasure. So now, the dwarves plan to rescue their treasure from the Dragon Smaug. Bilbo likes the sound of the song, and it sounds romantic and mysterious to trade in his walking stick for a sword.

Then Thorin, the leader of the dwarves, gives a speech about why they have come and how they may never return. Bilbo falls down in a fit at the sound of that. As he is reviving, he overhears the dwarves saying they're not sure he's suitable for such an adventure, that they do indeed have the wrong hobbit. However, his Tookish genes long for adventure and he asks them to treat him as if he is the right one. Gandalf assures them all that Bilbo is indeed the right hobbit for the job, and he himself put the mark on the door.

Down to business, Gandalf gets out a map of the mountain where Smaug hides with the treasure, and they discuss how they might go about getting into the mountain. Gandalf points out runes on the map and a hidden passage into the lower halls of the mountain. He gives Thorin a key, they assume to the secret door.

Bilbo asks for sort of a general verbal contract as to his part on this adventure. What will he get out of it? He asks for more details, so Thorin tells him the story of how his grandfather, Thror, and the whole family were driven out of the far north to Lonely Mountain. Thror had been King Under the Mountain. They lived in peace with mortal men, who built the town of Dale. Then the dragon came, named Smaug. He killed all the dwarves and men he could, then settled into the mountain and took the treasures there for himself. Some did escape, including Thorin's father and grandfather—by the same secret door, they hope to use to rescue the treasure. Bilbo agrees to go and act as the official burglar. Gandalf had called him that. Bilbo finds places for them all to sleep, and they plan to get an early start the next morning.