Friday, December 20, 2019

Bilbo Baggins, An Unlikely Hero - 1466 Words

Bilbo Baggins, An Unlikely Hero â€Å"Heroes are made by the path they choose, not the powers they are graced with† (Ashton, 92). Specific characteristics come to mind when one envisions are hero, such as extraordinary strength and great courage. Heroes most commonly receive recognition for notable talents and remembered for their astonishing deeds and accomplishments. For example, Superman possesses superhuman strength, speed, and the ability to fly, qualities most frequently associated with heroes. However, not all heroes fit this model. Just a small hobbit from The Shire, Bilbo Baggins does not possess any great strengths or abilities, and many would view Bilbo as the antithesis to Superman. In J.R.R Tolkiens, The Hobbit, Bilbo Baggins portrays an unlikely hero due to his small size and stout appearance, his cowardly personality, and his tendency to appear as an onus to the group. However, through his actions of bravery, Bilbo demonstrates that anyone, no matter what size or shape, can perform heroic deeds. A hero possesses the mentality of a person of great courage and ability. Most associate heroes with extraordinary physical strength and special talents and abilities, such as Anglo-Saxon hero, Beowulf. The Hobbit, depicts a well known hobbit from The Shire, Bilbo Baggins. Located in Middle Earth, the Shire houses a population of hobbits. One might not associate a hobbit with the physical appearance of a hero because hobbits represent the antithesis of a hero’sShow MoreRelatedSummary Of Bilbo The Unexpected Hero 1339 Words   |  6 PagesJessica Crumm Crumm2 Mrs Hooper Period 8 April 16th, 2015 Bilbo, the Unexpected Hero J.R.R. Tolkien is best knowing for his work in the series â€Å"Lord of the Rings†, which is held to be one of the best told modern day folklore. It consists of a world inhabited by mythical and supernatural beings. In his book â€Å"The Hobbit†, which is also taken place in this world, we meet our unlikely hero Bilbo Baggins. Hobbits are known not to be very adventurous. They live in comfort and do whatRead MoreThe Hobbit, By. R Tolkien1519 Words   |  7 Pagessaid, â€Å"A hero ventures forth from the world of the common day into a region of supernatural wonder: fabulous forces are there encountered and a decisive victory is won: the hero comes back from the mysterious adventure with the power to bestow boons on his fellow man.† A hero is willing to take a journey to accomplish something through hard work and determination, no matter how difficult the challenges are. In the critically acclaimed novel, The Hobbit, by J.R.R Tolkien, the protagonist, Bilbo Bagg insRead MoreThe Tolkien s The Hobbit918 Words   |  4 Pagessucceed and accomplish great things but overall their confidence level is low and from some past record people believe that they will fail. In the beginning of J.R.R. Tolkien’s the Hobbit several of the dwarves question Gandalf’s decision to bring Bilbo Baggins along, â€Å"Will he do, do you think? It is all very well for Gandalf to talk about this Hobbit being fierce, but one shriek like that in a moment of excitement would be enough to wake the dragon and all his relatives† (22). Of course one would questionRead MoreAnalysis Of Bilbo Baggins s The Hobbit 1635 Words   |  7 PagesBilbo Baggins, an ordinary hobbit from the shire, is nothing less than a hero. He is willing to help others no matter what and even follows Joseph Campbell’s hero’s journey almost perfectly. He may have shown reluctance at first, but it is later in The Hobbit that his courage and heroism truly shines. Heâ⠂¬â„¢s an unexpected hero on an unexpected journey, but that makes him no less of a hero. The first thing that must be done when gauging Bilbo’s heroism is to understand what a hero really is. Many peopleRead MoreEssay about The Hobbit by JRR Tolkein997 Words   |  4 Pages the unlikely hero, Mr. Bilbo Baggins is a hobbit that is dragged on an adventure he doesn’t wish to take. Second, there is a great quest with a reward at its end. Third the great teacher figure, Gandalf is a wizard that helps Bilbo to become the great hero he is destined to be. And lastly the dragon figure, in this story the dragon figure, happened to be a dragon but there are also many miniature dragon figures through out the tale. The story begins with our soon to be hero Bilbo Baggins he’sRead MoreBilbo And Frodo Baggins : Hobbits1306 Words   |  6 PagesBilbo and Frodo Baggins: Hobbits turned Heroes By: Connia Ren In every story, there is the hero, a man of strength, courage and swordsmanship who slays dragons and saves princesses. However, in The Hobbit you have the most unlikely, unexpected hero. Bilbo Baggins is a hobbit who resides in his hobbit hole and lives an ordinary and exceedingly comfortable life. You would not expect a creature of his size and stature to save kingdoms and lands. But he inevitably gains strengths and abilitiesRead MoreBilbo Baggins: A True Hero?1410 Words   |  6 Pagesï » ¿Preston English 1301 12 November 2012 Bilbo: A True Hero? What is a hero? Is it someone who possesses great strength and bravery, or is it someone who attains fame and wealth? In the world of Middle Earth that J.R.R Tolkien has created, Bilbo Baggins shows us that a hero can be quite the opposite. He is offered (and partially set up by Gandalf the wizard) to partake in an adventure as a burglar to help reclaim the bearded Dwarves’ homeland from the dragon Smaug. The little hobbit is frightenedRead MoreAnalysis Of Bilbo s The Hobbit 1212 Words   |  5 Pagesunderdog. Bilbo Baggins can be described as an underdog as he strives to prove he is able to overcome hardships and prevail. The role of the underdog resonates with the reader because they are enchanted by characters that overcome all types of adversity. In the case of Bilbo, it is his physical attributes along with his fear of the unknown that make him fall under the category of an underdog. He embarks on a journey to prove that an underdog can in fact be a hero. Througho ut the novel, Bilbo progressesRead MoreThe Hobbit: by J. R. R. Tolkien Essay1159 Words   |  5 Pagesan older Bilbo Baggins, the main character, and a character that was in the prequels to this trilogy, Frodo Baggins; the prequels being The Lord of The Rings trilogy (Frodo does not make any other appearance in The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey). This section of the movie does not take place in the book. The book starts off: â€Å"In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit† (3). This line is in the movie, however. It is in this beginning part where there is old Bilbo Baggins and Frodo Baggins. This partRead MoreThe Hobbit, Or There And Back Again1491 Words   |  6 Pagescommunity and property; the quest - both for â€Å"treasure† and heroic stature and lastly the influence of race, lineage and character in a novel.   J.R.R Tolkien successfully conveys these ideas through different characters such as our reluctant hobbit - Bilbo Baggins, Gandalf, Thorin and the dwarves, and other â€Å"mystical creatures†.    In ‘The Hobbit’ the reader is made aware of the value of community especially in relation to property.   The object of the hero’s search is usually something that will improve

Thursday, December 12, 2019

Leadership in Ancient Civilizations Essay Example For Students

Leadership in Ancient Civilizations Essay Leadershipin Ancient CivilizationsDuring the period of the Roman Republicand the Roman Empire, different leaders exhibited different styles of leadershipand employed different political strategies. In addition, these leaderscame to power and maintained their control in their own unique ways. Each leader seemed to have his own agenda, which set the tone for thatera. Five prominent leaders of this time period were Agricola, Augustus,Julius Caesar, and the brothers Tiberius and Gaius Gracchus. Thepoint to be made with respect to these particular men is related to theobvious correlation between the nature of a leaders agenda and the impactof his reign. In the end, a rulers fate was dependent not on hisagenda, but on style and strategy with which he pushed his agenda. We will write a custom essay on Leadership in Ancient Civilizations specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now Those leaders whose methods were completely altruistic were heralded asgreat leaders, while those with devious and/or unethical methods of pushingtheir agendas were hastily assassinated. First consider Tiberius Gracchus. It is imperative to analyze his style of leadership and his political strategies. During his term as tribune, Tiberius major goal was to pass a land reformbill. This bill was biased toward the masses. Tiberius triedfairly and squarely to gain the support of the Roman senate, but this effortwas to no avail. Tiberius then resorted to unfavorable tactics whenhe impeached another tribune, Octavius, the major opponent of Tiberiusbill. Thus Tiberius willingly destroyed the long-held and quite favorednotion of an immune tribune. However, this is what the common peoplewanted. Tiberius big mistake was blatantly opposing, thus disrespectingthe Roman senate. As a result, the senate assassinated Tiberius. The lesson to be learned here is not that Tiberius agenda was constructedout of self-interest or greed. Tiberius simply wanted to help thecommon people. However, Tiberius methods were not proper for thattime in that place. And it is probable that Tiberius could easilyhave been persuaded to compromise. Thus, Tiberius downfall was nothis agenda, but his style and political strategy. A different example of the same principleis summed up with the story of Tiberius younger brother, Gaius Gracchus. Gaius worked not to appease the senate, but to appease the people. Although this seems quite noble of him, it was still a mistake to opposethe senate. Granted, this notion is counter-intuitive. Onewould expect that the senate is supposed to help the people, and sinceGaius was helping the people, the senate should favor him. One wouldalso expect that because it was the common people and not the senate thatelected him, that he should have unwavering loyalty to the people. However, one must not look at the situationwith a 1990s, American, free will and liberty, democratic eyes. Rome was not a democracy. The senate commanded respect, and to disregardthe senate, whether the people were in favor of you or not, was not a wisething to do. Thus, Gaius was also assassinated, like his brother,by the senate. It does not seem fair that Gaius was killed, but suchis life, and had Gaius employed a more senate-friendly strategy of passinghis laws, it is probable that his fate would not have been what it was. One final example of this is Julius Caesar. Caesar was a warlord and a dictator, but if one can look past that, asridiculous as it sounds, then one would also notice that Caesar did a lotof good for Rome. As dictator, Caesar saw to a series of rapid reformsin many areas of Roman life. He scaled down his large army by settlingmany of his soldiers in newly founded colonies and extended Roman civilizationinto some of the provinces. His most lasting reform was one by whichwe still regulate our lives the establishment of a calendar based onthe old Egyptian reckoning of 365 days, with one day added every fourthyear. This Julian calendar lasted until 1582. .ube700093f3b9c65d3194fcd376228e95 , .ube700093f3b9c65d3194fcd376228e95 .postImageUrl , .ube700093f3b9c65d3194fcd376228e95 .centered-text-area { min-height: 80px; position: relative; } .ube700093f3b9c65d3194fcd376228e95 , .ube700093f3b9c65d3194fcd376228e95:hover , .ube700093f3b9c65d3194fcd376228e95:visited , .ube700093f3b9c65d3194fcd376228e95:active { border:0!important; } .ube700093f3b9c65d3194fcd376228e95 .clearfix:after { content: ""; display: table; clear: both; } .ube700093f3b9c65d3194fcd376228e95 { display: block; transition: background-color 250ms; webkit-transition: background-color 250ms; width: 100%; opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #95A5A6; } .ube700093f3b9c65d3194fcd376228e95:active , .ube700093f3b9c65d3194fcd376228e95:hover { opacity: 1; transition: opacity 250ms; webkit-transition: opacity 250ms; background-color: #2C3E50; } .ube700093f3b9c65d3194fcd376228e95 .centered-text-area { width: 100%; position: relative ; } .ube700093f3b9c65d3194fcd376228e95 .ctaText { border-bottom: 0 solid #fff; color: #2980B9; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; margin: 0; padding: 0; text-decoration: underline; } .ube700093f3b9c65d3194fcd376228e95 .postTitle { color: #FFFFFF; font-size: 16px; font-weight: 600; margin: 0; padding: 0; width: 100%; } .ube700093f3b9c65d3194fcd376228e95 .ctaButton { background-color: #7F8C8D!important; color: #2980B9; border: none; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: none; font-size: 14px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 26px; moz-border-radius: 3px; text-align: center; text-decoration: none; text-shadow: none; width: 80px; min-height: 80px; background: url(https://artscolumbia.org/wp-content/plugins/intelly-related-posts/assets/images/simple-arrow.png)no-repeat; position: absolute; right: 0; top: 0; } .ube700093f3b9c65d3194fcd376228e95:hover .ctaButton { background-color: #34495E!important; } .ube700093f3b9c65d3194fcd376228e95 .centered-text { display: table; height: 80px; padding-left : 18px; top: 0; } .ube700093f3b9c65d3194fcd376228e95 .ube700093f3b9c65d3194fcd376228e95-content { display: table-cell; margin: 0; padding: 0; padding-right: 108px; position: relative; vertical-align: middle; width: 100%; } .ube700093f3b9c65d3194fcd376228e95:after { content: ""; display: block; clear: both; } READ: Night By Elie Wiesel (1166 words) EssayThen, there were those leaders whose styleof leadership and political strategy fit perfectly into the framework ofsociety, such that they were considered to be great leaders. Theseleaders were Agricola and Augustus. Agricola was an army commanderfor most of his relatively long life. He was regarded to be one ofthe best men anywhere, and he was revered by all. Yet, being an armycommander does require some killing and punishing. Lets be real. How is it that Agricola was, by the nature of his profession, a killer,yet was so respected, while Tiberius and Gaius strove to help people, andwere assassinated?The answer goes back to style. Agricolasstyle and political strategy was simple: do the job. If Agricolahad a goal, then he simply did the best he could to attain that goal. He was incorruptible and straightforward. He was not devious, norwas he unethical. People loved to see these qualities in a leader,and as a result, they loved Agricola. There was no difficulty aboutrecognizing him as a good man, and one could willingly believe him to bea great man. He had fully attained those true blessings which dependupon a mans own character. He had held the consulship and bore thedecorations of triumph: what more could fortune have added? He hadno desire for vast wealth, and he had a handsome future. It is likely that even if he made a decisionthat was initially looked down upon by the people, the people still knewthat Agricola was altruistically making the decisions that he felt werebest. He would not have made a decision under the influence of somebodyelse for political reasons. The citizenry could trust Agricola, whichis something that can be said about only a handful of leaders. Clearly,the reason he was held in such high regard wasnt that he conquered a greatdeal of territory, or that he was a superior general, although those thingshelp. It was Agricolas way of leading that people admired and respected. One last example of a similar type ofleader was Augustus Caesar. Augustus defined the epitome of goodleadership. Tiberius, Gaius, and Caesar all couldhave learned some very valuable, life saving lessons from Augustus. The most important lesson to be learned, perhaps, is moderation. Augustus was very much like Agricola in that he considered a very goodleader. However, Augustus was emperor, and he had the power to dowhatever he wanted, despite whether the people wanted it or not. Why didnt he?Well, he actually did do what he wanted. However, in accordance with the main point we have been discussing, hedid so with a particular style and political strategy, so as not to offsetsocial order. He ruled very subtly. He saw to it that he gotwhat he wanted, yet he did so with such caution that it was disguised asinterest in providing for the good of the citizens. Therefore, Augustusreign supports the theory that a ruler can drive a selfish agenda, yetas long as the style and political strategy of the leader in question isfavored by the people, then the leader can still be considered a good ruler. Therefore, upon considering the lives ofTiberius and Gaius Gracchus, Julius Caesar, Agricola, and Augustus Caesar,it is clear that people in the Roman Republic and the Roman Empire considereda leaders particular actions more that his agenda when deciding whetheror not a leader is worthy of being called great or being assassinated. Obviously, a leaders agenda and accomplishments are important factors,but we have seen with these five particular leaders that sometimes accomplishmentsdo not matter. What matters greatly are the steps taken by a leaderto obtain goals or satisfy certain needs.