How do we define heroism, and how do we recognize it when we see it? In this exploration of J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit, we will trace understandings of heroism from classical to modern times, and consider the ways that Tolkien reflects, interrogates, and responds to these ideas. As we discuss the book’s main character Bilbo Baggins as an unlikely hero, we will develop our own definitions of heroism, adventure, and loyalty. This course will push students to consider if heroes are born or made, and how the process of becoming a hero can alter a person—or a hobbit. Finally, we will examine how heroes may be (mis)perceived by their communities, and how one can be a hero even without acknowledgement.

Image by Joel Lee (maxbat) / CC BY-SA 4.0