Lord of the Rings Lorecast 194: The Hobbit 62: Bilbo Returns Home (or Back Again)
Dec 29, 2025
Bilbo Baggins returns home, but not as the same hobbit who left. Rivendell offers healing, with elven songs celebrating victories and renewal. Gandalf shares significant wider events, hinting at the greater conflicts unfolding. Bilbo faces chaos upon returning to Hobbiton, grappling with neighbors' greed and his changed reputation. Embracing his Took side, he navigates life post-adventure and reflects on luck and destiny with Gandalf. This journey not only wraps up his experience but sets the stage for future tales.
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Return As Hero's-Return Bookend
- The Hobbit ends as a true hero's-journey bookend, returning Bilbo to the Shire changed by adventure.
- Tom highlights the tonal shift from fairy-tale to high fantasy and back, emphasizing growth over plot closure.
Rivendell As Restorative Refuge
- Rivendell functions as a place of restoration, healing both body and spirit for Bilbo and Gandalf.
- Tom connects its restorative feel to Elrond, Elvish hospitality, and a near-sacred respite from the wild.
Elvish Songs Value Nature Over Gold
- Elvish songs contrast nature's beauty with the lure of roaming and treasure, urging return to valley life.
- Tom notes the elves' refrain values natural beauty over mined gold, revealing Fae ambivalence toward staying or leaving.