~Different mind sets, types of people, and coloring all symbolize and have great influence on folklore of J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit.

Folklore are tales that are carried on and passed down throughout the generations of many civilizations. (Landrum). Many things contribute to the art of creating these stories, but human beings are dealt two of the greatest tools for this: an imagination and the need to teach vital life lessons. Different mind sets, types of people, and coloring all symbolize and have great influence on folklore.

In J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit, Bilbo is content in his hobbit-hole. Took, Bilbo’s mother’s maiden name, is a name that contains a great sense of adventure and holds courage close to the heart, whereas his name of Baggins shows no desire for adventure. This proposes serious conflict between his two inner sides of Baggins and Took. Bilbo shows heavy provincialism towards new situations before leaving on his adventure. (Harding). Throughout the making and acceptance of folklore, two types of mind sets are needed. Human beings have been given a bicameral and a unicameral mind. The bicameral mind is used to invent life-sustaining tools such as language, numbers and the wheel. Bilbo has to make use of his bicameral mind that J.R.R. Tolkien has bestowed upon his character to help him survive this quest. His bicameral mind allows him to be able to to trick Gallum and the dragon, Smaug. Just like in that of Jack and the Beanstalk, when Jack tricks the harp into coming with him before she has the chance to realize what has just occurred. (Eliot). J.R.R. Tolkien uses the unicameral mind to help Bilbo make important decisions. The unicameral mind is one that portrays consciousness. Bilbo goes through many changes while he is on this adventure. Each change that occurs greatly affects Bilbo. He transforms from his father’s Baggins characteristics to his mother’s Took characteristics very swiftly. (Neves). His bicameral mind gives him the gift of quick wit, which allows him life-saving trickery, whereas his unicameral mind gives him the upper hand on facing challenges that aid him in finding his true person. (Burns).

Many different types of people are portrayed in J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit. A folktale concerns people - either royalty or common folk - or animals who act or speak like people. Bilbo acts more like a person than any other character in this story, which is clearly displayed by his sense of tidiness and excellent etiquette. (Burns). Folktales can also tell a great deal about the person that invented them. The tale can reveal an inner person never before seen. (Burns). As Gandalf told many stories throughout this story, a little something is added to the adventure every time. Anything from humor to tragedy can be added to heighten suspense or lighten the moment. The teller decides where to start, end, and what details to include. A folktale reflects greatly on the teller of the story. (The Tree Leaves' Folk Fellowship).

Color is an intriguing part of folklore. Coloring shows everything from adventure to death to love and hate. For example, while Bilbo is traveling through the dark forest with his companions, the reader is given the sense of being surrounded by a vast amount of greenery. Green in many ancient civilizations symbolizes that of rebirth. (Morton). To the Celts, this meant that the green man was the God of Fertility, while in Egypt green symbolized the hope and joy of the coming of spring. In the universal symbolism of green, this color stands for nature and freshness. (Morton). One notices that throughout the The Hobbit, the dwarves are identified by the color of their caps. As each dwarf has an opposing personality from the other, not one dwarf shares the color of his cap with another. Coloring in a folktale sets the mood. (Morton). When the townspeople of Laketown see the red shadows coming over Lonely Mountain, the townspeople become excited. Their excitement is soon to cease when they see the source of this red tinge was from that of Smaug. Coloring is one of the greatest keys in forming a folktale.

Mind set, people and color all greatly display a different sense of a tale every time told. The art of creating folktales is very exhilarating, for every time a tale is told the ending is unpredictable. (Neves). Every time a tale is told, a piece of an individual’s personality has been added to the story’s character. This, therefore, assures the story will never remain the same. A folktale reveals history and lessons with every twist and turn of events.