Chapters 10-12

Bilbo and the dwarves arrive at the intended destination of the barrels: Lake-town. They're unpacked, and most of the dwarves are uncomfortable following their trip. Thorin tells the town guards who he is, and the party goes into Lake-town. After meeting the "Master", they get some much needed rest and food. That's what happens in Chapter 10. Chapter 11 involves them finding (and then opening) the door into the Mountain, and Chapter 12 involves Bilbo dealing with Smaug (and getting scorched at the end).

Bilbo has now gotten past the "Tests, Allies, and Enemies", and has now begun his "Approach to the Inmost Cave". Previously, Bilbo would have run away from entering a dangerous situation (such as entering Smaug's lair). Now, he actually goes in (wearing his ring) to be a burglar and get his hands on Smaug's treasure. Now, Bilbo will face the most dangerous obstacle so far: the fierce dragon Smaug.

Smaug seems like the ultimate peril that Bilbo has run into as of now. To recap, Bilbo has been caught by trolls, abducted by goblins, chased up a tree by wolves, and threatened to be eaten by Gollum. Now, he risks getting done medium-rare by a dragon! Amazingly, he has the courage to even enter Smaug's lair at this point. And I thought I had it tough with my life! I wonder on how Bilbo and his friends will escape with their lives- a large dragon who hates visitors might reduce their life expectancy by several years.

Chapters 8 and 9

Bilbo and company are travelling through the forest, and they "forget" Beorn and Gandalf's advice while doing so. They ford the river with black water, Bombur falls into it, and Bombur is out cold. The dwarves and Bilbo get captured by BIG spiders, and later, Wood-Elves snatch the dwarves. Later, Bilbo manages to get the guards drunk on a powerful wine, frees the dwarves, and gets them out by stuffing them in empty barrels that will be sent somewhere else down the river. One uncomfortable barrel ride later, Bilbo and company have eluded the Wood-Elves. Those are Chapters 8-9 for you.

Bilbo is still experiencing the "Tests, Enemies, and Allies" stage of the hero's journey. He has managed to slay a giant spider, but physical combat won't defeat all the spiders. His taunting while invisible saves the dwarves' hides- again. Although the journey to the treasure is coming to a close, the tests will keep coming. He also manages to show maturity in that he isn't bailed out by luck every time he gets in a sticky situation.

I really feel sorry for the dwarves! So far, they've been trapped by trolls, held hostage by hobgoblins, been trapped in trees by wolves, snatched by spiders, and now they've been waltzed away by Wood-Elves! It's amazing they're not giving up on their trip. They have to trust Bilbo now, or they'll never accomplish their goal.

Chapter 7

In Chapter 7, our heroes are worn out from dealing with trolls, goblins, talking wolves, and the like. They stop at the house of Beorn, a man who can change into a bear. Gandalf tells the dwarves to arrive in pairs of two every five minutes, and then he and Bilbo go to the porch. Gandalf tells Beorn the story so far, and the 15 of them stay for a few nights. Beorn gives the party food, weapons, ponies, and advice for traversing the upcoming forest. At the end of the chapter, Gandalf leaves them and takes the ponies back to Beorn.

 I liked the chapter very much, because it was a change in pace from the nonstop action and suspense of the previous chapters. Don't get me wrong, I liked the nonstop action and suspense of Chapters 4-6, but I needed some relief from it. I liked the pastoral charm of Beorn's house, and I was fond of Gandalf's plan to allow our heroes to rest there. There is also some witty banter between Bilbo and Gandalf when Gandalf says that Beorn is a "skin-changer", which Bilbo thinks is another term for "furrier".

Bilbo's stage along the hero's journey is "Tests, Enemies, and Allies". He's overcome tests such as Gollum's riddle game, powerful enemies like the goblins, and now he and the dwarves have a powerful new ally in Beorn. Of course, more tests will be in order as Bilbo and company approach the treasure, and the woods they will soon traverse will be a major trial and tribulation, testing Bilbo and his friends as they approach their goal (although I'm sure Bilbo's goal is to get back home in front of a cozy fire and a whistling kettle).