It seems as though we have come to the end of Bilbo's journey. I don't quite know what to say about the ending of this book to give it justice. The falling action of the story itself is so cleverly crafted, I have so much respect for authors that do this. The climax is something that the author works throughout the entire novel to get to, and Tolkien certainly builds with suspense. However, all throughout the falling action he doesn't desert the story in any way.
Allow me to explain. From my experience with fiction (mostly geared towards teens), the falling action is usually shrouded of this sleepy mood. You get this sense of "It's over, it happened, it's done" and the majority of the falling action is hardly memorable. Tolkien, however, makes it clear that the story is far from over. Even though (spoiler alert!) the dragon is dead, there's much to do in order to repossess the dwarf kingdom. While it can become a bit tedious and boring, I can understand why people love Tolkien's work. Throughout the falling action, Tolkien adds even more to the story. He introduces new characters and even more conflicts. It's probably these small hitches that give the story momentum.
It still boggles my mind that even after all of the fantastic adventures that Tolkien has lead us through, he still has more to pull out of this world he's created. If reading this book has taught me anything it's that there is no such thing as too much detail. While it's good to focus on the 'big picture' of the story, it's also very beneficial to zoom in on tiny details. These details ultimately give the story the most realism, even if it's set in a fantasy world like Middle Earth.
In summary: If a bit dry, Tolkien is a master of detail and fantasy. If anyone is interested in this genre, The Hobbit is probably the best you can get.
Thanks for reading!
“There’s no such thing as too much detail.” What a true statement! I love your analysis, mostly because you were clearly invested in this book and the way in which the story was structured. What about the falling action intrigued you the most? For me, a great falling action has some sort of resolution, almost like a “cool down” period; however, like you said, the feeling of “it’s over, it happened” can wrap up the story in a negative, mundane fashion. Was this book all you expected it to be? By the looks of your entries, it seems like it was! Have you ever previously read anything else by this author? I personally have never really delved that deeply into this genre of fiction, but after reading this analysis I might have to give it a try. I like how you describe the detail as giving the story realism; anything can seem true when there is excessive detail, no matter how preposterous. I think that’s one of the marks of a great author; one who can place the reader right in the middle of the action and the story. It sort of reminds me of a book I’m reading called “Love is a Dog from Hell”; in this book, the poet reels the reader into the daily happenings of his life with sensory images and great (and sometimes, grotesque) detail. This tactic is a powerful gift, and I like how your analysis captures that. Overall, great blog and great analysis!
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