Uc.Gds@MIT-EECS@MIT-MC@sri-unix.UUCP (08/07/83)
From: Greg Skinner <Uc.Gds at MIT-EECS at MIT-MC> About the naivete of the Hobbit: I think that it is written from the viewpoint of Bilbo in particular, (Hobbits in general), who did not possess the lore of Elves, Men or Dwarves concerning earlier events in the Third Age or ages previously gone by. In the description of the history of the Hobbits, (in the prologue to the Fellowship of the Ring) it is mentioned that they had no history of themselves prior to their crossing of the Misty Mountains into Eriador (save a few bits & pieces). In addition, throughout The Hobbit, Bilbo expresses mild apprehension towards other races (not true fear, mind you, but it is apparent that he is not totally at ease with them). Basically, what I'm trying to say is that the discrepancies found between The Hobbit and LotR is mainly due to Bilbo (and other hobbits') lack of information concerning other races, leading to their slight fear of them. It just so happens the The Hobbit is written from Bilbo's perspective, so these discrepancies show up. greg p.s. (i'm really going out on a limb with this one) Gandalf did not know at the time of the finding of the Ring that it was indeed the One Ring, nevertheless he might have had a foreboding, so he may have wished for the hobbits to be as much in the dark about the goings on in Gondor as possible, thus leading to their lack of knowledge concerning the outside world. Had the hobbits made more noise up in the Shire than they did, it would have been easier for Sauron to find the Shire and acquire the Ring. -------