The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

Gandalf selected Bilbo because he needed someone small, quiet, and unnoticed to infiltrate the Lonely Mountain and help the dwarves retrieve their treasure. Hobbits are naturally stealthy and unassuming, making them ideal for such a task. Additionally, Gandalf believed Bilbo possessed hidden courage and cleverness that would prove valuable, even though Bilbo himself doubted his abilities.

Gandalf had likely observed Bilbo's resourcefulness during his earlier years in the Shire.

Thorin harbors deep resentment toward the Wood-elves because they refused to aid the dwarves when Smaug attacked and destroyed Dale. During the exile, Thorin witnessed King Thranduil's indifference firsthand, which cemented his hatred. This grudge shapes Thorin's interactions with elves throughout the journey, including his initial refusal to visit Rivendell.

Thorin recalls this betrayal when the company passes through elven territory.

Bilbo won against Gollum by asking a question that the creature had never considered: 'What have I got in my pocket?' This unexpected move broke the rules of the riddle game and caught Gollum off guard. After winning, Bilbo discovered the ring's power of invisibility, which allowed him to slip past Gollum and escape the cave.

Bilbo kept the ring secret because after his encounter with Gollum, he felt a strange possessiveness toward the artifact. The ring had already begun to influence him, creating a desire to keep it rather than share it with the dwarves. This decision would have significant consequences for Bilbo and the broader quest.

The ring's subtle influence over Bilbo begins during his time in Gollum's cave.

Azog is the Orc leader who killed Thrór, Thorin's grandfather, decades earlier during the dwarf king's attempt to re-enter the Lonely Mountain. Azog bears a personal grudge against the line of Durin and places a bounty on Thorin's head specifically because Thorin is the rightful heir to the dwarf kingdom. This makes Thorin a primary target throughout the journey.

The Great Goblin reveals Azog's bounty during the company's captivity.

The dwarves lost their kingdom when the dragon Smaug attacked and devastated the nearby town of Dale. After destroying Dale, Smaug took residence in the Lonely Mountain, guarding the dwarves' treasure hoard. Unable to defeat the dragon and left without allies, the dwarves were forced to abandon their home and scatter across Middle-earth.

The historical destruction of Dale is chronicled in the opening scenes.

Lord Elrond reveals that the map contains a secret moon-letter inscription that only becomes visible on Durin's Day, the dwarves' ancestral new year. This hidden clue reveals a hidden entrance to the Lonely Mountain, which is essential for the company to enter the mountain without being detected by Smaug.

The map's secret was placed by Thráin, Thorin's father, for this very purpose.

Gandalf called upon the Eagles by using a signal, likely the same hawk-call he had used previously to communicate with them. The Eagles, led by Gwaihir, responded to Gandalf's summons and carried the company to safety at the Carrock. This assistance was a critical turning point that saved Thorin's life after his brutal confrontation with Azog.

Gandalf's connection to the Eagles is hinted at during his earlier travels.

Smaug attacked Dale because the town sat at the base of the Lonely Mountain, which the dwarves had filled with vast treasure. The dragon's hunger for gold and his desire to claim the dwarf kingdom drove him to destroy Dale and drive out its inhabitants. From the dwarves' perspective, Smaug's attack was purely an act of greed and destruction.

The dragon's destructive nature is established early in the story's history.

The Necromancer is revealed to be Sauron, the dark lord who was presumed destroyed after his defeat in the Second Age. Gandalf discovers evidence linking the Necromancer's lair at Dol Guldur to Sauron's return, including a Morgul blade. This discovery motivates the White Council to act, though Saruman dismisses the immediate threat posed by the Dwarves' quest.

Radagast's reports of dark corruption in Greenwood first alert Gandalf to the Necromancer's presence.

Bilbo decided to join the quest after watching the dwarves leave without him the next morning. Though initially reluctant and content with his comfortable life in the Shire, Bilbo experienced a sudden change of heart and felt compelled to prove himself. He raced to catch up with the company, motivated by a desire for adventure and a sense of belonging.

The Trolls were turned to stone when Bilbo stalled them in conversation until sunrise. Trolls turn to stone when exposed to direct sunlight, a characteristic of their kind. By keeping them talking through the night, Bilbo prevented them from returning to their lair before dawn, allowing Gandalf to force them into the light and transform them permanently.

Thorin was severely injured when Azog ambushed the company in the forest and engaged him in direct combat. Azog, a formidable Orc warrior, overpowered Thorin and left him wounded and defenseless. It was only through Bilbo's timely intervention that Thorin survived, as the hobbit struck Azog from behind to save the dwarf leader.

The Great Goblin's revelation of Azog's bounty foreshadows this direct confrontation.