Summary

The story starts with a brief description of hobbits. The narrator explains
that hobbits are little people, about half the size of a human, with thick hair on
their feet, and a love for good food, comfort and security. Traditionally, hobbits
live in holes in the ground, and the hole Bilbo Baggins lived in is called Bag
End. Bilbo Baggins was a respected hobbit, his ancestry is somewhat noble
to hobbit standards. His father was from a conventional family, but his mother
was from the Tooks, a wealthy family, infamous for their tendency to go on
adventures.
The book begins with Bilbo enjoying a pipe outside his front door, when
an old wizard introduces himself. Bilbo recognises him as Gandalf. Gandalf
asked Bilbo if he would be interested in going on an adventure and Bilbo
declined. The next morning, a doorbell ringed and Bilbo was confused to see
unknown dwarves come into his home. After thirteen dwarves cleared his
pantry, Gandalf and another dwarf, named Thorin, appeared. Apparently,
Gandalf had volunteered Bilbo to be the burglar on their adventure. Bilbo
protests, but Gandalf insists that he is needed for this adventure. Then the
hobbit demands for some clarification about the expedition. Thorin explains
that his grandfather, Thror, mined the mountain to where they are headed and
discovered a wealth of gold and jewels. Thror became king of Lonely
Mountain, but his treasures attracted unwanted attention. The dragon Smaug
came and killed all of Thrors people. Now, the dragon has been guarding the
treasure and Thorin is determined to get it back.
The next day, the group sets out to adventure. Shortly after, they are
captured, except Gandalf, by three hungry trolls. Gandalf manages to trick the
trolls into remaining outside when the sun comes up. Little did the trolls know
that the sunlight turned them into stone. The group is freed from the trolls and
they steal their weapons.
After hours of walking, the group decides to rest at Rivendell, where
they receive advice from the Great Elf Lord, Elrond. The hospitable elf
translates Thorins map, which clarifies the route of their expedition. The
group resumes their journey to the Misty Mountains, when suddenly a storm
strikes. The group takes shelter in a cave that turned out to be the Great
Goblins cavern. The Goblins capture Bilbo and his companions, and take
their ponies. Gandalf, using the sword he stole from the trolls, kills the Great
Goblin and frees Bilbo and the dwarves. The travellers try to find their way out
of the cave as they are chased by Goblins, but Bilbo falls on his way out and
loses consciousness.

Summary

When Bilbo regains consciousness and tries to find his way out of the
cave, he finds a ring and puts it in his pocket. Soon he encounters Gollum, a
creature who lives in a pool in the caverns and hunts fish and goblins. Gollum
is hungry and wants to eat Bilbo, but Bilbo starts a riddle contests to
determine his fate. After saying riddles back and forth, Bilbo asks Gollum,
What have I got in my pocket? After guessing incorrectly three times,
Gollum is desperate and goes in search of his ring, only to find it missing.
Gollum realises that Bilbo has the ring in his pocket and starts chasing him.
Bilbo puts on the ring and discovers its magical invisibility power. Gollum
inadvertently shows Bilbo the way out of the cave and he escapes.
When outside, Bilbo rejoins the group and tells how he escaped,
leaving out the part where he found the ring. After this encounter, Bilbo gains
new respect from the group. In fear of the Goblins, Bilbo, Gandalf and the
dwarves run away from the mountains. In the middle of their run, the group is
pursued by evil wolves known as Wargs. The dwarves, Bilbo and Gandalf
climbed up trees to escape the Wargs. Soon, the Wargs return with Goblins
and set the trees on fire to smoke the group out. Luckily, Bilbo and his
comrades are helped to safety by group of eagles and by Beorn, a creature
who can shape-shift from a man to a bear. After spending the night in the
eagless nest, the travellers resume their journey through the forest of
Mirkwood.
The company enters the dark forest of Mirkwood, and, making the
situation worse, Gandalf abandons them to attend urgent wizard business. In
the forest, the dwarves are caught in the webs of giant spiders. Bilbo, the only
one available to save them, wears the ring and uses his sword to slay the
spiders. After such heroic event, Bilbo names his sword sting. Shortly after
escaping the spiders, the dwarves are abducted by wood elves. Bilbo, once
again, uses the ring to sneak in the palace of Elvenking and rescue the
dwarves. He hides the dwarves in empty wine barrels and throws them into
the river, so they float away to Lake Town. The company arrives to Lake
Town, a human town near Lonely Mountain.
Later, Bilbo sneaks into the mountain, while wearing his ring, and talks
to Smaug. The dragon reveals that he has a weak spot near his heart. Bilbo,
who was exploring the mountain, steals the Arkenstone from the dragons
treasure. Furious Smaug flies out to Lake Town and burns it. Bard, an archer,
learned Smaugs weakness from a thrush, and fires an arrow that end ups
killing him.

Summary

The people of Lake Town and the elves of Mirkwood march to Lonely
Mountain and demand a share of the treasure to compensate for their losses
and aid. Thorin, very greedily, refuses, causing the humans and elves to
surround the mountain, trapping Bilbo and the dwarves inside. Bilbo sneaks
out, with the help of his ring, to join the humans in attempt to bring peace and
hands the Arkenstone to Bard. Bilbo returns to the mountain and finds Thorin
to be furious after learning what he has done. Suddenly, Gandalf reappears
and saves Bilbo from Thorins wrath.
At the same time, the humans and elves are forced to work together to
defeat the army of Goblins and Wargs that are approaching the mountain.
The Goblins nearly win, but the arrival of Beorn and the eagles change the
outcome. After the battle, Bilbo is taken to see Thorin, who is dying. Thorin is
buried with the Arkenstone, which belonged to his ancestors. The treasure is
divided among all those who had helped Bilbo and the dwarves. Then, Bilbo
leaves with Gandalf, Elvenking and Beorn, back to Hobbiton. When Bilbo
arrives home, he finds that his personal belongings are being auctioned and
he was presumed dead. He recovers his belongings, but not the respect of
the other Hobbits. In the end, Bilbo is grateful he went on an adventure.