Guide to The Lord of the Rings/The Hobbit/Chapter 12

The Hobbit Chapter 12 Inside Information

Synopsis
The dark passage into the mountain stands open before the Company. Thorin nominates Bilbo to go inside first. Bilbo enters, puts on the ring, and proceeds down the passage into Smaug’s lair. There, he sees the dragon asleep on piles of treasure. Bilbo is horribly afraid, but he works up the nerve to take a single golden cup from one of the piles. He rushes back up to the dwarves, who marvel over the cup.

Bilbo’s theft does not go unnoticed by Smaug, who takes careful account of the treasure. When he awakens, he is enraged to discover the cup is missing. He flies around the mountain breathing blasts of flame, and devours the ponies that belonged to the Company. Meanwhile, the dwarves and Bilbo huddle inside the secret passage, terrified. After a while, Smaug returns to his den and falls asleep. Bilbo works up the nerve to return to the dragon’s lair, only to discover that Smaug was just pretending to be asleep.

Although he cannot see Bilbo because of the ring, Smaug smells him and greets him mockingly. Bilbo answers Smaug only in riddles, which amuses the dragon enough to quell his anger. Cleverly, Bilbo flatters Smaug into displaying his underbelly, revealing an open patch in Smaug’s "diamond waistcoat" above his left breast.

Bilbo rushes back up the passage, just outrunning the dragon’s angry flames. He tells the dwarves all that he has learned while a thrush sits nearby and seems to listen. They hear the roar of the dragon once more and close the secret passage just before an avalanche comes down upon it, and they become trapped inside the mountain.

Analysis
Bilbo has to undertake the traditional task of the hero.

Bilbo confronts Smaug the dragon, matching with with conversation. During the conversation, he looks for a weak spot, which he spots. The fact that Bilbo brings back an item, he proves he has accomplished the act of entering a place of danger.

Main

 * Bilbo Baggins
 * Smaug
 * Thorin Oakenshield
 * Balin

Other characters

 * Fíli and Kíli
 * Bifur
 * bofur
 * Bombur
 * Girion (Mentioned only)

Locations

 * Lonely Mountain

Glossary

 * staggerment amazement, confusion

Objects

 * One Ring

Places

 * The Lonely Mountain