Both of the adventures begin with an isolated area called the Shire. These hobbits have been cut off from society for a long time. They are wary of strangers and do not know much about other races. Hobbits pretty much keep to themselves and do not like trouble or change. The hobbits that go on these journeys know nothing except the simple life they lead as hobbits. Yet by the end they are heroes of Middle-earth. Bilbo and Frodo go through such an amazing personal growth that they are invited to travel West with the Elves. It was by enduring tests and trials that these hobbits were able to grow beyond being naive and afraid to becoming heroes

Bilbo's transformation is especially easy to witness. Before the journey begins he is a solitary hobbit in an isolated community. When Gandalf shows up at his door, he does not seem to like the idea of an adventure yet he chooses to go of his own free will. He begins his journey by running to catch up and continues to be in the back of the group throughout the quest. He is the only hobbit out of Ganda

Bilbo starts as an afraid, naive hobbit but becomes a hero through his trials. The dwarves' quest is about gold and defeating Smaug but for Bilbo it is a personal journey. It is as if he leaves the Shire an adolescent and returns a mature man. It is not that Bilbo is seeking maturity rather it simply developes as he continues on the journey. When he returns home he is a changed hobbit. He appears braver and more knowledgeable than when he left. To become a hero Bilbo must prove that he could withstand the trials and usually he must accomplish this alone. He must use his skills, knowledge and perhaps a little luck to prevail and become worthy of being a hero.

During these journeys Tolkien not only uses isolation to test these heroes but also to convey their fear and dread. When something bad is about to happen we often see the Fellowship split up, either intentionally or accidentally. This is a tool to create even more fear in the plot. Isolation is often associated with words like dark, cold, shadows, and danger. A perfect example of this is in Barrow-Downs when the fog has rolled in and Frodo becomes separated from the others. One sees words like shadow, cold, alarm, dismay, trap, grey, chilled, damper, endless and darkness in the paragraphs leading up to the separation. Then the journey reads,

The types of shelters change as the journey gets more trechurious. In the Lord of the Rings the hobbits start out by staying in rather nice, home-like places. One of the first places they stay is at Tom Bombadile's house. Tom treats them well and the experience reminds them very much of home. They eat well and have nice cozy beds. The same is true in Rivendale when they stay at the \\. Here they have feasts and are treated as royal visitors. Frodo and Sam both make comments about wanting to go home. This should have been the end of their journey since they had delivered the ring. However, after resting and eating Frodo finds the courage to volunteer onward to Mount Doom.

His hope soon changed to bewilderment and

Some common words found in the essay are:
Gandalf White, West Elves, Fellowship Rings, Smaug Bilbo, Bag Finally, , Merry Pippin, Misty Mountains, Tom Bombadile's, Lethloria Rivendale, coming fears, battle tunnel, personal journey, tolkien isolation,
Approximate Word count = 1368
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)