MAJOR CHARACTERS
Bilbo Baggins – The protagonist of The Hobbit, Bilbo initially seems content with his peaceful life in hobbit-town, but Tolkien hints that he secretly desires adventure and excitement (as is his birthright from his notoriously adventurous grandfather Old Took). Over the course of the novel, Bilbo journeys to the Lonely Mountain with the dwarves, and discovers his talents for riddling, fighting, and burgling, and even finds a magical ring of invisibility, even as he continues to wish for his home. In the end, he learns to balance his love for peace and tranquility with heroism and adventurousness.
Gandalf – The old wizard who recruits Bilbo for a quest, Gandalf is enormously wise, resourceful, and helpful to the dwarves during their journey to the Lonely Mountain, frequently saving their lives. At the same time, he can be neglectful, leaving the group outside Mirkwood forest when they most need him. It’s possible that Gandalf deliberately places Bilbo and the dwarves in danger, in order to encourage them to fight for themselves and develop their skills and independence.
Thorin Oakenshield – The leader of the thirteen dwarves journeying to the Lonely Mountain. Thorin is the descendant of the King Under the Mountain who lost his throne when Smaug came and ousted the dwarves from their home. He has great bravery and integrity, but his love for the treasure that was stolen from him and his people leads him behave stubbornly and selfishly even after he has won it back.
Smaug – A dragon who heard of the treasure amassed by the dwarves of The Kingdom Under the Mountain and then proceeded to attack and expel the dwarves from their former home, desolating the nearby city of men, Dale, in the process. Smaug is clever and exceedingly greedy. Like all the other greedy characters in the novel, Smaug is also solitary, and spends much of his time sleeping on his treasure. The loss of even a single item of treasure sends him into a rage. He is adept at spreading distrust among others, and his sly words do cause Bilbo to lose some trust in Thorin and the dwarves promises.
discover his weak point.
The Elvenking – The leader of the wood-elves, who imprisons Thorin and the dwarves and later marches to the Lonely Mountain to claim a part of the treasure after Smaug’s death (the elves have long believed that the dwarves stole some of that treasure form the elves, though the dwarves believe the elves stole treasure form the dwarves).
MINOR CHARACTERS
Dain – Thorin’s cousin, who leads an army of dwarves and eventually succeeds Thorin.
The Master – The corrupt, manipulative leader of Lake-town, who seeks only to prolong his own power for as long as possible.
Gollum – A disgusting, treacherous, and yet pitiful and lonely creature who is obsessed with the ring, and trades riddles with Bilbo.
The Great Goblin – Leader of the goblins who capture the dwarves in the Misty Mountains. He is killed by Gandalf.
Elrond – The elf-lord of the elves at Rivendell, and an ally to Gandalf and the dwarves. He reveals the history of the swords that Gandalf and Thorin take from the troll’s treasure-hole, and also reads the moon-writing on the map to the Lonely Mountain.
William, Bert, and Tom – Three dim-witted trolls who capture the dwarves.
Beorn – A friend of Gandalf’s, capable of turning into a bear, and a hater of goblins.
Oin – One of the thirteen dwarves marching to the Lonely Mountain. Good at making fire.
Gloin – One of the thirteen dwarves marching to the Lonely Mountain, also good at making fire.
Fili – One of the thirteen dwarves marching to the Lonely Mountain. The younger brother of Thorin.
Kili – One of the thirteen dwarves marching to the Lonely Mountain. The younger brother of Thorin.
Dwalin – One of the thirteen dwarves marching to the Lonely Mountain.
Balin – One of the thirteen dwarves marching to the Lonely Mountain. One of Thorin’s companions on the day Smaug claimed the Lonely Mountain, and a good friend to Bilbo.
Bifur – One of the thirteen dwarves marching to the Lonely Mountain.
Bofur – One of the thirteen dwarves marching to the Lonely Mountain.
Bombur – One of the thirteen dwarves marching to the Lonely Mountain, very fat and lazy.
Dori – One of the thirteen dwarves marching to the Lonely Mountain. Holds Bilbo on his back.
Ori – One of the thirteen dwarves marching to the Lonely Mountain.
Lord of the Eagles – The leader of a flock of giant eagles, he and his fellow eagles save Bilbo and the dwarves from the goblins, and later join the side of the men, elves, and dwarves against the goblins and wargs at the end of the Battle of the Five Armies.
Thrush – A magical bird that indicates the entrance to Smaug’s lair to the dwarves, and later, after overhearing Bilbo reveal Smaug’s weak spot, tells Bard about how to kill Smaug.
Rac – An old raven who communicates messages from Thorin to Dain.
Bard – The archer who kills Smaug, and a descendant of the rulers of the Dale. After Smaug’s death Bard becomes a leader once more, and eventually becomes the new Lord of Dale.
Radagast – Gandalf’s cousin, a wizard and an acquaintance of Beorn.
Bolg – The goblin who leads an army to the Battle of the Five Armies after the Great Goblin’s death.
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