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The Ring
There is an old rule in adventure stories, from The Odyssey to Star Wars, that the hero’s personal growth must be accompanied by a journey underground. After Bilbo falls off Dori’s shoulders while fleeing from the goblins, he’s forced to fend for himself as he tries to find his way out of the Misty Mountains. In doing so, he has to confront Gollum and goblins, and discovers talents he didn’t know he had — deception, path-finding, riddle-telling, etc. Thus, the Misty Mountains represent Bilbo’s maturation as a character and an adventurer: when he enters them, he’s still immature (literally being carried on someone else’s back!), but when he leaves, he’s confident enough to navigate his own way around.
The Misty Mountains Quotes in The Hobbit
The The Hobbit quotes below all refer to the symbol of The Misty Mountains. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
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Chapter 4
Quotes
The goblins were very rough, and pinched unmercifully, and chuckled and laughed in their horrible stony voices; and Bilbo was more unhappy even than when the troll had picked him up by his toes. He wished again and again for his nice bright hobbit-hole. Not for the last time.
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Chapter 5
Quotes
"Both wrong," cried Bilbo very much relieved; and he jumped at once to his feet, put his back to the nearest wall, and held out his little sword. He knew, of course, that the riddlegame was sacred and of immense antiquity, and even wicked creatures were afraid to cheat when they played at it. But he felt he could not trust this slimy thing to keep any promise at a pinch. Any excuse would do for him to slide out of it. And after all that last question had not been a genuine riddle according to the ancient laws.
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Get the entire The Hobbit LitChart as a printable PDF.
The Misty Mountains Symbol Timeline in The Hobbit
The timeline below shows where the symbol The Misty Mountains appears in The Hobbit. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 3: A Short Rest
...Bilbo sees a great mountain in the distance, which belongs to the chain called the Misty Mountains . The group will have to cross the Misty Mountains before they arrive at their...
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In midsummer, the group leaves Rivendell and heads toward the Misty Mountains . The elves sing them songs as they depart.
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Chapter 4: Over Hill and Under Hill
The group walks through the Misty Mountains , and their path is difficult and dangerous. As they climb high up, they can...
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Gandalf knows that the Misty Mountains have become full of danger in recent times, and that underneath them, in the Mines...
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Chapter 6: Out of the Frying Pan and Into the Fire
Bilbo finds himself on the other side of the Misty Mountains without a pony, buttons, or his companions. He walks along the mountains for some time,...
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Chapter 7: Queer Lodgings
...they’re welcome to stay with him. Gandalf goes on describing his travels through Rivendell, the Misty Mountains , and the woods, each time mentioning a few more of the dwarves; each time,...
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Chapter 18: The Return Journey
...goblin army – so many of them that for years afterward the area around the Misty Mountains was safe and secure.
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...also responsible for protecting them during their travels home. As Bilbo and Gandalf climb the Misty Mountains , Bilbo looks behind him, and sees snow on the Lonely Mountain. Amused that where...
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