Journal of Critical Reviews ISSN- 2394-5125 Vol 7 , Issue 9, 2020 EXPLORING BILBO BAGGINS’ COURAGE IN FACING HIS ENEMIES AS REFLECTED IN J. R. R. TOLKIEN’S THE HOBBIT: A PSYCHOLOGICAL ANALYSIS Fahmi1, Bambang Widi Pratolo2*, Anang Yuniyanto Wibowo3 E-mail: [email protected], *Corresponding E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] 123Master of English Language Education, Universitas Ahmad Dahlan, Yogyakarta, Indonesia Received: 22.03.2020 Revised: 20.04.2020 Accepted: 23.05.2020 Abstract. The study is aimed to describe the characterization of Bilbo Baggins and to explore the courage of Bilbo Baggins while facing his enemies as seen in the novel The Hobbit by J.R.R Tolkien. This research used qualitative method with a library research. The main data for the research mostly are taken from library. The subject of the research is the novel The Hobbit by J.R.R Tolkien. The object of the research is the courage of Bilbo Baggins as reflected in the novel. In analyzing the courage of Bilbbo Baggins, the study applied the main theory of courage by Walton and Paul Tillich. The results of the research showed that Bilbo Baggins is the main character of the novel with the characterizations comprising of forgetful, curious, enthusiastic, venturesome, and courageous. The findings of Bilbo’s courage while facing his enemies are presented in six sub-topics discussion, namely: Bilbo’s courage to face Trolls, Bilbo’s courage to face Gollum, Bilbo’s courage to face Goblin under the mountain, Bilbo’s courage to face Spider of Mirkwood, Bilbo’s courage to face Smaug, and Bilbo’s courage to face King of Wood-Elves. Meanwhile, the moral values were also purposively analyzed to provide significant benefit to the readers. Keywords. Courage, Bilbo Baggins, Main character, Psychological analysis. © 2020 by Advance Scientific Research. This is an open-access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.31838/jcr.07.09.171 INTRODUCTION In addition, the researcher also decided to analyze the novel In human nature, every individual has dream to gain the best The Hobbit because of several reasons. First, the novel tells quality of life. The higher the quality of life wants to be about a small creature that has great courage and good achieved, the higher the obstacle must be faced. Hence, qualities of characterization. Second, the researcher is inspired courage is a very important key to face any obstacles that by the main character’s courage in facing his great enemies come to life. Such as, fear, pain, danger, enemy, urgent during adventure and war. Third, the novel had gotten some situation, strain, anxiety, confusion or any obstacles that prestigious awards and recognized internationally. This novel impede the goal in gaining or achieving the best quality of life. has attracted not only adult, but also children. Fourth, the But, in practicality of human nature, the existence of courage novel had been adopted in three films and named as Most does not mean the absence of fear, but rather more Important 20th Century Novel. overcoming or facing the fear. To strengthen this view, Walton [1] emphasized that understanding courage means that There are several related studies concerning the novel The understanding self-quality that related to human’s psychology, Hobbit with different topic analysis. The first related study was it is mean that problem of overcoming fear is the real analyzed by Irma Fitriana Aztin [3] entitled the Effort Of The courageous act since fear is real emotion that influence the Main Character To Save The Dwarves As Reflected In psychology. In this statement, it is clear that the courage comes J.J.R.Tolkiens The Hobbit: A Psychological Analysis . Meanwhile, up when overcoming fear, because fear is a real emotion that the second related study is written by Wala Ayu Aris Tantia always exists in human psychology. [4] which is entitled The Main Character's Personality As Reflected In J.J.R.Tolkiens The Hobbit: A Psychological Analysis. Courage can change almost everything impossible become The analysis these related study has its own uniqueness in possible in this life. People can be rich, smart or even powerful presenting the value of the novel. But, the analysis of the novel because of courage. When people want to achieve their dream, The Hobbit still needs further deeper understanding especially they need courage to face several risks or obstacles as steps to its core value that related to real-life. Therefore, the researcher be nearer to their dream. The faster people pass their explored the core value of the novel with different topic that obstacles, the faster people decrease their obstacles and the related to the real-life’s portrayal, that is Courage. nearer people’s steps to their dream. On the other hand, when people do not have courage at all, they will never try to step to Based on the background of the study above, the researcher be near to their dream. Therefore, courage has powerful had formulated several research questions to be discussed and strength to change the impossible thing become possible in analyzed related to the novel The Hobbit by J.R.R Tolkien. In human life. the novel The Hobbit, there are three interesting topics that can be analyzed and discussed in this research. The research Courage can be described as strong willingness, hearth question are: firmness, or strong personal commitment that reflects self- reaction on certain situation or to achieve the particular goal. 1) What are the characterizations of Bilbo Baggins as the This statement is in line with Tillich [2] that courage is the main character of the novel The Hobbit by J.R.R Tolkien?, capability of mind to take the risk, challenge, or threat to be 2) What are the courage of Bilbo Baggins in facing his applied into an action for achieving the worthy goal. Thus, enemies as seen in the novel observed psychologically?, Courage has main role to encourage critical action and hearth and firmness for gaining or achieving the goal of life. Under this 3) What are the moral values can be taken from the novel? reason, the researcher surely interested in exploring the The result of the research is expected to give several benefits important value in the novel, that is Courage. for , researcher, literature lover, students, or any stakeholders. The benefits or significant of the research are: to help the Journal of critical reviews 926 EXPLORING BILBO BAGGINS’ COURAGE IN FACING HIS ENEMIES AS REFLECTED IN J. R. R. TOLKIEN’S THE HOBBIT: A PSYCHOLOGICAL ANALYSIS readers to understand about the main character’s character whether or not these people are small, short, thin, or characterization of the novel The Hobbit, to help the readers to have any lack. In that matter, Walton [1] stated “ we have explore the courage of the main character to face his enemies found that courage is connected to character”. Thus, it is can be as seen in the novel The Hobbit, and to help the readers about a proof that the courage has strong influence to form human’s the moral values of the novel. character. REVIEW OF LITERATURE In addition, Sutherland [10] stated that the courage is shown Character and Characterization: by understanding the risk and stay to be patient, firm, and In a literary works, there are so many intrinsic elements that wise to face or to do it. Therefore, the courageous action is also should be known by the readers and researcher. One of the works when the whole processes in solving the problem or basic and important elements that presents how a story could conflict are experienced by someone regardless the goals are be ran well is character. According to Subhan [5] “in order to achieved or not. The process make someone’s courage is be able to comprehend a literary work well, the readers of exhibited and become a character. Meanwhile, the character prose (especially the readers of a novel) must pay attention to exhibit on how someone’s courage comes up during the the basic elements of the novel and try to analyze them. The process in solving the problems or achieving a goal. Thus, the first important elements of the novel that must be understood courage can be seen from someone’s character when is the character and characterization”. Regarding the term experiencing the process of his life. character, Pickering and Hoeper [6] also emphasized that the Meanwhile, Schwartz [11] had divided courage into three story would not be created if there is no character in the story discreet dimensions. The first dimension is a willingness to since it is the central element that can trigger the existence of pursue. Second is a noble goal or purpose. Third dimension is the plot that would be a story. Hence, character and despite risk, danger, or fear. Thus, the courage has several characterization hold the main role that can change the dimensions which are could works in dynamic courageous intrinsic elements such as plot, setting, theme, and how a story forms depending on individual’s situation and reaction on can be as expected by a writer. particular case in the process of life. In addition, Abrams [7] explained that the preventatives of dramatic work of a story are characters which has some self- Psychological Approach: qualities including intellectual or social-moral that can be Literary works is an art of writing which is created by various inferred from their action or words. In this sense, the figurative languages and the way of conveying.