The Hero’s Journey: Comparing Bilbo, Frodo, and Aragorn
An Analysis of Tolkien’s Use of the Monomyth.
A comparative study of how three of Middle-earth’s heroes follow and subvert the classic Hero’s Journey.
Order Comparative EssayThree Hero Archetypes
In a literature class analyzing Tolkien’s “hero,” I was torn. Was it the reluctant hobbit? The burdened soul? The king in exile? The answer was all three.
This guide explores how Tolkien used Bilbo, Frodo, and Aragorn to explore facets of the Hero’s Journey, or “Monomyth,” as defined by Joseph Campbell. Understanding how Tolkien applies and subverts this structure is key to a deep literary analysis. It reveals how he used a shared mythological framework to tell different stories about courage and sacrifice, rooted in his rich mythological world.
Campbell’s Monomyth Framework
In The Hero with a Thousand Faces, Joseph Campbell identified a universal pattern in myth, the “Monomyth.” It’s a cycle of departure, adventure, and return representing a journey of transformation. Core stages include:
- The Call to Adventure: The hero is invited to leave the ordinary world.
- Supernatural Aid: The hero receives help from a mentor.
- Crossing the Threshold: The hero commits to the journey.
- The Road of Trials: The hero faces a series of tests.
- The Ultimate Boon: The hero achieves the quest’s goal.
- The Return: The hero comes back to the ordinary world, transformed.
Bilbo: The Reluctant Hero
Bilbo’s journey in The Hobbit is a classic application of the Monomyth.
Departure
The Call to Adventure is Gandalf’s arrival. Bilbo’s Refusal of the Call is immediate (“We are plain quiet folk”). His Supernatural Aid is Gandalf. He Crosses the Threshold when he runs out of his hobbit-hole, shouting “I’m going on an adventure!”
Initiation
His Road of Trials includes trolls, goblins, Gollum, and Smaug. He discovers his courage and cunning. His Ultimate Boon is self-knowledge and the One Ring, a “magic ring” fitting the fairy-tale context.
Return
Bilbo’s Return is also classic. He comes back to the Shire a changed hobbit, no longer fitting in with his provincial neighbors but possessing a wider worldview. He brings back stories and wisdom, his gift to his people.
Frodo: The Sacrificial Hero
Frodo’s journey in The Lord of the Rings follows the pattern but subverts it with tragedy.
Departure
The Call is Gandalf’s revelation about the Ring. At the Council of Elrond, Frodo Crosses the Threshold by declaring, “I will take the Ring.” His Supernatural Aid comes from Gandalf, Aragorn, and Galadriel.
Initiation
Frodo’s Road of Trials is an inward journey of suffering against the Ring’s corruption. His Ultimate Boon is a subversion: not gaining a treasure, but its destruction. The quest is one of loss.
Return
The Return is tragic. Frodo cannot return to his old life. He is permanently scarred. He has saved the Shire, but not for himself. His departure to the Undying Lands shows the hero cannot always be healed, reflecting a Christian theme of redemptive suffering.
Aragorn: The Kingly Hero
Aragorn’s journey is the most mythic, fitting the epic hero of legend.
Departure
Aragorn’s Call is his birthright. His Refusal is his long self-exile as Strider. The reforging of Andúril is his Supernatural Aid. He Crosses the Threshold by accepting his destiny and taking the Paths of the Dead.
Initiation
His Road of Trials involves kingly tests: commanding the Dead, healing the sick, and marching on the Black Gate. These trials prove his right to rule.
Return
Aragorn’s Return is triumphant. He reclaims his throne and ushers in a new Age of peace. His Ultimate Boon is the restoration of the world. He is the classic “Return of the King.”
The Mentor Archetype: Gandalf
Gandalf is the thread that connects all three journeys, embodying Campbell’s “Supernatural Aid” or Mentor archetype. For Bilbo, he is the instigator. For Frodo, he is the wise counselor. For Aragorn, he is the kingmaker. Gandalf’s role is not to complete the quest for the heroes, but to provide the tools, knowledge, and encouragement they need. His sacrifice and rebirth as Gandalf the White elevates him, allowing him to guide the entire War of the Ring.
The Difficult Return: The Scouring of the Shire
The final chapters of The Lord of the Rings are crucial to understanding Tolkien’s subversion of the Hero’s Return. The hobbits return to a dystopia ruled by Saruman. This forces them into one final trial: they must use their new skills to save their home. “The Scouring of the Shire” is Tolkien’s critique of simple escapism. It shows that the hero must return to heal their own community. It also tragically highlights Frodo’s alienation, as he is too wounded to participate, cementing his status as a sacrificial hero who saves a world he can no longer enjoy.
Comparative Analysis
Bilbo: The Fairy-Tale Hero
Bilbo’s journey is about self-discovery. He leaves home for adventure and returns a better, wiser person. His is a journey of personal growth.
Frodo: The Tragic Hero
Frodo’s journey is about self-sacrifice. He leaves home to lose something and returns broken. His is a journey where suffering redeems the world.
Aragorn: The Epic Hero
Aragorn’s journey is about destiny. He grows into the role he was born for and restores his kingdom. His is the mythic journey of the returning king. This type of heroism is explored in the journal English Studies.
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Student Feedback
“The breakdown of the Monomyth was so clear. It gave me a perfect framework for my essay comparing Frodo and Bilbo. My professor was impressed.”
– Maria G., Literature Student
“I had to write about Tolkien’s subversion of the hero archetype. The section on Frodo’s tragic return was the key to my entire argument. Fantastic analysis.”
– Alex P., Mythology Major
“My writer helped me use this guide to structure my comparison of Aragorn and Beowulf as epic heroes. The connections were so deep.”
– Kevin T., Humanities Student
The Hero’s Journey FAQs
What is the Monomyth?
The Monomyth, or Hero’s Journey, is a narrative template identified by Joseph Campbell involving a hero who goes on an adventure, wins a decisive victory, and comes home transformed.
Why isn’t Sam the hero?
While Sam is arguably the most heroic character, he fits the “steadfast companion” archetype. His role is to support the hero, not to be the primary agent of the quest himself.
How is Frodo’s journey a subversion?
Frodo’s quest is to destroy a treasure, not gain one. His victory is achieved through loss, and his reward is not a happy life in the world he saved, but a departure from it, making his journey a meditation on sacrifice.
Three Heroes, One Pattern
By using the same archetypal pattern in three ways, Tolkien explores the full spectrum of heroism: the personal growth of the common man, the destined glory of a king, and the profound sacrifice of a savior.
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