The Hobbit, or There and Back Again
by J. R. R. Tolkien
Contents
CHAPTER IV: OVER HILL AND UNDER HILL
Overview
The company struggles over the Misty Mountains and shelters from a violent thunder-battle, only to be captured by goblins through a hidden crack. In the goblin halls, Gandalf returns, slays the Great Goblin with Glamdring, and frees the dwarves. Their escape scatters the goblins briefly, but a stealthy pursuit ends with Dori seized and Bilbo knocked unconscious and separated, raising the stakes of survival and cohesion.
Summary
The company follows Elrond and Gandalf’s advice toward a pass in the Misty Mountains. The climb is cold, perilous, and dispiriting. A tremendous night storm becomes a thunder-battle, with stone-giants hurling rocks, forcing Thorin to press for better shelter.
Fili and Kili find a seemingly safe cave. Despite Gandalf’s caution, they all enter and settle in. Bilbo’s troubled sleep mirrors danger: a crack opens in the cave wall, goblins pour in, seize everyone but Gandalf, and drag the prisoners deep below, chanting and whipping them to Goblin-town.
Before the Great Goblin, Thorin’s Orcrist enrages their captors. Suddenly the lights fail, blue flame and sparks sow chaos, and a sword flashes: Gandalf appears, kills the Great Goblin with Glamdring, and cuts the captives free. He returns Orcrist to Thorin and urges a desperate flight through the tunnels as goblins rally behind.
When the pursuit closes in, Gandalf and Thorin ambush the front ranks with Glamdring and Orcrist, scattering the goblins. The fugitives push on, but stealthy runners extinguish torches and overtake them unseen. In the dark, goblins grab Dori from behind; Bilbo tumbles off his back, strikes his head, and is left unconscious and alone in the depths.
Who Appears
- Bilbo BagginsHomesick burglar; wakes the company as goblins breach the cave, endures capture, escape, and is knocked unconscious and lost.
- GandalfRescues the company; slays the Great Goblin with Glamdring, frees the prisoners, leads and shields the retreat.
- Thorin OakenshieldCompany leader; challenges the storm shelter plan, wields Orcrist during escape and ambush against pursuing goblins.
- Great GoblinGoblin chief who condemns the captives; recognizes Orcrist, is slain by Gandalf’s Glamdring, triggering goblin panic.
- DoriCarries Bilbo during the flight; is grabbed from behind by goblins, causing Bilbo’s fall and separation.
- FiliYoung scout who finds the cave; later helps carry Bilbo during the escape.
- KiliYoung scout who finds the cave; aids the company’s hurried retreat.
- GoblinsMountain captors; drive prisoners to their hall, pursue stealthily after their chief is slain.
- BomburCarries Bilbo at one point; struggles under weight and terror during the flight.
- Oin and GloinTry to light a fire at the cave entrance; overruled by Gandalf’s caution.
- Stone-giantsHurl rocks during the thunder-battle, worsening the storm’s danger on the mountain path.