The Hobbit, or There and Back Again
by J. R. R. Tolkien
Contents
CHAPTER VIII: FLIES AND SPIDERS
Overview
The company struggles through Mirkwood, crossing an enchanted stream that plunges Bombur into sleep and losing their last provisions. Lured by elusive elvish feasts, they stray from the path and are ensnared by giant spiders. Bilbo slays a spider, names Sting, and frees the dwarves using his ring and wit. Separately, Wood-elves capture Thorin and imprison him, raising new stakes for the quest.
Summary
The company enters Mirkwood’s oppressive darkness, conserving dwindling food and water. They reach an enchanted black stream, retrieve a boat by rope, and ferry across. A charging deer scatters them; Bombur falls in, instantly sleeps, and must be carried. White deer and distant horns hint they near the forest’s edge, but they do not know it and sink deeper into hunger and despair.
Bilbo climbs an oak but, from a valley, sees only endless canopy, worsening morale. Rain brings no relief; Bombur wakes with no memory since Bag End, recalling a dream-feast that mirrors lights the group later glimpses. Ignoring warnings, they leave the path for elvish revels. Each approach ends in sudden darkness and confusion, scattering them and leaving them lost.
Alone, Bilbo is ambushed by a giant spider, fights free, kills it, and, emboldened, names his blade Sting. Invisible with the ring, he finds dwarves cocooned by spiders and hears the creatures plotting to eat them. Bilbo’s stone-throws and taunting songs draw most spiders away; he returns, kills a guard, and laboriously frees several dwarves as the spiders converge.
Bilbo reveals his ring plan, vanishes, and lures spiders off while Balin leads a breakout. Exhausted and poisoned, the dwarves stagger, repeatedly turning to fight. Bilbo reappears to slash webs and strike at the attackers until the spiders, fearing Sting and a lingering elf-magic in a nearby ring of fires, abandon the chase. The dwarves rest, newly respectful of Bilbo’s courage and cunning.
Only then do they realize Thorin is missing. Earlier, when the feast vanished, Thorin collapsed under enchantment and Wood-elves found and bound him. Brought before their treasure-loving king, Thorin refuses to explain their quest and is imprisoned, setting up the next challenge for Bilbo and the diminished company.
Who Appears
- Bilbo BagginsProtagonist; kills a giant spider, names his sword Sting, uses the ring to outwit spiders and rescue the dwarves.
- Thorin OakenshieldCompany leader; shoots a deer, later ensorcelled and captured by Wood-elves, refuses to reveal their quest, imprisoned.
- BomburFalls into the enchanted stream and sleeps; heavy burden to carry; repeatedly targeted by spiders and rewrapped.
- BalinAdvises, recalls Gollum tale; grasps Bilbo’s plan and helps lead the dwarves’ breakout during the spider attack.
- FiliThrows the rope to fetch the boat; first freed from webs; aids Bilbo despite spider-poison.
- KiliHelps haul the boat; stands watch; participates in assaults and the escape from the spiders.
- Wood-elf KingStern ruler in Mirkwood; distrusts dwarves; questions Thorin and imprisons him pending answers.
- Giant Spiders of MirkwoodEnsnare and plan to eat the dwarves; taunted and battled by Bilbo; ultimately driven off by Sting.
- Wood-elvesElvish revelers whose feasts mislead the company; later capture Thorin and take him to their halls.