Study Guide

Meeting the Mentor:

Supernatural Aid is a better word for this stage. Supernatural means “above the laws of nature.” In almost every hero book, the journey is started by a character that has overcome the laws of the outside world. Supernatural doesn't have to mean magic and unordinary aid. It can be an ordinary aid by a simple person. The supernatural assistor is there to help the hero complete their quest, not to finish it for them.

In this case it is Gandalf the grey. Gandalf is one out of only 5 wizards that live in middle earth. He chose Bilbo to be the dwarf’s burglar so they can reclaim their empire. Through out the journey Gandalf has been helping Bilbo and the dwarfs complete their journey. For example he saved them from the trolls when they stole their horses, he helped them escape the goblin layer, and from the Wargs, which are wolf like animals that attacked them along the journey. The mentor is a really important character because without him the quest would fail. The mentor or assistor is always the person that guides the character through his quest but not be part of it. In The Hobbit, Gandalf did not do the quest for them but simply was there when he was needed. For example he left them when they got to the Mirkwood forest. He also left them in the beginning but then appeared to help them defeat the trolls. The book quoted “Dawn take you all, and be stone to you!" said a voice that sounded like William's. But it wasn't. For just at that moment the light came over the hill, and there was a mighty twitter in the branches. William never spoke for he stood turned to stone as he stooped; and Bert and Tom were stuck like rocks as they looked at him.”(Tolkien 58). This quote provides evidence for both of my statements. First that he was not with them while they were on their quest because in the beginning of the quote it said “ said a voice that sounded like William's.” This meant that Gandalf just arrived to give them help. Secondly this quote shows that Gandalf helped the dwarf’s defeat the trolls after a strong fight. This means that he helped as a mentor but he didn't do it for them like what Joseph Campbell said in the monomyth.