Analyis Help

Well, I've been thinking about Smaug, and what he might represent. This sounds like the type of paper where you could come up with your own interpretation. The first time I read the Hobbit I wasn't exactly thinking of symbolic meaning, but I definitely think of Smaug as very evil and crafty. To me he represents childhood fears--as a childrens story this would ring true to all children who have had nightmares about the big thing who breathes heavily in the dark--the monster under the bed, if you know what I mean. If you're really looking for symbolic meaning, some other story elements might have it: the Arkenstone, the Ring, the smoke rings, the black arrow, the crack in the back of the cave that opens up to Goblin tunnels, Beorn, the wolves, Gandalf and his staff, the Eagles, etc etc etc.