Why burglar?

The Wizard from Milan · 02-11-2005, 06:52 PM

I am rereading the Hobbit; I am at the beginning.
Why was biblo designated as burglar?
If they only needed a 14th person, he could have been the cook, or whatever else.
Any idea?

EDIT: edited away one line to make it into a separate question

Wayfarer · 02-11-2005, 07:01 PM

The Laws of Party Design.

You always want at least one Wizard and at least one Thief.

And usually a healer of some kind.

I think that Gandalf advertised Bilbo as a Burgalar because he knew that that's what the dwarves would need - which, if you look at what happened, is certainly the truth. The dwarves never would have been able to accomplish their quest by force of arms.

***Earniel*** · 02-12-2005, 05:42 AM

Wasn't it because they were planning to steal the treasure from under Smaug? They no doubt knew they wouldn't be able to defeat the dragon in combat, they would have had to rely on stealth to get anything of worth out of the adventure.

Hm... somehow I have the feeling they didn't think that through entirely.

Count Comfect · 02-12-2005, 10:46 AM

Yes, I think they already knew they needed a burglar (or Expert Treasure Hunter, as Balin (I think) puts it). So Gandalf was supplying a need.

Now, how well thought out that need was is questionable...

The Gaffer · 02-12-2005, 02:14 PM

There's an interesting account in Unfinished Tales about how Gandalf was pondering on how to get rid of Smaug when he met up with Thorin in Bree. "A chance meeting as we say in Middle-Earth."

So the suggestion is that including Bilbo was somehow part of a grand design to bring about Smaug's downfall.

Rather tenuous methinks.

Lefty Scaevola · 02-12-2005, 06:37 PM

In the notes and varients to 'The quest of Erebor" in UT is the line by Blain: 'You mean a trained tresure seeker, can they still be found?"
Burglar would be a shorthand designation for that.

**Nurvingiel** · 02-13-2005, 05:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eärniel

Wasn't it because they were planning to steal the treasure from under Smaug? They no doubt knew they wouldn't be able to defeat the dragon in combat, they would have had to rely on stealth to get anything of worth out of the adventure.

Hm... somehow I have the feeling they didn't think that through entirely.

Yeah, Bilbo does point out a fault in the Dwarves plan (later, when he's basically leading the party) that they forgot to include the detail of a live dragon in their plans. One he felt was rather important, or something like that.

me9996 · 02-14-2005, 09:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Wizard from Milan

I am rereading the Hobbit; I am at the beginning.
Why was biblo designated as burglar?
If they only needed a 14th person, he could have been the cook, or whatever else.
Any idea?

EDIT: edited away one line to make it into a separate question

To take the gold from the dragon... how else can I say it?

Another thing, a hobbit can burgle any-were there's gold(Or other valubles)
but he would not be able to cook on the road.

As a hobbit he doesn't have any other usefull skills...

***Earniel*** · 02-15-2005, 06:26 AM

Frankly, considering the love Hobbits have for food, it would surprise me if Bilbo wasn't a decent cook, regardless of being a bachelor. Whether Dwarves would like the Hobbit-cuisine is of course another matter.

All in all, I think Hobbits have quite a few surprising skills.

The Wizard from Milan · 02-15-2005, 11:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eärniel

Whether Dwarves would like the Hobbit-cuisine is of course another matter.

We have a canon answer to that: Thorin and the others liked Bilbo's food very much at the beginning of the book

Wayfarer · 02-15-2005, 12:58 PM

Which also answers the question of whether Bilbo was a good cook.

me9996 · 02-15-2005, 04:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eärniel

Frankly, considering the love Hobbits have for food, it would surprise me if Bilbo wasn't a decent cook, regardless of being a bachelor. Whether Dwarves would like the Hobbit-cuisine is of course another matter.

All in all, I think Hobbits have quite a few surprising skills.

No, that's not it, I just don't think he can cook on the road.

***Earniel*** · 02-15-2005, 05:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Wizard from Milan

We have a canon answer to that: Thorin and the others liked Bilbo's food very much at the beginning of the book

Indeed, I had forgotten about that. However Hobbits do not travel with their larder on their back. (No wonder only a few are interested in ever leaving the Shire.

)

Bilbo would have a lot less to make a meal from on the road, although it wouldn't surprise me he found a way around it. Resourceful little chaps, these Hobbits.

I wonder how many different meals one can make out of cram....

me9996 · 02-19-2005, 09:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eärniel

Indeed, I had forgotten about that. However Hobbits do not travel with their larder on their back. (No wonder only a few are interested in ever leaving the Shire.

)

Bilbo would have a lot less to make a meal from on the road, although it wouldn't surprise me he found a way around it. Resourceful little chaps, these Hobbits.

I wonder how many different meals one can make out of cram....

Remind me... what is cram?

P.S.
Is it the 90 second rule? I'd like to eat that...

P.P.S.
The 90 second rule again! How about some slack for quick posters?

Count Comfect · 02-19-2005, 10:31 PM

Cram is the dwarves' road food - Gimli thinks lembas is something similar when he first encounters it. It is not very tasty, supposedly, but very filling. I'm not sure Bilbo would like it... so he probably wouldn't make any dishes out of it

**Nurvingiel** · 02-20-2005, 09:01 AM

You can't really cook it anyway. I got the impression it was rations, like a Powerbar or something. But more like unleavened bread with some nutritious bits of dried fruit in. I have no idea where I got this impression.

EarthBound · 02-23-2005, 03:54 PM

Cram: bread made of burnt-out college student brains & old exam papers

Embladyne · 02-23-2005, 03:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EarthBound

Cram: bread made of burnt-out college student brains & old exam papers

It's about the only thing the dining halls can cook, and have it taste correctly when burnt or bland....'cause that is it's very nature.

me9996 · 02-26-2005, 09:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EarthBound

Cram: bread made of burnt-out college student brains & old exam papers

Only a teacher would like that!

P.S.
90 seconds? I OBJECT!!!

02-11-2005, 06:52 PM	#1
The Wizard from Milan Elven Warrior Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 421	Why burglar? I am rereading the Hobbit; I am at the beginning. Why was biblo designated as burglar? If they only needed a 14th person, he could have been the cook, or whatever else. Any idea? EDIT: edited away one line to make it into a separate question Last edited by The Wizard from Milan : 02-13-2005 at 05:08 PM.

02-11-2005, 07:01 PM	#2
Wayfarer The Insufferable Join Date: Aug 2001 Posts: 3,333	The Laws of Party Design. You always want at least one Wizard and at least one Thief. And usually a healer of some kind. I think that Gandalf advertised Bilbo as a Burgalar because he knew that that's what the dwarves would need - which, if you look at what happened, is certainly the truth. The dwarves never would have been able to accomplish their quest by force of arms. __________________ Disgraced he may be, yet is not dethroned, and keeps the rags of lordship once he owned

02-12-2005, 05:42 AM	#3
*Earniel* The Chocoholic Sea Elf Administrator Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: N?n in Eilph (Belgium) Posts: 14,363	Wasn't it because they were planning to steal the treasure from under Smaug? They no doubt knew they wouldn't be able to defeat the dragon in combat, they would have had to rely on stealth to get anything of worth out of the adventure. Hm... somehow I have the feeling they didn't think that through entirely. __________________ We are not things.

02-12-2005, 10:46 AM	#4
Count Comfect Word Santa Claus Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 2,922	Yes, I think they already knew they needed a burglar (or Expert Treasure Hunter, as Balin (I think) puts it). So Gandalf was supplying a need. Now, how well thought out that need was is questionable... __________________ Sufficient to have stood, yet free to fall.

02-12-2005, 06:37 PM	#6
Lefty Scaevola AngAdan Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Boerne, Texas Posts: 856	In the notes and varients to 'The quest of Erebor" in UT is the line by Blain: 'You mean a trained tresure seeker, can they still be found?" Burglar would be a shorthand designation for that. __________________ Gaius Mucius Scaevola Older, richer, and wiser than you "Mighty are the Ainur, and mightiest among them is Melkor, but that he may know, and all the Ainur, that I am Iluvatar, those things that ye have sung, I will show them forth, ... And thou, Melkor, shalt see that no theme may be played that hath not its uttermost source in me,"

02-12-2005, 02:14 PM	#5
The Gaffer Elf Lord Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: In me taters Posts: 3,288	There's an interesting account in Unfinished Tales about how Gandalf was pondering on how to get rid of Smaug when he met up with Thorin in Bree. "A chance meeting as we say in Middle-Earth." So the suggestion is that including Bilbo was somehow part of a grand design to bring about Smaug's downfall. Rather tenuous methinks.

02-15-2005, 06:26 AM	#9
*Earniel* The Chocoholic Sea Elf Administrator Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: N?n in Eilph (Belgium) Posts: 14,363	Frankly, considering the love Hobbits have for food, it would surprise me if Bilbo wasn't a decent cook, regardless of being a bachelor. Whether Dwarves would like the Hobbit-cuisine is of course another matter. All in all, I think Hobbits have quite a few surprising skills. __________________ We are not things.

02-15-2005, 12:58 PM	#11
Wayfarer The Insufferable Join Date: Aug 2001 Posts: 3,333	Which also answers the question of whether Bilbo was a good cook. __________________ Disgraced he may be, yet is not dethroned, and keeps the rags of lordship once he owned

02-19-2005, 10:31 PM	#15
Count Comfect Word Santa Claus Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 2,922	Cram is the dwarves' road food - Gimli thinks lembas is something similar when he first encounters it. It is not very tasty, supposedly, but very filling. I'm not sure Bilbo would like it... so he probably wouldn't make any dishes out of it __________________ Sufficient to have stood, yet free to fall.

02-23-2005, 03:54 PM	#17
EarthBound Lady Tipple & Queen of Blessed Thistle Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: I've been told it's all in my head Posts: 916	Cram: bread made of burnt-out college student brains & old exam papers __________________ Beer + Pizza = N'uff said Happy to be here The HACBR has been alerted to my postings…..Hobbits Against Constant Beer References Beer is living proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy. --Ben Franklin I want my Mooter T-Shirt!

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