The Hobbit Read-Along discussion

This week we read chapters 3, 4, and 5! Anything related to these chapters can be discussed on this thread, but some questions/ideas to consider are:

We meet elves for the first time in this week’s chapters. For those who’ve read Lord of the Rings how does Tolkien’s portrayal of the elves in The Hobbit differ from his later writings? Which “version” of the elves do you prefer?

We tend to think of Middle Earth’s inhabitants as falling pretty cleanly into “evil” (trolls, goblins) and “good” (elves, hobbits, dwarves.) But in this chapter we encounter a few “grey” characters (the giants, Gollum). Do you think this adds or subtracts from the story?

Though Bilbo doesn’t know it, the most significant event of his life took place during “Riddles in the Dark.” What do you think of his riddle game with Gollum? Of the way both characters think and talk of the Ring? When Tolkien wrote The Hobbit he had no idea of the true importance of Bilbo’s ring - how is this apparent (thanks to hindsight) in the book?

It baffles me sometimes that Tolkien could be writing simultaneously about the High Elves like Fingolfin and Turgon in the early Silmarillion, and the absolute nutters that turn up in The Hobbit! Even if The Hobbit wasn't properly in Middle-Earth at the time.
As to which I prefer - well, I love the Silmarillion, and the High Elves, to bits, but I wouldn't want to know them. I'd much rather be singing in Rivendell.

Melinda wrote: "It baffles me sometimes that Tolkien could be writing simultaneously about the High Elves like Fingolfin and Turgon in the early Silmarillion, and the absolute nutters that turn up in The Hobbit! E..."

Yeah, the Elves in The Hobbit look a bit silly sometimes, haha.

It is funny to think, that many of those Elves in Rivendell are the once oh so proud Noldor.

Also, I think the giants can make for a discussion in itself.
Were they metaphors, ents (meaning "giant" in Anglo-Saxon), Maiar, some other kind spirits in stones (a bit like ents and giant eagles), etc.?

I personally love the elves in The Hobbit, there's something refreshing and charming to see them so... human. Often elves are thought of as wise creatures, near faultless. Them sitting around laughing and singing, even teasing Thorin and Bilbo, made me smile at how lifelike they felt. I could imagine quiet clearly a group of friends lounging together, possibly waiting for Gandalf and the Company on Elrond's orders.

I personally haven't read LOTR yet (I know, I know, I'm horrible) so I can't really comment on the difference in the portrayal of the elves. ^^"

But I think encountering 'grey' characters in Middle Earth actually makes the book more interesting. Firstly because it seems more realistic that there are beings in Middle Earth that prefer not to participate in wars and the like and not to choose side. And secondly because it shows that not everyone is inherently good or evil, like Gollum. Especially in LOTR, you see that Gollum can change either for the good or the bad depending on how people treat him. And I think that adds another layer to the story.

I think the riddles and the songs in the book really add a sense of what kind of atmosphere they are said and sung in, and are the most beautiful part of the book (up until now). And as James also said, I love that the elves are so joyful and almost human in The Hobbit.
I think the fact that Tolkien didn't know how important the Ring would become is apparent in The Hobbit because it isn't given that much significance yet. It is just used as a Ring that Bilbo can use to disappear and save the Company from some nasty situations. But that could also be because the power of Sauron isn't really important in The Hobbit (I think? Until now, at least), and he therefore doesn't feel anything like what Frodo feels when he puts on the Ring.

In the many meetings chapter of the fellowship Sam does begin to describe Rivendale's elves, saying something along the lines of how some were stoic and kingly and others were as merry as children. I guess they were just having a much better week during the events of the hobbit then the LOTR, so more elves were happy.