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troperville

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tools

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toys

The novel

• The deaths of Thorin, Fíli and Kíli, and particularly the Final Speech of the former:
  "There is more in you of good than you know, child of the kindly West. Some courage, and some wisdom, blended in measure. If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world. But sad or merry, I must leave it now. Farewell."
  • Fili and Kili dying is understated in itself, but throughout the book the narration makes it clear that they are the youngest and merriest of the group, which you notice a lot more when you re-read the book.

The computer game

• The Hobbit computer game is mostly a brightly-colored, action-adventure version of Tolkien's book. Then you get to Mirkwood, and meet Corwin, a soldier from Laketown, whose entire party was just killed by spiders, including his brother. The music alone will tear your heart out.