Review Title: {A Tumultuous Tale of Tremendous Trekking}
Posted: Friday, March 16, 2018
Review of {The Hobbit} by {J. R. R. Tolkien}
A comprehensive review by John Adams Theibert Jr.
Review Method: In this review, I will use a 10-element system to assign a star amount to this story out of a total of 5 stars. Each element has 2 attributes that are each worth 0.25 stars. Each element is worth a total of 0.5 stars. There are 5 primary elements and 5 secondary elements. There are 3 subtotal stars in the primary elements, obtained by adding the primary elements and rounding up. There are 2 subtotal stars in the secondary elements, obtained by adding the secondary elements and rounding down. The grand total number of stars for the rating is determined by adding the number of stars for the subtotals of the primary and secondary elements.
The Primary Elements: Idea, Plot, Characters, Setting, & Theme, which are compared to the 5 primary classical elements: Air, Fire, Water, Earth, & Spirit respectively.
The Idea (The Air Element) — hook and world: {The idea of the story was deep and immersive with an intricacy that seemed organic. The hook was rather effective because it was captivating to learn about the hobbits in a mildly rhetorical way. The world was expansive and compelling in its presence and palpability.} Air element interpretation of the Idea: {The hard wind buffeted the rolling grasslands, pouring over the vegetated hills and rills like a knot of invisible snakes were rolling in the weeds.} Stars for the idea: [0.5] stars out of 0.5 stars.
The Plot (The Fire Element) — conflict and climax: {The plot was exciting and dramatic, building tension and suspense from time to time like a bow and arrow being pulled back just before it is fired. The conflict was not always from the same source, rather it seemed that the journey was the main source of conflict. The climax seemed like a chain reaction, like a match that lit a black powder keg that blew up and detonated all the black powder in every weapon in an armory.} Fire element interpretation of the Plot: {The dragon blew fire into the cave where the trolls had run away to hide and the trap they set went into motion like a Rube Goldberg machine, ultimately dropping a net onto the dragon and clasping its claws with shackles.} Stars for the plot: [0.5] stars out of 0.5 stars.
The Characters (The Water Element) — development and dimension: {The main and supporting characters were nicely fleshed out with glowing personalities and hearty cultures. The main character was the most well developed with a lot of time spent delving into background, characteristics, relationships, and personality traits. All the characters changed during the story rather dramatically giving them a lot of dimensions.} Water element interpretation of the Characters: {The small stream churned and bubbled as its waters swept along eventually joined by tiny creeks and little rivers until it was engorged and swollen with gurgling and rumbling white waters. The small stream became a roaring river, which plummeted over a great fall, cascading into a thunderous ravine.} Stars for the characters: [0.5] stars out of 0.5 stars.
The Setting (The Earth Element) — scenes and senses: {The setting was skillfully described in vivid and captivating ways. The scenes were depicted in clear and ornate ways, which was like watching a painter quickly create a landscape scenery. Since all five senses were used it was easy to be absorbed into the story.} Earth element interpretation of the Setting: {The land cracked and split, as the side of the hill slid down into the valley creating a natural dam that slowly filled with water, creating a lake.} Stars for the setting: [0.5] stars out of 0.5 stars.
The Theme (The Spirit Element) — lesson and epiphany: {The theme of the story was compelling and enduring. The lesson of the story was that even the littlest and most insignificant person can make a great difference in the lives of many, or the world. The epiphany of the story was that dragons love gold and can give those who seek their gold a mental sickness, driving them mad.} Spirit element interpretation of the Theme: {The spirit of the elf princess was sometimes seen at the edge of the Wild Woods and whoever caught a glimpse of her would be drawn into the depths of the forest after her, never to be seen again.} Stars for the theme: [0.5] stars out of 0.5 stars.
Subtotal stars for the Primary Elements (always rounding up), [3] stars out of 3 stars.
The Secondary Elements: Style, Substance, Grammar, Essence, & Impression, which are compared to the 5 secondary classical elements: Mist, Bone, Wood, Metal, & Shadow respectively.
The Style (The Mist Element) — logic and pacing: {The style of this story was eclectic and rustic. The logic of this story was easy to follow and its transitions were smooth and effortless. The pacing of this story was mild with quick bursts at times, remaining mentally stimulating even through the slower parts.} Mist element interpretation of the Style: {Hundreds of geothermal geysers at the edge of a vast mineral stained lake sent dense clouds of mist blowing across the solid rock shoreline.} Stars for the style: [0.5] stars out of 0.5 stars.
The Substance (The Bone Element) — skeleton and teeth: {This story was quite substantial. The skeleton of this story was rather extensive and well connected. This story had a controversial premise, which was greed will break down negotiations faster than aggression, thus, this story had long jagged dangerous-looking fangs.} Bone element interpretation of the Substance: {The giant skeleton of a mosasaurs opened its jaws wide and bit a large hole in a shipwreck, not knowing that the ship had been sunk hundreds of years ago.} Stars for the substance: [0.5] stars out of 0.5 stars.
The Grammar (The Wood Element) — sentence structure and word usage: {The grammar did not have any problems. Sentence structure and word usage were fine, but there were some strangely used words like “mountains glowered,” “scuttling behind trees” and “His last throes splintered into sparks and gledes.”} Wood element interpretation of the Grammar: {The curio, which was made of intricately carved and varnished maple wood, was full of many glass and crystal sculptures that were dazzling in the internal lighting.} Stars for grammar: [0.5] stars out of 0.5 stars.
The Essence (The Metal Element) — emotion and memory: {This story had a delicious and delightful essence. The most emotional part happened in the aftermath of the climax and is hard to say anything about without spoiling. The most memorable part was the beginning of the story during the hook when we meet the main character.} Metal element interpretation of the Essence: {The metallic gladiatorial robot entered the arena with blades spinning and sparks flying as it darted across the obstacle-laden floor to meet and hopefully defeat its opponent.} Stars for the essence: [0.5] stars out of 0.5 stars.
The Impression (The Shadow Element) — opinion and talent: {My impression of this story is that it was extremely enjoyable to read and examine. In my opinion, this story is a superb example of excellent skill matched with phenomenal creativity. This author had marvelous talent and basically invented the fantasy genre.} Shadow element interpretation of the Impression: {The shadows from the trees, which were animated by the wind, made a strange display on the sheer mountainside, appearing to be trolls arm-wrestling while a gaggle of their friends clambered around them.} Stars for the impression: [0.5] stars out of 0.5 stars.
Subtotal stars for the Secondary Elements (always rounding down) [2] stars out of 2 stars.
Conclusion: {This classic fantasy story got a flawless score and, I guess, should really have gotten 6 out of 5 stars if that was possible.}
Grand total stars for the story — primary elements and secondary elements: [5] stars out of 5 stars.