Though The Hobbit is a fairly short story (especially in comparison to Tolkien's other works), it still manages to pack an exciting adventure and a plethora of interesting characters into the mix. The movies managed to, for better or worse, stretch this story into 3 films, which at the very least gives the audience more time to get to know the new characters that have been introduced. Though some cross over, there are quite a few characters that are exclusive to the story of The Hobbit and don't show up in The Lord of the Rings.
One such character is Bard the Bowman, who starts off fairly normal and quickly becomes a linchpin in the whole story, particularly in the movies, where he is given more to do. In a way, it's odd that the person who takes out one of the big antagonistic threats in the story isn't one of the main characters, which is likely why Bard becomes a bigger player in the films. Who exactly is Bard the Bowman, where did he come from, and why is he so important to the main events of The Hobbit?
The Hobbit: What Kind of Dragon Is Smaug?
Considered as the definitive dragon in high fantasy, Smaug is one of the most fearsome and impressive creatures in the world of J. R. R. Tolkien.
Who Was Bard The Bowman?
- Bard was descended from Lord Girion of Dale, whose family had fled to Lake-town when the dragon Smaug initially took over the Lonely Mountain and destroyed Dale in the process.
- Bard was the one who killed Smaug with his black arrow.
- After the Battle of the Five Armies, Bard went back to his ancestral home of Dale and restored it to its former glory, becoming King of Dale in TA 2944.
- Bard the Bowman was portrayed by Luke Evans in The Hobbit movies.
Lake-town was a settlement of Men near the Lonely Mountain, which had been taken over by the dragon Smaug years prior. When Smaug attacked Lake-town, Bard was captain of the town archers, and he ordered his men to fight the dragon until they ran out of arrows. Bard himself was down to his last arrow when a small thrush landed on his shoulder, and because Bard was of the race of Dale, he was able to understand what the thrush was saying. The little bird told him about a weak spot in Smaug's armor-like scales that Bilbo Baggins had discovered earlier. All Bard had left was his Black Arrow, which he fired into the dragon, as Tolkien described in The Hobbit:
Arrow! Black arrow! I have saved you to the last. You have never failed me and always I have recovered you. I had you from my father and he from of old. If ever you came from the forges of the true king under the Mountain, go now and speed well!
Bard struck Smaug in the chest, slaying him but destroying Lake-town in the process, as the dragon's body landed on the town. Bard escaped into the lake and swam to shore, where he found the people of Lake-town who asked him to be their new leader. However, Bard said he would still follow the Master of Lake-town for the time being. He did, however, take charge of getting shelter for the refugees and asking the Elvenking Thranduil for aid. Bard and Thranduil then set off to the Lonely Mountain together to get a share of the treasure that Smaug had been guarding.
Why Is Bard Important To The Story Of The Hobbit?
Bard is obviously important as the person who slays the dragon, allowing the Dwarves to re-enter their former home in the Lonely Mountain, which was the main goal of their quest in The Hobbit. However, he is central to the story later on as well. When he and King Thranduil traveled to the Lonely Mountain, they came across Thorin Oakenshield and his band of Dwarves (plus Bilbo). Bard asked Thorin for repayment for killing Smaug, and also claimed that part of the dragon's treasure had once belonged to Dale and should be returned to its rightful home, especially since the people of Lake-town desperately needed aid.
Thorin, who was beginning to become consumed by dragon-sickness, refused to talk to the outside parties or to give them any of the treasure. Bilbo, however, thought that Bard's request was reasonable, and visited him in the night with the Arkenstone in hand - the treasure that Thorin desired most - for Bard to use as a bargaining chip. When they showed up at the Lonely Mountain again and asked Thorin for a part of the riches in exchange for the stone, Thorin agreed to give them Bilbo's one-fourteenth share, though he was incredibly angry. An army of 500 Dwarves led by Dáin Ironfoot came from the Iron Hills to also attempt to enter the Lonely Mountain, and Bard tried to stop them until he was able to make the exchange for the Arkenstone.
It seemed like there might be a battle until Gandalf came bearing the news that an army of Goblins and Wargs was approaching. Despite the previous tensions, Bard, Thranduil, and Dáin decided to join forces and fight the incoming enemies - which became the Battle of the Five Armies. Thorin, of course, was mortally wounded during the conflict, and Bard laid the Arkenstone on Thorin's breast when he was buried under the mountain. Dáin granted Bard his share of the treasure, and Bard used a lot of that to rebuild Lake-town. He later restored Dale and became its king, maintaining a good relationship with the Dwarves in the Lonely Mountain for his whole reign.
The Lord of the Rings
The Lord of the Rings is one of the most iconic names in entertainment. The franchise started with novels from J. R. R. Tolkien before being adapted onto the big screen by Peter Jackson in one of the most critically-acclaimed film trilogies of all time. There have also been numerous The Lord of the Rings video games of varying quality.
