Two things have stuck out to me since beginning to re-read this story. They are rather obscure in the text (mere phrases), but it is interesting to observe them.
Early in this particular story, Gandalf says that "...dragons are comfortably far-off (and therefore legendary). I have no deep analysis of this single phrase, but think about it. Reality is often limited to the immediate surroundings. Nothing is real unless one is in its immediate presence. The only way to be in its immediate presence is to go, and in going, what was far-off is no longer far-off, and therefore is no longer legendary. But what one may be looking directly at (something no longer legendary) will still be far-off to others back home (therefore legendary). And since one has gone to the far-off, he or she is now legendary as well.
The other thing I would like to call attention to is Gandalf's warning to not leave the path in Mirkwood. Gandalf shouted the warning, and it is printed in all caps. How often do readers see warnings like that, and how often do those being warned ignore or disobey that warning? Of course, the disobedience results in chaos and danger. You would think these protagonists would learn eventually. But then, I suppose we would not have stories if they stopped ignoring warnings. Nevertheless, Gandalf warned Bilbo and the dwarves, and they strayed. They faced spiders and gloom. I think it serves as a good lesson: Listen to warnings and you can probably avoid spiders.
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