The Hobbit Lesson Plan

Why does Gandalf leave Bilbo and the dwarves?

As you will find later in the text, Gandalf has a real reason for leaving: he's involved in a conflict with a dark force known as the Necromancer. However, it seems likely that Gandalf may have left them for other reasons, as well. As a wise and powerful wizard, he has a tendency to solve problems really, really effectively - which doesn't give the dwarves (or Bilbo) the opportunity to solve problems for themselves. As the potential King Under the Mountain, Thorin needs a challenging opportunity to grow as a leader, and cannot always rely on Gandalf to get him out of tricky situations

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