The Hobbit: Flies and Spiders
The recap, key beats, and evidence for Flies and Spiders, without reopening the whole book.
Section recap · 2 min read
What happens in Flies and Spiders.
Inside Mirkwood the company runs out of food, loses the path, and is captured by giant spiders after the dwarves wander toward mysterious lights and fall into an enchanted sleep. Bilbo kills a spider alone, names his sword Sting, and then rescues the dwarves by distracting the spiders with taunts and using the ring to move invisibly. This chapter is where Bilbo genuinely becomes the group's leader. The dwarves are then captured by Wood-elves, and Bilbo, invisible, follows them into the elven halls.
The beats worth remembering.
Bilbo Kills a Spider Alone
While the dwarves are cocooned and helpless, Bilbo wakes up, kills a spider by himself without any help, and feels a new confidence afterward. He names his blade Sting. This is the clearest sign yet that he has changed.
Bilbo Rescues the Dwarves
Using the ring to stay invisible, Bilbo taunts and leads the spiders away from the cocooned dwarves, then doubles back to cut them free. He has to do this largely through his own plan, with no Gandalf and no outside rescue.
Wood-elves Capture the Dwarves
Just when the dwarves are free, Wood-elves appear and take them prisoner. Bilbo slips his ring on in time and is not caught, setting up the next chapter's escape plot.
The moments you can actually use later.
Naming the Sword
Bilbo giving his blade a name mirrors what heroes do in older epic traditions. It signals that he now sees himself as someone who fights, not just someone who gets carried along.
Dwarves' Dependence on Bilbo
The dwarves, who spent the early chapters doubting Bilbo's usefulness, are now entirely dependent on him. They cannot free themselves from the spiders. This reversal is useful evidence for any argument about Bilbo's growing role in the group.
What to carry forward.
Bilbo's Transformation Is Now Visible
Up to this point Bilbo's growth has been gradual. Killing the spider and naming Sting is the moment the text makes his change explicit. Students should use this scene as evidence of his development arc.
The Ring as a Tool, Not Just a Trick
Bilbo uses the ring strategically here, not just to hide from danger. He plans around it, uses it to mislead enemies, and relies on it as a genuine asset. This is worth noting for later discussions about the ring's role in the story.
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How this guide is built
This guide is built from the original text to help you get oriented fast. It is designed for recall, paper planning, and getting unstuck, but it is still a paraphrased guide, not a substitute for the reading itself. Double-check anything important before you turn in formal work.