Editing Bard the Bowman (section)

==Analysis==

According to [[John D. Rateliff]], Bard may have been inspired by [[Wiglaf]] in the [[Old English]] poem ''[[Beowulf]]'', [[Beowulf and Middle-earth|which inspired Tolkien]] with many elements in the final chapters of ''The Hobbit''.{{sfn|Rateliff|2007b|pp=557–558}} Like Bard, Wiglaf is introduced late into the story, is not named until late in the story, is the only one with enough courage to face a [[The Dragon (Beowulf)|dragon]] and is of royal lineage.{{sfn|Rateliff|2007b|pp=557–558}} Rateliff believes that Bard is the first human character in Tolkien's work to experience a happy fate, unlike [[Beren]], [[Húrin]] and [[Túrin Turambar]].{{sfn|Rateliff|2007b|pp=556–557}} Rateliff sees Bard as a precursor and foreshadower of [[Aragorn]]: both restore their ancestor's kingdoms in all their glory.{{sfn|Rateliff|2007b|pp=556–557}}

[[Marjorie Burns]] believes that Bard is a humble hero like Aragorn, [[Faramir]] and Gandalf, all brought into Tolkien's legendarium to replace the powerful unworthy, such as the mayor of Lake-town, [[Denethor]], [[Boromir]] and [[Saruman]].<ref name="Burns">[[Marjorie Burns|Burns, Marjorie]]. "King and Hobbit: The Exalted and Lowly in Tolkien's Created Worlds" in {{harvnb|Hammond|Scull|2006|pp=139–152}}.</ref> In his initial appearance, Bard is shown as a negative character who always sees the worst side of situations, but Sumner G. Hunnewell believes that Bard shows happiness and generosity after the destruction of Lake-town.<ref name="Hunnewell">Hunnewell, Sumner G. "Naysayers in the Works of Tolkien" in {{harvnb|Hammond|Scull|2006|pp=171, 180}}.</ref>