What job does Gandalf propose for Bilbo on the expedition?

What job does Gandalf propose for Bilbo on the expedition? Gandalf proposes that Bilbo serve as the company’s burglar. The role is meant to use a Hobbit’s small size, quiet movement, and ability to pass unnoticed while helping Thorin and the Dwarves reclaim their treasure from Smaug.

Bilbo strongly objects because he is a respectable, comfort-loving Hobbit with no professional experience as a thief. Gandalf nevertheless recommends him, and Thorin’s company accepts the arrangement. The label is part of the expedition’s practical plan: Bilbo is expected to enter places the Dwarves cannot safely reach and investigate the dragon’s lair.

The title becomes especially important after Bilbo reaches the Lonely Mountain. He enters Smaug’s hoard and speaks with the dragon, discovering that courage and judgment matter as much as stealth. The word “burglar” can be confused with “scout,” but Gandalf’s stated job is specifically burglar; Bilbo’s later scouting and adventuring grow out of that assignment.