Which character is the dragon-slayer in J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit?

Bard the Bowman is the dragon-slayer in J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit.

Bard is a man of Lake-town and a descendant of Girion, the former lord of Dale. When Smaug attacks Lake-town, Bard uses a black arrow and his bow to strike the dragon’s vulnerable spot. Smaug falls, but the destruction of Lake-town leaves Bard responsible for helping his people survive.

The story emphasizes that Bard succeeds through courage, inherited knowledge, and a precise understanding of Smaug’s weakness. The thrush tells him where to aim, allowing him to use the last effective shot.

Bard is sometimes confused with Thorin Oakenshield, who leads the Dwarves, or with Beorn, who is a shape-shifter. In Tolkien’s book, Bard’s victory over Smaug also gives him a major political role: he becomes the leader of the survivors and helps rebuild Dale.