The answer is the first one.
In "Writers often disavow the notion of a 'literary duty'" the author conveys a somewhat condescending attitude, as if they would always follow this and set aside anyone who said otherwise. This attitude says the author is looking down on them, and that the author believes that many authors do not meet their standards.
Another answer I would consider is "...writers ruined by their shrill commitments." However, there is no context or clear tone. The author could be mournful of the lost potential for all we know.
He used riddling to talk to Smaug I think because he wanted to stall and waste time as he figured out a plan. He also used riddles to talk to Golem who he clearly was trying to stall to save himself as Golem wanted to kill and eat Bilbo. So it is a reoccurring theme of Bilbo and it makes sense.
True due to the fact that the category makes sense.
n improbable idea. A mongrel nation built of ever-changing disparate parts, it is held together by a notion, the notion t
