J. R. R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit Reading Guide and Contemporary Classics Study Questions To understand the archetypal journey of the hero, you will be reading the classic fantasy novel The Hobbit. While you are reading, you need to look for and annotate the eight steps and any other archetypes that you might see (see your packets on these subjects). Below, you will find questions that you will guide you through the reading. Neither the annotating nor the questions will be graded, BUT you will have five reading quizzes that demonstrate that you are thoroughly reading and deeply thinking about the text (i.e. annotating). The quizzes will go beyond simply what is asked in the study questions. Those are there to help you understand what you are reading, but do not be limited by them. Another highly recommended source to help you is Random House’s site. You will find questions, summaries, and critical discussions of the text—highly recommended. (http://www.randomhouse.com/highschool/catalog/display.pperl?isbn=9780345339683&view=t g) Also, you will have a project where you demonstrate your understanding of the eight steps and the archetypes as seen in the novel. Following is a list of the dates for the reading quizzes and the due date for the project. Quiz Dates: Wednesday 2/28—Chapters 1-4 Monday 3/5—Chapters 5-8 Friday 3/9—Chapters 9-12 Monday 3/19—Chapters 13-16, 17-19 Project Due Date Monday 3/26 Chapter 1: An Unexpected Party 1. What are hobbits? 2. Who are Bilbo’s ancestors? What conflict might his ancestry create for Bilbo? 3. What are Bilbo’s feelings for his hobbit-hole home, Bag-End? 4. Who is Gandalf? What seems to be Bilbo’s opinion of him? 5. What does Gandalf “give” Bilbo? 6. Who are Bilbo’s visitors the next day? What does Bilbo feel about them? 7. What will Bilbo’s role be in the quest planned by the dwarves? 8. Why does Bilbo agree to join the dwarves on their adventure? 9. What old wrong do the dwarves wish to right? How is their quest defined? 10. Which step occurs in this chapter? What two archetypal roles does Gandalf have here? Chapter 2: Roast Mutton 11. In what way does the journey get off to a bad start for Bilbo? What do his concerns about the journey indicate about Bilbo’s character?
The Hobbit Study Questions
1
12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19.
What is Bilbo’s assignment when the dwarves spot a fire? What does Bilbo discover at the fire site? What disaster occurs at the trolls’ camp? What are the trolls like? What impression do they create? How are Bilbo and the dwarves rescued? What lesson does Bilbo learn from Gandalf’s method of rescue? How well does Bilbo do with his opportunity to help the company? What unexpected windfall do the travelers reap from their adventure? What step occurs in this chapter? What archetypal role do the trolls have here? What does Bilbo take with him from the troll’s treasure?
Chapter 3: A Short Rest 20. What is significant about Bilbo’s question, “‘Is that The Mountain?’” 21. What is the travelers’ destination? 22. How does elfin behavior contrast with what is known about dwarves thus far? 23. How is Elrond? How does he help the company? Chapter 4: Over Hill and Under Hill 24. What forebodings does Gandalf have as the company sets out from Rivendell? 25. What mistakes do the dwarves make early in Chapter 4? 26. In what small way does Bilbo manage to prevent a total disaster in the cave? 27. What sort of creatures do the goblins appear to be? 28. What provokes the goblins’ attack in the Great Goblin’s throne room? How are the captives delivered? 29. Of what special assistance are the swords Orcrist and Glamdring? 30. How is Bilbo separated from his companions? 31. What step occurs in this chapter? Chapter 5: Riddles in the Dark 32. What “turning point” in Bilbo’s career occurs soon after he regains consciousness? 33. How does Bilbo react to his situation? 34. Who does Bilbo meet by the subterranean lake? What is the creature like? 35. What does Gollum propose to Bilbo? How does fair play figure in that proposal? 36. How does the ring aid Bilbo in his escape from Gollum? 37. Why doesn’t Bilbo kill Gollum when he has the chance? What does Bilbo do instead to escape Gollum? 38. How does Bilbo elude the goblins at the door? 39. What step continues in this chapter? 40. What archetype is the ring now? 41. What do the Dwarves think has happened to Bilbo? Chapter 6: Out of the Frying-Pan into the Fire 42. Of what importance is the italicized “behind the mountains” at the beginning of Chapter 6? 43. What does Bilbo overhear when he sneaks up on the dwarves’ camp? 44. How does the attitude of the dwarves change after Bilbo rejoins them?
The Hobbit Study Questions
2
45. 46. 47. 48. 49. 50.
Why does Bilbo conceal from his friends his discovery of the ring? What is “the frying-pan” and what is “the fire”? Why is the second danger more serious than the first? What have the Wargs been planning for that night? Why is this especially troubling for the travelers? How are the questers delivered from “the fire”? What archetype is Bilbo’s return to the party? What step continues in this chapter?
Chapter 7: Queer Lodgings 51. What example of foreshadowing is evident in Chapter 7? 52. What announcement does Gandalf make as soon as the eagles have set them on their way? 53. Who is Beorn? Describe his appearance, lifestyle, and personality. 54. Summarize Beorn’s attitude toward nature. 55. What recurring themes are represented by Gandalf’s two-by-two introduction of the dwarves at Beorn’s? Of what benefit is the scheme to the travelers? 56. What is odd about the dinner Beorn offers his guests? 57. What disturbing warning does Beorn give the travelers? What else frightens Bilbo during his stay at Beorn’s house? 58. What news does Beorn bring when he returns after two days’ absence? 59. Why does Beorn verify for himself Gandalf’s story? What lesson might this give Bilbo? 60. What further aid does Beorn offer the travelers to set them on their way? 61. Why are the dwarves in such a sour mood when they reach Mirkwood? 62. What effect do the capitalized warnings (“MUST NOT” and “DON’T LEAVE THE PATH!”) from Gandalf and Beorn have on the readers? 63. What archetype is Mirkwood Forest? Chapter 8: Flies and Spiders 64. How does the author make use of imagery to describe Mirkwood? What mood is created by that imagery? 65. What mistakes do the dwarves make in the forest up to the point where they decide to leave the path? 66. Why do the travelers decide to leave the path? What happens when they try to carry out their plan? 67. What does Bilbo discover when he wakens from his doze? 68. Why is the death of the first spider so important to Bilbo? 69. How does Bilbo rescue the dwarves? 70. How does Bilbo’s dramatic spider rescue show how far he has developed? (Compare him to before he went into the mountain and confronts Gollum.) 71. How do the dwarves act towards Bilbo after the escape from the spiders? 72. What startling discovery do the dwarves make about Thorin? What has been Thorin’s fate? 73. How are the Wood-elves different from other elves? What further information does Tolkien reveal about the relationship of elves and dwarves?
The Hobbit Study Questions
3
74. 75. 76.
What step continues in this chapter? What step can be seen beginning here (consider what Bilbo is like BEFORE his encounter with Gollum in the mountain)? What archetype does Sting become?
Chapter 9: Barrels Out of Bond 77. What happens to Bilbo and the dwarves as they try to find the path again? 78. Why is the Elvinking angry with the dwarves? 79. How does Bilbo feel about the increasing load of responsibilities for the dwarves? 80. What is Bilbo’s rescue plan? How do the dwarves respond to his idea? 81. What elven frailties aid Bilbo with his escape plan? 82. What serious flaw in his escape plan suddenly occurs to Bilbo at the last minute? How does he cope? 83. What two steps continue in this chapter? Chapter 10: A Warm Welcome 84. What does Bilbo learn from eavesdropping on the conversation of the raftsmen? 85. What is so remarkable about Lake-town? 86. Why do the people of Lake-town treat the dwarves so well? 87. What sort of leader is the Master of Lake-town? 88. What are Bilbo’s feelings as he and his friends set off for Lonely Mountain? Chapter 11: On the Doorstep 89. Why do the company’s spirits droop at the beginning of Chapter 11? 90. What further discouragements do the adventurers face after they finally find the door? 91. How do the travelers get the door open at last? Chapter 12: Inside Information 92. Why is the dwarf refusal to venture down the secret passage no surprise at the beginning of Chapter 12? 93. Why does Tolkien describe Bilbo’s final steps down the tunnel as “the bravest thing he ever did”? 94. At what point does the narrative tense shift in Chapter 12? Why do you think Tolkien makes this shift? 95. How does Tolkien create suspense in his description of the dragon? 96. How does Bilbo react when he sees the treasure? 97. What is Bilbo’s chief thought after he steals the cup? What does this thought reveal about his character? 98. How does Smaug react when he discovers the theft of the cup? How do the adventurers escape from him? 99. What plan does Bilbo propose after Smaug’s attack? 100. What “weapons” does Bilbo use in his conversation with Smaug? 101. What has Smaug guessed about Bilbo’s mission? What still puzzles the dragon? 102. How does the dragon try to poison Bilbo’s trust in the dwarves? How does Bilbo react to Smaug’s insinuations? 103. How does Smaug describe himself to Bilbo?
The Hobbit Study Questions
4
104. 105. 106. 107. 108.
What do Bilbo’s final words to Smaug show about his character development? What is the Arkenstone? How does Bilbo save the dwarves once more at the end of Chapter 12? Why is the company’s position particularly perilous at the end of Chapter 12? What two or three steps get pressed together and resolved in this chapter?
Chapter 13: Not at Home 109. What plan does Bilbo propose when the dwarves discover that the door is blocked? What do Bilbo’s proposal and his execution of that plan reveal about him? 110. What does Bilbo find as he investigates the treasure hoard alone? What does he do with this object, and how does he justify his actions? 111. What finally induces the dwarves to step into Smaug’s den? 112. How does the treasure affect the various members of the company? 113. Describe the company’s passage to the Front Gate. What is the condition of the dwarves’ old stronghold? 114. Why do the travelers leave the Front Gate? Where do they decide to make camp? Chapter 14: Fire and Water 115. Who is Bard of Esgaroth? How is he able to kill Smaug? 116. Why does Tolkien postpone the news of Smaug’s death until Chapter 14? 117. How does the Master further prove to be a poor leader in this chapter? 118. Why would Bard make a better leader than the Master? 119. How do the elves react to the news of Lake-town’s destruction? 120. What plan do the men at arms form at the end of this chapter? What incentive do they have for making such a plan? Chapter 15: The Gathering of the Clouds 121. What function to the plot is served by the raven Roac? 122. What preparations do the dwarves make after they hear news of the approaching men and the elves? 123. What are Bard’s arguments for claiming a share of Thorin’s treasure? 124. How does Thorin react to Bard’s arguments? Why does he react this way? Chapter 16: A Thief in the Night 125. What threat does Thorin make regarding the Arkenstone? 126. Why is the raven pessimistic, despite news that Dain and an army of five hundred dwarves is close to Dale? 127. What plan does Bilbo carry out? Why does he do this? What does the decision reveal about his character? 128. What does Bilbo’s decision to return to the dwarves after giving up the Arkenstone demonstrate? 129. What might Gandalf’s return signify? Chapter 17: The Clouds Burst 130. How does Thorin react to the discovery that the Arkenstone is now in the hands of his enemies?
The Hobbit Study Questions
5
131. How do the other dwarves feel about Bilbo’s banishment? 132. What stops the battle between the dwarves and the forces of men and elves? 133. In this chapter, what two allies unexpectedly join the battle on the side of the elves, men, and dwarves? 134. Why is the Battle of Five Armies a particularly fine culminating adventure to the novel? 135. What is Bilbo’s role in the battle? 136. Why does Tolkien not give Bilbo a role to play in the Battle of Five Armies? Chapter 18: The Return Journey 137. What are Thorin’s last words? Why are they important? 138. What turned the tide decisively in favor of the elves, men, and dwarves in the Battle of Five Armies? 139. What noble gesture do Bard and the Elvenking make at Thorin’s burial? 140. How does Dain, the new dwarf king, dispose of the treasure? 141. Describe Bilbo’s farewell to the dwarves. 142. Why does Bilbo give the Elvenking a gift at their parting? 143. Why is Bilbo’s journey back through the Wild so much safer than his journey out? 144. What two steps take place here? Chapter 19: The Last Stage 145. What does Bilbo learn about Gandalf’s activities at Elrond’s house? 146. What additional treasure does Bilbo accrue on the way home? 147. What time of year does Bilbo return home? Why is this appropriate? 148. What disturbance does Bilbo find at home? 149. What reputation does Bilbo find he has upon his return? 150. Some years after his return, what projects does Bilbo plan to undertake? 151. What news does Balin bring of the land of the Mountain? 152. How does Gandalf respond when Bilbo expresses amazement that the old prophecies have come true? 153. What step occurs here? 154. What boon does Bilbo get?
