The Hobbit Novel Study Guide

Chapter One-- An Unexpected Party
1. Give a brief description of a hobbit.
2. Who is Bilbo Baggins?
3. What does Gandalf do with the spike on his staff just before leaving Bilbo's home?
4. Who began to arrive at Bilbo's home the next day for tea?
5. What does Gandalf threaten to do if the assembled dwarves refuse to accept his choice of Bilbo Baggins as the fourteenth man for their expedition?
6. According to Thorin what had happened to his family's wealth?
Chapter Two-- Roast Mutton
1. What indication is there in the note left by Thorin and Company that the adventure or quest may prove to be dangerous for Bilbo?
2. Explain what happens to the dwarves as they come to Bilbo's aid.
3. How does Gandalf use his powers on Bert and Tom and William?
4. What did Gandalf and Thorin each take from the cave?
Chapter Three-- A Short Rest
1. According to Gandalf, what lay hidden somewhere not too far ahead of the travelers?
2. Who was Elrond?
3. Explain moon letters.
4. What is Durin's Day?
Enrichment: Journal – Where do we use secret codes today? List at least 3 ways you see codes used in modern day society – Explain their usefulness.
Chapter Four-- Over Hill and Under Hill
1. Explain how the dwarves and the hobbit were able to find their way up the treacherous mountain.
2. Summarize Bilbo's dream that evening.
3. What happened when the crack in the wall snapped shut?
4. Why were the Great Goblin and many of his soldiers so upset when they saw Thorin's sword?
5. Who came to the rescue of the dwarves and what weapon did they use?
6. What happens to Bilbo at the end of this chapter?
Chapter Five-- Riddles in the Dark
1. What does Bilbo find as he crawls blindly along the floor of the tunnel?
2. Who is Gollum and where does he live?
3. Explain the power of Gollum's ring.
4. Explain how Gollum unexpectedly helps the hobbit in his escape.
5. Why are the goblins reluctant to pursue Bilbo Baggins once he is outside?
Chapter Six-- Out of the Frying-Pan into the Fire
1. What did the dwarves want to do when there was no sign of Bilbo?
2. Why did Gandalf encourage the adventurers to hurry on their way?
3. Who helped Bilbo escape into the tree?
4. Why did the wolves alert the goblins to the adventurers who are hiding in the trees?
5. Who rescued the party of adventurers from their perilous position in the trees? How?
Enrichment: Create your own character for The Hobbit and discuss how you would introduce them to the novel. Some readers might have already noticed the absence of female characters in the novel.
Chapter Seven-- Queer Lodgings
1. According to Gandalf what are two possibilities explaining the origin of Beorn?
2. How does Gandalf prove himself to be a great manipulator when he is talking to Beorn?
3. What warning does Beorn give the travellers about proceeding through Mirkwood?
4. What were Gandalf's final cautionary words as he bade farewell to the dwarves and Bilbo?
5. How Gandalf is able to manipulate various characters in the novel.
Chapter Eight-- Flies and Spiders
1. Describe what happened to Bombur as he was about to step into the boat.
2. Explain why Bilbo and the dwarves strayed from the path.
3. What did Bilbo discover was happening to him when he awoke?
4. Explain the changes in Bilbo Baggins' character as he renames his sword Sting.
5. Why is Bilbo horrified when he stumbles upon the dwarves in a dark part of the Mirkwood forest?
6. What do the dwarves discover when they take a headcount?
Chapter Nine-- Barrels Out of Bond
1. Where did the Wood-elves take their captives?
2. How did the dwarves react to their interrogation by the Elvenking?
3. How did Bilbo learn that Thorin was being kept captive in the dungeon?
4. Briefly describe their final departure from the palace.
Enrichment: Write a short script of a conversation between two of the main characters; for example, Thorin thanking Bilbo for rescuing everyone.
Chapter Ten-- A Warm Welcome
1. Describe the scene as Bilbo approaches the region where the trees ended.
2. Why did the guards at Lake-town not keep a very careful watch?
3. Why were the raft-men elves so astonished at the appearance of the dwarves?
4. Why does the Master relinquish his own great chair to Thorin despite the fact that he is not completely convinced that the dwarf is who he claims to be?
5. How did the Elvenking respond to the news of the dwarves' plans to kill the dragon, Smaug, and capture his treasure.
6. Who was the only person thoroughly unhappy the day of the departure?
Chapter Eleven-- On the Doorstep
1. Describe their surroundings as the adventurers moved nearer to the Mountain.
2. Which dwarf informs Bilbo that he was in the Dale the day the Dragon attacked?
3. What did Bilbo and his companions see on their scouting expedition?
4. Explain how Bilbo begins to take a leadership role in their quest.
5. How does Bilbo finally unlock the riddle and the secret door?
Enrichment: Pretend you are a journalist. Write a brief news article about the band of adventurers journey and what you anticipate will happen in the days ahead.
Chapter Twelve-- Inside Information
1. How did the dwarves respond when Bilbo asked for volunteers to accompany him into the Mountain?
2. What did Bilbo carry back to the dwarves?
3. What indication is there that Bilbo is turning into a real leader?
4. What was Bilbo pleased to see when he tricked the dragon into displaying his underside?
5. How did the band of adventurers become trapped in the Mountain?
Chapter Thirteen-- Not at Home
1. Why do the dwarves finally relent and make their way down the dark tunnel to Smaug's lair?
2. What does Bilbo confiscate from the mound of treasure?
3. How does Tolkien use the treasure to portray the dwarves in a negative light?
4. In addition to the gems and gold, what else did the dwarves confiscate?
5. Why did Thorin offer to lead the group of adventurers to the Front Gate?
Enrichment: Compare and contrast The Hobbit with other works of fantasy – Think movies, books, etc. What do you like/dislike about fantasy? Is there a particular age group to whom the fantasy genre appeals? Explain.
Chapter Fourteen-- Fire and Water
1. How does the Bard save the day?
2. Why is the Master angry? Why is the crowd angry?
3. What did the Elvenking think had happened to Thorin and the dwarves when he received news of Smaug's death?
4. Who came to the Bard's assistance thus enabling the townspeople to survive the approaching winter?
Chapter Fifteen-- The Gathering of the Clouds
1. Why would the presence of carrion birds suggest that a battle is imminent?
2. What news does Roac bring to the dwarves?
3. What course of action did Thorin choose after hearing the news?
4. How does the Bard justify his claim and also that of his men to Smaug's treasure?
5. What conditions did Thorin insist on before he would negotiate any terms of settlement with the Bard?
Enrichment: Evaluate Thorin’s decision about the treasure- Is he right or wrong? Explain. – What does it tell you about his personality?
Chapter Sixteen-- A Thief in the Night
1. What does Thorin vow to do to anyone who withholds the Arkenstone?
2. How was Bilbo able to escape?
3. Why did Bilbo give the Arkenstone to the Bard?
Enrichment: Explain the expression, "I may be a burglar. . . but I am an honest one". Explain the phrase, "Honour amongst thieves".
Is stealing always wrong? Defend your answer.
Chapter Seventeen-- The Clouds Burst
1. How does Bilbo defend himself against Thorin's accusation that he has stolen the Arkenstone?
2. Why did the dwarf attack against the Bard and the Elvenking end as quickly as it had begun?
3. What role does the hobbit play in this fierce battle?
4. What is the "gleam in the gloom" and how does it turn the tide of the battle?
5. What happens to Bilbo at the end of this chapter?
Chapter Eighteen-- The Return Journey
1. Who has sent a man in search of Bilbo?
2. Who has been mortally wounded?
3. What protagonist from earlier in the story reappears to do battle with the forces of evil?
4. Describe Thorin's final resting place.
5. How do we know that Bilbo was well guided and well guarded on his way home?
Enrichment: Are the dwarves basically good or basically evil?
Chapter Nineteen-- The Last Stage
1. Explain why Gandalf had to leave the party of adventurers near Mirkwood?
2. Explain the commotion that Bilbo discovers as he arrives at his home.
3. Gandalf tells Bilbo he is not the hobbit he once used to be. Do you agree or disagree? Defend your response.
Enrichment: Write a new ending to the novel.