What did Bilbo Baggins intend to do if he was unable to find Gandalf and the dwarves?
Go back and look for them.
What does this reveal about Bilbo’s character?
He is loyal.
What did the dwarves want to do when there was no sign of Bilbo?
Go on without him.
What does this reveal about the dwarves’ feelings towards Bilbo?
They do not value or appreciate him.
Why are the wolves and goblins meeting in the clearing the night that Bilbo, Gandalf, and the dwarves stumble into the middle of it?
To plan a raid on the human village.
Who rescued the party of adventurers from their perilous position in the trees?
The eagles.
What announcement caused the dwarves to moan and Bilbo to weep?
Gandalf was leaving them to continue the adventure by themselves.
What happened to the wolf and the goblin Beorn captured?
He cut the goblin’s head off. He skinned the wolf.
What two warnings does Beorn give the travelers about proceeding through Mirkwood?
- Don’t drink from or bathe in the stream
- Don’t leave the path
What shadowy form did Bilbo think he had seen on their third evening of their journey into Mirkwood?
a great bear, Beorn.
What happened to Bombur after he crossed the enchanted stream? Why does this incident slow down the travel of the dwarves and Bilbo?
He was startled by a deer and fell into the water which caused him to fall asleep. The dwarves were slowed down because they had to carry Bombur.
Explain the transformation of Bilbo’s character as he renames his sword. What is the name that Bilbo gives his sword?
Bilbo goes from hobbit to hero when he kills the first spider. He feels strong and fierce as a result. He names his sword Sting.
Explain how Bilbo rescues the dwarves from the spiders. What does this reveal about his character?
He throws rocks and sings songs to anger them so he can lead them away from the dwarves. He then sneaks back to rescue them. It shows that he is clever and brave.
Who played a key role in the escape of the dwarves from prison? Briefly describe their final departure from the palace.
Bilbo planned the whole escape. The dwarves were placed in barrels that the elves dumped into the river and they floated away.
What strange creatures inhabit Lake-town?
humans.
What is so different about the town itself?
It is built on piles made from trees in the middle of the lake.
Who was the only person thoroughly unhappy the day the adventurers departed from Lake-town? Why?
Bilbo was unhappy because he had seen the Lonely Mountain and did not like the look of it.
What did the land look like as they got closer to the Lonely Mountain?
The land was burned and desolate from Smaug’s destruction, with very little grass and broken and blackened stumps instead of trees.
Provide an example of imagery from one of the chapters (6-11). Explain how Tolkien uses imagery to convey an idea.
The best example comes from chapter 8 where he is describing the extreme darkness of Mirkwood and the glowing of eyes around the group. Tolkien is trying to convey suspense and foreboding about their journey into Mirkwood.
How does Bilbo finally unlock the riddle and the secret door?
He is sitting on the doorstep staring and thinking when the thrush knocks a snail on the grey stone. He suddenly remembers the rune message and solves the riddle.
Provide an example of foreshadowing from one of the chapters (6-11). Explain how Tolkien uses foreshadowing.
When Beorn and Gandalf warn the group not to stray from the path, foreshadowing that Bilbo and the dwarves will leave the path while in Mirkwood.
What is a dynamic character? Why is Bilbo viewed as a dynamic character? Provide an example from one of the chapters (6-11), that supports the idea of Bilbo being a dynamic character.
A dynamic character is a character that changes and grows throughout their story. Bilbo is viewed as dynamic because he transforms from a hobbit to a hero. Examples include when he rescues the dwarves from the spiders, when he plans an escape and executes the escape from the Elvenking’s palace, also in chapter 11 when he studies the map and is more determined than the dwarves to solve the mystery of the door and open it.
