1a. What does Bilbo find on the ground as he crawls along through the tunnel?
2a. What kind of game did Bilbo and Gollum play? What will happen if Bilbo can't answer Gollum's riddle? What will happen if Gollum can't answer Bilbo's riddle?
3a. How does Bilbo escape from Gollum?
1b. What did the narrator mean by saying that "finding it was a turning point in his career"?
2b. Why do you think Bilbo and Gollum agree to play?
3b. Why does Bilbo decide to jump over Gollum and run away instead of killing him with his sword?
4a. How would you describe Bilbo's character? List his qualities.
4b. Based on your description of Bilbo's character, predict what he would do or how he would react if Gollum won the riddle game.
5a. Pretend you are a judge. How would you rule Bilbo's last riddle? Do you think it was a fair question? Why or why not?
5b. In what ways would the story be different if Gollum kept his word and simply showed Bilbo out of the tunnel? Do you think their relationship would be different compared to the way it ended in the story? Why or why not?
Narrator. Does the narrator of The Hobbit seem to take part in the action of the story, or is he or she an outside witness?
Character. The two major characters in this selection are Bilbo Baggins and a creature named Gollum. Which is the protagonist? Which is the antagonist? How do you know?
1. Imagine you are Bilbo. Write a postcard to your family, describing the place in which you are lost. Include how you feel about being lost.
2. Imagine you are Gollum, who has lost all his friends. Write a journal entry about how you feel now that there is no one to talk to.
3. Pretend you are a goblin. As a goblin, you know your way around the tunnels. Go back to the text and write down directions for Bilbo to help him find his way out of the tunnel.
Working With Verbs. The following words are all verbs, or action words, found in The Hobbit. Use a thesaurus to come up with a short list of words or phrases that could be used in place of each vocabulary word.
1. blunder =
2. devour =
3. flummox =
4. gall =
5. shamble =
6. sheathe =
7. venture =
Using Commas and Quotation Marks. The use of commas and quotation marks helps readers to understand what part is narration and what part is conversation/dialogue within a story. On paper, rewrite the sentences below, placing commas and quotation marks in their proper places:
1. Bilbo said give me a moment to think about the answer.
2. I don't know the way home Bilbo cried miserably.
3. Curse it! Curse it! screamed Gollum. Curse Bilbo!
4. As he shook his head in shame he said I lost the game.
5. I don't think so Bilbo replied.
6. This way! someone yelled. That way! others yelled.
7. Oh well, if it's a matter of ordinary questions Bilbo replied then I asked one first.
8. But you never guessed my last question, and you promised said Bilbo.
9. Both wrong cried Bilbo very much relieved.
10. Never you mind said Bilbo.
Researching Creatures: The author of The Hobbit, J. R. R. Tolkien, borrowed heavily from mythology and folklore from the Middle Ages in creating his stories. These stories include elves, goblins, fairies, and dragons. Pick one of these creatures to research. Then write a short paper that describes your creature in detail. If you want to be creative, draw a picture of your creature. Research Log. Use this log to keep track of the sources you use, the information you find, and your reactions to what you learn.
Internet sources:
Books and other print sources:
Notes:
