The+Hobbit+MM

Michael M student page

The Hobbit Discussion Questions

QUESTION #1: Choose one conflict in The Hobbit, and explain how Tolkien uses it to move the story forward. Don't forget to cite page number when appropriate.

1. One example of a conflict in //The Hobbit// is when Bilbo must outsmart Gollum and escape. Gollum and Bilbo go back and forth asking each other riddles. Each of them guess each other's riddles every time. Finally, Bilbo asks an impossible question. He asks, "What have I got in my pocket? (78)." Gollum cannot guess it in three tries, so Bilbo asks Gollum to show him the way out. Gollum wouldn't do it, because he said Bilbo's riddle wasn't fair. Bilbo put on the ring, and followed Gollum to the exit of the cave. If you Bilbo wears the ring, no one can see any part of him besides his shadow. Bilbo is able to sneak past Gollum and the goblins, and escape. I think Tolkien did a nice job pulling the reader into the story using this character vs. character conflict. This was one of my most favorite part of the book, and once the chapter ended, I couldn't wait to find out how Bilbo would find the rest of the dwarves. ~ This is too brief. Look at some other student's for examples of what I was looking for. ~Mrs. Best

Good job Michael! I think the ring Bilbo took is the best tool they have and they might have a chance to get the gold from the dragon. I think the page turner part was when they meet the big, ugly trolls and they just got away because of the amazing wizard. ~ I love your comments here, Tommy! Just what I was looking for! Mrs. Best - Tommy Kennedy March, 4 reading 5

Awesome job Michael ! I like the sources of literature you used and the scenes from //The Hobbit.// I especially liked this part when I read it too.

Andrew Lococo Reading-5 Mar. 4th, 2011

 QUESTION #2: In your own words, describe what happens next to Bilbo and the dwarves in the forest.

2. After they had walked a little, Bilbo and the dwarves heard a long, shuddering howl. The howl came from a nearby pack of wolves who were howling at the moon. Gandalf told them to climb up the trees quickly, because the wolves were getting closer. But Bilbo couldn't get into a tree, and needed help from Dori. They got up into the tree just as a wolf arrived at the tree. Then, Gandalf used his "wizard powers" and lit pinecones on fire and threw them at the wolves. The wolves were afraid of fire, and they ran away. Then, the goblins came and used the fire against the dwarves and Gandalf. They fed the fire with branches and wood, and made it into a circle around the dwarves. Gandalf climbed to the top of the tree and was about to jump off and kill the goblins when the Lord of Eagles grabbed Gandalf. Other birds grabbed the dwarves and Bilbo and took them to a mountain. Bilbo didn't know the eagles had come to rescue them, and he thought they would be prisoners. But really, Gandalf had done a favor for the Lord of the Eagles, and the Lord of the Eagles had returned the favor. ~Why did they go up the trees? Did Gandalf have matches with him? Poor Bilbo thought they were prisoners, but in fact they were not! The eagle were their friends. I hope you are reading carefully. ~ Mrs. Best

QUESTION #3:

When Gandolf first visits Bilbo, looking for someone to share in an adventure, Bilbo tells Gandalf that hobbits are

"...plain quiet folk and have no use for adventures. Nasty disturbing uncomfortable things! Make you late for dinner! I can't think what anybody sees in them "(7).

The dwarves are not quite sure that Bilbo will be able to handle the adventures at all, and Bilbo himself wonders how he found himself at The Green Dragon Inn, riding a pony away from Hobbiton. But now, Bilbo has become the unspoken leader of the party. Without Bilbo, the dwarves would never have made it to Lonely Mountain.

Is an adventure something that happens to us or how we react to what happens? Often in life, adventures are not as obvious as killing giant spiders or escaping from an Elven king's dungeon. Sometimes adventures are made out of ordinary days and ordinary events, with ordinary people who become the heroes. You may not even realize you've been in an adventure until after it's over!

Think about the times you have learned a new skill, moved, changed schools, competed in sports, welcomed a new pet, discovered a new friend, performed in front of an audience, or had a terrifying fall. These events are adventures in process. Have you grown or changed from your experience with any of these situations, as Bilbo grew and changed  because of his adventure with the dwarves? Recall a time when something happened to cause you to grow and change in a positive way. Respond on your wiki page.

I remember one experience that helped grow and change. It was when I was in kindergarten here at Lumen Christi. I was going to take the bus, with my friend Ryan. Neither of us had older siblings telling us what to do, so we really weren't quite sure what we were doing. We got on the bus and rode the Mequon campus. Both Ryan and I knew this wasn't our school, so we didn't get off the bus. We didn't know that even though this wasn't our school, we were still supposed to get off the bus and get on the other bus that was waiting there. The bus drove to the public school, and all the older kids got off. We didn't get off though because this wasn't our school either. When all the older kids got off, the bus driver asked me and Ryan why we were still on the bus. We told him that those weren't our schools. The bus driver called the bus company. Then, he drove us to the Mequon campus, and Mr. Goeden drove us to the Theinsville campus. I grew and changed because now I knew what was supposed to happen when we were on the bus, but also it helped us mature and learn to interact when there is a problem.

Bilbo has changed in the same way. At the beginning of the story, Bilbo was fragile. He was always complaining about how tired or hungry he was. Now, even though he sometimes thinks about food, he doesn't say out loud very often. He has also become their leader when it has always been Thorin Oakenshield or Gandalf. I have a feeling that it will be Bilbo who leads them out of their mess. ~ This is a cute story of an adventure! Love it! ~Mrs. Best


 * //QUESTION #4: //**

If Thorin could have lived, do you think he would have regretted his greed? What do you think Tolkien is trying to teach us about material wealth by Thorin's death? In your response, site textual evidence to support your response. Use page numbers too.

<span style="color: #000000; font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">I think Thorin would certainly have regretted his greed. Thorin only wanted the Arkenstone, "(the Arkenstone) is worth more than a river of gold in itself, and to me it is beyond price. That stone of all the treasure I name unto myself, and I will be avenged on anyone who finds it and withholds it." (268) Bilbo had the Arkenstone, and wanted to trade it with Bard to help him bargain with Thorin to get a share of the hoard. I think Tolkien is trying to teach us that material possesions are not very important, and Thorin was too materially driven. He only wanted the Arkenstone and nothing else. In Chapter 17, he gets very mad at Bilbo for giving the Arkenstone to Bard. Thorin is eventually buried with the Arkenstone, but I don't think he was deserving of it. He was very greedy, and in the end, he ended up dying. <span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 16px; line-height: 23px;">~ This is all true, but it doesn't reflect Thorin's thoughts at his death. He changed significantly, but you don't tell me how he was different. ~ Mrs. Best