CocoG

Click here to go back to home page = Question March 2, 2011 = = Examples = = Character against Character = = Character against Nature = = Character against Self = = 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. =

March 2, 2011 Answer: This is a Character against Character conflict. The conflict is when Gollum and Bilbo were fighting. It all started when Gollum saw Bilbo come into his island area, and ask for help to find a way out. Gollum went up behind Bilbo, who was all flummoxed, and said that Bilbo will make a tasty morsel. (Page 80-81) Bilbo, who was scared out of his mind, agreed to do some riddles with Gollum, after Gollum had suggested that. Gollum said that if Bilbo could not answer the riddles correctly, Gollum would get to eat him, but if Gollum did not answer Bilbo's riddles correctly, Gollum would have to show him the way out. Bilbo asked first, and then Gollum, and then Bilbo again, and so on. They asked each other very hard riddles. No one had guessed any wrong answers until it was Bilbo's turn and he asked Gollum what was in his pocket. Bilbo eariler had picked up a ring, which was Gollum's birthday present, and now it was the item in his pocket. Gollum said it was unfair because it was not a riddle, but Bilbo persisted because it was the only thing he could think of. Gollum gave in and got three guesses, and guessed all of them wrong. Bilbo had won. He asked Gollum to now show him the way out because that was the promise. Gollum said, " Did we say so precious? Show the nassty little Baggins the way out, yes, yes." (Page 89) Gollum soon realized that Bilbo had his birthday present, his gold, invisable, precious ring. So he started towards Bilbo, very angerly, but before he could reach him, Bilbo put on the invisable ring, and Gollum went right past him into the passage ways. Gollum went right out of the cave not knowing that Bilbo was behind and Bilbo snuck out. Bilbo had won the competition after all, and found his way out, invisibly. Without this part in the story, Bilbo would have never found his way to the dwarves and Gandalf. What a great example of character vs. character! Nice details, Coco. ~ Mrs. Best

I used Chapter 5 to find the information above.


 * Sami Van Drisse **
 * 4/3/11 **
 * Reading 6 **


 * Hey Coco:) **
 * I think you did a great job explaining what happened in the character against character conflict between Bilbo and Gollum. It was an important conflict in the book and it definitly made you want to keep turning the page! It was one of my favorite parts of the book because it was so intense and I wanted to see what was going to end up happening! I liked how you gave quotes of what Gollum and Bilbo said and did and then gave the page numbers of where you could find that part. You described the scene very thoroughly and did a great job of summarizing what happened. The one thing I think you could have explained more was how Tolkien used this conflict to move the story forward and how it made you want to keep reading to see what was going to happen next. But, overall you did a great job and I totally agree with everything you said! **I agree! ~Mrs. Best
 * Great Job! **

Hobbit Question 2 March 4, 2011 In your own words, describe what happens next to Bilbo and the dwarves in the forest.

﻿March 4th Answer Bilbo and the dwarves enter what they thought was a safe place to rest for the night, until they heard the howling of the wolves. Everyone was frightened, so they all got as high up as they could in the trees. The Wargs came up to the trees, but luckily they can't climb trees, leaving the dwarves safe for now. The wolves started talking, and Gandalf understood what they were saying, but it wasn't good. The wolves, called The Wargs, are good friends with the goblins. The Wargs were going to meet the goblins there tonight because of the death of the Great Goblin, and get the dwarves. Gandalf, who was exceptionally scared, gathered some pinecones and lit them with bright blue fire. He through THREW  them at The Wargs, and soon after most of the wolves were on fire. They were yelping and screaming because they hate fire. The Lord of the Eagles saw this commotion from up above, and went down to see what was happening. The eagles are mean, but they like the dwarves and Gandalf because they once did a good deed for an eagle. What was the deed? The goblins soon came, and they were on the wolves side. The fire was quickly coming up the tree, but the eagles came and grabbed the dwarves by their talons and swooped them away to saftey. They came just in time because soon the trees were ablaze, GREAT word! ABLAZE!!  and the eagles, luckily, saved them. That is what happens in the forest. Very nice job!~ Mrs. Best

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. 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!

March 22nd, 2011 Answer

I have had many times in my lifetime that I have grown and changed in positive ways. Here is one adventure that has happened to me, and how I reacted to it in negative way, but then changed that. Like many other kids, including myself, we quickly agree to taking care of ALL the responsibilities of having a dog, like walking it, feeding it, and of course, loving it. I was one of those kids. My parents made sure that we all knew how much of a responsibility taking care of a dog was. Of course, eager to get the dog, we all said yes. We enjoy playing with Murphy, but when another "fun" activity comes up, taking the dog out is all of our second thoughts. We always say, "can someone else take her out?", but my mom always says no. I found myself always saying just that. I quickly grew on to know that when we are away at school, other sports, and friends houses, my mom is ALWAYS taking the dog out, and that takes a lot of effort and time. So I changed who I was, because now there was no going back, and started taking on the responsibilities of the dog. After all, I said I would from the start. Soon enough, I found myself taking her around the block, playing with her, and of course, cuddling with pup. I feel like this adventure in my life also relates to Bilbo Baggins adventure. Bilbo said no to Gandalf at the beginning, just like I was saying to my mom about taking the dog out and playing with her. Bilbo and I found that we can turn this the right way and fix this. I started taking full responsibilities for the dog, and Bilbo started taking responsibilities for his group, and soon enough became the leader. We both felt good after we took charge and helped. "Bilbo began to feel there really was something of a bold adventurer about himself after all." (181) I have grown to know that my mom does so much for the dog when I'm not there, and that I should help her out a little bit too. This was a GREAT adventure in my life, and it changed how I look at things for the better. As you can see, my adventure is not as obvious as Bilbo killing the spiders or escaping from an Elven king's dungeon, because I'm just an ordinary person, and MY ordinary event happened to be my adventure. *  ~ This was a great connection, and I love your choice of text! ~Mrs. Best


 * //Hobbit Question 4 March 29, 2011 //**

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: #00ceff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">March 30th, 2011 Answer:

<span style="color: #00ceff; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">If Thorin Oakenshield would have lived, I think that he would have regretted his greed. "... I would take back my words and deeds at the Gate," said Thorin. (312) I think he would have seen how silly he was acting in wanting all of his treasures, and not wanting to share with anybody else. I also think that Thorin would have regretted his greed, because if he would have lived, he would have seen that the Lake-men and the elves would not have been friends with him because he did not share their wealth with him, when they helped him out. He soon would have realized that he wouldn't have many friends, and that sharing some of his wealth after all, wouldn't be such a bad idea. I think that Tolkien is trying to teach us that material wealth doesn't buy happiness. Also, I think he is trying to teach us that when you have <span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">a lot of wealth, selfishness is not the way to go. Thorin Oakenshield was VERY selfish with his gold, silver, and other magnificant treasures. Tolkien is trying to tell us that when you have a great quantity of wealth, you should be giving, and you should give to others because maybe, like Bard, they deserve it. "..... If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world," said Thorin. (312) I totally agree with Thorin. I agree with him because our world today is full of people who value material wealth quite a bit. If everyone in our world would stop being so greedy, our world would definitely be a merrier place, like Thorin said right before he was dying. Lastly, I think that Tolkien was trying to encourage us to be the opposite of Thorin, and not be so greedy with our material wealths, because if we all started to do that, our world would become a much better place. <span style="color: #ff0000; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS',cursive; font-size: 120%;">~ Good thoughts and textual evidence. ~ Mrs. Best