The Hobbit Study Guide

The Hobbit Study Guide, Fall 2012

Exam Date: 12/10/2012

Review Questions Tolkien 1. In which country was Tolkien born? 2. In which country did Tolkien grow up? 3. As a child, Tolkien was attacked by what creature? 4. During which war did he serve? 5. Tolkien’s first real job was working for what major text? 6. At what university did Tolkien teach? 7. What subjects did Tolkien teach? 8. What literary genre is The Hobbit considered? What traits of that genre does it have?

The History of English 1. Which language family is English from? 2. Who were the first inhabitants of England? 3. What is the significance of the year 1066? 4. Who were the Normans? 5. What is the Prose Edda? a. Who wrote it? b. In what language was it originally written? c. How did Tolkien use it when writing The Hobbit? 6. What is “The Riddles of Gestumblindi”? a. In what language was it originally written? b. How did Tolkien use it when writing The Hobbit? 7. What is Beowulf? a. In what language was it originally written? b. How did Tolkien use it when writing The Hobbit?

Characters 1. What is Bilbo’s last name? What characteristics sum up his family? 2. What was his mother’s family’s name? What characteristics define his family? 3. At the beginning of the book, Bilbo is most like which side of his family? 4. At the end of the book, Bilbo is most like which side of his family? 5. What does Gandalf’s name mean? 6. What does Beorn’s name mean? 7. What is Thorin’s title? What does his name mean?

Plot 1. Where does Bilbo live? 2. How does the travelling party escape from the trolls? 3. What are the names of the swords taken from the trolls’ cave? What do they mean? 4. Who is Gollum? a. What does Bilbo take from Gollum’s cave? b. What agreement does Bilbo make with Gollum? c. How does Bilbo escape from Gollum? 5. Who are the Wargs? How does the travelling party escape from them? 6. Who is Elrond? How does he help them? 7. Who is Beorn? What advice does he give to them? 8. Why does the Elven King imprison Thorin? 9. How does the traveling party escape from the Elven King? 10. Who is Bard? 11. What does Bilbo take from Smaug? 12. Who kills Smaug? 13. Why is there a battle at the Mountain? 14. Why does Gandalf leave the traveling party? 15. When does Gandalf return? 16. What is the Arkenstone? Who takes it from the Mountain? 17. Who dies at the end of the book? 18. Who becomes King Under the Mountain at the end of the book? 19. What is a dynamic character? What is an example of one from the book? 20. What is a static character? What is an example of a static character from the book?

Big Ideas 1. Eucatastrophe 2. Faerie Story 3. Motif 4. The number 3 (and other lucky/unlucky numbers) 5. Theme vs. Moral 6. Oral Traditions 7. Hubris

How to Write an Open Response (all wikispaces prompts are open response questions) 1. How long should your open response be? 2. How many quotes should your open response use? 3. How should you cite your quotes?

Types of Questions on the Test 1. Multiple Choice 2. Short Answer 3. Open Response