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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What sort of drink does Gandalf ask Bilbo to get him in Chapter 1?

2. Whose hood and cloak does Bilbo borrow?

3. How does Beorn find out that Gandalf's story is true?

4. What cooking method do the trolls decide on first of all before Gandalf stirs up the argument again?

5. What animals set up the dinner table and light the lamps in Beorn's hall?

Short Essay Questions

1. What does Bilbo discover about his sword and how does he discover this?

2. Describe Elrond, the master or ruler of Rivendell in your own words.

3. What good luck do the adventurers have while they are staying in Rivendell that is likely to prove vital to their quest?

4. What has Beorn been doing when he is absent from the house?

5. Why does Bilbo believe that there is no end to the forest after he climbs up the tall oak to have a look around?

6. Retell the events of Chapter 6 in your own words from the point of view of the Lord of the Eagles.

7. How does Bombur manage to fall into the enchanted stream?

8. Describe in your own words how the riddle contest between Bilbo and Gollum was played and what the winner of the contest would win.

9. Why does Bilbo arrive at the Green Dragon without a hat, walking stick or handkerchief, or anything else for the journey?

10. How do the Wood Elves differ from the goblins in regards to their treatment of prisoners?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In building his fantasy world, Tolkien has used fantastic or imaginary elements as well as familiar and real-world elements in order to make his world believable.

Part 1. List and describe some familiar and real-world elements that appear within The Hobbit.

Part 2. List and describe the fantastic or imaginary (magical) elements that appear within this book.

Part 3. Evaluate whether Tolkien has managed to integrate the fantastic with the everyday successfully or not.

Essay Topic 2

In his essay "On Fairy-Stories" dealing with the nature of fantasy fiction, Tolkien claimed that every author of fantasy strives to build a believable "Secondary World," where marvels and adventure take place, which has the inner consistency of reality." How has Tolkien managed to make the world shown in The Hobbit believable and consistent? Take at least two of the following into account in your answer:

1. Physical setting

2. The setting in time

3. Attention to detail regarding the natural world

4. Characters

Essay Topic 3

Bilbo's character is described as having a "Baggins" side and a "Tookish" side, both of which struggles for dominance inside him.

Part 1: Describe Bilbo's "Baggins" part of his nature.

Part 2: Describe the "Tookish" side of Bilbo's nature.

Part 3: Choose an incident (apart from the start of the book) where the two sides of his nature seem to be in conflict. Which side wins?

(see the answer keys)

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