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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 question of Balin's enraged the Elvenking?

2. What does Bilbo learn about his sword in Chapter 5?

3. Why are the dwarves glad to be captured by the elves (at first)?

4. Why does Bombur fall into the enchanted river?

5. What color is Thorin's hood?

Short Essay Questions

1. How does Bilbo react when he sees Gollum between him and the way out and why?

2. What does Gandalf leave on Bilbo's door after Bilbo invites him to tea in Chapter 1?

3. What accident do the travelers experience in Chapter 6 that turns out to be in their favor?

4. What is special about the swords that Gandalf and Thorin took from the trolls' hoard of plunder?

5. How many ways can Gandalf find of interpreting Bilbo's use of the phrase "Good Morning" and what are the different possible meanings?

6. Why does Bilbo decide to pick William the troll's pocket?

7. What do we learn about the goblins and their intentions from the song they sing while dragging the dwarves and Bilbo down to the Great Goblin?

8. How does Gandalf manage to save the dwarves from being eaten by the trolls?

9. What is significant about Bombur's (and Bilbo's) dreams while in their enchanted slumbers?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

According to Joseph Cambell's classic analysis of myths, quests and adventure stories (Hero with a Thousand Faces), the classical or archetypal pattern for a mythological quest or adventure is as follows:

1 The call to adventure. The hero usually finds a helper at this stage.

2. The hero crosses the "threshold of adventure."

3. The hero faces various tests and receives magical aid that will help him achieve his quest.

4. The hero faces the final test, which can be the theft of an important talisman, elixir or object.

5. The hero faces another challenge before bringing peace, prosperity, or some other boon to humanity.

Using this outline, does The Hobbit fit the archetypal pattern of a quest adventure? What events and incidences fit into what part of the pattern? Are any parts of the pattern omitted? Does The Hobbit contain any events or incidents that do not fit the pattern?

Essay Topic 2

When an author has a large number of characters involved in most of the action of the plot and usually appearing as a group, giving individuals within that group can be difficult. How has Tolkien managed to make the dwarves into distinct characters? Are any of the dwarves "undistinguished" and lacking in individuality?

Essay Topic 3

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.

(see the answer keys)

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