View a FREE sample

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

Short Answer Questions

1. What is the full name of the grim-faced man who habitually predicts disasters like floods and poisoned fish?

2. Why does Smaug react with such great fury in Chapter 12?

3. What do the dwarves suggest that Bilbo should do when they begin to despair of being able to open the secret door in Chapter 11?

4. Who carries the wooden casket holding the Arkenstone to the parley with Thorin?

5. Who sit beside Thorin at the high table after Thorin proclaims himself as the descendant of Thror, King Under the Mountain?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is the cause of most of the casualties resulting from Smaug's attack on Esgaroth (Laketown)?

2. Why does only the Black Arrow shot by Bard manage to kill Smaug while all other arrows are harmless?

3. Explain the meaning of the ambiguous or riddling answers Bilbo gives to Smaug to avoid revealing his name to the dragon (and thus giving the dragon power over him)?

4. Describe what the Master of Laketown is like in your own words.

5. What advice does Roac the raven give to Thorin in this Chapters 15 & 16?

6. Why does Thorin refuse to share the treasure with Bard and his allies and treat them with hostility?

7. How does Bilbo's attitude differ from that of the dwarves in Chapter 9?

8. What details are given in Chapter 11 as hints to an alert reader that the one chance of finding the keyhole is about to present itself?

9. What reconciles the forces of the men and elves, and the dwarves in Chapter 17?

10. How is Bilbo able to take and hide the Arkenstone without the dwarves knowing?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

In the action of The Hobbit, Bilbo changes from being a soft and timid hobbit to being a character of wisdom and courage. Several key events and incidents go towards changing and developing him. Identify at least three of these "turning points" and explore each one. For each "turning point," explain what the turning point was and how it changed Bilbo in some way, or how it marked a milestone in Bilbo's development.

Essay Topic 2

Conflicts and obstacles are very important in creating plot and plot tension. What are some of the important conflicts and obstacles in The Hobbit and how are these conflicts or obstacles resolved and overcome? Do any conflicts remain unresolved, and if so, how?

Essay Topic 3

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?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 1,827 words (approx. 7 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample