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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. How does the Elvenking react to the sight of the Arkenstone?

2. Why do the people of Lake-town destroy the bridges as a defense against the onslaught of the dragon?

3. Apart from the dragon, what other animals live inside the Lonely Mountain?

4. What advice does Roac give to Thorin about the Lakemen?

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

Short Essay Questions

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

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

3. What dreams or legends do the Lakemen have regarding the King Under the Mountain and Smaug?

4. What is the dwarves' original plan or strategy?

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

6. 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?

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

8. Upon what does Bard the Bowman base his claim to a share of the dragon's treasure?

9. Why does Smaug laugh when Bilbo tells him that revenge is one of the motives of their quest?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

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 2

To what extent is one of the following themes significant, and what is said about each one in The Hobbit? Choose ONE of the following:

1. Home and "belonging"

2. Courage

3. The attributes that make a hero

Essay Topic 3

In his essay on "fairy stories" (what we would call fantasy stories) called "On Fairy-Stories," Tolkien claimed that all good fairy tales contain what he calls a "eucatastrophe," a moment or "turn" of victory, success and climax that gives the listener/reader a sharp pang of joy and consolation, along with the knowledge that all will be well in spite of the hardships that have gone before.

What is the moment of "eucatastrophe" in The Hobbit? Describe it in detail and explain why you think that it is the turn and climax of the action.

(see the answer keys)

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