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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 is the first hint of the dragon's presence that Bilbo notices as he descends the tunnel?

2. How long do the dwarves and Bilbo stay in Laketown?

3. What colors is Smaug?

4. How does Thorin learn that Bilbo was the one who gave the Arkenstone to Bard and the Elvenking?

5. What type of birds inhabit the area of the mountain and valleys closest to the Front Gate?

Short Essay Questions

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

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

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

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

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

6. What effect does the sight of the treasure have on the dwarves?

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

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

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

10. 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?

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

Are any stereotypes or cliches used in The Hobbit? If so, what are they? If not, what are some things that make The Hobbit fresh and original?

Essay Topic 3

Fantasy stories and quests often tell of the struggle between good and evil. How are good and evil characterized in The Hobbit?

Part 1: Identify the characters that are defined as being good. What are the attitudes, beliefs and actions of characters that are considered to be good?

Part 2: Identify the characters that represent evil. What are the attitudes, beliefs and actions of these characters?

Part 3: Is the divide between good and evil clear-cut, or are there some characters that are mixed (e.g. a good character shows some characteristics that are bad)? Give details.

(see the answer keys)

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