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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 treasures are placed on Thorin's body and/or tomb when he is buried?

2. What does Bilbo most want to happen while the dwarves are preparing for a siege by the elves and Lakemen?

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 animals or creatures can be found near the doorstep?

Short Essay Questions

1. Why does Bombur remain in the lower camp with the ponies and supplies in Chapter 11?

2. How do Bilbo and the dwarves know that they have successfully found the secret entrance into the mountain?

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

4. What can be deduced about the dragon from the steam and smoke coming out from the Front Gate?

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

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

7. Why does the dwarves' imprisonment turn out to be a lucky accident?

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

9. What are the five armies involved in the Battle of the Five Armies?

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

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Song and poems are often significant in The Hobbit. Choose two of the songs or poems that you believe to be particularly important and explain their significance in detail. Ways that a song or poem can be significant may include foreshadowing, revealing character, developing a theme or explaining background.

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

Tolkien uses several traditional fantasy races in the setting of The Hobbit, including elves, dwarves, goblins, trolls and dragons. In you own words, describe what two of these fantasy races are like, using evidence from the text rather than from wider reading. Your answer should cover appearance, typical behavior and whether the race is, in general, "good" or "evil."

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