1. The hero is a common man, a farmer, who, through luck and wits becomes ruler of the Middle Kingdom by the story's end. Is this message valid today? How possible is it to rise to the top? What does it take to "make it" today?

2. Consult a good English dictionary and an equally good Latin dictionary in order to discover the meanings of as many of the foreign words as you can.

All of these words are names of characters or things. Does learning their meanings add to your understanding and enjoyment of the story? Explain.

3. This story has been called a "mock epic," meaning that it pokes fun at epic and heroic narratives, mainly by imitating them in a comic fashion. Tolkien seems to be having fun throughout the work. What are the most memorable humorous passages? Is there any theme or pattern...