Middle College
Assignment Cover Sheet
Student Name:
_______________________________________________
Teacher: ______________________________________________________________________
Class: __________________________________________________________________________
Subject: English
Assignment Title: The Hobbit Reading Assessment
DOCUMENTATION OF TEXT PRODUCTION PROCESS
You must provide evidence (drafts) of the process of your work in order to prove authorship. You must
sign this declaration of authorship. Your progress will be checked weekly.
Technology failure is not a suitable reason to be granted an extension. You must back up your
work on a memory stick, email your work to yourself and print drafts. This also demonstrates
your processing skills.
STUDENT DECLARATION
I ____________________________________ hereby certify that this assessment item is my own work,
based on my personal effort and research. I can prove authorship through production of
drafts and am willing to answer questions if deemed necessary. I have kept a copy of this
assignment.
Student’s signature: _____________________________
Date: ___________
Please submit this assignment to your teacher on the day it is due.
English Assignment
The Hobbit Reading Assessment
Name: _____________________
Grade: Year 9
Teacher: _________________________
Date Set: Week 1, Term 4, 2014
Chapters 1 and 2 due: Monday, Week 2, Term 4, 2014
Chapters 3 - 6 due: Monday, Week 3, Term 4, 2014
Chapters 7 - 10 due: Monday, Week 4, Term 4, 2014
Chapters 11 - 14 due: Monday, Week 5, Term 4, 2014
Chapters 15 – 19 and map due: Monday, Week 6, Term 4, 2014
Final Copy Due: Monday, Week 6, Term 4, 2014
“The Hobbit” analysis
Each week you will be assigned chapters to read from “The Hobbit.” You are to read these chapters and
complete the relevant questions. You are then to submit these answers every Monday.
Remember:
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Give in-depth responses
You need to think and respond critically
If you have completed the assigned chapters and questions in class then you can
complete the extension activities for that week
Overall Achievement: / Comment:
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Teacher’s Signature: _____________________________________________
Success Criteria – “The Hobbit” reading assessment
I know I am successful when ......
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Map Activity: As you read the novel you need to create a map of the journey on A3
paper.
Directions: Answer each question using details from the novel. Write the page
number from the novel where you found your answer.
Chapter 1 - An Unexpected Party
1. Make a complete list of the characters introduced in Chapter one, including a brief
description of their looks, characteristics and personalities.
2. Discuss the appearance of the hobbits and what you learned about the hobbit homes.
3. Why are the Bagginses considered to be respectable hobbits?
4. Define “Tookish.”
5. Describe what is discovered about Bilbo Baggins.
6. Why do the dwarves gather at Bilbo Baggins' house?
7. Explain how the dwarves lost their treasure and kingdom.
8. What is the significance of Thorin’s key and his map?
9. Describe Bilbo Baggins reaction to the plan of the dwarves. Infer as to why Bilbo reacts in
this manner. Provide textual evidence to support your answer.
10. What does the “queer sign” Gandalf scratches on Bilbo’s door indicate to the dwarves?
Why does Gandalf want a burglar rather than a hero or a warrior to accompany the dwarves
on this adventure?
11. Why does Gandalf choose Bilbo?
12. What changed Bilbo's mind about the adventure?
13. Explain the dwarfs’ apprehension in Gandalf's choice.
14. What is the importance of the town of Dale?
Extension
Research how messages are encrypted and deciphered. Invent your own code for sending secret
messages and see if any of your classmates can break the code.
Chapter 2 - Roast Mutton
1. What two items does Bilbo forget in his rush to meet the dwarves at the Green Dragon Inn?
What do you think forgetting these items tell the reader about Bilbo’s willingness to go on
this adventure?
2. What do you think about the fairness of Thorin’s decision to send Bilbo to investigate the
light? What indications are there that the dwarves do or do not care about Bilbo’s wellbeing?
3. Give an explanation as to why the wizard disappeared.
4. What kind of characters are the trolls? Explain how Bilbo knew they were trolls.
5. Determine and explain if Bilbo proved to be a good burglar in his attempt to pick the
pocket of the troll. Provide evidence from the text that supports your answer.
6. Find an example of slapstick comedy in this chapter.
7. Describe the fight and wizard's reappearance.
8. “Fantasy” is a work of fiction, which does not represent the known world. List two
characteristics of the world Tolkien creates in The Hobbit that qualify this novel as a
fantasy.
9. What is Bilbo’s discovery about himself?
10. Explain how Bilbo’s feeling about the adventure was a contrast to the day before.
11. So far in The Hobbit is strength or intelligence more important?
Extension: Do some research on trolls and dwarves and create a mind map of them. Pretend you
are either a dwarf or a troll and write a letter to J.R.R. Tolkien commenting on his novel, The
Hobbit.
Chapter 3 - A Short Rest
1. Briefly identify each of the following places from this chapter.
The Last Homely House –
Rivendell -
Misty Mountains –
2. Why does Bilbo want to hear the elves’ opinion of their adventure to the Mountain?
3. What do the dwarves think of the elves? 4. Use the following quotation, which describes Elrond’s character and his household to
answer the next two questions. “He was a noble and as fair in face as an elf-lord, as
strong as a warrior, as wise as a wizard, as venerable as a king of dwarves, and as kind
as summer. His house was perfect, whether you liked food, or sleep, or work, or storytelling, or singing, or just sitting and thinking best, or a pleasant mixture of them all.
Evil things did not come into that valley.” (Pg. 51)
5. One overall theme in this story is the conflict between good and evil. What qualities
does Elrond possess which makes him a good leader for his people? How does the
author depict both good and evil in physical terms?
6. Another theme is the idea of free will. Do you agree or disagree that Bilbo came on this
mission of his own free will? What elements of freedom are present in Elrond’s
kingdom which support the idea that free will is important for a person to be happy?
7. What are the names of the swords captured from the trolls, and what do they signify?
8. Find an example of how Tolkien vividly describes the natural surrounding Bilbo and
his friends inhabit. Why do you think he spends so much time describing the
countryside?
9. What is the legend about moon-letters? What riddle do they reveal to Elrond? What is
Durin’s Day?
10. The Hobbit was originally written for children. It contains many of the elements of a
fairy tale including goblins, wizards, dwarves and other imaginative characters. There
are also life lessons or generalizations about life imbedded in the story. State a
generalization about life using the following passage from the story.
11. “Now it is a strange thing, but things that are good to have and days that are good to
spend are soon told about, and not much to listen to; while things that are
uncomfortable, palpitating, and even gruesome, may make a good tale, and take a deal
of telling anyway.” (Pg. 51)
Extension: Find rune fonts on the net and download them to your own computer. Write a short
note or letter to your classmates and see if they are able to decipher it.
Chapter 4 - Over Hill and Under Hill
1. Describe how this part of the journey was apt to be very dangerous.
2. How was the storm different from storms you may have been in?
3. Determine why it was a good thing that Bilbo was with the adventurers the night of the
storm.
4. Foreshadowing is a literary device by which an author hints what is to come. Find an
example of foreshadowing in the following quotation:
“The end of their argument was that they sent Fili and Kili to look for a better shelter. They
had very sharp eyes, and being the youngest of the dwarves by some fifty years they usually
got these sort of jobs (when everybody could see that it was absolutely no use sending
Bilbo).
There is nothing like looking, if you want to find something (or so Thorin said to the
young dwarves). You certainly usually find something, if you look, but it is not always quite
the some- thing you were after. So it proved on this occasion.” (Pgs. 57-58)
5. How does the language in this chapter present the Goblins?
6. Many critics believe Tolkien’s writing reflects his personal dislike for technology. Briefly
list the characteristics of goblins; explain how they use the technology they have for evil
purposes.
7. The goblins captured Bilbo and the dwarves but Gandalf escaped. Explain why wasn't he
captured?
8. What are Biter and Beater? Why does the fact that Thorin has Biter make the Great Goblin
fly into a rage?
9. Describe the ways the goblins treat their captives. Explain what you have learned about the
goblins.
10. Describe what you think happened to make Bilbo and the dwarves' escape possible.
Explain what part "Biter and Beater" played in the escape.
11. Explain what made it possible for the goblins to sneak up on the dwarves again. Describe
what happened to the hobbit this time.
Extension: Tolkien has the trolls speaking with a Cockney accent. Research Cockney
Rhyming Slang and give some examples. Discuss why rhyming slang was used and invent
some of your own rhyming slang.
Chapter 5 - Riddles in the Dark
1. Find an example of foreshadowing at the beginning of this chapter when Bilbo is alone in
the tunnel.
2. Evaluate why it was good that Bilbo lost his matches. Provide textual evidence.
3. Tolkien is a master of language. Even though The Hobbit is written mostly in prose,
Tolkien includes many songs and sentences with poetic elements. Sometimes they have
meter like the lines in a poem. Find a short passage in this chapter that illustrates his poetic
writing style.
4. Based on the text, what inference can be made about the character of Gollum? Create a
Venn Diagram comparing and contrasting the characters of Gollum and Bilbo
5. What was Gollum like before finding the ring? Describe Gollum’s corruption through its
power. Find a passage that explains the transformation.
6. Many critics believe the character Gollum represents Tolkien’s idea of evil. Cite incidents
from this chapter to support or refute this idea.
7. What are the rules Bilbo and Gollum agree to concerning the riddle contest?
8. Make an evaluation if you believe the riddles are difficult. Are they good riddles? Why or
why not?
9. After losing the riddle game, explain how Gollum paid his debt. What skills does Bilbo
demonstrate in dealing with Gollum?
10. One of the characteristics of a hero is a sense of fair play. In what way does Bilbo
demonstrate this trait in this chapter?
11. Why do you believe Bilbo did not kill Gollum when he had the chance?
12. In what way is Bilbo’s eventual escape from the caves an example of irony?
13. Analyze the author's view, "I should not have liked to have been in Mr. Baggins' place."
Explain what he meant.
Extension: Draw one of the characters from The Hobbit or illustrate a scene.
Chapter 6 - Out of the Frying-Pan into the Fire
1.
2.
3.
4.
What do you think of the dwarves’ reluctance to go back into the caves to find Bilbo?
Bilbo overhears his friends talking; explain how the wizard feels about Bilbo.
Why do you think Bilbo fails to tell Gandalf and the dwarves about his magic ring?
What are Wargs? Why are they gathering in the forest clearing? How does Gandalf try to
fight the Wargs?
5. How do the Eagles and goblins feel about each other?
6. "Escaping goblins to be caught by wolves," said the hobbit. How does this explain the
chapter title?
7. Provide a detailed explanation as to how the party managed to escape the Wargs, the evil
wolves. Explain how Bilbo felt about Gandalf's rescue?
8. The last line of this chapter states that Bilbo dreams about his own house. In that dream he
is wandering around his house “looking for something that he could not find nor remember
what it looked like.” (Pg. 110) What do you suppose Bilbo is looking for in his dream?
9. How does Tolkien build up tension in the Chapter ‘Out of the Frying Pan into the
Fire’?
10. Discuss all the events which take place in this chapter, put them in chronological
order. Are they all filled with tension or do some cause the reader to feel relief and at
ease?
Extension: Create your own character for The Hobbit and discuss how you would introduce them
to the novel. Some readers might have already noticed the dearth of female characters in the
novel.
Chapter 7 - Queer Lodgings
1. What is a “skin-changer” and a “Carrock”?
2. In what ways is Beorn’s life tied to and intertwined with nature?
3. Determine the most important advice that Beorn and Gandalf gave the adventurers about
Mirkwood. Explain why you feel this is the most important. Provide evidence from the
text.
4. What does Gandalf believe is necessary for the dwarves’ mission to succeed?
5. Make an inference if it was of much comfort to the dwarves to have the hobbit help them
instead of having the wizard with them. Provide evidence from the text.
6. Summarize 4 major details that you learned about Beorn.
Extension: Give examples as to how Gandalf is able to manipulate various characters in the novel.
Chapter 8 - Flies and Spiders
1. After Gandalf left, who became the leader of the expedition? Infer if this was a positive
or negative for the group.
2. Describe 4 dangers of the enchanted river. Summarize how the hobbit was helpful in
crossing the river.
3. Why do the dwarves select Bilbo to be the one who climbs the tall tree to look around
and try to see the end of the forest? How do the dwarves feel about Bilbo when he comes
down from the tree?
4. Give an explanation as to how Bilbo became separated from the dwarves. Describe how
Bilbo managed to escape the giant spiders. Was Bilbo of any help to the dwarves?
5. Why does Bilbo decide to name his sword “Sting”?
6. After keeping the ring a secret from the rest, explain why Bilbo finally decides to divulge
to the dwarves about the magic ring. Why do you think he hesitated to tell the dwarves
about the ring?
7. Why does Thorin refuse to reveal his true mission to the King of the Wood-elves? What
evidence is there that the Wood-elves are “Good People”?
Extension: Pretend you are one of the characters in the novel and write a series of diary entries of
your adventure.
Chapter 9 - Barrels Out of Bond
1. Give a detailed description of how Bilbo planned to help his friends escape. How did Bilbo
escape?
2. Make an analysis of the importance of the magic ring to Bilbo in this part of his adventure.
Extension: Recreate your own map similar to the one at the beginning of the book. Include some
rune characters.
Chapter 10 - A Warm Welcome
1. Analyze the attitude of the dwarves toward Bilbo. Be sure to cite specific information from
the text.
2. When the dwarves reached Lake-town, describe how they were received by the Lake
People.
3. “As for the Master he saw there was nothing else for it but to obey the general clamour, for
the moment at any rate, and to pretend to believe that Thorin was what he said.” (Pg. 197)
What does the above quotation suggest to the reader about the character and leadership
qualities of the Master of the Men of the lake?
4. Why do you think the Master believed Thorin was a fraud? Explain what changed his
mind.
5. Why was the Master not sorry to see them go?
Extension: Write a short script of a conversation between two of the main characters; for
example, Bilbo and Thorin
Chapter 11 - On the Doorstep
1. So far in this story Bilbo is a hobbit with great luck and courage. Cite an incident from this
chapter that demonstrates that Bilbo also has leadership qualities and good sense.
2. What was the danger in searching for the secret door to the dragon’s den?
Extension: Pretend you are a journalist. Write a news story about the band of adventurers journey
and what you anticipate will happen in the days ahead.
Chapter 12 - Inside Information
1. What important information does Bilbo learn when he flatters Smaug?
2. What are the dragon’s words about dwarves that has Bilbo worried? How does Thorin
reassure Bilbo of the dwarves’ trustworthiness?
3. What is the Arkenstone of Thrain?
4. The narrator says that Bilbo “..was a very different hobbit from the one that had run out
without a pocket-handkerchief from Bag-End long ago.” Describe how the little hobbit
changed.
5. What did you learn about dragons? Describe what character traits you would give to
Smaug.
Extension: Compose your own poem about the novel and illustrate it.
Chapter 13 - Not at Home
1. Explain the significance of the title of this chapter.
2. Bilbo hid the Arkenstone in his pocket before the dwarves can see it. What was his
justification for doing this and was he correct in what he did?
3. What happens to their “dwarfish hearts” when Thorin and the others see the piles of gold
and jewels in Smaug’s lair?
4. Why do Bilbo and Balin want to leave the main gateway to the Mountain?
Extension: Compare and contrast The Hobbit with other works of fantasy. Use both ancient and
contemporary works of literature. Is there a particular age group to whom the fantasy genre
appeals? Explain.
Chapter 14 - Fire and Water
1.
2.
3.
4.
Explain why Smaug went off to the lake-town of Esgaroth.
Explain how the thrush knew about the dragon’s most vulnerable spot.
Why do you think Tolkien names the man who slays the dragon after a word for poet?
Explain the argument the Master presented to the people that he remain the town leader
rather than King Bard. In your opinion, and provide textual evidence to support your
opinion, was he correct or not?
Extension: Outline the qualities of a leader and select two characters from the novel. Using the
various leadership traits discovered, compare and contrast their leadership abilities. Characters
might include: the Elvenking, the Hobbit, Thorin, Gandalf, and the Master
Chapter 15 - The Gathering of the Clouds
1. What piece of wise advice does Roäc, the ancient raven, have for Thorin?
2. Make an inference as to why you think Thorin would not listen to Roac. Provide textual
evidence to support your claim.
3. Briefly list the reasons Bard thinks his people deserve part of the treasure. Explain, in
detail, if his argument was sound.
4. How does Thorin respond to Bard’s claims to the treasure?
5. Compare Bilbo’s feelings toward the treasure and the dragon’s den to that of Thorin and
the dwarves. What did Bilbo think the adventure was to be?
Extension: Write and perform with some of your classmates a song that tells the story from the
perspective of one of the characters.
Chapter 16 - A Thief in the Night
1. What does Thorin vow to do to anyone who withholds the Arkenstone?
2. Why was Bilbo willing to give up the Arkenstone? Compare this generosity to that of other
characters. (Were there others that were willing to be as generous as Bilbo?)
3. Bilbo refers to the dwarves as his friends. In what ways is Bilbo a good friend to the
dwarves in this chapter? What indications are there that the dwarves might or might not be
capable of returning Bilbo’s friendship?
Extension: Explain the expression, "I may be a burglar. . . but I am an honest one". Explain the
phrase, "Honour amongst thieves."Is stealing always wrong? Defend your answer.
Chapter 17 - The Clouds Burst
1. List the participants in the Battle of the Five Armies.
2. The dwarves showed their fear of Smaug when they stayed in the tunnels and sent Bilbo
into the treasure room alone. They were not particularly brave or fierce. Why then, do you
think Thorin and the others show so much fearless courage in the Battle of the Five
Armies?
3. Explain why Thorin was so angry at Bilbo. Was he justified in his anger? Provide evidence
to support your answer.
4. Describe the terms of Thorin and Bard’s agreement.
Extension: Write a persuasive essay about the following statement. “Fantasy is a waste of time for
most teenagers and adults. Fictional literature should for the most part be limited to children
below the age of 12 as it serves little purpose other than to entertain.”
Chapter 18 - The Return Journey
1.
2.
3.
4.
How does Bilbo’s magic ring both help and hurt him in the Battle of the Five Armies?
In the end what is Bilbo’s reward for helping the dwarves regain their mountain?
Who won the battle? Give an explanation how they were able to gain victory.
Make an analysis of the lessons Thorin had learned. Infer as to why you believe Thorin and
Bilbo parted as friends. Provide evidence for your response.
Extension: Create a poster that promotes the novel. Make sure your poster is colourful yet
simple.
Chapter 19 - The Last Stage
1. Explain why Gandalf had to leave the party of adventurers near Mirkwood?
2. When Bilbo returned home, he did not receive the response that he had thought. Describe
how Bilbo was received when he reached his hobbit-hole.
3. How does Bilbo Baggins still make use of his magic ring?
4. Gandalf tells Bilbo he is not the hobbit he once used to be. Do you agree or
disagree? Defend your response.
Extension: Write a new ending or add a new chapter to the novel.