STUDY GUIDE
The Hobbit
J.R.R. Tolkien
Chapters 1-10
7th Grade Language Arts
Mrs. Fiorentino
Make sure to support the answers to each question below using textual evidence.
Chapter 1: “An Unexpected Party”
Summary
We are introduced to hobbits and to Bilbo Baggins, a stay-at-home, highly respectable
hobbit with a secret desire for adventure. Bilbo receives a visit from Gandalf the wizard. The
next Wednesday Gandalf returns for tea, bringing with him a party of thirteen dwarves led
by Thorin Oakenshield. Despite misgivings on both sides, on Gandalf’s recommendation the
dwarves hire Bilbo as Burglar on an expedition to the Lonely Mountain, where they plan to
recover their ancestral treasure from the dragon Smaug.
Guide Questions
1. Give a brief description of a hobbit. Use textual evidence.
2. What did Gandalf claim to be looking for when he arrived on Bilbo's doorstep?
3. What does Gandalf do with the spike on his staff just before leaving Bilbo's home?
4. Who began to arrive at Bilbo's home the next day for tea?
5. Give proof that Gandalf has knocked very hard on Bilbo's front door.
6. List the instruments the dwarves used to accompany their songs.
7. What indication is there that Thorin is the leader of the dwarves?
8. Explain why Bilbo lets out a horrible shriek and begins to shake like jelly.
9. What does Gandalf threaten to do if the assembled dwarves refuse to accept his choice
of Bilbo Baggins as the fourteenth man for their expedition?
10. According to Thorin what had happened to his family's wealth?
Vocabulary
ranks
intricate
obstinately
prudent
remuneration
Chapter 2: “Roast Mutton”
Summary
Thorin and company set off on their expedition, and Bilbo joins them. Initially, things go
well, but on the first rainy night they seek shelter and blunder into three trolls. Bilbo and
the dwarves are captured by the trolls, but Gandalf outwits them and they turn to stone at
daybreak. The expedition plunders the trolls’ hoard. Gandalf and Thorin take swords, Bilbo
takes a small knife, and they bury the trolls’ gold.
Guide Questions
1. What evidence is there that Bilbo Baggins hasn't just been dreaming about a party?
2. What indication is there in the note left by Thorin and Company that the adventure or
quest may prove to be perilous for Bilbo?
3. Who do the dwarves notice has gone missing?
4. Describe what Bilbo Baggins sees as he approaches the red light.
5. Explain the humor in the expression, "I . . . cook better than I cook."
6. Explain what happens to the dwarves as they come to Bilbo's aid.
7. How did Gandalf finally manage to open the big stone door leading to the trolls' cave?
8.
Vocabulary
esteemed
paraphernalia
applicable
Chapter 3: “A Short Rest”
Summary
The expedition comes to Rivendell, where Elrond and his elves live in the Last Homely
House. Elrond explains Thrór’s Map to the dwarves and identifies Gandalf’s and Thorin’s
swords as the famous blades Orcrist and Glamdring, made by elves for the ancient goblin
wars.
Guide Questions
1. According to Gandalf, what lay hidden somewhere not too far ahead of the travellers?
2. Why is Rivendell hard to find?
3. Who was Elrond?
4. Who are the enemies of the elves?
5. What are moon letters?
6. What is Durin's Day? What is the significance of this day as it related to Bilbo’s quest?
Vocabulary
drear
glade
bannock
palpitating
cleave
Chapter 4: “Over Hill and Under Hill”
Summary
As they cross the Misty Mountains, a storm drives the expedition into a cave, where they are
attacked by goblins. Bilbo and the dwarves are captured and driven into the goblins’
underground halls. There, Gandalf rescues them and slays the Great Goblin, but as they flee
from the goblins, Bilbo is knocked unconscious.
Guide Questions
1. Explain how the dwarves and the hobbit were able to find their way up the treacherous
mountain.
2. What did Tolkien mean by a thunder-battle?
3. What indication is there that the cave might not be safe?
4. Summarize Bilbo's dream that evening.
5. Why was it fortunate that Bilbo had accompanied the dwarves into the cave?
6. Why were the Great Goblin and many of his soldiers so upset when they saw Thorin's
sword?
7. Who came to the rescue of the dwarves, how were they rescued, and what weapon did
they use?
8. What happens to Bilbo at the end of this chapter?
Vocabulary
deception
shirk
quaff
ingenious
inconveniencing
gnash
Chapter 5: “Riddles in the Dark”
Summary
Lost and alone in the Misty Mountains, Bilbo gathers his courage. He finds a ring and puts it
in his pocket. Then he encounters Gollum, a loathsome but pathetic creature. They play a
riddle-game to determine if Gollum will show Bilbo the way out or eat him instead. Bilbo
wins the contest, but Gollum then realizes that Bilbo has his ring, which confers invisibility.
Bilbo follows Gollum to the surface and evades the goblins guarding the gate.
Guide Questions
1. Why was Bilbo so frightened when he regained consciousness?
2. What does Bilbo find as he crawls blindly along the floor of the tunnel?
3. How was Bilbo able to see in the darkness?
4. Why was Bilbo reluctant to wade in the water?
5. Who is Gollum and where does he live?
6. Explain the power of Gollum's ring.
7. Explain how Gollum unexpectedly aids the hobbit in his escape.
8. Why are the goblins reluctant to pursue Bilbo Baggins once he is outside?
Vocabulary
subterranean
unbeknown
flummoxed
chestnut
antiquity
Chapter 6: “Out of the Frying-Pan into the Fire”
Summary
Bilbo finds that he is on the east side of the mountains. Using his ring, he enters the
dwarves’ camp undetected. Bilbo and his group flee down the mountainside but are
overtaken at night by goblins and Wargs and trapped in five fir trees in a clearing. The
goblins set fire to the trees, but the Eagles of the Misty Mountains rescue the expedition,
although as usual Bilbo is
almost left behind.
Guide Questions
1. What did Bilbo Baggins intend to do if he was unable to find Gandalf or the dwarves?
2. What did the dwarves want to do when there was no sign of Bilbo?
3. Why did Gandalf encourage the adventurers to hurry on their way?
4. What noise did they hear as they stepped into the clearing?
5.
6.
7.
8.
Explain the significance of the title of this chapter.
Why would the ring not protect Bilbo from the wolves (Wargs)?
Why did the wolves alert the goblins to the adventurers who are hiding in the trees?
Who rescued the party of adventurers from their perilous position in the trees?
Vocabulary
sorrel
marjoram
bracken
larch
proverb
Chapter 7: “Queer Lodgings”
Summary
The Eagles carry the expedition to the Carrock, a rock in the middle of the Great River. From
there the expedition heads to the house of Beorn, a skin-changer fierce toward his enemies
but gentle with animals. Gandalf wins Beorn’s hospitality by introducing the dwarves in
small groups while he tells the story of their adventures. After two nights at Beorn’s house,
the expedition receives his advice and departs for Mirkwood. At the forest-gate, Gandalf
leaves the expedition.
Guide Questions
1. What announcement caused the dwarves to moan and Bilbo to weep?
2. According to Gandalf what are two possibilities explaining the origin of Beorn?
3. How does Gandalf prove himself to be a great manipulator when he is talking to Beorn?
4. What information did Beorn glean in his travels to the wolf-glade?
5. What gruesome sight did Beorn reveal to the adventurers when asked by Bilbo what
had happened to the captured wolf and goblin?
6. What warning does Beorn give the travellers about proceeding through Mirkwood?
7. What shadowy form did Bilbo think he had seen on the third evening of their journey?
8. What were Gandalf's final cautionary words as he bade farewell to the dwarves and
Bilbo?
Vocabulary
appalling
dale
trestle
mead
withered
stark
hart
Chapter 8: “Flies and Spider”
Summary
Mirkwood is dark and unpleasant. The expedition runs low on food, water, and hope.
Bombur falls into the enchanted stream and sleeps for four days. When Balin sees firelight
off the path, the dwarves and Bilbo go toward it. They are scattered when they interrupt the
elven feast. Giant spiders capture the dwarves. Bilbo rescues them and slays many spiders,
but Thorin is captured by the Wood-elves.
Guide Questions
1. Why were the travellers unable to cross over the stream by bridge?
2. Describe what happened to Bombur as he was about to step into the boat.
3. Explain how Bombur's unfortunate incident slowed their travels.
4. Explain why Bilbo and the dwarves strayed from the path.
5. What did Bilbo discover was happening to him when he awoke?
6. Explain the transformation of Bilbo Baggins' character as he renames his sword Sting.
7. Why is Bilbo horrified when he stumbles upon the dwarves in a dark part of the
Mirkwood forest?
8. Explain why Bilbo was so adroit at throwing stones.
9. Summarize Bilbo's rescue of the dwarves.
10. What do the dwarves discover when they take a headcount?
Vocabulary
inquisitive
hind
vexed
disquieting
commons
sawn
loathsome
warrant
gloaming
Chapter 9: “Barrels Out of Bond”
Summary
Lost in Mirkwood, the dwarves are captured by the Wood-elves and imprisoned because
they will not explain their mission. Bilbo, invisible, follows them into the underground
palace of the Elvenking. He finds Thorin and later discovers the water-gate, the palace’s
delivery entrance. When the chief guard becomes drunk, Bilbo steals his keys, releases the
dwarves, and hides the dwarves in empty barrels. The barrels are thrown into the river to
float to Lake-town; Bilbo rides atop one barrel.
Guide Questions
1. Where did the Wood-elves take their captives?
2. How did the dwarves react to their interrogation by the Elvenking?
3. What does the Elvenking order his men to do?
4. How did Bilbo learn that Thorin was being kept captive in the dungeon?
5. Who played a key role in the escape of the dwarves from prison?
6. Briefly describe their final departure from the palace.
Vocabulary
portcullis
flagon
potent
vintage
kine
Chapter 10: “A Warm Welcome”
Summary
Wet and bedraggled, the expedition arrives at Lake-town, a trading town of men. They are
welcomed by the Master, and the townspeople recall prophecies of the downfall of the
dragon and the consequent enrichment of the town. After two weeks of rest the expedition
departs for the Lonely Mountain.
Guide Questions
1. Describe the scene as Bilbo approaches the region where the trees ended.
2. Describe the strange town at the mouth of the Forest River.
3. What strange creatures inhabited the town?
4. Why did the guards at Lake-town not keep a very careful watch?
5. Why were the raft-men elves so astonished at the appearance of the dwarves?
6. Why does the Master relinquish his own great chair to Thorin despite the fact that he is
not completely convinced that the dwarf is who he claims to be?
7. How did the Elvenking respond to the news of the dwarves' plans to slay the dragon,
Smaug, and capture his treasure.
8. Who was the only person thoroughly unhappy the day of the departure?
Vocabulary
ominous
promontory
gammer
vagabond
enmity