The Hobbit Review questions and answers
with solutions
*Chapter 1: "An Unexpected Party"* - ANSWER
What are hobbits? - ANSWER Hobbits are a good natured people, about half our height, and
smaller than the bearded dwarves. They tend to be fat, and have large hairy feet.
Who are Bilbo's ancestors? What conflict might this ancestry create for Bilbo? - ANSWER The
Tooks on his mother's side and the Baggins on his father's side. The Tooks are adventurous, but
the Baggins are not, and the very different personalities of the two can make Bilbo torn with
himself.
What are Bilbo's feelings for his hobbit-hole home, Bag-End? - ANSWER He is very fond of it,
and has everything he needs there, plus comfort.
Who is Gandalf? What seems to be Bilbo's opinion of him? - ANSWER Gandalf is a wizard. Bilbo
seems to admire him with his works.
What does Gandalf "give" Bilbo? - ANSWER Adventure
Who are Bilbo's visitors the next day? What does Bilbo feel about them? - ANSWER 13 dwarves.
The hobbit feels irritated and annoyed by them, yet interested in what they have to say.
What will Bilbo's role be in the quest planned by the dwarves? - ANSWER A buglar. He is the
lucky number in the adventure.
,Why does Bilbo agree to join the dwarves on their adventure? (not on test) - ANSWER His
Tookish side takes over when he suddenly realizes what he is missing out on the morning when
the dwarves left.
What old wrong do the dwarves wish to right? How is their quest defined? - ANSWER They wish
to go to Lonely Mountain and retrieve their lost treasures by Smaug who is still very much alive
*Chapter 2: "Roast Mutton"* - ANSWER
In what way does the journey get off to a bad start for Bilbo? What do his concerns about the
journey indicate about Bilbo's character? - ANSWER Bilbo went off late and without his things
(particularly his handkerchief); his lack of knowledge and experience makes him naive.
What is Bilbo's assignment when the dwarves spot a fire? What does Bilbo discover at the fire
site? - ANSWER Bilbo is sent to investigate what is there. He finds 3 trolls.
What disaster occurs at the trolls' camp? - ANSWER Bilbo gets caught trying to pick-pocket one
of the trolls; and soon the dwarves get captured and are tied up in a bag for their supper.
What are the trolls like? What impression do they create? - ANSWER Trolls are rude, mean, and
violent. They create a scary and intimidating mood.
How are Bilbo and the dwarves rescued? What lesson does Bilbo learn from Gandalf's method
of rescue? - ANSWER Gandalf mimic's the trolls' voices' so that they argue with each other.
While they are distracted, daylight shone and they quickly turned to stone with the wizard's
trickery. Bilbo learns that it's possible to win with cleverness instead of violence.
How well does Bilbo do with his first opportunity to help the company? - ANSWER He did very
poorly.
, What unexpected windfall do the travelers reap from their adventure? - ANSWER They find
gold, food, and weapons from the troll cave.
*Chapter 3: "A Short Rest"* - ANSWER
What is significant about Bilbo's question "Is that *The* Mountain?" - ANSWER He thinks they
have already made it to the Lonely Mountain and that their journey is over, when in reality, it's
still the very beginning and many dangers are still ahead.
What is the travelers' destination? - ANSWER The Lonely Mountain in the east.
How does elfin behavior contrast with what is known about dwarves thus far? - ANSWER The
elves have a love for life, while the dwarves are more practical and serious.
Who is Elrond? How does he help the company? - ANSWER Elrond is an elf-lord, he gives them
supplies and advice on the journey.
*Chapter 4: "Over Hill and Under Hill"* - ANSWER
What forebodings does Gandalf have as the company sets out from Rivendell? - ANSWER He
knows how dangerous and evil the adventure is.
What mistakes do the dwarves make early in Chapter 4? - ANSWER They camped inside a cave;
they didn't check it thoroughly to make sure it was safe.
In what small way does Bilbo manage to prevent a total disaster in the cave? - ANSWER He yells
to wake everyone up before there was serious trouble with the goblins.
with solutions
*Chapter 1: "An Unexpected Party"* - ANSWER
What are hobbits? - ANSWER Hobbits are a good natured people, about half our height, and
smaller than the bearded dwarves. They tend to be fat, and have large hairy feet.
Who are Bilbo's ancestors? What conflict might this ancestry create for Bilbo? - ANSWER The
Tooks on his mother's side and the Baggins on his father's side. The Tooks are adventurous, but
the Baggins are not, and the very different personalities of the two can make Bilbo torn with
himself.
What are Bilbo's feelings for his hobbit-hole home, Bag-End? - ANSWER He is very fond of it,
and has everything he needs there, plus comfort.
Who is Gandalf? What seems to be Bilbo's opinion of him? - ANSWER Gandalf is a wizard. Bilbo
seems to admire him with his works.
What does Gandalf "give" Bilbo? - ANSWER Adventure
Who are Bilbo's visitors the next day? What does Bilbo feel about them? - ANSWER 13 dwarves.
The hobbit feels irritated and annoyed by them, yet interested in what they have to say.
What will Bilbo's role be in the quest planned by the dwarves? - ANSWER A buglar. He is the
lucky number in the adventure.
,Why does Bilbo agree to join the dwarves on their adventure? (not on test) - ANSWER His
Tookish side takes over when he suddenly realizes what he is missing out on the morning when
the dwarves left.
What old wrong do the dwarves wish to right? How is their quest defined? - ANSWER They wish
to go to Lonely Mountain and retrieve their lost treasures by Smaug who is still very much alive
*Chapter 2: "Roast Mutton"* - ANSWER
In what way does the journey get off to a bad start for Bilbo? What do his concerns about the
journey indicate about Bilbo's character? - ANSWER Bilbo went off late and without his things
(particularly his handkerchief); his lack of knowledge and experience makes him naive.
What is Bilbo's assignment when the dwarves spot a fire? What does Bilbo discover at the fire
site? - ANSWER Bilbo is sent to investigate what is there. He finds 3 trolls.
What disaster occurs at the trolls' camp? - ANSWER Bilbo gets caught trying to pick-pocket one
of the trolls; and soon the dwarves get captured and are tied up in a bag for their supper.
What are the trolls like? What impression do they create? - ANSWER Trolls are rude, mean, and
violent. They create a scary and intimidating mood.
How are Bilbo and the dwarves rescued? What lesson does Bilbo learn from Gandalf's method
of rescue? - ANSWER Gandalf mimic's the trolls' voices' so that they argue with each other.
While they are distracted, daylight shone and they quickly turned to stone with the wizard's
trickery. Bilbo learns that it's possible to win with cleverness instead of violence.
How well does Bilbo do with his first opportunity to help the company? - ANSWER He did very
poorly.
, What unexpected windfall do the travelers reap from their adventure? - ANSWER They find
gold, food, and weapons from the troll cave.
*Chapter 3: "A Short Rest"* - ANSWER
What is significant about Bilbo's question "Is that *The* Mountain?" - ANSWER He thinks they
have already made it to the Lonely Mountain and that their journey is over, when in reality, it's
still the very beginning and many dangers are still ahead.
What is the travelers' destination? - ANSWER The Lonely Mountain in the east.
How does elfin behavior contrast with what is known about dwarves thus far? - ANSWER The
elves have a love for life, while the dwarves are more practical and serious.
Who is Elrond? How does he help the company? - ANSWER Elrond is an elf-lord, he gives them
supplies and advice on the journey.
*Chapter 4: "Over Hill and Under Hill"* - ANSWER
What forebodings does Gandalf have as the company sets out from Rivendell? - ANSWER He
knows how dangerous and evil the adventure is.
What mistakes do the dwarves make early in Chapter 4? - ANSWER They camped inside a cave;
they didn't check it thoroughly to make sure it was safe.
In what small way does Bilbo manage to prevent a total disaster in the cave? - ANSWER He yells
to wake everyone up before there was serious trouble with the goblins.
