“Thorin indeed was very haughty, and said nothing about service; but poor Mr Baggins said he was sorry so many times, that at least he grunted "pray don't mention it," and stopped frowning.”

Smaug is the antagonist, because the story is actually all the time about him and his actions. Without him, no journey. He is the feared end of the story. Smaug is the dragon that has taken over the Lonely Mountain. He is an arrogant, hateful beast that loves the treasure just for having it.

“I am he that buries his friends alive and drowns them and draws them alive again from the water. I came from the end of a bag, but no bag went over me.”

b) Minor Characters

Bard Balin Beorn Bifur, Bofur, Bolg, Azog Bombur, Dain, Dwalin, Dori Elven-King of Mirkwood, Eagle-King, Elrond, Fili, Galadriel, Gloin, Gollum, Kili, Master of Lake-town,

Nori, Oin, Ori.

4.    Title

a)    It called “The Hobbit”, simply because it’s about a hobbit, Bilbo. The subtitle “There and back again” is the title of the book that Bilbo writes about the journey. I think that the author tried to make it seem like Bilbo wrote the book.

“One autumn evening some years afterwards Bilbo was sitting in his study writing his memoirs - he thought of calling them "There and Back Again, a Hobbit's Holiday" - when there was a ring at the door. It was Gandalf and a dwarf; and the dwarf was actually Balin.”

B:        Your opinion

1. Which character did you like best?

a)    Bilbo Baggins

b)    I think Bilbo Baggins is the most sympathetic person in The Hobbit, because he’s a very unlikely hero but nevertheless does a lot of heroic things without becoming arrogant. He is friendly and helpful, even across from Thorin, who doesn’t always deserve that. Also when all the unknown dwarves come an plunder his house, he stays hospitable. 

c)    “"Thank you!" said Bilbo with a gasp. It was not the correct thing to say, but they have begun to arrive had flustered him badly. He liked visitors, but he liked to know them before they arrived, and he preferred to ask them himself. He had a horrible thought that the cakes might run short, and then he-as the host: he knew his duty and stuck to it however painful-he might have to go without.

"Come along in, and have some tea!" he managed to say after taking a deep breath.”

2. Which character did you dislike?

a)    The Master of Lake town

b)    If he sees that his people are excited about the return of the King under the Mountain, he makes a great fuss of supporting Thorin and giving him requirements and so on. But he thinks that Thorin is just stupid and going to his death. He is a businessman, and is he is deceptive.

"Your own wisdom must decide your course, but thirteen is small remnant of the great folk of Durin that once dwelt here, and now are scattered far. If you will listen to my counsel, you will not trust the Master of the Lake-men, but rather him that shot the dragon with his bow. Bard is he, of the race of Dale, of the line of Girion; he is a grim man but true. We would see peace once more among dwarves and men and elves after the long desolation; but it may cost you dear in gold. I have spoken."

3. What did you feel when you read the story?

a)    I felt excited about reading everything about a world that we don’t know. Tolkien has made an entire fairy-tale come true in his stories, also in The Lord of the Rings. I almost believe in the creatures in the book. And I was curious how it would end. Of course it is a story: most of the time, it ends good. But how, was the question.

b)    Excited

“It had a perfectly round door like a porthole, painted green, with a shiny yellow brass knob in the exact middle. The door opened on to a tube-shaped hall like a tunnel: a very comfortable tunnel without smoke, with panelled walls, and floors tiled and carpeted, provided with polished chairs, and lots and lots of pegs for hats and coats - the hobbit was fond of visitors. The tunnel wound on and on, going fairly but not quite straight into the side of the hill - The Hill, as all the people for many miles round called it - and many little round doors opened out of it, first on one side and then on another. No going upstairs for the hobbit: bedrooms, bathrooms, cellars, pantries (lots of these), wardrobes (he had whole rooms devoted to clothes), kitchens, dining-rooms, all were on the same floor, and indeed on the same passage. The best rooms were all on the left-hand side (going in), for these were the only ones to have windows, deep-set round windows looking over his garden and meadows beyond, sloping down to the river.”

Curious

I can’t really choose one quote that shows this emotion, because the entire book makes that I was curious of the end.

4. What is your favourite part?

a)    “"Hail! Thorin," he said as he entered. "I have brought him." There indeed lay Thorin Oakenshield, wounded with many wounds, and his rent armour and notched axe were cast upon the floor. He looked up as Bilbo came beside him.

"Farewell, good thief," he said. "I go now to the halls of waiting to sit beside my fathers, until the world is renewed. Since I leave now all gold and silver, and go where it is of little worth, I wish to part in friendship from you, and I would take back my words and deeds at the Gate."”

b)    Thorin Eikenschild apologies across to Bilbo for how he treated him.

c)    Of course there are more important and spectacular parts in the book, but I like this very much because of Thorin’s behaviour during the book and his reversal now.

5.    Message

a)    I think something you could learn from the book is not to hold on to certain norms or values and manners if you could do something spectacular or important.

b)    Hobbits don’t like adventures and don’t believe in it. The protagonist of this story sets that aside and really makes something of himself by going on this adventure.

“This hobbit was a very well-to-do hobbit, and his name was Baggins. The Bagginses had lived in the neighbourhood of The Hill for time out of mind, and people considered them very respectable, not only because most of them were rich, but also because they never had any adventures or did anything unexpected: you could tell what a Baggins would say on any question without the bother of asking him. This is a story of how a Baggins had an adventure, found himself doing and saying things altogether unexpected. He may have lost the neighbours' respect, but he gained-well, you will see whether he gained anything in the end.”

6.    Opinion

I really like the book a lot because of the realism, the characters and the way it is written. Tolkien had a nominate worthy fantasy and talent to write things and I love that.

C:        The Summary

Write a good and sensible summary of the story / book.

An Unexpected Party & Roast Mutton

Hobbits are little people with thick hair on the feet and round bellies. They love food, comfort and security. The most of them live in comfortable, cozy holes in the ground. The hole of the protagonist Bilbo Baggins is called Bag End. Bilbo, despite his Took blood of his mother’s family, prefers to stay at home and live quietly. Bilbo is enjoying a pipe outside when an old man with a staff and a beard arrives. Bilbo recognizes the name Gandalf, and tells him he is far from interested in adventure. The next afternoon, the doorbell rings and Bilbo assumes it is Gandalf, but it is a dwarf named Dwalin. Other dwarves begin to arrive and want to eat. At last, Gandalf an the head dwarf Thorin do arrive. It becomes clear that Gandalf has chosen Bilbo to be a burglar for the dwarves’ adventure. Bilbo protests, and the dwarves also don’t really like the idea. Gandalf brings Bilbo a map. Thorin explains that Smaug has taken the Lonely Mountain, were the dwarves used to live. Bilbo is going to sleep. If the wakes up, he finds that the dwarves have left. He’s both relieved and disappointed, but then he’s going anyway. When they are on the go, Bilbo starts to miss home very much. On one night, Gandalf mysteriously disappears. The dwarves spot a flickering in the forest and send their burglar to see what’s happening out there. There are some giant trolls, named Bert, Tom and William. The trolls capture Bilbo and they are hungry, so they want to eat them. Bifur and Bofur come to look at the situation and the trolls put all the dwarves in sacks. Then a voice speaks “Dawn take you all, and be stone to you!” It’s Gandalf. The sun comes up and the trolls become stones. In a cave, they find beautiful swords. Gandalf says that they should head to Rivendell, the house of Elrond.

A Short Rest

They approach the Misty Mountains. Bilbo feels the danger around it and thinks of home. Gandalf tells them that they can stay with his friend, Elrond in Rivendell. They get welcomed by singing elves. Bilbo likes it, but knows that dwarves and elves are enemies for already a long time, and they decline the invitations to supper. They go to the house of Elrond and stay there for fourteen days. Elrond sees their swords and translates their runes: Thorin’s sword is named Orcrist, and Gandalf’s is Glamdring. He also interprets the moon letters on the map of Thorin. Moon letters can only be seen by the light of the moon under which they were written. The next day, the dwarves leave to go to the Misty Mountains.

Over Hill And Under Hill

They climb up the mountain but the weather is not forgiving. The storm breaks out and they search for shelter. Fili and Kili find a cave. They promise that they’ve explored the cave good and that there is nothing to be scared of. Then: a crack at the back of the cave opens and goblins jump out of it. They grab everybody and carry them into the mountain. The Great Goblin sees the Elvish sword that Thorin is wearing and is shocked, because they know that sword. They want to kill him but then another sword lights up: Gandalf is with them! The dwarves escape, but Bilbo knocks his head on a rock and loses his consciousness.

Riddles In The Dark

When Bilbo regains consciousness he finds a ring, which he puts in his pocket without thinking about it. He only thinks on home, on eating. He continues until he comes to a lake, and he can’t swim. He is spotted by Gollum, a creature that lives alone on an island in the lake. He engages Bilbo in a game of riddles. Then he goes to the place where he keeps his ring, that makes him invisible, but it’s gone. He asks what is in Bilbo’s pocket, Bilbo takes the ring, slips it on his finger and Gollum runs to attack him, but Bilbo is invisible. Gollum is afraid to be captured by the Goblins and runs in panic to escape. He blocks the way for Bilbo when he smells him but he can escape from him and the Goblins.

Out Of The Frying-Pan Into The Fire

He has come out of the other side of the Mountains, but what to do now? He’s alone in the middle of nowhere. But then he soon overhears the arguing dwarves and Gandalf. He puts the ring on and then emerges; the dwarves are impressed. After a long evening of travel: they here wolves. They know that the goblins will come hunting them and Gandalf advises to climb in the trees. Just in time to avoid being eaten by wargs! Gandalf starts setting pine cones on fire to hold the goblins and wargs away. The trees got on fire and the dwarves, Gandalf and Bilbo seem lost, but then the eagles come and rescue everyone in the trees.

Queer Lodgings

The eagles carry them to a large rock, the Carrock. Gandalf tells that he must leave them soon, and he takes them to Beorn the skin-changer. He can change into a bear. If Gandalf tells him about what happened on their journey and wins a little sympathy of Beorn. He invites the entire company to stay for supper and tells them stories. The next morning, Gandalf is gone and does not return until evening. He and Beorn went to a big bear gathering. The morning after, Beorn returns. He feels great friendship with the travellers because they have the same enemies: goblins. He helps them with ponies and other requirements and they go to Mirkwood, where Gandalf leaves them.

Flies And Spiders

Mirkwood is a murky, dark, stuffy, claustrophobic place. The travellers reach a river and cross it on little rowboats. A stag knocks Bombur into the river. They rescue him, but he keeps having strange dreams. The other dwarves have to carry him through the forest. They hear odd giggling in the woods, and they run out of food, something where especially Bilbo is not happy with. One night they see lights in the forest and go off the path. Gandalf said not to do that. Bilbo loses the others and falls asleep. When he wakes up; a spider is wrapping him in thread. He escapes with the ring but finds the dwarves all wrapped up in webs. He saves them. Thorin walks up to Elves’ feast and he explains what he’s doing in Mirkwood.

Barrels Out Of Bond

The travellers are lost in the wood with no food or water. The Elves surround them and bring them to the halls of the Elven king. He throws them in his dungeon until they tell him why they have come to Mirkwood. Bilbo is not with them, he is wearing the ring and sneaking around. He tells Thorin that all the other dwarves are alive. He finds out another way out of the palace. During a feast, he packs all the dwarves into wine barrels. The barrels are tossed in the river the next day.

A Warm Welcome

It is a very unpleasant trip on the river and Bilbo catches a cold. When the raft of barrels is moored at Lake-Town, the Elves go off and Bilbo liberates the dwarves. Thorin marches to the town and tells who he is: the people are really excited about it! The master of Lake-Town uses the situation and is happy that Thorin is there.

On The Doorstep

Around the Lonely Mountain, the travellers find ruins of the town of Dale. They also find the door that is marked on Thorin’s map, but the door won’t open, whatever they try, so they have to think of what to do next. Everybody feels depressed and no longer motivated about their changes of their expedition. Some of the dwarves mutter about sending Bilbo in by the front door, but luckily they don’t do that. When Bilbo is sitting on the doorstep at one day, a trush suddenly cracks a snail against the side door. It’s Durin’s Day, the only day that the key can work. When Thorin tries it, the door opens.

Inside Information

The dwarves want Bilbo to go down and see what’s Smaug is doing, and Bilbo does. He walks down a long tunnel towards a red glow. It’s getting hotter the closer he gets to the middle of the mountain. Then he sees Smaug, a vast red-golden dragon. He is lying on his treasure. Bilbo takes a golden cup and goes back to the dwarves. Smaug is angry and sets things on fire. The dwarves put as much as they can into their secret way. They are annoyed that Bilbo made the dragon angry, and he goes back down to Smaug. The monster is waiting for Bilbo but can’t see him, because of the ring. He tells Smaug how great he is and butters him up, but doesn’t tell anything suspicious about himself. But Smaug is smart and with tricky questions, he gets overconfident. Bilbo sees the weak point of Smaug and escapes with his life. The travellers close the side door and Smaug disappears. They go to the center of the mountain, but Smaug is really not at home! Bilbo finds the Arkenstone, Thorin’s most desired treasure, the heart of the mountain. But he doesn’t show it to the dwarves. They go back with still no sign of Smaug.

Not At Home

Bilbo sees the weak point of Smaug and escapes with his life. The travellers close the side door and Smaug disappears. They go to the center of the mountain, but Smaug is really not at home! Bilbo finds the Arkenstone, Thorin’s most desired treasure, the heart of the mountain. But he doesn’t show it to the dwarves. They go back with still no sign of Smaug.

Fire And Water

When they’re back in Lake-Town, they spot a red glow from the mountain. A guard tells them that the dragon is coming. Smaug flames the town, while men of Lake-Town are attacking him with arrows. They get a sign from a trush, that tells about the weak point. The guard, Bard, takes a bow and shoots Smaug there. He falls on Lake-Town. People want Bard to be the new king, but the Master of Lake-Town doesn’t want to let go his power.

When they’re back in Lake-Town, they spot a red glow from the mountain. A guard tells them that the dragon is coming. Smaug flames the town, while men of Lake-Town are attacking him with arrows. They get a sign from a trush, that tells about the weak point. The guard, Bard, takes a bow and shoots Smaug there. He falls on Lake-Town. People want Bard to be the new king, but the Master of Lake-Town doesn’t want to let go his power.

The Gathering Of The Clouds

An ancient raven, Roäc, tells Thorin that Smaug has been killed. But the dwarves are not the only ones who are happy with that news. The elves are marching to the mountain in the hope that they can gain a part of the treasure too. The Lake-men are angry on the dwarves: because Smaug has fallen on their city, they want the dwarves to pay them to rebuild their town. The dwarves return to the mountain and prepare for a war. The elves and human armies arrive and camp in front of the Lonely Mountain. The next day, Bard comes and makes clear that it would be fair if Thorin would give him a part of the treasure. But Thorin doesn’t and the Lake-men decide to not let the dwarves go before they give them their part. 

A Thief In The Night

Bilbo hatches a plan if he sees that Thorin is never going to change his mind. He wants peace and to save his friends, the dwarves. He takes the Arkenstone and goes down to the camps of elves and humans. He meets Bard and the Elven king there and gives the stone to Bard. Then Gandalf returns, and says that Bilbo did a good thing there.

The Clouds Burst

The next day, Bard comes to the dwarves, shows the stone and demands that they negotiate terms. Bilbo has to admit that he has given the stone to Bard. Thorin agrees that the Elves and men gets Bilbo’s part of the treasure, if he gets the Arkenstone. He tells Bilbo that they are no friends and sends him away. He wants to capture the Arkenstone without paying the agreed part of the treasure. Then Dain and his men arrive. They launch a surprise attack on the elves and humans. Gandalf says that the Goblins are coming and they stop fighting and form a army together, because goblins are everyone’s enemies. A great war breaks out. Bilbo loses consciousness again and misses the end of the battle.

The Return Journey

When he wakes up, Bilbo is all alone on the battlefield. Gandalf finds him and brings him to Thorin, who’s dying. He apologies for his behaviour, and then passes away. Fili and Kili died in the war defending Thorin. Bilbo hears that they won the battle, and that the mountain has peace. Dain was the new King under the Mountain. Bilbo gets a part of the treasure, and also Bard gets his agreed part. Bilbo and Gandalf spend the winter with Beorn, close to the Misty Mountains and then continue on to Rivendell.

The Last Stage

Gandalf reports Elrond about their adventures, and after that they ride out to Hobbiton, the Shire. When Bilbo comes at Bag End, all his relatives think that he is dead and are selling his stuff. He has lost their respect, and everybody sees him as an odd Hobbit now. A couple of years later, Gandalf and Balin visit Bilbo, and tell him about the good news around the Lonely Mountain.

Introduction

“In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit. Not a nasty, dirty, wet hole, filled with the ends of worms and an oozy smell, nor yet a dry, bare, sandy hole with nothing in it to sit down on or to eat: it was a hobbit-hole, and that means comfort.”

Tolkien explains what Hobbits and Hobbit holes are, and introduces Bilbo Baggins.

Initial incident

“By some curious chance one morning long ago in the quiet of the world, when there was less noise and more green, and the hobbits were still numerous and prosperous, and Bilbo Baggins was standing at his door after breakfast smoking an enormous long wooden pipe that reached nearly down to his woolly toes (neatly brushed) - Gandalf came by.”

Gandalf comes to Bilbo and ask him if he would like to go with him on an adventure.

Rising action

The rising action of The Hobbit is when Bilbo and his band of dwarves come to the Lonely Mountain and go inside.

Climax

Smaug has died and the armies fight each other and with each other.

Falling action

The return journey of Bilbo and Gandalf after the battle.

Conclusion

Bilbo returns to Hobbiton where his stuff is being auctioned off, and settles down to live in the Shire once again. He loses all respect from the hobbit folk, but he doesn’t mind. The adventurous side of him is awakened, and after that he travelled quite a bit.