The Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring
Vocabulary and Questions
Book I, Chapter 1: “A Long-Expected Party”
1.
In what ways is Bilbo an unusual hobbit?
2.
Who is Frodo, and what is his relationship to Bilbo?
3.
How might the hobbits in the Shire describe Gandalf the Wizard?
4.
What “Three Purposes” does Bilbo have for wanting to assemble his friends and relatives? (pg. 31)
5.
Why does Bilbo want to go away?
6.
How does Bilbo react when Gandalf reminds him that he has had the Ring long enough?
7.
What warning does Gandalf give Frodo concerning the Ring?
Book I, Chapter 2: “The Shadow of the Past”
1.
What does Gandalf predict will happen to Frodo or anyone who uses the Ring?
2.
When did Gandalf first suspect that the Ring had power over Bilbo?
3.
How does Gandalf prove that Frodo’s Ring is especially powerful?
4.
What words are inscribed in Elvish on the Ring?
5.
Who owned the original 20 Great Rings, and what happened to them?
6.
What does the Ring’s maker wish to do with the Ring?
7.
Who is Sauron?
8.
How did Sauron lose the Master-ring?
9.
How did Bilbo acquire the Ring?
10. What is the significance of Gollum’s having been a Hobbit before acquiring the Ring?
11. Why did Sauron allow Gollum to escape?
12. Why does Gandalf caution Frodo against throwing the Ring away?
13. What is the only way the One Ring can be destroyed?
14. Why does Gandalf refuse the Ring when Frodo offers it to him?
15. How does Gandalf punish Sam when he discovers him listening at the window?
Book I, Chapter 3: “Three Is Company”
1.
Frodo does not want the other Hobbits in Hobbiton to know that he is leaving on a quest. What does he do to keep the
reasons for his departure a secret?
2.
Describe the dark rider that Frodo and the others see along the road.
3.
What urge does Frodo have when he sees the dark rider?
4.
Who saves Frodo, Pippin, and Sam from the Dark Riders?
5.
List some character traits common to Elves.
6.
What concerns do Frodo and Gildor have about Gandalf?
7.
What advice does Gildor give to Frodo?
Book I, Chapter 4: “A Short Cut to Mushrooms”
1.
What is Sam’s opinion of elves now that he has met them?
2.
Why is Frodo terrified of Farmer Maggot?
3.
Frodo learns from Farmer Maggot that Dark Riders are in the area. Frodo becomes worried about reaching the Ferry safely.
In what ways does Farmer Maggot help Frodo the reach the Ferry safely?
Book I, Chapter 5: “A Conspiracy Unmasked”
1.
In what ways are the Bucklanders different from other hobbits?
2.
Why is this chapter titled “A Conspiracy Unmasked”?
3.
What route do Frodo and Merry propose to take out of the Shire?
4.
Why does Fatty Bolger stay behind?
Book I, Chapter 6: “The Old Forest”
1.
What makes the Old Forest strange and frightening to the hobbits?
2.
What happens to the paths in the Old Forest as the hobbits try to follow them?
3.
How do Frodo and his friends get “herded” down to the Withywindle?
4.
What does Old Man Willow do to the hobbits?
5.
How do Frodo and Sam try to rescue Pippin and Merry?
6.
Who comes to the hobbits’ rescue?
Book I, Chapter 7: “In the House of Tom Bombadil”
1. Who is Goldberry?
2.
Describe Goldberry.
3.
How does the spell cast on Frodo by Goldberry differ from the spell of “fair Elven-voices”?
4.
What makes Tom Bombadil unique?
5.
Why do you suppose Tom does not disappear when he tries on the Ring?
6.
Why does Frodo feel the need to slip on the Ring after Tom returns it to him?
Book I, Chapter 8: “Fog on the Barrow-Downs”
1. What is a Barrow-wight?
2.
What do they keep in their barrows?
3.
How are Sam, Pippin and Merry dressed when Frodo sees them laid out in the barrow?
4.
Why does Frodo decide not to put on the Ring to escape from the barrow?
5.
How does Tom defeat the Barrow-wight?
6.
What does Tom choose from the barrow treasure for each hobbit, and what makes these choices special?
Book I, Chapter 9: “At the Sign of the Prancing Pony”
1.
What was the “peculiar (but excellent) arrangement” in the relationship of the Bree hobbits and men?
2.
Who are the Rangers, and what sets them apart?
3.
What advice do Merry and Pippin give each other at the end of their supper in “The Prancing Pony”?
4.
What happens to Frodo while he is singing his song?
5.
How does Frodo explain his strange disappearance to the crowded room?
6.
What are the consequences of Frodo’s accidental disappearance?
7.
Describe Strider.
Book I, Chapter 10: “Strider”
1.
Why has Strider been looking for Frodo Baggins?
2.
What is Strider’s “price” for giving Frodo and the others information that may help them?
3.
What is the information that Strider has for Frodo?
4.
What is in the letter from Gandalf that Butterbur has for Frodo?
5.
What precautions do Frodo and the others take so that they are safe for the night?
6.
Why does Frodo begin to trust Strider?
Book I, Chapter 11: “A Knife in the Dark”
1.
What has happened at Crickhollow?
2.
How are the hobbits delayed in Bree?
3.
Why is Strider leading the group to Weathertop?
4.
Who do Frodo and Strider think may have been at Weathertop? What is the message on the stone Frodo finds on the cairn?
5.
What story does Strider tell during the night on Weathertop?
6.
* From what you know of the story of Aragorn, how does this story create foreshadowing?
7.
How are the Black Riders able to “see” the hobbits?
8.
Why does Frodo slip the ring on his finger?
9.
What new information about the Black Riders does Frodo discover?
10. What happens to Frodo as a result of the attack by the Black Riders?
Book I, Chapter 12: “Flight to the Ford”
1. What is the nature of Frodo’s injury? Why is Strider worried about Frodo’s knife wound?
2.
What does Strider do to help Frodo?
3.
What is the “sign” Strider receives telling him that it is safe to cross the bridge to the Ford of Bruinen?
4.
Who finds the group on the path to Rivendell? Why is he looking for Frodo and the others?
5.
What special skills does Glorfindel possess?
6.
Why is it that Frodo cannot remain with his friends?
7.
At the Ford of Bruinen, what saves Frodo from being captured by the Black Riders?