Summer Reading Assignment: Middle School English Cohort
The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien
Please answer each of the following questions in complete sentences. Please proofread your responses for
spelling/capitalization/punctuation errors, as points will be deducted for mistakes in these areas. If I cannot
read your handwriting, your response will be marked as incorrect. If you wish to type your responses, please
type the question number as well as the question before responding.
This assignment will be collected for grading on the first day of school. We will discuss the novel, and follow
up with a test after reviewing the material.
Chapter 1: An Unexpected Party
1. What kind of mark does Gandalf put on Bilbo’s door?
2. How many dwarves come to tea? What are their names?
3. Why aren’t the dwarves in possession of their treasure?
4. How does the dwarves’ music affect Bilbo?
5. What does Thorin wear to distinguish himself from other dwarves?
6. What two things does Galdalf give Thorin?
7. How did the dwarves lose their treasure and kingdom?
8. Name some of the characteristics of dwarves that we have seen thus far in chapter one.
9. What did Gandalf claim to be looking for when he arrived on Bilbo’s doorstep?
10. 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?
Chapter 2: Roast Mutton
11. What are the terms of Bilbo's contract?
12. How does life on the trail differ from the life that Bilbo is used to in the Shire?
13. Who do they discover is missing?
14. Describe what Bilbo Baggins sees as he approaches the red light.
15. How does Bilbo know that the three people are trolls?
16. How does the speech of the dwarves and the speech of the trolls differ?
17. How is Bilbo caught?
18. What does Bilbo mean when he says, "I . . . cook better than I cook."?
19. Explain what happens to the dwarves as they come to Bilbo's aid.
20. How does Gandalf rescue Bilbo and the dwarves?
21. How did Gandalf finally manage to open the big stone door leading to the trolls' cave?
22. What do they take from the trolls' hoard?
23. What did Gandalf and Thorin each take from the cave?
Chapter 3: A Short Rest
24. What does Bilbo say that it smells like as they descend the mountain?
25. Why does Bilbo want to stay a bit longer before moving on to the house, and why do the dwarves want
to move on to the house as quickly as possible?
26. Find an example of the playful nature of the elves as the group is led to Rivendell?
27. How long do they stay at Rivendell?
28. Name and describe the master of the household at Rivendell.
29. How are the dwarves and Bilbo prepared for their journey while they are staying at Rivendell?
30. What are the names of the swords that Gandalf and Thorin took from the trolls’ hoard?
31. How does Elrond feel about the dwarves’ love of gold and dragons?
32. What are moon letters?
33. When is Durin’s Day?
Chapter 4: Over Hill and Under Hill
34. Describe how the attitudes of Bilbo and the dwarves has changed since they have left Rivendell and
proceeded on their journey.
35. What does Bilbo see during the lightning flashes?
36. What are Fili and Kili sent to find, and why are they chosen for this task?
37. How did they see to explore the cave?
38. How does Bilbo’s dream come true? Who manages to escape?
39. What becomes of the ponies?
40. Describe the goblins. What kind of things are goblins known to make and do?
41. What is Thorin’s reply when asked by the Great Goblin where they are going and why they are
passing through the mountains?
42. Why does Thorin’s sword make the goblins angry?
43. Who saves them from the goblins’ rage? How are they saved?
44. What happens when the group run into the goblins again inside the caverns?
45. What happens to Bilbo at the end of the chapter?
Chapter 5: Riddles in the Dark
46. What does Bilbo find that eventually turns out to be “a turning point in his career”?
47. Bilbo has a difficult time seeing in the dark tunnel. He uses an unlikely object that appears to have a
bluish glow to see a bit better. What is it?
48. What kind of creature lives in the dark, underground water? What is his name?
49. What nickname does this creature always call himself?
50. What does the creature agree to do if he loses the riddle contest?
51. What is the answer to the following riddle?
A box without hinges, key or lid,
Yet golden treasure inside is hid.
52. What is the question that Bilbo asks that is not really a riddle, but wins him the contest?
53. What amazing power does the ring seem to provide its wearer?
54. Bilbo uses the ring to escape twice. From whom is he escaping?
Chapter 6: Out of the Frying Pan Into the Fire
55. Once he is outside, where does Bilbo discover that he is?
56. What caused Bilbo’s reputation with the dwarves to improve?
57. What one thing does Bilbo leave out of his tale about what happened to him inside the tunnels after he
was lost?
58. Why does Gandalf say that they must be on their way quickly?
59. What is the sound that Bilbo hears that frightens him?
60. Where do they escape, and who is left behind again?
61. What is the name of these dreadful creatures? What do they seem to be doing in the circle?
62. What had they planned for this evening? Which other group had planned to join them?
63. Why are the dwarves, Bilbo and Gandalf especially in danger? Who do these creatures think they are,
and what do they plan to do with them?
64. What does Gandalf do to help them escape?
65. What do the Wargs do in retaliation?
66. Who saves Gandalf? Who saves the rest of the party?
Chapter 7: Queer Lodgings
67. How does Bilbo feel about his ride between the eagle’s wings?
68. What is the correct reply to the eagles’ wishes of “wherever you fare, till your eyries receive you at the
journey’s end!”? Who knows the proper answer to such a farewell?
69. Foreshadowing exists in the statement that “the Lord of Eagles became in after days the King of All
Birds and wore a golden crown, and his fifteen chieftains golden collars.” Where do the eagles get the
gold for these golden items?
70. What does The Somebody that made the steps on the big rock call the big rock?
71. What does skin-changer mean? What animal and name is associated with this skin-changer?
72. Which word does Bilbo say that Gandalf tells him he must not say again within a hundred miles of the
skin-changer’s house? Why?
73. What kind of very large creatures do they see while travelling that leads Gandalf to believe that they
are nearing Beorn’s house?
74. Who goes to tell Beorn of the arrival of strangers?
75. What purpose do all of the interruptions have on Beorn?
76. Although Gandalf says it is safe to stay at Beorn’s home for the night, what does he tell the dwarves
and Bilbo they must not do?
77. What does Beorn do with the Warg and goblin that he captures?
78. What does Beorn discover that finally makes him consider the dwarves, Bilbo and Gandalf his
friends?
79. Name the four different things that Beorn agrees to provide the troop.
80. Why does Beorn warn them to stay away from the “black and strong” stream?
81. What other piece of advice does Beorn offer?
82. When does Gandalf leave the troop?
Chapter 8: Flies and Spiders
83. Why don’t the dwarves and Bilbo build a fire to keep warm at night?
84. Who manages to get the boat from across the river, and how does he do it?
85. What happens to Bombur when he falls in the water? Who warned the group about this effect of the
river?
86. Describe how Bombur is forced to travel.
87. Why does Bilbo climb the tree, and what does he find there?
88. How does Bombur’s dream come true?
89. What happens to the dwarves and Bilbo as they sleep?
90. What does Bilbo name his dagger, and why does it earn that name?
91. What skill does Bilbo have that comes in very handy when he is trying to save Bombur from being
eaten?
92. How does he use this skill to save Bombur?
93. What secret does Bilbo finally reveal to the dwarves? Why does he tell them his secret?
94. What three things does Bilbo possess that impress the dwarves after he saves them?
95. Who are the feasting people, and how do they compare to the High Elves of the West? (watch your
punctuation and capitalization!)
96. Why do these creatures dislike the dwarves?
97. Why do these creatures think that the dwarves were attacking them, and what does Thorin say in
response?
Chapter 9: Barrels out of Bond
98. How did the Wood-elves never find out about the hobbit?
99. With what four things is Balin charged by the king of the Wood-elves?
100. How does Bilbo discover that another dwarf is also held prisoner? Who is it?
101. What do the elves do with the empty barrels once the food and drink has been taken out and stored?
102. How does Bilbo get the keys to unlock the dwarves?
103. How does Bilbo get the dwarves out of the Wood-elves stronghold?
104. What is the weak point in Bilbo’s plan?
105. How does Bilbo catch up with the dwarves?
106. What does Bilbo do when the barrels reach the town of men?
107. What does Bilbo still not know at the end of this chapter?
Chapter 10: A Warm Welcome
108. What does Bilbo see as the shores in front of him sink, and the trees part to reveal the view of the
river?
109. What did some believe caused the earthquakes?
110. What is the name of the body of water (Bilbo cannot imagine it is not the sea because it is so large)
on which the barrels finally come to rest?
111. The men of the village sometimes sing songs of Thror and Thrain coming back one day. What will
happen, according to these songs, when Thror and Thrain return?
112. Why is the raft of barrels left unattended when they reach Lake-town?
113. Which dwarf is the first to be released from the barrels?
114. Why do the guards not hear the dwarves and Bilbo approaching?
115. Who does Thorin ask the guards to see?
116. Why are the townspeople so glad to see the dwarves?
117. What had the Master figured Thorin and the dwarves to be all along, but is surprised to find that they
are not when Thorin tells him that they will be leaving to approach the mountain to confront Smaug?
Chapter 11: On the Doorstep
118. Who is chosen for the scouting expedition to check out the land to the South where the Front Gate
stood?
119. Balin shows the group “all that is left of Dale” as they pass by an area where “the grey ruins of
ancient houses, towers and walls.” How does Balin describe Dale as it used to be?
120. Other than the waters of the Running River, what do they notice coming from the dark, cavernous
opening in the cliffwall?
121. Which three find the secret door?
122. Where do the dwarves and Bilbo make their third camp?
123. What do they call “the little grassy space between the wall and the opening”?
124. What does Dwalin suggest that Bilbo do as he talks privately with the other dwarves?
125. What kind of noise does Bilbo hear as the sun sets? What happens that causes the noise?
126. What item do they use to finally open the door? Who has this item in his possession?
127. How do they know how to use this item to open the door?
Chapter 12: Inside Information
128. What chore does Thorin suggest Bilbo complete to “earn his Reward”?
129. Which of the dwarves offers to join Bilbo in this task?
130. What is the first sign of the dragon noticed by Bilbo?
131. What does the dragon use for a bed?
132. What item does Bilbo take from the hoard?
133. How does the dragon notice Bilbo when he sneaks back to the lair?
134. How does Bilbo manage to escape, and what are the consequences for his actions?
135. What is “like a globe with a thousand facets…like silver in the firelight, like water in the sun, like
snow under the stars, like rain upon the Moon”?
136. Where does the dragon go after Bilbo runs away?
Chapter 13: Not at Home
137. After Smaug leaves his lair, what do the dwarves discover?
138. Why do they decide to travel back to Smaug’s lair?
139. Once they reach the dragon’s lair, what does Bilbo ask the dwarves to provide for him?
140. Which item does Bilbo decide he would choose for his fourteenth of the treasure?
141. What guides the dwarves to the exit of the mountain, the Front Gate?
142. Once the company is at rest, what is the one topic of conversation that they keep discussing?
Chapter 14: Fire and Water
143. Which person warns the people of the lake-town Esgaroth about Smaug’s approach?
144. What did the townspeople do to prepare for Smaug’s attack? Where do they go to escape?
145. Who is a descendant of Girion, Lord of Dale?
146. Who brings news to the descendant of the Lord of Dale that Smaug has a weak spot in his armor?
147. How is Smaug conquered?
148. Who do the townspeople want to have for a king?
149. From whom do the men ask for aid?
150. How many days after Smaug’s death did it take for the men to begin their journey to the Front Gate?
VOCABULARY: define each of the following vocabulary words (do not use another form of the word in its
definition!)
1. audacious
2. cleave
3. defray
4. flummox
5. haughty
6. immense
7. morsel
8. obstinate
9. palpitate
10. paraphernalia
11. plunder
12. requisite
13. trifle
14. venerable
15. thrive
16. rummage
17. sturdy
18. grope
19. wretched
20. imp
21. menacing
22. peer
23. helter-skelter
24. rubbish
25. uncanny
26. pinnacle
27. smite
28. precipice
29. famish
30. oblige
31. cast (v)
32. peril
33. falter
34. vex
35. loathsome
36. wary
37. hale
38. portcullis
39. flagon
40. desolate
41. barren
42. brood (v)
43. dale
44. pretense
45. treacherous
46. reckon
47. scorch
48. singe
49. lure (v)
50. clever