The Hobbit Study Guide 6
Tolkien’s Writing Techniques
Tolkien relied on several writing techniques: irony, allusion, animals getting involved.
Irony refers to a difference between the way something appears and what actually is
true. There are three types of irony in The Hobbit: verbal irony, dramatic irony, and
situational irony.
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Verbal irony: What is said is different from what is meant. Tolkien uses two types of
verbal irony: understatement and opposite.
• Understatement - Thorin says to the Great Goblin, “nothing was further from
our thoughts than inconveniencing goblins in any way whatsoever”.
• Opposite - When the narrator says after Bilbo sings his song to the spiders
“They were frightfully angry. Quite apart from the stones no spider has ever
liked being called Attercop, and Tomnoddy of course is insulting to anybody,” it
is an example of verbal irony. You probably wouldn’t care at all if someone
called you “Tomnoddy” but the narrator acts as if it is a great insult, easily
recognized by all, showing us how stupid the spiders are (their whole plot to kill
and eat the company, which is practically guaranteed to succeed, is ruined
because of one silly word. (Discovery Literature Series by Mary Eliz)
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Dramatic Irony: knowledge that the narrator makes available to the reader, but not to
the characters. “It was a turning point in his career, but he did not know it…”
Situational Irony: A situation when something that is expected does not occur or
when something intended fails to materialize. This can be from the reader’s point of
view or in the latter, the character’s point of view. An example is when Bilbo tries to
pick the troll’s pocket in order to show what a good burglar he is; Bombur is not
impressed, “Silly time to go practicing pinching and pocket-picking”.
Allusion: an indirect reference (something outside the book that is inferred in this
book). Allusions add richness and explanation to a story. The author assumes the reader
is familiar with the story being alluded to.
Bilbo stealing the cup from Smaug is a direct allusion to the story Beowulf. In Beowulf, a
dragon has marauded and stolen treasure from people for 300 years. While he sleeps a
man in great need enters the cave, steals a cup with two handles, and takes it to his
master. When the dragon awakes, he smells the man and notices the theft. He attacks the
town and sets it on fire. The hero, Beowulf, faces the dragon alone and kills him.
Copyright 2011 Vicki Tillman. Published by 7 Sisters IHH, LLC. All rights reserved
The Hobbit Study Guide 7
J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis would say that they are “unabashedly
unoriginal” (www.cslewisinstitute.org). The allusions to other stories found in their
stories (and other myth/fantasy) are a way of deepening the meaning by bringing the
reader’s past memories and feelings into the present story. (It is like when you hear a
favorite song, it feels good and brings back memories.)
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Animals Get Involved: Tolkien used the raven, Roac, as a prophet in the story. The
thrush helps show Bilbo the secret door opening and helps Bard know how to fell Smaug.
Animals are special occasion purveyors of eucatastrophe.
Copyright 2011 Vicki Tillman. Published by 7 Sisters IHH, LLC. All rights reserved
The Hobbit Study Guide 8
Vocabulary Exercises Using
The Hobbit
by J.R.R. Tolkien
Study Guide by Vicki Tillman
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Throng
Ere
Delves
Audacious
Estimable
Prudent
Remuneration
Defrayed
Requisite
Cavalcade
Purloined
Homely
Bogs
Vexed
Subterranean
Ventured
Dells
Helter-skelter
Pinnacle
Eyrie
Ford
Lopped
Unimpeachable
Veranda
Gloaming
Eucatastrophe
Hewn
Turnkey
Eddying
Suppressed
Ominous
Floundering
Solemnities
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Study the vocabulary words. Use each in a sentence or make them into your own
vocabulary quiz.
Copyright 2011 Vicki Tillman. Published by 7 Sisters IHH, LLC. All rights reserved