Hobbit


 * Discussion Time:**
 * Friday****, January 20,** **12:55-2:25 (5B)**

Maddie Loomis Megan Smith Nick Worcester Emanual McDonald Danielle Evers Steve Steinbock Nissa Flanagan Linda Dodge
 * Group Members:**

 The Hobbit By J.R. Tolkien


 * Pre-Discussion Questions **
 * Characters **
 * - Bilbo Baggins - as the hero of this novel, Bilbo leaves his quiet and comfy hobbit house in Bag End and ventures out into the dangerous land to find much respected gold. With little direction, Bilbo is able to travel with 13 dwarves and plays a significant role in the journey as ‘the burglar’. The journey that Biblo follows reveals his hidden bravery and courage. **
 * - Gandalf - as a wizard, Gandalf seems to know the world, although most of the time he doesn’t share this information until it is implacable. Gandalf is always needed somewhere, so he never overstays his welcome... Helping Biblo through his conundrums, Gandalf always has another reason of action and helps bring attention to the important things in life. **
 * - Thorin Oakenshield - With Thorin’s gold being hidden by Smaug, the dragon, he is the reason for the jouney. Throughout the novel, Thorin’s greedyness, stupidity, and stubbornness is a large part of the travels. Although deep down he is an affectionate and smart dwarf, it takes life to show some of these qualities. **
 * - Smaug - As a humorous part of The Hobbit, Smaug is the fire-breathing dragon who gaurds Thorin’s family gold. He lives a solemn life in the Lonely Mountains with only his gold, and is convinced he will never loose his gold because of his dragon-like features that give him enormous advantages over all living creatures. **
 * - Gollum - A creature driven crazy because of solitude, Gollum’s best friend and ‘precious’ is a gold ring that makes it’s wearer invisible. When Gollum accidentally looses his ring, Biblo lucks out and finds the magical ring, letting him escape the cave in the misty mountains. Gollum’s ring creates greed and passion for the wrong things in life. **
 * - Elrond - The leader of the elves in Rivendell is Elrond. He supports the dwarves and Bilbo in their adventure by giving them recommendations and assistance. Although he is none of these, he has the great qualities of a wizard, a warrior, and a king. **
 * -Beorn- A man who can turn into a Bear at night. Beorn helps Bilbo, the dwarves, and Gandalf after their escape from the goblins. He aids their hunger and lets them stay in his home for several days, then lends them horses to take them to Mirkwood (they promised to send them back once they got to the forests entry) **


 * Setting **
 * - Middle Earth - an imaginary period in the past **
 * - the shire - where the story begins and ends, Bilbo’s home **
 * - the lonely mountain - where the dragon lives, guarding Thorin’s ancestors’ treasure **


 * Important Plot Events **
 * - the “Unexpected Party”-when the dwarves and Gandalf meet at Bilbo’s and prepare for the journey **
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">- the journey -their quest for the lonely mountain and treasure (misty mountains, mirkwood, running river, the lonely mountain) **
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">- the death of the dragon- when the lake men (Bard) finally defeat the dragon and get gold for themselves **


 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Conflicts **
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">- characters vs. environment - they have trouble getting to the mountain in a lot of different ways. It is the major conflict because the plot of the novel is getting to the mountain. They have to get through the Misty Mountains (dealing with the goblins), through Mirkwood (the spiders, don’t wander from the path!), down the river, how to get inside the mountain **
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">- character vs. character - the dragon is a conflict because it is thwarting their attempts to get the treasure. The goblins are also a conflict because they try to stop them from getting to the mountain. **
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">- character vs. self - Bilbo is a respectable hobbit and he doesn’t need adventure in his life. On his mother’s side, there are adventurers so part of him wants to go on adventures. Yet the Baggins part of him keeps on wanting to return to his hobbit hole, to his home- with tea, first breakfast, second breakfast, etc. everyday. **


 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Qualities of the Journey **
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">- Bilbo goes from being a “respectable hobbit” to someone who went on an adventure and returned with riches. **


 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Questions **
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">(everyone should do 3 or 4 questions?) **
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">For Bilbo, when is the point of no return? (Threshold of adventure) **
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">How is Bilbo different when he returns home from his journey? **
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">In which scenes does Bilbo undergo changes? Are they physical or spiritual changes? **
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">What age group do you think this book is written for? **
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Why do you think Tolkien made the men kill the dragon instead of having Bilbo be the big hero? **
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">What publication of the book did everyone have? **
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Why do you think it has two titles? (The Hobbit, or There and Back Again) **
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Do you think that Thorin is a respectable character? **
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">In comparison to the wide variety of good vs. evil in this novel, where do you think other creatures would fit in (monkeys, humans, pets, etc.)? **
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Do you think Biblo ultimately belongs in his home? **
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">As being the savior of so many troubles, does Gandalf get the respect and acknowledgement he deserves at the end of the journey? **
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Why do you think the author made only Bilbo and Bard see Smaugs weakness under his left breast but no one else? **
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Why is it that the journey back took shorter length then the way their? **
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">What is so significant about the battle scene? **
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Why it important to the story that Bilbo is away from the group most of the story? **
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">What was so significant of Bilbo meeting Smaug? **
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">What does Bilbo learn on his journey? **
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Who likes this book, Why? **


 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Connections **
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">Archetypal Criticism- invites comparison of heroic quest to find the deeper significance of the hero to the reader. **


 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000099; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">[|__http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f_JMOPCo31M__] <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> - the original hobbit movie 1977 **
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000099; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">[|__http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G0k3kHtyoqc__] <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> - the new hobbit movie 2012 **
 * <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000099; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline;">[|__http://the-hobbit-movie.com/__] <span style="background-color: transparent; color: #000000; font-family: Cambria; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"> - About the new hobbit movie 2012 **