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The Hobbit. Themes. What is a theme? The theme of a book is a message that describes an opinion about life, human nature or elements of society. 12 common themes.
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Themes • What is a theme? The theme of a book is a message that describes an opinion about life, human nature or elements of society.
12 common themes • Man Struggles Against Nature: Man is always at battle with human nature, whether the drives described are material or against the aging process itself. • Man Struggles Against Societal Pressure: Mankind is always struggling to determine if societal pressure is best for living. Check out books like Revolutionary Road or Mrs. Dalloway for examples of characters who know how society says they should live, but feel society's dictation is contrary to what makes them happy. • Man Struggles to Understand Divinity: Mankind tries to understand and make peace with God, but satisfaction is elusive and difficult. • Crime Does Not Pay: A popular theme played out in books throughout time is the concept that honesty is honored and criminals will eventually be caught. Crime and Punishment and "The Telltale Heart" are two stories written on this theme. • Overcoming Adversity: Many books laud characters who accept a tough situation and turn it into triumph. Scarlett O'Hara in Gone With the Wind exemplifies a shrewd person who finds a way to come out on top despite failed relationships and an economic depression after the Civil War.
12 common themes • Friendship is Dependent on Sacrifice: This is the idea that you can't have friends if you don't act like a friend. • The Importance of Family: Sacrifices for family are honored and explored, as are the family bonds that survive adversity. • Yin and Yang: Just when you think life is finally going to be easy, something bad happens to balance it all out. • Love is the Worthiest of Pursuits: Many writers assert the idea that love conquers all, appealing to the romantic side of us. • Death is Part of the Life Cycle: Literary works with this theme show how death and life and intricately connected. • Sacrifices Bring Reward: Sacrifices and hard work pay off in the end, despite the challenges along the way. • Human Beings All Have the Same Needs: From the main character in Hunger Games to the main character in Diary of a Whimpy Kid book after book asserts that rich or poor, educated or dumb, all human beings need love and other basic needs met. • (http://www.life123.com/parenting/education/children-reading/12-most-common-themes-in-literature.shtml)
What do you suppose this means: "Between the Dawn of Færie and the Dominion of Men?”
Figurative Language • Similes (your smile is like sun beams on a cloudy day) or (my skin is like mocha ice cream) • Metaphor (life is a journey) or (school is jail) or (home is paradise) • Sayings, phrases, and idioms (as pure as the driven snow) or (a piece of cake) or a (a dime a dozen) or (a slap on the wrist) or (a picture paints a thousand words)
Vocabulary Study Deceptions: being dishonest infested: pest-ridden, filled with bugs, diseased astray: off course or lost Splinters: slivers or pieces guffawing: laughing or chuckling drenched: saturated or very wet tinder: kindling or wood jammering: talking too much or excessively Flint: a very hard gray-black quartz used to make fire
Vocabulary study Rummaged: hunted or searched ingenious: original or resourceful devices: plans or strategies grudge: chip on your shoulder or complaint hospitable: warm, welcoming hordes: flocks or groups Scurrying: darting or rushing
Chapter One Discussion Questions Chapter One-- An Unexpected Party • Who is Bilbo Baggins? • Give a brief description of a hobbit. • Discuss the significance of the name Belladonna. Who was she? • What did Gandalf claim to be looking for when he arrived on Bilbo's doorstep? • What does Gandalf do with the spike on his staff just before leaving Bilbo's home? • Who began to arrive at Bilbo's home the next day for tea? • Give proof that Gandalf has knocked very hard on Bilbo's front door. • What indication is there that Thorin is the leader of the dwarves? • Explain why Bilbo lets out a horrible shriek and begins to shake like jelly. • 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? • According to Thorin what had happened to his family's wealth? How is this a motivator for him? What does he want to do?
Chapter Two Discussion Questions • What evidence is there that Bilbo Baggins hasn't just been dreaming about a party? • What indication is there in the note left by Thorin and Company that the adventure or quest may prove to be perilous for Bilbo? • Who do the dwarves notice has gone missing? • Describe what Bilbo Baggins sees as he approaches the red light. • Explain what happens to the dwarves as they come to Bilbo's aid. • How does Gandalf use his powers on Bert and Tom and William? • How did Gandalf finally manage to open the big stone door leading to the trolls' cave? • What did Gandalf and Thorin each take from the cave?
Chapter Three Discussion Questions • According to Gandalf, what lay hidden somewhere not too far ahead of the travelers? • Who was Elrond? • Explain moon letters. • What is Durin's Day?
Chapter Four Over Hill Under Hill • Explain how the dwarves and the hobbit were able to find their way up the treacherous mountain. • What did Tolkien mean by a thunder-battle? • Describe what the stone-giants were doing. • What indication is there that the cave might not be safe? • Summarize Bilbo's dream that evening. • Why was it fortunate that Bilbo had accompanied the dwarves into the cave? • What happened when the crack in the wall snapped shut? • Explain how the horses, ponies and donkeys all disappeared. • Why were the Great Goblin and many of his soldiers so upset when they saw Thorin's sword? • Who came to the rescue of the dwarves and what weapon did they use? • What happens to Bilbo at the end of this chapter?
Chapter Five Riddles in the Dark • Why was Bilbo so frightened when he regained consciousness? • What does Bilbo find as he crawls blindly along the floor of the tunnel? • Why was Bilbo comforted by his dagger or small sword? • How was Bilbo able to see in the darkness? • Why was Bilbo reluctant to wade in the water? • Who is Gollum and where does he live? • Explain the basic rules of the riddle game. • Explain the power of Gollum's ring. • Why did Gollum hurry right past Bilbo? • Explain how Gollum unexpectedly aids the hobbit in his escape. • Why are the goblins reluctant to pursue Bilbo Baggins once he is outside?
Chapter Six Out of the Frying Pan and Into the Fire (Figurative Language) • What did Bilbo Baggins intend to do if he was unable to find Gandalf or the dwarves? • What did the dwarves want to do when there was no sign of Bilbo? • How might you use the power of the golden ring if you possessed it? • Why did Gandalf encourage the adventurers to hurry on their way? • What noise did they hear as they stepped into the clearing? • Explain the significance of the title of this chapter. • Why would the ring not protect Bilbo from the wolves (Wargs)? • Who helped Bilbo escape into the tree? • Why did the wolves alert the goblins to the adventurers who are hiding in the trees? • Who rescued the party of adventurers from their perilous position in the trees?
Chapter Seven Queer Lodgings • Why did Bilbo pinch the eagle? • What announcement caused the dwarves to moan and Bilbo to weep? • According to Gandalf what are two possibilities explaining the origin of Beorn? • How does Gandalf prove himself to be a great manipulator when he is talking to Beorn? • What information did Beorn glean in his travels to the wolf-glade? • What gruesome sight did Beorn reveal to the adventurers when asked by Bilbo what had happened to the captured wolf and goblin? • What warning does Beorn give the travelers about proceeding through Mirkwood? • What shadowy form did Bilbo think he had seen on the third evening of their journey? • What were Gandalf's final cautionary words as he bade farewell to the dwarves and Bilbo?
Chapter Eight Flies and Spiders • Why were the travelers unable to cross over the stream by bridge? • Describe what happened to Bombur as he was about to step into the boat. • Explain how Bombur's unfortunate incident slowed their travels. • Explain why Bilbo and the dwarves strayed from the path. • What did Bilbo discover was happening to him when he awoke? • Explain the transformation of Bilbo Baggins' character as he renames his sword Sting. • Why is Bilbo horrified when he stumbles upon the dwarves in a dark part of the Mirkwood forest? • Explain why Bilbo was so adroit at throwing stones. • Summarize Bilbo's rescue of the dwarves. • What do the dwarves discover when they take a headcount?
Chapter Nine Barrels out of Bond • Where did the Wood-elves take their captives? • How did the dwarves react to their interrogation by the Elvenking? • What does the Elvenking order his men to do? • How did Bilbo learn that Thorin was being kept captive in the dungeon? • Who played a key role in the escape of the dwarves from prison? • Briefly describe their final departure from the palace.
Chapters Ten and Eleven • Why are the riddles important to Golum? What does he want? • How does Bilbo get away from Golum? • What does the quote, “Careful now, or this way will lead to worse things,” mean? Chapter Eleven Bilbo cries out loud, “out of the frying-pan and into the fire.” What does this idiom mean for him at that moment? How does the chapter end?
Chapter Twelve and Thirteen • Explain the part of chapter twelve that you found most interesting. • Chapter Thirteen- what is the significance of the title of this chapter? • Who dies in this chapter? • How does Bilbo start to become a leader?
Vocabulary • Blotted • Prophecies • foiled • Quench • Foes • Thatched • hindered • Descendant • mournful
Vocabulary • Eminent: renowned, famous • benefactors: supporters • deposed: overthrown, gotten rid of • Ample: plenty or abundant • Recompense: payment or reward • scowled: frowned or glared • Contrived: forced or artificial • carcass: dead body of a person or animal; corpse
Chapter Fourteen • YOU (the students) Come up With the Questions
Chapters Fifteen and Sixteen • In your groups, pick a part of either chapter fifteen or sixteen to act out. You will have 10 minutes to decide what you are doing and 5 minutes ONLY to act it out.
Chapters 17 and 18 • How does Bilbo defend himself to Gandalf about not stealing the arkenstone? • Describe Thorin’s resting place?
Chapter Nineteen • Explain why Gandalf had to leave the party of adventurers near Mirkwood? • What did Gandalf and Bilbo do with the troll's gold? • Explain the • Gandalf tells Bilbo he is not the hobbit he once used to be. Do you agree or disagree? Defend your response. • How does Bilbo Baggins still make use of his magic ring?
Themes • In a well-written essay (4 to 5 paragraph) choose fourmajor themes of this book and use support from the book that proves the themes you chose. Explain why you chose those themes. Remember to plan your writing:
