The Hobbit Group at eNotes

The Master of Lake Town does not speak very often or say anything of...

Thu, 12 Jun 2008 00:32:48 PST

The Master of Lake Town does not speak very often or say anything of substance. The reader can see the weakness and selfishness of his character through his words or lack of them. When the Dwarves first appear at his dinner with the Elves, he asks a question as he hesitates unsure what to do. The people cheer Thorin so the Master just goes along with what the people want at that moment. When the Dwarves are leaving the Master speaks fair...

The closer the dwarves and Bilbo got to Smaug's lair, the more dismal...

Tue, 27 May 2008 10:27:51 PST

The closer the dwarves and Bilbo got to Smaug's lair, the more dismal the landscape became. In ch. 11, "On the Doorstep", the narration says that "The land about them grew bleak and barren,...". There is very little grass and as the group gets closer still to Lonely Mountain, there are no bushes and no trees, only blackened stumps as testimony to the dragon's presence. Tolkien uses descriptive words and phrases to...

In "The Hobbit," how did the environs change the closer the...

Tue, 27 May 2008 07:42:09 PST

In "The Hobbit," how did the environs change the closer the dwarves got to the dragon's lair?

Tolkien's Songs

Sun, 24 Feb 2008 11:30:08 PST

How does J.R.R. Tolkien use songs in The Hobbit and in The Lord of the Rings to characterize the singers? How does he play with language to create certain sounds that are appropriate for the character that is singing? What poetic devices do you see that add to characterization?

Seasonal Symbolism

Sat, 19 Jan 2008 11:41:00 PST

How do the seasons (referred to quite frequently throughout the novel) reflect the changes in Bilbo's character? Relate specific examples from the text.

In Chapter 14 of The Hobbit, the dragon Smaug has burned much...

Sat, 12 Jan 2008 11:16:45 PST

In Chapter 14 of The Hobbit, the dragon Smaug has burned much of Esgaroth before Bard was able to kill Smaug. The people are upset because of the great amount of death and destruction caused by the fire-breathing dragon. The people of Esgaroth want to make Bard their king, but the Master redirects the crowd by reminding them that the Dwarves were responsible for disturbing Smaug and causing the destruction. This way he gets the crowd to...

How does the Master redirect the crowd's anger in "The Hobbit"?

Sat, 12 Jan 2008 10:55:15 PST

How does the Master redirect the crowd's anger in "The Hobbit"?

Up to the point where Bilbo kills his first spider and names his sword...

Fri, 11 Jan 2008 10:36:47 PST

Up to the point where Bilbo kills his first spider and names his sword Sting, Bilbo has not done one heroic deed on his own. Previously, every time the company got in trouble, it was Gandalf who guided the company through. When Gandalf left the party after the rest at Beorn's, he put Bilbo in charge of the expedition to Lonely Mountain. Gandalf knew that deep down inside Mr. Baggins was a Took part of him longing to come to the...

I don't think you meant the townspeople in your question; I think you're...

Thu, 10 Jan 2008 15:20:06 PST

I don't think you meant the townspeople in your question; I think you're referring to the dwarfs. In that case, your answer lies at the end of chapter 15. Bard makes the request to receive 1/12 of the treasure to dispurse at his discretion; in reply, Thorin shoots an arrow at the messenger.

In The Hobbit, how do the townspeople react to the initial warnings from...

Thu, 10 Jan 2008 13:28:45 PST

In The Hobbit, how do the townspeople react to the initial warnings from Bard?

Beorn the "bear man" in J. R. R. Tolkien's The Hobbit does not...

Wed, 9 Jan 2008 14:44:45 PST

Beorn the "bear man" in J. R. R. Tolkien's The Hobbit does not like a lot of company, and he would certainly not willingly accept 13 dwarves, a hobbit and a wizard into his home in one big group. In order to introduce the party bit by bit so that Beorn will allow them to stay, Gandalf and Bilbo first begin to talk with him about the adventures they have been having with the dwarves. Beorn becomes so engrossed in the tale that...

Who - Goblins and Wargs vs. Men of Long Lake, Elves of Mirkwood, and...

Sat, 8 Dec 2007 06:46:04 PST

Who - Goblins and Wargs vs. Men of Long Lake, Elves of Mirkwood, and Dwarves (those are the five armies). Also included are Gandalf, Bilbo, Beorn, and the EaglesWhat - a huge warWhere - in the valley of the Lonely MoutainWhen - after Smaug is killed by Bard, one of the men of Long LakeWhy - after Smaug is killed, the Dwarves, the men and the elves all fight over who is entitled to the treasure in lonely mountain. However, when they hear...

Describe the Battle of the Five Armies using the 5 w's.

Fri, 7 Dec 2007 17:00:47 PST

Who, what, when, where, why

I think that the significance of the birds gathering after Smaug's...

Thu, 29 Nov 2007 11:34:27 PST

I think that the significance of the birds gathering after Smaug's death is twofold. First it is noted that many of the birds are the kind that eat carrion; they have come to feast on the Dragon. They do not come to the mountain itself, but are off in the distance where the dragon was killed. The other birds: the starlings, thrushes, and finches have come back to signify the rebirth of life there in the mountain, now that the dragon...

1.What is the significance of the birds gathering after Smaug's...

Mon, 26 Nov 2007 04:33:38 PST

2.How does the entry of the goblins into the the battle of the five armies affect the warring parties, and why?

3.What is "dragon-sickness"?

thanks alot!

What does the Master's way of speaking in "The Hobbit" tell...

Mon, 26 Nov 2007 04:26:16 PST

2.How does the people of the lake protect themseleves against Smaug's attack?

3.What does the Master do at the same time?

4.What help does Smaug's slayer receive in the accomplishment?

5.Why is Roac important to the dwarves?

THANK U FOR UR HELP!!!

The "dragon-spell" refers to the power Smaug has to hypnotize...

Sun, 25 Nov 2007 18:49:26 PST

The "dragon-spell" refers to the power Smaug has to hypnotize his enemies. Smaug's eyes have powerful hypnotic qualities, and be looking directly at someone, he can convince them to do or say anything he wants. Smaug, as a dragon, is in the same reptilian family as snakes. Snakes have also long been described as having hypnotizing ability.Bilbo cleverly tricks Smaug into announcing his weak spot by challenging Smaug's...

In The Hobbit, what does the narrator mean by referring to dragon-spell?

Sun, 25 Nov 2007 14:56:29 PST

How does Bilbo get Smaug to reveal Smaug's weak spot?

Bilbo, when we first meet him, is a weak and passive character. He...

Tue, 20 Nov 2007 11:24:58 PST

Bilbo, when we first meet him, is a weak and passive character. He allows others - namely the dwarves - to invade and take over his life. He doesn't want to go on the adventure, but he is unable to stand up for this, or to express himself in an effective manner. However, as the story continues, Bilbo begins to take action. He becomes a theif, a rescuer, and a skilled con artist. The word "sting" represents the new active...

Giving a name to anything helps to transform it. Naming your car, a...

Tue, 20 Nov 2007 10:44:58 PST

Giving a name to anything helps to transform it. Naming your car, a boat, a house--gives it an importance not there before and this flows over to those who own these items. Bilbo's character is a mite selfish...this is why he is reluctant to tell the dwarves of the ring. It's awesome what the ring can do...he understands the danger and what his mission is, but that doesn't keep him from wanting to keep the "precious" for...