The Hobbit Group

Question:

fishy
fishy
Student
High School - 10th Grade

In "The Hobbit", how did the band of adventurers become trapped in the mountain in chapter 14?

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Posted by fishy on Thursday April 2, 2009 at 8:00 PM and tagged with band of adventurers, chapter 14, mountain, the hobbit, trap.

Answers:


  1. luannw Teacher
    High School - 11th Grade

    The dwarves are in Lonely Mountain because, first, Smaug is gone and they have reclaimed the mountain and its treasure for themselves.  This was their mission at the start of the story.  Second, the dwarves are in the mountain using it as a fortress against the armies who want them to share the bounty of Smaug's hoarded treasure.  The men, the elves, the goblins, the wargs, etc. -all want a part of the treasure and the dwarves don't want to share.  The dwarves believe that since Smaug stole the treasure from their ancestors, the treasure is theirs.  Dwarves are by nature, somewhat greedy and covetous. They are also stubborn creatures. They prize the gold for its intrinsic value.  Thorin Oakenshield is particularly stubborn and refuses to share the gold, so he and the dwarves are prepared to go to war over the gold and the mountain makes a perfect fortress for them.

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/hobbit/characters
    http://www.enotes.com/hobbit/summary
    http://www.enotes.com/hobbit/themes

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    Posted by luannw on Friday April 3, 2009 at 4:34 AM


  2. frizzyperm Teacher
    College - Senior

    They entered the mountain through the 'secret door' using Thorin's key. But they were frightened of Smaug attacking the door from the outside, so they closed it, locking themselves inside the mountain.

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    Posted by frizzyperm on Friday April 3, 2009 at 4:40 AM