Student Question
What is Thorin's plan in the first chapter of The Hobbit?
Quick answer:
Thorin's plan in the first chapter involves reclaiming the lost kingdom of the Lonely Mountain and its vast treasures from the dragon Smaug. As the rightful heir, he intends to use a secret entrance key and map from Gandalf to enter the city, despite the dragon's presence, and restore his birthright. This quest sets the stage for the adventure to reclaim the dwarves' ancestral wealth and home.
In the first chapter of The Hobbit, Thorin explains to Bilbo that his grandfather Thror had been King of the Dwarves of the Lonely Mountain. Under his rule the dwarves had mined deep into the mountain and discovered a vast source of wealth in gold and jewels. This wealth ultimately drew the attention of a powerful dragon, Smaug, who attacked the dwarven city, killing many of its inhabitants and scattering the survivors. As rightful heir to the kingdom, Thorin desires to set out for the mountain, and using a key to a secret entrance and a map provided by the wizard Gandalf, enter the city and reclaim the vast riches that are his birthright, despite the presence of the powerful and fierce dragon.
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