Setting and Plot
This place represents comfort and safety before Bilbo’s journey begins.
What is the Shire?
Bilbo’s courage is most often shown through this trait rather than strength
What is intelligence (or cleverness)
Greed and misunderstanding over treasure cause this major conflict.
What is the conflict between Thorin and Bard?
The Ring’s power lies less in magic than in this human weakness.
What is temptation?
Bilbo’s riddles demonstrate Tolkien’s preference for this type of heroism.
What is intellectual heroism?
This mountain range introduces danger and uncertainty that forces survival skills.
What are the Misty Mountains?
Bard’s main concern is this when dealing with Smaug and Thorin.
What is protecting his people and seeking justice?
Bilbo’s inner struggle centers on choosing this over greed.
What is moral responsibility?
The Arkenstone represents Thorin’s belief that leadership comes from this.
What is possession of power or wealth?
The narrator’s humorous tone mainly serves to do this.
What is soften darker themes and make moral lessons accessible?
The Lonely Mountain reflects Thorin’s internal conflict in this way.
What is his obsession with reclaiming identity through treasure and power?
Bard contrasts with Thorin because he values this above wealth.
What is responsibility to community?
Bilbo’s decision to give up the Arkenstone reframes the conflict as this type.
What is a moral conflict rather than a physical one?
Darkness in Mirkwood symbolizes this loss.
What is loss of direction or hope?
The quest structure mirrors this internal journey for Bilbo.
What is a movement from comfort to responsibility?
Bilbo shows real leadership when he does this in Mirkwood.
What is rescuing the dwarves from the spiders?
Thorin’s tragic flaw that causes conflict with others.
What is greed (or pride)?
Tolkien suggests true heroism is defined by this quality.
What is making moral choices even when difficult?
Food, songs, and stories throughout the novel reinforce this theme.
What is the importance of culture and home?
Smaug’s dialogue reveals this about power.
What is that power encourages arrogance and overconfidence?
This mountain symbolizes the dwarves’ lost home and the source of conflict.
What is Lonley Mountain?
Gollum serves as a warning of what Bilbo could become if he loses this.
What is moral restraint (or identity or self-control)?
The main conflict of The Hobbit involves moral struggle and social conflict.
What is Man vs. Self and Man vs. Society?
Tolkien contrasts gold with simple objects to emphasize this value.
What is humility over material wealth?
Bilbo’s mercy toward Gollum functions as this literary device.
What is foreshadowing of future events in The Lord of the Rings?