Chapter 1: An Unexpected Party
After escaping the goblins, where is Bilbo at the start of the chapter?
He has escaped Gollum and is still invisible, wearing the ring.
Bonus (+5): What does he overhear the dwarves saying?
He announces he will be leaving the company.
Bonus (+5): What is the company's reaction to this news?
Who falls into the enchanted stream and what happens as a result?
Bombur falls in and immediately falls into a deep sleep
What happens to the other dwarves at the start of the chapter?
They are captured by the wood elves.
Bonus (+5): Who manages to escape capture?
How has the land surrounding the Lonely Mountain changed since the arrival of Smaug?
It is now barren and overgrown. The marshes have grown, the paths are covered, and the land experiences floods and earthquakes.
Bonus (+5): What is the only clear path to the Lonely Mountain now?
What is a warg?
An evil wolf that can talk
Bonus (+5): Who do they like to help?
Who is Beorn and what form does he take?
Beorn is a skin-changer whose form is a giant black bear.
What causes the company to leave the path?
They are hungry and they see red lights in the distance.
Bonus (+10): What happens as they approach the red lights and what are the lights actually?
What is the purpose of the secret entrance to the caves in the wood elf kingdom?
The cave is used as a storage location for barrels and the secret entrance serves as a way to send empty barrels down the river via a portcullis.
How are Thorin and company treated by the people of Laketown?
He and the rest of the dwarves (and even Bilbo) are treated like guests of honor.
Bonus (+5): Why are they treated this way?
The company and Gandalf are chased up pine trees by the wargs and eventually met by goblins as well.
How does Gandalf get the dwarves and Bilbo into Beorn's home?
He tells Beorn a story. As Gandalf tells the story, the dwarves are sneaking in two-by-two, five minutes apart.
Bonus (+5): Who was the last one to enter Beorn's home?
How did Bilbo feel after slaying the spider that was trying to eat him?
He feels transformed: bolder, braver, and fiercer, like a new person.
Bonus (+5): What immediately happens after Bilbo kills the spider?
They feel newfound respect and appreciation for Bilbo; he masterminded the plan of escape and was able to execute it without fail.
Bonus (+5): What nickname does Thorin give Bilbo?
Describe Laketown and its inhabitants
Laketown is a town built above the surface of Long Lake. It is wooden and built using a series of bridges. It was once prosperous but is now impoverished and its people want for more. The inhabitants are a race of men.
Bonus (+10): What do the men of Laketown often sing of? Why?
Who saves the company and how does he save them?
Gandalf saves the company by lighting pine cones on fire, hurling them into the wargs below.
What warnings do both Beorn and Gandalf give to the company as they depart for their journey?
They warn that food and water are scarce in the forest, to not touch the enchanted stream, and to not stray from the forest path.
Who manages to escape being captured by the spiders? Why?
Thorin evades the spiders because he is captured by the woodelves.
Bonus (+5): Where is Thorin by the chapter's end?
Why is Bilbo able to steal the keys and the dwarves able to go unnoticed?
The elves are merrymaking upstairs and below, the guard and butler are drunk from the wine they have been drinking.
Bonus (+5): What does Bilbo do with the keys by the chapter's end?
What two things cause the Master of Lake-town to not fully believe Thorin's claim to fame?
Guards of the wood-elf King are in attendance at the Master's feast and they protest Thorin's proclamation; they claim Thorin and the rest of the dwarves to be escaped prisoners with malicious intent. The Master of Lake-town also owes his position and wealth to the Woodland King.
Which creatures rescue the company and Gandalf?
The great eagles
Bonus: Where do they take the company and Gandalf?
What are two differences between the unexpected party in chapter one and Beorn's?
Possible answers:
Bilbo was panicked vs. Beorn's being interested
Gandalf went to recruit Bilbo vs. Gandalf going to Beorn's for supplies/rest
Bilbo wasn't in on the party vs. Bilbo being part of the plan at Beorn's
The dwarves weren't sneaking into Bilbo's vs. sneaking at Beorn's
Dwarves don't behave at Bilbo's vs. cautious at Beorn's
Bonus (+5): What is a similarity?
How does Bilbo save the dwarves from the spiders? (Hint: There are four things in total that he does)
He throws stones, sings songs to taunt, uses his sword, and uses the power of the ring.
Bonus: What is the name Bilbo gives his sword?
Who comes up with the plan to rescue the company and what is said plan?
Bilbo plans to pack the dwarves in barrels and float them down the river to Laketown.
Bonus (+10): What is the flaw in Bilbo's plan and how does he solve it?
What evidence from the chapter suggests the leader of the Men of Lake-town isn't too great of a character? Provide at least 3 examples
Possible answers: His title is "master," he is feasting while his people are in poverty, he is worried about his position when doubting Thorin's identity, he sings songs of Thorin bringing back wealth, he is happy to see the company leave because they were expensive to host, he only wants gold if Thorin is successful (doesn't really care what happens to the company otherwise)