Chapter 1 & 2
What aspect of Bilbo's personality initially makes him reluctant to join the dwarves' expedition?
His strong attachment to comfort, routine, and the respectable life of a hobbit
What unusual ability does Elrond possess that becomes important when examining the map and swords?
He can read the moon-letters and recognize the significance of the weapons.
What does Bilbo acquire in the tunnels beneath the Misty Mountains that becomes extremely important later?
The One Ring
What is unusual about Beorn's relationship with the natural world?
He is a skin-changer who can transform into a bear and lives closely connected to nature.
How does Bilbo help the dwarves escape from the Wood-elves?
He uses the Ring to remain invisible and helps free the dwarves from their barrels.
Why is Bilbo initially chosen to serve as the group's burglar despite having no experience as one?
Gandalf believes Bilbo possesses qualities inherited from both his respectable Took and more adventurous Took side.
Why does Gandalf leave the company before they reach the Misty Mountains?
He has business elsewhere and must leave the group temporarily.
What allows Bilbo to escape Gollum without being detected?
The Ring makes him invisible.
Why does Gandalf introduce the dwarves to Beorn in small groups rather than bringing everyone in at once?
He wants to prevent Beorn from becoming overwhelmed or suspicious of the large group.
Why are the dwarves imprisoned by the Wood-elves?
They refuse to reveal the purpose of their journey and are viewed with suspicion.
What does the dwarves' treatment of Bilbo's home reveal about their expectations of him?
They already assume he is capable of hospitality and participation in an adventure, while Bilbo is still trying to understand what is happening.
What causes Bilbo and the dwarves to become separated from Gandalf in the Misty Mountains?
The goblins capture them and carry them underground.
Why does Bilbo refuse to kill Gollum when he has the opportunity?
He recognizes that killing Gollum while he is helpless would be wrong and instead jumps over him to escape.
What specific instruction does Gandalf give the travelers before they enter Mirkwood?
They must stay on the path and not leave it.
Why does Bilbo choose the barrel escape rather than simply waiting for Gandalf or another rescue?
He realizes that he must take initiative because Gandalf is no longer with them.
How does Tolkien contrast Bilbo's Baggins and Took identities in these chapters?
The Baggins side represents order, respectability, and comfort, while the Took side represents curiosity, risk-taking, and adventure.
Why is the discovery of the swords from the trolls' hoard significant beyond simply giving the characters weapons?
The swords have a history connected to earlier heroic conflicts, linking Bilbo's adventure to the larger history of Middle-earth.
How does the riddle contest with Gollum demonstrate Bilbo's development?
Bilbo uses his intelligence and increasingly thinks independently under pressure rather than relying on Gandalf or the dwarves.
How does Mirkwood function symbolically as more than simply a dangerous forest?
It represents disorientation, temptation, isolation, and the loss of the travelers' sense of direction and security.
What does Lake-town's reaction to the dwarves reveal about the difference between historical memory and political reality?
The people remember the old stories and prophecy about the return of the King under the Mountain, but their current society is governed by practical political and economic concerns.
Bilbo initially believes adventure is something undesirable, yet he eventually runs after the dwarves without even bringing a handkerchief. What does this moment suggest about his character?
His adventurous Took nature is beginning to overcome his fear of leaving his comfortable life.
How does Tolkien use Rivendell as a contrast to the Misty Mountains?
Rivendell represents safety, knowledge, beauty, and civilization, while the mountains represent danger, darkness, and the unknown.
After Bilbo escapes from Gollum, why does he initially keep the discovery of the Ring a secret from the dwarves?
He is still uncertain about the Ring and wants to keep his advantage private.
Bilbo increasingly becomes responsible for solving problems in Mirkwood rather than Gandalf. What does this shift reveal about Bilbo's role in the company?
He is developing from an inexperienced follower into an independent and resourceful member of the expedition.
Why don't the Wood-elves realize that the barrels contain the escaped dwarves?
The two Wood-elves get drunk on wine and fall asleep, not realizing that the dwarves snuck into the barrels.