Study Questions & Essay Topics
Study Questions
1. Is Thorin in
any sense a heroic leader? Do his actions in the novel make him
deserving of his death at the end?
2. Given his
development throughout the book, does Bilbo belong in Hobbiton at
the end of the novel? He is not completely accepted by the hobbit
community, but he seems to be perfectly happy there. How do you
think Tolkien views the relationship between heroism and the simple
life?
3. Where do
humans fit in among the other races of Middle-Earth? Are humans
a “good” race?
Suggested Essay Topics
1. What factors define a person's
identity in The Hobbit? Do individuals have any
power over who they become, or are their characters entirely determined
by static factors such as family and race?
2. Describe the narrative form
of the novel. How is the work's episodic plot structure related
to its frequent use of plot elements from ancient epic literature?
3. Describe Tolkien's use of
humor in The Hobbit. From what authorial techniques
and sources does the book draw much of its wit? How does Tolkien's
lighthearted tone impact the portrayal of the more serious elements
of the plot? Is The Hobbit primarily a comedy?
