Independant+Novel+Study

The Hobbit - J. R. R. Tolkein December 3/2010 Pages covered 10(Which is the first page) - 54.

The story began by a rather long explanation about what a hobbit was and what it lived it. A hobbit was similar to a small man and lives in rather comfortable holes. Well this Hobbit who is the main character if the story is called Bilbo Baggins. He is the son of Bungo Baggins and Belladonna Took. Bilbo Baggins was standing outside of his door smoking an enormous pipe then along came Gandalf who is an old wizard with an extremely long grey beard. While he was walking by Bilbo Baggins greeted him by saying, "Good Morning!" Then a rather large conversation started about how Gandalf was looking for someone that would join him in an adventure. Then Bilbo Baggins said there was no one around these parts that would go for such a "nasty disturbing uncomfortable thing." By what Gandalf was saying it sounded like he wanted Bilbo Baggins to join him on an adventure. Then Bilbo said, "Good morning! We don't want any adventures here, thank you! You might try over The Hill or across The Water." It seemed that Bilbo wanted Gandalf to go away because hobbits don't like adventures. Then the conversation went along by how Gandalf introduced himself then Bilbo was amazed as how that man was Gandalf. Then Gandalf asked him if he wanted to go on an adventure with him. Bilbo politely said no and asked him to come for tea the next day. The next day Bilbo completely forgot about Gandalf until there was someone ringing his doorbell. He was expected Gandalf but instead it was a dwarf. Then slowly more dwarves came in every so often until it was around five when Gandalf arrived with a couple more dwarves. They had dinner there and then the dwarves and Gandalf explained to Bilbo about how there are going to rob a mountain that loaded with gold but is guarded by a dangerous dragon and that they need Bilbo to be their burglar. Bilbo didn't want to be at first until his blood on his mother's side took over and he because the adventurous hobbit like his mother was and somewhat agreed on going. Then Thorin who is like the head dwarf is given a map and a key by Gandalf who had kept it for safety because his father requested him to. After reading the map they decided to call it a night. The next day they headed off and they were doing fine until they crossed a river. After crossing the river one of their ponies panicked and ran away carrying most of their food in the water. Gandalf disappeared so then they sent Bilbo ahead as a look out. Bilbo found three trolls and he wanted to return with something so he decided to pick their pockets. He was then caught and slowly the dwarves one by one came in and got caught. Then finally Thorin came in and injured two of the three trolls, however he still wasn't able to beat them. Then every single one of them was caught except Bilbo because the trolls have forgotten about him because they released him because of his claims of being a great cook. The trolls were deciding on when they should cook them. Then Gandalf came in and tried to make the trolls fight each other. It worked and then everyone was free and the trolls turned to stone because of the sunlight. After that they looted the trolls' hideout and that was the end of the first two chapters.

Why did you select this novel? I selected this novel because many people have said that it was a good book.

What's going on as the story begins? Bilbo Baggins the main character who is a hobbit is smoking an enormous pipe when the story begins.

Who is telling the story? How does this person’s perspective effe ct the way the story is told? J. R. R. Tolkein is telling the story. By the way he is telling the story he can also explain to us about things by breaking the fourth wall.

MORE DETAIL TO THE QUESTIONS 8/10 Journal Entry Number 2 December 10th 2010 covered page 55-100

After their little run in with trolls the thirteen dwarves, Gandalf, and Bilbo continued on with their journey. Along the way they stopped by one of Gandalf's friend named Elrond. On the path towards Elrond's place called the Last Homely House they went through an elf settlement. Then they finally reached Elrond's house who was a friend of elves. There they rested, they had their clothes mended, and their provisions were restocked with light goods. Also they learned about the two swords that they looted from the trolls' hideout were actually really special swords. They showed Elrond their map of the mountain and Elrond found out there was actually a secret message in the map written in runes that can only be seen with moonlight. The secret message said, "Stand by the grey stone when the thrush knows and the setting sun with the last light of Durin's Day will shine upon the key-hole." They continued on with their journey the next day. They started go up the mountains. During the time that they were climbing the mountains thunderstorms were fighting it out. They tried to shelter under trees until it started to hail and the wind blew the hail everywhere. They sent Fili and Kili to look for a cave. Later thy returned and said there was a cave around the corner. They went to the cave and rested their. Gandalf wasn't so sure about the cave so he lit up his want and started to search the whole cave. Then they all went to sleep. Bilbo then had a dream that the back of the cave opened up and the floor breaking and that he was about to fall. He woke up and saw that the back of the cave actually opened up and that the ponies have disappeared. He gave a huge shout and woke up Gandalf in an instant. Then goblins came out of the opening and grabbed Gandalf but Gandalf did some sort of spell and the goblins surrounding him were dead. Then Gandalf disappeared and everyone else was captured by the goblins. They were about to be sentenced to death by the Great Goblin until Gandalf came in and sliced him into two. They fled into the cave and searched for an exit. Bilbo was too tired to walk so Dori had to carry him until a goblin pulled on Dori's leg. Dori dropped Bilbo and he hit his head on a rock and passed out. Later Bilbo opened his eyes and instantly he was afraid. He slowly got up and started to try to find his way out. Along the way he found a ring on the floor and he instantly placed it in his pocket. Then there was this thing named Gollum. He decided to play a riddle game with Bilbo and if Bilbo wins he'll show him the way out. Finally after a long game Bilbo won but Gollum didn't want to give up such a nice meal so he went back to his lair to get a ring that can make him invisible except a faint shadow and he can only be seen if there was full sunlight. He couldn't find the ring and thought that Bilbo had it in his pocket. Bilbo hid away and Gollum started to look for him. Bilbo then decided to put on the ring that he had on earlier and found out that he became invisible. Gollum opened the exit to see if he went down the exit. Then Bilbo jumped over Gollum and ran away. Then Bilbo ran into a group of goblins that were in between him and the exit. He put the ring on and he snuck passed them.

Is the novel believable? No because there is no such thing as hobbits, wizards, dwarves, dragons, elves, and ring of invisibility.

Is the language in the novel difficult or easy? GIve examples and explain. The way it is written is quite hard to understand because sometimes J. R. R. Tolkein decides to speak to the reader directly and explain what somethings are.

What is the initial or first problem faced by the main character? The first problem faced by the main character is that he has to go on a journey which hobbits don't really go on. 8/10 Journal Entry Number 3 December 16th 2010 covered pages 101-181

After Bilbo had escaped from the goblins he continued on and found Balin as a look out. Bilbo had his ring on so Balin didn't see him. Bilbo snucked past him and found Gandalf talking to Thorin about rescuing Bilbo. Bilbo then popped up and everyone was surprised. Bilbo didn't tell anyone about the ring but said he snuck around Balin. They then continued on with their quest. When it reached night they were at a forest. Wolves called Wargs come out and started to attack them. Everyone went up to trees and hid. Then Gandalf decided to throw flaming pinecones at the Wargs. A distance off the Lord of the Eagles was wondering what all the commotion was all about. He found the group hiding up in the trees so he called up more eagles. Later the goblins came and started to light the trees on fire. The eagles swooped down and took all of the dwarves, Gandalf, and Bilbo away. Then they found out that the Lord of the Eagles was a friend of Gandalf. The eagles gave the group food and the group rested their till the next day. The eagles then flew the group down and they continued on with their quest. Gandalf said they were going to find a man called Beorn. When they were near his place Gandalf told the dwarves to come in groups of two every five minutes. Gandalf and Bilbo went first. They started to tell Beorn their story when the dwarves started to come in. He became more and more interested. Then he gave them food and allowed them to rest at his place. The next day they found Gandalf and Beorn gone. The dwarves and Bilbo stayed had their meals and waited for their return. Gandalf returned at dinner time and told them about his search for the bears that left their tracks around the house. Then later Beorn came back and said that he said that he liked Gandalf's story but now he says that it's entertaining and true. He decided to give them provisions to get through Mirkwood. The next day they started off to Mirkwood. Once they reached Mirkwood everyone had to return their animals to Beorn because Beorn cared his animals very much. Then Gandalf decided that it was time for him to leave the group and let them continue on with their adventure.The thirteen dwarves and Bilbo then started to march into Mirkwood. They eventually arrive at a river with black water. They would of filled their water skins their but Beorn warned them not to. They then decided to find a way to cross the water. Bilbo then found a boat that was across the river. One of the dwarves threw a rope on it and tried to pull it across. It took four dwarves to pull it across because it was roped down. They then started to cross the river two at a time. When the last two dwarves we're about to make it the last dwarf, Bombur, fell into the river because he only had one foot on land and the other above the river. They managed to rescue him. Bombur was sleeping away happily and it seemed that they could not wake him up so they had to carry him. Six days after the stream, Bombur finally woke up and was complaining about how there was no food left. They continued on through the forest. They stumbled upon some wood elves having a meal. They decided if the should leave the path or not because Beorn said they should not leave the path. Their hunger and exhaustion overruled that thought and they started towards the wood elves. The lights around the wood elves were extinguished and then they disappeared. They wandered around again and then they found the elves having a meal. This time they sent BIlbo in but the lights were extinguished once more and then they couldn't see. Bilbo was then separated from the dwarves. The dwarves were then captured by some spiders and held captive for a later meal. Bilbo then stumbled upon the dwaves and managed to free them and flee from the spiders. When they managed to escape Bilbo decided to tell them how he can become invisible and how he acquired the ring. After the story they found out that Thorin was missing. Thorin was captured by the wood elves and held as their prisoner until he said why he was going through the woods.

What new things are added to the original problem as the novel progresses? There were a lot of obstacles between Bilbo's hobbit hole and Smaug's mountain which made the adventure even more challenging.

What has happened before the novel began? Thorin's father and grandfather died. Smaug the dragon has taken over the mountain that was once the kingdom of Thorin's grandfather.

What is the setting of the novel? Is the setting important or could the novel be happening anywhere? Why? The setting is a mythical land. Yes the setting is important because the events could not of happened in the real world.

Journal Entry Number 4 January 7, 2011 pages covered 182-257.

After Bilbo and the dwarves had escaped from the spiders they were captured by the wood elves and were held as prisoners, except Bilbo who placed his ring on and followed them quietly. The dwarves were all questioned about what they were doing in the wood by the Elvenking. None of them told the king why they were going through the forest so the king had them locked up in separate jail cells until one of them is willing to tell them what he wants to know. Bilbo was taking food from a house in the Elvenking's realm to survive. He found all the dwarves in separate cells but then he overheard the guards talking about another dwarf in the prison too. Bilbo went to investigate and then he found Thorin. Bilbo then was relaying messages from Thorin to all the other dwarves. The message was that no one was to tell the Elvenking about why they are here until Thorin says so. The dwarves and Bilbo eventually escaped by going into empty that were sealed shut and sent down the river to people to the South. Everyone was stuffed into a barrel and was going down the river except Bilbo. Bilbo didn't have anyone to close the lid for him so he was going down the river holding on to the barrel for his life. Eventually the flow of the river calmed down so he climbed on top of the barrel and eventually everyone made it down to Lake-town. They all joined in the feast that was happening that day and Thorin explained to everyone about how he is the heir to the Kingdom in the Mountain. Everyone of Lake-town started to celebrate the return of Thorin so everyone was well fed and rested. After a week Thorin decided that it was now time to reclaim his kingdom. So he told the Master of Lake-town that he was going. Which was a relief to the Master because the dwarves and Bilbo was costing him alot of resources. Eventually they made it to the Mountain. Everyone started to look for the secret entrance that was in Thorin's map. Eventually Bilbo found the entrance, but he couldn't find a way to open it. Everyone tried to open the secret entrance, but no one was successful. After three days everyone started to look somewhere else. Bilbo just sat there and he saw a bird knocking a snail against a grey rock. Bilbo then told everyone to come up to where he was and wait. They waited until sunset then the sunlight made a flake of a rock split from the wall and then there was a hole. The dwarves quickly rushed forward and Thorin took out his key. He turned the key in the hole and everyone heard a snap. The dwarves pushed and then they found the entrance. Which lead straight down into the heart of the mountain. Everyone decided that Bilbo should go in first so Bilbo went in and placed his ring on. He went in and found Smaug the dragon sleeping on his bed of gold. Bilbo then took a golden cup and fled back to the dwarves. Everyone was overjoyed of the recovery of the treasure. Then suddenly the mountain started to rumble and everyone remembered that Smaug was stilla problem. When Smaug woke up he found his cup missing. He was so enraged that he went out of the mountain to look for the thieves. Everyone started to worry because two dwarves were outside guarding the camps. The other dwarves managed to bring the other two dwarves into the entrance and then they waited. Bilbo tried to steal another thing once more. This time Smaug knew he was there because he could smell him. Bilbo and Smaug had a big conversation until Bilbo decided it was time to leave. Smaug sent a huge burst of flames at him. Bilbo managed to avoid the flames but when Bilbo went into the hidden entrance Smaug stuffed his nose in and sent fire and vapor to get him. Bilbo kept running until he had to bow down to the pain. The dwarves then managed to nurse Bilbo as well as they could. Bilbo then told the dwarves about his conversation with Smaug. After that Thorin started to recount the treasures and the one he wanted the most which was the Arkenstone of Thrain. Smaug was still in a bad mood but then he remembered that Bilbo said he was a Barrel-rider which means he came from Lake-town. He then decided to go to Lake-town and teach the people there a lesson. The dwarves then decided to go into Smaug's lair and loot the treasures. The took some armour to defend themselves and as much gold as they could carry. Bilbo found the Arkenstone but told no one about it. Bilbo then pocketed the stone returned to the group.

To what age group is the novel aimed? Support your answer with evidence. I'd say that the novel is aimed at teenagers and older because of the fantasy and the rather long and boring plot. I don't think that many children would like such a book.

Why would you (or why wouldn't you) recommend this novel to a friend?

I wouldn't recommend this novel to a friend because it isn't that great of a book and it was quite boring throughout the book.

Why did (or didn't) the novel meet your expectations? Everyone that I know who has read this book says it's a good book, but I must say it was a disappointment because I didn't find it that great at all.

Journal Entry Number 5 January, 11/11 pages covered 258-317 During the time the dwarves were looting the mountain. Smaug the dragon decided to attack Lake-town. Everyone was fleeing including the Master of Lake-town because of Smaug's wrath. The only people that stayed was a group of archers who the lead by Bard, a grim voiced and grim faced man. The group of archers kept shooting arrows at Smaug. When Bard was down to one arrow all the archers fled except Bard. Then a thrush came down and perched itself on Bard's shoulder and told him to shoot for the dragon's left breast. Bard did and so killed the dragon but destroyed Lake-town in the process. Everyone cheered for Bard and wanted him to be their king. Then the Master of Lake-town said that they should remember that it was the dwarves that sent Smaug's wrath upon them. Everyone was then angry and was cursing at the dwarves. Bard then said that they should forget about them because they have probably died and they should work on rebuilding the town. Bard requested for help and sent a messenger to the Elvenking who received the news three days after Smaug's death. Five days after Smaug's death the Elvenking's army reached Lake-town. Back at the mountain Thorin sensed that a great battle was going to take place. Then the old thrush flew down and was trying to talk to the dwarves. The dwarves couldn't understand it so then the thrush brought a raven to talk to them. The raven the told Thorin that Smaug was dead. Everyone celebrated but then the raven said that everyone is coming to the mountain to get in on some of the treasure. Then Thorin asked the raven to send a messenger to his cousin to help him. The dwarves started to work on fortifying the main entrance. Eventually the men of Lake-town and the Elvenking's men reached the mountain. Thorin and Bard had a conversation and eventually Thorin declared that the mountain will be besieged. Days passed while the dwarves and Bilbo stayed in the mountain. Thorin was going on and on about the Arkenstone. He said the Arkenstone was everything to him and will do everything to have it. Bilbo felt afraid after that. So that night Bilbo snuck out and warned Bard that there was an army of five hundred dwarves heading this way and that and he gave Bard the Arkenstone to help Bard with his bargaining with Thorin. Then he left. Before he reached the mountain Gandalf appeared and congratulated him. The next day Bard came showed the Arkenstone. Thorin asked how he got it and Bilbo said he did it. Thorin was enraged and was about to throw him off the mountain when Gandalf appeared. There was a small conversation and then Bilbo had to leave and Bard said he and the Elvenking will leave tomorrow with the Arkenstone. Thorin then sent another message to his cousin Dain about what happened and told him to hurry up. That night there was a great battle. It was the dwaves, humans, elves, birds, and Beorn against the goblins and the wolves. The Allied forces won except that Thorin was gravely injured in the process. Thorin forgave Bilbo and then passed away during their little conversation. The next day Gandalf escorted Bilbo back home with his treasure. which was two small chests. One filled with silver and one filled with gold. Eventually then made it back to Bilbo's hobbit hole to find that it was going under an auction because Bilbo was "presumed dead". Bilbo had to convince everyone that he was alive and so he had to buy back all his furniture. Bilbo then took up writing poetry. That is basically what happened in the book "The Hobbit"

What were the major things that helped to resolve the plot? That magic ring that Bilbo had was a major thing that helped resolve the plot because it helped Bilbo a lot and so got him through his adventure.

What is the climax of the novel? The climax of the novel was when the war started because if it weren't for all the things that Bilbo had done there probably wouldn't be a war.

Is there a message or main theme emerging in the book? How is it shown? I think that the message in the book is that "honesty is a good thing" because Bilbo couldn't stand Thorin hogging all of the treasure to himself and the other dwarves so Bilbo had to give the Arkenstone to Bard and hope that the bargaining will go out as planned media type="custom" key="8073126"