Hobbit Study Guide

California Theatre Center
Study Guide for The Hobbit
by J.R.R. Tolkien
adapted for the stage

I. Plot Summary

In the world of Middle Earth, Bilbo Baggins lives a quiet and comfortable life in his hobbit hole in the Shire. He has a deep love for food and rousing adventure stories. One day, the legendary wizard Gandalf arrives at his door with several friends and a proposal for real adventure. Bilbo is hesitant to leave his comfortable life, but eventually agrees to join the dwarves in their quest to regain their treasure and defeat the powerful dragon, Smaug. Along the way Bilbo encounters his share of adventure, meeting up with goblins and a mysterious creature named Gollum. Can Bilbo be the hero he has always fantasized about? Will he help the dwarves reclaim their kingdom under the mountain from the fearsome dragon? Can Bilbo prevent an all-out war? And what’s with that mysterious ring? J.R.R. Tolkien’s magical story is the prequel to the Lord of the Rings trilogy and is beloved by readers of all ages.

II. Vocabulary Words

Wizard	Necromancer	Good riddance	Reconciliation
Hospitality	Fury	Elf	Troll
Goblin	Gnome	Dwarf	Ambush
Precious	Riddle	Treasure	Dragon
Invisible	Burglary	Strategy	Vengeance

III. Before You Go

A. Read the book to familiarize yourself and your students with the material. If this is not possible, it may be a good idea to read select passages to the students so they get a feel for the world of Tolkien.
B. Depending on the age level of the students you’re bringing, show them scenes from either the Lord of the Rings film trilogy or the animated version of The Hobbit.
C. Design Hobbit holes. Hobbits live comfortable lives in homes dug into the ground. Create your perfect underground comfort house. What you want to have with you?
D. The Hobbit is a book based on imagination. Following are a couple exercises that actors and theatre directors use to get their imaginations going:

	1. One-Word-Create-A-Story
	Have your class sit in a circle. They will create an adventure story one word at a time going around the room. The story must have a beginning, middle and end, and it must make sense. Students may say only one word of the story at a time.
	2. Pass-the-Object
	With the class sitting in a circle, take a simple object like a cup and transform it with your imagination into an object, any object. Tell the person next to you what it is, and give it to them. The receiver has to believe that the cup is what you say it is (a puppy would be handled differently than a piano). The receiver will then transform the cup into something new, and the exercise is over when everyone has given and received the ‘cup.’

E. Discuss theatre-going etiquette and the differences between theatre, TV, and film.

IV. After the Performance

A. If you had the opportunity to read the book or see the films, discuss the play and its differences from other versions. How were the actors able to play so many different characters? Was it more or less interesting to see the story performed live? Did the theatrical effects seem real to you?
B. The story of The Hobbit takes place in Middle Earth. Have the students draw a map of what Middle Earth looks like to them. They should include the Shire, the Misty Mountain, the cave of Gollum, and any other locations they remember.
C. What is it that Bilbo learns at the end of the play? Have any of your students taken adventures or explored new areas that brought perspective? Have them write these experiences down, then the class can act them out as if they were a play.
D. Bilbo defeats Gollum in a battle of wits involving riddles. Have the students come up with their own riddles and see if they can stump the class.
E. The story of The Hobbit shows us that small people can accomplish great things. Ask the students what great things they can accomplish this week. Have them keep a journal of their deeds so they can turn it into a book, just like Bilbo.

V. For More Information...

We recommend the following links:
www.tolkiensociety.org