The Hobbit – Notes for Pages 41-60 With additional visuals and flair, for funsies.

Previously on Days of Our Hobbit Bilbo, Gandalf, and the dwarves set off on their journey. Bilbo struggles still between hating and loving adventures. All of a sudden, Gandalf disappears. The dwarves – cold, wet, and hungry – ask Bilbo to go investigate a nearby campfire for food. This errand results in Bilbo and all the dwarves being captured by three massive trolls, who intend to eat them. Meanwhile, Gandalf slips into the camp unseen and begins to distract the dwarves with voices and tricks.

Continuing on Page 41 “The night’s getting’ on, and dawn comes early.” This isn’t the first time the trolls have mentioned the dawn. How do they seem to feel about it? Make a prediction. “Dawn take you all, and be stone to you!” – Gandalf

Page 41 “William never spoke for he stood turned to stone as he stooped; and Bert and Tom were stuck like rocks as they looked at him. And there they stand to this day…for trolls, as you probably know, must be underground before dawn” Notice the narrator continues to adopt an attitude of certain things – certain facts about the fantasy universe – being common knowledge, even though many of us may not know it at all.

Page 42 After being freed, they all attempt to gain access to the troll’s lair. How do Gandalf and the dwarves try to enter? How is Bilbo’s solution somewhat more practical? (Notice this scene is mirrored in the Lord of the Rings, for those who are familiar with it).

Page 42-43 What do they find in the trolls’ lair? Why can’t they read the writing on the blades? Ancient weapons with ancient writing on them. Where else have we seen this? Think also of how the story is set “long ago,” yet the characters find things from longer ago, still. Beowulf, and many fantasy novels, play with this motif – set in ancient times, yet still digging through ruins of times more ancient still. It adds history / depth to the fictional universe.

Page 43 Aside from food, drink, and swords, what else do they take from the troll hoard? Why? Don’t they have enough waiting for them at the Lonely Mountain? What might this say about dwarves?

Page 43 Note Gandalf’s mysterious ways: “Where did you go, if I may ask?” – Thorin “To look ahead.” – Gandalf “And what brought you back?” – Thorin “Looking behind.” – Gandalf Seems like the overly literal nature of the Wonderland creatures, but not quite. Gandalf knows he’s doing it. He’s being evasive / vague / mysterious on purpose. Is that how Gandalf is? How wizards are?

Page 45 (Beginning of Chapter 3) “A Short Rest” How has the mood of the group altered after meeting their first danger? “They did not sing or tell stories that day, even though the weather improved.” At this point, they’re all getting a feel for how difficult this is going to be. Those were only trolls, not a dragon, and this was only the beginning of the journey.

Page 45 “Is that The Mountain?” – Bilbo. Look at where we are in the paperback. Make a prediction on the answer to Bilbo’s question. “Of course not!...That’s only the beginning of the Misty Mountains…it is a deal of a way even from the other side.” - Balin

Page 46 “He felt more tired than he ever remembered feeling before.” How is he feeling about adventures now? What would he rather be doing? Where are they going? “The Last Homely House” What meaning does “homely” take here? And what does this say about the lands beyond?

Page 47 The length of the journey and how tired they all are is emphasized: “Tea-time had long gone by, and it seemed supper-time would soon do the same.” Bilbo’s having to get used to doing without a great many things.

Page 48 - Rivendell A new land, a new people, a new song. Let’s read the song on 48-49. https://www.youtube.co m/watch?v=O5vu8vU9y Cw Like dwarves, what do elves also enjoy? Unlike dwarves, where to elves prefer to live?

Page 49 What does Bilbo think of the elves? What do the dwarves think of the elves? “Dwarves don’t get on well with them. Even decent enough dwarves like Thorin and his friends think them foolish (which is a very foolish thing to think), or get annoyed with them. For some elves tease them and laugh at them, and most of all at their beards.” If you’re at all familiar with Lord of the Rings, the elves in The Hobbit tend to be far more whimsical and fun-loving; the latter, more serious. Bear in mind the audiences – Hobbit was written first and for a younger audience; LOTR afterward and for a more general audience.

Page 50 “Elvish singing is not a thing to miss, in June, under the stars.” Elves are apparently well known for their singing. Notice the comments they make with their guests. “Don’t dip your beard in the foam, father!” (Father, because he has a beard and thus, looks old). “Mind Bilbo doesn’t eat all the cakes.” Light hearted, somewhat immature banter / jokes seem popular here, as well.

Page 51 – The Last Homely House Who is the lord of the last homely house? What race does he belong to, according to the text? (Technically speaking, he’s part elf, part human, part maia, but you don’t need to know this) Is he young? Old? How do you know?

Page 52 How does Elrond help them with the swords and map? “Elrond knew all about runes of every kind.” Where did the swords originally come from, and what were their names? Orcrist, Goblin Cleaver Glamdring, Foe Hammer Where else have we seen famous, ancient, named weapons?

Page 53 What are moon letters? “Moon-letters are rune-letters, but you cannot see them…not when you look straight at them. They can only be seen when the moon shines behind them, and what is more, with the more cunning sort is must be a moon of the same shape and season as the day when they were written.” – Elrond What do they say? “Stand by the grey stone when the thrush knocks…and the setting sun with the last light of Durin’s Day will shine upon the key-hole.” - Elrond

Page 53-54 (End of Chapter) Now they have a deadline, a time table. Where before they could mosey along to the Lonely Mountain, now they must make it there by a certain time to find the hidden door, or else risk the main gates. Why is the secret door supposedly less dangerous than the main gate?

Page 55 (Start of Chapter) “Over Hill and Under Hill” Gandalf, Bilbo, and the dwarves leave Rivendell. What mountain range are they heading toward? What dangers do they face on that road? Narrow mountain paths, cliffs, boulders.

Page 56 Notice how their thoughts drift over the journey. Bilbo thinks of the harvests going on down below. The dwarves think of the destination only, as if there weren’t a huge and difficult journey inbetween – as if they were practically there and the obstacles between, a trifle. Gandalf shakes his head, seeming to know better. “He knew that something unexpected might happen.”

Page 56-57 “One day they met a thunderstorm—more than a thunderstorm, a thunder battle.” Notice the sensory details used to describe the terror of the storm. “Lightning splinters on the peaks, and rocks shiver, and great crashes split the air and go rolling and tumbling into every cave and hollow; and the darkness is filled with overwhelming noise and sudden light.” How do these details, this word choice, add to the experience for readers?

Pages 57 Who or what is really causing the boulders to fall? Notice how even in the midst of this chaos, Tolkien cracks jokes. “There is nothing like looking, if you want to find something.” Notice Thorin demanding and ordering yet again.

Page 58 “We have found a dry cave!” – Fili and Kili “Have you thoroughly explored it?” Gandalf. What is foreshadowing / foreboding / ominous about this wording, here? What do you predict will happen? Is the cave safe?

Page 59 Gandalf and the rest explore the cave, find nothing, and decide to camp there for the night. Why does the book say, on page 59, that it was good they’d brought Bilbo? What advantage could this possibly have? Goblins.

Page 60 Lots and lots of goblins. Everyone is captured by the goblins. And apparently, goblins also sing. (See song on 60-61, then conclude today’s lecture. https://www.youtube.com /watch?v=ogTDa- vG2MQ&list=PL5459482 24B999E8A&index=8

Down Down to Goblin Town Clap! Snap! The black crack! Grip, grab! Pinch, nab! And down down to Goblin-town You go, my lad! Crash, crash! Crush, smash! Hammer and tongs! Knocker and gongs! Pound, pound, far underground! Ho, ho! My lad! Swish smack! Whip crack! Batter and beat! Yammer and bleat! Work, work! Nor dare to shirk! While Goblins quaff, and Goblins laugh, Round and round far underground Below, my lad!

Pandemonium What does this song focus on? Noises, described, Many harsh noises. One word for a chaos of noise – pandemonium. Pandemonium is also the name of the capital of Hell in John Milton’s Paradise Lost. What connotations could this have for the goblin city? Will it be a pleasant place? We’ll find out what happens there…tomorrow. Read pages 61-80.