1. The Hobbit – Notes on Pages 241-260

2. Previously on Game of Hobbits
Smaug has left the mountain, presumably to attack Lake Town.
He has not returned.
The dwarves take this opportunity to bask in the wealth of the mountain, as if it were already theirs.
Bilbo, however, reminds them that they really need to confirm what’s happened to Smaug, first, before settling in.

3. Page 241 “Listening in fear once more.”
The dwarves head through the various rooms toward the main doors to look / listen for any sign of Smaug.
As they walk, they find the ancient bones of their long dead ancestors, gathering dust.

4. Page 242
In time they exit, find that the cold winds of winter are coming in already, and decide that the next step is to find food.

5. Page 243
Again, Thorin continues to speak and act as if the mountain were already his.
“Don’t call my palace a nasty hole! You wait until it has been cleaned and redecorated!” – Thorin.
Bilbo, again, tries to bring them back down to earth.
“That won’t be till Smaug’s dead.”

6. Page 244
As they journey in search of actual food, the company makes do on “cram” – a dry non-perishable “food” stuff that has little flavor or excitement to it, but can be kept in case of emergencies.
“Mainly a chewing exercise.”
Imagine something dull, flavorless, and chewable, that “sustains” but does little else.

7. Page (End of Chapter)
In time, they stopped their journey and made camp.
Still, no Smaug.
Birds gather in great numbers at the mountain.
Night falls.

8. Page 247 (Start of Chapter)
“Fire and Water”
At this time, the narrator takes us back two days to when Smaug flew off, in order to give us exactly what happened.
Most film versions do not use this technique, but show exactly what happens to Smaug right then and there.
Lights appear in the sky, the men of Lake Town begin to speculate what it could be.

9. Page 248 “The King Beneath the Mountain…his wealth is like the sun!”
Is the light in the sky Thorin’s wealth?
What’s truly coming for Lake Town?
Others were a bit more realistic in their observations:
“The dragon is coming, or I’m a fool!”

10. Page 249
“No one had dared to give battle to him for many an age; nor would they have dared now, if it had not been for the grim-voiced man (Bard was his name), who ran to and fro cheering on the archers and urging the Master to order them to fight to the last arrow.”
The name “Bard” is interesting. Where do you remember that word from? What did it mean?
The people of Lake Town hurl many arrows in an effort to stave off the dragon, and in return, Smaug breaths forth fire upon the wooden city.

11. Page 250
“There was mourning and weeping, where but a little time ago the old songs of mirth to come had been sung about the dwarves.”
How quickly things change.
What does the Master attempt to do, amidst the chaos?
What is Bard’s lineage / ancestry?
Again, being descended from mighty / important figures is important in the land of The Hobbit, just as amongst the Viking peoples in Beowulf.

12. Page 251 What comes to Bard with a message, and what is the message?
How is it Bard understands the message?
Note – swords with names, arrows with names – if the weapon has a name, it’s significant, and probably quite old.
What happens to Smaug?
Esgaroth?
Bard?

13. Page 252
¾ of the town escaped alive, made it to shore, and assessed their situation.
Bard, having slain the dragon while the Master fled for his life, is made the new leader of the town.
How does Bard treat the title of “King”?

14. Page 253 Note and compare Bard vs. the Master.
How are their personalities / characters / forms of leadership different?
Deeds vs. Words.
Remind you of modern politics? Or, let’s cut the adjective – politics.
Thus, some follow the Master; others, Bard.
Either way, they plan on rebuilding.

15. Page 254
While Bard would not call himself king, he does seem to dislike the Master’s ways enough to consider being leader: “I serve you still—though after a while I may think again of your words and go North with any that will follow me.” – Bard
In the mean time, he assists the people and calls for aide from their neighbors.

16. Page 255 The Elvenking learned of the news, as well. As did Beorn.
As did the goblins.
Word spread far and wide, so to speak.
The elves did send aide to the humans of Lake Town, however – food and supplies.

17. Page 256 (End of Chapter) And so the humans rebuild, with elven help.
Meanwhile humans and wood elves both send armies to the mountain.
Why?
How do you believe they will be greeted?

18. Page 257 (Start of Chapter)
“The Gathering of the Clouds”
Here, the word “clouds” might be more symbolic than literal.
Armies are gathering at the mountain.
This is rarely a good sign.
Even the dwarves notice the difference in the wild life:
“There are many carrion birds as if a battle where afoot!”
Note this – since the oldest of our stories, what are crows, ravens, etc, omens of?

19. Page 258
Apparently the ravens of Ravenhill were long friends of the dwarves, when they still lived here.
“Old Carc” was one such raven.
Conveniently after their mentioning it, Roac, son of Carc, comes to give the dwarves a warning.

20. Page 259 What is that warning?
153 years – apparently, these ravens live a long time, aside from being capable of thought and speech.
He tells them that Smaug is dead, and the ravens gather back at their ancestral home.
Let us read from the last paragraph of 259 together, through It is important.
Note it’s similarities to the end of Beowulf, when the messengr tells the Geats that their lord is dead, the dragon too, and that others will hear and come for them, soon.

21. Page 260 How does Thorin react to the news?
Does he owe the humans? The elves? Why or why not?
Bilbo tries to give practical advice on the lack of food, but no matter.
The dwarves never did seem to focus on practical concerns. The dragon is gone, without the least effort on their part. The gold is theirs, and they intend to keep it.
Read pages for next time.