A Door to Literary Adventure: Teaching The Hobbit in Your Homeschool

For many of us, J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit provided a gateway — not only to the enchanting world of Middle-earth but to a more advanced appreciation of literature and perhaps to a lifelong love of reading.

Take your learner on a journey through this beloved classic where dragons breathe fire, dwarves reclaim a lost kingdom, riddles decide one’s fate, and a mild-mannered hobbit undertakes a transformative adventure. The novel captivates young readers but also serves as a stepping stone into deeper literary exploration.

To successfully cross this threshold, you must first ask…

• Is The Hobbit right for my homeschool learner?
• Which homeschooling approach is best for this novel?
• What homeschooling materials are available for The Hobbit?

---

Is The Hobbit right for my homeschool learner?

The Hobbit straddles conceptions of primary reading and secondary reading analysis (learning to read vs. reading to learn). It has a fairy tale atmosphere but with levels of allegory and next-level world-building. It has familiar archetypes, but the characters reflect conflicting motivations, ambiguity, and dynamism. The narrative structure is simple (linear), but the point of view is complicated. (This is not Bilbo’s book, but seemingly the omniscient narrator has read Bilbo’s book and is relating the events with additional insights and opinions.) The themes are basic, but their development is intricate.

In short, the novel is like the hobbit himself, a childish appearance obscures great worth. The novel can be enjoyed by both a sixth grader and a well-read adult discovering an overlooked classic.

When it comes to homeschooling, The Hobbit is typically for grades 6–8. The Hobbit provides a perfect transition from simpler chapter books to more literary novels. With approachable language, a friendly tone, and rich storytelling, Tolkien invites young readers to immerse themselves in a vividly realized fantasy world. This makes The Hobbit an excellent vehicle for discussing important themes and introducing literary elements and devices.

---

Which homeschooling approach is best for this novel?

On one extreme, you can drop The Hobbit into the lap of your homeschool learner and say, “Read this, and then tell me what you think of it.” For some readers, this is a viable (if not optimal) option. Even enthusiastic and high-achieving learners will benefit from some structure, guidance, and accountability.

On the other extreme, you might discuss every sentence at length, generate Middle-earth-inspired creative works, and complete projects on everything from Tolkien’s mythological source materials to an analysis of the final battle as allegory for Tolkien’s experiences in World War I.

The best approach for using The Hobbit in a homeschool context lies somewhere in between. You want to study vocabulary enough to aid comprehension and vocabulary development but not to the point where the novel is reduced to a word list.  You want to study the most important narrative and literary elements without getting bogged down and losing focus. It is neither practical nor advisable to study every word choice, every image, or every device.

---

The Path Forward: The Hobbit Homeschool Materials

The Hobbit Homeschool Workbook

The Hobbit Reading Companion below strikes a balance between retaining reader enthusiasm, supporting active reading, and studying the essential literary elements of the novel. Final test materials are also available.

 The Hobbit Homeschool Materials

The Hobbit Homeschool Workbook guides readers through Tolkien’s original novel by creating engagement, improving comprehension, fostering critical thinking, and expanding literary knowledge. Each worksheet / PDF form provides a chapter preview, key vocabulary, a reading goal, a reading quiz, and reflection questions. It is easy to use and easy to check.

• Each worksheet has a front and a back (one for each of the 19 chapters).
• Reader completes the first page prior to reading the chapter (chapter preview, warm-up, vocabulary, and reading focus).
• Reader completes the second page during and after reading the chapter (reading quiz and reflection questions).
• You can print the entire homeschool workbook in one go, provide each handout as you progress, or use the Fill-in PDF version (electronic form).
• The electronic form can be completed in any web browser (Chrome, Firefox, etc.) NOTE: Make sure the reader saves or downloads every time or the completed fields will be lost!
• Includes ANSWER KEY / model responses.
• The last page is a final writing assignment and several project ideas.

The Hobbit Homeschool Curriculum Final Test

This test pairs with the homeschool reading companion shown above. The final test is six pages and includes comprehension questions, literary knowledge questions, and short answer prompts. The learner should score well on the test after completing the workbook faithfully. A separate vocabulary test is also available.

The Hobbit Homeschool Final Test

NOTE: A list of these test questions can be found at the bottom of this post if you only want to cut-and-paste a few items.

More on using The Hobbit for homeschool

Even if the workbook does not fit your needs, encourage your child’s imagination and analytical thinking through discussion, journaling, and creative projects. The novel lends itself beautifully to discussions about character development, themes of heroism and growth, and literary concepts such as foreshadowing, symbolism, and irony.

Here are some engaging teaching ideas:

• Read-aloud sessions: Especially beneficial for younger students or reluctant readers, reading aloud allows parents to highlight nuances in Tolkien’s language and encourage deeper comprehension.
• Character journals: Have your student keep a journal from the perspective of their favorite character, allowing them to explore motives and experiences.
• Creative projects: Build maps of Middle-earth, craft riddles inspired by Bilbo and Gollum, or even create mini-performances of key scenes.

Recommended Materials

• Annotated editions: Such as the HarperCollins annotated version, which provides valuable insights and context that enrich the reading experience.
• Study guides: Consider literature guides designed for homeschooling, which can offer structured activities, vocabulary enhancement, and comprehension checks.
• Creative supplies: Encourage art, crafts, or even Lego building to help visualize settings, scenes, and characters.

---

---

The Lasting Value of The Hobbit

Choosing The Hobbit as part of your homeschool curriculum isn’t merely about teaching literature; it’s about inspiring a lifelong love for reading. Tolkien’s classic gently introduces students to the complexity and beauty of literature, creating memories and skills they will value long after the final chapter is finished.

Embark on this literary adventure with your student, and watch as they discover not just a novel, but a passion that can fuel a lifetime of learning and imagination.

 Top 10 Reasons to Teach The Hobbit in School or Homeschool

1. Engages Reluctant Readers:
   Tolkien’s approachable yet vivid storytelling captures the imagination, making it ideal for students transitioning into longer, more sophisticated novels.

2. Introduction to Literary Analysis:
   Rich with symbolism, foreshadowing, character development, and narrative structure, The Hobbit is perfect for introducing students to literary analysis in an accessible way.

3. Builds Critical Thinking and Discussion Skills:
   The ethical dilemmas and growth faced by Bilbo and other characters provide excellent starting points for thoughtful discussions about courage, morality, and personal growth.

4. Inspires Creativity and Imagination:
   Tolkien’s intricate world-building and storytelling ignite students’ imaginations, prompting creative writing, art projects, and imaginative play.

5. Expands Vocabulary and Language Skills:
   With its rich and descriptive language, The Hobbit enhances vocabulary and comprehension, preparing students for more challenging texts.

6. Teaches Valuable Life Lessons:
   Themes of bravery, friendship, perseverance, and overcoming adversity provide meaningful opportunities to discuss personal values and character education.

7. Cultural Literacy and Influence:
   Understanding The Hobbit helps students appreciate its enormous cultural impact and how literature shapes, reflects, and influences society and modern storytelling.

8. Gateway to Fantasy and Classic Literature:
   Serving as a comfortable entry point into the fantasy genre, The Hobbit paves the way for exploring other classic literary works and series.

9. Encourages Historical and Contextual Learning:
   Tolkien’s life and the historical context in which he wrote (post-World War I Britain) offer engaging opportunities for cross-curricular lessons in history and cultural studies.

10. Promotes Enjoyment of Reading:
    Above all, The Hobbit often sparks a lifelong passion for reading, proving literature can be both academically enriching and genuinely enjoyable.

Thanks for checking out The Hobbit Homeschool Curriculum: Teaching Approach and Materials

Embarking on the adventure of teaching The Hobbit in your homeschool opens doors far beyond a single novel or even a single academic year. By guiding your child through Bilbo Baggins’ extraordinary journey, you lay the foundation for a lifetime of reading enjoyment, literary insight, and imaginative exploration. Teaching long-form literature like The Hobbit is an investment in your child’s intellectual and emotional growth, nurturing essential critical thinking skills, creativity, and interpersonal understanding.

Remember, there’s no single “correct” way to teach The Hobbit. Whether you choose structured guides and detailed projects or favor a lighter touch with creative explorations and informal discussions, the journey through Middle-earth promises to be rewarding. As Tolkien reminds us, roads go ever on, leading to discoveries, reflections, and ultimately, a richer appreciation of literature and learning.

With The Hobbit, you’re not just opening a book—

you’re opening a door to endless literary adventures.

---

The Hobbit Homeschool Teaching Materials: Test Items

COMPREHENSION

1) Why does Gandalf choose Bilbo to join the quest of Thorin and Company?
A. Bilbo has previous adventure experience.
B. Bilbo owes Gandalf a favor.
C. Gandalf actually meant to invite Frodo.
D. Gandalf believes Bilbo has hidden qualities.

2) The incident with the trolls shows that…
A. Bilbo is a gifted burglar.
B. Bilbo is a terrible burglar.
C. Bilbo can save the day when he must.
D. Bilbo has no courage at all.

3) The riddle that Bilbo uses to best (defeat) Gollum uses the question, …
A. “What have I got in my pocket?”
B. “What has hands but cannot clap?”
C. “What is wiser than all the kings?”
D. “What is always hungry?”

4) Who rescues Bilbo and the dwarves from wargs and goblins in the pine forest?
A. Gandalf alone
B. Giant eagles
C. Elven warriors
D. Honorable goblins

5) Why does Gandalf leave the company for the later part of the journey?
A. He must attend to other wizard business.
B. He grows angry with Thorin Oakenshield.
C. He has injured himself and must recover.
D. His magic does not work in Mirkwood.

6) Why does the company leave the set path through the forest of Mirkwood?
A. A group of trolls has set a trap for them.
B. A group of elves are having a feast.
C. They find a map to buried treasure.
D. An enchanted fog leads them off course.

7) Why do the elves imprison the dwarves?
A. They suspect them of plotting with goblins.
B. Thorin refuses to reveal what they are up to.
C. The elves want the dwarves’ treasure.
D. Gloin insults the Elvenking.

8) How does Bilbo survive in the elf kingdom?
A. He uses his invisibility to steal food.
B. He sings and tells stories to the king.
C. The guards treat him with kindness since he is not a dwarf.
D. He is put to work in the kitchens.

9) How does Bilbo free the dwarves from jail?
A. He uses the magic lamp.
B. He bribes the guards with gold.
C. He sneaks them out in barrels.
D. He starts a fire as a distraction.

10) What ancient prophecy (mystical prediction) do the people of Lake-town recall?
A. The dragon will rule forever.
B. The dwarf king will return.
C. An elf wizard will defeat Smaug.
D. A halfling (hobbit) will defeat Smaug.

11) Which of these helps Bilbo discover the secret of entering the Lonely Mountain?
A. Snails
B. Fog
C. Toenails
D. Umbrellas

12) How does Smaug react upon Bilbo’s second visit to his lair?
A. He immediately tries to eat him.
B. He ignores Bilbo and flies away.
C. He talks to Bilbo to learn more about him.
D. He buries Bilbo under a pile of gold.

13) One weakness of dragons is…
A. They are extremely hard to wake up.
B. They have soft underbellies.
C. They are simple and easy to fool.
D. They cannot fly in cold weather.

14) What secret does Bilbo keep from Thorin?
A. The location of the Arkenstone
B. A message left behind by Smaug
C. What happened in the haunted chamber
D. The recipe for his grandmother’s biscuits

15) Who kills Smaug the Tremendous?
A. Thorin Oakenshield
B. Bard the bowman
C. Gandalf
D. Trick question! Smaug dies of old age.

16) What do the dwarves hope will save them once they are barricaded inside the mountain?
A. Making a deal with the men of Lake-town
B. Making a deal with the wood-elves
C. Hiding the treasure and lying about it
D. More dwarves coming to their aid

17) What does Bilbo do in a desperate final attempt to prevent a war?
A. He tries to assassinate (murder) Thorin.
B. He tries to use one of Gandalf’s spells.
C. He gives part of the treasure to Bard.
D. He tells Smaug about the secret entrance.

18) What event unites dwarves, men, and elves?
A. Thorin’s death
B. The arrival of Gandalf
C. Goblins attacking
D. Bilbo’s speech and demonstration

19) What creatures join the Battle of Five Armies to save the day at the last moment?
A. Eagles and Beorn
B. Trolls and dragons
C. Wolves and Roäc
D. Ents and entwives

20) What is Bard the bowman’s special ability?
A. He never misses a shot.
B. He can understand the speech of birds.
C. He dreams about future events.
D. He can convince anyone to believe him.

21) What problem does Bilbo discover upon returning home to the Shire?
A. His home is destroyed.
B. His belongings are being sold.
C. His friends refuse to speak to him.
D. The sheriff arrests him at the border.

22) What of Bilbo’s reputation in the Shire?
A. He has become a hero to all hobbits.
B. He is considered greedy and selfish.
C. He is seen as odd and a bit crazy.
D. He is viewed as worldly and wise, so they decide to make him the mayor.

LITERARY KNOWLEDGE

NOTE: When there is no direct question or prompt, choose the best match for what is given.

23) Subtle clues in Chapter 1 suggest that Bilbo might secretly be adventurous.
A. Rising action
B. Symbol
C. Foil characterization
D. Indirect characterization

24) As the episode with the hungry trolls shows, Tolkien often pairs tension with…
A. Sorrow.
B. Humor.
C. Songs.
D. Romance.

25) “I imagine you know the answer, of course, or can guess it as easy as winking, since you are sitting comfortably at home and have not the danger of being eaten to disturb your thinking.” (74)
A. Indirect characterization
B. Moral
C. Direct address (point of view)
D. Symbolism

26) “Dwarves had not passed that way for many years, but Gandalf had, and he knew how evil and danger had grown and thriven in the Wild, since the dragons had driven men from the lands, and the goblins had spread in secret after the battle of the Mines of Moria. Even the good plans of wise wizards like Gandalf and of good friends like Elrond go astray…” (57)
A. Imagery / sensory details
B. Foreshadowing / suspense
C. Moral / proverb
D. Climax / theme

27) Which of the following reflects the literary device of a “cliffhanger?”
A. Roäc lives on the side of the mountain.
B. At the end of Chapter 4, Bilbo is left unconscious in the goblin tunnels.
C. In the final Chapter, Bilbo starts feeling a nagging impulse to go on another adventure.
D. The people celebrate the new king, Bard.

28) Bilbo is the hero, but he is not physically special or morally (right and wrong) perfect.
A. Villain
B. Antihero
C. Narrator
D. Foil character

29) The idea of Bilbo’s luck pops up as an element of the story again and again.
A. Point of view
B. Motivation
C. Motif
D. Imagery

30) Some details suggest that Gandalf is powerful and all-knowing. Some details suggest that he is just a clever and tricky old man.
A. Ambiguity
B. Tension
C. Foil character
D. Direct address

31) Which of the following is a genre?
A. Bard the bowman
B. Climax
C. Fantasy
D. The Arkenstone

32) Which choice accurately describes the point of view used in the telling of The Hobbit?
A. First-person, limited
B. Second-person, unreliable
C. Third-person, omniscient
D. Personal autobiography (by Bilbo)

33) Which choice accurately reflects the mood Tolkien creates surrounding Mirkwood?
A. Eerie and threatening
B. Joyful and fanciful
C. Calm and tranquil (peaceful)
D. Comical and absurd (silly)

34) “Somehow the killing of the giant spider, all alone by himself in the dark without the help of the wizard or the dwarves or of anyone else, made a great difference to Mr. Baggins. He felt a different person, and much fiercer and bolder in spite of an empty stomach…” (137)
A. Ambiguity
B. Epithets / flashback
C. First-person, limited point of view
D. Character turning point

35) Rising action as the dwarves finally reach their destination primarily creates a sense of…
A. Humor.
B. Romance.
C. Tension.
D. Relief.

36) Bilbo’s success with the secret door tells the reader to use patience and observation when problem-solving. This type of message is a(n)…
A. Proverb.
B. Symbol.
C. Epithet.
D. Moral.

37) “Smaug lay, with wings folded like an immeasurable bat, turned partly on one side, so that the hobbit could see his underparts and his long pale belly crusted with gems and fragments of gold from his long lying on his costly bed.”
A. Motif
B. Imagery
C. Character arc
D. Theme development

38) Which of the following is an epithet?
A. Gandalf as a guardian of the company
B. Comparing the Arkenstone to a bright star
C. Doubt over Thorin’s lost honor
D. Smaug the Unassessably Wealthy

39) Bard the bowman and the Master of Lake-town are examples of…
A. Motivations.
B. Cliffhangers.
C. Foil characters.
D. Villains.

40) Which choice is an example of a proverb?
A. The trolls literally argue to death.
B. Don’t laugh at live dragons.
C. There and Back Again, a Hobbit’s Holiday
D. Rivendell means “divided valley.”

41) “‘There is more in you of good than you know, child of the kindly West. Some courage and some wisdom… If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world. But sad or merry, I must leave it now. Farewell!’” (247)
A. Imagery / sensory details
B. Rising action
C. Theme development
D. Ambiguity

42) Chapter 15: “The Gathering Clouds”
A. Characterization
B. Theme development
C. Establishing mood
D. Point of view

43) When it comes to mapping the plot, the Battle of Five Armies is the…
A. Character arc.
B. Point of view.
C. Rising action.
D. Climax.

44) The Arkenstone is best identified as…
A. A symbol.
B. Imagery.
C. A proverb.
D. A moral.

45) Thorin’s personal journey takes him from ambition to mindless greed and finally to honor.
A. Antihero
B. Character arc
C. Genre
D. Foil character

SHORT ANSWER

46) Briefly summarize how Bilbo acquires the ring and discovers its magical properties.

47) Describe Tolkien’s use of imagery. Use one or two illustrative examples in your explanation.

48) Describe the narration / point of view used in The Hobbit and its effect on the telling.

49) Identify one theme from The Hobbit and explain its development.

50) Use the graphic below to explain Bilbo’s character arc.

 

Tags: The Hobbit Homeschool Materials, The Hobbit Homeschool curriculum, Teaching The Hobbit, The Hobbit novel study, The Hobbit guide for parents, The Hobbit study guide PDF