Here are the literary analysis questions from The Hobbit Test Maker (200+ questions). Cut and paste analysis questions from the list below or download the full resource for all the questions, the user friendly formats, and the answer key.
MULTIPLE-CHOICE:
NOTE: When there is no direct question or prompt, choose the best match for what is given.
1) Subtle clues in Chapter 1 suggest that Bilbo might secretly be adventurous.
▫ Rising action
▫ Symbolism
▫ Foil characterization
▫ Indirect characterization
2) Which choice relates LEAST to the quote?
“Then something Tookish woke up inside him, and he wished to go and see the great mountains, and hear the pine-trees and the waterfalls, and explore the caves, and wear a sword instead of a walking-stick.” (24)
▫ Motivation
▫ First-person point of view
▫ Characterization
▫ Internal conflict
3) Which of these details is left unexplained and creates a sense of mystery?
▫ Gandalf involves himself in the adventure
▫ Bilbo leaves the company in Mirkwood
▫ The Master of Lake town helps Thorin
▫ Smaug takes over the Lonely Mountain
4) As the episode with the hungry trolls shows, Tolkien often pairs tension with…
▫ Sorrow.
▫ Humor.
▫ Songs.
▫ Romance.
5) Which choice relates LEAST to the quote?
“‘What I say,’ said Bilbo gasping. ‘And please don’t cook me, kind sirs! I am a good cook myself, and cook better than I cook, if you see what I mean. I’ll cook beautifully for you, a perfectly beautiful breakfast for you, if only you won’t have me for supper.’” (41)
▫ Tension
▫ Humor
▫ Dialogue
▫ Metaphor
6) Bilbo is the hero, but he is not physically special or morally (right and wrong) perfect.
▫ Villain
▫ Antihero
▫ Antagonist
▫ Foil character
7) The giant, fantastic, man-eating trolls have ordinary names like Bert, Tom, and William.
▫ Tragedy
▫ Tension
▫ Irony
▫ Imagery
8) Detailed descriptions of the sights, sounds, surfaces, and smells of Rivendell.
▫ Foreshadowing
▫ Imagery
▫ Theme development
▫ Symbolism
9) Bilbo is NOT…
▫ The protagonist.
▫ An example of an antihero.
▫ An example of an archetype.
▫ The narrator.
10) “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)
▫ Imagery / sensory details
▫ Foreshadowing / suspense
▫ Metaphor / figurative language
▫ Revelation / resolution
11) Clues suggest that Thorin and Company will find trouble in the Misty Mountains.
▫ Foreshadowing
▫ Figurative language
▫ Direct point of view
▫ Inciting incidents
12) Which of the following reflects the literary device of a “cliffhanger?”
▫ Roäc lives on the side of the mountain.
▫ At the end of Chapter 4, Bilbo is left unconscious in the goblin tunnels.
▫ In the final Chapter, Bilbo starts feeling a nagging impulse to go on another adventure.
▫ The people celebrate the new king, Bard.
13) “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.”
▫ Indirect characterization
▫ Figurative language (metaphor)
▫ Direct address (point of view)
▫ Symbolism
14) The idea of Bilbo’s luck pops up as an element of the story again and again.
▫ Mystery
▫ Motivation
▫ Motif
▫ Momentum
15) Which motif throughout The Hobbit suggests the idea of fate or divine influence?
▫ Songs and correspondence (letters)
▫ Dragons and goblins
▫ Magical doors and streams
▫ Luck and unlikely escapes
16) The ancient and universal (for all people) idea of a character having to play a game with life-or-death consequences is an example of…
▫ An archetype.
▫ A theme.
▫ A played-out device.
▫ Character motivation.
17) Gandalf’s approach to introducing the entire party to Beorn has the LEAST to do with…
▫ Humor as a literary device.
▫ A theme on problem-solving.
▫ Characterization of Beorn.
▫ Foreshadowing the eagles’ arrival.
18) Some details suggest that Gandalf is powerful and all-knowing. Some details suggest that he is just a clever and tricky old man.
▫ Ambiguity
▫ Tension
▫ Climax
▫ Resolution
19) Which of the following is a genre?
▫ Bard the bowman
▫ Climax
▫ Fantasy
▫ The Arkenstone
20) Tolkien includes maps, runes (written symbols), song lyrics, and invented languages.
▫ Reader’s tone
▫ Theme
▫ World-building
▫ Verbal irony
21) Which of the following is NOT an important character turning point for Bilbo?
▫ He defeats the spiders of Mirkwood.
▫ He approaches Smaug on his own.
▫ He decides to give away the Arkenstone.
▫ He saves his home and possessions.
22) Which choice accurately describes the point of view used in the telling of The Hobbit?
▫ First-person, limited
▫ Second-person, unreliable
▫ Third-person, omniscient
▫ Personal autobiography (by Bilbo)
23) Which statement is true regarding the narrator of The Hobbit?
▫ The narrator often interrupts the story to talk to the reader and give commentary.
▫ The narrator is an elderly Bilbo looking back on his greatest adventure.
▫ The narrator sticks to the facts, remains detached, and offers no personal views.
▫ The story is told collectively (together) by a group of Elvish historians.
24) Which choice best describes the narrator’s tone for much of The Hobbit?
▫ Disrespectful and sarcastic
▫ Good-natured and humorous
▫ Bitter and nostalgic (lost in memory)
▫ Cold and detached
25) Which of the following does NOT help to characterize Bilbo Baggins?
▫ He often thinks of the comforts left behind.
▫ He often gets distracted thinking about what he will do with his share of treasure.
▫ He stays hidden during the final battle.
▫ He returns the keys to the jail guard after the dwarves are set free.
26) Which choice relates LEAST to the quote?
“No, not a fair fight. He was invisible now. Gollum had no sword. Gollum had not actually threatened to kill him… And he was miserable, alone, lost. A sudden understanding, a pity mixed with horror, welled up in Bilbo’s heart: a glimpse of endless unmarked days without light or hope of betterment, hard stone, cold fish, sneaking and whispering.” (82)
▫ Omniscient point of view
▫ Characterization / character traits
▫ Internal conflict
▫ Direct address
27) Which choice accurately reflects the mood Tolkien creates surrounding Mirkwood?
▫ Eerie and threatening
▫ Joyful and fanciful
▫ Calm and tranquil (peaceful)
▫ Comical and absurd (silly)
28) “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, as he wiped his sword on the grass and put it back…” (137)
▫ Figurative language
▫ Epithets / flashback
▫ First-person, limited point of view
▫ Character turning point
29) Which choice reflects onomatopoeia?
▫ The clink and clank of the prison lock
▫ Barricade of bouncing barrels
▫ Elf-friend, dwarf-friend, hobbit-friend
▫ “Out of the frying pan and into the fire”
30) Thorin refusing to reveal the truth to the Elvenking mainly relates to the theme on …
▫ Honor.
▫ Greed.
▫ Holding a grudge.
▫ Suspense.
31) Which choice relates LEAST to the quote?
“It was just at this moment that Bilbo suddenly discovered the weak point in his plan. Most likely you saw it some time ago and have been laughing at him; but I don’t suppose you would have done half as well yourselves in his place. Of course he was not in a barrel himself, nor was there anyone to pack him in, even if there had been a chance!” (159)
▫ Tension / suspense
▫ Narrator’s tone
▫ Direct address
▫ Character motivation
32) What archetype best fits Gandalf?
▫ The trickster
▫ The reluctant hero
▫ The wise mentor
▫ The threatening shadow
33) Rising action as the dwarves finally reach their destination primarily creates a sense of…
▫ Comedy.
▫ Romance.
▫ Tension.
▫ Relief.
34) The reaction of the people of Lake-town to Thorin and company reflects what theme?
▫ People are usually suspicious and critical.
▫ People believe what they want to believe.
▫ Honor among thieves
▫ Violence never solves anything.
35) Which moment marks Bilbo’s “crossing of the threshold” in the hero’s journey?
▫ When he leaves the Shire
▫ When he meets Gollum
▫ When he slays the spider in Mirkwood
▫ When he steals a cup from Smaug’s hoard
36) When the message of a story is a lesson to be learned by the reader / audience:
▫ Motif
▫ Moral
▫ Metaphor
▫ Mentor
37) 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)…
▫ Archetype.
▫ Allegory.
▫ Malapropism.
▫ Moral.
38) An epithet is best defined as…
▫ A short story.
▫ A type of poem.
▫ A descriptive title.
▫ A universal proverb.
39) “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.” (188)
▫ Personification
▫ Imagery
▫ Hyperbole
▫ Allegory
40) Which of the following is an epithet?
▫ Gandalf as a guardian of the company
▫ Comparing the Arkenstone to a bright star
▫ Doubt over whether or not Thorin will regain his sense of reason and his honor.
▫ Smaug the Unassessably Wealthy
41) The motivation of Bilbo as compared to the motivation of Thorin is best shown by…
▫ How they show appreciation to the eagles.
▫ How they react to the treasure hoard.
▫ How they want to take revenge on the people of Lake-town.
▫ Where they want to be buried.
42) Bard the bowman and the Master of Lake-town are examples of…
▫ Comic relief.
▫ Protagonists.
▫ Foil characters.
▫ Villains.
43) The positioning of Bard and the Master for comparison relates to the theme on …
▫ Leadership.
▫ Destiny.
▫ Intelligence.
▫ Forgiveness.
44) What is the purpose of Tolkien’s use of songs and poems throughout the novel?
▫ They slow down the plot.
▫ They reveal the author’s personal views.
▫ They establish setting and mood.
▫ They purposefully confuse the reader.
45) Which choice relates LEAST to the quote?
“A sound, too, began to throb in his ears, a sort of bubbling like the noise of a large pot galloping on the fire, mixed with a rumble as of a gigantic tom-cat purring. This grew to the unmistakable gurgling noise of some vast animal snoring in its sleep down there in the red glow in front of him.” (187)
▫ Internal conflict
▫ Imagery
▫ Figurative language
▫ Simile
46) “‘While there’s life there’s hope!’” (203)
▫ Epithet
▫ Simile
▫ Proverb
▫ Irony
47) Which choice is an example of a proverb?
▫ The trolls literally argue to death.
▫ Don’t laugh at live dragons.
▫ There and Back Again, a Hobbit’s Holiday
▫ Rivendell means “divided valley.”
48) Which choice relates LEAST to this quote?
“‘My armour is like tenfold shields, my teeth are swords, my claws spears, the shock of my tail a thunderbolt, my wings a hurricane, and my breath death!’” (196)
▫ Figurative language / hyperbole
▫ Sound devices / parallel construction
▫ Dialogue
▫ Dramatic irony
49) Chapter 15: “The Gathering Clouds”
▫ Characterization
▫ Theme development
▫ Establishing mood
▫ Falling action (plot)
50) Bilbo calls himself an “honest burglar.”
▫ Unreliable narrator
▫ Literary symbol
▫ Direct address
▫ Oxymoron
51) The Arkenstone is best identified as…
▫ The irony.
▫ A symbol.
▫ A plot point.
▫ A theme.
52) Which historical event most influenced Tolkien’s views on war and desolation?
▫ World War I
▫ The Crusades
▫ The Great Depression
▫ The Cold War
53) Which choice reflects situational irony?
▫ Bard the bowman can understand birds.
▫ The prophecies were correct about the return of dwarves to Erebor.
▫ Bilbo turns out to be the most valuable member of the company.
▫ The eagles repay Gandalf by saving him and Thorin and Company.
54) Which of the following best describes an allusion in The Hobbit?
▫ Bilbo reflecting on his love for food
▫ Gandalf mentioning ancient wars and distant lands that are never explained
▫ Dwarves singing loudly in Rivendell
▫ Smaug flying over Lake-town
55) Which of the following is the WEAKEST example of a literary symbol?
▫ Bilbo’s ring
▫ Beorn’s enchanted home
▫ The Arkenstone
▫ Erebor / the Lonely Mountain
56) When it comes to mapping the plot, the Battle of Five Armies is the…
▫ Allegory.
▫ Point of view.
▫ Inciting incident.
▫ Climax.
57) Chapter 17 is called “The Clouds Burst”, but there is no rain. The title is meant…
▫ Comically.
▫ Literally.
▫ Figuratively.
▫ Sarcastically.
58) The sudden appearance of the eagles to save the forces of good is an example of …
▫ Foreshadowing.
▫ Deus ex machina.
▫ Flashback.
▫ Extended metaphor.
59) In terms of character development, which of these is a dynamic character?
▫ Gandalf
▫ Thorin
▫ Smaug
▫ Beorn
60) What conflict drives much of the internal tension in Bilbo’s character?
▫ Loyalty vs. power
▫ Heroism vs. duty
▫ Comfort vs. purpose
▫ Knowledge vs. suffering
61) Thorin’s personal journey takes him from ambition to mindless greed and finally to honor.
▫ Foiled character
▫ Character arc
▫ Static character
▫ World-building
62) Bilbo’s lasting changes after his adventure show the importance of …
▫ Personal growth.
▫ Physical strength.
▫ Fame.
▫ Wealth and power.
63) Which statement best reflects a theme developed through Bilbo’s actions?
▫ Wealth brings happiness.
▫ Power always corrupts.
▫ Doing what is right often involves sacrifice.
▫ Never trust others to do what is right.
64) Which choice relates LEAST to the quote?
“Suddenly there was a great shout, and from the Gate came a trumpet call. They had forgotten Thorin! Part of the wall fell outward with a crash into the pool. Out leapt the King under the Mountain, and his companions followed him. Hood and cloak were gone; they were in shining armour, and red light leapt from their eyes. In the gloom the great dwarf gleamed like gold in a dying fire.” (243)
▫ Surprise / plot twist
▫ Inciting incident / rising action
▫ Character arc
▫ Figurative language
65) Which choice describes the plot structure?
▫ Linear (beginning, middle, and end)
▫ Reverse (Ending and then flashbacks)
▫ Fractured (told from many points of view)
▫ Parallel (several stories told together)
66) The structure of The Hobbit is NOT…
▫ Climactic.
▫ Consistent with “the hero’s journey.”
▫ Episodic.
▫ Told from three points of view.
67) “‘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)
▫ Imagery
▫ Archetype
▫ Theme development
▫ Extended metaphor
68) Which choice is a key theme in The Hobbit?
▫ Love conquers all.
▫ Trust no one.
▫ Stay home and keep your mouth shut.
▫ Wealth is not the meaning of life.
SHORT ANSWER
69) Identify the traits (try for three) that make Bilbo an antihero.
70) Describe Tolkien’s use of imagery. Use one or two illustrative examples in your explanation.
71) Think about Bilbo’s conflicting motivations. Explain his internal conflict as represented by his mother’s side of the family, the Tooks, and his father’s side of the family, the Bagginses.
72) Analyze this quote in terms of the relevant literary elements:
All the same Mr. Baggins kept his head more clear of the bewitchment of the hoard than the dwarves did. Long before the dwarves were tired of examining the treasures, he became weary of it and sat down on the floor; and he began to wonder nervously what the end of it all would be. “I would give a good many of these precious goblets,” he thought, “for a drink of something cheering out of one of Beorn’s wooden bowls!” (208)
73) Explain the ambiguity that surrounds the character Gandalf.
74) Beyond his ability to remain calm and his natural cleverness, what third factor enables Bilbo to defeat Gollum and escape the goblin tunnels? What theme does this third factor help to develop?
75) Identify the genre of The Hobbit and list six details from the story that reflect this genre.
76) What is the thematic importance of the dwarves preferring to risk dying in barrels over honestly negotiating with the elves?
77) The Hobbit includes song lyrics from dwarves, elves, goblins, and one hobbit. What is the author’s purpose in providing these verses?
78) Outline the presentation of two foil characters in the novel. What is the author’s purpose in presenting the foil characters in this way?
79) Choose three elements in The Hobbit and create an original epithet for each.
80) Identify three details that are part of the novel’s rising action.
81) Explain the narrative point of view used in The Hobbit and its effect on the telling.
82) Identify and explain ONE literary symbol in The Hobbit.
83) Identify the climax of the novel and explain what makes it, well, climactic.
84) Think about how Tolkien uses language. Explain two key features of his language style.
85) Use the graphic below to explain Bilbo’s character arc:
EXTENDED RESPONSE / ESSAY
86) Identify one theme from The Hobbit and provide a detailed explanation of its development.
87) Explain the point of view used in The Hobbit and its effect on the telling.
88) Explain the key elements that relate to Bilbo’s character arc. (Make sure to discuss theme.)
Thanks for checking out The Hobbit Literary Analysis Questions.
Engaging students in literary analysis of The Hobbit not only deepens their understanding of Tolkien’s rich storytelling but also sharpens their critical thinking skills. By incorporating these targeted questions into your lessons or assessments, you can guide your students to explore themes, character development, and literary devices in a structured and meaningful way. These The Hobbit literary analysis questions meet your needs whether you’re focusing on multiple-choice, short answer, or extended response.