Chapter 8 quesrions

The Hobbit

Chapter 8 Study Questions

1. The closing lines of chapter 7 tell us, “Now began the most dangerous part of the journey” as they “plunged into the forest.”  List and briefly describe the dangers they meet and confront in Mirkwood Forest.  Why is this called the most dangerous part of the journey? It was dark in there, moths at night, spiders, food started running out, nothing edible to eat from the forest, only have a limited water supply, elfs in the woods,

2. List all the things black Bilbo and the dwarves encounter in Mirkwood Forest.  What does Tolkien communicate through this imagery? The the light, the water, the squirrels and the spiders. He uses black to show that they could be evil or diseased things.  

3. Bilbo and the dwarves have varying responses to light in this chapter.  What are the responses and what meaning do they carry? What do they learn from their encounters with the light? Some of them enjoy the light and that could show that they are fundamentally happy people.

4. What role do the spiders play in this chapter?  What does the great spider do to Bilbo and what is his response?  What heroic feat is Bilbo able to perform because he stays clear of the webs? They are the main obstacle for this chapter. The spider tries to tie up Bilbo but Bilbo fends him off and kills him. He manages to save the dwarves.

5. How is Bilbo viewed by the dwarves at the end of the chapter?  Why?  What does that say about how self-esteem is built? They admire and respect him a great deal more because he saved them. It says that you have to earn self esteem and respect through great deeds.

6. The dwarves recognise that Bilbo possesses three essential qualities for success.  Name these qualities.  Do you agree with the dwarves?  He had wits, luck and a magic ring. I agree with the dwarves.