KIT. J.R.R. Tolkien s. project, activity & prop ideas discussion Q & A s printables with keys READ FOR FUN LEARN. FOR LIF

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1 KIT EXP J.R.R. Tolkien s AND TM ED E DIT ION the hobbit project, activity & prop ideas discussion Q & A s printables with keys READ FOR FUN LEARN. FOR LIF E.

2 Table of Contents Page Title Summary Before You Begin 2 Welcome 3 Using this Kit Suggestions for ways to use this kit 4 About the Book An overview of the story 5 Workshop Preparation Getting ready to immerse 11 Workshop Agenda Our sample agenda for those holding a workshop Discussion 13 Great Explorations Author discussion points and prompts 15 Great Explorations Discussion prompts about plot, character, and theme, with directions for an integrated tactile project and three characterization activities Snack 30 BookBites Book-themed snack and sounds Projects & Activities 31 BookWraps Art project directions and supplies 32 Creations 1 Craft project directions and supplies 34 Creations 2 Craft project directions and supplies 41 Appendix: Handouts StoryLines Brave New Words Write Angles Dwarf Runes Narrative arc/theme handout Vocabulary handout and key Creative writing handout Cryptography key for both crafts LitWits Workshops, LLC 2012 The LitWits Kit Expanded Edition for The Hobbit 1

3 Welcome to the Adventure of You want your kids to really love The Hobbit. Maybe you loved the book yourself, and you want to pass its joys along to them. You probably want your kids to love all great books books that will stay with them for the rest of their lives. We do too! That s why we founded LitWits. In our popular workshops, we share sensory objects and experiences straight from the story. Kids get into the characters world from the inside out, sharing its sights, tastes, textures, smells and sounds. By engaging with a great book in hands-on, enjoyable, memorable ways, kids learn without trying. Most importantly, they want to read more. LitWits Kits are the product of our workshop planning, but you don t have to hold a workshop. There s enough here to keep your learners busy for a whole day or a few weeks, depending on your own needs and goals. This expanded edition provides sensory prop suggestions, detailed project and activity ideas, discussion Q&A, academic handouts with keys, and workshop preparation tips. Decide what works best for your classroom or family! Your quest is to make great books fun and memorable for kids so they ll want to read more. The adventure, though, is up to you. Off you go! Jenny & Becky LitWits Workshops Santa Cruz, California LitWits Workshops, LLC 2012 The LitWits Kit Expanded Edition for The Hobbit 2

4 Using this Kit Take full advantage of our Resources web page for this book! We ll refer you there often throughout this kit. Since everyone s needs and goals are so different, we wanted to offer you a wide range of media aids. Our Resources page is a one-stop shop where you can customize your own experience. Choose learning links that support the subjects you d like to focus on, for the age and interest levels of your kids. And be sure to click the Pinterest button to see dozens of images and videos about people, places, things and events mentioned in The Hobbit. If you d like to hold a workshop, you ll want to consider the ages,* abilities, and interests of your kids, as well as your available time. Adjust the length of activities, reorder the pages if you'd rather follow a different agenda, decide which handouts help your learners most, and add breaks wherever needed. We ve included a section on workshop preparation, but don t feel you have to do it all. (Or, if you re the high-energy creative type, feel free to add lots more and share your ideas and experience with us!) Whether you re holding a workshop for a book club, a homeschool co-op, a rainy-day learning activity, or just for fun, you can take what you need and change it to suit your needs. If you re just looking for enrichment activities, you might want to pull a project or two, choose selected academic handouts, and use a few prompts from our discussion guides to trigger conversations. Do the projects and activities with your kids as you read the book, or after. Our discussions often connect to props and/or other media support, which help kids see (and touch, feel, smell, hear) the story. Use one or more prop ideas to support specific learning goals. If you re interested in offering an extracurricular program, consider breaking the 4-5 hours of projects, activities and discussions included here into one- or two-hour segments. If you re looking for fun ways to connect as a parent or care provider, read the book your kids are reading, and ask discussion questions at dinner, in the car, or anytime at all. Enjoy the art and craft projects as a family. Come up with one of our suggested props and ask your kids if they know what it is and why it s important. Spend a whole weekend dedicated to immersing in the book, allowing tangents to take you into even deeper (or wider) discussions! Use our kit and Pinterest board as a source of ideas for book-themed parties. The possibilities are endless! *Kids of all ages love hands-on learning; you know best what your kids are ready for and capable of. We find that 9-12-yearolds are usually the best prepared for the activities in this kit. LitWits Workshops, LLC 2012 The LitWits Kit Expanded Edition for The Hobbit 3

5 About the Book The Hobbit J.R.R. Tolkien (1937) Note: Throughout this kit, page numbers given for The Hobbit refer to the 2002 edition annotated by Douglas A. Anderson. 1 Photo by kind permission of Maddie Chambers/Brindley. See her remarkable model at Set in the imaginary world of Middle-earth, The Hobbit is the tale of complacent hobbit Bilbo Baggins quest to discover his worth. When Gandalf the wizard invites Thorin Oakenshield and his band of dwarves to Bilbo s hobbit hole and introduces Bilbo as the burglar who will retrieve their gold from the dragon Smaug, Bilbo recoils from the task. The dwarves, too, think perhaps Gandalf has chosen in error. But as his curiosity, ancestry, and wounded pride stoke Bilbo s interest in the adventure, he decides he will be the burglar Gandalf has committed him to be. Once he joins the quest, his great adventure begins and so does the reader s As the little company faces trolls, goblins, wolves, giant spiders, and Smaug himself, Bilbo discovers the courage and confidence that will not only capture the gold but change his life. Awards The Hobbit was nominated for the Carnegie Medal and honored by the New York Herald Tribune for being the best juvenile fiction of the year (1938). The Author J.R.R. (John Ronald Reuel) Tolkien ( ) was an English professor, poet, and writer best known as the author of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings trilogy that followed. He was a professor of Anglo-Saxon at Oxford University (where he joined a literary group called the Inklings with C.S. Lewis) from 1925 to For links to images and more author information, see our Pinterest board and Resources page for The Hobbit. 1 Tolkien, J R. R, and Douglas A. Anderson. The Annotated Hobbit: The Hobbit, Or, There and Back Again. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, Print. LitWits Workshops, LLC 2012 The LitWits Kit Expanded Edition for The Hobbit 4

6 Workshop Preparation Anytime Read the book! You may have read it as a child, but you ll have a completely different perspective as an adult, and a new appreciation for its enduring value. You won t have to take all the notes that we do this kit saves you dozens of hours extrapolating discussion topics and prop ideas! but you ll want to have the story fresh in your mind when you re experiencing it with the children in your workshop. Create a display board using a large bulletin board or a trifold presentation board from an office supply store. This board is the backbone of the display. At a minimum you ll want to exhibit the book cover and scenes from the setting, found on our Pinterest board for this book. Select and print other images you d like to show during the workshop. We ve assembled a great collection of online resources, many of which contain wonderful images. Check our Pinterest board and the Resources page on our website. Select audiovisual clips you d like to present during the workshop. Our Pinterest board for this book contains book-related video, music, and sound-effect links, some of which can be downloaded to your computer or music player. Think about how you ll integrate these into your agenda; we find that they come in handy during the discussion. Shop for supplies. See the crafts and activities pages in this kit for supplies lists. Make craft models. This makes the craft easier to demonstrate and explain to the children. This is also a good time to take care of any preparations that will save time during the workshop. Collect props. Gathering an inspiring collection of props is one of our favorite things we do to prepare for a workshop. Our goal is to gather significant or interesting objects actually referenced in the book. Sometimes what starts with a mention in a story becomes a scavenger hunt that spans counties and time zones! We ve found props through ebay, in our parents attic and our neighbor s backyard, at the dollar store, on the beach, in the forest, in our closets, and among our own souvenir collections. We always track down the most authentic props we can find, within reason we re trying to recreate genuine LitWits Workshops, LLC 2012 The LitWits Kit Expanded Edition for The Hobbit 5

7 experiences from the book, not doing a theme party or merely decorating. However, sometimes we just have to compromise. A real sword probably wouldn t have been a great idea, and real gold and jewels were far too scarce to effect a whole hoard, and we didn t have a live raven, let alone real goblin blood. But we made sure that what we used looked and felt as real as possible. It helped that we held our workshop close to Halloween, when relevant props abounded, but we ve noted year-round sources as well. (For copyright reasons, we refer you to page numbers in The Hobbit to read Tolkien s own beautiful language. RAVEN: Though he is 153 years old and nearly blind, it is the great Roäc, son of Crac and chief of the ravens, who brings the dwarves the wonderful news that Smaug is dead. (316-17; Ch. 15) We wish you the best in your search for a live raven! We settled for this realistic imitation of the great chief. The goblin sword came from the same Halloween store. If you re too early or late to benefit from Halloween props, check Amazon.com, which offers plenty of fake birds year-round. They also sell a very realistic (and reasonably priced) puppet by Folkmanis. The kids would love to hear Roäc read his own lines in a deep, aged, trembling voice! You ll find plenty of low-priced swords on Amazon, too. HERBS: As Gandalf, Bilbo, and the dwarves head further away from the goblin cave exit, the mountains become more barren. Shrubs, weeds and rockroses disappear, as do the marjoram, sage, and thyme that had been part of the sweet-smelling scenery. (143; Ch. 6) We purchased 4 pots of English thyme, marjoram, and sage at a garden center what a savory, adventuresome smell! We were almost right there with them on the path out of goblin country! PINE CONES: After the travelers scramble up into trees and are surrounded by Wargs, Gandalf picks a few pine cones, sets one on fire, and throws it down to create the mayhem that attracts the attention of the Lord of the Eagles. (148-49; Ch. 6). We happen to live near pine trees, and they dropped their cones right when we needed them. We also snipped a few twigs, to evoke the forest and its scents. If you can t get to the nearest pine, and you don t have any cones in your boxes of holiday décor, you can purchase them for under $10 on Amazon.com. LitWits Workshops, LLC 2012 The LitWits Kit Expanded Edition for The Hobbit 6

8 RING: When Bilbo finds the ring on the floor of the goblin tunnel, he doesn t yet realize that it s a magical object that can make him invisible and that will change his life forever. He simply puts it in his pocket without much thought. (115; Ch. 5) A wedding band, real or from a party favors store, would have resembled the real thing well enough, but a generous LitWits supporter (Becky s husband, a lifelong fan of Tolkien) ordered an engraved ring for us. Apparently it was defective, because it could not render us invisible. The kids loved it anyway, though! HOARD: After Bilbo does the bravest thing he ever did and goes down the tunnel to face the dragon Smaug, he is awed by both the huge beast and his immense hoard of jewels and precious metals. (270; Ch. 12) For the dragon s hoard we mingled a large bag of metallic and colorful buttons (available at craft stores), some of our own necklaces, and gold-wrapped chocolate coins. ARKENSTONE: While fantasizing about the dragon s hoard, Thorin remembers the lost Arkenstone of Thrain, a great shining sphere. His fervent description of the gorgeous gem is a passage well worth taking the time to read aloud! (287; Ch. 12) And to think that we found it in the magical discount kingdom of Ross, for $6. We think it was meant to be a garden ornament, until we exalted it. (In fact, we put it on a pedestal.) Discount home décor stores are a good place to check for this sort of oddball thing yes, pun intended. LitWits Workshops, LLC 2012 The LitWits Kit Expanded Edition for The Hobbit 7

9 GOBLIN BLOOD: The elves begin the Battle of Five Armies by sending a multitude of arrows at their hated foes, the goblins. As the arrows find their mark, the landscape becomes soaked with the black blood of the goblins. (341; Ch. 17) We know that s gross, but the scene does a gruesomely fabulous job of portraying the horrors of war and a small vial of goblin blood was our only sensory sign of that battle. We also used it in our textural narrative arc, so the goblins did not die for nothing. You can draw some from any cooperative goblin or, if you can t find one, from a perfectly amiable bottle of washable acrylic paint. THERE (in the Shire, at the beginning) TOBACCO : The story begins as Bilbo stands at his door one morning, enjoying the green, quiet world and smoking a very long pipe. Then Gandalf the wizard appears and Bilbo s world is never again so quiet. (31; Ch. 1) AND BACK AGAIN (in the Shire, at the end) TOBACCO : The story ends with Bilbo and Gandalf, years later, reflecting on their adventures together. Gandalf makes certain that Bilbo understands that his role in the journey was destiny, not luck, and that the hobbit was only quite a little fellow in a wide world after all! In response, Bilbo laughs and passes him the jar of tobacco. (363; Ch. 19) Since the book and Bilbo s adventures begin and end with the same image, we borrowed a pipe to symbolize these book-ended scenes. You can substitute fresh coffee grounds for tobacco, as an aromatic symbol of companionable indulgence. Another alternative that closely resembles pipe tobacco is shredded unsweetened coconut, darkly toasted in a pan with cloves and vanilla but it smells so good, you might want to remind the kids that the real thing can hurt them! LitWits Workshops, LLC 2012 The LitWits Kit Expanded Edition for The Hobbit 8

10 Within 24 hours Decide on your agenda and rearrange the pages of this kit to follow that sequence. Make a list of attendees and find out their hobbit names (the translation link is under The Hobbit Resources page on our website). Make and/or buy the snack and make sure you have the serving pieces, paper plates, napkins, and utensils you ll need. We try to use serving plates and trays that suit the setting. If you re grinding coffee beans or toasting coconut for your tobacco display, do so the day before. Make copies of the handouts you ve decided to use, if any. Glue each StoryLines map on folded black 11x17 construction paper (the scenes/key page will be tucked inside after the project is done) see the picture on page 15. Pack up your car, unless you re holding your workshop at home. On the Day Of Set up the technology you re using: projector, computer, speakers, CD player, etc. Hang any signage necessary to direct people to your workshop. Set up the table(s) and chairs for the children. Play recordings of relevant music before and as children arrive. Music videos can be found on our Pinterest board. Set up the display table. The book display creates a welcoming entrance as soon as the children walk in they ll be drawn to the images and objects they recognize from the story. Their chatter over these items will help them get acquainted and set an enthusiastic tone right from the start. It can also be used as a room divider between activity areas. Once the table has been covered with a tablecloth and/or a paper runner, set your display board at the back edge. Fill the space in front with props that appeal to all five senses (or that repulse a couple of them), putting smaller items in front and between the larger props. We usually set out the BookBites snack for the taste contribution. Remember that a display can be as simple or elaborate as you like!. LitWits Workshops, LLC 2012 The LitWits Kit Expanded Edition for The Hobbit 9

11 Stash any remaining props in a box within easy reach, so you can show them or pass them around during the workshop. For The Hobbit we started with a humble beige linen tablecloth topped with a white square on the diagonal. We put the plants and the dragon s hoard in rustic containers of varying heights. Then we set out our props, including our book-themed snack and its accompanying quote, with the largest toward the back. (For image options for your display board, see our Pinterest board for The Hobbit.) It seems we had an extrasensory prop right out of Middle-earth! Who is that hooded hobbit? LitWits Workshops, LLC 2012 The LitWits Kit Expanded Edition for The Hobbit 10

12 Workshop Agenda If you re holding a workshop, you might want to follow the suggested (and tested) agenda on the next page. But it s just that that: suggested. Feel free to skip sections or handouts, add a lunch break, or adjust the order and length of the activities to suit your goals and your group. It s important to do whatever works for you. You can even throw in some extra fun see our website s Resources page for ideas. It s okay to go off track! It s all about getting children to feel the story, identify with the characters, and truly enjoy great books! We ve found that this fast-paced workshop agenda will keep enthusiasm consistently high for four hours. That sounds like a long time, but believe us, it zooms by if you took your time, this same agenda could easily fill 5-6 hours. The kids are never ready to leave when it s over! For The Hobbit, we layered several experiences and ideas into one dynamic 90-minute kick-off session. The kids enjoyed the constant variety, and our project-and-activity-embellished discussion helped them grasp the connections between character, plot, and theme. Most importantly, everyone had a great time and ended up with a deeper understanding of why this book is so highly regarded and so deeply cherished. Turn to the next page for our suggested agenda for this workshop. LitWits Workshops, LLC 2012 The LitWits Kit Expanded Edition for The Hobbit 11

13 Suggested Agenda The Hobbit 15 minutes Introduction Introduce all by their hobbit names! (Translate names ahead of time the translator link is here and under Resources) 15 minutes Great Explorations Author discussion, accompanied by audiovisual support 90 minutes Great Explorations Plot, character, and theme discussion (accompanied by audiovisual and 3-D props) StoryLines Write Angles Doppelgängers while creating a textural narrative arc. The discussion and project are paused once for creative writing and three times for characterization activities. 20 minutes BookBites Book-themed tastes and sounds 30 minutes Brave New Words Vocabulary and creative writing handout 30 minutes BookWraps Art project 40 minutes Creations 1 or Creations 2 Craft project (choose one of the two) LitWits Workshops, LLC 2012 The LitWits Kit Expanded Edition for The Hobbit 12

14 Great Explorations Contextual Discussion Points About the Author There s always a little bit of the author in every story, and sometimes more than a little. Looking for connections between the author and his or her story helps us understand why the book was written, why the characters do what they do, and what the author is trying to get us to understand. See our Pinterest board and Resources page for information and audiovisuals that support this discussion. All fans of J.R.R. Tolkien should know that his initials stand for John Ronald Reuel, and his last name is pronounced Tol-keen. Tolkien is German for foolishly brave. Can you see any connection between his last name and the character of Bilbo Baggins? Bilbo had some Took in him, which was the brave part of him that wanted to trade his walking stick for a sword. That sounds something like Tolkien. Also, Bilbo really was foolishly brave especially in the beginning! (Remember his run-in with the trolls?) The author s parents moved from England to South Africa before he was born in He lived there until he was four, and during that time he had a bad experience with a large hairy spider. Where did that experience as a toddler enter into The Hobbit? In Bilbo s battle with the spiders! When Tolkien was four, his father died of rheumatic fever. Little Ronald (s John Ronald was known) and his brother moved back to the West Midlands region of England, by Wales, with their mother. Little Ronald used to watch the trains from South Wales roar by, covered with Welsh place names: Nantyglo, Penrhiwceiber, Senghenydd. What do those words make you think of? Do they sound like a place where only boring things happen? Do they sound modern? How would you describe them? These magical-sounding names had a great effect on Tolkien. He began to care about the way words and LitWits Workshops, LLC 2012 The LitWits Kit Expanded Edition for The Hobbit 13

15 language sounded, and he began to dream of other worlds. When their mother died of diabetes in 1904, the boys were left without parents or money. Fortunately they were helped by a priest, Father Morgan, who was half-spanish and half-welsh. Do you see how Tolkien being left without parents or much money at 12 years old might have shaped the character of Bilbo Baggins many years later? What does Bilbo really learn in this story? How to stand on his own two feet, to survive with very little but his wits, to learn from a wise older friend, to think for himself and do the right thing even when no one is watching to keep going until he became all that he could be, on his own. Tolkien was already fluent in Latin and Greek at 12 years old, and was learning other modern and ancient languages. How do you think that Father Morgan s Spanish and Welsh ancestry might have influenced Tolkien? It encouraged his interest in other languages, and increased his knowledge of Welsh. Tolkien went to war in 1916, but after four months he got trench fever, which is like typhus, and he was sent back to England. The illness came and went for two more years. While he was recovering, he wrote his first tales of elves and gnomes, using invented languages and worlds. But he needed a job. What would be a dream job for a person who loves words and language? To work on a dictionary! He got that dream job as Assistant Lexicographer of the New English Dictionary what we now call the Oxford English Dictionary. After that, Tolkien became a professor of languages, at Leeds and then at Oxford. There he was part of a literary group called the Inklings, along with C.S. Lewis. One night while he was grading papers, he suddenly scribbled a strange line on someone s essay, out of nowhere! What do you think that line was? Hint: It began with In a hole In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit. (29; Ch. 1) And then Tolkien set out to learn just what a hobbit was, and why it lived in the ground. He told his kids stories about it, and that s how The Hobbit came to be written! Biographical source: LitWits Workshops, LLC 2012 The LitWits Kit Expanded Edition for The Hobbit 14

16 Great Explorations Contextual Discussion Points Companion handouts: StoryLines, Write Angles Integrating a discussion of the story with a project, props, and activities keeps it engaging and helps kids relax, too. There s some prep involved, but it s not hard, and we ve made the discussion easier by providing a discussion script. For audiovisual support, see the links we ve collected for you on our Pinterest board. The Triple Textural Arc This interactive discussion simultaneously covers plot, character, and theme, all of which are inextricably intertwined in The Hobbit. As you progress through the discussion of the narrative arc and discuss how each event helped Bilbo grow, the kids will mark that event on the arc with a special symbol. This focus on characterization and the quest will also reveal the theme. Supplies For each child, you will need (in order of distribution): 1 StoryLines map handout printed on parchment and matted on folded 11x17 black paper 1 StoryLines scenes handout 1 bottle of glue (or enough to share) 1 pinch coffee grounds or darkly toasted coconut 1 thin twig about 1 1/2 long 1 tiny twist of aluminum foil, about 1 long 1 pinch moss 3 small pebbles 1 gold ring (wedding favors) from a party goods or craft store LitWits Workshops, LLC 2012 The LitWits Kit Expanded Edition for The Hobbit 15

17 2-3 fish bones see supply notes for Gollum s Grimy Pocket, below 2 small feathers from a craft store 1 short piece of twine knotted on black earring hooks, both from a craft store (you can clip the ends of the hooks with wire clippers so they look less like earrings) 1 pinch artificial spiderweb, or wisp torn from a cotton ball 1 small cork from a craft store, cut in half, or rough-cut pieces of wine corks 1 large gold sequin 1 tiny chunk of charcoal from a barbecue pit or fireplace 1 clear bead with a flat side from a craft store 1 pinch coffee grounds or toasted coconut mixed with gold glitter Doppelgängers: Characterization Activities The three activities integrated with this discussion/project help kids quite literally get into someone else s shoes and pockets and nightmares to understand a writer s characterization techniques. Whose Shoes focuses on the craft, helping them see how a character is shown by his surroundings. Gollum s Grimy Pocket lets kids feel the objects Gollum collected and felt, helping them understand how such objects indicate character. Fraydia Catticus helps kids to understand the inner workings of a character, and to practice compassion. Supplies For Whose Shoes, you ll just need three extremely different pairs of shoes. For Gollum s Grimy Pocket, you ll need a few riddles (which begin on page 35) and a rustic cloth bag (like a shoe bag, or a feed sack, or two dish towels stapled together and turned wrong side out!) that has these things in it: fish bones ideally a small but whole skeleton ask the butcher! Or fishmonger! Snippets of white nylon fishing line or beading thread make good stand-ins for bones. small shells that you ve tossed in oil for a slimy feel goblin teeth if it s close to Halloween, you can get fake hillbilly teeth at a costume store and use pliers to yank them from their fake gums while your spouse and children watch in rapt horror, but if it s not that time of year, or you re just not that dedicated to the LitWits experience, then fine, just use broken pieces of chalk. a sharp stone a bat wing a Halloween prop or a piece of old leather will do! The third activity, Fraydia Catticus, needs no preparation. LitWits Workshops, LLC 2012 The LitWits Kit Expanded Edition for The Hobbit 16

18 Getting Started We ve provided a discussion script, with instructions to you, like this paragraph, shown in a different color. Begin by distributing the matted StoryLines handout and the scenes list, and explaining the concept of the narrative arc. The Narrative Arc A good story starts by introducing the characters, their setting, and a problem. That introduction is called the exposition. Do you hear a familiar word inside the word exposition? Yes, expose. The beginning of the story is called the exposition because the author is exposing the situation to us. The problem itself, the one that will haunt the main character all through the story, is called the conflict. This gives him or her something to do! Would you want to read a story where nobody disagrees or needs anything, and nothing ever goes wrong? That would be pretty boring, wouldn t it! Then the action gets more and more exciting; that s called the rising action. You can see on your handout that the line rises up until it reaches the top. The top, or climax, is where the problem has gotten so bad it just has to be solved. The way it s resolved, or fixed, is called the resolution. After the resolution, the action gets less and less exciting; that s called the falling action. You can see on your handout that the line falls down for a little bit and stops. Why doesn t it keep going? Why isn t it as long as the rising action line was? Because a story gets boring once the problem is solved. Who wants to hear, for instance, that Cinderella ended up with three kids, took trips to Italy every year, and wore pretty clothes every day? Nope, once that slipper fits, happily ever after will wrap it up for us, thanks. LitWits Workshops, LLC 2012 The LitWits Kit Expanded Edition for The Hobbit 17

19 Next, explain that as we discuss the arc of The Hobbit we re going to talk about how each event helped Bilbo to grow. The Triple Textural Arc In the places on the arc where Bilbo got stronger and better, we re going to put something special that symbolizes his growth. Now, in this book, the arc of the story and the map of the journey follow the same line. So we won t just be marking places on the narrative arc, but places in Middle-earth, too! Let s start on the lower left of your map, in the Shire, with the Exposition. EXPOSITION: First, did you notice that Tolkien introduces us to Bilbo by describing the hobbit s home? You can tell a lot about someone by his or her home, can t you! What did you know about Bilbo just by reading that his hole. had paneled walls, and floors that were tiled and carpeted? He s well-to-do had polished chairs? He takes care of his possessions he s a particular housekeeper had lots of pegs for hats and coats? He has many visitors, so he s friendly wound on and on, and was full of many rooms? It s big, so he s rather wealthy had lots of pantries? He likes to eat, so he might be plump had whole rooms devoted to clothes? He cares about the way he looks had kitchens and dining rooms (plural)? Cooking and eating are very important to him had windows overlooking a garden? He cares about seeing and cultivating beauty ACTIVITY #1: Whose Shoes? Tell the kids we re going to try this kind of description ourselves. Divide them into three groups and send them to separate areas of the room. Give each group a very different pair of shoes and ask them to decide what those shoes say about their owner. Give the kids five minutes, then ask someone in each group to describe the shoes owner, providing as much detail as possible. LitWits Workshops, LLC 2012 The LitWits Kit Expanded Edition for The Hobbit 18

20 Bilbo really doesn t seem like the adventurous sort, does he! In fact, what s he doing when Gandalf shows up? Standing in his doorway in the peaceful Shire, smoking a pipe. Prop: If you brought a pipe, let the kids hold it and smell it while you give them the anti-smoking talk, including the fact that they didn t know then what we know now... StoryLines To represent this peaceful, stay-at-home stage of his life we ll use coffee grounds. Bilbo and the dwarves smoked pipes, but we can imagine them drinking hot mugs of Misty Mountain Roast as they planned their journey. Put a blob of glue on your arc, on the number 1. (Walk around and let each child take a pinch of the tobacco. If you re using the toasted coconut, explain that it looks and smells somewhat like the real thing. This might make tobacco sound yummy, so be sure to point out that the coconut won t blacken their lungs!) CONFLICT: Once Gandalf and the dwarves show up and Bilbo realizes what they want him to do, he s rather horrified. In fact, he faints! So why doesn t he just say no? What s his conflict, or problem? There s a part of him the Took part that wants to go and see the great mountains, and hear the pine-trees and the waterfalls, and wear a sword instead of a walking-stick. The Took side wins out, and he decides to go. StoryLines We ll use a sword and a walking stick to make the letter T for Took, to show Bilbo s conflict between his stay-at-home side and his Took side. We ll put the sword across the top to show that the Took side won. Put a blob of glue on #2 on your arc, still in the Shire. (Pass out the twigs first, and then the twisted bits of foil.) RISING ACTION: Gandalf insists that Bilbo is, or will be, a great burglar. That makes Bilbo feel a little more confident. When the group finds the trolls, the dwarves expect their burglar to investigate. He s supposed to hoot like an owl as a signal, which he can t do, but he walks primly toward the fire anyway. At least he s finally doing something! LitWits Workshops, LLC 2012 The LitWits Kit Expanded Edition for The Hobbit 19

21 How does his first job go? What happens? He steals a purse from a troll and gets caught right away. He ends up stuck in a bush, and Gandalf has to pluck him out and turn the trolls to stone. He failed, but at least he tried. You can t get better at something unless you ve been worse, right? So in that way, it s a good start. StoryLines We ll use a bit of moss to represent the bush, and three pebbles to represent the fossilized trolls. The moss and pebbles will show that Bilbo at least made an effort, but that he didn t get very far, and had to be rescued. Put a big blob of glue on #3, by the trolls. (Pass out the pebbles and pieces of moss.) Bilbo s next adventure begins when he awakens in the cave and realizes it s a GOBLIN cave! He yells an alarm but doesn t have the wit or strength to save himself or anyone else; he s carried on Dori s back through the dark tunnels. What happens after Dori is grabbed by the goblins, and Bilbo falls off his back? He finds the ring, then stands up on his own two feet alone. There s no one to save him now; whatever happens, he has to take care of himself. And then he meets Gollum! Why do you suppose Tolkien adds the riddle game to the story? What does it add? It shows that Bilbo is getting clever, it lets us in on Gollum s memories of his past and his grandmother, it increases the tension, and it entertains us in a new way. Of course, it leads to Gollum s discovery that his precioussss is missing from his pocketses, too. ACTIVITY #2: Gollum s Grimy Pocket Tell the kids they re going to hear a few riddles themselves, and if they guess the answer correctly, they get to feel in Gollum s pocket. No peeking! It s so fun to watch their faces as they guess what those slimy things are! (Riddles begin on page 35.) LitWits Workshops, LLC 2012 The LitWits Kit Expanded Edition for The Hobbit 20

22 Write Angles Tell the kids we re going to figure out how to talk like Gollum. Ask them to set aside their StoryLines project, then pass out the Write Angles handout. After reading the instructions aloud, give them 5-10 minutes to rewrite a sentence (or come up with one of their own) using Gollum s dialect. They might enjoy working with a partner. If any volunteers would like to read theirs or their partner s aloud, there will definitely be laughter! StoryLines We ll use a ring and a couple of fish bones to represent the important things that happened in that goblin cave. The ring isn t just something Bilbo found it s a source of power for him, and it gives him a tool for escape. And the bones don t just represent Gollum s diet, they represent the fact that Bilbo is starting to get some backbone! A spine! He did things that took strength and resolve, like leaping over Gollum and getting away. Put a blob of glue on #4, in the Misty Mountains. Set the bones first, then add more glue on top, and then the ring. (Hand out the bones in the first round, then the rings.) After the group meets up again outside the cave, they take a rough path that leaves the thyme, sage, and marjoram behind Prop: If you have these herbs, pass them around while explaining that these are the plants they smelled before they got caught in the landslide and slammed into the pine trees. When the Wargs come, Bilbo has to stand on Dori s back to scramble up into a tree, and once more, Gandalf has to step in and do something. Prop: Pass the pine cones and smell the pine needles! Their woodsy scent and texture give the kids a sense of what it was like for Bilbo and his friends to be up in the trees. (See our Pinterest board for audiovisual effects.) LitWits Workshops, LLC 2012 The LitWits Kit Expanded Edition for The Hobbit 21

23 Do you remember what Gandalf does to defend them from the Wargs? He gathers pine cones from the branches around him, lights them on fire, and tosses them at the Wargs. The ruckus this alerts the Lord of the Eagles to their plight. Once they re rescued by the eagles, Bilbo has to hang from Dori s legs once again, dependent and pathetic. These scary experiences are making him braver, but he still has a long way to go. We know he s going to outwit a dragon someday soon, but at this point, Bilbo just wants to be back in his hobbit hole. That night in the eagle s eyrie he dreams that he is looking through his house for something that he could not find nor remember what it looked like. (159; Ch. 6) What do you think that something was? Maybe it s not something you can touch. Maybe it s his old way of life, or his confidence, or his sense of who he is. What do you think? Tolkien is using the dream to say something about Bilbo s change in character here, but it s open to interpretation. StoryLines We ll use a feather to represent Bilbo soaring to new heights but not with his own wings, so to speak. He ll get there, though! Put a blob of glue on #5, near the eagle eyrie, east that s to the right of the Misty Mountains, and west that s to the left of the Great River. (Give a feather to each child.) After their stay with Beorn, the group moves on to travel through Mirkwood. When Gandalf tells them he s going to leave them at the forest gate, they are in despair. But the wizard reassures them that Bilbo will be with them. Why wouldn t that be very reassuring to the dwarves? The blundering hobbit hasn t done much for them yet, has he! They ve been carrying him, boosting him, and rescuing him the whole time so far. But Gandalf again reminds them that there s more to Bilbo than they guess, and that they ll find that out soon. LitWits Workshops, LLC 2012 The LitWits Kit Expanded Edition for The Hobbit 22

24 ACTIVITY #3: Fraydia Catticus In this activity, we help kids see how important it is to give and receive confidence. Ask one child to act out this part, exaggerating his or her expression of fear: You are nine-year-old Fraydia Catticus of Phobiopolis, and you are very, very afraid of the dark. You never go outside at night, and you sleep with all the lights on. Your dad wants to take you camping for a week in a tent, without electricity. Can you express confidence in Fraydia? Here are some prompts to get you started: It s okay, everyone has fears, it s You can do it! Remember that time You can always do that trick where you Once when I was afraid you helped me by When you get scared, it s okay to Your dad loves you, and he I know you ll be Still, Bilbo is discouraged, unhappy, and scared. He groans and asks if they really must go through the forest, and Gandalf tells him that he must either go forward or give up and giving up is not allowed! Why is it so important that Bilbo goes through that forest and on that quest? Is it really all about getting some of the treasure? What else could he gain from going forward? It s important because it s the only way he can grow. The greatest treasure that awaits him is his own discovery that there is more in him than he guesses. This is worth much more than money! And why can t Gandalf go with him? Because Bilbo has to face challenges on his own in order to grow and change. If he relies on someone else to come to the rescue, he won t find the courage to do what must be done. Do you remember a time when you did something difficult or scary just because you had to because no one else was around to help you out? When it was over, did you feel better about facing that challenge again someday? LitWits Workshops, LLC 2012 The LitWits Kit Expanded Edition for The Hobbit 23

25 The first big challenge they all face in Mirkwood is crossing the Enchanted River. This is where Bilbo first takes on a leadership role and begins to be really helpful. What does he do? First he spies the boat on the other side, then he has the idea to toss a rope over, then he guides Fili as the dwarf throws the rope and hook across, until they are successful in hooking the boat. StoryLines We ll use our own little rope and hook to represent Bilbo s sharp vision and wits. Put a blob of glue on #6 in the Mirkwood Forest, right there where the Elf-path crosses the Enchanted River. (Pass out the pre-tied twine and hooks.) When the whole group is captured by spiders, Bilbo realizes that he absolutely must take action there is no choice except to let the dwarves die. This isn t just a critical moment in the problem, it s a critical moment in his life. Being courageous here will not only save the dwarves but help him become the person he was meant to be. From now on, he s going to be much more of a leader. StoryLines We ll use a piece of spiderweb to represent that moment of crisis and Bilbo s newfound bravery. Put a blob of glue on #7, just to the right of the rope and hook, where the spiders are. (Pass out the shredded bits of faux spiderweb.) Once the dwarves are all locked up in the halls of the Elvenking, it s up to Bilbo to get them out. When he finally comes up with a plan, it s a little bit flawed. What s wrong with his plan? There s no wiggle or breathing room in the barrels; the weight of the empty barrels is too heavy; he forgot to reserve a barrel for himself, and he doesn t know where they ll all end up! LitWits Workshops, LLC 2012 The LitWits Kit Expanded Edition for The Hobbit 24

26 Why do you think Tolkien had Bilbo make all these mistakes? He still has to have room to grow, or his problem is solved before we get to the climax. In a good story, the main character s problem is solved in the climax and resolution, so we keep caring all the way through. His plan works, anyway, however imperfectly. The dwarves are grumpy but free, and now they re looking to him for leadership, and asking what s next? StoryLines We ll use a piece of cork to represent Bilbo s planning skills and the wine barrels they used to escape. If your piece is a broken chunk, let that stand for the imperfection in his plan! Put a blob of glue on #8, on the Elvenking s Hall. (Pass out the corks, or pieces of cork). After they leave the Lake-men to face the Lonely Mountain, it s Bilbo who, inspired by the thrush cracking the snail, finds the way inside. Once there, the pressure is on the burglar to check out the passage. He says he s beginning to trust his luck more than he used to a sign of his increasing confidence. What does he do next? He puts on the ring and heads down the hallway, shaking with fear but full of determination. He s not the same hobbit who left Bag-End THIS hobbit sneaks up on Smaug and steals a golden cup! Prop: Let the kids take turns trying on the ring and sneaking up to the hoard display to steal a piece of treasure. If you have gold-covered chocolate coins, that s what they ll take! StoryLines We ll use a gold plate to represent Bilbo s transformation from boring and fearful to adventuresome and brave. Put a blob of glue on #9. (Pass out the gold sequins.) Smaug realizes his lair has been invaded, he flies out in a fury. When he returns, Bilbo goes down the tunnel again, wearing the ring, and taunts Smaug with riddles. What are some of the names Bilbo calls himself? LitWits Workshops, LLC 2012 The LitWits Kit Expanded Edition for The Hobbit 25

27 The clue-finder, the web-cutter, the stinging-fly, friend of bears, guest of eagles, Ringwinner, Luckwearer, and Barrel-rider. If you had to choose a name for yourself based on something you did, say, last night after dinner, what would it be? During their conversation, the invisible Bilbo tricks Smaug into revealing his weakness a bare spot on his chest. Bilbo thinks it s as bare as a snail out of its shell." (283; Ch. 12) When s the last time a snail was mentioned in this story one being removed from its shell, in fact? When the sound of the thrush cracking open the snail open helped Bilbo discover the way into the mountain s secret door. Can you make any connections between the two snail references? That bare spot is going to bring Smaug down because the thrush tells Bard what he overheard Bilbo say about it. By using the snail reference to remind us of the thrush, Tolkien might be reminding us that help is near, even when we think we re on our own. Smaug works himself into a rage and descends on Lake-Town, setting it on fire before Bard takes him down on a tip from the old thrush. Who should get the credit for ridding Middle-earth of Smaug? 0Bard shot him, but the thrush told him exactly where to aim but the thrush wouldn t have known if he hadn t overheard Bilbo talking about it. So the actions of all three were absolutely necessary to accomplish this victory. Bilbo is a quiet, unsung hero. StoryLines We ll use charcoal to represent the burning of Lake-town and the heroic role that Bilbo had in Smaug s death. Put a blob of glue on #10, by Esgaroth. (Pass out the bits of charcoal.) CLIMAX: The Battle of Five Armies is the worst of all Bilbo s experiences, even though he mostly stays out of the way. Still, even standing with the LitWits Workshops, LLC 2012 The LitWits Kit Expanded Edition for The Hobbit 26

28 elves requires great courage on his part, and later, looking back, he takes great pride in his small role. What does he do during the battle? He puts on the ring to become invisible, then watches from Ravenhill. He realizes that his friends lives are far more valuable to him than the treasure they are fighting for. When the eagles appear he gives the alert; then a stone hits him on the head and he passes out for the rest of the battle. Why did Tolkien remove Bilbo from the action? Why not have him do something physically heroic in the battle? For one thing, Bilbo just isn t physically fit to be a war hero, and it wouldn t have been very believable to make him one. He had made his noble gesture when he offered the Arkenstone to the Elvenking and Bard as a bargaining tool for peace. StoryLines We ll use a drop of goblin blood on #11 to symbolize the terrible events that Bilbo (mostly) missed, and how they helped him decide what really matters. (Walk around with the vial of blood from the display table, and let the kids use a paintbrush to get their own drop. Somehow the act of reaching into the vial greatly adds to the ick factor!) RESOLUTION: The battle comes to a close, and Bilbo is reunited with Gandalf and Thorin. The dwarf chief, who has been mortally wounded, takes back his harsh words at the Gate and calls Bilbo a courageous, wise hobbit. When Thorin dies, what is buried with him? The Arkenstone is placed on his chest which Bilbo, after all, had found. Prop: Take the Arkenstone from the display table and pass it around, while asking the kids to think of their own greatest treasure, and how much it means to them. LitWits Workshops, LLC 2012 The LitWits Kit Expanded Edition for The Hobbit 27

29 StoryLines We ll use a miniature Arkenstone to symbolize the point when Bilbo hands it over, and gives up most of the treasure he had earned, because it was the quest and the friendships that mattered not the loot. Put a blob of glue on #12. (Pass out the flat-sided crystals.) FALLING ACTION: Bilbo is on his way home with only one chest each of silver and gold; he s learned that treasure brings violence with it. As Thorin had finally admitted with great wisdom, the world would be a merrier place if more value were placed on eating, enjoying, and singing than on treasure. But Bilbo has Gandalf at his side, and he has friends in his heart, and the knowledge that he really does have it in him, after all, to be bold and courageous. Bilbo arrives home to find that there s a parade for him, because everyone s heard what a hero he turned out to be? No? What s really happening when he gets back? His things are being sold off, everyone thinks he has died, his cousins want to move into his house, and his reputation is ruined! This is humbling for a hobbit who has turned into a great leader and helped to bring down a dragon. Why isn t he upset? Because he has learned who he really is, and what he can really do something that matters much more to him than stuff or what anyone else thinks of him. He has risen to his own potential. So he is happy, and appreciates being in his quiet home even more than he had before Gandalf showed up. And when the wizard reminds him that he is still just a little hobbit in a big world, Bilbo quite contentedly laughs and hands him the tobacco-jar! LitWits Workshops, LLC 2012 The LitWits Kit Expanded Edition for The Hobbit 28

30 StoryLines Let s use a pinch of coffee mixed with gold to symbolize Bilbo s return home, because now he s even richer on the inside, having risen to his full potential, than on the outside. Put a blob of glue on #13, which represents the return trip to the Shire, where the journey and book both end. (Pass around the coffee grounds or whatever you re using for tobacco, mixed with glitter, and put a pinch on every blob.) StoryLines Now let s write this theme on the bottom line of your scenes page: Rising to your own potential (or Learning to be all that you can be) LitWits Workshops, LLC 2012 The LitWits Kit Expanded Edition for The Hobbit 29

31 BookBites Snack & Sounds Beorn s generosity as the travelers depart for Mirkwood was our inspiration for experiencing the taste of this book. In keeping with his promise, he loads the ponies with several weeks worth of food, including dried fruit and nuts, honey, and honey cakes that he had made himself. (183; Ch. 7) We filled a platter with dried peaches, apple and berry muffins from a grocery store, a pot of spun honey ( a red earthenware pot, no less), and a mix of nuts and dried cranberries. There are many recipes online for Beorn s secret-recipe cakes, the most tantalizing of which you can find on our Pinterest board for this book. When we read Tolkien s description of this delicious cargo (183; Ch. 7) the kids could hardly wait to dig in, hobbit style! While they nibbled we played recordings of harp and fiddle music, imagining the shouting and singing that mingled in the great hall at Lake-town when Thorin and his band first arrived. Be sure to read this passage aloud! (251; Ch. 10) Links to music samples and sources can be found on our Pinterest board and Resources page for The Hobbit. LitWits Workshops, LLC 2012 The LitWits Kit Expanded Edition for The Hobbit 30

32 BookWraps Art Project BookWraps are artistically decorated pocket folders to hold the workshop s handouts and a place where children can tuck their own thoughts and notes about the book. TOLKIEN S LONELY MOUNTAIN For this art project we drew our inspiration from the 1937 dust jacket of the British edition of The Hobbit, which Tolkien had illustrated in his own inimitable style. (For copyright reasons we can t offer a template in this kit, but a link to the image can be found here and on our Pinterest board for The Hobbit.) Supplies example of Tolkien s design (here s the original) plain white paper colored pencils, felt tip pens, crayons, etc. glue sticks black pocket folders Getting Started The Lonely Mountain is at the center of the design, and Smaug circles ominously between it and the moon. Take a few moments to talk about using perspective and about the signature way that Tolkien had of drawing snow-topped mountain peaks and dragons. Because of the cost of printing, he reduced the number of colors he used to three, so you might ask your kids to do the same. Once the image has been drawn, ask them to glue their drawings to the front of their folders LitWits Workshops, LLC 2012 The LitWits Kit Expanded Edition for The Hobbit 31

33 Creations i Craft Project ELVISH SWORDS It was so fun to watch the kids get creative as they decorated their Goblin-slayers! By the time the kids names were written in rune on the blades, these swords looked as if they d come straight from the forges of Gondolin! Inspiration from the book Once Gandalf has literally petrified the trolls, their lair is scavenged by the band. They make off with some beautiful, jeweled swords engraved with runes (82; Ch. 2) which Elrond later identifies as Orcrist and Glamdring, swords of Elvish origin. (94; Ch. 3) Supplies Paint stir-sticks (two per child) free at paint stores Strong adhesive such as Gorilla Glue Craft glue Metallic silver spray paint Selection of colored jewels from a craft store Metallic decorations such as gold and silver buttons Gold paint pens or black markers Leather strips or shoelaces, about 30 Dwarf Runes handout (Appendix) Tin snips or strong scissors for trimming thin wood LitWits Workshops, LLC 2012 The LitWits Kit Expanded Edition for The Hobbit 32

34 Before the workshop Using tin-snips, trim a blunt point on half the number of stir-sticks, one per child. Cut the remaining stir-sticks into 5 ½ -inch sections, then round the top corners. Spray the trimmed pieces with silver paint, one side at a time, allowing time to dry before turning. Glue the hilt to the sword as shown, allowing space on the handle for a child s grip. Getting Started Read the inspiration from the book, then show your model. Give each child a sword and a Dwarf Runes handout, and have them write their names in runes on the blade in gold pen. Reveal your hoard of jewels and decorations, demonstrate wrapping the handle in leather, and let the creativity begin! Remind them to use plenty of glue and give the jewels time to set. LitWits Workshops, LLC 2012 The LitWits Kit Expanded Edition for The Hobbit 33

35 Creations II Craft Project MOON RUNES & RIDDLES We took our own twist on magic runes and Gollum s riddles, combining the two into a fun take-home surprise. (If you d like, you can do this craft as a group instead; if so, have the kids make the riddles for each other, and then trade.) Inspiration from the book On midsummer s eve, as the band of travelers prepares to leave Rivendell, Elrond asks to see their map. After holding it up to the light of the crescent moon, he discovers hidden moon-runes written beside the more obvious ones. He explains that since moon-letters can only be seen in the same light and season in which they were written, these letters must have been written on a mid-summer s eve, under a crescent moon. (95; Ch. 3) Supplies One copy of the Riddles that follow this page (print as many riddles as you need) Dwarf Runes key handout (Appendix) also used for the Elvish Sword project one per child Riddles answer key (page 40 one per child if doing as a craft together) Lemon juice Q-tip or quill tip to write with Scissors Sealing wax and stamp (or ribbon, twine, leather strips, etc.) An iron, if you intend to reveal the answers during the workshop Getting Started Cut the riddles apart. Using the Q-tip dipped in lemon juice and the Riddles key, copy the answers in rune below each riddle. Let dry completely. Fold the papers and seal them closed with wax, roll and tie with leather/twine etc. When it s time to reveal the answer, a hot iron will expose the magic runes. LitWits Workshops, LLC 2012 The LitWits Kit Expanded Edition for The Hobbit 34

36 1. The beginning of eternity, The end of time and space The beginning of every end, And the end of every place. Written in runes the answer lies/beneath the riddle before your eyes A stone you must place upon the page/scorched by the breath of a dragon s rage*. NOTE: A hot iron may be used if angry dragon is unavailable Take one out and scratch my head I am now black but once was red Written in runes the answer lies/beneath the riddle before your eyes A stone you must place upon the page/scorched by the breath of a dragon s rage*. NOTE: A hot iron may be used if angry dragon is unavailable It has no top or bottom, but it can hold flesh, bones and blood, all at the same time. What is it? Written in runes the answer lies/beneath the riddle before your eyes A stone you must place upon the page/scorched by the breath of a dragon s rage*. NOTE: A hot iron may be used if angry dragon is unavailable What can run but never walks, has a mouth but never talks, has a head but never weeps, has a bed but never sleeps? Written in runes the answer lies/beneath the riddle before your eyes A stone you must place upon the page/scorched by the breath of a dragon s rage*. NOTE: A hot iron may be used if angry dragon is unavailable LitWits Workshops, LLC 2012 The LitWits Kit Expanded Edition for The Hobbit 35

37 5. What object has keys that open no locks, space but no room, and you can enter but not go in? Written in runes the answer lies/beneath the riddle before your eyes A stone you must place upon the page/scorched by the breath of a dragon s rage*. NOTE: A hot iron may be used if angry dragon is unavailable When set loose I fly away, Never so cursed As when I go astray. Written in runes the answer lies/beneath the riddle before your eyes A stone you must place upon the page/scorched by the breath of a dragon s rage*. NOTE: A hot iron may be used if angry dragon is unavailable Poor men have it, Rich men want it It can fill a hole, It is greater than God. Written in runes the answer lies/beneath the riddle before your eyes A stone you must place upon the page/scorched by the breath of a dragon s rage*. NOTE: A hot iron may be used if angry dragon is unavailable A hundred arms, a thousand fingers, But it has no eyes to see where it lingers. Written in runes the answer lies/beneath the riddle before your eyes A stone you must place upon the page/scorched by the breath of a dragon s rage*. NOTE: A hot iron may be used if angry dragon is unavailable LitWits Workshops, LLC 2012 The LitWits Kit Expanded Edition for The Hobbit 36

38 9. With a knife, cut open my head Then weep beside me when I am dead. Written in runes the answer lies/beneath the riddle before your eyes A stone you must place upon the page/scorched by the breath of a dragon s rage*. NOTE: A hot iron may be used if angry dragon is unavailable I am sometimes strong and sometimes weak, But am nobody's fool There is no language I can't speak, Though I never went to school Written in runes the answer lies/beneath the riddle before your eyes A stone you must place upon the page/scorched by the breath of a dragon s rage*. NOTE: A hot iron may be used if angry dragon is unavailable I went into the woods and got it I sat down to seek it I went home because I couldn't find it Written in runes the answer lies/beneath the riddle before your eyes A stone you must place upon the page/scorched by the breath of a dragon s rage*. NOTE: A hot iron may be used if angry dragon is unavailable Walk on the living, they don't even mumble Walk on the dead, they mutter and grumble Written in runes the answer lies/beneath the riddle before your eyes A stone you must place upon the page/scorched by the breath of a dragon s rage*. NOTE: A hot iron may be used if angry dragon is unavailable LitWits Workshops, LLC 2012 The LitWits Kit Expanded Edition for The Hobbit 37

39 13. I am on three legs when I rest And one when I work. What am I? Written in runes the answer lies/beneath the riddle before your eyes A stone you must place upon the page/scorched by the breath of a dragon s rage*. NOTE: A hot iron may be used if angry dragon is unavailable I can be short and sometimes hot But when displayed I rarely impress. Written in runes the answer lies/beneath the riddle before your eyes A stone you must place upon the page/scorched by the breath of a dragon s rage*. NOTE: A hot iron may be used if angry dragon is unavailable Buckets, barrels, baskets, cans. What must you fill with empty hands? Written in runes the answer lies/beneath the riddle before your eyes A stone you must place upon the page/scorched by the breath of a dragon s rage*. NOTE: A hot iron may be used if angry dragon is unavailable You throw away the outside and cook the inside. Then you eat the outside and throw away the inside. Written in runes the answer lies/beneath the riddle before your eyes A stone you must place upon the page/scorched by the breath of a dragon s rage*. NOTE: A hot iron may be used if angry dragon is unavailable LitWits Workshops, LLC 2012 The LitWits Kit Expanded Edition for The Hobbit 38

40 17. I am used to bat with, yet I never get a hit. I am near a ball, yet it is never thrown. Written in runes the answer lies/beneath the riddle before your eyes A stone you must place upon the page/scorched by the breath of a dragon s rage*. NOTE: A hot iron may be used if angry dragon is unavailable I don't have eyes, but once I did see. Once I had thoughts, but now I'm white and empty Written in runes the answer lies/beneath the riddle before your eyes A stone you must place upon the page/scorched by the breath of a dragon s rage*. NOTE: A hot iron may be used if angry dragon is unavailable The more you take, the more you leave behind. What is it? Written in runes the answer lies/beneath the riddle before your eyes A stone you must place upon the page/scorched by the breath of a dragon s rage*. NOTE: A hot iron may be used if angry dragon is unavailable My thunder comes before the lightning; my lightning comes before the clouds; my rain dries all the land that it touches. What am I? Written in runes the answer lies/beneath the riddle before your eyes A stone you must place upon the page/scorched by the breath of a dragon s rage*. NOTE: A hot iron may be used if angry dragon is unavailable LitWits Workshops, LLC 2012 The LitWits Kit Expanded Edition for The Hobbit 39

41 RIDDLES Answer Key 1. the letter E the letter e 2. a match a match 3. a ring a ring 4. a river a river 5. a keyboard a keyboard 6. a raft a raft 7. nothing nothing 8. a tree a tree 9. an onion an onion 10. an echo an echo 11. a splinter a splinter 12. leaves leaves 13. a wheelbarrow a wheelbarrow 14. a temper a temper 15. gloves gloves 16. an ear of corn an ear of corn 17. eyelashes eyelashes 18. a skull a skull 19. footsteps footsteps 20. a volcano a volcano LitWits Workshops, LLC 2012 The LitWits Kit Expanded Edition for The Hobbit 40

42 APPENDIX Handouts and Keys LitWits Workshops, LLC 2012 The LitWits Kit Expanded Edition for The Hobbit 41

43 Name LitWits Workshops StoryLines The Textural Triple Arc: The Rise of Plot, Character, & Landscape The Hobbit J.R.R. Tolkien and back again There LitWits Workshops, LLC 2012 The LitWits Kit Expanded Edition for The Hobbit 42

44 Name LitWits Workshops StoryLines The Textural Triple Arc: The Rise of Plot, Character, & Landscape The Hobbit J.R.R. Tolkien Key to the Arc Exposition: Boring Bilbo Arc mark 1: ground coffee (in place of pipe tobacco) / A wizard, 13 dwarves, and a hobbit meet to discuss a dangerous quest to steal treasure from a dragon. The spiritless hobbit, Bilbo Baggins, has no interest in joining this dangerous adventure. He would rather lead his quiet life of entertaining visitors and smoking his pipe in a nice safe place. Conflict: Bilbo s Dilemma Arc mark 2: T for Took, made with a sword and a walking stick / Bilbo hears the dwarves singing about the treasure and the mountains, and Bilbo felt the love of beautiful things and the Tookish side is roused; a part of him does want to go on an adventure, and wear a sword instead of a walking stick. Yet he feels very afraid and unready. In fact, at the mere thought of danger, he passes out. Rising Action: Bilbo s Quest Arc mark 3: bush twig and stone / Bilbo s first blundering attempt at burglary gets him stuck in a bush, and Gandalf has to turn the trolls to stone. Arc mark 4: ring and fishbone / Bilbo finds a ring in a goblin cave and outwits Gollum, gaining invisibility and backbone and earning the respect of the dwarves. Arc mark 5: feathers / The adventurers are rescued from wolves and a burning tree by the Lord of the Eagles; Bilbo is still depending on the mercy of others, but he s getting braver. Arc mark 6: twine and hook / When they reach the Enchanted River, it s Bilbo whose sharp eyes and quick thinking get them across, earning him even more respect. Arc mark 7: spiderweb / The dwarves are captured by spiders in the forest, and Bilbo knows it s up to him to save them. Using stones, songs, and Sting, he frees his friends. Arc mark 8: cork / The dwarves are captured by the Elven king, but Bilbo uses his wits to get them out in floating wine barrels. Arc mark 9: gold sequin / The adventurers make it to the Lonely Mountain, and Bilbo discovers the way in for them, then goes down the tunnel alone to face the dragon. It s been his worst fear, yet he bravely steals a bit of treasure. Climax: War Arc mark 10: charcoal / Smaug attacks the lake-town of Esgaroth, but is brought down when a thrush tells Bard where to aim the arrow information he overheard from Bilbo. Arc mark 11: drop of blood / There is a great war between the goblins and wolves and, on the other side, the humans, elves, and dwarves. Bilbo s summary of it shows he has grown to appreciate personal valor over wealth. Resolution: Peace Arc mark 12: crystal / The eagles help end the war, but Thorin, after praising Bilbo, dies. He is buried with the Arkenstone, which Bilbo found. The Elvenking calls the hobbit Bilbo the Magnificent. Bilbo has reached his full potential and proven his worth. Falling Action: The New Bilbo Goes Home Arc mark 13: coffee grounds (substitute for tobacco) mixed with gold / Bilbo and Gandalf return the way the way they came, stopping in Rivendell. When they get back to the Shire, Bilbo s neighbors and relatives are selling off all his possessions! His reputation is in ruins, but he doesn t mind. He s learned that what matters is what you know you re capable of! He returns to normal hobbit life, richer inside and out than before. THE THEME of The Hobbit is LitWits Workshops, LLC 2012 The LitWits Kit Expanded Edition for The Hobbit 43

45 Name Brave New Words Vocabulary & Creative Writing LitWits Workshops The Hobbit J.R.R. Tolkien The Power of Problems The narrator in The Hobbit makes a very good point about storytelling when talking about the peace of Rivendell. He points out that when things are going well and everyone has what they need, there isn t much of a story that it s discomfort, excitement, and even violence that make for a long and fascinating tale. (93; Ch. 3) The success of this book has everything to do with the problems presented to the characters, and the powerful language used to describe what happened. If nothing went wrong, it would have been a short, boring story that could be told in a page or two. Bilbo would never have risen to his potential. (Remember that potent in that word means power, and you can t show power without a problem to solve.) Read this short, boring scene and think about ways to make something or lots of things go terribly wrong: Mary s tenth birthday party was at the park on Saturday. The weather was warm and sunny. Her two polite big brothers, her sweet little sister, and her best friend Sally came. Everyone played games and ate cake. Mary opened her presents and thanked everyone for giving her such wonderful gifts. It was a perfect party! On the next page, rewrite this scene to give Mary PROBLEMS! She s ten already she needs to start rising to her potential! Have fun with this! Use at least two of these six potent verbs (action words) below, from The Hobbit. You can use these verbs in any form (for instance blunder, blunders, blundered, blundering. ) blunder (-s, -ed, -ing) fortify (-ies, -ied, -ing) resist (-s, -ed, -ing) cringe (-s, -ed, -ing) lament (-s, -ed, -ing) scuttle (-s, -ed, -ing) to do something without direction, or to make a big mistake to protect something or to make it stronger to work against something or someone to shrink away in fear or disgust to express sadness or regret about a situation to move quickly for a short distance LitWits Workshops, LLC 2012 The LitWits Kit Expanded Edition for The Hobbit 44

46 Name Brave New Words Vocabulary & Creative Writing continued from page 1 LitWits Workshops The Hobbit J.R.R. Tolkien Mary s Birthday Party LitWits Workshops, LLC 2012 The LitWits Kit Expanded Edition for The Hobbit 45

47 Name Write angles Vocabulary & Creative Writing LitWits Workshops The Hobbit J.R.R. Tolkien Dialect in Dialogue Dialect is the way that people from a certain place or class of society talk. An author who uses dialect well can make characters seem unique and real. In The Hobbit, J.R.R. Tolkien uses dialect to make Gollum very strange and yet entirely believable. Read some of his dialogue an excellent example is at the top of page 126, Chapter 5 and discuss some of the ways Gollum s dialect is created: adding es to plurals (handses, eggses, pocketses) calling himself we or us leaving letters out of words to shorten them (praps instead of perhaps) adding s before a final y (tricksy, creepsy) adding an extra s (nassty) calling people it calling himself precious To practice writing in dialect, translate one of these sentences into Gollum-speak. Feel free to add more information, and turn it into more than one sentence. It doesn t have to sound EXACTLY like Gollum be creative! She really needs some new soccer shoes. Maybe I will beat my dad at chess after dinner. I dropped my piece of pizza on the floor. His grandma knits sweaters for the whole family. This itchy spot looks like chicken pox. You left my book outside in the rain all night! LitWits Workshops, LLC 2012 The LitWits Kit Expanded Edition for The Hobbit 46

48 Name Dwarf Runes LitWits Workshops The Hobbit J.R.R. Tolkien Tolkien described runes as ancient letters used regularly only by the Dwarves, for secret communications or records. The letters were made by making narrow, angled marks on wood, stone, or metal. Source: LitWits Workshops, LLC 2012 The LitWits Kit Expanded Edition for The Hobbit 47

49 About the Authors The authors are sisters, best friends, and partners in LitWits Workshops, LLC. Jenny Clendenen Walicek has a BA in English literature and is completing her MFA in creative writing. She s been a teacher and tutor, and her essays, poetry, and scholarship have appeared in various journals. Becky Clendenen Kimball is a literature-based homeschool teacher, a journalism major who spent four years as newspaper staff writer, and the creator of a study skills curriculum. Terms of Use You are granted exclusive use of our products in download or print version as follows: You have the right of reproduction that is limited to your use only in whatever quantity is necessary to meet your needs and those of your student participants. This right is unlimited and extends for as long as you need the materials during which time they cannot be given to or shared with any other person(s) through any means of delivery, materially or digitally via the Internet. As such you have the right to store the product(s) on the hard drive of your computer or as hard copy in your resource file. Any misuse of these rights is in violation of copyright law. LitWits is a registered trademark of LitWits Workshops, LLC. The LitWits Kit Expanded Edition for The Hobbit Copyright 2012 by LitWits Workshops, LLC. All Rights Reserved. NOTE: The authors have taken care to honor the copyright restrictions of the JRR Tolkien Estate by paraphrasing and severely limiting quoted material in this kit. To read the indicated passages in Tolkien s own words, see the parenthetical page numbers in the 2002 annotated edition of The Hobbit. 2 2 Tolkien, J R. R, and Douglas A. Anderson. The Annotated Hobbit: The Hobbit, Or, There and Back Again. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, Print.