The Hobbit

By J.R.R. Tolkien

Chapter 10-11 Activity Packet

Activity 1-Vocabulary

Below you will find important and/or unfamiliar words from your reading, as well as their meanings. Keep this guide with you as you are reading the noted chapter in order to reinforce your growing knowledge of words and their meanings/usage. When you come to the word in your reading, copy the sentence onto your paper. Study the definitions for your test.

  1. attribute (189) - a quality or inherent characteristic
  2. alluding (189) - to refer to; hint, imply, suggest
  3. receded (190) - moved back or away from; diminish, contract
  4. promontory (190) - a point of land jutting into the sea
  5. prosperous (191) - marked by wealth or economic success; favorable
  6. famished (192) - starved; suffering for lack of something, especially food.
  7. hinder (195) - to impede the progress of, hold back; obstruct
  8. enmity (196) - mutual hatred or hostility
  9. quays (200) - a structure alongside which ship sit to load and unload

10. provisions (201) - a stock of needed supplies or food

11. desolate (201) - deserted, abandoned, barren, lifeless, cheerless, gloomy

12. stealthy (202) - sly, secretive, covert

13. bleak (202) - desolate, barren; lacking warm or cheering qualities

14. barren (202) - unfertile, sterile, unproductive; dull, lacking interest

15. lair (202) - a resting of living place of a wild animal; den

16. ominous (203) - foretelling evil; threatening

17. perilous (204) - full of danger, risky

18. pondering (204) - considering carefully

19. crevice (205) - a narrow opening or crack

20. reigned (206) - ruled

Activity 2-Questions

Use facts from the novel & your own experience (when needed) to answer questions. Write in complete sentences.

  1. At the beginning of chapter 10, Bilbo sees The Lonely Mountain. What is significant about The Lonely Mountain?
  2. What issues did the Wood-elves and the Lake-men bicker over?
  3. What physical changes (changes in the land) had recently occurred in these lands?
  4. How were the Men of the lake-town able to thrive so close to the dragon-mountain?
  5. Describe the town during the "great days of old."
  6. Who did Bilbo free from the barrels and how did he know which one of the dwarves it was?
  7. Why were Bilbo, Thorin, Kili and Fili able to sneak up on the Lake-town guards unnoticed and unexpected?
  8. How did the Master of Lake-town feel about the adventurers?

Chapter 11

  1. When did the Master finally become surprised, frightened and started to doubt his first impression?

10. Why wouldn't the Men stay with the adventurers after dark?

11. What object did Thorin get from Gandalf, which was extremely helpful at the end of chapter 11?

12. Why was it helpful or important?

Activity 3-Critical Thinking

1. What is the tone or mood of chapter 11? Why is it important?

2. Has any of the characters changed so far? Who and how have they changed?