Old Reading Tasks

Reading Task 3 - chapter 5

Read chapter 5!

• What are the similarities and differences between Bilbo and Gollum? (NOTES, ideally a simple table ….)
• How has Bilbo developed in ch. 4+5

Reading Task 4 - chapters 7 and 8

Read chapter 7 for Monday 2nd March 2009

• characterize Beorn … (NOTES)
• how does the mood / atmosphere develop from page 158 – 162 … How is this effect achieved? (NOTES)

Read Chapter 8 for Monday 2nd March 2009

• What are the problems and steps in the development of the catastrophe from page 161-180? (Just give page and mark passage in book!)
• Show and explain, that this chapter reveals Bilbo's heroic qualities (give lines) (NOTES)
• Compare the different dwarves' (Bombur - Thorin - Kili&Fili) and Bilbo's roles/function in the story in chapter 8! Who are the flat and who the round characters? (NOTES)

Task 5

1. In what way do these definitions of "the epic hero" apply to Bilbo?
2. Compare the different dwarves' (Bombur, Thorin, Kili&Fili) and Bilbo's roles/function in the story in chapter 8! Who are the flat and who the round characters?
3. Read chapters nine an ten!
4. Compare the endings of chapters 8, 9 and ten.

Task 6

Read Chapters 11 + 12!

• Work in pairs! Collect all your information on Smaug from chapter XI and XII in a characterization of Smaug on the appropriate sub-page of the Wiki: Your user page (To get there, click on your user-name at the top of the page)! ==> Electronic NOTES in one of your Wiki pages!

• Cf. Dragon as a Symbol (don't waste time on second part of page: "Dragon Traditions of Myth")

• What is the function of the dragon (as a character and as a symbol) in the Hobbit? (Paper-)NOTES! ...

Read Chapter 13!

• Look at pp. 271-272: What makes the text sound old-fashioned? NOTES