The Hobbit: A Summary For Teachers And Students
Title: The Hobbit
Author: J.R.R. Tolkien
Published: 1937
Genre: Fiction; Fantasy
Word Count: 95022
Suggest Grade Level: 7-12
Reading Level: The book is decodable by readers as early as 4th or 5th-grade, but its length, themes, and the writing style of Tolkien make it better suited to late middle school and into high school.
The Hobbit Plot Summary
In this prequel to J.R.R Tolkien’s classic fantasy novel ‘The Lord of the Rings,’ Bilbo Baggins is swept into a quest to reclaim his lost inheritance from the dragon Smaug. They encounter goblins, trolls, giant spiders, wolves, elves, and orcs as well as a host of other dangers.
Baggins, an unlikely and initially unwilling adventurer who loves nothing more than sitting around a fire with his friends eating and drinking, sets out on the journey with Gandalf and thirteen dwarves led by Thorin Oakenshield, to reclaim his home from the Dragon Smaug. Along the way, But Bilbo’s greatest challenge may be himself: he must learn what it means to grow up and become a man while facing down great evil.
During the journey, Bilbo finds an extraordinary, magical ring that allows the wearer to become invisible but this ‘trick’ has some unintended consequences that figure prominently later in the sequels, ‘The Lord of the Rings.’ The Hobbit is a kind of coming of Age story (without the youth bit). Bilbo’s maturation from a lay around, do-nothing to a courageous adventurer who risks everything for the benefit of others drives the plot forward.
Suggested Reading Schedule
The Hobbit Suggested Reading Schedule: .5 to 1 chapter per day for most readers trying to finish the book within the timeframe of a teaching unit. For the casual reader, the pace might be a bit slower or faster depending on their background knowledge, interest level, etc.
The Hobbit Chapter Titles
Chapter 1: An Unexpected Party
Chapter 2: Roast Mutton
Chapter 3: A Short Rest
Chapter 4: Over Hill and Under Hill
Chapter 5: Riddles in the Dark
Chapter 6: Out of the Frying-Pan and Into The Fire Start
Chapter 7: Queer Lodgings
Chapter 8: Flies and Spiders
Chapter 9: Barrels Out of Bond
Chapter 10: A Warm Welcome
Chapter 11: On the Doorstep
Chapter 12: Inside Information
Chapter 13: Not at Home
Chapter 14: Fire and Water
Chapter 15: The Gathering of the Clouds
Chapter 16: A Thief in the Night
Chapter 17: The Clouds Burst
Chapter 18: The Return Journey
Chapter 19: The Last Stage
FAQ
When was The Hobbit first published? 1937
Who wrote The Hobbit? J.R.R. Tolkien
How many words are in The Hobbit? 95022
What is The Hobbit about? The Hobbit is a fantasy, epic story about an unwilling Hobbit’s maturation from a ‘do-nothing’ to a courageous adventurer who risks everything for the benefit of others.
