BookBright
ABOUT THE BOOK
NO SPOILERSBilbo Baggins is a perfectly respectable hobbit living in a comfortable hole in the ground under a hill in the Shire, happy with his pipe, his pantry, and his predictable days, when the wizard Gandalf shows up at his door and marks it with a secret sign. The next evening, thirteen dwarves led by the proud and brooding Thorin Oakenshield arrive uninvited for tea and announce that Bilbo has been hired as their burglar. Their mission: travel east across wild and dangerous lands to the Lonely Mountain, where the dragon Smaug has been sleeping on the dwarves' stolen treasure for generations. Bilbo wants nothing to do with it, but something stirs in him, and before he fully decides, he is running down the lane without a handkerchief to catch up with the company, launched into an adventure far larger than any of them imagined.
Free Battle of the Books questions for The Hobbit
SPOILERSEvery one of these has the same answer, and that is the point. In a real battle the question is read aloud with a dozen other books in play, and students have a few seconds to place it. Here is what a battle might ask about The Hobbit. Use them as a quiz, a trivia round, or BOTB practice.
Where in the book they come from
- Early in the book
In what book does a character try to pick the pocket of a troll and the purse squeaks?
✓ Answer
The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
Bilbo's first attempt at burglary goes badly when the talking purse he tries to steal cries out to its owner. The troll grabs Bilbo by the neck before he can even duck behind a tree, kicking off the trolls scene.
- First half
In what book does a hero ask, "What have I got in my pocket?"
✓ Answer
The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
Stuck for a riddle and feeling the magic ring in his pocket, Bilbo blurts out this question by accident. Gollum takes it as a real riddle, demands three guesses, and fails to answer it correctly, ending the contest in Bilbo's favor.
- First half
In what book does a wizard light flaming pine-cones in different colors and throw them at wolves?
✓ Answer
The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
Trapped in a tree above the Wargs, Gandalf hurls burning pine-cones lit with bright blue, red, and green fire. The cones set wolf-fur ablaze and send the chief wolf leaping ten feet in the air, biting his own pack in fright and fury.
- Second half
In what book does a dwarf groan that he never wants to smell apples again after his river ride?
✓ Answer
The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
Fili was packed into a barrel that had been used for apples, and the smell was overwhelming during the long bumpy float to Lake-town. He swears he could eat anything in the world afterward, but never an apple.
- Second half
In what book does a sleeping dragon lie on a vast pile of gold with gems crusted to his belly?
✓ Answer
The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
When Bilbo first peeks into the lair, he sees Smaug curled on countless piles of treasure, his belly studded with bits of gold and jewels from years of lying on his costly bed. The sight nearly bewitches him.
- Near the end
In what book does a small thief secretly give away a glowing white jewel to bargain for peace?
✓ Answer
The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien
Bilbo sneaks down from the mountain at night and hands the Arkenstone to Bard and the Elvenking, hoping to force Thorin to negotiate. It is a brave choice that nearly costs Bilbo his life when Thorin finds out.
