copyright 1999, Sirpa Grierson

The Hobbit Abiator's Active Classroom. 2000. 20 Oct. 2001 http://www.berghuis.co.nz/abiator/unit/hobbit/hindex2.html This Hobbit site is an amazing provider of useful information for teachers. It contains quizes and chapter summaries, interesting facts about the author and characters from the book, and fun information like "Things You Didn't Know" and "Riddles of Gollum." This site also links to many other useful sites related to The Hobbit and Tolkien. "Overview of the Hobbit" Akers, Don. Novel for Students 8 (1996): 11-15. This article introduces some beliefs of Tolkien't fantasy strategy. The article refers to Tolkien's essay, "On Fairy-Stories," discussing how Tolkien's fantasy world, Middle-earth, is based on real life. "Fantasy and Reality: J.R.R. Tolkien's World and the Fariy-Story Essay" Flieger, Verlyn. Mythlore: A Journal of J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, Chalres Williams and Mythopoeic Literature.22.3 (1999): 4-13. Flieger's article discusses Tolkien's use of recognition in his fantasy stories. This is a good artidcle to prove that reality is the basis of the fantasy genre. One Ring: The Complete Guide to Tolien Online Friesen, Darryl. 2001. 18 Oct. 2001 http://onering.virbius.com/index.php This web site is a resource page when teaching The Hobbit or related works by J.R.R. Tolkien. It provides articles and essays online, images from the book, and a top 25 list of the best Tolkien links. The Hobbit Site Langlo, Peder. May 1997. 21 Oct. 2001 http://www.mi.uib.no/~respl/ This site provides an introduction to The Hobbit that provides a visual presentation and would be a good use for the first day of opening the story or a fantasy unit. "The Psychological Journey of Bilbo Baggins" Mathews, Dorothy. A Tolkien Compass (1975): 29-42. Mathews analyzes The Hobbit to find deeper levels of meaning providing insights into the human psyche. Mathews describes Bilbo's journey is a metaphor for his individual process, his quest is a search for maturity and wholeness, and his adventures are symbolically detailed rites of maturation. "J.R.R. Tolkien" Rogers, Debra Webster. Twayne's English Authors series Online (1999). In this article, Rogers proves that without the discipline of realism, fantasy would be impossible. He points out that Tolkien's characters remain hopeful despite all their set-backs and the major foundation of their hope is simply the reality of the world. The Tolkien Society Home Page 29 April 1999. 15 Oct. 2001. http://www.tolkiensociety.org/ This sit is great for educators to receive basic informatin about the author and the novel. There is a sect6ion entitles "Education" where you can find fun activities and games to get students interested in teh novel. You can also find essays and articles, frequently asked quetions, and a library of resources. Reading Strategies (compiled by Sariah Yoder) |Pre-Reading | During Reading | Post Reading | Pre-Reading Ideas 1. Previous Book Covers for The Hobbit http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&lr=&q=the+hobbit&btnG=Search A collection of various book covers for The Hobbit over the years. Could be used with the current book cover as students predict what will take place in the story. 2. Introductory Lesson discussion topics and key terms. http://www.houghtonmifflinbooks.com/features/lordoftheringstrilogy/lessons/one/terms.shtml A list of Discussion Topics, Key Terms, and other references appropriate for introducing Tolkien, and helping students understand more of the context of his writings. 3. Picturing Tolkien. http://www.arwen-undomiel.com/tolkien/gallery.html Photographs of Tolkien, his family, friends, home, and influences could be used in many ways: group work, individual reports on aspects of Tolkien’s life, Power-Point presentations. These images will give students more of an idea of who Tolkien was. 4. Biographical Sketch of J.R.R. Tolkien http://www.tolkiensociety.org/tolkien/biography.html A detailed biographical Sketch of J.R.R. Tolkien, including specific sections about 1)Childhood and Youth 2) War, Lost Tales & Academia 3)Professor Tolkien, The Inklings & Hobbits 4) The Storyteller 5)The Cult 6)Other Writings These will give students more of an understanding of the influences from Tolkien’s life that went into his works. 5. The British Columbia Folklore Society http://www.folklore.bc.ca/Whatsfolk.htm Articles describing what Folklore is, including specific references to Social Customs, Occupational Folklore, Oral Literature, and Material Culture. Will aid students in identifying several myth and folktale motifs. 6. Houghton Mifflin Lesson Handouts http://www.houghtonmifflinbooks.com/features/lordoftheringstrilogy/lessons/one/handouts.shtml A collection of folktale and myth stories from various countries that share common archetypes with Tolkien’s stories. Students could read the stories and identify any elements they noticed in the Lord of the Rings movies, and other mythic stories, then look for these as they read The Hobbit. 7. Norse Mythology http://www.ugcs.caltech.edu/~cherryne/mythology.html An Introduction to Norse Mythology, including its mythic figures and patterns. This website and information could be used to make students aware of the upcoming connections to the book, and the influences from this Mythology upon Tolkien’s epic stories. 8. Background and Literary Context Handout (Shared by Kori Crampton) Stanton, Michael N. Hobbits, Elves, and Wizards: Exploring the Wonders and Worlds of J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings. Palgrave, Pub.Co: New York, New York. 2001. This detailed compilation of the major background and context information tied to Tolkien will help students to understand his life, linguistic interests, and creativity. 9. Getting to Know The Setting http://www.angband.com/towers/resources/maps/Middleearth.jpg A great interpretation of the landscape of Tolkien’s created MiddleEarth. http://www.councilofelrond.com/modules/php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=2910 A Newsletter about the Celtic Influences that inspired Tolkien’s creation of MiddleEarth, which will make students aware of these influences, and the setting of this epic adventure story. 10. The Languages of Middle Earth http://www.oneil.com.au/tolkien/facts/language.html A description of the different languages invented by J.R.R. Tolkien that are used by the different peoples of Middle Earth. These descriptions will be beneficial in introducing these new “languages” to students, as well as understanding what a Linguistic Genius Tolkien was. During Reading Ideas 1. Anglo-Saxon Runes http://www.houghtonmifflinbooks.com/assets/product/0395291305.interior01_1res.gif This excerpt from Ruth Noel’s The Languages of Tolkien’s Middle-earth will enable students to understand many of the symbols used by Tolkien, including those on the map in the front of their books. Using this source, students could translate the message on the map, and create their own messages to each other, then de-code them. 2. Preliminary Quizzes http://www.houghtonmifflinbooks.com/features/lordoftheringstrilogy/lessons/three/quiz.shtml These Quizzes can be used to evaluate Reading Comprehension, or as group-work/discussions. 3. Middle Earth Bulletin Board Transparency http://www.phys.uni.torun.pl/~jacek/tolkien/map/wild.jpg This map copy and transparency can be used as a class project to enhance reading by creating a giant bulletin-board map, then tracing the route of the hobbit as they read the story. 4. During Reading Key Terms and Discussion Topics http://www.houghtonmifflinbooks.com/features/lordoftheringstrilogy/lessons/two/terms.shtml A list of key terms that can be used in class discussion, as vocabulary to remember, and as possible essay topics. 5. Tricky Riddles from The Tolkien Trail http://www.tolkientrail.com/riddles.shtml A great compilation of riddles that could be used as a source for students to participate in a riddles contest like the one between Gollum and Bilbo. 6. “Desk Top Teaching” Mythology Method Instructions (Shared by Kori Crampton) Crampton, Kori. Presented Lesson. Orem, UT, September, 2004. This interactive method of teaching mythology could be used for students to review key terms and motifs from this fantasy epic. 7. Who is Bilbo? http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&lr=&q=Tolkien+Bilbo&btnG=Search This search engine provides many different artistic interpretations of Bilbo. Students could analyze the pictures and choose which one would represent the “best Bilbo,” and why. 8. Hobbit Crossword Puzzle http://www.barrowdowns.com/crosswords.php This challenging crossword puzzle could be used to assess/challenge the students in their reading comprehension. Could be done either individually or in pairs. 9. Novel Study Guide http://www.mi.uib.no/~respl/tolkien/ This chapter-by-chapter guide of questions, vocabulary, and enrichment ideas could be used as a valuable source of class discussions and activities. 10. Group Skits http://bms.westport.k12ct.us/mccormick/rt/rtscripts/rtshobbit.htm This adapted excerpt could be used as a 10-minute skit for the students to act out in groups, as well as other scenes from the book. The entire script can be requested by mail from this website: http://www.geocities.com/texastheatres/archives/SearchEngine/ScriptsSections.html Post-Reading Ideas 1.The Hobbit Name Generator http://www.chriswetherell.com/hobbit/Default.asp This fun internet site will turn anyone’s given name into a hobbit name. Using their new hobbit names, students could then write about where they would possibly fit into the book as a new character. What part of the story would they be in? How would they help/influence the journey? 2. “Life-Size” Activity handout (Shared by Kori Crampton) Crampton, Kori. “Creating Homer’s Characters” Activity. Orem, UT, October, 2004. This handout previously designed for teaching The Iliad could be used for a group project as students represent a given character from the story in “life-size” form. This would reinforce the students’ understanding of the awareness of the characters and how they affect the story. 3. Connections to Campbell’s Hero’s Journey Motifs http://www.worldchanges.com/myth.html This description of the pervading archetype from The Hobbit will help students make connections from age-old myth motifs to Tolkien’s book. 4. 1938 New York Times Article http://www.nytimes.com/books/01/02/11specials/tolkien-hobbit.html This article from the time the book was written will provide students a perspective of how this story was received by the general public of the time-period. Based on their own feelings and opinions of Tolkien’s story, the students may then write a newspaper article informing others about the book. 5. After-Reading Activity Ideas http://www.houghtonmifflinbooks.com/features/lordoftheringstrilogy/lessons/three/activities.shtml This list of activities is specifically designed for the reading of The Hobbit, and describes ideas for many useful classroom activities, such as mapmaking and diary-entries based on the book. 6. There and Back Again Discussion Topics http://www.houghtonmifflinbooks.com/features/lordoftheringstrilogy/lessons/three/discussion.shtml This list of useful after-reading discussion topics can be used to aid the students in making text connections, and analyzing character’s actions and consequences from the story. 7. The Hobbit – Animated. The Hobbit. Videocassette. Dir. Arthur Rankin and Jules Bass. Animated. Warner Home Video, 1977. http://movieweb.com/dvd/dvd.php?012569056626 Show students this 90-minute film as a wrap-up activity. Students could then respond to text/film differences, and what parts they pictured differently while reading, and how reading a story compares to watching it happen. 8. “Sigurd, the Dragon Slayer” http://wyllie.lib.virginia.edu:8086/perl/toccer-new?id=LanRedF.sgm&images=images/modeng&data=/texts/english/modeng/parsed&tag=public&part=37&division=div1 (Applications Instruction Sheet shared by Kori Crampton) After reading this Norse Myth, groups could then compile a list of connections between this myth and The Hobbit, and present them to the class. 9. Beowulf Nye, Robert. “Beowulf: A New Telling” Scholastic SCOPE. March 1983: 2-9. This more basic and clear version of this ancient Anglo-Saxon epic poem can be used to reinforce the students understanding of an epic, and the influence this story had upon Tolkien. 10. Myth and Life Connections http://www.hobbitlore.com/myth.php This list of connections to Tolkien’s work is a great resource for discussion. It could be used to aid students in making connections and understanding why myth is so prevalent in culture, and what it is about mythology and the motifs that people grasp onto.

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