Group "A" should answer TWO of the following:
Q1: We’ve considered how Sherlock Holmes and John Carter are
prototypes for many characters in their respective genres. In the same way, how
might Bilbo Baggins have set the standard for a certain kind of character in
fantasy novels and movies? Can you think of someone he resembles either in his
character or language?
Q2: In Chapter One, “An Unexpected Party,” Bilbo asks the
dwarfs, “I should like to know about risks, out-of-pocket expenses, time
required and remuneration, and so forth” (21). Why does this sound
distinctly out of place in a fantasy novel, and where else do we spy conscious
anachronisms (historical inaccuracies) in his story?
Q3: Though The Hobbit opens with a simple domestic
scene (“in a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit”), how does Tolkein hint
that a great mythology lies behind the prosaic world of the Shire? Why do
you think he felt it necessary to let glimpses of this ancient world shine
through his simple tale? Does it affect how we read and understand the work as
a whole?
Q4: In Chapter II, “Roast Mutton,” the dwarfs reflect on
Gandalf: “So far he had come all the way with them, never saying if he was in
the adventure or merely keeping them company for a while. He had
eaten most, talked most, and laughed most. But now he simply was not
there at all!” (30). What kind of character/wizard is Gandalf, and how
does he compare to the idea of a ‘wizard’ in popular culture?
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