Character Introduction

BILBO BAGGINS: The Hobbit who led the Dwarves to the Lonely

Mountain to recla im their treasure from the dragon Smaug. He found

the One Ring in Gollum's cave

GANDALF: The Wizard that accompanies Bilbo and the dwarves on

their quest. He is well versed in magic spells and often calls upon

them to save his comrades.

THORIN OAKENSHIELD: Son of the King of Dwarves who were driven

from the Lonel y Mountain by Smaug. With the aid of Gandalf and Bilbo

he seeks regain his trea sure and the throne. When Smaug died he truly

became King under the Mountain, t hough he was killed in combat in the

battle of five Armies.

SMAUG: The dragon of the Lonely Mountain who hordes the treasure

he stole from the dwarves of Dale.

GOLLUM: He is perfect example of the evil powers of the One Ring.

He was born a Hobbit but had the ring too long. It made him into a

slimey little creature who only lives to possess the ring.

BARD: The archer who killed Smaug. He shot the dragon in the one

spot it had no protection. The towns people later considered him a

hero. What the people didn't know it was Bilbo who discovered the weak

spot in the dragon's iron scales.

BEORN: An enemy of orcs, he becomes friends with Bilbo and

Gandalf. He has th e ability to change forms from human to bear. It

is he who determines the outco me of the battle of five Armies.

STORY SUMMARY

The book begins with Bilbo Baggins enjoying a pipe after

breakfast. Th is is one of his favorite pleasures and he feels quite

content in doing so. He is middle-aged, and resides in a clean warm

burrow in the ground.

One morning Gandalf, a wizard stops by to chat with Bilbo. He

informs Bilbo that he is looking for someone to go on an adventure with

him. Although Bilbo is tempted he declines, but not before inviting

Gandalf for tea the next morning.

The next day Bilbo hears his doorbell and he recalls inviting

Gandalf for tea, but instead of the wizard at the door, there is a

group of dwarves... thirteen in all.

Thorin son of the dwarf king starts to outline a plan on how to

regain the tr easure stolen by the dragon Smaug. Bilbo is shocked to

realize these plans involve him! He then realizes that Gandalf has

tricked him by inscribing on his doo r that he was a burglar seeking a

job with lots of excitement. With all this talk of quests and glory

Bilbo decides to join the party after all.

Gandalf reveals a key and a map of their journey which ends at the

Lon ely Mountain. It is there that the treasure of Thorin's ancestors

are kept-guar ded by Smaug.

The quest begins and the party meets at the Green Dragon Inn. From

there they venture into the Lone-lands. As heavy rains begin to fall,

Bilbo notice s that Gandalf is missing. When it starts to pour they

stop to investigate a light. There Bilbo finds three trolls grumbling

about food.