Fantasy Literature: J. R. R. Tolkien’s The Fellowship of the Ring Answers

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Read the excerpt from The Fellowship of the Ring.That was Gandalf’s mark, of course, and the old man was Gandalf the Wizard, whose fame in the Shire was due mainly to his skill with fires, smokes, and lights. His real business was far more difficult and dangerous, but the Shire-folk knew nothing about it. To them he was just one of the "attractions” at the Party. Hence the excitement of the hobbit-children. "G for Grand!” they shouted, and the old man smiled. They knew him by sight, though he only appeared in Hobbiton occasionally and never stopped long; but neither they nor any but the oldest of their elders had seen one of his firework displays—they now belonged to the legendary past.

Read the excerpt from The Fellowship of the Ring.Then the weather clouded over. That was on Wednesday the eve of the Party. Anxiety was intense. Then Thursday, September the 22nd, actually dawned. The sun got up, the clouds vanished, flags were unfurled and the fun began.Bilbo Baggins called it a party, but it was really a variety of entertainments rolled into one. Practically everybody living near was invited. A very few were overlooked by accident, but as they turned up all the same, that did not matter.

Which is an example of indirect characterization?

Read the excerpt from The Fellowship of the Ring."How bright your garden looks!” said Gandalf."Yes,” said Bilbo. "I am very fond indeed of it, and of all the dear old Shire; but I think I need a holiday.”"You mean to go on with your plan then?”"I do. I made up my mind months ago, and I haven’t changed it.”"Very well. It is no good saying any more. Stick to your plan—your whole plan, mind—and I hope it will turn out for the best, for you, and for all of us.”"I hope so. Anyway I mean to enjoy myself on Thursday, and have my little joke.”

Read the excerpt from The Fellowship of the Ring.Twelve more years passed. Each year the Bagginses had given very lively combined birthday-parties at Bag End; but now it was understood that something quite exceptional was being planned for that autumn. Bilbo was going to be eleventy-one, 111, a rather curious number, and a very respectable age for a hobbit (the Old Took himself had only reached 130); and Frodo was going to be thirty-three, 33, an important number: the date of his "coming of age”. . .

Read the excerpt from The Fellowship of the Ring.One morning the hobbits woke to find the large field, south of Bilbo’s front door, covered with ropes and poles for tents and pavilions. A special entrance was cut into the bank leading to the road, and wide steps and a large white gate were built there. The three hobbit-families of Bagshot Row, adjoining the field, were intensely interested and generally envied. Old Gaffer Gamgee stopped even pretending to work in his garden.

Read the excerpt from The Fellowship of the Ring.As for Bilbo Baggins, even while he was making his speech, he had been fingering the golden ring in his pocket: his magic ring that he had kept secret for so many years. As he stepped down he slipped it on his finger, and he was never seen by any hobbit in Hobbiton again.

Which line is an example of direct characterization?

Which line best helps readers identify the community spirit of Hobbiton?