The Hobbit, Chapter 6: Out of the Frying-Pan into the Fire quiz

Questions and answers

1. 1

   Question 1. According to Gandalf, why had the pass the company took always seemed safe until now?

   • The wolves of the Wild never hunted so high in the mountains
   • The stone-giants had always frightened the goblins away from it
   • Correct answer: The goblins had opened a new entrance at its top only recently
   • Elrond's scouts kept watch over that pass every single summer

   Gandalf explains that the goblins' main gate used to open on a different pass, and their new entrance on this pass must have been made quite recently.

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2. 2

   Question 2. When Gandalf tells Bilbo what day it is, how long does he say they were in the goblins' power?

   • Since Tuesday night, and it is now Wednesday evening
   • Correct answer: Since Monday night or Tuesday morning; it is now Thursday
   • Since Wednesday morning, and it is now Friday night
   • Since Sunday evening, and it is now early Tuesday morning

   Gandalf says that today is Thursday and that they were captured on Monday night or Tuesday morning, since you lose track of time inside goblin-tunnels.

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3. 3

   Question 3. Why are the goblins late for their meeting with the Wargs?

   • They were waiting for the moon to set behind the mountains
   • They had lost their way among the pines in the dark wood
   • They feared the eagles would see them leaving their gate
   • Correct answer: They were stirred up by the Great Goblin's death and the escape

   The narrator says the reason was no doubt the death of the Great Goblin and all the excitement caused by the dwarves, Bilbo and the wizard.

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4. 4

   Question 4. What happens when Gandalf's largest burning pine-cone hits the chief of the Wargs?

   • Correct answer: He leaps ten feet and snaps even at the other wolves
   • He orders the pack to drag down Gandalf's tree at once
   • He flees down the slopes to look for water to put it out
   • He howls to call the goblins down from the mountains

   The great grey wolf is hit on the nose, leaps ten feet into the air, and rushes round the circle biting at his own pack in anger and fright.

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5. 5

   Question 5. Why does Gandalf shout insults at the singing goblins?

   • To signal to the eagles that the company needed help
   • To trick them into putting out the fire beneath his tree
   • To distract them while the dwarves climbed down the trees
   • Correct answer: To make them angry and to show he was not frightened

   The narrator says Gandalf spoke to make them angry and to show he was not frightened of them, though in fact he was.

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6. 6

   Question 6. Why does Bilbo take no part in preparing the meal on the eagles' shelf of rock?

   • Correct answer: He is too weak and is used to the butcher preparing his meat
   • He refuses to eat any of the animals the eagles have caught
   • The eagles forbid him to go anywhere near the edge of the shelf
   • He is busy keeping watch for goblins climbing up the rocks

   Bilbo is too weak to help and is not much good at skinning rabbits, being used to having meat delivered by the butcher ready to cook.

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7. 7

   Question 7. What is the effect of the narrator explaining the Wargs' plans, which Bilbo cannot understand?

   • It shows that Gandalf made up the raid to frighten the dwarves
   • It reveals that the eagles have already warned all the woodmen
   • Correct answer: Readers grasp the full danger while Bilbo only hears terrible noise
   • It proves that Bilbo secretly learned the Wargs' language long ago

   The narrator tells us what Gandalf heard, so the reader knows about the planned raid and the threat to the company even though Bilbo does not.

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8. 8

   Question 8. Why does the narrator say even magic rings are not much use against the Wargs?

   • Wargs listen for a hidden traveller's breathing for miles
   • Correct answer: Wargs track by smell and do not need to see their prey
   • Wargs can see through any magic made by goblins or elves
   • The ring stops working whenever moonlight shines on it

   Wolves of that sort smell keener than goblins and do not need to see you to catch you, so being invisible would not save Bilbo.

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9. 9

   Question 9. Which of these events happen in the first part of Chapter 6, before the wolves arrive?

   • Bilbo creeps past Balin, who is on look-out, while wearing the ring.

     Happened

     Bilbo still has the ring on when he creeps up, and Balin looks straight at him without noticing him.

   • Bilbo tells the dwarves exactly how he found the ring in the tunnels.

     Didn't happen

     Bilbo tells them all his adventures except the finding of the ring, which he keeps to himself for now.

   • Bilbo eats three wild strawberries he finds beside a mountain-stream.

     Happened

     As they walk on, Bilbo drinks from a small mountain-stream and eats three wild strawberries he finds on its bank.

   • Bombur is buried by the landslide and has to be dug out.

     Didn't happen

     Bombur only grumbles after the slide, while the dwarves and Bilbo rub their bruised legs and feet.

   • Gandalf says he must find a giant to block up the goblins' new entrance.

     Happened

     Gandalf says he must see if he can find a more or less decent giant to block the new entrance up again.

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10. 10

    Question 10. Which of these events happen once the company reaches the wolves' clearing?

    • Fili and Kili climb to the top of a tall larch.

      Happened

      Fili and Kili climb to the top of a tall larch that looks like an enormous Christmas tree.

    • A wolf snaps at Dori's cloak as he swings back up into the branches.

      Happened

      A wolf snaps at Dori's cloak and nearly gets him as he jumps back up after helping Bilbo into the tree.

    • Gandalf leaps down from his tree among the goblins' spears.

      Didn't happen

      Gandalf gets ready to spring down among the goblins' spears, but the Lord of the Eagles seizes him first.

    • The goblins put out the flames nearest the dwarves' trees.

      Didn't happen

      The goblins put out nearly all the other flames but feed the fire nearest the dwarves' trees.

    • Oin and Gloin light the cooking fire with their tinder-boxes.

      Didn't happen

      Oin and Gloin had lost their tinder-boxes, so Gandalf helps set the fire going on the eagles' shelf of rock.

    • The eagles bring rabbits, hares and a small sheep for the meal.

      Happened

      On the shelf of rock the eagles bring dry boughs for fuel and rabbits, hares and a small sheep to eat.

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11. 11

    Question 11. What does 'onslaught' mean as used in: 'got behind a tree to shelter from the onslaught of the rocks'?

    • A slow, steady trickle of water
    • A narrow ledge on a cliff
    • A loud cry of warning
    • Correct answer: A fierce, overwhelming rush

    An onslaught is a fierce, overwhelming attack or rush; here it is the mass of rocks crashing down the slope.

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12. 12

    Question 12. What does 'benighted' mean as used in: 'so that they often caught people benighted near their gates'?

    • Frightened by tales of goblins
    • Correct answer: Overtaken by night while travelling
    • Too tired to walk any further
    • Lost after leaving the main road

    Benighted means overtaken by darkness while still on a journey, which made travellers easy prey near the goblins' gate.

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13. 13

    Question 13. What does 'tumult' mean as used in: 'up they went together above the tumult and the burning'?

    • Correct answer: A noisy, confused uproar
    • A thick cloud of grey smoke
    • A tall column of fire
    • A deep valley full of trees

    A tumult is a loud, confused disturbance, like the yelling goblins, howling wolves and swooping eagles below Bilbo.

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