The Hobbit Introductory PowerPoint Presentation on Characters, Conflicts, Plot

This visually pleasing PowerPoint presentation introduces students to the key characters in The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien, offering them context on character traits, relationships, conflicts, and development over the course of the novel. In order to evaluate the accuracy and quality of students’ note-taking skills, an open-notes quiz and answer key are also provided.

The following are covered:

Bilbo Baggins.
♦ Modest nature
♦ Appreciation for the simple things
♦ His reluctance and obligation to help
♦ His role along the journey
♦ His brushes with adversity
♦ His sense of justice
♦ His dynamic character
♦ And more

Gandalf.
♦ His noteworthy character traits
♦ The mentor archetype
♦ And more

Thorin Oakenshield.
♦ His leadership
♦ His bravery and his pretentiousness
♦ His family background
♦ His classification as a foil to Bilbo
♦ His fatal flaws

Dwalin.
♦ General character details (e.g., family ties)

Balin.
♦ General character details (e.g., his acceptance of Bilbo)

Gloin.
♦ General character details (e.g., his skepticism of Bilbo)

Oin.
♦ General character details (e.g., family ties)

Dori.
♦ General character details (e.g., his strength)

Nori.
♦ General character details (e.g., his appearance)

Ori.
♦ General character details (e.g., his musical talent)

Kili & Fili.
♦ General character details (e.g., their youth)

Bombur.
♦ General character details (e.g., his laziness)

Bifur.
♦ General character details (e.g., family ties)

Bofur.
♦ General character details (e.g., family ties)

Gollum.
♦ His home
♦ His miserable disposition
♦ His interests and talents
♦ His significant loss

Smaug.
♦ His greediness
♦ His vengefulness
♦ His appearance
♦ His symbolism
♦ The cultural perspective on dragons

Elrond.
♦ The Last Homely House
♦ His special, helpful traits
♦ His graciousness
♦ Foreshadowing

Beorn.
♦ His personality traits
♦ His special skills
♦ His discomfort toward visitors
♦ His pursuit of justice
♦ His help given to the adventurers
♦ And more

Bard of Esgaroth.
♦ His tremendous talent
♦ His honorable nature
♦ His leadership
♦ His response to tragedy
♦ His sense of fairness and justice

The Elvenking.
♦ His suspicion of strangers
♦ His weakness
♦ His crucial role late in the novel