Learn English with The Hobbit

• ☐ ☐ ☐ hail [v] - to say hello with respect (for a king)
• ☐ ☐ ☐ armed [adj] - carrying weapons
• ☐ ☐ ☐ fence in [phv] - create a wall for protection
• ☐ ☐ ☐ seek [v] - search, look for, want
• ☐ ☐ ☐ fair settlement [exp] - an honest payment for a deal
• ☐ ☐ ☐ on behalf of (someone) [exp] - for (someone)
• ☐ ☐ ☐ a pledge [n] - a promise
• ☐ ☐ ☐ a share [n] - a part (of the treasure)
• ☐ ☐ ☐ treat with [v] - negotiate with
• ☐ ☐ ☐ an armed host [exp] - an army
• ☐ ☐ ☐ come to terms [exp] - make an agreement
• ☐ ☐ ☐ conscience [n] - an inner feeling that guides people to right and wrong
• ☐ ☐ ☐ just [adj] - fair, moral
• ☐ ☐ ☐ A bargain was struck! [exp] - A deal was made!
• ☐ ☐ ☐ give your word [exp] - make a promise
• ☐ ☐ ☐ Be gone! [exp] - Go away! Leave!
• ☐ ☐ ☐ fruitless [adj] - useless
• ☐ ☐ ☐ reason with [v] - negotiate with
• ☐ ☐ ☐ be outnumbered [adj] - have fewer soldiers than the other side
• ☐ ☐ ☐ underestimate [v] - guess something is smaller or less important than it actually is
• ☐ ☐ ☐ dawn [n] - when the sun rises

[n] - noun,  [v] - verb,   [phv] - phrasal verb,  [adj] - adjective,  [exp] - expression

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Thorin	Bard	Thranduil

• The dwarves have recently taken back their home (Erebor) from the dragon Smaug.
• The people of Lake-town helped the dwarves in exchange for some of the gold in Erebor.
• When the dwarves arrived in Erebor, the dragon Smaug attacked and destroyed Lake-town.
• The people of Lake-town have come to Dale, the empty city next to Erebor.
• The elves have come to help the people of Lake-town.

1. There is a dwarf army outside of Erebor.
   True
   False
   
   
2. Bard has come to Erebor to negotiate with Thorin.
   True
   False
   
   
3. The dwarves have blocked the gate into Erebor.
   True
   False
   
   
4. Bard wants a share of the treasure in Erebor for the people of Lake-town.
   True
   False
   
   
5. Thorin doesn't want to negotiate while there is an army outside his gate.
   True
   False
   
   
6. Bard promises that the elven army will not attack Erebor.
   True
   False
   
   
7. Bard blames the dwarves for the destruction of Lake-town.
   True
   False
   
   
8. Thorin denies making a bargain with the people of Lake-town.
   True
   False
   
   
9. Thorin thinks that the bargain with the people of Lake-town is unfair.
   True
   False
   
   
10. Thorin doesn't believe that Bard killed the dragon.
    True
    False
    
    
11. Bilbo agrees with Thorin's decision.
    True
    False
    
    
12. Thorin asks for Bilbo's advice.
    True
    False
    
    
13. Thorin is confident that the dwarves can defend Erebor.
    True
    False
    
    
14. Thranduil plans to attack the dwarves at midnight.
    True
    False
    
    

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Directions: Write sentences about the video clip using the words given. You can change the word form or add words, but you cannot change the word order. Use present tense.

Bard / ride / up / gate / Erebor / and / hail / Thorin

Bard rides up to the gate of Erebor and hails Thorin.

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Thorin / worry / elf / army / wait / outside / gate

Thorin is worried about the elven army (that is) waiting outside (of) [his/the] gate.

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Bard / promise / he / not / come / rob / dwarf

Bard promises (that) he has not come to rob the dwarves.
Bard promises (that) he didn't come to rob the dwarves.

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Thorin / agree / talk / Bard

Thorin agrees to talk [with/to] Bard.

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Bard / want / Thorin / honor / agreement / people / Lake-town

Bard wants Thorin to honor his agreement with the people of Lake-town.

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Thorin / refuse / negotiate / while / there / arm / host / outside / gate

Thorin refuses to negotiate while there is an armed host outside (of) [his/the] gate.

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Bard / warn / Thorin / elf / will / attack / if / they / not / reach / agreement

Bard warns Thorin (that) the elves will attack if they [can't/don't] reach an agreement.

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Thorin / angry / because / dwarf / force / make / deal / people / Lake-town / exchange / freedom

Thorin is angry because the dwarves were forced to make a deal with the people of Lake-town in exchange for their freedom.

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Thorin / send / Bard / away

Thorin sends Bard away.

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Bilbo / worry / because / dwarf / outnumber

Bilbo is worried because the dwarves are outnumbered.

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Throin / tell / Bilbo / not / underestimate / dwarf

Throin tells Bilbo not to underestimate dwarves.

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Bard / tell / Thranduil / dwarf / refuse / negotiate

Bard tells Thranduil (that) the dwarves refuse to negotiate.

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Thranduil / plan / attack / dwarf / dawn

Thranduil plans to attack the dwarves at dawn.

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The text below is from the [ original novel ].

1. Which parts of the video are the same as the novel?
2. Which parts of the video are different from the novel?
3. Which parts of the novel are not in the video?

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The next morning, a company of spearmen was seen crossing the river, and marching up the valley. They bore with them the green banner of the Elvenking and the blue banner of the Lake, and they advanced until they stood right before the wall at the Gate.

Again Thorin hailed them in a loud voice: “Who are you that come armed for war to the gates of Thorin son of Thrain, King under the Mountain?” This time he was answered.

A tall man stood forward, dark of hair and grim of face, and he cried: “Hail Thorin! Why do you fence yourself like a robber in his hold? We are not yet foes, and we rejoice that you are alive beyond our hope. We came expecting to find none living here; yet now that we are met there is matter for a parley and a council.”

“Who are you, and of what would you parley?”

“I am Bard, and by my hand was the dragon slain and your treasure delivered. Is that not a matter that concerns you? Moreover I am by right descent the heir of Girion of Dale, and in your hoard is mingled much of the wealth of his halls and towns, which of old Smaug stole. Is not that a matter of which we may speak? Further in his last battle Smaug destroyed the dwellings of the men of Esgaroth, and I am yet the servant of their Master. I would speak for him and ask whether you have no thought for the sorrow and misery of his people. They aided you in your distress, and in recompense you have thus far brought ruin only, though doubtless undesigned.”

Now these were fair words and true, if proudly and grimly spoken; and Bilbo thought that Thorin would at once admit what justice was in them. He did not, of course, expect that anyone would remember that it was he who discovered all by himself the dragon’s weak spot; and that was just as well, for no one ever did. But also he did not reckon with the power that gold has upon which a dragon has long brooded, nor with dwarvish hearts. Long hours in the past days Thorin had spent in the treasury, and the lust of it was heavy on him. Though he had hunted chiefly for the Arkenstone, yet he had an eye for many another wonderful things that were lying there.

“You put your worst cause last and in the chief place,” Thorin answered. “To the treasure of my people, no man has a claim because Smaug who stole it from us also robbed him of life or home. The treasure was not his. Therefore, his evil deeds should be amended with a share of it. The price of the goods and the assistance that we received of the Lake-men we will fairly pay—in due time. But nothing will we give under threat of force. While an armed host lies before our doors, we look on you as foes and thieves.

“It is in my mind to ask what share of this gold would you have paid to our kin if you had found the hoard unguarded and us slain.”

“A just question,” replied Bard. “But you are not dead, and we are not robbers. Moreover the wealthy may have pity on the needy that befriended them when they were in need. And still my other claims remain unanswered.”

“I will not speak, as I have said, with armed men at my gate. Nor at all with the people of the Elvenking, whom I remember with small kindness. In this debate they have no place. Begone now or our arrows fly! And if you would speak with me again, first dismiss the elvish host to the woods where it belongs. Then return, laying down your arms before you approach the threshold.”

“The Elvenking is my friend, and he has helped the people of the Lake in their need, though they had no claim but friendship on him,” answered Bard. “We will give you time to reconsider your words. Gather your wisdom until we return!” Then Bard departed and went back to the camp.

Many hours past, and the banner-bearers returned, and trumpeters stood forth and blew a blast:

“In the name of Esgaroth and the Forest,” one cried, “we speak unto Thorin Thrain’s son Oakenshield, calling himself the King under the Mountain, and we bid him consider well the claims that have been urged, or be declared our foe. At the least he shall deliver one twelfth portion of the treasure unto Bard, as the dragon-slayer, and as the heir of Girion. From that portion Bard will himself contribute to the aid of Esgaroth; but if Thorin would have the friendship and honour of the lands about, as his ancestors had in the past, then he will give also somewhat of his own for the comfort of the men of the Lake.”

Then Thorin seized a bow of horn and shot an arrow at the speaker. It smote into his shield and stuck there quivering.

“Since such is your answer,” he called in return, “I declare the Mountain besieged. You shall not depart from it, until you call on your side for a truce and a negotiation. We will bear no weapons against you, but we leave you to your gold. You may eat that, if you will!”

With that, the messengers departed swiftly, and the dwarves were left to consider their case. So grim had Thorin become, that even if they had wished, the others would not have dared to find fault with him; but indeed most of them seemed to share his mind—except perhaps old fat Bombur and Fili and Kili.

Bilbo, of course, disapproved of the whole turn of affairs. He had by now had more than enough of the Mountain, and being besieged inside it was not at all to his taste.

“The whole place still stinks of dragon,” he grumbled to himself, “and it makes me sick. And our bread is beginning simply to stick in my throat.”

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[ printable .pdf ]

1. One reason Thorin doesn't want to negotiate is that there is an army outside his gate. Do you think Thorin is being unreasonable? Is Bard negotiating in good faith? (Is Bard being fair?) Why?
2. Another reason Thorin doesn't want to negotiate is that he believes the people of Lake-town unfairly forced the dwarves to trade some of the gold for their freedom. Is Thorin right? Does he have the right to break his promise? Why?
3. Bilbo doesn't seem to agree with Thorin. What would you do if you were Bilbo?
4. Thorin doesn't seem worried about being attacked by the elves? Why?