The Hobbit, By J.R.R. Tolkien: The beloved novel The Hobbit is the story of Bilbo Baggins’ journey of self-discovery beyond the comforts of his home in search of an adventure that will forever change his purpose in the world. The respectable hobbit and Gandalf the Wizard join the dwarves’ journey across Middle Earth to the Lonely Mountain to reclaim their treasure and kingdom from the villainous dragon, Smaug. Along the way, Bilbo befriends elves and bears, battles spiders, goblins, wargs and the sinister creature, Gollum, to discover his own courage and inspiring truth. The summer course is designed to actively guide students through the reading of the novel with the support of accompanying film clips, maps, and activities to complete the summer reading assignment and gain a better understanding of the novel’s characters and conflicts. All of the reading and two-column notes will be completed in class over the nineteen sessions, and students will be prepared for the summer reading essay writing in September. The course will provide a weekly syllabus of content to be covered; there will not be any required homework if all nineteen sessions are attended. Each student will be a given a book, a guided graphic organizer, and access to any complementary materials or technology.
