Chapter 11 On the Doorstep - Reading Group: The Hobbit

Chapter 11 On the Doorstep - Reading Group: The Hobbit https://community.narniaweb.com/community/reading-group-the-hobbit/chapter-11-on-the-doorstep/ NarniaWeb Forum Discussion Board en-US Sat, 14 Mar 2026 02:49:50 +0000 wpForo 60 Re: Chapter 11 On the Doorstep https://community.narniaweb.com/community/reading-group-the-hobbit/chapter-11-on-the-doorstep/#post-245634 Thu, 11 Jul 2013 19:26:58 +0000 3. Do you think the old thrush was purposefully trying to show Bilbo where to look, since he seems to listen in on the dwarves on a regular basis? Yes, I think so. He seems to listen and to understand - and if he is of the birds that used to know the Dwarves of old, he's probably interested in helping them as well. So here he tries to show Bilbo where to look - and I think he helps them later, too ...]]> Reading Group: The Hobbit Varnafinde https://community.narniaweb.com/community/reading-group-the-hobbit/chapter-11-on-the-doorstep/#post-245634 Re: Chapter 11 On the Doorstep https://community.narniaweb.com/community/reading-group-the-hobbit/chapter-11-on-the-doorstep/#post-242406 Mon, 01 Jul 2013 02:20:44 +0000 1. Why do you think Bilbo had more spirit than the others when they reach the mountain? Because he has a lot more confidence in himself now that he's been able to save the day multiple times.

3. Do you think the old thrush was purposefully trying to show Bilbo where to look, since he seems to listen in on the dwarves on a regular basis?

I do believe it was purposeful. Doesn't one of the characters remark that this is a rare sort of thrush? I'm sure it's a lot more intelligent than the average birds we have in our world.

~Riella

]]> Reading Group: The Hobbit Ithilwen https://community.narniaweb.com/community/reading-group-the-hobbit/chapter-11-on-the-doorstep/#post-242406 Re: Chapter 11 On the Doorstep https://community.narniaweb.com/community/reading-group-the-hobbit/chapter-11-on-the-doorstep/#post-234805 Mon, 28 Jan 2013 17:16:43 +0000 simply has to be a burglar and then he can go home. ;))

For another, it's all new territory for him; unlike the Dwarves (at least some of them), he's not seeing familiar places laid waste. 2. Fili and Kili exploring with Bilbo, the trying of "fragments of broken spells" (Elvish? Dwarvish? Something else?), and that Bilbo could figure out what clue the thrush was giving. ;))

I mean, I'm still not sure how exactly he figured it out... 3. It seems entirely likely, or at least possible, based on the thrush's listening and the long history of useful birds. ;))

]]> Reading Group: The Hobbit ValiantArcher https://community.narniaweb.com/community/reading-group-the-hobbit/chapter-11-on-the-doorstep/#post-234805 Re: Chapter 11 On the Doorstep https://community.narniaweb.com/community/reading-group-the-hobbit/chapter-11-on-the-doorstep/#post-233978 Sat, 12 Jan 2013 22:59:25 +0000 Reading Group: The Hobbit Movie Aristotle https://community.narniaweb.com/community/reading-group-the-hobbit/chapter-11-on-the-doorstep/#post-233978 Re: Chapter 11 On the Doorstep https://community.narniaweb.com/community/reading-group-the-hobbit/chapter-11-on-the-doorstep/#post-233201 Wed, 02 Jan 2013 15:01:53 +0000 1. Why do you think Bilbo had more spirit than the others when they reach the mountain? I can think of several possible reasons. 1. The dwarves didn't have much spirit so if anything was going to get done he would have to do it. He didn't want to hang arouond there the rest of his life. 2. He was hired mostly for this part of the quest. Sitting and thinking on the doorstep was his job. 3. He loves maps and this is the part of the quest that requires the use of the map. It was a challenge to find where the map lead. 2. What did you find interesting in this chapter?That Bilbo had more spirits than the dwarves. He didn't have much spirit throughout the story and now that they are at the most dangerous part of their adventure he has more spirits than the others. Maybe their spirts had just sunk that low that his were higher. ;))

3. Do you think the old thrush was purposefully trying to show Bilbo where to look, since he seems to listen in on the dwarves on a regular basis?I don't think so. I think he was probably just hungry. It seems unlikely that he would know where the door was. I don't think he is old enough to have been around when the dragon first came. It is possible that a story of the door was handed down.]]> Reading Group: The Hobbit Pattertwigs Pal https://community.narniaweb.com/community/reading-group-the-hobbit/chapter-11-on-the-doorstep/#post-233201 Re: Chapter 11 On the Doorstep https://community.narniaweb.com/community/reading-group-the-hobbit/chapter-11-on-the-doorstep/#post-231984 Thu, 20 Dec 2012 17:47:01 +0000 Now strange to say Mr. Baggins had more than the others. He would often borrow Thorin's map, pondering over the ruins and the message of the moon-letters... -Bilbo had not been present when Smaug attacked. He would not have the memories that some of the dwarves* would have had of that event. -Bilbo spends time puzzling over the map, etc., while the dwarves appear to be at a standstill. Both of these could contribute to Bilbo having better spirits than the dwarves, although the author does say it was "strange." *Even the dwarves too young to remember/be present would have been more connected to the actual event than Bilbo. 2. The line

a narrow path, often lost, often rediscovered

stood out. Not sure if that answers the question, though.

Quotes taken from The Hobbit]]> Reading Group: The Hobbit MeadowMaid https://community.narniaweb.com/community/reading-group-the-hobbit/chapter-11-on-the-doorstep/#post-231984 Re: Chapter 11 On the Doorstep https://community.narniaweb.com/community/reading-group-the-hobbit/chapter-11-on-the-doorstep/#post-231612 Fri, 14 Dec 2012 14:45:29 +0000 Reading Group: The Hobbit GlimGlum https://community.narniaweb.com/community/reading-group-the-hobbit/chapter-11-on-the-doorstep/#post-231612 Re: Chapter 11 On the Doorstep https://community.narniaweb.com/community/reading-group-the-hobbit/chapter-11-on-the-doorstep/#post-230525 Mon, 03 Dec 2012 21:07:03 +0000 Reading Group: The Hobbit Meltintalle https://community.narniaweb.com/community/reading-group-the-hobbit/chapter-11-on-the-doorstep/#post-230525 Chapter 11 On the Doorstep https://community.narniaweb.com/community/reading-group-the-hobbit/chapter-11-on-the-doorstep/#post-3244 Sun, 02 Dec 2012 18:43:44 +0000 1. Why do you think Bilbo had more spirit than the others when they reach the mountain? 2. What did you find interesting in this chapter? 3. Do you think the old thrush was purposefully trying to show Bilbo where to look, since he seems to listen in on the dwarves on a regular basis?]]> Reading Group: The Hobbit Pattertwigs Pal https://community.narniaweb.com/community/reading-group-the-hobbit/chapter-11-on-the-doorstep/#post-3244