Spring gala 2024 photo slideshow - Celebrating School-Community Partnerships
The Hobbit
1. The Hobbit
By J.R.R Tolkien
The Hobbit 9 by Themeplus available at https://www.flickr.com/photos/85217387@N04/8267655113/in/photolist-dAzTPP-jVFpnq-iZWdT5-dC3i9u-dBWTi4-qED3tb-dC3eRw-dC3igU-
ouMZEM-pP6gDW-dC3eFo-k9U2PG-dABr5y-dBWMje-2jVB46-ihNCZG-dC3iu5-58AfH8-dzmvnY-58AxAH-dC3gj9-dC3jjq-9fpsdj-58Afyr-eMdpPm-czABts-dC3fa5-iCxgoA-dBWQax-58Azka-
dBWQMz-dC3fnY-dK2SuZ-fobt6q-oL8xGR-dr6tkC-qUVvMS-a4i5sE-pKRpgk-dBWN3x-QKvMBJ-dC3cEQ-dBX7kV-mVPavB-pM5JJc-pNQJKZ-hEz4aw-kaiR1R-7oAfdg-q4rCXx/ under a
Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic.
2. Why read English texts?
Students can gain access to a wide range of books, literature, films and so on, not
having to wait for Norwegian translations of the texts and therefore have access
to “current material, ideas and global culture” (Birketveit & Williams, 2016, p.
164).
“reading is both a skill and a social activity, something we do alone and
something we do when we chat on social media, for example” (Munden, 2015, p.
255).
Literature can aid “imaginative perspectives” and are an approachable way for
teens to understand “global cultures and differences” (Birketveit & Williams,
2016, p. 7).
3. In other words
Fictional texts can be a more approachable medium for teenagers to
understand and question the society in which they are a part of
themselves.
4. About the text
Author: J.R.R Tolkien
First published in 1937
Fantasy novel
Considered to be a ‘modern classic’
5. Plot
Adventure
Encountering several intricate situations which he must solve
Good against evel
Don’t judge the book by its cover
Ordinary people can do extraordinary things
Culture differences and tolerance
7. Graphic Novels
«[…] visuals may support the understanding of
the story and may help the reader to fill the
gaps that are not easily accessible through the
[…] text» (Birketveit & Williams, 2016, p. 134).
Can aid both strong and weak readers
(Tolkien, 2001, p. 111)
8. The Norwegian Subject Curriculum
Competence aims:
understand the main content and details of texts one has chosen
read, understand and evaluate different types of texts varying in length about
different topics
discuss and elaborate on different types of English literature from English-
speaking countries
9. Lesson Plan
Aims:
1. Read English literature
2. Understand the text
1. Main content
2. Themes
3. Talk about the text
10. Yee Peng Sansai 2013 by John Shedrick available at https://www.flickr.com/photos/cm_john/10957919696 under a Creative
Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic.
11. Pre-reading
Dividing the students into groups of four
They discuss what they already know about The Hobbit
Draw a mind-map about the storyline (as much as we know) on the
blackboard
Give out the chosen excerpt from the novel
Give each member of the group one task each
12. While-reading
1. Describe how you think Bilbo’s character changes from the beginning
of the story, to the encounter with the trolls.
2. Describe your thoughts on Gandalf’s behaviour towards Bilbo.
3. Why do you think Bilbo decided to join the dwarves in their
adventure?
4. How do you feel the pictures aid the storyline?
13. Post-reading
Back in their groups, talk about their findings
Create a presentation of the four different topics
Present it for the rest of the class
Hopefully, the different goups have reached different
conclusions/interpretations
Shows that the same narrative can be interpreted differently
See themes that can question/reflect upon their own lives
15. References
Birketveit, A., &Williams, G. (2016). Literature for the English Classroom:
Theory into Practice. Bergen: Fagbokforlaget.
Munden, J. (2015). Engelsk på mellomtrinnet: A Teacher’s Guide. Oslo:
Gyldendal Akademisk.
Tolkien, J.R.R. (1998). The Hobbit. London: Collins Modern Classics.
Tolkien, J.R.R., Wenzel, D. (ill), Deming, S & Dixon, C. (adapt). (1990). The
Hobbit: An Illustrated Edition of the Fantasy Classic. New York and Toronto:
