The Hobbit Lesson Plan

Biological Determinism in Middle-earth

Kind of Activity:

Creative Writing

Objective:

Examine how Tolkien's races may be inherently good or bad, and what that entails.

Common Core Standards:

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.CCRA.R.1, CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.CCRA.R.8

Structure:

Thus far in the text, your students will have encountered several of the races of Middle-earth: hobbits, dwarves, elves, and goblins. While Tolkien insisted that all of Middle-earth's races are entirely without real-world counterparts and do not represent any group of people, many readers have tried to find parallels between them. This may be especially problematic when you consider that some of Tolkien's...