If you’ve followed Bilbo Baggins from Bag-End to the Lonely Mountain, the Hobbit Order of Events Quiz is your chance to see how closely you remember the twists and turns of his journey. Tolkien’s tale is packed with strange lands, strange creatures, and sudden challenges and while many fans remember Gollum’s riddle contest or the encounter with Smaug, fewer can recall the exact sequence of adventures that shaped Bilbo’s transformation from a timid hobbit into a clever and courageous hero.
The Hobbit Order of Events Quiz goes beyond surface-level recall. It asks whether you remember which event came first, how encounters influenced what followed, and how Bilbo’s choices changed not only his fate but the fate of Middle-earth. In a story filled with ambushes, arguments, and unexpected allies, keeping the timeline straight is more difficult than it seems. This quiz is not just about memory it’s about understanding how Tolkien builds narrative momentum, step by step.
The journey from Bag-End to the Battle of the Five Armies is filled with twists and turns do you remember the order of key events? If you’re interested in how Tolkien’s literary techniques shaped the story, check out The Hobbit Literary Devices Quiz. Want to sharpen your ability to identify characters? Test yourself with The Hobbit Character Matching Quiz. And for the final challenge, see if you can master The Hobbit Full Book Quiz!
This blog will guide you through the major episodes of the novel, highlighting how each fits into the broader arc. Whether you’re preparing for the quiz or simply revisiting a classic, the sections below will refresh your memory of the key milestones on Bilbo’s long and dangerous road.
The Unexpected Party at Bag-End
The story opens in the peaceful Shire, where Bilbo Baggins enjoys a quiet life. That peace is shattered when Gandalf arrives and, without asking, invites a company of thirteen dwarves into Bilbo’s home. What starts as a chaotic tea party becomes a call to adventure. Thorin and his band seek to reclaim their ancestral home and treasure from the dragon Smaug and Gandalf believes Bilbo, despite his reluctance, is the perfect burglar for the job.
This event sets everything in motion, and in the Hobbit Order of Events Quiz, it’s your anchor point. You’ll be asked to place later events in relation to this strange and fateful gathering. Knowing the dynamics of this opening how Gandalf manipulates Bilbo into joining, and how the dwarves size him up is crucial to understanding the novel’s tone and structure.
Trolls, Rivendell, and Goblins
Bilbo’s first brush with danger comes when he and the dwarves encounter three trolls. Inexperienced and overmatched, Bilbo attempts to pick a pocket but is quickly captured. The entire company is nearly eaten, but Gandalf returns just in time to trick the trolls into staying out until dawn, turning them to stone. From their cave, they recover useful weapons most notably, the swords Sting and Glamdring.
Soon after, they arrive in Rivendell, where Elrond reads the moon-runes on Thorin’s map. This moment becomes key much later in the story, proving that even quiet episodes can carry great weight. The company then crosses the Misty Mountains, where they are captured by goblins. Gandalf rescues them again, but not before Bilbo becomes separated and falls deeper into the mountain.
The quiz will challenge you to recall the order of these events. Did the trolls come before Rivendell? Was the goblin cave before or after the riddle contest? Only readers who follow the pacing closely will pass with confidence.
Gollum’s Riddles and Bilbo’s Turning Point
Alone in the goblin tunnels, Bilbo meets Gollum, a twisted and ancient creature who survives in the dark by eating fish and riddling to keep his mind occupied. They engage in a tense riddle contest, where Bilbo’s life depends on answering correctly. When Gollum fails, Bilbo wins by asking a non-riddle: “What have I got in my pocket?” This moment leads to Bilbo’s discovery of the magic ring which grants invisibility and becomes central in later Tolkien works.
This scene is more than iconic it marks the start of Bilbo’s transformation. He defeats fear, outsmarts a dangerous creature, and chooses mercy rather than killing Gollum. The quiz will ask not just when this happened, but how it changed him. Where does it fall between the goblin attack and the escape? When does Bilbo tell the others about the ring? These small details form a big part of the narrative’s turning point.
Beorn, Mirkwood, and the Spiders
After escaping the goblins, the group meets Beorn, a skin-changer who can become a bear. He provides food and ponies for their next leg, which takes them into the dark and dangerous forest of Mirkwood. Here, Gandalf leaves them, and the company must face hallucinations, hunger, and hostile creatures on their own. One of the most harrowing episodes occurs when the group is trapped by giant spiders until Bilbo frees them with cunning and courage.
This moment earns him the respect of the dwarves, particularly Thorin. It also shows that Bilbo is no longer a passive follower he is actively leading and saving lives. The Hobbit Order of Events Quiz includes this forest sequence in detail, asking you to place the spider attack, the enchanted stream, and the wood-elf imprisonment in correct order.
The Elvenking and the Barrels
After surviving the spiders, the company is captured by the wood-elves of Mirkwood. Thorin refuses to explain their quest, so the group is imprisoned. Bilbo, using his ring and his growing boldness, discovers a way to escape hiding the dwarves in barrels and floating them down the river to Lake-town. This escape is not only daring, it’s completely unassisted by Gandalf, showing just how far Bilbo has come.
Quiz questions about this escape focus on how long they were imprisoned, how Bilbo navigates the Elvenking’s halls, and how the journey to Lake-town unfolds. These events mark the end of the journey’s second act and signal that the group is nearing its ultimate goal.
Smaug’s Lair and the Arkenstone
At the Lonely Mountain, Bilbo sneaks into Smaug’s lair. He steals a cup and later the Arkenstone, a gem of great importance to Thorin. Bilbo converses with the dragon, using riddles again, and barely escapes with his life. Smaug, furious, flies off to attack Lake-town. This leads to his death at the hands of Bard the Bowman, using a black arrow aimed at the dragon’s one vulnerable spot.
The Hobbit Order of Events Quiz will test your sequence of these events. Did Bilbo take the Arkenstone before or after Smaug leaves? When does Thorin discover the theft? When does Bard come into the story? Understanding the tension between the dwarves, the townspeople, and Bilbo is essential to navigating these late chapters.
The Battle of the Five Armies
Thorin, obsessed with the treasure and the Arkenstone, refuses to share the gold, even with those who helped him. When armies of men and elves arrive to claim a portion, he sends for reinforcements. Bilbo, hoping to prevent bloodshed, secretly gives the Arkenstone to Bard. Just as battle begins, goblins and wargs arrive, forcing former enemies to unite.
Thorin fights bravely but is mortally wounded. Before dying, he makes peace with Bilbo. Fili and Kili also fall. This moment closes the book’s emotional arc. The quiz will ask about the order of deaths, the battle’s alliances, and how Bilbo distances himself from the chaos around him.
Home Again: The Return to the Shire
Bilbo declines a large portion of the treasure and returns home, only to find himself presumed dead. His belongings are being auctioned off, and he must reclaim his home. Though richer and wiser, Bilbo finds he no longer fits into the Shire’s simple rhythms. He’s changed, and not everyone understands who he’s become.
This final chapter is brief but meaningful. It shows that real adventure leaves marks that never fully fade. The Hobbit Order of Events Quiz ends with this final return, asking how Bilbo’s homecoming compares to his departure and what he learns along the way.
Take the Hobbit Order of Events Quiz
This quiz is more than a memory test it’s a map of transformation. Bilbo’s journey wasn’t just about dragons and treasure. It was about discovering who he is when everything familiar is stripped away. The Hobbit Order of Events Quiz lets you retrace that journey, one event at a time, and see how clearly you remember the road from Hobbiton to heroism.
Click below to take the Hobbit Order of Events Quiz and prove you can follow Bilbo’s trail from beginning to end without getting lost in the dark. The Hobbit Quizzes: Join Middle-earth’s greatest quest …
The Hobbit Plot – FAQ
The Hobbit follows the journey of Bilbo Baggins, a hobbit who lives a quiet life in the Shire. He is unexpectedly swept into an adventure by the wizard Gandalf and a group of dwarves led by Thorin Oakenshield. Their mission is to reclaim the Lonely Mountain and its treasure from the dragon Smaug.
The central characters include Bilbo Baggins, the reluctant hero; Gandalf, the wise and powerful wizard; Thorin Oakenshield, the determined leader of the dwarves; and Smaug, the fearsome dragon. Other notable characters include Gollum, Elrond, and Bard the Bowman.
Smaug is the primary antagonist of the story. He is a massive, cunning dragon who hoards the treasure of the Lonely Mountain. His presence drives the plot, as the dwarves seek to reclaim their homeland and wealth from him, leading to a climactic confrontation.
Bilbo transforms from a cautious and comfort-loving hobbit into a brave and resourceful adventurer. Throughout the journey, he discovers his courage, cleverness, and leadership abilities, which earn him the respect of his companions and play a crucial role in their quest’s success.
The Hobbit explores themes such as the hero’s journey, the importance of bravery, and the value of friendship and loyalty. It also delves into the corrupting nature of greed, as seen in the characters’ desire for treasure and power, and the impact of war and conflict on individuals and communities.