"An Unexpected Party" Song Trivia Quiz

Answer:

In J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Hobbit" (1937), this song appears in the book's first chapter ("An Unexpected Party") during the Dwarves' first evening in Bilbo's home. After arriving unannounced, eating a full meal, and overwhelming their host, they begin clearing the dishes in a lively, almost chaotic fashion. The song functions as a playful exaggeration of the mishaps that might unfold in Bilbo's well‑kept kitchen - each line humorously threatens the kind of disorder that would deeply upset a neat and proper hobbit. Rather than actually damaging anything, the Dwarves use the song to tease Bilbo and to show their camaraderie and confidence in one another. Its inclusion helps lighten the mood, establishes the Dwarves' rough but good-natured character, and marks the moment when Bilbo's quiet life begins giving way to the energy and unpredictability of adventure.

While the song as presented in the novel has no title, it has generally been referred to by its first line amongst readers: "Chip the glasses and crack the plates!" That said, the song has been presented in the various "Hobbit" films with some slight differences in text, and usually known by a different title in the cinematic context. In the 1977 animated film "The Hobbit", the song is referred to as "That's What Bilbo Baggins Hates", while in 2012's "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey", the dwarves' rousing rendition of the song is titled "Blunt the Knives".

Since this quiz is titled "An Unexpected Party" Song, I should also note that there is a second song sung in this first chapter of the book - "Far over the misty mountains cold" - which is the Dwarves' famous lament for their lost home.