Chapter 6: The Old Forest

Chapter 6 is really the first chapter where no one is really comfortable or knows what to expect.

Merry does a fine job of leading the party as best as he can through the trails of the Old Forest and using what knowledge he has to be a suitable guide. However, it seems like even a Hobbit who spent all his years next to the brooding and forlorn Old Forest is unable to navigate it successfully.

The Old Forest is a really fascinating area, so close to the Shire, yet impossibly strange and old. Living next door for centuries and the Hobbits still don't know very much about it and don't venture in for fear of the Forest. This fear is both a physical fear (remember the story about the trees rising up and attacking Buckland that is told in the previous chapter?) and a mental one (I probably wouldn't handle living next to violent trees very well either).

The Willow Man is Tamed by Ted Nasmith

Old Forest is remnant of the ancient forest that also included Fangorn. This is more obvious and apparent in the next chapter but it's good to remember up front. Merry describes how trees seem to talk to each other and move and there is an ever-present sense of always being watched.

Again, I come back to the story of the trees attacking the Hedge and the Hobbits that cut down hundreds of these trees and burned them in a gigantic clearing that can still be found at the edge of the Forest. This is one of Tolkien's early and very strong examples of the struggle between nature and people. Really, the entire series can be seen as a story of this struggle but this is a pretty obvious case. I think that through this lesson of Hobbits co-existing with the Forest, Tolkien is really saying something like, "sometimes nature is weird and wild but balance is needed between destroy it all and let it dominate." The Hobbits have learned to live in peace in the shadow of the Forest and just because there is a mystery, does not mean they need to destroy it all.

I also like to view this chapter as an extension of the Shire chapters where I discussed the theme of a "Children's book" that progressively gets darker. Parts of this chapter feel very much like a classic fairy tale with the Hobbits getting lost in the woods as if they were children in a generic Brothers Grimm story.

The Forest actively pushes the Hobbits deeper into the woods and towards the Withywindle River which Merry had wanted to avoid at all cost. Instead, they end up at the river and rest under the branches of a gigantic willow tree. Again, Tolkien is showing the power of nature here, but this time, commenting how even something good can be despoiled and twisted. In this case, evil has pervaded the Forest and has twisted the once pure nature into something with malice and hate.

Old Man Willow, who will be discussed more in the next chapter, is a sentient tree (remind you of anyone?) and lulls the Hobbits to sleep. Hope is almost lost and the Hobbits nearly perish but Sam resists the allure of Old Man Willow and knows something is wrong. He rescues Frodo from drowning, the FIRST TIME HE SAVES FRODO'S LIFE! Cool point of trivia.

Finally, Merry and Pippen are rescued by the oddest of Tolkien's characters and the focus of the next chapter, Tom Bombadil. I'll just save that discussion for that post because it will be a doozy!

Chapter 5: A Conspiracy Unmasked pt 2

From yesterday's post, we can summarize Frodo and his pals in one statement from Merry partially through the chapter, "We know most of what Gandalf told you, we know a good deal about the Ring. We are terribly afraid - but we are coming with you; or following you like hounds."

A Hobbit, or anyone, could do much worse in life than having friends such as these.

However, there is a member of this group that gets very little love and attention, mostly due to the lesser role he plays later in the story, and also his absence from the Peter Jackson films.

Fredegar "Fatty" Bolger is a close friend of Frodo, Merry, and Pippen and is sent ahead to prep the Crickhollow home with Merry. During the unmasking of the conspiracy, Fatty is just as supportive and as aware of what is going on, but hesitates a bit when it comes to the next steps. He balks at going through the Old Forest and instead decides to stay behind and cover their trail.

Alright, first, let's understand that this comes AFTER the large discussion about the immense danger of the Ring, the Enemy, and the fact that the Riders are hot on their trail. Secondly, this says quite a bit about the mystery and fright of the Old Forest which we will be seeing in more detail next chapter.

Fatty is exceptionally brave, although more unrecognized, because of his role in staying behind and telling everyone that Frodo is still there knowing that it will bring attention, probably of the unwanted variety. He also is a great foil to the other Hobbits. Fatty grew up with them, hearing the same stories and desiring the same "adventure", yet Tolkien writes that he is not quite ready to leave the Shire.

Despite lacking the desire to leave the Shire, his actions are unquestionably brave, but how is he rewarded? We'll see in the "Scouring of the Shire" at the end of Return of the King but here's a spoiler (Merry and Pippen receive praise and glory and Fatty is trapped in prison for the duration of the war).

Not all heroes are rewarded commensurate to their actions.

Chapter 5: A Conspiracy Unmasked Pt 1

In Chapter 5, the party finally makes it to Buckland, the strangest place in all the Shire (even more strange than Bag End!)

Map Credit: Encyclopedia of Arda (which you can download on iPhone or iPad to access Tolkien encyclopedia offline!)
Hobbits path painted in by myself.

Tolkien opens this chapter discussing Hobbit lineage and the founding of Buckland. Seperated from the rest of the Shire by the Brandywine River, Buckland was founded by Gorhendad Oldbuck, who crossed the river to found his own independent colony of sorts. Over the years, this colony grew and spread, becoming several villages, with the Oldbuck family (now called the Brandybucks) ruling as Masters of Buckland from Brandy Hall.

The Bucklanders are not like Hobbits we've encountered before. These Hobbits are frontiersmen. At the far eastern edge of the Shire, they are separated from kin by a wide river with few crossings and pressed closely by the Old Forest on the other side, an ominous place even for the families who've spent centuries there. They swim in the river, are skilled in the use of boats and even *gasp* lock their doors at night (which is very unusual in the Shire).

They are the symbolic crossroads between the Shire and the outside world and it's important to remember that Frodo grew up here. His identity as half-Brandbuck and half-Baggins gives him a lineage of adventure and is a combination that only further illustrates how odd  proper Hobbits must have thought him. He was cast from a different mold than other Hobbits explicitly to play a role in this story.

But Frodo isn't the only member of the Brandybuck family we are meeting. Chapter 5 is the first time we really get to meet Meriadoc Brandybuck and see who he is, and, boy, is it sure different than the movie.

Merry Brandybuck

In the films, Merry and Pippen are comedic relief with spurts of courage (Merry probably moreso than Pippen). The books aren't real keen on the "comedic relief" aspect of this, but I understand that it makes the film more, well, like a film should be. Regardless, it requires us to take a thorough examination of Merry and toss away any notion we have about his character.

Merry is, in my mind, the smartest of Frodo's friends, and likely his closest one as well. Whenever there is internal conflict throughout the series, it's Merry who knows Frodo's thoughts and Merry who is the one trying to bring things together. And he should be! He is the heir to Buckland and the closest thing to nobility that Hobbits have (except for, you know, his friend Pippen who is heir to the most prominent military title, and Frodo who is the wealthiest of Hobbits)

Not only is Merry intelligent and a natural leader, he is much bolder than portrayed cinematically. When Frodo, Pippen, and Sam arrive at Crickhollow, Merry says "I guess that you have been having adventures which was not quite fair without me".

A Hobbit jealous of adventure? DOES ANYONE EVEN REMEMBER ANYTHING WE'VE LEARNED ABOUT HOBBITS SO FAR? This is really an important line and worth remembering about Merry.

But Why?

Sure, Merry is a smart, charismatic leader, but why is he going to these great lengths? Why is he jealous of adventure? Surely, this is akin to those scenes early in a war movie where the 18 year old boy from Iowa is talking tough about going out and doing great things which contrasts severely with the actual experience. Surely, this is to show Hobbit naivete and frame the rest of the work.

That's probably true, to a small extent. However, once at Crickhollow, we are let in on a little secret, one which further defines these Hobbits as something exceptional.

Merry, Pippen, and Sam (and Fredegar and Folco!) have known about the Ring and the plans to leave the whole time!

Truth-Bombs!

The night before Frodo and Sam are supposed to leave, while eating at his new home in Crickhollow, Frodo is waxing on about not knowing how to say something and seems very distracted by his imminent departure from the world he knows. Merry drops some truth bombs on Frodo. He bluntly announces that they know he meant to leave and just doesn't know how to do it. Additionally, he explains that they have made preparations of their own to join him. This is not a spur of the moment decision, having been very carefully planned by all group members prior to this.

They are very close friends and although Frodo seemed to do a good job keeping it secret, they knew.  It's what friends do.

But How?

Before Frodo can protest about how dangerous it could be, Merry explains that they know all about the Ring, and that they will be facing the Enemy. Merry had KNOWN something was up very early on, and with Pippen, enlisted Sam as their chief spy on the plans of Frodo. The Hobbits know how grim and terrible the trip will be (as much as they can know, I suppose) because they know everything that Gandalf has shared with Frodo. This, of course, begs the question of did Gandalf know that they were spying on Frodo's plans? My bet is on of course he did and it was probably part of his plan but that's conjecture and we should discuss that in the comments!

Frodo is a bit peeved at Sam (understandably) but Merry jumps in to defend him, "Sam is an excellent fellow and would jump down a dragon's throat to save you". Or, you know, run into a tower of orcs or a gigantic spiders cave, or into an erupting volcano, etc. This is pretty high praise to someone who was no more than Frodo's gardener a few months back.

Frodo protests a bit more, lamenting that he cannot trust anyone, and once again, Merry has a response and its one of my favorite passages in the entire series so I'm block quoting it.

"You can trust us to stick to you through thick and thin - to the bitter end. And you can trust us to keep any secret of yours - closer than you keep it yourself.  But you cannot trust us to let you face your troubles alone,  and go off without a word.  We are your friends Frodo. "

Boom. Truth bombs on Frodo.

The group saddles up the next morning on a group of ponies well stocked with provisions by, you guessed it, Merry and Fredegar, and set out into the Old Forest to avoid the main road and the Riders. Everyone really has an ominous sense of the Old Forest, even the brave Tooks and the wild frontiersman Brandybucks. Guess who already has a plan formulated and mapped out and leads the way into the dark?

Merry Brandybuck.

Pt 1 of 2

Chapter 4: Shortcut to Mushrooms

Chapter 4 is a quick read of a chapter, nestled in between the refreshing evening with the Elves and before Frodo and company makes it to Buckleberry Ferry and their "freedom". This is a bit shorter of a post and I wanted to introduce an important theme of the entire series that makes an early appearance here: the power of voice.

Leaving the Shire by Ted Nasmith

The next morning after the party with the Elves, Pippen is in an extraordinarily good mood considering the circumstances. He had a rather strange day what with Dark Riders and a full day of walking and hasn't slept in a proper bed in several nights. Why, he doesn't even have beer, a fact he bemoans in Chapter 4. Granted, Pippen knows much less about whats going on and the true danger than Frodo and Sam, but his cheer is a strong contrast to Frodo who wakes up troubled and concerned.

This marks the first time that Frodo tries to get his friends to leave him.

Sam seems to understand what Frodo is trying to get at and rejects him firmly. He relays an interesting exchange with the Elves from the night before.

" 'Don't you leave him!' they said to me, 'Leave him!' I said, 'I never mean to. I am going with him, if he climbs to the Moon and if any of those black riders try to stop him, they'll have Sam Gamgee to reckon with!' "

First, this is important because it is one of the earlier instances of "oaths" or promises making their appearance. Words are very powerful in Tolkien's world (which makes sense, being a linguist and language scholar and all) and spoken words can carry weight of their own. Think Gandalf speaking to bring down the Chamber of Mazarbul in Moria, or Grima Wormtongue using his voice to manipulate the King. It's not simple political persuasion, it's actual control.

The power of voice is a strong theme in old Norse mythology and Tolkien uses his research in that area to tie in these traditional elements. It's pretty similar to Skyrim where the Nord characters revere those who can use the Dragon Shouts, essentially, those who can command the world with their voice. This is an old Nordic trope and Tolkien hits it throughout the series.

Oaths, and promises, are of a similar vein and it's important to take note when they are made, by whom, and how they are kept.

Another important piece of this conversation is how Sam comments that he doesn't really have an interest in seeing Elves, Dragons, or Mountains anymore. He wants to continue because he feels like he must. He claims that he feels a sense of duty and there is something that he needs to do before the end. A pretty solid turnaround from the starry eyed boy from a chapter ago. Remember, Sam is a young-guy still. Late teens in terms of human development while Frodo is probably closer to early 30's in this regard. Important to keep in mind.

Tolkien's choice of language and writing style varies throughout the book. In these early chapters, its more casual. He drops parenthetical asides referencing whats really going on such as "Sam claimed his pack was too light (it wasn't)." which is a feature not really seen in later chapters. In Chapter 3, he even writes a paragraph of the inner monologue of a fox who happened to be walking by. In generally, it feels like a children's book that is growing darker and darker with each chapter, which I think is by design.

Chapter 3: Three is Company

In this chapter, Frodo, Sam, and Pippen set off to Buckland to move Frodo into his new home on the far eastern edge of the Shire.

This is the first real leg of the trip, even if it is mostly across rolling hills and gentle thickets, and we get our first taste of how the Hobbits will react to the road.

The chapter is broken into three distinct segments and I'll format this post in much the same way.

Last Sight of Hobbiton by Ted Naismith

Preparing to Leave

Unlike the Peter Jackson films, Frodo takes his sweet time leaving the Shire after Gandalf comes by talking about how the Ring is, well, the Ring. Spring rolls into summer, and summer becomes fall, and Frodo drags his feet commenting that his home felt more comfortable and desirable than ever. This is a nice contrast with his initial energy in rushing off after Bilbo and starting his own adventure. Eventually, Frodo is convinced to leave after his birthday in the autumn.

In an additional wild bit of Hobbit gossip, Frodo sells Bag End to the Sackville-Baggins, causing quite a stir among the respectable Hobbits of the Shire. This seems to be a specialty with the Baggins of Bag End.

Frodo, Pippen, Merry, Folco, and Fredegar  spend several days packing and shipping off his belongings to a new house in Buckland where he decided to "move away to". Only Sam knows the real reason for the trip (and Sam still isn't invited to spend time with the group of friends...) Folco and Fredegar head out a few days early and Merry escorts the last of the wagons to Buckland to help set up Frodo's house before he arrives.

On the eve of the departure, Frodo has an encounter with The Enemy. Not the Ring, but one of the most powerful servants of Sauron, a Nazgul. As Frodo stretches on his front stoop, he hears old Gaffer speaking in an oddly shrill voice about how Mr. Frodo went away to Buckleberry. Thinking nothing of it, Frodo, Sam, and Pippen take off into the early evening, crossing through the fields and hedges.

On the Road

I think this is an incredibly interesting section and really sets the tone for how the rest of the journey will pan out. 

The first lines of dialogue on the trek come from Frodo bemoaning how heavy his pack is. 

The second line? Sam offering to take some of Frodo's weight because his own is much too light (Tolkien explains that Sam is not being truthful).

Bam! Right there from the start we see EXACTLY how their relationship will look. The more I re-read, the more impressed I become with Sam. The youngest son of a poor gardener, servant of nobility of the Shire, who listened wide-eyed at tales of wonder and elves, becomes the strongest hero of the books (yes, over even Aragorn and Frodo). He knows that his own pack is heavier than Frodo's (because he packed it that way) but still is willing to give more.

The second major bit of action comes the second day of the adventure when Frodo, Sam, and Pippen are overcome with a sudden urge to get off the road and hide. A few moments later, Frodo, peeking through the weeds, sees the Dark Rider himself, sniffing the air for a scent. 

The Hobbits don't know yet what this is or what it represents but Frodo already has a strong feeling of dread. He knows that he is safe and hidden, yet the Ring feels so tempting in his pocket. He doesn't know that the Rider would be able to see him then. All he knows is that the Ring makes him invisible, yet he resists?

Well, he doesn't really resist. He is going for the Ring and the Rider leaves. How disastrous would that have been? Frodo, 1.5 days out of Bag End and not yet to Buckland, loses the Ring to a Nazgul who spirits it away to Mordor. Pretty short trip.

Fortunately, the Rider got impatient first. But the pull of the Ring casts Frodo's reluctance to leave Bag End in a different light. Could it be the Ring that was making him think of how great the Shire was and how cozy it felt? Or was it his inner Hobbit finally coming out? I'll wager its a bit of both.

The Elves

After this encounter, Frodo, Sam and Pippen run into the Rider again. This time, they are saved by the timely sound of singing Elves which drives the the Nazgul away. That's 2 for 2 with lucky escapes from the Riders.

The Elves recognize Frodo as a friend of Bilbo's and hail the Hobbits. (This has been a particularly unusual day for Pippen especially. Black Riders, Elves?) 

Elves in the Woody End by Ted Naismith

History Lesson!

These are not just any Elves though! These are Noldor, high elves, the most powerful of the Elvish races! Their leader is Gildor Inglorion of the House of Finrod. Now, this likely means that he is of the House of Finrod who was a brother to Feanor, the greatest of the Elves. However, being "of the House" can mean no more than being a knight or minor noble, so it is unlikely our friend Gildor is very significant in the grand scheme of Elvish power.

Still though, he claims to lead this band of "Exiles" which is an interesting point in Elvish history. Back in the 1st Age, Finrod (whose name is really Finarfin but that didn't clear up until the Silmarillion was edited in the 70s.) and his brothers Feanor and Fingolfin left Valinor for Middle Earth. Halfway there, Manwe (think Zeus) issued the Doom of the Noldor, which is an indictment of Feanor's pride and vengeance. Essentially, an "original sin" for Elves. Finrod heeded Manwe's warning and returned to Valinor where he presumably still rules as King of the Noldor. Feanor and Fingolfin lead long and glorious lives with many great stories. We'll touch on them later as we go.

Anyway, Gildor is probably part of the group that continued sailing to Middle Earth with Feanor and Fingolfin and did not return to Valinor with his own ruler. This makes this group particularly powerful, in contrast to the woodland elves of Legolas which are a different, less powerful variety.

***

The Elves takes the hobbits in to protect them from the Rider and have a wonderful little party above Woodhall. Frodo stays up with Gildor speaking of events across Middle Earth. Gildor leaves Frodo with parting wisdom and a strong foreshadow in regards to the Enemy.

"My heart forebodes that you, Frodo of the Shire, will know more of these fell things than Gildor Inglorion!" This is a substantial statement coming from a Noldor who has seen thousands of years rise and fall. He has fought the Enemy first hand at the side of the great Elf Lord Gil-Galad and to make this claim (which Elves don't do lightly) is pretty bold.

He also leaves Frodo with the wish that Elbereth protect him. Elbereth is their most beloved star, representative of the Valar named Varda. Frodo remembers this, I think, as he cries out Elbereth when stabbed on Weathertop, and its the password Sam and him use in Cirith Ungol. Each of these events had a life-threatening wound given to Frodo and yet he survives despite the odds.

Elbereth watched over him, indeed.

Alternative Ways to Enjoy Tolkien

This post is quite an aside from normal content but just figured I'd give a shout-out to a few different mediums to experience Tolkien's world that you may not be familiar with.

Video Games

Lord of the Rings Online - This is my highest recommendation because its free. It's like World of Warcraft in terms of gameplay with a substantial focus on the plot and just exploring the really beautiful and varied world. It's a rare game that I enjoy just wandering around looking at the scenery and really feel a part of the game. It's worth the download and worth some time. If interested, I play on the Landroval server under the name Angalph, a human knight from an area of Gondor. (bonus points to those of you who can tell me what his name means and why I named him such).

LOTR: The Third Age - it's a Final Fantasy Clone, but surprisingly a lot of fun. No surprises in terms of what you fight/experience but it's well done and a quick play through. If you have a last gen console, check it out! It's backwards compatible on the 360, but there are a few visual bugs that I've noticed. Play on the original system if possible!

LOTR: The Battle for Middle-Earth II - A pretty solid RTS game. It's worth playing if you enjoyed playing Age of Empires or Starcraft. Not terribly original, but it holds up alright and can be played on the PC so can be acquired pretty cheaply. Also on Xbox 360! 

Don't expect too much canonicity here though. They're all fairly open with lore.

Books

The History of Middle-Earth - it's a 12 volume set of Tolkien's notes and stories compiled into a narrative. Very information dense but very informative! I haven't read them all but check out entries of wikis extensively. Read the real trilogy a few times first (with appendices!)

The Children of Hurin - a very accessible work by Tolkien that explores one of the Silmarillion's key stories. Turin Turambar is one of the children of Hurin, and is one of the greatest of Tolkien's heroes. In fact, it's Turin who is foretold to return at the Dagor Dagorath (the apocalypse essentially) and will lead the races of Middle Earth against the hosts of Morgoth (the original big bad guy before Sauron) who escapes his prison. Turin is a bad ass.

Films

Born of Hope - This is a 71 minute fan-film (on a $25,000 budget...) tells the story of Aragorn's parents and the Rangers in the North. It's probably the best fan film I've ever seen. Fantastic quality. You really could imagine this  being a much larger Hollywood production.

The Hunt for Gollum - This 39 minute short film chronicles the time in which Aragorn and Gandalf hunted Gollum in the wildlands. Also exceptionally well made and well-received. Worth your time if you're just sitting on Reddit.

Music

Complete Songs and Poems - This excellently well made volume is a work from the Tolkien Ensemble, an orchestra that puts Tolkien's work to music, and featuring great vocals from a variety of artists including Christopher Lee (Saruman...) The works are very good, my personal favorite is the Song of Beren and Luthien. Really brings the poetry to life. I have this on my computer if you're interested.

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I didn't go into some of the obvious ones like Howard Shore's soundtracks or Peter Jackson's films because I assume my readers know about them. I also didn't include The Silmarillion but that is a great first step to exploring Tolkien beyond Lord of the Rings.

Enjoy!

Chapter 2: The Shadow of the Past part 2 - The One Ring

This is the second part to my talk on Chapter 2 which focuses on the One Ring.

The Ring 

The Ring is the character who drives the story from start to finish. After several re-reads, it's clear that the Ring is its own character as much as Frodo, Aragorn, or Sauron are and should be discussed as such. We find other wondrous artifacts such as Anduril, Glamdring, or Sting, but none expand into the realm of near-sentience. As Frodo notes when Gandalf explains the Ring, "Did not always see the same size or weight; it shrank or expanded in an odd way, and might suddenly slip of a finger where it had been tight". It literally has a mind of its own.

Diving off on a tangent, the Ring's power is clearly from what Sauron emparted on it. It's a part of him so to speak. However, that is not to say it is an actual extension of Sauron nor is it wholly independent. Think of the Ring like Sauron's dog. It has great power on its own and can bite and make its own decisions. It can even refuse to be tamed by others and run away if needed. But the dog is trying to get back to its master. It can survive without Sauron, but it needs, and WANTS, Sauron in order to thrive and wag its little morgul-script tail.

Additionally, it is very important to understand the effects the Ring has on those around it and who wear it. The Rings of Power are a purposefully underexplained phenomena in Middle Earth and the One Ring perhaps moreso, however we can glean quite a bit of information from whats provided and infer much else. Gollum, Bilbo, and the Ring-wraiths are the best examples of what Sauron's Rings do to the races of Middle-Earth.

Essentially, the Rings amplify what you want most - what your base desire is. 

For Men, that's power. Not always in an evil sense as we see in Boromir, but the desire to gain personal power (for their own gains, or for communal gains) is very strong. The Ring-wraiths were consumed by this. Becoming more powerful and falling more under the grasp of their rings. For Dwarves, this is beauty and craftsmenship.

For a Dwarf, there is nothing that can compare with crafting the finest weapon, the finest armor, the most beautiful hall, the deepest mine. As such, all of the Dwarf rings except a handful were lost due to their wielders going one step too far (think Thror in The Hobbit who amassed too much wealth and attracted a powerful dragon, or Durin who delved too deep and found a balrog).

It's unknown what this is for Elves as Celebrimbor forged their rings before Sauron could influence their construction. The Three amplify the Elves natural "beauty" in a sense, which can account for why Lorien and Rivendell are the most majestic places visited in the saga (Elrond and Galadriel each bear a ring) but they do not have the same corrupting power as the Nine, the Seven, or the One.

For Hobbits, it seems like Sauron didn't calculate them into his plans (which is a HUGE theme of the entire saga). For a Hobbit, traditionally, there is nothing better than good dirt for tilling, good pipe weed for smoking, and good friends for passing the time with. Essentially, they're a simple folk and don't have illusions of power! They don't desire to amass wealth (their fondest tradition is giving OTHERS presents on their own birthdays) and those who do are selfless with it (see Bilbo). 

It's notable that the three most famous Ring-bearers are Hobbits. 

Gollum is the first, a Stoor (one of the farther branches of Hobbitses) and is still posseses a semblance of will after nearly 500 years with the One Ring. The Nine have fully faded into the shadow realm and don't have physical bodies anymore. The Nine are substantially weaker than the One so its remarkable that Gollum is still corporeal nevermind comparatively sane.

Bilbo has the Ring for 50 years and its effects are mostly seen through the unnatural prolonging of his life as he slowly is pulled from the physical world and more goes into the shadow world. Eventually, he would become like the Ringwraiths, beings fully in the shadow world, capable of passing into the physical world with the power of the Ring. When Bilbo puts the Ring on, he jumps fully into this shadow world, amplifying the effects and allowing him to see the unseen, like the Ringwraiths. It is very significant that Bilbo is the only individual to willingly give up the Ring during his life-time. (We could argue Sam, but I won't. Sam is a bit atypical from all the other characters as we'll explore later).

Frodo has the most difficult task because the Ring is most rebellious to Frodo. It's remarkable that Frodo willingly sets out on the trek to destroy the Ring before Gandalf even suggests it. He knows what he has to do and understands the gravity, and is rightfully afraid. Frodo is very courageous and no one can help him in his times of darkness.


That was a lot of information and I'm interested in your thoughts here. I find the Hobbit's remarkable constitution one of the triumphs of the piece. Everyone consistently underestimates the Hobbits and they pull through in the end, better than all the other races of Middle Earth.

Chapter Two: The Shadow of the Past part 1 - The Hobbits

Chapter Two is one of my favorite chapters in the entirety of the Lord of the Rings saga because it really is where the story kicks off. Chapter 1 has some nice exposition and a pleasant party, but Chapter Two is where we dig into the character of Frodo and start to see him, and his friends, as a contrast to the older, stodgier Hobbits of the first chapter.

Hobbiton by Ted Nasmith

 

I think I'm going to spend this chapter looking at the two biggest Hobbit characters in the book, Frodo and Sam, followed by a second post looking at one of the most mysterious, yet powerful characters, the One Ring, which will be posted tomorrow!

Frodo 

Frodo is the young nephew of Bilbo introduced in the first chapter. Frodo is an orphan and we've discussed the interested position he has as the eldest of Bilbo's cousins and the role of the "elder" in a group. Chapter Two really fleshes out what Frodo is before the journey and highlights just how different he was compared to his neighbors and even his friends. As an aside about Frodo's friends, he is introduced with his circle of friends who are Meriadoc and Peregrin (who are well known characters) and the less known Folco Boffin and Fredegar (Fatty) Bolger. Fredegar gets a good amount of attention in the next few chapters and is one of the least heralded heroes of the saga but one who played an absolutely crucial part. Samwise Gamgee is NOT mentioned as a friend of Frodo's despite being of a similar age as Pippin and living in the same hill as Frodo. Sam, after all, is Frodo's employee and NOT his friend. The clear language in this chapter establishes that they were on good terms with each other, but not oft drinking buddies or old comrades.

It's important to note that Frodo is aggressively pushed as an atypical Hobbit, much the opposite way Bilbo was presented in The Hobbit. Bilbo is a very reluctant adventurer and relishes casual days smoking pipe weed and walking through the gardens. Frodo, having grown up on Bilbo's tales, has a sense of wonder that is matched by his companions, atypical Hobbits themselves!

Tolkien writes that Frodo is oft seen wandering the Shire by night, alone, staring up at the stars and lost in thoughts. He surrounded himself with odd characters as well. The respectable Hobbits of the Ivy Bush Inn whispered about queer Mr. Frodo as he was "Often he was seen walking and talking with the strange wayfarers that began at this time to appear in the Shire". I would think they mean Men in this instance as Elves and Dwarves are mentioned individually elsewhere in the section (and Frodo speaks frequently with them as well!) and new men in the Shire likely mean early scouts of Saruman, although this is nothing more than a personal hunch.

Sam 

As I mentioned before, its significant that Sam is not mentioned as a specific friend of Frodo. He is of a lower social class, his father being Bilbo's longtime gardener, and drinks with the fellow laborers of town like Ted Sandyman the miller while Frodo carouses with Merry Brandybuck, the heir to Buckland, and Pippin Took, the heir of Great Smials and the title of Thane of the Shire. Frodo is hanging out with Shire nobility (and as a Baggins with a Took for a mother and a Baggins/Brandybuck father, a noble himself)while their workers gossip about them in pubs.

When we are properly introduced to Sam, he is telling his drinking mates about tales he's heard from the northernmost reaches of the Shire - giants have been seen and there are Elves going through the woods again! He frequently references the tales of Mr. Bilbo and laments how Bilbo left so he can no longer hear the stories. Sam is a simple man, enchanted by the unknown and mystery that Bilbo presented. When Gandalf insists that Sam accompany Frodo at the end of the chapter, Sam is overjoyed. HE GETS TO SEE THE ELVES! He literally jumps for joy at the chance to live out one of Mr. Bilbo's stories and is anxious to leave the Shire behind.

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I think the most significant of the Hobbit's characteristics is that these Hobbits represent a new generation very different than the previous ones. These Hobbits grew up on Bilbo's tales of adventure and have a deeply ingrained sense of curiosity, wondering what else there is besides gentle rolling hills and fine pipe-weed to the world. Sam is the most wide-eyed child-like over this (probably because he, and Pippen, are essentially kids when this starts) but all of the main Hobbits are different in that they are intrigued by adventure and do not shy away from the possibility of it. This is a REMARKABLE difference than 50 years prior when Bilbo ran out of town without his handkerchief.