Book 2 Chapter 10: The Breaking of the Fellowship

We've reached the end! Of Part One at least. Which is good because the many months writing on this blog is far too short of time to spend among such amiable readers.

Unlike the films, Fellowship of the Ring ends not with a battle or a death, but with everyone frantically searching for Frodo while he and Sam slip across the Anduin into the wild country on the far bank.

Frankly, I think the MOST interesting piece of this chapter is the breaking of Boromir which is the namesake of the chapter. When Boromir breaks, so goes the Fellowship. However, I'm going to save Boromir's fall for when his death comes at the beginning of Two Towers.

Instead I'm going to talk about Frodo's vision at Amon Hen and some parallels between this scene and the initial departure from Rivendell.

Frodo and the Seat of Seeing

Amon Hen and Amon Lhaw are the two hills that are on each side of the river where the Fellowship camps. Amon Hen means "Seat of Seeing" and as Frodo is fleeing Boromir while wearing the Ring, he experiences a few interesting experiences.

Frodo reaches the top of the ruins while wearing the Ring and suddenly, he can see across distant fields and observes the deteriorating state of Middle-Earth. War is being waged everywhere and no one stronghold is safe. He gazes upon the tower of Barad-dur and feels the Ring pulling to Sauron.

Just when he feels like he is about to be discovered by Sauron, he removes the Ring and safely avoids Sauron's detection.

The first interesting point here is the vision of Frodo. This is one of several that occurs in Fellowship and we know that there are others that occur later in the adventure. In a previous post, I discussed potential sources of the visions and came down to the conclusion that it could either be something innate about Frodo or the power of the Ring.

As we're progressing through the story, I think it is becoming more apparent that the power of the Ring is the big driver behind these visions.

The Ring is a physical manifestation of the might, and cunning of Sauron. As a Valar, his power is tremendous and even a portion of it, embodied in the Ring can bestow wondrous and terrible effects upon the bearer, not all of which they can control.

These visions are simply one manifestation of the Ring's power, allowing a glimpse into the insight of someone of Sauron's might. Frodo is, for a moment, able to scan across Middle-Earth like the Valar themselves.

The second interesting point comes from what happens after Frodo does his tour de Middle-Earth. He hears and feels conflicting voices inside him like an epic tug-of-war between two forces.

The first he refers to as the Eye which represents Sauron trying to find him. It's begging him to reveal himself and declare his presence. The second he refers to as the Voice which I always found interesting but mysterious. The Voice urges him to remove the Ring and to hide.

What struck me this time is the language that Tolkien used, "Take it off! Take it off! Fool, take it off! Take off the Ring!"

Who does that sound like?

I'm pretty confident this is Gandalf directly wrestling with Sauron. I vaguely remember a quote in Two Towers where Gandalf discusses fending off a Dark Shadow before he makes his return known. Once I find the quote when we get to it, I'll confirm but isn't that pretty awesome to read a scene about Gandalf fighting directly with Sauron over Frodo's will? Cool!

Parallels to Rivendell

As Frodo is off seeking some clarity on his own, the others are locked in thought and conversation. The conversation is centered around where Frodo will pick to go and if people will go with him. I think this is a small note but a nice tie-in to the initial departure.

Gimli says that he was heartbroken to leave Lorien (HE HAS CHANGED SO MUCH!) but no matter what, will follow Frodo. Legolas agrees stating that "It would be faithless now to say farewell". I just enjoy the line because it mirrors Gimli's line in Rivendell and the relationship between Legolas and Gimli is one of the most fascinating aspect of the story. 

Minor detail but I wanted to mention it.

Conclusion

Thanks for reading through the first book and hope you stick around for the rest!

Next up! Boromir's fall.

Book 2 Chapter 7: The Mirror of Galadriel

Apologies if parts of this post seem incongruous, I wrote it during a layover and on a flight next to the Monopoly Man so it was a bit disorienting.

Alright, I haven't really made much of a stink about things I dislike in the film versions so far but this chapter kind of blows in the films.

Granted, it adds some tension after the death of Gandalf which is needed to keep folks interested (also why they added the death of Boromir to Fellowship instead of leaving it in Two Towers) but the portrayal made Galadriel look a bit silly in my opinion.

This chapter centers around the mighty and powerful Elves Galadriel and Celeborn and their magical kingdom of Lorien. Considered the wisest and most powerful of elves in Middle-Earth, including Elrond, this is the Fellowship's last chance at wisdom and safety before really entering the main stretch of the journey.

I think the namesake of the chapter is the most interesting part, where Frodo and Sam look into the waters of the Mirror and see what was, is, or may yet be be. Sam sees the destruction of the Shire, perhaps seeing what is currently going on, or perhaps a vision of the Shire at the end of Return of the King when Sharkey's men take over the land and pillage the fair countryside. Sam yearns to go back home but Galadriel is quick to remind him that previously he knew the Shire could be in danger but would not leave Frodo's side. Sam is quick to remember his loyalty and despite the growing darkness of the last few chapters, agrees that he will finish the quest with Frodo.

Frodo sees his place in the larger history of the Ring and sees the eye of Sauron himself. Unlike the film which has Sauron as a stupid literal burning eye, the eye here is metaphorical. Sauron has a far reaching gaze due to his powers but has an actual body. Frodo, as a Ring bearer, can sense his power and knows he is being hunted specifically which is an advantage the other members of the Fellowship don't share.

Galadriel, as a Ring bearer as well, knows Frodo can see the gaze of Sauron and is empathetic to his plight. In return he offers the Ring to Galadriel as she is the most poweful and mighty of the Elves and could surely succeed.

This is where I dislike the film's intepretation.

Galadriel is tempted and is vocal about her thought process. She would start as benevolent and slowly decay into tyranny. Instead of a Dark Lord, they would have a Dark Queen. In the end, she returns to herself and simply shrugs, "I pass the test." and accepts her fate that the Elves will diminish with the destruction of the Rings.

Specifically, I dislike how Galadriel is portrayed as becoming "beautiful and terrible". I thought the effects making her look like a radioactive feral ghoul were over the top and out of character. While she is severely shaken by the ordeal. She isn't really in danger of taking the Ring from Frodo and I think she knows it the entire time. She can feel the Ring's pull and has a certain desire to use it for good, but that temptation, while enough to overpower the less wise, is nothing to her. She willingly turns away, what only Gandalf has done so far.

Watching some of the extra features and "Making of" clips out there, they had originally filmed several other versions of the "transformation" and most of the others were much more subdued compared to the most extreme one which made it into the films. Most of the others were like Gandalf in Bag End when he stands up to Bilbo, the lights dim, and things shake a bit. Way more subtle, speaking to a great personal strength, and getting the point across in a manner that fit his personality and character.

This is pretty shockingly anti-Galadriel and one of the Top 3 dislikes in the film series.




P.S. While I'm ranting about PJ's (otherwise fantastic) interpretations of Middle-Earth, how do you NOT turn the effin' leaves at least a HINT of gold during post-production? The golden forest is a huge distinction from the other forests we see in Middle-Earth and speaks directly to the fantastic power and influence of the Elves. This is lazy stuff right here.

Peter Jackson's version

J.R.R. Tolkien's own sketch

Ted Nasmith's version based on Tolkien's sketch

It's not a huge deal, but a few touches of gold instead of the blue/silver motif they went with would have been nice.

Book 2 Chapter 4: Journey in the Dark - "The Wild West of Middle-Earth"

A Journey in the Dark is like "A New Hope" of chapters. The Rebels (Fellowship) are a bit down and out after being thwarted in their plans (Path over Caradhras and the capture of Princess Leia aboard the Tantive IV) There's a bit of soul searching and naval gazing before being forced to commit to a path that will really define the rest of the story (Burning of the Lars' Farm in Star Wars, and the entrance to Moria being blocked by the Watcher).

There's a lot of tension building and from the title itself, it's clear that things will not go well for the party.

Road to Moria

After fleeing down the mountain, defeated, a council is held by the Fellowship and Gandalf quickly outlines the two options before them: go back defeated, or continue on through other means. Only Sam, Merry, and Pippen seem excited about the chance of returning. Frodo quickly quenches this simply stating that they "must go on". Frodo, perhaps alone apart from Gandalf, knows the true weight of the Ring.

With that in mind, there are two options: journey south through the Gap of Rohan or go through the halls of the former Dwarven kingdom of Khazad-Dum or Moria. The Gap of Rohan is very narrow and adjacent to Saruman which everyone agrees would be a bad path to take. However, Moria does not seem much more appealing.

Boromir compares Moria (which is Elvish for "Black Pit" by the way) to the tower of Sauron himself in its dark and wicked reputation. Gandalf is very quick to refute that. He alone of the party has been to a fortress of the Enemy (Dol Guldor) and he knows that Sauron is the most formidable enemy currently imaginable.

Also, both Gandalf and Aragorn have made the trek through Moria before so it is not a wholly untrodden path. Despite this, or perhaps because of it, Aragorn warns Gandalf. "It is not of the Ring, nor of us others that I am thinking now, but of you Gandalf. And I say to you, if you pass the doors of Moria, beware."

I don't think Aragorn is particularly magically gifted with foresight but this prophecy is pretty clearly fulfilled in the following chapter. Similar to how Frodo received visions of Gandalf earlier in the book, I think this is a sort of "divine spark" that Aragorn receives. Tolkien is pretty blatant in that all forms of "magic" flow from the divine and that these visions are what the Valar or Eru Illuvatar (God) himself wants them to see.

But Gandalf wants none of that crap, and so they push towards Moria.

But the path is pretty rough. They are surrounded and attacked by packs of Sauron's wargs and Gandalf is forced to use a Word of Command again to summon fire and frighten away the Wargs.

Once again, Gandalf decides that if he does not tap into a "cheat code", they will all perish. I think the films gloss over just how damn dangerous and rough this journey was in favor of nearly indestructible adventurers swashbucklin' through Middle-Earth. Not that this wasn't entertaining but Gandalf is literally an angel and has to resort to a higher power to pull them through the darker points.

I think this is very important to Tolkien in both his personal view of "higher powers" and for replicating an "authentic" mythological vibe. Personally, Tolkien was always adamant about the power of religion and it played a huge role in his personal life. His closest friend was fellow professor and noted Christian author C.S. Lewis and Tolkien is not shy that Christianity deeply affected his work both directly and indirectly. Within the context of Middle-Earth, "higher powers" often play a pivotal role in shaping the destiny of heroes. In Greek mythology, most stories are literally about the Gods messing around with mortals and directly changing their lives. Tolkien is tapping into this tradition by having Gandalf, a minor deity in his own right, play such a direct and powerful role.

Essentially, he is saying that some things are beyond the mortal races, and that's okay.

The Door

I think the "Watcher in the Water" is one of the cooler and weirder things in Middle-Earth since it is a creature unmentioned in any of Tolkien's other works, unlike Balrogs, Dragons, or Orcs, and instead stands on its own: a mystery like Tom Bombadil, not meant to be solved.

Password into Moria by Ted Nasmith

Gandalf remarks that there are "older and fouler things than Orcs in the deep places of the world" as the Fellowship approaches Moria. I think its clear that he means that the deepest depths of places like Moria contain things that no one can really comprehend. Later in the chapter, Gandalf comments that the lower levels of Moria are flooded, which could allow such a creature to escape a subterranean prison (perhaps the lake the Gandalf/Durin's Bane fall into?). Perhaps the creature fled because of Durin's Bane? Maybe or maybe not, but it's plausible and I like to think that there is only room for one real big bad guy in Moria at a time.

Also notable when the Fellowship enters Moria, is that no one really feels a sense of dread. Its understood that Moria is a FREAKIN' HUGE PLACE! It spans the length of a mountain change and goes up and down several levels. There's no possible way that Gandalf, Gimli, or anyone else could possibly say if Gimli's cousin Balin successfully resettled a portion of Moria because it might take days to even reach the other side. 

I think this is significant because Moria is sort of the "Wild West" of Middle-Earth. It's unknown around each corner if law or chaos will rule and there's a real sunovabitch who runs around in the lawlessness of the lower levels (Durin's Bane). Balin (Gimli's cousin and Bilbo's friend from "The Hobbit") is playing The Sheriff and resettling the lawless land. 

Mithril!

While walking through Moria, Gandalf comments that the wealth of Khazad-Dum was not in gems or gold, but in  mithril, a substance that is like Kevlar in protection and diamond in preciousness. Gandalf remarks that Bilbo received a full suit of Mithril mail from Thorin as a present for retaking Erebor. Gimli is astonished at the gift, as mithril is both incredibly rare and valuable, even for kings. 

No one else in the party knows that Bilbo gave Frodo that magnificent armor but Frodo is thinking deeply about it. Frodo wonders if Bilbo knew about how valuable mithril was when he gave the armor to Frodo. Frodo eventually decides that Bilbo did know and consciously chose to give Frodo the mail any way.

This is very significant and one of the reasons that Frodo is carrying the Ring instead of anyone else. The Hobbits are unique among the mortal races in being able to fathom giving away personal power, wealth, and glory. Gimli can't imagine Thorin giving away such a gift, Elrond is afraid to touch the Ring, and Boromis tries to take the Ring later. Frodo (and the other Hobbits) are the only ones who care about each other more than power over their fellows. This virtue alone is the crux of the entire story and the real strength of Hobbits. The humblest of the races offers the most to their salvation.

Conclusion

This chapter has some other cool parts, especially in the description of Moria itself. Even after reading the books several times and watching the films, I still marvel at the size and grandeur of Moria. It's like if Buckingham Palace was the size of Vermont and each room had a unique story to tell. 

Just imagine all the cool things the dwarves left in there!

My favorite part of Moria that is often overlooked is that the Dwarves built God damned skylights into the inner halls! Thousands of feet through sheer rock, the Dwarves cut straight paths that allow natural light to enter the dark halls. It seems like such a small accomplishment when Tolkien throws it in casually near the end of the chapter, but it really speaks to the grandeur of Khazad-Dum.

Reread this chapter and think about how Moria was constructed in the first place. It was the "Garden of Eden" for Dwarves (where Durin first woke at the dawn of time), and the first Dwarven kingdom.

The Dwarves had millenia to construct Moria. Even after centuries of occupation, Khazad-Dum remains, in my opinion, the most marvelous and spectacular single location in Middle-Earth.

Book 2 Chapter 1: Many Meetings

My brief pause in writing came at a perfect moment in the story. Frodo has just collapsed on the banks of the Bruinen and witnessed the Nazgul being swept away. After this moment, he is rescued by the folk of Rivendell and Elrond begins healing him. It's quite some time, many days, later that he finally wakes up so pretend that my gap in posts is due to staying in character. :)

A Note on Terminology

This is the first chapter of Book Two! It is important to point out that Tolkien did NOT write a trilogy. He wrote one narrative with six constituent books. For example, Books 1 and 2 are typically split into the subheading of "Fellowship of the Ring". Therefore, it is most accurate to read Tolkien in one large volume where it is easier to physically feel the sense of progression throughout the story. The breaking of the Fellowship is not the end of its own novel, it's a dramatic point (one of many) on the slopes of the storyline.

It's a minor distinction but I feel an important one.

Now, onto the chapter itself!

"Many Meetings" along with the following "Council of Elrond" are two of the most lore-dense, plot filled chapters in all of Lord of the Rings and can be a challenge to slog through after several chapters of Cat-and-Mouse through the Lone Lands and the Trollshaws. However, these chapters really allow Tolkien to shine in what he does best, tell a story and make it seem like we're only scratching the surface of his world.

The chapter opens with Frodo waking up to Gandalf (who he hasn't seen in a long, long time) who promptly explains why he was delayed. He also comments on Frodo's EXCEPTIONAL strength. He bore the wound from the Morgul blade for a full 17 days without succombing to the darkness. Gandalf insinuates that most anyone else would have faltered long before which is a great foreshadowing of Frodo's ability to weather the Ring's increasingly powerful effects without being too controlled by it.

The Fair Valley of Rivendell by Ted Nasmith

Lords of the Eldar

Frodo finds himself in Rivendell, home to Elrond, among others, which is famed as being a haven of the "elf-wise, Lords of the Eldar from beyond the farthest sea". These powerful lords of the Elves are beings who once lived in Valinor (the Undying Lands) in the First Age and then came back to Middle Earth. Tolkien writes that these beings "live in both worlds and have great power against the seen and unseen."

Do you remember in the last chapter, Frodo describing a bright light across the river before he blacks out? He is falling under the sway of the Shadow, much like he does when he puts on the Ring and passes into the Unseen World. In this Unseen World, he catches a bright light that shines across the water and then the chapter ends without much further explanation. This light was Glorfindel who, as we've previously discussed, is certainly a capable threat against the Seen and Unseen.

But just who are the other "Lord of the Eldar from beyond the farthest sea"?

Glorfindel told Aragorn in the previous chapter that “few, even in Rivendell, ride openly against the Nine; but such as there were, Elrond sent out north, west, and south.” So clearly, Glorfindel is one of these Elves and rode West to find them. But who were the other two?

I have two theories on this:

1. Elladan and Elrohir - Elrond's two sons are logical choices since they are very well-esteemed among Elves (Legolas praises them heavily throughout the tale) and are old friends of Aragorn's. However, it is unlikely that Glorfindel would describe the two as capable of riding openly against the Nine, especially since they have not been to Valinor and would not have the same might as someone who has seen Aman.
2. Two of Elrond's Advisors - Elrond has numerous advisors in Rivendell and Tolkien would not have introduced all of them to us. Think of it this way; if you were telling the story of World War II in the South Pacific, you wouldn't necessarily name Winston Churchill even if was undoubtedly important and played an important role. I think it is very feasible that some of Elrond's advisors were born in Aman and then came over to Middle-Earth. This would place them mighty among the Elves and give them power to ride openly against the Nine.

Your thoughts?

Glorfindel, Elrond, and Earnur go to war.

Powers of the Eldar

But glowing in the Unseen World is not the only power these Lords of the Eldar command. Despite not being born in Valinor, Elrond himself possesses a magic unlike anything else we've seen, or will see. Gandalf reveals that Elrond commanded the flood of the Bruinen and the river is under his control. Gandalf also shares that only Elrond had the power needed to bring Frodo back from the grievous wound he received.

I think this is a very important section and one that really fleshes out some key themes for Tolkien. Elrond is not a divine being. In fact, he is half-Elven; a cross between his Elven mother and Human father. Despite this, Elrond has powers that Gandalf, an immortal being created, not born, cannot match.

Similarly, in the First Age, Feanor created the Silmarils: three brilliant jewels that contained the beauty and light of the world before evil corrupted it. These jewels were perfect, unable to be destroyed, even by the Valar, and not even the mightiest craftsmen of the Valar could match Feanor's skill at crafting.

Also as I discussed in the Glorfindel post, there are examples of Elves fighting Balrogs and Dragons one on one. Balrogs are generally regarded as being the same type of being as Gandalf, mid level immortals who defected to Morgoth.

Time after time, we have the Children of Iluvatar, those that are not truly immortal standing up to the great powers of the world, and besting them in unexpected ways! Tolkien is lauding the capacity of Men and Elves to succeed. In them lies tremendous greatness that can exceed even the brilliance of the Gods, but it is not for everyone and it is not without sacrifice of one's own.

What do you think Tolkien is saying here? Do you find this important or intentional?

The Fellowship Begins to Form

Outside of a discussion on Tolkien's intent, a few plot points happen in this chapter and are important to note. I'm going to throw out a bullet point list with brief comments on a few areas because this post is already long.

• Sam hardly left Frodo's side during the days he was at Rivendell. Remember that these two WERE NOT EVEN FRIENDS before this trip began. Merry and Pippen were not always present and they had been Frodo's best friends. Does this say more about Sam or Merry/Pippen? I think it says more about Sam's character.
• Frodo meets Gloin who came to Rivendell with his son Gimli. Gloin, you'll remember, is one of the 12 Dwarves that went with Bilbo to the Lonely Mountain. They talk briefly but neither really knows why everyone has been summoned. Gloin shrugs it off and says that "Master Elrond" will sort it out. When has a Dwarf been this respectful of an Elf? Is the line out of character or does Elrond command such respect among other races?
• Bilbo is alive and well! He is living in Rivendell with the Elves who treat him with the highest level of respect. At feasts, Elrond treats Bilbo as an old friend, sharing food and wine personally. Bilbo and Aragorn have also been acquainted for years and Aragorn often helps him write and sing new songs and tunes. This helps explain why Aragorn was unsurprised when Frodo said Bilbo had translated some of the Ballad of Beren and Luthien before the party had reached Weathertop.
• Aragorn himself is accorded a great deal of respect. He grew up in Rivendell and is referred to as The Dunadan. Dunadan means "Man of the West", but with "The" as a prefix, it implies that he is the most important one. 

Frodo has found himself with some pretty dang important people doing things at a higher level than he can really understand right now. Glorfindel alone has lived longer than just about everyone introduced to the story so far (excepting a few notable ones) combined and Aragorn's mysterious shroud is being slowly revealed, piece by piece, often leaving more questions than answers in the wake.

Next up is the Council of Elrond. The longest chapter in the history of literature (that was hyperbole) and also the most dense (also hyperbole). Disregarding the hyperbole, there is a lot to dissect and I'll likely grab two blog posts to do it.

Book 1 Chapter 12: Flight to the Ford

Flight to the Ford is a cat and mouse game through the Trollshaws, a lawless and rugged land west of Rivendell. This 17 day adventure from the night of Frodo's stabbing to his healing at Rivendell is condensed into 5 minutes and a wonderful Deus ex Arwen to save the day.

Granted, a powerful elf on a white horse does appear out of nowhere and saves the day, but I think it makes a little more sense than freakin' Arwen.

Anyway, the chapter starts right after Frodo is stabbed. I think it's important to note just how many times Frodo is stabbed during his quest. Here on Weathertop, nearly skewered in Moria, and impaled by Shelob in Cirith Ungol. There is probably a joke about Sam in here too but I'll leave that alone.

In any case, the Riders stab Frodo and then are immediately chased off by Aragorn by which we can assume that they are aware who he is and fear/respect his power. Why would they flee from one man with the Ring so close? 

I think the answer is a mix of respect for Aragorn and that it simply is not their nature. In a previous chapter, Aragorn discusses that the Riders would not barge into the Prancing Pony because they were not at full strength (all 9), and they preferred to avoid direct fighting. Only 5 of the Riders were present at Weathertop so we can assume they fell back with the hope that the wound would overcome Frodo and he would become their servant (the fate Gandalf hints was in store for him during the next chapter).

Hands of the King

So Frodo isn't immediately rescued by a white pony and a Liv Tyler, but is instead kept alive by the hands of Aragorn.

In Return of the King, Faramir notes that the hands of the king are hands of a healer. This is in contrast with the view that great warriors make a king and is Tolkien's way of affirming what he believes is the most important characteristic in a ruler. Aragorn's hands of healing are physically manifested in literal healing powers instead of metaphoric power, but this situation is one of the earliest examples.

Aragorn keeps Frodo alive and they dodge, duck, dip, dive, and dodge their way through the woods, avoiding trails and taking the rough route through the land.

Merry 

We've discussed this before, but Merry really steps up his game in this chapter. While the quest revolves around Frodo and there is deference to his thoughts, Merry is really the dominant Hobbit voice in the party. After about 10 days in the wilderness, Frodo collapses on a climb and Merry is the one to stand up to Aragorn about needing to stop and rest. He is in tune with Frodo more than most and speaks to Aragorn as almost equals. 

Similarly, the next morning it is Aragorn and Merry who journey out and survey the land for a better route. The other Hobbits are not even considered and, although Tolkien doesn't write it, it's probably an obvious choice within the party. Merry has been a leader the entire time so far and it would be natural that he picks up the slack and assumes a leadership mantle.

A Song in the Trollshaws by Ted Nasmith

Sam the Bard

Sam is a Hobbit of many talents. When the party comes across the Trolls that nearly made a snack of Thorin's 12 dwarves and Bilbo in The Hobbit, Sam sings a song while they relax.

When he finishes, others applaud and ask where he heard it or who taught him the tune. Sam is sheepish and Frodo senses the truth.

"I am learning a lot about Sam Gamgee on this journey.  First he was a conspirator now he's a jester.  He'll end up by becoming a wizard - or a warrior! " 

Seems awfully prescient...

Even better is Sam's response.

" I hope not.  I don't want to be neither"

Sam doesn't dream of gathering power unto himself. He is far too selfless for that. His heart is set elsewhere and this pure heart and strength of character is what makes him a model guardian for Frodo on this quest.

Really like this exchange.

Conclusion

After the Trolls, the chapter begins wrapping up but does so with the introduction of one of the biggest bad-asses in Middle-Earth. I will talk more about Glorfindel and his badassery tomorrow morning in a post!

Chapter 8: Fog on the Barrow-Downs

(I'm doing something new here where I bold and italicize Tolkien's words to draw more emphasis to them. Let me know if it helps or if I should do it differently)

In this chapter, Frodo and company set out across the foreboding Barrow-downs and are, of course, snatched by the wights into danger.

When Frodo comes to after fainting, he is in a Barrow - he assumes - and is flat on his back on a stone table with his arms crossed on his chest (remember, this is a tomb after all...) Looking around, the other Hobbits on on the ground near him but it is an otherwise empty room. The others look asleep or, worse, dead!

This is an important chapter because it really does define Frodo as courageous, much moreso than he appears in the films.

Under the Spell of the Barrow Wights by Ted Nasmith

Frodo's Courage

Upon looking around, Frodo at first feels frightened which is pretty understandable considering the dark tales of the Barrow-downs that have been his only experience with the region. Instead of cowering as one might expect, Frodo feels a stirring a courage and he thinks of words that Bilbo had often shared.

"There is a seed of courage hidden (often deeply, it is true) in the heart of the fattest and most timid Hobbit, waiting for some desperate danger to make it grow." Tolkien then explains how highly Gandalf and Bilbo thought of Frodo, considering him the best Hobbit in the entire Shire - which is quite high praise coming from this pair!

Frodo puts this into action as he sees a dismembered hand creep its way toward Sam. He grabs a nearby blade and hacks at the hand, keeping it away from his friends. 

This is the first act of clear and expressed violence in the book and it is Frodo who does it to save his friends. I think this is significant in defining his progression as a character and as a "trendsetter" of sorts among the Hobbits.

Fear grips Frodo again, however, as he hears the terrible chanting of the barrow-wights. Once again, Frodo finds courage and begins softly signing Tom Bombadil's song to call him to the Hobbit's side. The words bolster him as he sings and by the end, Tom has arrived by breaking down a wall to the room.

Tom promptly banishes the wights through his songs, shouting them down, proclaiming that his songs are stronger songs. (Power of the voice, yada, yada, yada)

Tom's Memory

After saving the Hobbits, Tom gathers up the treasure of the Barrow and sets it upon the now sunlit hilltop for all creatures to come and take as needed. He gives the Hobbits each a sword of old Arnorian make (back when Aragorn's ancestors ruled the North) which are still quite powerful. Upon giving these Tom comments on the swords' importance "Few more remember them,  yet still some go wandering,  sons of forgotten kings walking in loneliness,  guarding from evil things folk that are heedless"

Tom is talking about the Rangers of course! Wonder why the Shire hasn't seen any violence since wolves invaded a few centuries before? The Rangers. Why it is so strange to hear of evil things even around Bree where Hobbits have spent a good deal of time? The Rangers. 

The Hobbits, or Frodo at least, also receive another vision here on the expanse of the years since the forging of their new blades. They see lines of marching men, tall and grim in bright series, and the last among them came with a star upon his brow.  The reader who is familiar with the series knows that this is Aragorn, who is called Elessar (elf-stone) for the symbolic "star of Earendil" that the line of kings wore.

I only noticed this on a later read-through but this really sets up Aragorn much better than I had initially thought, and Toms words describes Aragorn, their leader, impeccably.

Tom also takes a small brooch adorned with blue stones for himself, saying "fair was she who long ago wore this on her shoulder" I took great interest in this quote when reading through this current time and thinking about who this lady was. Tom speaks of this brooch as if remembering a fond memory of ancient times. Similarly, it must have been long ago indeed if Tom is calling it long ago. This guy was there at the dawn of time remember?

I have come to two theories, each of which are plausible and there really isn't much else to help determine which one could be true

Theory 1: Luthien

The story of Beren and Luthien is one of Tolkien's best known works of the 1st Age (LOTR takes place in the 3rd Age) telling of the human Beren going through great, unbelievable tasks (like the tasks of Hercules) to be with the Elven-born Luthien.

Luthien is described as the most beautiful thing to have ever lived and her romance with Beren is the best love story that Tolkien wrote (Aragorn and Arwen are like a watered down parallel story to this). The brooch would presumably have been passed down through Luthien's descendents to her grandchildren Elros and Elrond. Elros chose to become a human, unlike his twin brother Elrond (yes, THAT Elrond) and Elros became the first King of Numenor and the ancestor to Aragorn. This brooch would have passed down the lines and eventually been in the hands of the rulers of the old Northern kingdom of Arnor when Aragorn's ancestors Elendil and Isildur ruled it. Eventually, it was lost with the rest of the Northern kingdom when the Witch-king invaded.

This theory also has some plausibility as Aragorn wears the Ring of Barahir, a legendary heirloom of his house that was traced back to Beren - Luthien's husband. I love the symbolism of the two relics being passed through the generations and one being lost represents the fall of the kingdom. When Tom recovers it, it's a sign that the dark days are done and the Return of the King is soon!

Theory 2: Noble lady of Arnor/Queen of Arnor

Similar to Theory 1, this places the brooch as an item of importance to the history of Arnor. Presumably, this brooch belonged to a noble lady, maybe even a queen, who met with Tom and Goldberry long ago before their kingdoms fell. This would perhaps fit better with the casual way that Tolkien describes the brooch without placing much importance on it.

Conclusion:

I'm going to keep thinking it belonged to Luthien. I love the parallel with the Ring of Barahir, and the ties to Tolkien's favorite female character (his wife's tombstone has the name "Luthien" engraved on it). I also think that it fits with Tom's reckoning of time (a few ages back was definitely a long time ago, even for him), and Tolkien is also not very descriptive of Glamdring, Gandalf's sword, when they find it in "The Hobbit." Glamdring was wielded by Turgon, one of the most powerful Elven kings to have lived, a fact that Gandalf surely would know since he knew the name of the sword, yet Tolkien omits it. Important historical things are not always called out explicitly by Tolkien.

In any case, I love moments like this where I can create my own reasoning for what something is and how it ties together. What do you think the brooch is?

Chapter 7: In the House of the Tom Bombadil Part 2

In the last post, I wrote about what I thought Tom Bombadil was and as importantly, what he is not.

This post will focus more on the events of the chapter and how Bombadil is actively affecting the narrative.

Bombadil and the Ring

First, as we've discussed in the last post, Tom does not have much interest in the Ring outside of it just being a curiosity.He simple laughs about it, slipping it on and off without much regard for its power and, more amazingly, not disappearing. So far, all characters we've seen have turned invisible under the power of the Ring but Bombadil does not. 

Well, Sauron was not invisible either. This goes back to an earlier discussion on the Ring and what it actually does. I think the Ring is a "Gateway" of sorts between the two worlds: the physical world of Middle Earth and the intangible shadow or spirit world. This is where the lands of Valinor are and why only men seeking the shores of Valinor like the Numenoreans did are unable to find it.

This "spirit" world still has much power and is very much real as evidenced by characters being able to traverse it with the Ring. Bombadil and Sauron do not disappear because they exist in both worlds at once. They are both a spirit and a physical entity. The Ringwraiths have become like this as well, having a physical body but appearing differently in the spirit world, even being able to see others in that world like they did atop Weathertop. Much like the Wraiths, Bombadil can see you even if you are wearing the Ring as Frodo finds out.

Bombadil's Stories

Tom shares an awful lot of history and stories, some of which is fairly cryptic and mysterious and most of which is not relayed to the reader by Tolkien. From what he does share, however, Tom talks about two important areas, the Old Forest where the Hobbits just were, and the Barrow-downs to the east where the Hobbits will be going.

Old Forest

The Old Forest is described as being ancient indeed, the remnants of a vast forest that once covered all of Eriador (western Middle-Earth). Another corner of this forest is Fangorn which we see later. Like Fangorn, the Old Forest is twisted and difference from other forests of Middle-Earth, infected by something darker and more primal than simply base nature.

Tom explains the Old Forest as an ancient forest where the "fathers of the fathers of the trees" live. Of course, he's referring to either Huorns or Ents here. Since Ents speak with the other races directly and Old Man Willow does not do this nor appear capable of doing this, he is probably a Huorn. But he wasn't the only Huorn in the Old Forest, as he is described as their strongest one, rotten with hate. Old Man Willow is also called a master of winds and song and through this he held dominion over nearly all the trees of the forest.  

What Tom is probably saying is that Old Man Willow is a great communicator among the Huorns and has swayed all of the others to his cause. Old Man Willow has seen the Old Forest shrink to its present size from the vast area of former ages, and without an Ent to watch over them and guide them towards peace, the Huorns have "fortified" the forest, singing Old Man Willow's songs to guide all intruders deep into the forest where he will kill them. It's certainly one way to preserve.

I think it's important to note that this is another example of the power of voice. Willow is described as a master of winds and song, pulling others to his side with his speech and slaying his foes with his peaceful "aura" which is really his song that the Hobbits can't understand. We'll be coming back to the power of voice again and again.

Barrow-downs

Tom does not have as much to say about the lands to the immediate east, the Barrow-downs except that it's a pretty desolate place. He describes the Downs as tombs of ancient kings and princes until a Shadow came over them and the dead rose again as wights.The Hobbits are frightened because they have heard the tales of the far-away Barrow-downs and the dead that live there but no Hobbit had ever seen proof. Of course, Tom doesn't go into this detail but the shadow that is described here is most likely the Witch King of Angmar's doing. Angmar was the chief rival of the northern kingdom of Arnor and the Witch King was and is one of Sauron's most powerful servants. The phrase "Shadows of Angmar" occurs several times throughout the series and the idea of Sauron's influence being a "shadow" is common as well.

Tom also described the area as a place where "kings of little kingdoms fought little battles" and just continues on. These are pretty major kings and pretty major battles in the history of men and Middle-Earth and Tom just doesn't care about it. Life goes on. The kingdoms crumbled and the kings are dead. New towns and leaders rose, but forest and nature remains, ever present.

Dreaming in the House of Tom Bombadil

That night, the Hobbits have some wicked dreams. First Frodo dreams of a man atop a tall tower flying away on an eagle. So how does Frodo dream of Gandalf escaping Isengard (which happens at this time)? Is it the magic of Bombadil? Is Gandalf using a previously unseen power? Is Frodo special?

My money is on a mix of 1 and 2. Bombadil's house probably is a spring of natural "energy" or "magic" in a sense. Gandalf also is incredibly powerful, much more so than we ever see in the books (directly at least) and certainly more than is shown on the big screen. Gandalf is worried about being late to meet Frodo and his desire to get back to Frodo might be picked up by Frodo who is sleeping in a magic antenna of sorts. This is all conjecture, but there aren't many visions in Tolkien so it's hard to dismiss out of hand as unrelated.

But after this vision, each Hobbit has some horrible dreams. Frodo dreams of the Riders and fears that they are outside the house, ready to get him..  Pippen dreams of the willows scraping the windows and mocking him, as if saying that as soon as he leaves Old Man Willow will grab them again. Merry dreams of a rising flood getting in the house despite efforts to repel it which only recedes after finding solid foothold.  Sam dreams of nothing.

What does this mean?

My thought is that each Hobbit dreams of what they currently fear most and by waking up safe and sound, its representing putting aside fears and pushing on because the fears can't stop you.

Frodo definitely fears the Black Riders, and Pippen was just trapped within the body of Old Man Willow so the willow trees are a frightening prospect right now. Merry's is a little more difficult to determine but my current thought is that he is concerned with the Shire more broadly and it being swept away in the coming problems. Merry grew up on the banks of the Brandywine River so a flood metaphor is probably common from his past and it seems so far that Merry has a bit broader view on things than some of the other Hobbits. 

Sam? He's not really that fearful of anything right now. The Riders are scary and he doesn't know what to expect outside of the Shire, but he has already faced the Riders (remember when he pushed Frodo down and jumped in front of him when Merry approached them at Buckleberry Ferry and they thought it was a Rider?) and he has swallowed his fear of being away from home already by crossing the river and going into the Forest. Sam might have his own fears (he certainly does) but he has already confronted them and pushed them down in his own mind. What a boss.

That was a long post. What are your thoughts? Do you think the Hobbits dreams mean anything else? Did I miss something important?

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.

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.

Chapter 1: A Long Expected Party pt 2

This post picks up where the last one left off, which is to say, after the first page or so. In this post, I wanted to look at just how strange Bilbo (and by extension Frodo) really seemed to others in the Shire and how, in some respects, they seemed destined for adventure.

Green Hill Morning by Ted Nasmith

Strange Visitors

Dwarves

The chapter continues to describe Bilbo's preperations for the party, which is the buzz of the entire Shire. Not only does Bilbo send for the bulk of the Shire's cooks and food stores to serve everyone at his massive feast, but he has some odd visitors the movie left out as well. Early in the chapter, several dwarves come to Bilbo and stay with him throughout the week leading up to the party. At the Ivy Bush Inn, Sandyman, the miller, mentions that dwarves are relatively frequent visitors at Bilbo's door and since he returned from his adventure 50 years prior, he has often disappeared for short stretches at a time.

I think this is very significant because it establishes that Bilbo is not a recluse (from the world, at least), and actively attends to his desire to get out and "see mountains", so to speak. At the end of the chapter when Bilbo finally leaves, he does so in the company of three dwarves and they set out at a jog across the fields, not taking the shorter road.

Also, take a moment to check out this song recorded by The Tolkien Ensemble, a Dutch orchestra which wrote music to all of Tolkien's lyrics and poems in the books. This is the first song in the book, the Walking Song which Bilbo sings while leaving.

Gandalf

Bilbo: "I suspect you know best"
Gandalf: "I do - when I know anything"

Gandalf is perhaps the strangest of the visitors to Bilbo. The ancient man appears without any specific description of his powers, but even Tolkien himself seems to respect them, describing them with the subtle and inherent respect that true power commands. Seen rarely in the Shire, and even then only for short periods of time and always in the company of Bilbo, Gandalf is eyed suspiciously as men are not seen often in the Shire.

Gandalf is a favorite character of mine and one we'll be talking about much more in later chapters. For right now, I think the quote above is enough food for thought as we interpret Gandalf's actions throughout the book. Clearly, his interactions with Saruman come to mind, as does his decisions in Moria. What other situations can you think of right now that we can examine through this statement?

Frodo

Not a visitor per se, Frodo is the yound nephew of Bilbo and arguably the main character of the story. His father is Bilbo's second-cousin and his mother is Bilbo's first-cousin (on opposite family sides), and they perished when we was young in a boating accident. Bilbo adopted him and made him his heir after that. Frodo is referred to often as "half-Bucklander" meaning his father's family comes from Buckland which is on the far edge of the Shire, away from other more "respectable" Hobbits. Often called a "queer folk", Tolkien shows from the start that Frodo is not cut from the same cloth as most.

Frodo is interesting because he represents a new generation of Hobbits, caught between the traditional values of the Shire, and the tales of wonder and excitement of Bilbo. When Bilbo shares his plan to leave the Shire with Frodo, Frodo offers to join him and laments that he did not once Bilbo finally does leave. Clearly, he is not alone in this as the Gaffer bemoans their plight at the inn, "The legend of Bilbo's wealth was now too firmly fixed in the minds of the younger generation of Hobbits."

Merry, Pippen, and Sam clearly fit into this category (Sam is the one MOST enamored with Mr. Bilbo's stories) and their actions combining traditional values with a new approach shape not only the Shire but the entirety of Middle Earth by the end of the tale.

Theme 2: Lineage

We'll dive into this throughout the book but lineage plays a strong role in developing characters from the earliest pages. Frodo is the best early example. As explained above, he is seen as different already for his unusual lineage of Bucklander. Combining that lineage with his mother's Took side (a family often seen as the most adventurous of Hobbits - read about the Bullroarer Took, one of my favorite Tolkien characters) and place him under the watch of the Hobbit who had the greatest adventure in centuries and there is a recipe for peculiarity. Does Frodo uphold his bold and adventurous pedigree? I'd argue no, but we'll keep reading.

Aragorn is another interesting case study here, along with Boromir/Faramir.

Theme 3: Sibling "Rank"

In literature especially, there is often important placed on where one is born in a family. The eldest son is the heir, the "man of the house", and the one who must most closely resemble manly ideals and masculine virtues. This is often portrayed through martial prowess, with great physical size and strength. Usually, these characters are not the smartest of offspring, but make up for it with the idea that they represent the families "honor" and must show chivalry to ensure its kept. A Song of Ice and Fire has many examples of where this is true. See Ned Stark's older brother Brandon or Tywin Lannister's eldest son Jaime.The younger brother often needs to find their own niche in the world, for example as a cunning strategist instead of a physical fighter (see Faramir). 

Through this lens, Frodo and Sam are particularly fascinating. Sam's father has been the head gardener at Bag End for 40 years and Sam and Frodo have been friends for a long time, practically brothers. Bilbo took Frodo in because Frodo is his eldest cousin, while Sam is the Gaffer's youngest son. In a way, this creates a similar, but subtle dynamic in the story.

I never noticed it before this read through, but I'm already fascinated about what I will find when looking at Sam and Frodo through this lens. Frodo is the "big brother" but who fulfills that role more traditionally? I know it's going to be Sam, but I'm interested in finding the examples!

Until next time,