Three is Company (FOTR) By Hildie

"You ought to go quietly, and you ought to go soon," said Gandalf.

What a fantastic opening line for a chapter. This chapter is one of my favorite chapters in all of the books actually. Why you ask? Because it is the final build up at the start of the quest, and the shove off. It's the real eye opener for Frodo, Sam and Pippin. I may have read this book many, many times, but every time I start this chapter I get this sense of excitement and urgency. (Silly, but true...)

I am absolutely taken by the fact that time is running out, it's all coming down to this moment, to this decision to leave. I was thrilled when I read this the first time that Frodo was going to go to Rivendell. I adored that in The Hobbit, and was hungry for more (I definitely remember that). In The Hobbit that journey wasn't that dangerous being the first "safe" (with the exception of the trolls) leg of the trip to Lonely Mountain. This time though Gandalf gives a good bit of foreshadowing and says "...make for Rievendell. That journey should not prove to perilous, though the Road is less easy than it was, and it will grow worse as the year fails."

I remember a great shock when I read that Frodo was selling Bag End to the S-Bs! I hated that, and I remember thinking "Oh dear! Bilbo's beautiful hole belonging to the S-Bs, oh dear! NOOOOOO!" I still hate the fact that they own it. However saying that I was also rather impressed with Frodo's bit of planning in moving to Buckland on the Eastwards side! What an easy way to slip away!

Also Gandalf's mysterious need to be away for a while truly made me worry. The fact that Frodo thought he looked worried, and that it was an urgent trip made me think that something bad had happened (which we know had happened) but WHAT COULD IT BE!? The fact that Gandalf didn't show up to meet them bothered me, because wizards never are late unless something bad happens. Again, I think this chapter is written so well to give you that deep sense of foreboding and dramatic tension.

There are three paragraphs (two together and one more a few pages later) in this chapter that describe Frodo's first encounter with the Black Riders which, I feel, stand head and shoulders above any other written fantasy or fiction. (I'm actually going to go ahead and quote them here just to show you which two they are and then I'll tell you the reason I think they are so effective. First off don't forget that Frodo had had a "sudden desire to hide from the view" of this rider... that sets the scene.)

"Round the corner came a black horse, no hobbit-pony but a full sized horse; and on it sat a large man, who seemed to crouch in the saddle, wrapped in a great black cloak and hood, so that only his boots in the high stirrups showed below; his face was shadowed and invisible.

When it reached the tree and was level with Frodo the horse stopped. The riding figure sat quite still with its head bowed, as if listening. From inside the hood came a noise as of someone sniffing to catch an elusive scent; the head turned from side to side of the road."

(those are the first two)

"The sound of hoofs stopped. As Frodo watched he saw something dark pass across the lighter space between two trees, and then halt. It looked like the black shade of a horse led by a smaller black shadow. The black shadow stood close to the point where they had left the path, and it swayed from side to side. Frodo thought he heard the sound of snuffling. The shadow bent to the ground, and then began to crawl towards him."

-JRR Tolkien, Chapter III FOTR

Okay, so those are the specific paragraphs, now on to the setting that etched these particular ones into my memory.

Picture a little girl, in year 3 at school, sitting on a chair in a sunlit living room next to a sliding glass door. She's home by herself while her parents drive up to the mailbox to get the mail and then come right back, so maybe 5-10 minutes max. She's sitting there reading a book that she loves, that she's heard before read aloud many times but this is the first time she's actually read it all by herself. (It just so happens that I was so engrossed in the book that my parents said I could stay while they quickly ran to the mailbox.)

Anyway, so I'm sitting there, and I'm reading this chapter. I was concentrating so hard, and was so excited and "petrified" by the possibility of this Rider getting Frodo, I mean the first time (first two paragraphs) was close enough and now this second time it's stopped where they've left the road and is crawling towards them...

I didn't notice my parents had walked up to the sliding glass door, and as I finished the last sentence about the "snuffling and crawling towards Frodo" my Dad knocked on the door for me to unlock it for them and I nearly fell of the chair!

I KNEW that the Black Rider had found me or Frodo, or both of us and I'd/we'd been had! That was it! They'd got us!

Looking back I find it hysterical because, in truth, I have no idea how I missed seeing them walk up it's not like they were sneaking or anything, but my heart was racing and I was out of breath. My Dad walked in and we both had a good laugh, and he hugged me, sat me on his lap and said "How 'bout I finish this chapter with you? Kinda scary huh?" So, of course, I curled up in my typical spot on his right knee with his big arm wrapped around me (yes, my heart was still pounding) and we read how Frodo just escaped certain doom and got away from that Black Rider (who tends to sneak up on year 3 kids sitting in their parents house in a sunlit room, well duh of course they do!).

It's always stuck with me, as you can tell. To this day I get goosebumps on my arm every time that scene comes up in the movies or the book. I love the way that memories can do that, it's awesome. Now on with just a tad more before I finish this chapter...

I was so glad when Gildor and the elves took them in to help them. It was a complete load off my mind, and gave me a reason to stop clenching my book (LOL). Though I was annoyed that he wouldn't tell Frodo what was after him. I mean seriously, how is Frodo supposed to know how to avoid them if he doesn't know what they are? I think that I prefer the regal, beautiful, intense side of the elves to the teasing, silly, joking, confusing side. Though I think that their characteristics balance out nicely as well. In this part of the chapter, I also took notice of something that previously had never really registered with me. When Gildor introduces himself to Frodo, Sam and Pippin he says that they are Exiles. I had never given thought to what he meant there until I'd read the Sil and Unfinished Tales! (I won't go into detail or explain so that I don't ruin those stories for anyone who hasn't had the chance to read those yet. No spoilers from me if I can help it!) Guess you can always find new things in Tolkien's writing no matter how many times you've read it.

I know that most people think the first bit is slow moving but I am definitely not one of those types. I think that, from the time that Frodo hears the Gaffer talking to the Mysterious Stranger until he gets to Bree, then from Bree to Rivendell are some of the most intense bits of the whole book. They are definitely my favorite part of the entire Lord of the Rings and what a great start to a book!

WOW what a chapter!

The Shadow of the Past (FOTR) By Hildie

I think that this book gets better and better with each reading. This chapter is very different from the movie as you can see from the very start. I am actually quite a “Tolkien purist” and found the rush exit from Bag End in the film a bit annoying (though it didn't ruin it by any means and probably couldn’t be helped in a movie).

So let’s see, where to start? I’m basically scanning page by page for the parts I want to bring up so you’ll have to bear with some stream of consciousness comments in this review.

Poor old Gandalf, Tolkien always has the hobbits blaming him for people going off into the Blue doesn't he? I'm pretty sure that in The Hobbit he was given the credit for several lads and lasses leaving the Shire (off into the Blue) as well.

I thought that Frodo's custom of always giving Bilbo his birthday party was quite endearing actually, and unlike the hobbits I don’t think it was odd at all. He was very fond of the old hobbit, so why not celebrate his birthday (considering it was Frodo’s birthday too).

Here we find Merry and Pippin mentioned earlier than in the film, and given significant weight as Frodo's closest friends. I think that it makes more sense that they would go with him in this sense than if they just ran into him as it happened in the film. I mean, sure he knew them in the film, but no bond had been built up, or mentioned like it has in the book. We’ve seen Merry helping him in chapter one, and now the mention of their friendship.

I love Tolkien's description of both Bilbo and Frodo off tramping in the woods at night meeting strange folk. It's intriguing, and exciting. It also shows the simplicity of the hobbits even more in depth. These strange folk they're talking about were only strange because they didn't know them, obviously to Bilbo and Frodo they wouldn't have been strange. These descriptions always drive home even more so the fact that hobbits are more comfortable by the hearth with a nice pipe and a mug than walking in the woods under sun or star. It makes hobbits seem quainter all round.

Frodo, like Bilbo, has good preservation (foreshadowing anyone?). What could possibly cause this? Is it just luck? The way it's written gives the readers big hints that it is indeed NOT luck!

I thought this chapter did an excellent job of setting Frodo up much like Bilbo was in The Hobbit. He's got the same characteristics, and the same love of the Shire. His love of maps is exactly like Bilbo. Yet he dreams of something more. He is the Master of Bag End, but he knows there are mountains out there, there’s something beyond the white borders of the Shire maps. But it’s so nice just to stay at home, where there’s good food, friends and all the old paths that are so familiar.

Not very far into the chapter we get the first mention of the Enemy and Mordor and all the dark powers and evil things that are starting to creep about Middle Earth. The Dark Tower is mentioned, orcs and trolls increasing numbers... all is not right in the world. That whole paragraph lends a sense of dread and sense of doom to all the news that Frodo is gathering from the "strange wayfarers." Of course at the same time Tolkien continues to state that ordinary hobbits ignore these things, or don't even hear about them in their safe little bubble.

I was especially interested in the conversation between Sam and Ted Sandyman at the Green Dragon. I often forget the mention of the "Tree-men" in this chapter. In hindsight it makes me think about the conversation that Treebeard has with Merry and Pippin with regards to the lost Entwives. Was this Tree-man that Hal saw up in the Northfarthing actually an Entwife? Treebeard says that he thinks they would like the hobbits country? Just a little food for thought there...

In this chapter Sam is really was shown as a simpleton and not too bright at all. I did find that a bit aggravating at times, considering how important he is for the rest of the book. Though, it does lend to a greater contrast as his character matures and develops. I suppose that’s what Tolkien had in mind all along.

The bit when Gandalf comes back to Bag End after his long absence also has LOADS of foreshadowing. He notices that Frodo is showing the same signs as Bilbo of good preservation, and Frodo notices that Gandalf looks more careworn and older. We see the reluctance of Gandalf to speak of evil things at night, even in a place as far removed as the Shire. We also get the story of the One Ring and how deadly and perilous it is. He mentions the fact that Frodo will probably one day get the story in full from one who knows it best. He obviously wouldn’t be getting the story from a person like that in the Shire, so an adventure is in the works.

Just a note for people who haven't read any of the other books (yet). Gandalf tells Frodo about the Elven-rings made by Elven-smiths in Eregion. That is the region they go through later also known as Hollin (I may be wrong but that’s the way I understand it from looking at some old maps and from all the other readings. If I am please correct me.).

The scene when Gandalf throws the Ring into Frodo's fire to check with his final test is brilliant. Frodo scrabbling for the tongs to save his “beloved ring….” It still sends shivers up my spine, and somehow I always find myself hoping right with Gandalf and Frodo that nothing shows up on the ring, and when it does, when Gandalf starts with the poem, I get cold shivers of dread for Frodo and for that this means. His ring isn't just a magic ring, it's the Master Ring, the ONE RING to rule them all ONE RING to find them, ONE RING to bring them all and in the darkness bind them. How chilling when you really think about it!

There's so much more I could say about the brief history that Gandalf gives about the ring, and how it got to Gollum and Bilbo and Frodo... I think that it's an excellent bit of writing and I always enjoy reading it.

The one thing that I don't quite get is the small error Gandalf makes in the telling where he says " A Ring of Power looks after itself, Frodo. It may slip off treacherously, but its keeper never abandons it. At most he plays with the idea of handing it on to someone else's care-- and that only at an early stage, when it first begins to grip. But as far as I know Bilbo alone in history has ever gone beyond playing, and really done it..." Gandalf has already said that of the other rings of power several of them have been handed down by the bearers or given to another. The Three Rings of Power given to the Elves have been given to other masters, Gandalf knows this for sure. He knows that at least one of the Dwarf Rings of Power was given freely from Thror to his son Thrain. So was he really talking about only the One Ring here rather than all of the Rings of Power?

I think that the tramp of doom in this chapter, the bit that can make your skin truly crawl comes when Gandalf tells Frodo about Gollum's capture in Mordor and that the Enemy has heard of "hobbits" and "Shire" and even the name "Baggins." I think if I'd have been Frodo I'd have wet myself right then and there!

I really have only one problem with the choice of Frodo for the ring bearer, though would anyone else prove any stronger? In this chapter he actually can't even cast the ring away from himself in his house. He knows he's not destroying it, or even throwing it away in a sense that he can't retrieve it yet he still can not do even that simple thing. He knows that he can't do anything that would hurt the ring even, but still can't do it. Gandalf's comment of "You see? Already you too, Frodo, cannot easily let it go, nor will to damage it. And I could not "make" you-- except by force, which would break your mind..." How would he have the strength of will to throw it into Mt. Doom to be destroyed if he can't even let it go in his own house? Did Gandalf even think of this?

Back to a more positive note, I love the scene (even if Sam does look silly) when Gandalf pulls him in through the window. It always makes me smile, and seems a bit of an ice breaker after the intense discussion that Gandalf and Frodo have just had. How simple things were for Sam back then, huh? I mentioned changes to his character earlier, but I think he possibly goes through the most changes throughout LOTR than anyone else. I must say liked him so much more in the book than in the films though.

Can't wait for the next chapter! Perhaps I'll go sit in the other room and read it now!

Error on Thror's Map in The Hobbit

I was just wondering if anyone else has noticed the error on Thror's Map on the second line of Runes in the centre of the map. It's under the writing "The Desolation of Smaug" and the letter W (which resembles a pointy letter P) and the letter H (which looks like an H with two lines) are swapped by accident. The word there should be "when" but the word that's written is actually "hwen." So the entire thing reads "Stand by the gray stone hwen the thrush knocks and the setting sun with the last light of Durins (without an ' because there's no rune for that) Day will shine upon the keyhole."

Wonder if it's there on purpose or if it's just a typo of some sort? The letter W and letter H are correct through the rest of the writing there. Check it out in your copy of The Hobbit when you get a chance.

A Long Expected Party (FOTR) By Hildie

T what a wonderful post! I really enjoyed reading it, and if you have any of the "old material" you have read or written in the past especially from your magazines or society I would love to see it as I'm sure the other two would as well! Perhaps you could scan it in or something like that? Anyway, all your Tolkien talk practically made me drool! I'm such a junkie, I know it!

So let's see... I have told you all a little bit about my own Tolkien background though probably not in full detail. My father is the one who got me hooked on the books, and all the fantasy genre basically. The first book he ever read to me was The Hobbit. I remember Mom reading to me out of a traditional kid's book and then saying, okay while I get everything ready for tomorrow your Dad will finish with a story. So Dad decided it was time to introduce me to his favorite author. He started reading me The Hobbit well before I was ever in kindergarten , and I remember being absolutely engrossed. Each night he would read a chapter and I would beg him to read more but he'd always say "No, we'll save it for tomorrow." I used to love all his different voices for the characters and I adored all the songs, which he would sing for me in the style of the type of character. He had a "hobbit song" voice, and a "dwarf song" voice... and a terrifying "orc song" voice. My father has a very low voice and would make the most of it on those. He read that to me so many times I practically have it memorized. Then he moved on to Lord of the Rings. Same type reading time, same type enthusiasm. He taught me how to translate his writings, and instilled in me every bit of love he had for the books and the genre. So I guess I've been raised a Tolkien fan. Heck, it even inspired my "favorite foods" because Dad used to tell me "Hobbits love mushrooms, try them... you'll like them too!" So as you can guess... they're one of my favorite foods. I'm like T as well, I've read the books so many times I can't even count... I know it's well over 10 times. I still find it fascinating each time, and the movies have made my reading experience all the more visual. I love both the books and films.

As for the chapter "A Long Expected Party" I often wondered if it was related to the first chapter of The Hobbit. Glad you cleared that up T!

I remember feeling/knowing instinctively that The Lord of the Rings was going to be for a more "grown up" audience when I read it the first time, and now as I read chapter one looking closely it's quite obvious that it's not going to be such a kids' book as The Hobbit is. When I was young I tried to get my Dad to read me TFOTR much earlier than he would... I suppose it probably would have scared me.

I liked the character descriptions (there were so many new characters introduced) that Tolkien came up with. I especially enjoyed the vileness of the S-Bs (Sackville-Baggins). Actually that bit in the movie was done well with Bilbo's ears always twitching when they were anywhere around! Hurrah for Peter Jackson to put that twist on it!

The simplicity of Gandalf in this chapter I find very endearing. The hobbits don't know him as a wizard, or a powerful sorcerer. They just know him as a meddling old fellow who makes good fireworks. Knowing what happens as a whole(as everyone does if they've seen the movies, even if they don't know the details of the books), we know that Gandalf is one of the greatest and most powerful of Middle-Earth... the hobbits are spared that image of him because of his kindness and the fact that he tries to allow them a part of the world where they can keep their innocent and childlike qualities. I'm sure I'll mention this again later on as we read the books...

I do so love the idea of Bilbo being off on another journey. What a great way to move on in your life!!! I thought that when I first read it and I still do, I hope I am able to go out on such a bang and I'm not referring to his disappearance as much as the fact that he, even late in life, just went for it!

T you mentioned that you will probably add a little movie and book commentary together here (I just watched FOTR this afternoon by the way), so I thought I could do the same. Merry is seen in a much more responsible light here than he is in the films! He actually was very helpful and able to control and handle situations. Here I'm referring to the time when they were giving Bilbo's presents out and Frodo left him in charge. The Merry of the movie would have totally blown it and been useless in that situation. Oh and I think the tags are brilliant too! They make me smile! Could definitely have used some more of those!

Tolkien does a really great job here reinforcing the hobbits non-adventureousness. I think the descriptions and conversations in chapter one with relation to this makes it seem all the more urgent, stressful, and brave when you see those four little hobbits on the rest of the quest in LOTR. Very well set up!

Can any other author even remotely begin to write such fantastic descriptions? Honestly, I always feel like I'm in The Shire when I read this chapter. My favorite bits are the description of Bilbo's Garden at Bag End, and the fireworks at the Party. Awe inspiring!

Love the foreshadowing about the meanings and severity of the ring, and what it REALLY is! Again just great writing! You can already see Gandalf's suspicions and the fear he's got just lurking under the surface! I noticed the same thing you did as well T with the "Keep it secret, Keep it SAFE!" line. Previously I hadn't put such weight on that line, now I can't help but do it! Well spotted!

I think you've probably hit the nail on the head with the "other odd (queer) folk" at Bag End. The men of Dale are most likely, though a few Rangers may have been about as you said Bilbo did a lot of wandering, though since Tolkien hadn't mentioned the Rangers before then maybe not?? Bilbo did know the Bardings and was friends with their leader after all... Quick question from me... I may have remembered incorrectly or perhaps I'm making things up in my own mind, but didn't someone mention later that the Rangers hadn't really started patrolling the Shire until Gandalf told them he suspected Bilbo's Funny Magic Ring to be something more than funny? Jeeze, I'm horrible I can't remember for sure and I read this very recently (only last year) as well!

Can hardly wait to see what our other two readers think! Sorry for the "long ramblings" but it's Tolkien and once I get started it's so hard to stop! Next up "The Shadow of the Past" If you're interested in finding out about dates for readings and everything, I've added a calendar feature on the left (have I said that already?) which should help us stay on track! Cheers everyone!

Prologue: Concerning Blogging and Other Matters

This blog is largely concerned with LOTR, and from it's posts a reader may discover much of it's character, story and history.

With regards to the amount of time per chapter here is what we've come up with. In hopes of keeping the blog moving along at a good pace, but not so fast that people have difficulty keeping up, the time set aside for each chapter is 4 days including the starting day. So for example the group has started Chapter One in the Fellowship of the Rings (A Long Expected Party) on February 16th and so should be finished by February 19th.

As far as the actual posts are concerned, there are no strict rules or times. Post as much as you want or as little, any time you want. As mentioned above, each chapter gets it's 4 days for the reading and, theoretically, those same 4 days for discussion of that chapter. If discussion of the chapter and it's events carry over into other days that is acceptable though. The key is to make sure and be clear when you're posting the title of your entry so that everyone knows what your post is about in relation to the book.

Content of posts is completely open. Post anything from one word to pages and pages worth material. Anything that interests you is fair game. Posts can range from the completely academic to the totally superficial (for lack of a better word). Feel free to post your thoughts about Tolkien's "hidden meanings" or tell us how much you like Frodo's new outfit. Make your post a sream of consciousness post and just write everything you think of or feel while you're reading. It's all part of the discussion process. Don't forget to ask any questions that you've been dying to have answered for ages, or those spur of the moment ones you come up with when you're reading. There is no such thing as a stupid question! Again, posting is completely open. Just go for it!

Lastly, anyone who happens to stumble upon this blog please feel free to add your feedback, thoughts, and ideas to the comments section. The more the merrier!

WELCOME TO BAG END.

A Long Expected Blogging

So begins the greatest literary adventure for two (or more) humble readers. What a fantastic trip it will be through the world of Middle-Earth. One person is a first time reader (though many time movie watcher) and the other is an old hand at the "book thing," having read them many times. Feel free to join with your thoughts, questions, comments or other Tolkien-ish musings!

Bilbo Baggins once wrote a poem which said:
The Road goes ever on and On
Down from the door where it began.
Now far ahead the Road has gone,
And I must follow, if I can,
Pursuing it with eager feet,
Until it joins some larger way
Where Many Paths and errands meet.
And Whither Then? I cannot say.

Let us take to the road and see where it leads...