Tolkien Geek

Chapter Eight: Flies and Spiders

2011-07-23T07:25:00.008-04:00

Now that the party is without Gandalf, they stand at the entrance to the mysterious and dangerous forest of Mirkwood. Once known as Greenwood the Great in the Elder Days, the forest has grown darker and thicker and the evil stirring in Dol Guldur in the southern portion has had its effect over the years.

This chapter covers a lot of ground so I’m not going to describe each event in detail. Essentially, the action goes as follows: Bilbo and the Dwarves enter Mirkwood, they cross an Enchanted Stream (in which Bombur becomes temporarily enchanted into a deep sleep), play a game of cat and mouse with a camp of Wood Elves, get captured by a clutter of spiders after which they are rescued by Bilbo and Thorin is captured and brought before the Elven King. The content of this chapter could easily take up a full half an hour of screen time, if not more.

I will, however, make a few specific observations. Firstly, the presentation of Mirkwood should probably be different than the forests we have seen previously, such as Fangorn. While not as ancient as the home of Treebeard, Mirkwood is still vastly overgrown. However, I don’t think Tolkien intended it to be as dreary or menacing. I think we will see more natural light to show us the beauty of the forest as well as the danger.

When attempting the crossing of the Enchanted Stream, the Dwarves are surprised by a charging snowy white deer. In note 6 of “The Annotated Hobbit” it is pointed out that, in Celtic tradition, appearances of white animals prefigure an encounter with beings from the “otherworld”. Tolkien likely included this inclusion of the deer to foreshadow the approach to the realm of the Wood Elves. Will Jackson include the deer in the film? If so, it’s likely he read the same note and recognizes its significance.

There is also a point where Bilbo is directed by the Dwarves to climb a tree to its very top and get a sense of where they are in the forest. His appearance at the top of the trees and seeing large butterflies has always struck me as visually appealing enough to show on film. It was shown in the 1977 animated version but I don't hold out much hope that we'll see it here. It would, however, present an opportunity for a stunning visual.

As night falls, Bilbo and the Dwarves see a camp fire and follow it hoping to find some provisions to ease their hunger. As they approach, the fire goes out and they repeat this action two more times. But the Elves continue to evade them. Now, the Wood Elves are of a different sort that the Elves we saw in The Lord of the Rings. In Lothlorien, Galadriel and her kind were of the Noldor. The Elves of Mirkwood are descended from the Teleri, those who stayed in Middle-Earth and never returned to the Undying lands. Their race has a long history dating back to the First Age in the land of Doriath which later sank beneath the sea. They speak a version of Elvish known as Sindarin rather than the Quenya spoken by Galadriel. They will also, for the most part, have black hair like Elrond.

Their king is Thranduil, though he is only referred to as the “Elven King” in this book. His son is Legolas, who played a large role in The Lord of the Rings as a member of the Fellowship. Though Legolas is not part of the original story of “The Hobbit”, Orlando Bloom will be returning for these films. An ideal role for Legolas in this story would be to have him, rather than Thranduil himself, lead the party of Elves that encounter the Dwarves. And perhaps it would be most appropriate for Legolas to be the one who captures Thorin and brings him before his father.

The inclusion of Legolas, however, should be prudent as this character development is examined in The Lord of the Rings. Here we need to be merely introduced to him. Perhaps his relationship with Thranduil (and his role as “prince” of the Elves) or his personal view of Dwarves in general could be examined. It was also recently reported that a new female Elf character will be added to the story. I will address this change in the next chapter.

I would expect Peter Jackson to treat the material with the spiders as scary, if not downright terrifying. We’ve already gotten a taste for the Weta Workshop’s design of Shelob. These spiders will be certainly smaller, though how small in relation to the size of the Dwarves is anybody’s guess. And, no, I seriously doubt that they will be featured chatting about the quality of their captured prey.

Bilbo’s use of the Ring to confuse and distract the spiders begs an interesting question – just exactly how much of the invisibility power will be used throughout the film. Bilbo uses his new Ring quite liberally throughout the book but clearly this presents a limitation when translating the story to film. I’m guessing that unless a scene absolutely requires the use of the Ring (like Bilbo’s encounter with Smaug) that it will be included only sparingly.

Put another way, anyone who is familiar with the Harry Potter series will remember that the Invisibility Cloak makes repeated appearances (or disappearances?) in the books. But many of the same scenes in the films are either altered, shortened or eliminates the use of the Cloak entirely. This makes for a more visually friendly presentation. Don’t be surprised if in this case Bilbo uses the Ring only briefly or not at all, relying more on stealth to achieve the same effect.

On a side note with the spiders, note 12 of “The Annotated Hobbit” explains that Tolkien put spiders in the story specifically because his son, Michael, has a particular dislike of spiders “with a great intensity. [Tolkien] did it to thoroughly frighten him.”

In cutting the webs and fighting the spiders, Bilbo’s Elvish blade earns its nickname “Sting”. I would guess that this commentary by Bilbo will make its way into the scene. Those fans not familiar with the books may have wondered about the name when Bilbo gave it to Frodo to take on his quest with the Fellowship in Rivendell.

After the Dwarves are freed, they notice that Thorin is missing. We find out that he has been captured by the Wood Elves and is taken before Thranduil. Naturally, he is reluctant to divulge any information about his true objective at the Lonely Mountain being jealously protective of the treasure that lies within it. Does Thranduil suspect this? Perhaps he does but Thorin’s overall lack of cooperation leads him to his confinement by the Elves.

The strife between the Elves and the Dwarves goes back to the Second Age when the two races disputed possession of the Nauglamir, a necklace that held one of the Silmarils. The conflict led to the murder of the Elvish King Thingol and is recounted in Tolkien’s “The Silmarillion”. But it is never explained in The Lord of the Rings as to why there is all this animosity between the two races. Jackson may take the opportunity to explore this. It might be a nice tie in to the scene at the Council of Elrond where Gimli declares “never trust an Elf!”

In the next chapter, our hero and his party are tasked with getting Thorin (and, ultimately, themselves) out of this mess. Their escape is recounted in "Barrels Out Of Bond".

Chapter Seven: Queer Lodgings

2011-05-26T20:48:00.007-04:00

When I first considered this project I did a quick review of the book to try and identify specific parts that were candidates for removal when translating the story to film. To be honest, this next chapter was at the top of that list. It was certainly a casualty of the 1977 Rankin/Bass adaptation. As part of the book, it’s a staple. As part of a film, however, I consider it to be quite expendable. So naturally I was surprised to hear that the part of Beorn had been officially cast.

The events of “Queer Lodgings” accomplish two things: introducing the character Beorn and providing a reason that the company should choose a less traveled road through Mirkwood. While an interesting character, the skin-changing Beorn does not enter into the story again until his last minute appearance at the Battle of the Five Armies. Therefore, he could be removed completely without drastically affecting the rest of the plot. Since his presence doesn’t really do anything to move the narrative forward, the skipping over of this chapter would be understandable. The information that the goblins were searching for the Dwarves (thereby diverting the journey northwards to avoid them) could have come from any number of other sources.

But, being as it was confirmed that Beorn is a part of the film what follows is my guess as to how he will be included. Since Radagast the Brown is also revealed as a cast member, let’s assume (as I speculated in the last post) that the wizard is the party’s method of introduction to Beorn. This would replace the book's account of this initial meeting. It’s a pretty standard rule in film making that you don’t waste screen time recounting a story of what the audience just saw unless you do it from a completely different perspective. Gandalf’s ploy of introducing the Dwarves two at a time so as not to overwhelm Beorn plays out as he explains all of their adventures up to that point. So, I would think that this bit needs to be removed.

Once we become introduced to Beorn, we will likely be taken to the “queer lodgings” of the title, his hall. The wizard, Bilbo and the Dwarves have dinner with their host and then (in the book) spend two evenings here. However, one would be more than sufficient in the film.

One of the strangest aspects of this scene is the appearance of forest animals serving the guests like waiters, walking on two legs. At this point I feel like the Monty Python character (the British Colonel, played by Graham Chapman) who constantly interrupts sketches by telling the performers “That’s enough, now. This has to stop. It’s getting much, much too silly.” And, honestly, the idea of these beasts entering the scene like “Animal Farm” refugees seems extremely out of place here and, yes, much too silly.

Again, it’s fine for the book but knowing Peter Jackson’s style I seriously doubt we will be seeing this part. Remember, Tolkien wrote “The Hobbit” as a children’s book before he had conceived of its place in the larger epic work of Middle-Earth. And even if "The Hobbit" on film is a lighter tone, it still needs to have a consistent feel with the trilogy.

After a night’s prowling Beorn, in his bear form, comes across a goblin riding a Warg and it is here that he learns of the size and scope of the goblin army that is pursuing his guests. Because of this threat, he suggests to them that they continue off the beaten path and directs them to a less hospitable route in the Northern part of Mirkwood, warning them of an enchanted stream that they must cross.

Interesting to note that although in the book Beorn’s shape-shifting capability always takes place “off screen” it has been reported by representatives of the Weta Workshop group that his transformation will be a major special effects sequence. Now in the book, Beorn’s role in the Battle of the Five Armies is critical, though it need not be in the film. As seen in the animated version of The Hobbit, the turning point is ultimately the arrival of the Eagles. However, considering the plans for the transformation effects I would expect the full visual impact to be saved for that moment. Jackson has a taste for what the folks at the MPAA would politely call “graphic images”.

As to the origin of Beorn, there are some interesting bits of information included in "The Annotated Hobbit". Note 4 to the chapter states:

“The name Beorn is actually an Old English workd for “man, warrior”, but originally meant “bear”; it is cognate with the Old Norse bjorn, “bear”.”

Note 5 has several other examples from Norse mythology that undoubtedly inspired this character. Tolkien mentions in one of his letters that Beorn, though “magical”, is definitely a man and, by the time of The Council of Elrond where he is briefly mentioned, is dead. There is no other reference to him in any of his other writings or any of the Appendices to The Lord of the Rings (including “The Tale of Years”).

At the entrance to the path into Mirkwood, Bilbo and the Dwarves are told by Gandalf that he needs to part from the company to attend to “pressing business away south”. The next time we see Gandalf should be at a new scene created for the film that shows the deliberations of the White Council.

The text reads “Now began the most dangerous part of all the journey”, which continues in “Flies and Spiders”.

Chapter Six: Out Of The Frying Pan, Into The Fire

2011-05-14T07:51:00.008-04:00

Essentially a transition scene connecting the finding of the Ring to the introduction of Beorn, this chapter shows a notable step in the development of Bilbo’s character. Up to this point, the Dwarves in general – and Thorin in particular – have been fairly unimpressed with the talents that Gandalf attributed to the hobbit as a necessary member of the party.

Indeed, prior to Bilbo’s next appearance, they take to arguing with Gandalf as to why they should risk going back into the mountains to find him, one of them exclaiming “he has been more trouble than use so far.”

His possession of the Ring has now given Bilbo a boost of self-confidence and has perhaps stirred the “Tookishness” within his nature. As he comes upon the camp of Dwarves, he sneaks in under cover of invisibility past the watchful sentinel, Balin. Deciding to “give them a surprise”, he reveals himself to the Dwarves by removing the Ring and appears, it seems, out of nowhere. Having been givin the impression of Bilbo's great stealth and cunning, the Dwarves now see their hobbit companion in a new light.

Balin in particular is especially impressed that Bilbo was able to slip past his notice. Of course, Bilbo in false modesty says that he merely “crept along, you know – very carefully and quietly.” While keeping the Ring a secret, he is using it as a tool that will come to spur his sense of adventure and fortify his innate courage. He will, throughout the story, gradually discover the strength of character he has long buried in a life of ease and comfort. As a critical part of Bilbo’s story arc, this should be given special emphasis in the films.

As the sun sinks behind the mountains, the company comes to a clearing and they are attacked by a pack of Wargs. Since Wargs were introduced by Peter Jackson in The Two Towers I see no reason why they would not be presented in the same design here. The Dwarves scramble up some trees out of reach of the Wargs. Gandalf sends down flaming pine cones in an attempt to thwart them. This only angers the Wargs further.

Visually, a lot can be accomplished here. Imagine a pack of howling wolf/hyena-like creatures with flames running down their backs, rolling around and stamping to put out the flames. Soon, the goblins join the fracas and use the fires to try and flush the Dwarves out of the trees.

As with the encounter under the Misty Mountains, I would not expect these goblins to break out into song with their taunts of “fry them, boil them and eat them hot!” Any aspect of their presentation that appears comical or whimsical would detract from the tension and terror such a scene should inspire on film.

All seems bleak at this point. However, in a typical Tolkien “Deus Ex Machina” moment, Bilbo, Gandalf and the Dwarves are rescued from the tree tops by a convocation of eagles and taken to their eyrie in safety.

In the film The Fellowship of the Ring, no animals or birds spoke. But Peter Jackson did demonstrate an ability of Gandalf to communicate with non-verbal creatures. Atop the tower of Orthanc, the wizard whispered instructions to a moth that in turn (presumably) passed along a message to the eagle, Gwaihir, that he needed rescuing. The idea of Gandalf or any other Maia having the ability to talk to nonverbal birds and beasts is no less plausible than speaking eagles.

Gwaihir does have three conversations with Gandalf in the text of "The Lord of the Rings" (two recounted from the past and one taking place in the present). However, for the sake of consistency in both tone and story with the film trilogy I would expect that Jackson will not have the eagles “speak” in the traditional sense. In conjunction with Gandalf’s talent for communicating with them, it is also likely that he will demonstrate at least a rudimentary understanding of the eagles’ method of imparting information. It may not be necessary, however, for Gandalf to actually communicate with them at all however. I will explain.

From official casting reports back in December 2010, we know that the role of the wizard Radagast the Brown has been filled by Sylvester McCoy. This character never appears in the book "The Hobbit" and only comes up in “The Lord of the Rings” during Gandalf’s account of his prior whereabouts as told to the Council of Elrond.

So the question is raised – how will Radagast be included here? In the next chapter, we find out that Beorn does not know Gandalf but he is familiar with Radagast. And there it is established (as it is reiterated at the Council of Elrond) that Radagast the Brown dwells near the Southern borders of Mirkwood.

The only use of Radagast I can imagine is for him to actually introduce Gandalf and the Dwarves to Beorn. In this context, he may even be the person to whom the eagles first deliver the company. Being as Radagast is described in the books as having “much lore of herbs and beasts, and birds are especially his friends” we can probably assume that he also has an established relationship with the eagles.

Perhaps it will be Radagast who sends them to search for and ultimately find Gandalf, leading to everyone’s rescue from the goblins and Wargs. This would give a decent explanation to the audience what eagles were doing in the vicinity to begin with. Will Radagast be present at the much anticipated meeting of the White Council? He may at the very least use his appearance to confirm to Gandalf the time and place of that meeting. It is shortly after their encounter with Beorn that Gandalf will part company with the Dwarves for most of the rest of the story. And, of course, the purpose of his parting is for him to take part in the Council and the attack on Dol Guldur.

At this point the eagles promise to take everyone Eastwards the next morning. For the night, Bilbo and his companions are fed and enjoy an evening of uninterrupted rest in the eagles’ nest. The chapter concludes: “So ended the adventures of the Misty Mountains.”

Here the story follows in the next leg of the journey in “Queer Lodgings”.

Chapter Five: Riddles In The Dark

2011-04-23T08:17:00.018-04:00

The tale of The Hobbit is basically nothing more than a straight forward journey with several diversionary stops along the way. Some of these stops are, arguably, not all that relevant to the overall plot; such as the meeting with the trolls. Others are critical to introducing new characters and even whole races of peoples that play a larger role in the story’s climax.

The events of “Riddles In The Dark” were originally intended to merely introduce an important plot device – a “magic” ring that would render our main protagonist invisible without anyone’s knowledge. This was indispensable in assisting him (and the Company) to achieve the quest at hand.

In later years, Tolkien used this aspect of his original story as the foundation for expanding the scope of Middle-Earth beyond the reader’s wildest dreams, creating a larger story that would literally bring this entire world to the brink of an age of darkness and evil. There is a moment in this chapter where a restrained hand of the hero is instrumental in determining the outcome of this later grander story, which I will address at the end of this post. As such, its importance as both a connection and a springboard to the three Lord of the Rings films cannot be overstated. In bringing this story to the screen, it is critical for Peter Jackson and company to get this scene right.

Certainly, it bears the responsibility of properly introducing both the Ring and Gollum (aka Smeagol) but it must do so as effectively as possible within the parameters of this mostly visual medium. In other words, Jackson will need to craft the script carefully to make it compelling while at the same time keeping it to no more than about ten to fifteen minutes in length. You can curl up in front of a fire and immerse yourself in this chapter over the course of a half to three-quarters of an hour but this won’t do as one part of a (likely) five hour two-part film presentation.

The transition from the prior scene will open in darkness but with enough strategically placed lighting to allow the audience to take in the detail of the underground caves. In “The Return of the King”, Shelob’s lair would realistically have been in total darkness but Jackson’s team gave us the visual horror of webs, bones, carcasses and – or course – the great spider herself. Here we need to be able to see a subterranean cavern, a large underground lake and our two characters. The recent video posted by Jackson in his production blog on Facebook gives us a taste of how the overall look of the caves will be.

Sting should have a very faint glow, indicating that “goblins are not very near, and yet not very far.” Observant fans will notice that in “The Fellowship of the Ring” Gandalf’s sword, Glamdring, never glows at all in Balin’s Tomb. It begs the question as to whether or not it should glow at any point in these films or if it should be left alone for consistency’s sake (leaving in place the original inconsistency).

The actual discovery of the Ring need not mirror the brief scene presented in the prologue to the trilogy, though Bilbo should probably be crawling on all fours at the time (as it is described in the text).

How to introduce Gollum? I suspect that the visual effects crew may present him as slightly different in appearance as we have already seen him. With this underground world providing sufficient nourishment in the forms of fish (and the occasional goblin), I would expect Gollum to appear not as thin and gaunt as we first saw him in “The Two Towers”. Also, his possession of the Ring (as opposed to his seventy five plus years of Ring deprivation) would likely make him seem less drawn out and wretched.

I’m not talking about a drastic difference, mind you. But don’t be surprised if Gollum appears here to seem a bit “healthier” looking, though still more like the Gollum half of his personality than of Smeagol. No pandering or kissing up to the master of the Precious here. No, Gollum will likely act like the one in control of the situation as he believes that his possession of the Ring is not under threat.

There are probably a couple of pieces of dialogue that will remain intact. The first of these is “I am Bilbo Baggins. I have lost the Dwarves and I have lost the wizard and I don’t know where I am.” Here his name and his association with Dwarves and a wizard will serve as Gollum’s only known information as he later sets out to recover his Precious.
The riddle game itself will need to be pared down a bit. In the text, Gollum asks five riddles and Bilbo asks four (his fifth being the infamous “what have I got in my pocket?”). This is too many to keep the casual audience members’ attention. I would expect Jackson to wean it down to three and two for Gollum and Bilbo, respectively. I’ll take a guess and say they start off as in the book with Gollum’s mountains riddle and Bilbo’s teeth and gums query.

Gollum’s next should probably the riddle of the fish. In the book version of “The Two Towers”, Tolkien has Smeagol repeat this riddle to Frodo, using a longer version that ends in: “we only wish to catch a fish, so juicy sweet”. In Jackson’s film “The Two Towers”, Smeagol croons a version of this while feeding at the Forbidden Pool in Ithilien:

“Rock and pool,
Is nice and cool,
So juicy sweet!
How nice it is,
To catch a fish,
So juicy sweeeeeet!”

This would provide a nice (albeit obscure) tie-in to the trilogy.

Bilbo could continue with one of his riddles as written but perhaps the one about the egg would represent something that Gollum (and maybe the audience) could easily guess. Lastly, Gollum should ask the riddle about time, allowing Bilbo to indirectly guess the answer by pleading for more “time, time!”

And here we would have Bilbo desperately trying to come up with a riddle and fiddling in his pockets, resulting in his asking himself aloud, “What have I got in my pocket?” Gollum mistakes this for a riddle and tries to make three guesses and fails, allowing Bilbo to effectively win the contest.

On a side note, I would point out that in the original 1937 version of The Hobbit, this whole exchange was written differently and it presented a problem for Tolkien when writing The Lord of the Rings. As the author states in a letter to publisher Sir Stanley Unwin dated July 31, 1947 (see The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien - p 121):

“The weakness [in linking The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings] is Gollum, and his action in offering the ring as a present…The proper way to negotiate the difficulty would be slightly to remodel the former story in its chapter V.”

The original agreement as written had Gollum stating “and if we does not answer we gives it a present.” This was later revised to “and if we doesn’t answer, then we does what it wants, eh? We shows it the way out, yes!”. Tolkien had not established the Ring as something that possesses Gollum as much as he possesses it so his character had to be rewritten as more treacherous. There are more aspects of this revision that I won’t elaborate on here but I would refer the reader who is interested to section of the Prologue of “The Fellowship of the Ring” titled Of the Finding of the Ring.

Now, as the scheming Gollum has no intention of honoring his promise to show Bilbo the way out, he retreats to his island to find his Ring, which will give him stealth to overcome Bilbo’s advantage of wielding Sting. Upon his searching, Gollum should mention it being his “birthday present”, complementing the opening scene of “The Return of the King” where a more hobbit-like Smeagol insists to Deagol that he should give the newly found Ring to him“because it’s my birthday and I wants it.” (he hadn't yet developed the schizophrenic self-reference of "we" at this point)

Gollum’s panicked discovery that his Precious is missing leads to his pursuit of the “thief” Baggins. As Bilbo attempts to elude the creature, he inadvertently slips on the Ring and becomes invisible.

Now how should this be portrayed on screen? In The Lord of the Rings, wearing the Ring creates this instant connection to Sauron, making him aware of the ringbearer (i.e. “I can see you.”). At this point, however, Sauron is not yet aware that the Ring has been found. Gollum’s discovery and use has not tipped him off at this point so there is no reason to expect having a new wearer should make a difference. Tolkien never addresses the lack of a connection to Sauron anywhere in his writings that I’m aware of so we can only speculate the significance.

Perhaps Sauron’s strength is not sufficient at this point that he can detect it. He was yet to openly declare himself (still lurking in Dol Guldur). The fires of Mount Doom in Mordor have not yet begun erupting.

Also, when Frodo wears the Ring there is a depiction of him being in the dimension of the “wraith world” and the visuals are skewed and distorted, allowing Frodo to see the true forms of the Nine. I suppose there should be a similar effect on Bilbo though perhaps not as pronounced. The other option is to not show what Bilbo sees at all, only that he disappears. This would be tricky because he wears the Ring so often in this story that to film nothing – other than his effect on his environment – would not be very compelling to the audience.

This may prove to be Jackson’s biggest challenge in the films. One can only guess what the result will be but I’m predicting that the director has already thought this through and will have to show at least some kind of representation of Bilbo’s point of view.

Now the escape from the caves into the open will probably have to be shortened but the key moment in this sequence will have to be a point where Bilbo has the chance to slay Gollum with Sting but hesitates. The moment when “pity stayed Bilbo’s hand” has such powerful ramifications on the future, not the least of which is the ultimate destruction of the Ring. But also of importance is the fact that Bilbo’s acquisition of the Ring does not come by thievery or murder.

As Tolkien writes:

"He must stab the foul thing, put its eyes out, kill it. It meant to kill him. No, not a fair fight. He was invisible now. Gollum had no sword. Gollum had not actually threatened to kill him, or tried to yet. And he was miserable, alone, lost. A sudden understanding, a pity mixed with horror, welled in Bilbo's heart: a glimpse of endless unmarked days without light or hope of betterment, hard stone, cold fish, sneaking and whispering. All these thoughts passed in a flash of a second. He trembled. And then quite suddenly in another flash, as if lifted by a new strength and resolve, he leaped."

On this matter I have often wondered about the possible influence of Tolkien’s good friend and fellow “Inkling” C. S. Lewis, from whom he solicited much feedback throughout the writing of the books. Lewis’ description of the Christian definition of charity in his book “Mere Christianity” is easily relatable to Bilbo’s restraint:

"Good and evil both increase at a compound interest. That is why the little decisions you and I make every day are of such infinite importance. The smallest good act today is the capture of a strategic point from which, a few months later, you may be able to go on to victories you never dreamed of."

In other words, Lewis is stating the even the most minor act of charity can pay off in dividends in the larger picture that could never be anticipated. By showing charity (in the form of mercy) towards Gollum, Bilbo’s actions prompt Gandalf to later chide Frodo for his wish that Gollum had been killed. In emphasizing that we simple creatures should avoid “playing God” so to speak, he tells Frodo “do not be so eager to deal in death and judgment.”

Unless Jackson has Bilbo overhear Gollum’s talking aloud to himself with regard to the Ring’s power of granting invisibility, our hero should come to this conclusion at some point before or after he escapes from the Misty Mountains. It should also be made plain to the audience that the goblins intend to continue their pursuit of vengeance against the Dwarves once the sun goes down.

And the last thing we hear Gollum utter is his famous cry:

“Thief, thief, thief! Baggins! We hates it, we hates it, we hates it forever!”

As the Company goes…Out of the Frying Pan, Into the Fire.

Chapter Four: Over Hill and Under Hill

2011-01-15T08:07:00.010-05:00

The first thing that jumps out at me about the title of this chapter is "Under Hill". When Gandalf instructs Frodo to take the pseudonym "Underhill" in the film version of "The Fellowship of the Ring" I was reminded of that plot point from the book. At the time I attributed that name as related to the fact that Frodo lived in Bag End "under the Hill". Now as I return to the Hobbit I see Tolkien's reference (intended or not) very clearly here.

Cinematically, this part of the story accomplishes two things: first, it established the motivation for the goblins' pursuit of the party in later chapters and second, it gets Bilbo to Gollum's cave which sets up the hugely important chapter "Riddles in the Dark". Beyond that it's not really that important. On film, I would expect that the journey from Rivendell up into the Misty Mountains to be briefly shown up to taking refuge in the cave. The goblins here should probably resemble those in Moria - more animal than being. Should there be a Great Goblin and should he be given the talent of coherent speech? I kind of grapple with this one.

I don't think it's absolutely necessary for the scene to play out as it does in the book. Again, the point is to capture the company, allow them to scatter and escape and get Bilbo headed downward towards Gollum. This can all be accomplished quite simply with a lot of action and dead goblins. I point to the scene in Fellowship where the heroes escape from Balin's tomb after a full-on attack by goblins and a cave troll. Could we see another cave troll here? Based on Jackson's depiction of the events in Moria I can imagine a lot of Dwarf axes cleaving orc heads clean off and a generous supply of black blood shed all about.

In The Hobbit, Gandalf is the only character who demonstrates any leadership or heroics at this point but I think Jackson might be inclined to present the Dwarves as formidable. Imagine twelve Gimli's whipped up into a frenzy. In fact, up until the Battle of the Five Armies, the Dwarves don't really show what they're made of - constantly getting into fixes where they need to be bailed out. Here might be an exciting place for a "mini-battle" that segues directly into the finding of the Ring.

Again, not to belabor the point but I can easily see Peter Jackson turning these eleven pages of text into one and a half to two pages of script.

At this point we would probably be about one full hour into the first film. This is important to note because if any justice is to be given the the events of the next chapter, Jackson may end up editing this down to forty-five minutes (saving stuff for the Extended Edition). So, now we move on to a MAJOR plot development that will affect not only this story but the trilogy that follows in Chapter Five: Riddles In The Dark.

Chapter Three: A Short Rest

2010-11-18T20:52:00.012-05:00

This is a particularly important chapter as it relates to the overall plot. The brief stay at Rivendell therefore is clearly a major event. Here we are introduced to a significant character featured in “The Lord of the Rings”, Elrond the half-elven. As the return of Sauron has not yet been confirmed by the White Council, I would imagine that Hugo Weaving (who has stated that he plans to reprise is role) would portray Elrond as somewhat less solemn and pessimistic. On the whole, we will probably see him more in keeping with the way he was written in “The Hobbit” – a wise and genial host.

And here his role is important to explain the origins of the company’s newly-acquired Elvish blades and to translate the moon letters on Thrain’s map. Here we have another (perhaps a better opportunity to show the audience some of the geography of Wilderland and explain the route that they plan to follow, showing some of the landmarks they will eventually encounter.

It has been reported that Peter Jackson still has the original scale model of Rivendell from the trilogy and it’s likely that the sets that weren’t saved were digitally scanned for future reproduction on a green screen.

This will also be our introduction to the Elves as a race and it should be noted that their characterization will need to be altered from the way they are presented here if the producers are to maintain consistency with the Elves shown in “The Lord of the Rings”. In “The Hobbit”, the Elves of Rivendell are playful and whimsical. While these Grey-Elves (Sindar) are not of the same nobility as the Noldor Elves of Lothlorien, it would seem out of place to have them gleefully singing “Tra-la-la-lally, here down in the valley…” as Bilbo, Gandalf and the Dwarves approach.

To the extent that there is Elvish singing, I would expect that composer Howard Shore would create a song and translate it into Sindarin. “The Annotated Hobbit” highlights a song that was present in one of Tolkien’s manuscripts but was not included in the final text of the book called “Elvish Song in Rivendell” that could be used or adapted. The overall musical theme could start with a more subtle and muted version of the Rivendell theme that Shore wrote for inclusion in “The Fellowship of the Ring”.

These Elves, unlike those of Lothlorien, will probably be dark-haired like Elrond, Arwen and Elrond’s sons (Elladan and Elrohir, who briefly appeared in “The Return of the King” reforging the Shards of Narsil). While it would not be surprising to see Elladan and Elrohir in this scene, it would not be in keeping with Tolkien’s official chronology to show Arwen as she is supposed to be living with her grandmother, Galadriel, in Lothlorien during this time.

Jackson has always sought an expanded role for Arwen - considering the lack of strong female roles in the films – but it seems too extraneous to try and include her here. Likewise, while there has been speculation that we could see Aragorn, I don’t find it practical for the future King of Gondor to make an appearance. First of all, in the year of this Quest for Erebor – 2941 Third Age – Aragorn is only ten years old and does not yet know of his Dunedain heritage. Until he turns 20 in 2951 T.A., Aragorn is know by the name given to him by his adoptive guardian, Elrond: Estel (which in Sindarin means “hope”).

Peter Jackson has been know to play it fast and loose with Tolkien’s timeline. The most start example is the missing 17 years between Bilbo’s last birthday party and Frodo finally setting out with the Ring in “Fellowship”. But I am skeptical that he and Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens will make such a wholesale change. That being said, if some time during production it is confirmed that either Viggo Mortensen or Liv Tyler has been officially attached to the project, I will take a look at the possibilities and implications for the films in a separate post.

Ironically, the title of this chapter is quite literal in identifying the rest as a short one as the company arrives in the evening and leaves the next morning. As written, the interaction with Elrond and the Elves is quite brief. Jackson could very well take this opportunity to lengthen the scenes and add some material to the script. Perhaps this could be a time for reflection over the history of the Dwarves (Thorin’s line in particular), of Gandalf’s discovery of Thrain in Dol Guldur (seen through flashback) or some other plot elements.

Originally this project was planned as two separate films, “The Hobbit” proper and a “bridge” film that would feature events leading up to “The Lord of the Rings”. The producers and (at the time) Director Guillermo del Toro explored material from other sources, such as “Unfinished Tales”, that could be put into this latter film. One of those topics was the White Council and its investigations into the identity of the Necromancer as well as the ultimate discovery that Sauron had indeed returned.

One of these meetings, however, took place during Gandalf’s absence from the quest that comes later in the story and could find its way to a scene within this production. The meeting presumably takes place in Lothlorien. We know that three members of the White Council are Galadriel, Gandalf and Saruman but this group could be expanded to include Elrond, the wizard Radagast the Brown and other prominent Elves such as Glorfindel and Cirdan the Shipwright. One of the difficulties, however, in presenting such a scene is the availability of Christopher Lee as Saruman.

Lee is currently 88 years old and has stated that, though he would very much like to be part of this project, his is not up to traveling to New Zealand. It is conceivable that he could film his scenes in England with stand-in actors against a green screen. But in the event that this doesn’t work out I don’t know how you have a White Council scene without Saruman. One possibility that I see is to include some dialogue about the Necromancer, Dol Guldur and speculation about Sauron in a side conversation here at Rivendell between Gandalf and Elrond. [ed. note: on December 7, 2010 it was announced that Cate Blanchett was officially attached to the project - Sir Christopher Lee's own website confirmed on January 11th 2011 that he would be playing Saruman again - though no details of the logistics for filming, which begins in February 2011, were given.]

**********************************************

On a side note, I wanted to touch on an issue related to the calendar of Middle-Earth. (If you are turned off by quibbling minutia, then stop reading). In my analysis of Appendix D to “The Lord of the Rings”, I was critical of a line used by Christopher Lee in the “Fellowship” movie. During the scene (not, incidentally, included in the book) where Gandalf and Saruman are in Orthanc discussing the Ring, Lee as the White Wizard says that the Nine Nazgul “crossed the River Isen on Mid-summer’s Eve”. The problem with this is that there is no Mid-summer’s Eve in the Middle-Earth calendar and I was curious as to where Jackson came up with that concept. I had dismissed it as being a mistaken reference to Mid-Year’s Day which, in conjunction with the two Yule and two Lithe Days, was used to account for five of the 365 days of the year, the remaining being divided equally among twelve 30-day months.

Mid-Year’s Day occurs between the sixth and seventh months (comparable to June and July) and falls fairly close to the summer solstice – the day of the year with the longest period of daylight. I was, however, particularly taken aback by the fact that this gaffe was spoken by Christopher Lee (practically a Tolkien scholar in his own right). Surely, I thought, he would have pointed out to Jackson that this reference was faulty.

In a comment added to that post, a reader pointed out that “on the existence of a mid-summer’s eve…Elrond mentions mid-summer’s eve at the end of Chapter 3 of The Hobbit”. I made a mental note of this but in re-reading this chapter I found that this observation is not entirely applicable. In deciphering the moon letters Elrond comments that, because he could read them by holding them up to the light of the current moon, they “must have been written on a mid-summer’s eve in a crescent moon, a long while ago.” [my emphasis] His reference to “a mid-summer’s evening” as opposed to “the” Mid-summer’s Eve or Day (as a specific date on the calendar) is merely a general meteorological observation about the condition under which the letters were written.

Not to belabor the point (too late), but Tolkien writes that later in the evening “they went down to the water to see the Elves dance and sing upon the mid-summer’s eve” and “the next morning was a mid-summer’s morning.” In other words, Tolkien refers to them as a typical evening and morning that happen to be taking place at a time of the year corresponding to mid-summer. The days are not capitalized as proper nouns as would be Yule, Lithe or Mid-Year’s Day. A note in “The Annotated Hobbit” explains that:

“The reference here to mid-summer is ambiguous. It could mean the summer solstice, around June 21, or it could mean June 24^th, the Feast of St. John the Baptist.”

In any case, to have Saruman refer to the event of the Nazgul crossing the Isen as being on Mid-summer’s Eve or even any mid-summer’s eve for that matter is odd. In The Tale of Years, the specific date given is September 18 as the day when “The Black Riders cross the Fords of Isen.”

Sorry to beat this into the ground but every time I watch that scene it remains a pet peeve of mine. The alteration of Faramir’s character in “The Lord of the Rings” I have no real problem with but a mistaken reference to a date? Go figure. I suppose it’s the little things that most get to me.

Bilbo and his companions continue their journey to the Misty Mountains in Chapter Four: Over Hill and Under Hill.

Chapter Two: Roast Mutton

2010-11-04T20:25:00.014-04:00

All of the scenes or events in the book can be categorized as major, minor or incidental. Major scenes are central to the story and the primary drivers of the plot. Minor scenes are less important to the overall story but still necessary to reinforce aspects of the narrative. Incidental scenes, while being interesting or entertaining, are not critical and can be excised if necessary. Chapter Two describes the short section of the journey to the Misty Mountains and revolves primarily around the company's encounter with the Trolls. I consider this to be a minor scene and it's actually one that has caused a great deal of thought on my part regarding how it might be presented in the movie.

Given Peter Jackson's tendency to cut material in his translation from book to script, it begs the question as to whether or not we can expect to see it. I would say yes based on the two times that Jackson refers to this event in "The Fellowship of the Ring". In the theatrical release, Bilbo recounts this incident to a rapt audience of hobbit children during the birthday party sequence (something not a part of the book). In an additional scene that didn’t make the theatrical cut but was included in the Extended Edition, we actually see the trolls (in their stone form) from Frodo’s point of view when he regains consciousness in the Trollshaws. Sam points out to him “Look Mr. Frodo, it’s Bilbo’s trolls!” It is clear by the effort the Jackson made to include the trolls here that he wanted to make a direct connection to “The Hobbit” – and indeed he may have been thinking ahead to this production.

The major consideration here, however, is how Jackson will present this scene. In “The Lord of the Rings”,we are shown a cave troll – slow, dim-witted, wild and (we assume) incapable of speech. The cave troll is shown entirely in Moria, so the issue of sunlight and its effects on it is moot. We see other trolls in the later films swinging the Morannon gate open and fighting the Armies of the West – both at Minas Tirith and on the battle plain outside of Mordor. In these cases the sun, while muted by the darkness caused by Sauron to shield his Orc army, is nonetheless present.

The three trolls in “The Hobbit” are very different from those we have already seen. Written for a lighter story, the trolls (which I will hereafter refer to as the Stone Trolls) are almost as comical as they are menacing, with a manner speech associated with working class Britain. Also, they show at least a low level of intelligence. That is to say they act more like beings than creatures.

In “The Annotated Hobbit”, one of the notes points out that Tolkien presented the Stone Trolls’ speech “in a comic, lower-class dialect” and that “this linguistic joke shows a perception for language similar to that which Tolkien ascribed to Geoffrey Chaucer”. But Tolkien demonstrated that he had rethought his depiction of the Stone Trolls in a 1954 letter to Peter Hastings, an Oxford bookshop manager. He observed that:

“When you make trolls speak you are giving them a power, which in our world (probably) connotes the possession of a ‘soul’.”

This would contradict Tolkien’s later presentation of trolls as being not much different than animals (such as Wargs) in that they are basically creatures corrupted and used by Morgoth (and later Sauron) to serve merely as tools or weapons for the wars against the Free Peoples of Middle-Earth. In this letter, Tolkien also goes on to point out that:

“I might not (if The Hobbit had been more carefully written, and my world so much thought about 20 years ago) had used the expression ‘poor little blighter’ [in referring to Bilbo], just as I should not have called the troll William.”

There are several variations of trolls in Middle-Earth such as cave trolls, hill trolls, snow trolls, etc. And, according to “The Complete Tolkien Companion”:

“One detail has lingered with especial clarity: the association of a troll-race with stone. Trolls bear the same relationship to stone as Ents did to wood; and to stone they retuned if caught by direct rays of the noonday Sun; for like Orcs they were bred during the years of the Great Darkness of the First Age, and the Sun was their enemy.”

This same entry describes the Trolls who fought for Sauron – the Olog-hai (comparable to the Uruk-hai Orcs): “This breed was at once perceived to be vastly more dangerous, being a fell race, strong, agile, fierce and cunning, but harder than stone; who could, for a while and if their Master’s thought was with them, endure the sunlight.” So while Tolkien’s depiction of the Stone Trolls is not necessarily in direct contradiction to the trolls in “The Lord of the Rings”, Jackson can still play down some of these characteristics to make them seem less profoundly different.

The look of the Stone Trolls is already “set in stone” so to speak. Undoubtedly, Jackson would start with the full-scale set models used in the Trollshaws scene of “Fellowship”. Richard Taylor’s Weta Workship artists could uses this as a template for designing the animate versions of these creatures. Most likely they would be presented in CG rather than a Treebeard-like mechanical puppet since the expense of the latter is probably not justified for such small part in the overall production.

I would expect that the voices would be created by Andy Serkis who demonstrated his vocal talents not only as Gollum but as the Witch-King and several individual Orcs. To make the Stone Trolls more in line with Jackson’s vision of Middle-Earth, Serkis would need only to ditch the dialect and not have them refer to each other by proper names (as Tolkien himself previously commented on).

Other than connecting this film to the trilogy through this particular event, this scene is important in tow other respects. First, it highlights Bilbo’s role within the company as the “burglar” or rather the member of the party who is expected to take a large share of the risk by being the one to head into trouble first. This parallels Bilbo’s mission to reconnoiter down into the Lonely Mountain to gather information about Smaug’s lair. It is Bilbo’s first attempt at discovering his courage and resourcefulness as a part of his developing character.

The other important plot point is the discovery in the trolls’ cave of the three great Elvish blades – Orcrist, Glamdring (which becomes Gandalf’s weapon) and the knife that Bilbo will come to call “Sting”. The very first use of Sting will come in Chapter Five as a defense against Gollum as well as the potential means for killing him which Bilbo chooses not to do. Pity will stay his hand and this will have powerful ramifications that follow to the very climax of the trilogy that will follow.

One final interesting note on Chapter Two. It is recorded in “The Annotated Hobbit” that J.R.R. Tolkien’s second son, Michael, gave a speech to the Tolkien Society in England in 1977. And during this speech he said that, as children, he and all of his siblings at one point or another all thought that this was the best chapter in the book. He said, “We thought there was something rather nice about trolls, and it was a pity that they had to be turned into stone at all."

Next: Chapter Three: A Short Rest

Production News Data Dump

2010-10-28T22:37:00.002-04:00

Well, it never rains but it pours. Throughout the month of October a flurry of news has hit the “official” internet news sources about this project. Rather than go back and make parenthetical update notes in the prior entries, I figured I would address them all at once.

Now doubt many of you are already aware of them but for house-keeping purposes I want to list everything we’ve learned to date (sources noted, and mostly linked):

1) The two-part project has officially been “greenlit” with Peter Jackson directing both films. Yaaaaaaayyyyyyy!

2) “The Hobbit”, parts one and two, will be in 3D.

3) Martin Freeman IS Bilbo. Says Jackson:

"Despite the various rumors and speculation surrounding this role, there has only ever been one Bilbo Baggins for us. There are a few times in your career when you come across an actor who you know was born to play a role, but that was the case as soon as I met Martin Freeman. He is intelligent, funny, surprising and brave—exactly like Bilbo and I feel incredibly proud to be able to announce that he is our Hobbit."

4) Several casting announcements for Dwarves have been made (Entertainment Weekly 10/21/10):

Thorin Oakenshield….Richard Armitage
Fili…Rob Kazinsky
Kili…Aiden Turner
Dwalin…Graham McTavish
Oin…John Callen
Gloin…Peter Hambleton
Dori…Mark Hadlow
Bombur…Stephen Hunter

The list keeps on growing.

5) Radagast the Brown has a role to be played by Sylvester McCoy.

6) And last, but not least, the New Zealand actors union has settled their dispute with Jackson which means we will definitely be revisiting many of the locations from “The Lord of the Rings”!!!

A full round-up of news (even more than you need) can, as always, be found at TheOneRing.net.

My Chapter Two post is still in draft form and will be up within the week. Due to a favorable chance in my current scheduling I hope to have at least four additional installments up by Christmas.

See you soon!

Chapter 1: An Unexpected Party

2010-09-26T08:46:00.011-04:00

Now visualize this: You’re sitting in a theater that darkens a bit more after the endless parade of trailers wraps up. A black screen. Music written by Howard Shore begins filtering in and…wait for it…”Wingnut Films Presents: J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit: Part One. A Film by Peter Jackson.” Applause!!

I can’t wait for that moment. And I suspect that neither can you. But alas, for now, that is all we can do.

Before I get started, let me share with you my original thought process on each of these entries. At first I was planning on breaking down several elements of each chapter and addressing them in separate sections in terms of inclusion v. exclusion, vital iconic visuals and dialogue, critical themes, etc. But I realized in composing this first entry that it would come across as too formulaic and perhaps a bit too analytical – in a word, “boring”. So instead I will describe the translation of text to film as I expect it based on Peter Jackson’s prior treatment of “The Lord of the Rings”.

This is not going to be about my vision for “The Hobbit” with me acting as a back-seat director and telling Jackson what he should do but rather what I think we will likely see if he strives for consistency with the larger trilogy. There will be sidebar discussions into which I will infuse my own opinion - topics such as overall tone, talking animals, minor inconsistencies between the books, songs, etc. But even these will be more in keeping with creating as complimentary a story and presentation with “The Lord of the Rings” as possible.

Let’s keep in mind that when Jackson and his writing crew (Philippa Boyens and Fran Walsh) sat down to create one unifying thread to the trilogy they decided that it should be – first and foremost – Frodo and the Ring. Everything else, now matter how important was secondary. Even the smaller plot threads had to ultimately support this concept and move it forward. It was the standard by which Jackson decided whether or not to cut material.

In “The Hobbit”, I believe the central idea is the character arc of Bilbo Baggins – that is, his development from a timid, placid hobbit to a brave, loyal and cunning hero. As such, the world of Middle-Earth should be presented from Bilbo’s point of view as he experiences this wider world for the first time (this is supposed to be the audience’s first time as well). So the standard here (assuming Jackson takes the same approach) would be that if something in the story doesn’t help illustrate this character development then it should be either downplayed or removed altogether.

Now I just know some of you are screaming your monitor “No! No! We need it all! It’s two movies for criminy sakes, there’s room for everything!!!” Trust me, there isn’t. And even if there were you need to remember that this film needs to make money – a lot of money. This means that they need non-Tolkien Geeks to plop down their $10.50 (or if they go 3-D, their $14.00). Die-hard fans will undoubtedly be disappointed as they were with aspects of “The Lord of the Rings” but, as in that case, you can’t weigh down a film version of “The Hobbit” with miscellany and minutiae that mean nothing to the casual fan or the average movie going audience. I’m not going to belabor the point. It’s not worth arguing over. It’s just realistic. Film and books are two completely different media.

Assuming that the two films will be about two and a half hours each (or five hours total) for their theatrical releases, you have to consider pacing. For example, this material for this chapter shouldn’t consume more than the first twenty minutes of the film. Anything more is too long. That being said, let’s take a look at how those twenty minutes might play out on screen.

I would guess that a good way to open the film is a little narration as the cameras give us a view of Hobbiton – the rolling hills, the old mill, Bywater and at last Bag End. As the camera pans the scenery we might hear: “In a hole in the ground, there lived a hobbit.”

Continuing on with the rest of that opening paragraph, it ends with the words “and that means comfort.”

Who should this narrator be? I’m thinking perhaps Sir Ian McKellan’s Gandalf. Now I can see that argument for using Bilbo’s voice. After all, it was Ian Holm’s voice-over introduces the Extended Edition of “The Fellowship of the Ring” (after the prologue). And “The Hobbit” is essentially Bilbo’s tale (i.e. “There and back again”). But I think McKellan’s voice would compliment Tolkien’s famous words here. Now Bilbo emerges from his large round green door at Bag End and lights a long pipe and surveys the land around the Hill, thereby demonstrating his love of the Shire as well as his complacency and contentment which is about to be thrown into upheaval. [Editor's Note: On January 11th Warner Bros. officially announced the inclusion of Elijah Wood to the project, re-prising his role as Frodo Baggins. TheOneRing.net is convinced - based on its sources - that the purpose of Frodo would be as narrator, reading from Bilbo's Red Book of Westmarch].

Continuing with this scene we will be introduced to Gandalf. Here we return to Gandalf the Grey (having last seen the White incarnation in “Return of the King”). In the first film of the trilogy, Sir Ian McKellan played Gandalf as a more easy-going and almost playful version of the wizard in stark contrast to the bolder, more assertive leader who commands the army of Minas Tirith against the siege of Sauron’s forces. Here McKellan (and Jackson) needs to be mindful that in this story we are being introduced to the character through the eyes of Bilbo.

Though they would become great friends, right now Gandalf is mysterious and curious – not quite malevolent yet somewhat foreboding. Though he knows of him, Bilbo isn’t quite sure what to make of him at first. And we are supposed to be as unaware of what the Wizard is up to as Bilbo is. To that end, I feel the entire opening conversation between the two characters should remain exactly as it was written in the book. Here we must see everything from Bilbo’s first “Good Morning” to the introduction of “I am Gandalf…and Gandalf is me.”

It is interesting to note here that in “The Annotated Hobbit” one of the notes explains that in the original 1937 text Tolkien described Gandalf as “a little old man with a tall pointed hat” and it was only many years later that this was changed to read “an old man with a staff. He had a tall pointed blue hat.” Even in the early drafts of the Lord of the Rings (See “The History of Middle Earth, Vol VI: The Return of the Shadow”), Tolkien saw Gandalf as “little”, probably only slightly larger in stature than the hobbit or perhaps little for a man. Just as Aragorn/Strider was originally a wooden-shoe wearing hobbit named Trotter in the early development of the story (though Tolkien had not yet worked out exactly what Trotter’s role would be), we see here how some of the author’s characters begin as whimsical and almost comical which was more fitting to the children’s story that “The Hobbit” was intended to be.

But back to Gandalf’s portrayal for a second, I think McKellan has a fine line to walk here. On the one hand, we need to return to the Grey Wizard who is more familiar and down to earth and lower in rank among the Istari. On the other hand, he and Bilbo are no where near as close as they will become by the start of the trilogy and there needs to be an element of wariness with the audience as it tries to determine whether or not we can trust him. Again, we the audience will be sharing Bilbo’s perspective. When Gandalf leaves we should be just as bemused as Bilbo.

On a side note, it is not necessary - through narration or otherwise - to bring in any of the descriptions of hobbits or hobbit culture at this point. For example, any references to Bilbo’s lineage (i.e. The Old Took) might be best either to be removed altogether or moved to a discussion between Gandalf and Bilbo or Thorin later on. The dichotomy of the hobbit’s adventurous/cautious nature is an important aspect of Bilbo’s development but it would be better focused on at some other point.

The scene would likely fade out and back in to the next day and the arrival of the Dwarves. Now to this point, our current cinematic familiarity with Dwarves in Middle-Earth is primary based on Gimli. The Dwarves in “The Hobbit” should be recognizably distinct in order to avoid confusion over who is who. The particular pairs and trios should be similar within these groupings but very different the others.

In other words, Dwalin and Balin should probably be similar in appearance just as Fili and Kili should be. In fact, these younger Dwarves should have something about them that sets them apart from their older counterparts. They might have significantly shorter beards, for example. Gloin should look a lot like Gimli since they are father and son. It goes without saying that Bombur should be exceptionally fat. And Thorin Oakenshield in particular must stand out from the other twelve. [Editor's note: As of January 2011, all Dwarf roles have been cast.]

I expect the arrival of each Dwarf will be handled with measured comic relief and the party scene on the whole should not be too long in the theatrical version. Much of this material can be restored to the DVD extended edition (which there will surely be). Some of the exposition needs to be cut while some of it can be moved to conversations along the journey. Information about Gandalf's finding of Thrain in Dol Guldur could even be presented in flashback as Gandalf recounts his gaining possession of the map and key. Additional material here can be taken from “The Quest for Erebor” which appears in “Unfinished Tales”.

The “clean-up song” (“Chip the glasses and crack the plates”) is short enough to include here. The breaking out of the instruments and playing of music will probably be cut here but it should definitely be filmed for later DVD restoration. And the song “For Over the Misty Mountains Cold” could probably be moved to the journey phase, perhaps over scenes along the East Road.

The big moment here is Thorin’s speech which should be kept dark and somber in tone but shortened. Thorin’s style as “an important Dwarf”, the heir of Durin, should be emphasized. Jackson should present his has haughty but nonetheless worthy of respect. We will grow to like him over time but right now he should be a bit standoffish.

As far as character development, it would be natural for Jackson to focus on two other Dwarves besides Thorin – Balin and Gloin. Balin’s tomb is memorable scene from The Fellowship of the Ring and would establish a connection to the trilogy and his importance among Durin’s Folk. Gloin is not only Gimli’s father but it is actually Gloin who first questions Gandalf’s judgment in recruiting Bilbo for the adventure, not Thorin. Bilbo’s friendship with Gloin could develop throughout the films as much as his relationship with Thorin.

A few notes on visuals. In “The Return of the King” Extended Edition, Peter Jackson includes a scene to help the audience better orient themselves to the parts of Middle-Earth that are seen in the various story threads. He uses a map of the areas South and East of the Misty Mountains and has Faramir point out various locations (Isengard, Mordor, Minas Tirith, etc.). I think something similar can be done here to establish certain reference points in the story – The East Road, Rivendell, Mirkwood, Esgaroth and the Lonely Mountain. Obviously, to achieve this Jackson would need to have the party refer to something more like the map of Wilderland, which is included in most editions of "The Hobbit".

We could get the chance to see a little more of Bag End than we saw in the trilogy, maybe a look at some of the pantries, cellars and the kitchen. In his interaction with Thorin, Gandalf could give a hat-tip to the advice he gives Frodo with the Ring by saying “Keep it safe” just as he does in the book. Wouldn't it also be cool for one of the Dwarves to call out to Bilbo for some “taters” with their dinner. This would make a memorable reference to Sam Gamgee in “The Two Towers”.

Much of the remainder of this chapter (the last 3 or 4 pages) can be excised up to the point where Bilbo and his guests go to sleep.

At this point I’d like to weigh in on the casting of Bilbo. I’m a big advocate for consistency but Sir Ian Holm is simply too old to play the younger version of himself – who is about 50 years old (actually as old as Frodo is in the books when he sets out for Rivendell). A big fan favorite seems to be Martin Freeman who is best known for starring the original UK version of “The Office”. I personally like this choice as his current body of work shows that he can handle both the drama and subtle humor needed for the role.

Recently, there was a rumor that Freeman had been offered the role but had to turn it down because he had accepted the role of Dr. Watson for the BBC television series “Sherlock”. However, on September 8, 2010 it was reported that sources close to the production said that accommodations were proposed to allow Freeman the flexibility to stay on with the show and still be able to film the part of Bilbo in New Zealand. Unlike U.S. television programs, a British series comprises very few actual episodes. The current round of episodes for “Sherlock” is complete with the next season (or “series”) scheduled to be aired next August. So it is entirely possible that he could commit to both projects.

As of the date of this post, nothing has been confirmed but everything I’m reading indicates that this is the direction Jackson would like to go. I’ll keep my fingers crossed. The two actors – Holm and Freeman – look enough alike to be related. [Editor's note: Freeman has now been officially announced as Bilbo]

So, as the party fades and Bilbo collapses into sleep, we fade back in…to the next chapter.

Next: Chapter Two: Roast Mutton

A Project (Formerly) In Limbo

2010-09-08T21:09:00.015-04:00

One whole year. And nothing. Nada. Goose-egg.

Well, that can describe the forward momentum that the “Hobbit” film project has taken. But it can just as easily summarize the output here at Tolkien Geek.

What can I say, I’m embarrassed. Life is complicated and while I certainly had the inspiration back on August 2 of last year to move this thing along, too many other forces were pulling me in multiple directions both personally and professionally.

Before I continue let’s take a look at where the film project is one year later.

MGM is up a creek…and heading towards the Falls of Rauros.

Why are we even talking about MGM anyway? Well, MGM/United Artists bought the film rights for both “The Hobbit” and “The Lord of the Rings” from Tolkien back in 1969. It's a complicated tale, but suffice to say that, in the 1990’s, the rights to “The Lord of the Rings” ended up with New Line Cinema after changing hands several times. MGM, however, is still legally connected to the filming rights for “The Hobbit”, making the studio an integral part of this project.

Back in 2009, everything appeared to be coming together for Peter Jackson and company. However, it soon became clear that the future of MGM studios, currently weighted under a mountain of debt, was in doubt. Not only was “The Hobbit” in limbo, but the James Bond Franchise has been mothballed until the studio can figure this thing out. For almost a year anxious creditors have been pressing the studio to reorganize and liquidate some of its operations.

Recently, Spyglass entertainment (a studio which often pairs with other studios and has co-produced such recent films as "Dinner for Schmucks," "Get Him to the Greek," and "Star Trek." ) made a bid to purchase much of the ailing entertainment icon in a pre-packaged bankruptcy plan due to be filed sometime this month:

“Under Spyglass' proposal, the company’s co-heads, Gary Barber and Roger Birnbaum, will get a 4 to 5 percent stake in the company following the restructuring…Spyglass would continue to operate independently, while MGM will produce a handful of movies each year, among them Bond and ‘The Hobbit.'"

One way or another, MGM seems certain to file for bankruptcy very soon and this issue should (though it’s not guaranteed) be resolved.

Del Toro is Out.

Honestly, when I first read about this development I heaved a huge sigh of relief. I had no real issues with Guillermo Del Toro sitting in the director’s chair since this was Peter Jackson’s project, with final say on the finished product. But in the time since the announcement of the films we’ve heard precious little from Jackson and whole lot from Del Toro. It seemed to me that he had at least inferred from his dealings with Jackson that he was going to have more creative control than I was comfortable with. Whether or not this was PJ’s intention or not it’s difficult to say.

In the beginning when this was supposed to be two separate films – “The Hobbit” and some kind of bridge movie to “The Lord of the Rings” – Del Toro was pretty clear that he felt like the first film was his baby. He expressed that the second film would require him to yield to Jackson’s vision but that the first film – all Hobbit – would be different in tone. He explained in an interview in Premiere magazine in 2008: “I plan to change and expand the visuals from Peter's, and I know the world can be portrayed in a different way.”

Change and expand, huh? Now Guillermo Del Toro has a body of work on which we can gather what these kinds of changes might look like. It’s hard to imagine Del Toro’s current palette of visual effects working their way into a more light-hearted story like “The Hobbit”. Do these ghastly things look like they belong in Middle Earth?

While it was encouraging that he met with the two Tolkien design experts that gave the trilogy such an authentic look and feel, Alan Lee and John Howe, it was clear he also wanted to bring on board Mike “Hellboy” Mignola and Wayne “Blade” Barlow. Frequent Del Toro actors were expected to be associated with “The Hobbit” (Ron Perlman as Beorn, Doug Jones as Thraduil perhaps). Also, Del Toro is a man – like Peter Jackson – who is used to wearing multiple hats (writer, director, producer) for his films.

It's worth noting that it was reported early on in the pre-production phase of Harry Potter & The Prisoner of Azkaban that Del Toro was approached to direct but was quoted as saying that he considered the film "so bright and happy and full of light, that [he] wasn't interested." Now, anyone familiar with the Harry Potter series can attest that the third book of the series turns a remarkably darker tone than the first two volumes in the series so either he hadn’t read Prisoner of Azkaban or it just wasn’t dark enough for him. And The Hobbit has potential here? Mmmm.

When it was announced that Del Toro was leaving the project this past June he cited the various delays and conflicts with schedules. This makes sense as he could be making other films while the production sits in development hell. However, I am left to wonder whether of not his departure had more to do with creative differences with Jackson. It looks as if the big “Tintin” project Jackson was producing with Steven Spielberg is mostly finished and due for release sometime next year. It’s my understanding that the script (at least the original draft) for the two films is complete. Perhaps at this point Jackson has had second thoughts about relinquishing the directing duties? We probably won’t know the real story for some time.

But suffice to say, if the project appears to now be freeing itself of delays it would difficult to believe that Del Toro’s schedule wouldn’t allow him to hold on a little longer. As we progress through the chapters I expect I will be unable to resist raising my concerns from time to time about certain aspects of the story that would worry me had Del Toro remained involved.

Red Light, Green Light.

Officially, the project has not been officially “green lit”. In other words, nobody’s committed to write the checks that are needed for setting timetables and production schedules.

There have been mixed signals from the producers, the studios, the media and even some of the actors (i.e. McKellan, Serkis and Weaving) as to whether or not this project has been given the OK to move forward. On the one hand, the official talking point is that, no, it hasn’t. On the other hand, some of the news bits leaking out from various sources (i.e. TheOneRing.net and others) is that a lot of the pre-production work is being done. Only Jackson and company know the real story. And once the MGM issue is settled, activity may very well “officially” hit its stride. Who knows?

Tolkien Geek...Reloaded.

So where does that leave us? Frustrated and a little angry. None of these developments seem to make any sense but most of us don’t live and work in Hollywood so what else can we do besides wait and hope? Nothing, really.

That being said, the reality of “The Hobbit” on film seems much closer and much more likely than it did a year ago. So, this increased anticipation has breathed new life in this current blog project for me and I’m committed to seeing through (I actually have the first draft of Chapter One completed). A warning, though. It will take a long time, longer than I had hoped. This is because of the amount of time I am able to give to it. But I’m hoping to make each entry worthy of your patience and only ever give it my best effort.

Based on my experience in creating this blog I can confidently say (to paraphrase Treebeard) that writing something that is worth reading takes a long time, so I prefer not to write anything unless it is worth taking a long time to do it.

Let's Go (take two)! - Chapter One: An Unexpected Party

Middle-Earth Through The Eyes Of Peter Jackson

2009-08-02T15:08:00.014-04:00

When imagining the creation of a film version of "The Hobbit", our reference point has already been laid out for us. With the three Lord of the Rings [LOTR] films, Peter Jackson and his production company have already created Middle-Earth - or their version of Middle-Earth - and in many ways much of the guess work has been taken away by an existing template within which this new pair of films must conform.

In addition to settings, characters, costumes, weapons and creatures that we've already seen before, it is the approach that Jackson took in crafting "The Lord of the Rings" that gives us clues to what we can expect from "The Hobbit". Each of the Extended Editions of the DVDs has a roughly twenty-minute special feature that shows how the script developed over time. Beyond the minutiae of specific scenes, plot devices and character development there are several themes that stuck out which give us a good idea of what principles are most important to Jackson and his team. Yes, the source material is extremely important but in presenting a story on film there is one overriding factor to consider - the audience.

When you read a book, you sit down (or stand if you prefer) and read as much or as little of the story as your mood strikes you, then you put it down and resume sooner or later as it is convenient. The story follows a progression of chapters, providing natural breaks that allow the reader to digest them at their own pace. A theatrical film is experienced in one sitting and the audience must feel a rhythm that not only keeps its attention but also doesn't overload it with too much information at one time.

With a film, a good screenwriter or director understands that whatever does not advance the central story must be removed. As much as many fans would have loved to have seen Tom Bombadil or experienced the horror of the Barrow-Wights those elements would have killed "The Fellowship of the Ring" as a film. And, frankly, for a movie to touch a wider audience (and perhaps create new Tolkien fans) it needs to stay focused on the business at hand. With "The Lord of the Rings", the central structure of the story was primarily Frodo's journey with the Ring. While "The Hobbit" is a much simpler story, there will still be parts that need to be condensed, changed or excised altogether.

As Philippa Boyens says, as much as you love the book you can't be a "guardian" fo the material at the expense of making a great film.

In order to accomplish the act of bringing "The Hobbit" to life, there are a number of concepts that Jackson applied to "The Lord of the Rings" that he will undoubtedly maintain this time around. What follows is a partial list of cinematic techniques and themes that they discussed in the special featurettes which will likely be applied to "The Hobbit" films.

1) Swapping dialogue - Many times there were iconic passages from the LOTR that needed to be presented at different times or in different settings from the way they were in the books. In other cases, they needed to be given to different characters because the scenes in which they originally occured were not shown. Frodo's discussion with Gandalf about wishing that the Ring had not come to him was moved from Bag End to Moria. A description of the journey Westward that appeared in the closing paragraphs of "The Grey Havens" was given to Gandalf to convey to Pippin during the siege of Minas Tirith. If certain scenes or characters are not presented in the film, expect to hear certain dialogue and quotes shifted to another part of the story or through a different voice.

2) External Input/Experimentation: In the process of filming "The Lord of the Rings", the script often changed from day to day and many of the changes were influenced by the actors themselves based on their dramatic instinct. Peter Jackson, Fran Walsh and Philippa Boyens [J,W&B] are very open to input from the actors to "flesh things out" or take a scene in a different direction. While the rationale behind a lot of these changes won't be apparent until the DVD commentary, expect a few surprises to pop up now and again.

3) Additional Material Not Part Of The Published Text: Though there is not as much exposition and back story in "The Hobbit" we may see some additional material (perhaps in flashback mode) about the events that led up to the "Unexpected Party". J,W&B used elements of the "The Tale of Aragorn and Arwen" from Appendix A to expand and develop Arwen's role throughout "The Lord of the Rings". A prologue isn't necessary like it was in "The Fellowship of the Ring" but the beginning could be a little different than we might expect. Could we have an opening narrative ("In a hole in the ground, there lived a hobbit...) with the voice of Gandalf, I wonder?

4) Character Development: J,W&B like to develop characters and as a means to achieve this they will often create dialogue that doesn't appear in the books. They could well take the opportunity to develop characters like Thorin or Balin in this manner, giving us more insight into the race and history of the Dwarves.

5) Continuity With The Characterization Of The Ring: In "The Lord of the Rings", the writers made a concerted effort to highlight the Ring itself as a character - so much so that if "whispered" to Frodo in the Black Speech from time to time. I would expect to see hints of this, particularly when Bilbo finds the Ring and when he uses It to avoid danger. Also, as a part of Bilbo's own development in becoming braver, bolder, more adventurous and perhaps more secretive I think a clear connection between him and the Ring will be shown. This will probably not come across as too sinister. At this point, no one in the story yet suspects that this is "the One Ring".

6) The Part One "Cliffhanger": There will need to be as aspect of the ending for the first film that will leave the audience wanting more. Naturally, we fans would move on to Part Two regardless. But for those in the audience who are not Tolkien Geeks, there needs to be a build-up, climax and cliffhanger that will both disappoint and tantalize the general audience and motivate them to tick off the days on their calendar until the release of the second film. I will discuss later at what point I think in the story would make the best break, but wherever it happens it will need to be a part of the story that builds the tension and it should be full of action. As Jackson comments about the breaks between parts of the LOTR films, it has to be "emotionally fulfilling".

7) Recurring Themes: Jackson may borrow a theme or two for this adventure from the first films. One overriding concept in film version of "The Lord of the Rings" was the idea of overcoming long (if not impossible) odds and there will likely be plenty of deus ex machina plot devices designed to create emotional ups and downs and Jackson-styled "great movie moments".

There is one variable in this cinematic equation that will be hard to factor in, that is the involvement of Guillermo del Toro as the director. It's no surprise that Peter Jackson has chosen to relinquish the director's chair as it proved to be overwhelming to also write, edit and control most of every other aspect of the prior three-film production. Actually a lot of the footage shot in the LOTR films was handled by Assistant Directors (ADs). The time schedule within which Jackson had to work - releasing each film exactly one year apart - made this a necessity.

In the end, Jackson ultimately worked with three different editors - one for each film - and crafted the final products despite the fact that ADs did more than half of the actual directing. Jackson and del Toro see eye to eye on many aspects of the way their films are made, including a love of cinematic blood and gore. I don't necessarily think the change in director will be that noticable, especially when you consider Jackson's ultimate stamp of approval on how the story is pieced together.

Where my concern lies is in the purely visual aspect of "The Hobbit". I love the work of Alan Lee and John Howe as conceptual designers and Weta Workshop's beautiful and hideous creations that bring the sketches to life. But del Toro seems to have insinuated one of his prior collaborators, Mike Mignola, to be included in this project by "doing a stint on the design team". Mignola worked on the "Hellboy" films and "Pan's Labyrinth". Frankly, while the designs of both these projects are worthy efforts they don't seem to me to fit well with the established designs of Middle-earth. While being ingeniously creative, I found this stuff to be kind of on the weird side if not being downright disturbing and over-the-top.

I, personally, will probably be over-sensitive to any real deviation from what I'm already used to with Lee and Howe. We shall see (literally).

So, having framed what we might see generally I'm ready to move on the chapter-by-chapter stuff, which - of course - starts with "An Unexpected Party".

Update: Due to an unplanned hiatus, we first need to catch up.

An Unexpected Project

2009-05-30T18:22:00.006-04:00

The Hobbit: From Book To Script

When I finished this "Lord of the Rings" venture to my satisfaction, I thought I was done. After all it was with this goal in mind that I created this site and, having reached it, I figured that I would simply sit back and let it be, for others to pour over and enjoy.

And, for the most part, I did just that. Other than the essay series "Selections from 'Unfinished Tales'", I have been pretty content to follow other pursuits. Not long after the release of the Lord of the Rings films, speculation began that a "Hobbit" film would be in the works if only New Line Cinema and Peter Jackson could work out their differences. The prospect seemed, at first, unlikely but once the green light was given it reignited excitement among Tolkien fans.

I recently decided to listen to the audio book version of "The Hobbit" and was surprised to find what a different experience it was having the book read to me compared with reading it myself. It dawned on me that there are many different was to tell a story and in the early part of this decade Peter Jackson took on the monumental task of bringing "The Lord of the Rings" to life as a movie (I tend to think of the three films as separate parts of one big movie).

In translating the book to film, Jackson and his co-writers Fran Walsh and Philipa Boyens came under heavy criticism from many of the fans for some parts of the story that were altered, omitted or newly created. I distinctly remember watching the bonus material included in the Extended Editions of the DVDs and I was fascinated by the process of how this production developed. I was particularly interested in the different ways they grappled with the great difficulties in presenting the story through a visual medium. These documentaries were titled "From Book To Script".

Now it has occurred to me that right at this very moment Jackson and company (with input from the chosen director, Guillermo del Toro), are going through the same process for "The Hobbit" - which will be presented in two parts so as to retain as much of the original material as possible. But in listening to the book, it was clear even to me that several elements would need to be amended or removed if, for no other reason, the style of "The Hobbit" is to remain consistent with the Lord of the Rings films.

We, the fans, will have to wait an excruciatingly long time - two to three years - to see the result and many of us will speculate (to ourselves and others) as to just what the final product will look like.

So, I am announcing that I've decide to put my own speculation here at Tolkien Geek. I will be going chapter by chapter and weighing in as to how "The Hobbit" may ultimately be translated "From Book To Script". I plan to base these assessments on Jackson's own thought processes relating to his work on the Lord of the Rings films as well as my own personal feelings about what would or wouldn't work in a movie. I'm sure many readers will take exception to some of these predictions, but I expect the process to be fun - especially when I eventually go back and re-read these entries to see where I guessed close to the mark and where I was waaaaaay off.

This "unexpected project" will begin soon but it may take some time as my own demands of work and family are a little more demanding than when I blogged "The Lord of the Rings" almost four years ago. I will also probably rely on some "inside information" that I may derive about the development of "The Hobbit" from "The Annotated Hobbit". But I will try to plod along as best I can, particularly before casting announcements start to role in by the end of the year.

In any case, I ask for your patience and invite you to come along and post your own thoughts and comments as I go.

But before we hit the text right away, I want to go over some general observations that I think we may be able to anticipate as the production begins to ramp up. I present these in a post titled "Middle-Earth Through The Eyes Of Peter Jackson".

Welcome To Tolkien Geek...

2009-05-22T00:01:00.001-04:00

...the place where some guy (me) went and blogged the entire book, The Lord of the Rings, chapter by chapter.

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Update Announcement Coming Soon!

After many months of hiatus, Tolkien Geek will be embarking on a new project after the Memorial Day holiday.

Stay tuned. Details to follow!

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For more about me or this website, you can read through the FAQs here.

Note: For the latest news regarding the movies based on "The Hobbit" see TheOneRing.net - - -

If you're interested in reading any particular chapter posts from "The Lord of the Rings" you can find them in the sidebar, broken down by volume. If you want to start at the beginning you can go here. Each post has a link to the next one for easy navigation.

There is also a series of posts related to selections from "Unfinished Tales Of Numenor And Middle-Earth" and some other miscellaneous essays on Tolkien's works. Links to these entries are also listed in the sidebar.

Whether you're a frequent reader or a new visitor, go ahead and sit back, kick off your shoes and explore the world of Middle-Earth from a fellow fan's perspective! Enjoy.

"It's about time that this 'Tolkien Geek' fellow got off his bottom and started posting again. I've been so bloody bored sitting here and waiting."

- J.R.R. Tolkien

The Journey Is About To Begin...Again

2007-08-10T20:00:00.000-04:00

When I first started this site over two years ago, I had no idea if I would finish the journey that I began. At times, it was tough to stick to the road and at other times the posts flowed as easily as the Fellowship's Elvish boats down the Anduin. With the release of Peter Jackson's "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King" on DVD, the last wave of publicity for the film project rippled across the world bringing yet more readers to the original work who had never experienced it before. Interest in J.R.R. Tolkien's magnum opus was still at a fever pitch. And surprisingly, some of those readers found their way here. I got lots of great feedback and encouragement from visitors.

Since then, the fever has subsided in the wake of other media phenomena like the "Harry Potter" books and films. And my subsequent browsing trips through the book stores found fewer and fewer Tolkien volumes on the shelves. Where once I had found whole stacks dedicated to the works of Middle-Earth, I noticed a slow reduction to a few shelves. And before you could say "A Elbereth, Githoniel" the various books became seemingly absorbed into the rows of the general sci-fi/fantasy sections.

I'd figured at that point that this site's traffic - especially with such sparse updates - would plummet, reflecting the gradual waning of interest in "The Lord of the Rings".

"Anyone home?"

But something interesting happened. The hits kept coming. Certainly they were reduced in number but that number stayed fairly steady. They came mostly from Google searches from all over the globe looking for references to characters, place names and even quotes. Every so often the page view numbers of some visitors would amount to dozens in one trip. Among the hundreds of "drive-by" hits there were many who stayed and sat a while, clicking from chapter to chapter. And a project that I considered pretty much behind me had still proven to be a resource where readers were interested in reading about what another fan had to say about these books.

So I decided to nibble a little at "Unfinished Tales". And as with the research I did for the chapter posts, I found myself learning so much that I didn't know.

Now, I'm heading into that time of year where this Tolkien Geek returns to the world he's visited so many times before. While I usually wait for Labor Day weekend, I'm starting a little sooner since I'm taking a vacation. And when I take the time to unwind with something to read I really want to start with phrases like "Concerning Hobbits".

As I go through once again, I will keep my mind open to new thoughts and ideas that may find their way into the existing posts. It may be that I end up turning a particular topic over enough in my head and decide to write a separate post on it. Most certainly I will be adding cross-links to other non-chapter posts and those that I wrote about "Unfinished Tales" as reference points for those looking for more background information.

In any case, I invite you all once again to dust off your copies of "The Fellowship of the Ring" and head out with me again. Be sure to pack plenty of lembas bread.

UPDATE:
Going forward, I will be reposting my original entries over the next two months or so. I will feature a new one (in sequence) every couple of days. The links between all the posts remain intact. I'm just changing the dates to bump them to the top. Enjoy.

The Battles Of The Fords Of Isen

2007-05-08T23:05:00.000-04:00

In "The Two Towers", there are only three chapters that deal directly with events taking place in Rohan. We are introduced to Eomer and the Rohirrim in "The Riders of Rohan", taken to Edoras in "The King of the Golden Hall" and experience the a major battle in "Helm's Deep". But there are two events (or two parts of one event depending on how you look at them) that get scant mention in Book Three that have a significant impact on the ultimate removal of Saruman's forces as a threat in the War of the Ring.

The First and Second Battles of the Fords of Isen (which took place within a week of each other) were the opening skirmishes that fit into the overall campaign that Saruman planned to wage against Rohan in his quest to amass enough power to challenge Sauron. Tolkien wrote about these battles is greater detail, putting them into a broader context of the War of the Ring and providing a look into the military strategy used by both sides leading up to the Battle of the Hornburg at Helm's Deep. In the text, it is also explained how the forces of Rohan were ordered as well as where the named characters fit in the overall organization.

Having incapacitated King Theoden through the treachery of Grima Wormtongue, Saruman knew that his success in attacking Rohan depended on his ability to remove or neutralize two major obstacles: the King's son, Theodred, and his nephew, Eomer. Both of these hearty and devoted men were strong enough to lead the Rohirrim in Theoden's absence and they each recognized the need to temper Wormtongue's influence over the old man. Though Grima made subtle attempts to play them off one another, the two cousins could see through these games and were united in their loyalty to Theoden.

Saruman decided to launch an initial surprise attack on the Riders charged with protecting the western part of Rohan - the West-mark. The River Isen was essentially the Western border of the Mark. It flowed down from Isengard, out of the southernmost end of the Misty Mountains and down through the Gap of Rohan. It lay flat across the plains until it turned in a westward bend towards the coastal lands of southern Gondor. Just before this bend were the Fords of Isen where the river became broad and shallow. In the center of the stream was eyot, which had been built up and covered with stones. The water passed along either side of the eyot and was low enough for man and horse to cross it.

Once the river turned westwards, however, it flowed down long slopes and became deeper, turning into rapids. Crossing the river any farther south was virtually impossible and crossing any farther north was impractical. In the early days of Rohan, the Gap was more easily defended - from Isengard in the north and Helm's Deep in the south. And the narrow crossing in between would logistically limit an invading army's options for entering Rohan. But now, not only was the strength of Isengard no longer available to them, it was a threat against which they needed to watch diligently.

Though the idea of an attack from Isengard was anticipated by Rohan it was not expected to come as soon as it did. On February 25th, Theodred's scouts reported a force of Orcs massing southwards from Isengard, marching along the western side of the River Isen. Having assumed that this was Saruman's primary attack, Theodred led the majority of his cavalry across the Fords to intercept them, leaving a small contingency on the eastern bank. When the two opposing forces first met, the Rohirrim had initial success. However, it turned out to be a ruse. Several Orcs in entrenched positions attacked Theodred's flanks and forced the men to retreat. In the meantime, additional companies of Orcs supplemented by men of Dunland had crossed the river by way of a makeshift bridge just south of Isengard and proceeded down the eastern shore of the river. When Theodred reached the eyot midway across the river he saw that he was penned in from both sides and tried to make a stand with Grimbold at his side.

Now the Orcs had been instructed by Saruman to, above all else, find and kill Theodred. A group of ferocious Uruks assaulted the men on the eyot and Theodred was killed. Shortly after this, a group of riders led by Elfhelm arrived from Edoras and was able to drive back the Orcs, who felt they had already achieved their primary goal anyway. The Rohirrim were able to take back the Fords, but with heavy losses. The enemy, having been successful in killing Theodred retreated but here Saruman had made a huge tactical error. Had he ordered the force to continue across the Fords and attack Rohan's forces throughout the West-mark, then the men would have suffered many more losses and been scattered. Those that survived would have had little chance of being able to recover and regroup to continue the fight. Also, by delaying the main attack, he allowed Gandalf the opportunity to reach Edoras and convince Theoden to fight (a turn of events Saruman had not anticipated).

With Theodred dead, it fell to Erkenbrand to take command of the forces of the West-mark. But Erkenbrand was at Helm's Deep. When word had reached him of the news of battle, he knew that he would need to muster as many able-bodied men as he could from the surrounding lands before setting out for the Fords. He sent a message back that Grimbold was to be in charge of Theodred's forces until he could join them. All was in disarray and Erkenbrand, sensing the strategic importance of the Hornburg, was wary of leaving it unprotected. He also sent word down to Edoras, calling for Eomer to set out at once with the army of the East-mark.

On February 27th, Grima convinced Theoden to deny Erkenbrand's request on the grounds that it would leave Edoras vulnerable to attack. Eomer was forbidden to leave the capital. But there was a report that a band of Orcs had descended the western Emyn Muil and was heading across the plains towards Isengard. Disobeying orders, Eomer set out with a company of riders to dispatch them, which they did on the 29th (remember in Middle-Earth's calendar February has 30 days). On the 30th of February, Eomer encountered Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli on his way back to Edoras.

By March 2nd, Elfhelm and Grimbold were able to regroup the scattered Rohirrim. Grimbold was in command of the Theodred's forces and Elmhelm lead the muster of Edoras. There were in a disagreement over how to best defend against another attack. Elmhelm believed that the Fords were nothing more than a trap at that point since Saruman's troops had shown that they could come from both sides at once. Grimbold, however, was concerned that if Saruman became aware of the state of Rohan's forces he might send another stronger army of Orcs to cross at the Fords and attack them from the rear. In the end they compromised. Grimbold and his men guarded the west bank of the Fords and Elfhelm positioned his Riders on the eastern side but farther north to be able to spot an attack from that side as soon as possible.

Later that day, as Gandalf freed King Theoden from Grima's influence, the Second Battle of the Fords of Isen began. An army of Orcs came down the road from Isengard and engaged Grimbold's troops. By sunset he was forced to retreat to the eastern side of the Fords. But the Orcs did not yet attempt to cross. Errand riders were dispatched to the Hornburg to alert Erkenbrand of the gravity of the situation and to urge him to make haste to the Fords with whatever force he had already mustered. Elfhelm was not yet aware of the skirmish at the Fords and just before midnight, the massive force which emptied itself out of Isengard under the watch of the Ents, made its presence known with hundreds of lit torches moving swiftly down the eastern side of the river.

The Orcs on the western bank, seeing the torches of the other army in the distance, poured over the Fords and attacked the Rohirrim in a pincer movement. Grimbold attempted a maneuver in which half his forces retreated and then swung around to the Orcs' flanks from the north and south - giving the impression that reinforcements had arrived. While it seemed to work at first, it ultimately had the effect of scattering the men. Wolf-riders charged north to attack the rear of Elfhelm's army, which was now preparing for the assault from the other direction. The results were disastrous. Like Grimbold's army, Elfhelm's forces suffered heavy losses with the remaining men being scattered. Erkenbrand's men had left Helm's Deep but not yet arrived.

Theoden and Gandalf led one thousand Riders north to answer the call that had been thwarted by Grima days before. Heading in the direction of the Fords on March 3rd, they encountered the scout Ceorl who reported to the King of the second Orc attack at the Fords. As described in Chapter VII of Book Three ("Helm's Deep"), Theoden was prepared to continue on to reinforce his men at the river but Gandalf implored him to instead turn the Riders towards Helm's Deep and prepare for an assault on the Hornburg. Gandalf was sure this was Saruman's ultimate objective but needed to gather more information and find out what happened to the rest of the Rohirrim.

Gandalf first rode swiftly north upon Shadowfax until he reached Isengard. He met briefly with Treebeard and learned that all of Saruman's army had gone. Assured that the Ents had the situation there under control, he rode again southwards and gathered the remaining forces of Elfhelm and Grimbold to join Erkenbrand. Once united, they began a march back towards Helm's Deep. They arrived at daybreak on March 4th, just in time to turn the tide of battle and drive the Orcs into the forest of Huorns that now blocked all access out of the Deeping-coomb.

In an appendix to the essay, Christopher Tolkien explains how the armies of Rohan were set-up under the control of the King. The highest military rank was Marshal and throughout Rohan's history there were always three of them. The First Marshal of the Mark was charged with protecting Edoras and the adjacent lands, including Dunharrow. The Second Marshal's territory was the West-mark and was based at Helm's Deep. The Third Marshal commanded the East-mark was operated out of the original House of Eorl the Young at Aldburg.

The Second and Third Marshals at the time of the War of the Ring were Theodred and Eomer, respectively. Since Theoden assumed the throne at the young age of 32, no one was appointed First Marshal. The role of protector of the capitol was assumed by the King himself. But throughout most of his reign there was peace and little need for him to ride to war. In the years 3012-3019 of the Third Age, much of the duties of First Marshal fell to Elfhelm though he never officially had the title. As Theoden grew old and seemingly decrepit there was a breakdown in communications between Edoras and the two Marshals and barely any central command (a situation Grima did everything he could to maintain).

Theoden again took command of the Muster of Edoras and after the Battle of Helm's Deep he answered the call of Gondor. Being as Theodred had been killed, he took Eomer as his right hand and successor. Though the title of First Marshal was never used, the King's nephew became - for all intents and purposes - the First Marshal of the Mark. Though Erkenbrand technically outranked Elfhelm and Grimbold, the King sent him back to Edoras to protect the civilian population. He would serve as King if both Theoden and Eomer did not survive. At the Battle of the Pelennor Fields, Elfhelm and Grimbold served unofficially as the Second and Third Marshals with each commanding his own force. Grimbold died in that battle.

After the death of Theoden, Eomer assumed the throne and reordered the realm so that it had only two Marshals. Erkenbrand became Marshal of the West-mark and Elfhelm was appointed Marshal of the East-mark.

Unlike the past Marshals, which were ranked First, Second and Third, neither of these two had precedence over the other.

The Hunt For The Ring

2007-04-14T21:20:00.000-04:00

In the chapter titled "The Council of Elrond", the history of the Ring is recounted and shared among the representatives of the Free Peoples of Middle-Earth. In addition, an explanation and description of the events that followed the release of Gollum from Barad-dur are given to bring all the interested parties (including the reader) up to speed.

At the beginning of the chapter, it says, "Not all that was spoken and debated in the Council need now be told." Tolkien probably anticipated that he would include some details in the Appendices to keep the chapter from being too long. But like "The Quest for Erebor" the manuscripts in this section never made it into the final publishing. "The Return of the King" had already been delayed from release because of the Appendix material that needed working out. Christopher Tolkien states that the manuscripts seemed to have been written "after publication of the first volume but before that of the third, containing the Appendices. It's likely that the text we are about to examine never made it to publication because the good folks at George Allen & Unwin just couldn't wait any longer.

However, due to the diligence of Tolkien's son we get to read it after the fact in "Unfinished Tales". In Peter Jackson's "The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring", the film condenses the circumstances of the journey of the Nazgul out of necessity. In the film version, Gandalf returns to Frodo at Bag End to warn him of the need to flee. The scene is interspersed with the torturing of Gollum with his cries of "Shire" and "Baggins" and the bursting forth of the Nazgul from Minas Morgul. Seemingly, they instantly arrive just as Frodo and Sam set out for Bree.

The more elaborate version is recounted in these shelved writings. It was actually several months after Sauron allowed Gollum to "escape" that the Nine were sent to search for the Ring. The Dark Lord had suspected that Gollum would unwittingly lead him to the Shire and word of his activities would get back to him through his network of spies. The reason Sauron gambled on this tactic was because Gollum had lied to him by saying he believed that Baggins could be found close to where he once dwelled near the Gladden Fields. But Gollum's capture by Aragorn and imprisonment by the Elves put an end to that hope.

He realized that he would have to be more proactive if he was to have any chance of finding the Ring. But he did not want his motives to be perceived by the members of the White Council. So he put together a plan that would allow the Nazgul to begin their mission while at the same time testing Gondor's military strength. In late June of the year 3018 while Gandalf sought answers among the archives in Minas Tirith, Sauron sent the Lord of the Minas Morgul - the Witch-King - with a modest contingency of Orcs to attack Osgiliath. While the forces of Gondor proved tougher than he had hoped, it allowed him the opportunity to cross the bridges over the Anduin in stealth with the Ringwraiths in his company. They had not yet been equipped with steeds and dark raiments. Tolkien writes:

"The Nazgul had been commanded to act as secretly as they could. Now at that time the Chieftain of the Ringwraiths dwelt in Minas Morgul with six companions, while the second to the Chief, Khamul the Shadow of the East, abode in Dol Guldur as Sauron's Lieutenant, with one other as his messenger."

As the attack took place, Orcs from Dol Guldur, presumably led by Khamul, attacked Thranduil's realm in Mirkwood with the intention of recapturing or killing Gollum. The net result was Gollum's escape and eventual arrival in Moria, under the Misty Mountains. In the meantime, the other seven Ringwraiths gathered near Sarn Gebir on about July 17th. Here they were given their raiments and horses. They were secretly ferried back across the river. On July 22nd, they met up with Khamul and the ninth Nazgul. It is not made clear why the Ringwraiths crossed the Anduin in the first place only to cross back to the other side. But one can surmise that it was because the horses were on the western side of the river (have been stolen from Rohan). That path north was also probably easier than having to go around the Dead Marshes and the eastern Emyn Muil.

Khamul informed the Witch-King that the attempt to get Gollum in Mirkwood had failed, leading to the creature's escape. He also told him that prior searches for "halflings" along the Anduin had found nothing. The settlements of Hobbits from which Gollum came had long since dispersed.

Sauron began to fear that Saruman might be getting close to discovering the Ring based on what he had seen through the Ithil Stone. The need for speed became more important than stealth and, with the summer now waning, he ordered the Ringwraiths to ride quickly to Isengard. They crossed the River Isen on September 18th, the same day that Gandalf had escaped from the Tower of Orthanc. Two days later, the Nine riders arrived at the gates of Isengard. The Nazgul were not powerful enough to force their way in and called out a challenge to the Wizard. The voice of Saruman responded from an unseen source.

Saruman suggested that they search for Gandalf, who he said had knowledge of the Ring and where it could be found. As the matter of the Ring took priority, Sauron would have to deal with Saruman later. As they head out, they came upon Grima Wormtongue. Theoden's duplicitous advisor had come to warn Saruman that Gandalf had come to Edoras and left on horseback. Out of fear for his life he shared with the Nazgul all that he knew about the Shire and its location (which he had learned from Saruman) since this was where Gandalf was headed.

The Ringwraiths spared Grima's life because their Chief sensed his evil nature and determined that he might likely do harm to Saruman. In addition, he believed that his fear of them would keep him from telling anyone about their meeting (which it did). Heading north, they captured some travelers on the road. Two of them were spies of Saruman (including the "squint-eyed" southerner from the Inn at Bree). They possessed maps of the Shire (provided by Saruman). The Nazgul took the maps and ordered the men to continue on their journey, but he told them they were now in the service of Sauron under the threat of death.

The day before Frodo, Sam and Pippin would leave Bag End, the Riders crossed the southernmost borders of the Shire at Sarn Ford. As the roads were guarded by the Dunedain, they split up to drive them off and a few of them continued ahead north. The Black Captain established a base near the Barrow-downs while the others scoured the area looking for "Baggins". Here he roused the Barrow-wights "and all things of evil spirit, hostile to Elves and Men" so that they would be on the watch for him. This explains the difficulties that the hobbits experienced on their journey through the Old Forest and on the Barrow-downs. Fortunately for them, they had the help of Tom Bombadil.

There is one aspect of the story as outlined in this first draft that doesn't fit into the timeline as given in "The Tale of Years" in Appendix B. That is the encounter of the Nazgul and Grima Wormtongue. He would not have had sufficient time to journey North from Rohan by September 20th as this was identified as the date when Gandalf set out from Edoras on Shadowfax. For this reason, writes Christopher Tolkien, the incident was removed from a later manuscript. And the Nazgul's finding out the way to the Shire was based solely on their encounter with Saruman's spies and the maps that they took from them.

It is curious that Tolkien overlooks the fact that the Witch-King already had familiarity with the lands of the former Kingdom of Arnor. It makes one wonder why he didn't already know where to look for Hobbits. They had already begun settling in the area as early as 1601. The Witch-King dwelt in Angmar and made war on the Dunedain as late as 1975. But if we accept that he completely overlooked the Hobbits during that 374 year stretch that this would prove to be one of his biggest mistakes. Because by beginning his search along the Anduin, he was sufficiently delayed to allow Frodo to leave the Shire in the nick of time.

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In reading through Tolkien's "The Hunt for the Ring", it occurred to me that there is one event mentioned in "The Council of Elrond" concerning the Ringwraiths that is noticeably absent from the manuscript. When the representatives assemble in Rivendell, it is the Dwarf Gloin who begins by explaining his presence. He explains, "About a year ago, a messenger came to Dain, but not from Moria - from Mordor: a horseman in the night." If you recall, Gloin explains that this messenger came asking about hobbits and sought their assistance in recovering a ring - "the least of rings" - that was stolen by a particular hobbit. On behalf of Sauron, the messenger offered the Dwarves the Three remaining Dwarf Rings that he had in his possession as well as free reign of Moria in exchange for any "news of the thief, whether he still lives and where."

Dain of course knew the messenger was speaking of Bilbo (who had visited them some sixteen years earlier before settling down for good in Rivendell). The Dwarf was non-committal and the Rider returned for an answer later the next year. Dain again refused to give any indication of a decision and the Rider pledged to return once more by the end of the year and the visit, he assured ominously, would be his last. Unbeknownst to Gloin this last visit would not be necessary. So he sent Gloin with his son Gimli to Rivendell for the dual purpose of warning Bilbo and seeking Elrond's counsel.

Chronologically, "about a year ago" would have been around October of 3017. By this point, Gollum had already left Mordor and was likely already imprisoned by Thranduil in Mirkwood. We know that the Witch-King did not leave Minas Morgul and receive his disguise and horse until the summer 3018. So who was this messenger? At first glance a good argument can be made that he was the Mouth of Sauron or other such servant of the Dark Lord. But Gloin describes him as having a "fell voice" and that "his breath came like the hiss of snakes", which is characteristic of a Nazgul. It is more likely that the messenger was either Khamul or the other Ringwraith that dwelled in Dol Guldur.

Considering that this qualifies as a fairly significant event in the broader hunt for the Ring, it's odd that Tolkien did not include it as part of this story. This is especially puzzling when you consider that it reinforces the idea that there were at least two Nazgul abroad prior to the attack on Osgiliath.

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There is one other section of "The Hunt for the Ring" that concerns the relationship between Gandalf and Saruman and how the Chief Istari came to take such a strong interest in the Shire. Tolkien writes:

"Saruman did not revere him, but he grew to fear him, being ever uncertain how much Gandalf perceived of his inner mind, troubled more by his silences that by his words. So it was that openly he treated Gandalf with less respect than did others of the Wise, and was ever ready to gainsay him or to make little of his counsels; while secretly he noted and pondered all that he said, setting a watch, so far as he was able, upon all his movements."

Eventually Saruman would visit and explore the Shire on his own - in disguise and in secret. There is also one passage that takes place at the meeting of the White Council that Gandalf attended in 2851 (when he first urged an attack on Dol Guldur against the dark force they knew as the Necromancer). Saruman chastises Gandalf for smoking pipeweed during the meeting, belittling his use of "toys of fire and smoke" while such serious matters were being discussed. Gandalf tells Saruman he would do well to try it himself because "it gives patience, to listen to error without anger." However, he gives credit for his possession of the pipeweed to the "Little People away in the West." And while Saruman insists indignantly that he has "no time for the simples of peasants", he is intrigued enough to sample it on his own.

And one of his greatest fears was that Gandalf and the rest of the Wise would discover this hypocrisy and ridicule him for imitating in secret what he himself scorned in public. It was this dread of discovery that drove Saruman to such lengths to hide his activities and dealings with the Shire.

The details of these stories give added depth and understanding to Sauron's overall strategy and plans in using the Nazgul to try and find the Ring before his enemies could. but we see that his initial lack of concern over so small a people cost him dearly. It's too bad that the tales never made it to the Appendices but thanks to Christopher Tolkien they add to our ever-growing understanding of the intricate plot that J.R.R. Tolkien sought to create.

The final step on our tour through these selections from "Unfinished Tales" is "The Battles of the Fords of Isen".

The Quest For Erebor

2007-03-30T22:45:00.000-04:00

If there is one entry in the "Unfinished Tales" collection that most resembles the form of a "deleted scene" originally intended for inclusion in the final draft, it's most certainly "The Quest For Erebor". This is Tolkien's account of the events that led up to "The Hobbit" from Gandalf's point of view, written in a style similar to that of "Shadows of the Past" and "The Council of Elrond". This story was to be a part of the resolution chapters in "The Return of the King" that followed the destruction of the Ring at Mount Doom.

The text begins:

"He would say no more that day. But later we brought the matter up again, and he told us the whole strange story; how he came to arrange the journey to Erebor, why he thought of Bilbo, and how he persuaded the proud Thorin Oakenshield to take him into his company."

In this draft, the tale is recounted by Frodo as to what Gandalf told him, Pippin, Merry and Gimli in Minas Tirith as the New Age began in Middle-Earth.

When you consider that "The Hobbit" was created wholly from the opening line "In a hole in the ground there lived a Hobbit" with no prior conception of the characters and events of the saga he would later go on to write, it's particularly fascinating how Tolkien is able to develop and piece together the details of this back story.

At the time of these events, Gandalf and the White Council had given a lot of thought to the nature of the evil power manifesting itself at Dol Guldur in Mirkwood. Originally thought to be merely a dark sorcerer - possibly one of the Nazgul - he was referred to as the "necromancer" by Gandalf in "The Hobbit" (indeed, even Tolkien had not yet created the character of Sauron). Though Gandalf himself would come to believe that the necromancer was in fact Sauron, he would not say so openly until he could divine some evidence to support this. It is not clearly stated to what extent this possibility was discussed among the members of the White Council, but Gandalf became so convinced of it just prior to the year 2941 that his concerns led him to set events into motion that would ultimately have a ripple effect that would affect the outcome of the War of the Ring.

Gandalf's chief concern was the vulnerability of the northern lands of Middle-Earth. The Dunedain had been reduced to a force too small to counter Sauron's armies and the Elven realms of Rivendell and Lothlorien also lacked the strength to repel a concentrated attack by the forces of the Dark Lord. The Wizard strongly suspected that this was in fact part of Sauron's original plans being conceived at Dol Guldur. In addition, the presence of the Dragon Smaug at Erebor (also known as the Lonely Mountain) proved a threat that Sauron could use "with terrible effect".

So Gandalf's goal was twofold: he wanted to find a way to deal with the Dragon and also convince the White Council that they should move against Dol Guldur and disturb Sauron's plans before he could reach his full power. What came next was a chance meeting on the Great East-West Road, not far from the village of Bree. Thorin Oakenshield, a Dwarf in the line of Durin who had been living in exile in the northwestern corner of Eriador, passed Gandalf on the road and struck up a conversation with the Wizard. Thorin was troubled and in need of counsel. He invited Gandalf to his halls in the Blue Mountains and there he told him about his designs to seek revenge upon Smaug for killing so many of his brethren and depriving him of his treasure. He longed to reclaim his rightful title of "King under the Mountain". Thorin's plans were, in Gandalf's view, too rash and overambitious since they amounted to an all-out battle that would prove hopeless with his limited resources.

Nevertheless, the idea stuck with Gandalf and after turning it over in his mind he devised an alternative plan that would require an ally whose talents lay in stealth. For such assistance, he knew that his best option could be found among the Hobbits, a race with which he had become intimately acquainted over the years. He even had a particular hobbit in mind. He though of Bilbo Baggins:

"He had not quite come of age when I had last seen him. He had stayed in my mind ever since, with his eagerness and his bright eyes, and his love of tales, and his questions about the wide world outside the Shire."

These qualities, attributed to his mother's side - the Tooks - made Bilbo very much unlike other hobbits. As the spring of 2941 approached, Gandalf made an attempt to meet with Bilbo only to find upon his arrival at Bag End that he was not at home. His gardener, Holman Greenhand (to whom Sam's father was apprenticed at the time) informed the Wizard that Bilbo was off on one of his journeys, seeking out the Elves. This kind of "odd" activity was the source of much gossip in the Shire. The idea that Bilbo seemed to retain his curiosity over the years encouraged him but with an impending meeting of the White Council approaching he made haste back to Thorin. He persuaded the Dwarves that they should adopt his more secret approach to Erebor and that they should set out immediately, taking Bilbo Baggins as a party to the quest. The problem was that Bilbo was not yet aware of Gandalf's plan.

When he showed up at Bag End again on the fateful April morning, he was dismayed to find that Bilbo had changed. Gandalf estimated that Bilbo "was getting rather greedy and fat, and his old desires had dwindled down to a sort of private dream." But the Wizard was not deterred and before he left he scratched his "G" rune on Bilbo's door so that the Dwarves would find their appointed meeting place. The next day, Bilbo founded himself exasperated to be hosting such a large "unexpected party".

The Dwarves impression of Bilbo was less than favorable, however. Thorin himself would object to Bilbo's hesitant nature and was unconvinced that the hobbit could be anything to the company beyond a hindrance. But Gandalf had an ace up his sleeve. He was in possession of the map to the secret entrance to Erebor and the key that opened it.

Ninety-one years earlier, Gandalf had entered Dol Guldur in disguise to engage in a little reconnaissance. While there, he found a Dwarf who lay dying and ranting about a great ring - "the last of the Seven". It had been taken from him and was, in fact, one of the Seven Rings forged by Sauron to ensnare the Dwarves. But rather than make them Sauron's servants, their effect was merely to enhance their already strong desire for the accumulation of riches. Four of the Rings were eaten by Dragons (presumably while they were on the wearer's fingers at the time), two had already been reclaimed by Sauron and this was the last which had been handed down from father to son since the time of Durin III.

Gandalf did not know the Ring's significance at the time nor did he know that he was in the presence of Thrain II, Thorin's father. Just before he died, the Dwarf entrusted a map and a key to Gandalf, asking him to give them to his son. The Wizard did not know his son was Thorin, so he held onto these tokens until such a time when their importance became known to him. It was through his conversations with Thorin that he realized who the Dwarf in Dol Guldur had been and to whom the map and key was intended.

The morning after the party at Bag End, Thorin was angry with Gandalf and intent upon leaving without Bilbo. But Gandalf argued that Thorin essentially owed him this favor in return for returning the map and key to him and further promised to assist them in the quest and offered his friendship "to the end of your days". Thorin reluctantly agreed.

This journey "there and back again" not only led to the finding of the One Ring and the destruction of Smaug. It re-established both the Kingdom of the Dwarves under Dain Ironfoot and the Kingdom of the men of Dale, which served as important allies in the War of the Ring. Without them, Sauron could have done terrible harm in the North while Gondor was under siege. Gandalf explains:

"When you think of the battle of the Pelennor, do not forget the Battle of Dale. Think of what might have been. Dragon-fire and savage swords in Eriador! There might be no Queen in Gondor. We might now only hope to return from the victory here to ruin and ash. But that has been averted - because I met Thorin Oakenshield one evening on the edge of spring not far from Bree. A chance-meeting, as we say in Middle-Earth."

Christopher Tolkien notes that there was an earlier manuscript that gave a lengthy version of Gandalf's conversations with the Dwarves when he first persuaded them to set out for Erebor. Presented in bits and pieces with accompanying commentary, he includes these writings in an appendix to the essay. The material provides more insight into Gandalf's strategy and his vigorous defense of the race of Hobbits and the rationale for including Bilbo, who they had not yet met.

In the end, Tolkien would cut this tale by Gandalf from the final version of "The Return of the King". Some of it appeared in summary form in the Appendices. Here, in the fleshed out version, we get to see more of Gandalf's through process. Indeed, in "The Hobbit", the Wizard is presented as somewhat of a mystery and almost an incidental character. But with "The Quest for Erebor", we can appreciate that story as a more integral part of the bigger picture.

Next up is a more detailed account of the journey of the Nazgul to the Shire in "The Hunt for the Ring".

The Disaster of the Gladden Fields

2007-03-21T21:00:00.000-04:00

After the death of Elendil at the end of the Second Age, the Numenorean Exiles (now known as the Dunedain) had a new King. While Isildur was technically the new ruler of Arnor, his sovereignty extended to both of the realms by virtue of his being the eldest son. Isildur remained in Gondor to settle its affairs and see to it that his nephew, Meneldil, was left in command at Minas Anor. The army of Arnor, however, returned to the northern lands via the route that went across the Fords of Isen and west of the Misty Mountains to the capital of Annuminas.

By the middle of the second year of the Third Age, Isildur was eager to return to Arnor. He also wanted to make haste to see his wife and youngest son who he had left to the safety of Imladris (Rivendell). The faster and more direct route to the Elven retreat was to follow the Anduin north from Osgiliath, cross the river at the Ford of the Carrock and take the high pass over the Misty Mountains down into the valley where Elrond and his people dwelled. Isildur's intent was also to take Elrond's counsel about his possession of the One Ring, which he hung on a gold chain around his neck. Elrond had implored Isildur to destroy it in the Fires of Doom, but the Dunedan King had refused. Now, he was in doubt about his actions and began to be wary of the Ring's hold on him.

A brief account of Isildur's journey and the tragedy that befell him is told in Appendix A of "The Lord of the Rings". However, Tolkien fleshed out the details of this story after the book was published and it is included in this volume.

Isildur set out just before autumn with an accompaniment of some two hundred soldiers. Among them were this three older sons; Elendur, Aratan and Ciryon. The march was expected to take about forty days from Osgiliath to Imladris. Journeying up the east bank of Anduin, they passed the land of Lothlorien on their left, across the river. To their right was the southern portion of the forest of Greenwood (later known as Mirkwood). Their mood was buoyant, even though it had rained straight for the last four days. The rain had the effect of swelling the rushing waters of the Anduin. With the Vales turning marshy - "a wilderness of islets" - and difficult to navigate, the Dundain moved in a more northeasterly direction to the higher ground.

As the sun began to sink on the thirtieth day of the journey, an army of Orcs some two thousand strong descended upon them from the forest. A mass of clouds had blocked the light of the sun, prompting the Orcs to reveal themselves from their cover to attack. Despite the fact that Mordor had been defeated, these Orcs were intent on destroying the Dunedain. Tolkien explains:

"The Orcs of the [Misty] Mountains were stiffened and commanded by grim servants of Barad-dur, sent out long before to watch the passes, and though it was unknown to them the Ring, cut from his black hand two years before, was still laden with Sauron's evil will and called to all his servants for their aid."

Though the Orcs were likely unaware that the war was over, they were drawn to the power of the Ring and were fueled by a desire to please their master who they assumed was still engaged in battle in Mordor.

Isildur knew that the odds were against them but he was determined to stand and fight. To his esquire, Ohtar, he entrusted the sheath and shards of Narsil, his father's sword. He ordered him to flee and deliver them to Elrond in Imladris. Ohtar and another of the men obeyed, heading quickly down into the valley and escaping the skirmish. At first the Dunedain were able to repulse the onslaught. The return of the sun from behind the clouds force the Orcs to retreat back into the forest. But Isildur knew that nightfall would soon be upon them. He ordered his men to swiftly march towards the flatter ground near the river. But they had gone scarcely a mile, when the Orcs attacked again, this time encircling the men and cutting off their escape.

Elendur, Isildur's oldest son, beseeched his father to use the power of the Ring against the Orcs. But Isildur confessed that not only was the touch of the Ring too painful to bear but he had not yet the strength to bend it to his will. He despaired at his own foolish pride for not destroying it when he had the chance. As the battle raged, his two younger sons Ciryon and Aratan lay dead or mortally wounded. Seeing that all was lost, Elendur at last begged his father to flee himself.

"'My King', said Elendur, 'Ciryon is dead and Aratan is dying. Your last counsellor must advise, nay command you, as you commanded Ohtar. Go! Take your burden, and at all costs bring it to the Keepers: even at the cost of abandoning your men and me!"

'King's son,' said Isildur, 'I knew that I must do so; but I feared the pain. Nor could I go without your leave. Forgive me, and my pride that has brought you to this doom.' Elendur kissed him. 'Go! Go now!' he said."

Isildur then pulled the Ring from its chain and put it on, disappearing from sight. The rest of the Dunedain were all killed save for one, Elendur's esquire who was named Estelmo. When he was discovered alive, he was able to bear witness to the events of the battle. Isildur made it down to the river, where he cast off his armor and weapons and jumped in. As hard as he swam, he was washed by the raging waters of the Anduin further south. He was barely able to get to the other side when he was caught in the tangled weeds of the Gladden Fields.

It was then that he realized that he had lost the Ring. It had escaped him, sinking to the murky bottom of the river. Desperately fighting his way through the mud and reeds of the shoulder high waters of the western bank, he emerged in plain sight of some Orcs who were patrolling the other side. They shot their poisoned arrows and Isildur fell backwards into the shallow waters, dead. No trace of his body was ever found by Elves or Men.

But this is not the end of the tale. Certainly Ohtor and his companion, as well as Estelmo, were able to offer their accounts of the incident. And word came quickly to Thranduil's people of the attack. They arrived shortly after the battle's end to investigate the scene. But it had to be surmised what exactly happened to Isildur when he fled based on his belongings found scattered along the eastern shore. Without any trace of the Ring or Isildur himself this remained a topic for speculation among the White Council as they debated what course of action they should take.

After the War of the Ring was over, however, more information would come to light that would help answer this mystery.

In "The Silmarillion", Tolken recounts is his essay entitled "Of The Rings Of Power And The Third Age" of how Saruman took a serious interest in the One Ring once the Shadow began to manifest itself again in Middle-Earth. When the White Council was formed in the year 2463, it began to focus its attention on the finding of the Ring. Saruman tried to assuage their concerns by asserting that it was not possible to find it and he theorized that it must have washed down the Anduin all the way to the Sea. Elrond, Galadriel and Gandalf were not wholly convinced and while they remained troubled they took no action at that time.

But, secretly, Saruman kept a watch on the Gladden Fields and through his spies was determined to find out any information as to its possible whereabouts. He had reason to believe that servants of Sauron were also engaged in their own search. Though the White Wizard was unable to locate the Ring, this essay in "Unfinished Tales" points out that his search was not completely fruitless.

Once Aragorn was crowned King Elessar, one of his first duties was to restore the tower of Orthanc in Isengard and return the Palantir that belonged there. When the tower was searched, it was discovered that Saruman had accumulated many valuable items from Rohan. And behind a hidden door (opened with the assistance of Gimli), a secret closet was found. In it were two remarkable items that had passed out of memory:

"One was a small case of gold, attached to a fine chain; it was empty, and bore no letter or token, but beyond all doubt it had once borne the Ring about Isildur's neck. Next to it lay a treasure without price, long mourned as lost for ever: the Elendilmir itself, the white star of Elvish crystal upon a fillet of mithril that had descended from Silmarien to Elendil, and had been taken by him as a token of royalty in the North Kingdom."

These objects could only have been found upon the body of Isildur. Therefore it was correctly determined that he had not washed down the river as previously thought. When killed, Isildur must have fallen into shallow waters, caught in the marshy reeds of the bank. This information ultimately helped to complete the story of what really happened at the Gladden Fields - an event that would determine the course of the Third Age, ending with the War of the Ring.

Next, we will learn the events that led Gandalf and Thorin's Dwarves to Bilbo Baggin's door on that fateful day in "The Quest For Erebor".

The Palantiri

2007-03-10T23:37:00.000-05:00

"Seven stars and seven stones and one white tree."

The biggest irony about the Palantiri is that, at the time that Tolkien wrote the scene at Isengard in "The Two Towers" that featured a black object being hurled down towards Gandalf, the idea of using this as a plot device had not yet come to fruition. As described on pages 64-65 of "The History of Middle-Earth: Vol. VIII: The War of the Ring", the glass ball was originally supposed to shatter on the stairs leading up to Orthanc. But Tolkien thought better of it and saw this as an opportunity to explain the link between the tower of Isengard and the tower of Barad-dur (a/k/a the "Two Towers").

As he rode Shadowfax towards Minas Tirith, Gandalf gave some brief history of the stones to Pippin but most of the lore of the Palantiri came later when it was written for inclusion into the Second Edition. Most of that information, however, never made it into the final revised text. And Christopher Tolkien assembled the writings on this topic in the form of this essay featured in "Unfinished Tales".

Far from being breakable, these stones were in fact impervious to any damage that could be inflicted by men. There were seven stones in the possession of the Numenoreans (an eighth remained in Valinor) with two being considerably larger than the rest. These two "master" stones were too large and heavy to be lifted by only one man. The remaining five were about a foot in diameter. All were perfectly smooth spheres and appeared to be made of some sort of black crystal. Though they had no external markings, there was a specific orientation required to see images properly. They had poles and in order for them to be placed upright, "the permanent nether pole must then be at the bottom". And to see in a certain direction, the user had to be standing opposite that direction while looking into it. For example, to see eastward one had to be on the westward side of the stone and facing east, as if looking through a telescope. Tolkien notes that it was pure chance that Pippin was able to orient it correctly to see Sauron when he looked into it at Dol Baran.

Though a Palantir was not able to transmit sound, Christopher Tolkien explains in end note 5 that:

"Thought could be 'transferred' (received as 'speech'), and visions of the things in the mind of the surveyor of one Stone could be seen by the other surveyor."

The stones could see through solid things such as mountains but could only see an image if it was illuminated somehow. And the user could focus on something specific using great concentration, which over time could cause fatigue and exhaustion.

The Palantiri, according to "The Tolkien Companion", were made by Feanor during the Elder Days and seven of them were given to the Men of Numenor in the Second Age. Prior to Numenor's destruction, the Palantiri were taken by Elendil and his people on the ships bound for Middle-Earth and upon their arrival were distributed throughout Arnor and Gondor. In these days, their use held no danger as they were all in the hands of the Numenorean exiles and served as a means of communication between their locations.

In the North, one larger Stone was placed at the watchtower of Amon Sul (Weathertop), another was located at Arnor's capital city of Annuminas, and a third was kept in the tallest tower of the Emyn Beraid (the Tower Hills), near the Grey Havens. The Palantiri of Amon Sul was the primary stone of the North. The Kingdom of Arnor split three ways over a succession dispute between the sons of Earendur, the tenth King, in 861 of the Third Age. Amon Sul stood at the confluence of the borders of the surviving realms - Arthedain, Cardolan and Rhudaur - all three of which tried to claim it as theirs. By the year 1974, however, the Witch-King of Angmar had so overrun the northern lands that Arvedui, the last King of Arthedain (the longest surviving successor state of Arnor), was forced to flee and took the stones of Amon Sul and Annuminas with him, lest they fall into the hands of the Witch-King. Both Arvedui and the two Palantiri were lost at sea in 1975 during a mission to seek aid from men who dwelt along the Ice Bay of Forocel. Thus the line of Kings in the North was broken.

The third stone located in the Tower Hills was of little use to Men as it only looked westwards towards the Undying Lands and could not communicate with the other stones. After the fall of Arnor, it was entrusted to the care of Cirdan and the Elves of the Ered Lindon for safekeeping.

The other four Palantiri were kept in Isengard, Minas Anor, Minas Ithil and Osgiliath. The stone of Osgiliath was the chief Palantir of all the other stones and the primary one in the South. In 1437 of the Third Age, during what was known as the kin-strife, that stone was lost presumably in the River Anduin when the Dome of Stars, where it was kept, was destroyed. This conflict was a kind of "civil war" between the Numenoreans in Gondor proper and those of the coastal fiefdoms such as Umbar and Pelargir.

By the time the Witch-King returned to Mordor and made open war on Gondor, the remaining Palantiri had been neglected. When Minas Ithil was captured in 2002 and turned into Minas Morgul, the Ithil stone disappeared and Gondor did not know of its fate but suspected that it had fallen into the possession of Sauron. And for the next thousand years, the remaining stones at Isengard and Minas Anor (now Minas Tirith) were locked away and mostly forgotten about. In 2050, the last in the line of the Kings of Gondor, Earnur, disappeared in a confrontation with the Witch-King. And, with Earnur having no children, the Stewards would rule in the King's place until a rightful heir presented himself. Though the Stewards had the right to use the stones, it was felt to be pointless since so many of the others were lost.

The concern of the rising Dark Shadow in Mordor consumed all of Gondor's attention. In 2463, the White Council was formed to keep watch on what they feared was Sauron's waxing power in Middle-Earth. In 2759, Saruman requested of the Steward of Gondor that he be allowed to occupy the abandoned tower of Orthanc, as its custodian and on Gondor's behalf. This request was granted to the White Wizard who spent many years studying the lore of Gondor, the One Ring and, of course, the Palantiri. At some point, he discovered the stone of Orthanc. Though it is not clear when he first used it, by 2953 Saruman ceased to cooperate with the White Council altogether and formally claimed Isengard for himself. Only two years earlier, in 2951, Sauron openly made his presence in Mordor known.

The other members of the White Council - Gandalf, Elrond and Galadriel - were aware of the existence of the stones but they were each more focused on finding the One Ring. That Sauron would use the Ithil stone to ensnare Saruman and manipulate Denethor was something they hadn't considered since they did not know what had become of the Orthanc stone and the Anor stone. It wasn't until July 3018 that Gandalf learned of Saruman's betrayal and he reported this later that year at the Council of Elrond. But, again, the use of the Palantir as a means of communication with Sauron was not yet known (or suspected).

When Pippin looked into the stone at the end of "The Two Towers", Gandalf realized its significance and the role it had played in the War of the Ring. Immediately, he thought of the Anor stone in Minas Tirith and feared that Denethor had found it. One of the wizard's goals in making haste to the capital of Gondor was to determine if this was the case and to judge its effect on Denethor if it was. This is the frame of mind he was in during his conversations with the Steward.

There were no records of the Anor stone's fate after the disappearance of Earnur and it was assumed that it had been long hidden away in some secret place for hundreds of years. But this was not the case. Tolkien notes that Denethor seemed to have been aware of the Palantir even during the reign of his father, Ecthelion II. And though he must have greatly desired to use it, he dared not until he himself assumed the Stewardship. The author explains:

"At least one of [Denethor's] motives must have been jealousy of Thorongil, and hostility to Gandalf, to whom, during the ascendancy of Thorongil, his father paid much attention; Denethor desired to surpass these 'usurpers' in knowledge and information, and also if possible to keep an eye on them when they were elsewhere."

Thorongil was actually Aragorn using this other name during the period when he came to the aid of Ecthelion II and Gondor as a captain of war. It may have been at this time that Denethor began to suspect Thorongil's true identity.

Denethor undoubtedly began using the Palantir as soon as he became Steward. There were lots of opportunities to use the stone when Sauron was not using the Ithil stone. Sauron was occupied with preparations for war and he never let subordinates use it. At some point, however, Sauron and Denethor came into contact with each other. Denethor was strong-willed and was able to maintain control of the Anor stone. But Sauron used his Palantir to show him images of his growing might and drove the Steward to despair by making him believe that Mordor's victory was inevitable.

Though Denethor had the right to use the Palantir, he was not as pure in Numenorean blood as Aragorn, who possessed the strength to turn the tables on Sauron by causing the Dark Lord to vacillate in fear and doubt. In the end, Aragorn was able to force Sauron's hand and this gave an advantage to the Armies of the West. While the stones became a tool for perpetrating war on the peoples of Middle-Earth, they ultimately played a major part in the final defeat of Sauron.

Next we will take a look at what really happened to Isildur at "The Disaster of the Gladdin Fields".

The Istari (Part Two)

2007-03-03T22:32:00.000-05:00

In Part One, I outlined a more general history of the Istari and introduced each of them except one: Gandalf. A detailed account of the Grey Wizard follows.

Of the five Maiar spirits chosen to go to Middle-Earth as one of the Istari, only Olorin stayed true to his mission. The Valar Manwe - who is considered to be the greatest of the Valar and their unofficial leader - chose him despite the Maiar's reservations that he was not up to the task. Olorin was very close to the Eldar who had remained in Valinor and Manwe believed him to be an ideal candidate for being tasked with the protection and assistance of Iluvatar's children. Though Olorin was higher in stature than the other Maiar, except for Curumo, he was the last to arrive at the Grey Havens.

His name was "High Elven" in nature. Although a literal translation of Olorin's name means "dream", to the Eldar it included the idea of "clear vision". One of the passages in Tolkien's notes states that Olorin was "clad in grey" in Valinor. His raiment remained so as his Istari incarnation. His name in the Common Tongue (or Westron) was Gandalf, meaning "Elf of the Wand". He was incorrectly deemed by Men to be of Elven-kind.

When he met Cirdan the Shipwright upon his arrival, the Elf recognized in Gandalf his great wisdom and humble nature. Welcoming him with reverence, Cirdan bestowed upon the wizard the Third Elven Ring, Narya, also known as the Ring of Fire. He told Gandalf:

"Great labours and perils lie before you, and lest your task prove too great and wearisome, take this Ring for your aid and comfort. It was entrusted to me only to keep secret, and here upon the West-shores it is idle; but I deem that in days ere long to come it should be in nobler hands than mine, that may wield it for the kindling of all hearts to courage."

Though Gandalf would keep the Ring secret until the end, Saruman somehow became aware of Cirdan's gift and it sparked a jealousy and resentment that the White Wizard would always harbor against him. Narya likely assisted Gandalf in his talent for creating the delightful marvel of his fireworks displays. The wizard's warm and eager spirit was also enhanced by the Ring of Fire and, as an enemy of Sauron, he contrasted "the fire that devours and wastes with the fire that kindles, and succours in wanhope and distress".

Among the Elves, he was known as Mithrandir (the "grey pilgrim"). Although this name was also used by the Men who were of Numenorean descent in Gondor, which Gandalf had visited as early as the year 1800 of the Third Age. He himself states in "The Lord of the Rings" that in the South he was called Icanus, but we are to assume this refers to lands farther south than Gondor's borders as of the end of the Third Age to which he may have journeyed in his early days. It may be a word or an adaptation of a word used by the Haradrim. The Dwarves referred to him as Tharkun, meaning "staff man". But the Dwarves of Thorin's company and Gimli used his Westron name, Gandalf.

The Eastern part of Middle-Earth was a land to which he did not, or would not, go. This adds to speculation about the fate of the Blue Wizards who never returned from the East. Did Gandalf have some knowledge of what had become of them? Tolkien makes no comments about this.

For two thousand years, he traveled throughout Middle-Earth. He lived in no specific place and befriended all who were in need. Other than the visual trickery of his fireworks, he displayed no special power. For he "desired not that any should hold him in awe or take his counsels out of fear". And it was his patience and kindness that allowed him to embrace the small race of hobbits, a simple folk who were largely overlooked by the rest of he peoples of Middle-Earth.

When Gandalf battled the Balrog in Moria, he was fighting a creature who was also Maiar in nature. It may only be the aid of Narya that gave him the advantage to destroy it. But in doing so, his physical form was broken. Through his sacrifice for the sake of the Fellowship, he was able to pass through time and space back to the realm of the Valar. This act of selflessness had the effect of increasing his Valinorean stature and, combined with the circumstances that diminished Saruman's, he was able to assume a role as the new head of the order. The Valar sent him back to complete his task as the new White Wizard or, as Gandalf said, "Saruman as he should have been". But, even in this greater form, he kept the "radiant flame" of his power vieled except when in great need.

When Sauron was destroyed, Gandalf was allowed to accompany the other Ring Bearers across the Sea. For his task was complete and a new Age of Men had dawned. Gandalf succeeded because he stayed true to his nature, to his mission and to those whose fate he had been entrusted. Highlighting a major theme of "The Lord of the Rings", he held on to hope even in the face of great danger and uncertainty. And he was rewarded accordingly.

Next, we shall look into the mystery behind the Palantiri.

The Istari (Part One)

2007-02-27T22:15:00.000-05:00

The only reference to the wizards at the time that "The Lord of the Rings" was published was in Appendix B, which simply describes them as messengers sent to contest the power of Sauron. It mentions Saruman and Gandalf with one or two sentences in reference to Radagast and "others" who "do not come into this tale". True enough. Originally intended to be part of what became a rather lengthy index of "The Lord of the Rings", the essay included in this section never made it to print until "Unfinished Tales". But for those interested in better understanding the nature of these beings, this manuscript is a treasure trove of background information.

The Istari weren't wizards in the traditional sense made popular in European literature which was of human beings with magical powers. In the context of the etymology Tolkien created for Middle-Earth, he states:

"Wizard is a translation of the Quenya istar (Sindarin ithron): one of the members of an 'order' (as they called it), claiming to possess, and exhibiting, eminent knowledge of the history and nature of the World."

Another translation of Istar is "wise". And their wisdom came from the fact that they did have eminent knowledge of the world, for they existed in their true forms before the world was created. The Istari were physical forms of Maiar spirits of Valinor. The Maiar are the lesser immortals of the Ainur race of beings. If the Valar were comparable to "gods" then the Maiar could be thought of as being similar to "angels". Each Maiar was attached to the jurisdiction, or "people" as it were, of a specific Valar and shared their particular characteristics.

Just as there was a particular order of status among the Valar, the Maiar were also of varying rank and stature. Sauron was originally a mighty Maiar of the Valar Aule, but chose to follow Melkor (aka Morgoth) and became evil. Balrogs were also lesser Maiar who gravitated toward the Dark Power. The Valar assisted in the creation of Middle-Earth but the Elves and Men were created by Eru Iluvatar alone. The Valar were responsible for looking after the children of Iluvatar and during the First and Second Ages they were known to appear personally - in all their majesty - to Elves and Men to assist them in their struggles against evil.

Valar such as Ulmo, the lord of waters, and Orome, the hunter, appear in tales in "The Silmarillion". After the disaster of Numenor's destruction, however, the immortals were humbled and became wary of any more direct intervention into the affairs of Middle-Earth. But as the early years of the Third Age unfolded, it was clear that Sauron's spirit had survived and that his power was again beginning to take shape. So around the year 1000 of the Third Age, the Valar - with the blessing of Iluvatar - decided to send "emissaries" in the guise of old men whose mission it would be to assist in the coming struggle. Tolkien wrote:

"Now these Maiar were sent by the Valar at a crucial moment in the history of Middle-Earth to enhance the resistance of the Elves of the West, waning in power, and of the uncorrupted Men of the West, greatly outnumbered by the those of the East and the South"

Five Maiar were ultimately chosen and they each came over the Sea appearing as mortals well into the later years of their existence. They were hearty beings but still subject to the weaknesses of the physical form. They felt hunger and weariness but they did not age. Nor were they vulnerable to sickness or natural deaths, though their physical bodies could be slain. The Istari were forbidden to reveal their true natures and display any supernatural powers so as not to intimidate the peoples of Middle-Earth. This, however, did not prevent some of the race of Men from being distrustful of them. Since the Istari did not die, mortals perceived their existence akin to the Elves as they themselves passed on with each generation. Their role was to advise and persuade, to unite and influence all of the enemies of Sauron to work together. It is said that only Elrond, Cirdan and Galadriel knew of their true origins although one could speculate that Aragorn may have known as well.

There were advantages and disadvantages to taking physical form. As Tolkien himself writes:

"For they must be mighty, peers of Sauron, but must forgo might, and clothe themselves in flesh so as to treat on equality and win the trust of Elves and Men. But this would imperil them, dimming their wisdom and knowledge, and confusing them with fears, cares, and weariness coming from the flesh."

As the Istari were not expected to work together in concert, they were each at risk of succumbing to the temptation of abandoning their mission for lesser or more selfish purposes. And in their embodiment the Istari's conception of their own origins and knowledge of the Undying Lands "was to them but a vision from afar off".

The members of this order who were chosen by the Valar:

Maiar Name: Curumo
Known In Middle-Earth As: Curunir ("man of craft"), Saruman
Rank/Color: White (head of the order)
Valar Sponsor: Aule
The Istari most commonly known as Saruman was higher in Valinorean stature than the others. Like the people of the Valar to whom he belonged, he was greatly skilled in craftsmanship and knowledgeable in the lore and history of Middle-Earth.

Maiar Name: Alatar
Known In Middle-Earth As: Morinehtar?
Rank/Color: Blue
Valar Sponsor: Orome
Very little is known of Alatar. In the History of Middle-Earth Vol XII, there is a notation written very late in Tolkien's life that refers to him as Morinehtar though it is not clear whether this is an alternate name or a name by which he was known in Middle-Earth. He journeyed far into the Eastern lands but never returned. Whether he turned to evil purposes or was destroyed, Tolkien never said. Although, we may be able to assume that since Alatar had not returned to Valinor in Maiar form as of the beginning of the Fourth Age he may well have still existed in Middle-Earth up to that time.

Maiar Name: Aiwendel
Known In Middle-Earth As: Radagast
Rank/Color: Brown
Valar Sponsor: Yavanna
While Radagast did play a minor role in the events of the War of the Ring, he had long turned from his purpose by that point. He had grown distinterested in the affairs of Elves and Men and became enamored with the wild beasts and birds of Middle-Earth. Aule's female counterpart, Yavanna, requested quite enthusiastically that Aiwendel be allowed to accompany Curumo (Saruman). Though Curumo came to Middle-Earth first and alone, Aiwendel may have ultimately become somewhat of an annoyance to the White Wizard. Saruman probably felt that any responsibility assigned to him for Radagast was an imposition he did not deserve. Saruman's contempt for Radagast is expressed openly in "The Fellowship of the Ring". It should not be surprising, however, that a Maiar of Yavanna's people would take such an interest in the flora and fauna of Middle-Earth considering that it was she who created them in the first place.

Maiar Name: Pallando
Known In Middle-Earth As: Romestamo?
Rank/Color: Blue
Valar Sponsor: Orome, or possibly Mandos and Nienna
Pallando is the other "blue wizard" to which Tolkien refers. It is said that he was chosen as a companion to Alatar and was of equal rank. His fate seems to follow that of Alatar and, like his counterpart, his return to Valinor is not noted.

Maiar Name: Olorin
Known In Middle-Earth As: Gandalf, Mithrandir, Icanus, Tharkun, The Grey Pilgrim, Stormcrow
Rank/Color: Grey
Valar Sponsor: Manwe

A more elaborate discussion of Olorin is presented in Part Two.

The History of Galadriel and Celeborn (Part Two)

2007-02-21T23:05:00.000-05:00

In "Part One", we looked at the origins of Galadriel and Celeborn, as well as the various races of the Eldar. At the end of the First Age, the long struggle between the peoples of Middle-Earth and Morgoth came to a catastrophic end. With the intervention of the Valar, a large portion of the continent that lay due West of the Ered Luin (the Blue Mountains) was submerged below the water and what remained looked pretty much like the map found in "The Lord of the Rings".

At this time, the Elves who had defied the Valar and journeyed to Middle-Earth were pardoned and those who chose to could return to the Undying Lands to live in peace. Some, however, chose to remain for a while before departing from the Grey Havens in what were now the westernmost lands. Here dwelt Cirdan the Shipwright, a kinsman of the Telerin King Thingol, at the Gulf of Lune. Cirdan was considered one of the greatest of the Eldar in Middle-Earth, along with Gil-galad and, of course, Galadriel. Though the forces of Morgoth were defeated, some of his minions survived the war and fled East. Among them was a certain Balrog who hid deep below the Misty Mountains as well as Morgoth's most powerful servant, Sauron.

Galadriel chose to remain in Middle-Earth indefinitely as an exile. Her decision to remain we will visit later. But first it's necessary to chronicle her travels in Middle-Earth that led her to dwell in Lothlorien. Some of the events of the Second Age are told in more detail in "The Silmarillion", however, almost all of Galadriel and Celeborn's personal history remained in unpublished manuscripts that Christopher Tolkien presents here.

They spent hundreds of years living with Cirdan at the Grey Havens, but in the year 700 of the Second Age, they moved East and founded what was known as Eregion at the Western foot of the Misty Mountains. The land was later known as Hollin and was a rest stop for the Nine Walkers on their journey South in "The Fellowship of the Ring". Eregion became a realm that allied itself with the Dwarves of Khazad-dum and engaged in a mutually beneficial relationship where they shared each others skills in the crafting of beautiful things. Here in Eregion there also lived a Noldorin Elf named Celebrimbor, of the House of Feanor. He was very gifted with the kind of talents that his grandfather, Feanor, had.

On the western door of Moria, the Fellowship come upon a carving with an Elvish inscription that said of those words "I, Narvi, made them. Celebrimbor of Hollin drew these signs". Narvi was a Dwarf who had a strong friendship with Celebrimbor and provided the mithril for the inscription.

Later, Sauron would appear to the Elves in a pleasing form. He called himself Annatar, the "Lord of Gifts", and posed as an emissary of the Valar. Sauron himself was a Maiar so he was able to manipulate his appearance and convinced Celebrimbor to forge the Rings of Power. Over many years, he would help the Noldor Elf craft the Seven and the Nine which went to Dwarves and Men, respectively. The Three - Narya, Nenya and Vilya - were never touched by Sauron. During this time, Galadriel became very distrustful of Annatar. But whether she was able to see through his disguise is not made clear. Sometime between the years 1350 and 1400 she and Celeborn left Eregion and came for the first time to Lothlorien. In the text, it is referred to as "Lorinand". While it has always been assumed that they lived there permanently during the Second Age, it is more likely they only dwelled there as guests for short amounts of time. They did live for some time in Imladris, or Rivendell, with Elrond's people. It was there that their daughter, Celebrian, met and married Elrond.

At the time that Celebrimbor became aware that Sauron had crafted The One Ring he journeyed to Lothlorien to consult with Galadriel. Though they should have destroyed the Rings, Tolkien wrote:

"Galadriel counseled him that the Three Rings of the Elves should be hidden, never used, and dispersed, far from Eregion where Sauron believed them to be. It was at that time that she received Nenya, the White Ring, from Celebrimbor, and by its power the realm of Loriland was strengthened and made beautiful; but its power upon her was great also and unforeseen, for it increased her latent for the Sea and return into the West, so that her joy of Middle-Earth was diminished."

Celebrimbor would give the Ring, Vilya, to Gil-Galad who entrusted it to Elrond. He would also give Narya, the Ring of Fire, to Cirdan.

Though Sauron put Celebrimbor to torment the location of The Three was never revealed. Sauron, however, suspected their whereabouts - believing them to have been entrusted to Elvish guardians. By the end of the Second Age, the Men of Numenor had intervened to capture Sauron. After the Akallabeth (the destruction of Numenor), those Numenoreans who were able to flee to Middle-Earth established the kingdoms of Arnor and Gondor. When the threat of Sauron again rose, they formed the Last Alliance with the remaining Elves to defeat him by giving battle to Mordor and removing the One Ring from his hand. That Ring became lost and because it was not destroyed as it should have been the spirit of Sauron remained. Though he laid dormant for many thousands of years during the Third Age, Galadriel kept a watch on Sauron's presence in Middle-Earth. The White Council was formed with Galadriel as one of its most powerful members.

There are two other tales regarding Lothlorien that are referred to in "The Lord of the Rings". The first has to do with Amroth. In Chapter VI of Book Two in "The Fellowship of the Ring", Legolas tells a sad tale of the Elf-maiden Nimrodel and Amroth, to whom she was betrothed. Up through the year 1981 of the Third Age, Amroth was the King of the realm of Lothlorien. In one draft, Amroth was to have been the son of Galadriel and Celeborn but Christopher Tolkien notes that this idea was certainly discarded by the time that "The Lord of the Rings" was published. Amroth resolved to return to the Undying Lands by a ship that was to depart from the Bay of Belfalas at the mouth of the Anduin. Nimrodel, however, was lost on her journey to meet him. When a great storm broke the moorings of his ship and cast it out to sea, he dove into the water to swim back but was drowned. Without a King, the people of Lothlorien welcomed Galadriel and Celeborn, both of noble station, to rule as their Lord and Lady.

The harbor from where Amroth was to depart was in what became Southern Gondor and was named Dol Amroth for him. There a group of Sindar Elves lived among the Numenoreans who had settled there. Legolas seems to recognize that Prince Imrahil may indeed have Elvish blood when he meets him at Minas Tirith.

The second story concerns the Elessar stone that Arwen gave to Aragorn for the time when he would come into his birthright as King of Gondor. There were actually two green Elessar stones made with the first being given to Earendil, the father of Elrond and Elros. A second stone, according to one story, was crafted in Valinor and brought to Middle-Earth by Gandalf, who gave it to Galadriel. Another story has the stone being made by Celebrimbor, who gave it to Galadriel as a gift because he was in love with her. In either case, Galadriel passed down the Elessar to her daughter Celebrian who in turn gave it to her daughter, Arwen.

The final lingering question about Galadriel is why she was banned from returning to Valinor and remained so long in Middle-Earth. Actually, at the time that "The Lord of the Rings" was written the concept of a ban wasn't really made clear, though Galadriel's temptation and rejection of The One Ring was given as a catalyst for her taking the journey over the sea. The answer to Galadriel's presence in Middle-Earth at the time of the War of the Ring was one of those things that underwent "continual refashionings".

Though there are multiple accounts of her journey East to Middle-Earth, the common denominator is that, whatever her motivation, she did in fact defy the declaration of the Valar Mandos that any of the Eldar who left Valinor were "banned" from returning. Her decision to leave most likely had to do with her "dreams of far lands and dominions" and was independent of Feanor's rebellion. Other manuscripts mention her anger towards Feanor and her desire to thwart him in any way she could. But by the end of the First Age, those Eldar who had been burdened with the Doom of Mandos were pardoned and allowed to return to Valinor at a time of their own choosing. Galadriel, however, had openly declared that she would not accept the pardon of the Valar.

The reasons for this are varied and sometimes contradictory. Tolkien writes at one point that she would not forsake the love of Celeborn, who did not want to leave Middle-Earth. In other writings he alludes to her farsightedness in resolving to do her part in opposing Sauron should he again come to power. Generally speaking, it is a common theme that Galadriel was ruled by both pridefulness and a desire to have power of her own in Middle-Earth. In fact, had she been offered The One Ring in her youth she almost assuredly would have accepted it. But the accumulated wisdom that she acquired over two Ages led to her ultimate rejection of it when it was freely offered by Frodo. She used the power of Nenya to fortify Lothlorien and create a representation of the beauty that existed in Valinor. But as she and Celeborn fought "the long defeat" against Sauron, Galadriel once again began to miss the Undying Lands.

Her opportunity for pardon had passed but, as a reward for her decision to freely reject The One Ring as well as her critical assistance in the defeat of Sauron, the Valar granted her a seat on the ship that would leave the Grey Havens with the other ring bearers.

No matter how she came to Middle-Earth or whatever reasons she had for remaining there, her role in the War of the Ring was indispensable and her fate ultimately became tied to that of The One Ring.

Next, we look at "The Istari".

The History of Galadriel and Celeborn (Part One)

2007-02-14T22:28:00.000-05:00

This section is actually one of the most cumbersome in the whole volume because there is so much information that is contradictory with what we already know of Galadriel and Celeborn in the canonical sense. The material also seems to switch back and forth so much between topics that it's quite difficult to follow.

My approach is to cut through the stories as written and present the information in the context of answers to four specific questions:

Who is Galadriel?
When did she meet and marry Celeborn?
How did she come to eventually rule the land of Lothlorien?
Why did she remain so long in Middle-Earth?

By following this line of inquiry, it is much easier to follow Galadriel's history and contrast it with the many different alternatives that Tolkien had considered even after "The Lord of the Rings" was published.

First, let's find out about Galadriel's origins. Before we delve into the history of the character specifically, it is useful to review the history of the entire race of Elves (at least at a very high level). For those already more familiar with the Elves history, please pardon the oversimplification.

The Elves in the world of Middle-Earth were the "first born", created by Eru Iluvatar. The first Elves awoke at Cuivienen, on the shores of the Sea of Helcar, in a time that preceded the First Age. Cuivienen was located far in the East of Middle-Earth and most likely no longer exists at the time of the events in "The Lord of the Rings". Most were led on a journey to Valinor - the Undying Lands - by the Valar Orome, while others were lost or fell behind along the way and remained in Middle-Earth. Some even opted not to take the journey at all. Three races or "kindreds" of Elves arrived in Valinor: the Vanyar, the Noldor and the Teleri. The kindreds were led by kings named Inwe, Finwe and Olwe, respectively. Other members of the Teleri race did not complete the journey and remained in Beleriand, under the rule of Olwe's brother, Elwe, who later took the name Elu Thingol. Beleriand is a Western land that was later destroyed in the War of Wrath at the end of the First Age and is not present in "The Lord of the Rings".

While the importance of the character of Galadriel to the events of the War of the Ring cannot be overstated, it is fair to say that for Tolkien the scope of Galadriel's role in the broader history of Middle-Earth was one that went though (in his son's words) "continual refashionings". In fact, it wasn't until after her introduction in 1954 that the author began to tinker with several ideas about her back story.

Galadriel was part of the Noldor race, also known as the "Deep Elves" (deep in the sense of "profound" or "wise"). The Noldor were led by Finwe, who had two wives. From his first wife, Miriel, he sired Feanor. His second wife bore him two other sons, Fingolfin and Finarfin. Finarfin was Galadriel's father. Her mother was Earwen, who was akin to the Teleri.

Other than perhaps, Feanor, Galadriel is considered the greatest of the Noldor to have ever dwelt in Middle-Earth. She was born in Valinor prior to the dawn of the First Age. She was physically taller than most Elf women and Tolkien describes her in his writings as "strong of body, mind, and will, a match for both the loremasters and the athletes of the Eldar in the days of their youth". By most standards she was judged to be extremely beautiful and her golden hair was considered to be a "marvel unmatched". One of Tolkien's manuscripts states that it was her hair that inspired her uncle, Feanor, to craft the Silmarils which contained the light of the Two Trees of Valinor. Feanor is also supposed to have asked Galadriel three times for a single strand of her golden tresses, which she refused. This story, of course, puts her gift to Gimli in Lothlorien in a much more interesting context.

It was the custom of the Noldor to give their children two birth names, one from the father and one from the mother. Finarfin named his only daughter Artanis ("noble woman") and Earwen - perhaps anticipating her eventual physical prowess - gave her the name Nerwen ("man-maiden"). Galadriel is a Sindarin name that she took when she came to Middle-Earth. Galadriel had a close relationship with the Valar and studied their skills of creation. Within her grew a desire to create and rule a realm of her own and she often thought of Middle-Earth. While both Galadriel and Feanor were extremely prideful, her uncle was more headstrong and rash. Galadriel learned to be more wise and prudent. And she developed an almost antagonistic relationship with Feanor that would have an impact on her eventual departure from Valinor.

The evil Vala, Melkor, slayed Finwe and stole the Silmarils, taking them with him to Middle-Earth. Using the giant spider, Ungoliant, he destroyed the Two Trees of Valinor which were the only source of light to that point. Feanor and his kin took an oath to pursue Melkor, who he named Morgoth, to Middle-Earth and recover the Silmarils. He defied the Valar and this all-consuming quest led to tragedy throughout his bloodline. In fleeing Valinor, Feanor and his people attempted to take the ships of the Teleri at Alqualonde. The Teleri resisted and many were killed by the Noldor. This event was known as the "kinslaying". Though Galadriel did not take part in this atrocity - indeed, she may well have even helped defend the Teleri - she too defied the Valar and traveled with others of Finarfin's kin to Middle-Earth via a more treacherous route. More concerning Galadriel's motivations will be discussed later.

Galadriel arrived in Middle-Earth and traveled to the land of Doriath, where she had relations. Remember, her mother was of the Teleri race. Here Thingol, the brother of Olwe, took her in and it is generally accepted that this is where she met Celeborn, also a Teleri. This is the story that made it into "The Silmarillion". One account has the two meeting and marrying in Valinor and traveling to Middle-Earth together but this is contradicted by Galadriel's words in "The Fellowship of the Ring":

"[Celeborn] has dwelt in the West since the days of dawn, and I have dwelt with him years uncounted; for ere the fall of Nargothrond or Gondolin I passed over the mountains, and together through ages of the world we have fought the long defeat."

By "the West" she means that part of Middle-Earth that no longer existed. So they met in Doriath and sometime before the end of the First Age traveled East. Another account, also discared, indicated that she did not meet Celeborn until she came to Lothlorien. In Appendix B in "The Lord of the Rings" says they dwelt for a time in Lindon where Cirdan the Shipwright lived on the Eastern side of the Blue Mountains. Exactly when this happened is not clear though Tolkien suggests it was some time prior to the sack of Doriath. Dwarves had made war against Thingol over possession of one of the Silmarils that was recovered from Morgoth. It is this event that causes the initial bad blood between Celeborn and the Dwarves. His distrust of Dwarves in general and Gimli in particular was evident in Lothlorien. Galadriel, however, knowing the need for allies in the War against Sauron, being so very wise among Elves and considering her close connection to the Vala Aule, who created the Dwarves, is much more sympathetic to Gimli.

The Teleri as a race comprise the vast majority of the Elves who inhabit Middle-Earth. Other than Olwe's folk, who had traveled to Valinor, the Teleri speak Sindarin for the most part. Galadriel speaks Sindarin because of Thingol's ban on the use of Quenya in his realm. But she was of course also fluent in Quenya, the speech of the Noldor. Those Teleri who had refused the journey to Valinor altogether remained East of the Misty Mountains and established a realm in Greenwood the Great, which later became known as Mirkwood when Sauron's power and influence began to wax in the Third Age. These Silvan Elves, or Wood Elves, were ruled by Thranduil, the father of Legolas.

After the destruction of the lands West of the Blue Mountains, Galadriel and Celeborn continued Eastwards and founded the realm of Eregion. It is here that the events more directly related to Sauron and the War of the Ring begin...

"The History of Galadriel and Celeborn" continues in Part Two.

"Unfinished Tales of Numenor and Middle-Earth": An Introduction

2007-02-09T21:00:00.000-05:00

Cynics might say that this volume is just another way to milk the success of "The Lord of the Rings". I would argue that Tolkien's creation of such a detailed other world and the extensive development of its own unique history and culture have sparked an enthusiasm by Tolkien fans to learn about as much as the author was able to create.

J.R.R. Tolkien got a relatively late start in his lifetime in creating the three-volume epic that took the world by storm. However, he had been writing about the world in which it takes place since he was a very young man. And, notwithstanding the fifteen plus years it took him to complete the books, there were so many other parts of the broader tale that were left unpublished.

Christopher Tolkien took on the daunting task of sifting through this material so that it would see the light of day. And though most of the stories that comprised the early history of Middle-Earth were in draft form, he was able to put together the early histories of Elves, Men and Dwarves in "The Silmarillion", to the delight of readers all over the world.

But there was more. Unlike the continuous flow of text that went into "The Silmarillion", Tolkien had several abandoned or partial stories that didn't quite fit into the other works. Or rather, as Christopher Tolkien puts it in the introduction to "Unfinished Tales":

"Many of the pieces in this collection are elaborations of matters told more briefly, or at least referred to, elsewhere"

Like film footage left on the cutting room floor, Tolkien's notes and unfinished manuscripts were left behind in favor of a more tightly-woven narrative. And for Tolkien, even one thousand pages was as tight as he could stand to make the story.

Roughly half of the material included in "Unfinished Tales" relates to the First and Second Ages of Middle-Earth only. In fact, much of it presents different or more elaborate versions of the stories included in "The Silmarillion". One of the difficulties in discussing such stories is that geographically they take place in a part of Middle-Earth that no longer exists after the end of the First Age as it becomes submerged beneath the ocean during the War of Wrath against Morgoth. Many readers not familiar with "The Silmarillion" would find these tales difficult to follow.

So for simplicity's sake, I'll be focusing mostly on the parts that relate to the characters, events and plot points that the average fan of "The Lord of the Rings" would already know. As such I will be focusing primarily on what is included in the section titled "The Third Age".

The nine posts address the following subjects:

"The History of Galadriel and Celeborn"
"The Istari"
"The Palantiri"
"The Disaster of the Gladden Fields"
"The Quest for Erebor"
"The Hunt for the Ring"
"The Battles of the Fords of Isen"

Unlike the chapters of "The Lord of the Rings", I'm not as familiar with the material in "Unfinished Tales" so I expect to spend considerably more time in preparing these posts. Obviously they will be fewer and less frequent than the previous entries I have done and for that I beg the reader's pardon and ask for patience.

But if you're interested, I welcome you to follow along and feel free to comment as you wish.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm off to begin work on "The History of Galadriel and Celeborn"...

New Activity Coming To "Tolkien Geek"...

2007-02-02T22:30:00.000-05:00

OK, here we go.

Back when I finished the editorial “clean-up” of my posts on “The Lord of the Rings” I felt a tremendous sense of relief. I had no real plans for additional material but in the back of my mind I knew that this wouldn’t be the end.

Over the last year or so I’ve gotten a number of comments and e-mails asking if I would consider writing about other Tolkien works. One of the most common requests was “The Silmarillion”. Unfortunately, I don’t think there is any way I could take on that kind of project. “The Silmarillion” is so layered and so complex a part of Tolkien’s “history” of Middle-Earth that this would be a challenge far greater than the time and resources that I have to put into it.

But I wanted to continue. Tolkien has a way of constantly pulling you back into his world. So, I decided to create a series of posts based on selections from “Unfinished Tales of Numenor and Middle-Earth”

Why “Unfinished Tales” and why just selections?

To me this is the logical next step in exploring Tolkien’s work because this volume contains so many additional stories that relate directly to the events and characters from the War of the Ring. In fact, much of this material could very well have been made a part of the Appendices included in “The Return of the King”. It’s like finding deleted scenes among the special features on a DVD. These writings provide a nice background of additional material that help the reader appreciate the final work.

Also, “Unfinished Tales” is a collection of Tolkien’s unpublished works that span a huge block of time. Because all of the material relating to Middle-Earth’s First Age and most of the stuff dealing with the Second Age is so far removed from what most readers are familiar with in “The Lord of the Rings” I decided to stay away from that. And among what is left, there are a couple of chapters that I wasn’t all that interested in or that I referenced at length so much in my other posts that it would be too repetitive.

What I envision for this project is touching upon seven sections from “Unfinished Tales” but writing about them in roughly the order that they take place within Middle-Earth's chronology.

So even though I’ll be skipping back and forth throughout the volume’s table of contents, to the reader they will follow a natural progression. Also, because each section covers a specific story, they aren’t intertwined with any of the others. This allows me the flexibility to take my time without having to worry about getting to the next chapter within the same story like I did in the earlier posts.

Each section may take more than one post. Some will only take one. But in each case I will refer to the footnotes included in each chapter and may very well draw on other works the way I did when I blogged “The Lord of the Rings”.

Now the first thing I need to do is get a handle on the new Google version of Blogger and update the site. Then I can get things going.

So until then, thanks for your patience, and I hope to make my first entry soon.

Cool Tolkien Link of the Week (4/18/06)

2006-04-18T23:41:00.000-04:00

Funny Stuff!

Here's a page at "The Blade That Was Broken" with lots of funny stuff. See the left sidebar for links to "spoofs", "Captions and Pics" and "Misc. stuff". Plus the "more links" has lots of external links to Tolkien humor sites.

Cool Tolkien Link of the Week (4/12/06)

2006-04-12T23:45:00.000-04:00

For fans of the Peter Jackson films, I have come across two links where someone has literally gone through the entire soundtrack and identified where in the movie the music is played. We're talking down to the second. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to find one for Fellowship of the Ring, but here are the other films:

The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
&
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King

There is also a site that describes the music of all three soundtracks here. Click on the button for cue by cue analysis.

You can follow along as you listen to the music.

"Ringers: Lord of the Fans" Review!

2006-04-05T22:51:00.000-04:00

Late last year, a small group of independent filmmakers put together a documentary tribute to the fans of J.R.R. Tolkien’s “The Lord of the Rings”. The project, titled “Ringers: Lord of the Fans” was picked up by Sony Pictures and distributed on DVD. I happened to rent a copy through Netflix recently and thought I would give a review for those who might be interested in seeing it.

First off, let me say that this is not a film designed to shed more light on the book or its author, although it does trace the events of its publication. This is a film about the fans, for the fans. Specifically, it focuses on the appeal of story across cultures and generations over the last fifty years. If you go into it with these expectations, then you will understand that the appeal of “Ringers” would be in direct proportion to how big a fan you are. Personally, I got a kick out of it. And while I don’t necessarily think it’s a “must-have” DVD for your collection I would encourage anyone who is remotely interested in the effect that Tolkien’s work has had on popular culture to check it out.

There are two other qualifications I need to put out there as well. This documentary is filled with geekiness. Sometimes you almost hope that Triumph, the insult comic dog from the Conan O’Brien show, would come out from behind the camera and poke fun at some of these folks. Also, the first ten to fifteen minutes or so is filled with a lot of cheesy Monty Python-esque animation. Don’t let that put you off. It’s intended to come across that way. This film is not meant to take itself too seriously.

“Ringers” is narrated by Dominic Monaghan (Merry Brandybuck) and features many of the actors and behind the scenes folks who were involved with the recent movies. There are even some other famous actors and musicians who chime in about their love of the books. Interspersed throughout are brief testimonials by various fans who share the importance of Tolkien’s work to their own lives. Some of them are pretty funny. Others, like the woman who wants to photograph Tolkien’s gravestone with a display of all her action figures, are a little creepy. One poor guy gets accosted by Andy Serkis doing his Gollum voice while he’s trying to talk to the camera.

I had known that “The Lord of the Rings” was originally panned by most of the literary intelligentsia who dismissed it as “juvenile”. But hearing some of the criticisms as well as Tolkien’s responses was quite interesting. I also wasn’t aware that pirated versions of the books were released in paperback during the 1960’s.

The story itself touched so many readers and before long fans began to seek each other out all over the world. We see its popularity reflected in the 1960’s “counter-culture”, in heavy metal music and most recently on the internet. Each of these phenomena helped introduce (or reintroduce) the books to an ever-widening global audience. The release of Peter Jackson’s movie version is the latest example. Seeing this documentary made me think about my own evolution into fandom.

Here’s the bottom line: “Ringers” is meant to be fun, and it is. Some parts might be a little slow (and odd) for the more casual fan. But all in all I’d say that, whether you’re a fan of five decades or five months, sharing the experience with fellow Tolkien aficionados is one of the things that makes “The Lord of the Rings” special. Watching “Ringers” is another way of doing that.

Cool Tolkien Link of the Week (4/5/06)

2006-04-05T20:00:00.000-04:00

Want to know the exact chronological history of the events of the War of the Ring, by character or groups of characters? The Tale of Years not detailed enough for you?

There are TWO places you can go:

1) At Finduilas' J.R.R. Tolkien page, the webmaster presents the events of the Fellowship in simple table form broken out by "Sam & Frodo", "Merry &amp;amp; Pippin" and "Aragorn, Gimli & Legolas"

2) An even more complex timeline that features all of the characters can be found at The Lord of the Rings Fanatics site

Cool Tolkien Link of the Week (3/29/06)

2006-03-29T22:00:00.000-05:00

"One Ring To Rule Them All..."

Ever wonder how this famous verse is spoken in the Black Speech or Quenya? Wonder no more. The folks at Web Tolkien have the entire thing translated into both.

I've heard Christopher Lee utter the second half in the Black Speech on one of the DVD special features of the Extended Edition of Peter Jackson's "The Fellowship of the Ring". The Quenya version is more pleasant.

Cool Tolkien Link of the Week (3/23/06)

2006-03-23T22:01:00.000-05:00

Probably the best fan site to compliment both the books and the films is TheOneRing.net.

This site was created after the announcement of the film project and chronicled every aspect of it from early rumors to DVD release. It continues to follow the comings and goings of every actor associated with the project as well as major contributors such as Peter Jackson, Howard Shore, Alan Lee, John Howe, Weta Workshop, etc.

The webmasters are a group of rabid Tolkien fans. Be sure to check out the Green Books section for fascinating original work by the contributors!

Cool Tolkien Link of the Week (3/15/06)

2006-03-15T22:01:00.000-05:00

This week's link is located at the Lord of the Rings Fanatics Site.

They have a page that features four "Guided Tours" of Middle-earth:

1) Middle-Earth Locations

2) People of Middle-Earth

3) Middle-Earth Creatures
and
4) Weapons & Items

Each tour is actually "self" guided but features "facilitation" courtesy of Bilbo Baggins. Many of the entries have audio links that open in a separate browser. These audio files are taken from a British radio broadcast of The Lord of the Rings and they add a nice extra dimension to the tours. Enjoy!

Top Ten Casting Choices For Peter Jackson's "The Lord of the Rings" (Part II)

2006-03-09T23:15:00.000-05:00

In the last post, I listed the first half of the Top 10. I want to re-emphasize that these are not necessarily the Top 10 performances (though many are). I'm sure there's already plenty of disagreement on numbers 5 - 10. But again, this is all subjective. Don't cheat and scroll down to the end!

So here we go with 1 - 5...

#5...

Sean Bean

as Boromir

I have to be honest. Before the films, I never really liked Boromir as a character all that much. Notwithstanding his repentance for trying to take the Ring from Frodo, I found him untrustworthy and a little arrogant right from his introduction at the Council of Elrond. The character as written - to me - lacked depth. Sean Bean completely changed my perception of Boromir in "The Fellowship of the Ring". Bean made him more likeable and, while maintaining the character's proud nature, he allowed me to sympathize with him. While there is no doubt that Bean's Boromir was just as determined to persuade the other members of the Fellowship to ultimately go to Minas Tirith, he seemed reluctant to do so by force until Frodo rejected his counsel at Amon Hen when he finally snapped. Up until that point, I felt that Boromir was dedicated to Frodo's protection as much as any of the others. He even seemed to have a soft spot for Merry and Pippin. When Boromir died in the book, I felt no real sense of loss and was actually a little relieved to have the danger of his presence removed from the dynamic. But because Sean Bean allowed me to connect so strongly to his Boromir, I was deeply saddened by his death.

#4...

Viggo Mortensen

as Aragorn

Originally, Jackson had cast actor Stuart Townsend in this role. But at the last minute Jackson and Co. realized that they'd made an error. Townsend just didn't have the gravitas for the role. Not to mention the fact that, at the time, he was barely in his late twenties. Aragorn, son of Arathorn, is supposed to be 87 in Numenorean years. Luckily for Jackson, Mortensen accepted the role at the prodding of his son Henry who was a big fan of the books. Viggo had never read them, but he completely immersed himself in the role - even going so far as to carry around his sword everywhere he went. Mortensen is an accomplished actor who plays Aragorn as an "everyman", worn and world-weary. Some have complained about his portrayal, saying he seemed too wishy-washy and reluctant to assume his birthright. But the many years of carrying the burden of this responsibility (as well as his isolation from the one he loved), made him a troubled character. He had a lot of time to dwell on the fact that his actions would determine the fate of Middle-Earth. Fans already knew of Aragorn's remarkable lineage and the exceptional Numenorean blood that gave him his nobility. But Mortensen's performance revealed how the character's remarkable courage and true heroic nature came from his heart. And the man really knows how to wield a sword!

#3...

Miranda Otto

as Eowyn

The part of Eowyn was expanded in the film version of The Lord of the Rings and Peter Jackson needed someone who could not only be feisty, charming and vulnerable but also an actress that had the discipline to handle the physical demands of the role. In the books, Eowyn is mostly sad and sullen. She regrets her responsibility as "caretaker" of Edoras in Theoden's absence and longs to take up arms to defend her people. But Otto exudes an inner strength for Eowyn that was a bit lacking in the books. It's a tough job being one of only two major female characters in this story (and playing the more active one as well). But Miranda Otto's talents made Eowyn a vital part of every scene she was in. She was no wilting flower, that's for sure.

#2...

Sean Astin

as Samwise Gamgee

Like Boromir, the character of Sam was always hard for me to like all that much. Even though his instincts about Gollum were correct, his disposition through most of "The Two Towers" was kind of cranky and irritable. Astin did a great job of conveying Sam's inherent innocence and optimism, as well as his steadfast dedication to Frodo. Astin lobbied Jackson hard for the part, even going so far as to increase his girth to be more physically like what the director had in mind. I believe that Jackson's giving him the part was one of the most important casting decisions he made. When the time came for the Academy Award nominations of February 2004, the absence of Sean Astin's name among "Best Supporting Actor" was a glaring error. His performance was - in my opinion - one of the best in the entire saga. Go back and watch the scenes in Mordor, particularly at the Pass of Cirith Ungol and on the side of Mount Doom. You can't help but be moved.

and the #1 Top Casting Choice for Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings is...

Sir Ian McKellan

as Gandalf

This really shouldn't come as much of a surprise as Gandalf is, of course, my favorite character. Frankly, if this performance couldn't win me over, I would have had a hard time with the rest of it. When I was a kid, my first exposure to Tolkien was the Rankin/Bass cartoon of "The Hobbit" and John Huston's voice became the template for Gandalf. When Jackson's film project was announced, I couldn't imagine who could possibly take on this role to my satisfaction. But McKellan is Gandalf, hands down. In my reading experiences, I always preferred the Grey Wizard to the White. The first Gandalf was more kindly and self-deprecating. After his transformation into the White Wizard, Gandalf became more stern and business-like. But then he had to be, considering the greater responsibility that had been placed on his shoulders. McKellen seemed to be able to retain some of the gentler elements of Gandalf the Grey while still projecting the authority and self-confidence of his new persona. I appreciated that. Sir Ian has so claimed this character that if they ever get around to filming "The Hobbit", his reprisal of this role is critical if it's going to succeed.

There you have it. I'm sure I'll get a full round of criticism for leave out this actor or that actor. I'd like to point out that Andy Serkis deserves honorable mention for his contribution to the Gollum/Smeagol character. I have my reasons for leaving him out that no doubt many of you will take exception to. The focus here was on the actors and actresses themselves. While Gollum could not have been properly brought to the screen without Andy Serkis, the fact is that there was so much more in addition to his performance that went into that character. Literally hundreds of the good folks at Weta Workshop played at least an equal part in bringing Gollum to life. It just seemed to me to be an apples and oranges comparison throwing him into the mix.

Now if I were to do a Top Ten Performances list, Andy Serkis would definitely be among them.

But that's my list with all my reasons. Not to take away from the rest of the ensemble, but if I had to force-rank them, this is what you'd get.

Top Ten Casting Choices For Peter Jackson's "The Lord of the Rings" (Part I)

2006-03-07T23:45:00.000-05:00

The result of Peter Jackson's efforts to translate J.R.R. Tolkien's work to film has been met with both cheers and jeers. There are some fans who completely hate them and there are also a few that love them more than the book itself. Most of us are somewhere in the middle.

Some of the performances, in my opinion, were not only superb but how good they were had as much to do with the actual casting choices as they did with the portrayals themselves. In several cases, the actor or actress chosen for their particular role redefined my understanding and appreciation of the character. So here's the first half of my list for the Top 10 Casting Choices. Keep in mind they are not necessarily the Top 10 performances (though many are). It's also extremely difficult to limit it to ten, but that's the way it goes. It's totally subjective, I know, and I'll list the reasons why I think they are.

So here we go...

#10...

Christopher Lee

as Saruman

There was probably no bigger Tolkien fan among any of the actors than Christopher Lee. He knew the book backwards and forwards. The guy could recite the "One Ring To Rule Them All..." verse in the Black Speech without missing a beat. He had always dreamed that one day he would be a part of a film project for The Lord of the Rings and having worked with such directors as Tim Burton and George Lucas he probably knew how special these films had the potential to be when he got the call from Peter Jackson. He was, however, a little disappointed that Jackson hadn't considered him for Gandalf. But after the director explained how expanded the role of the White Wizard was to be, he signed on to be Saruman. And, honestly, as talented an actor as Lee is, he wouldn't have been as believable as Gandalf. His long history of playing classic bad guys prepared him well for playing the cunning and ruthless Saruman. But if there is one qualification that makes Lee perfect for the role it's his deep baritone voice. Now whenever one reads Tolkien's dialogue in the chapter "The Voice of Saruman" it's impossible not to hear Christopher Lee's own melodious voice.

#9...

Bernard Hill

as Theoden

As with many readers, the King of Rohan was always an old man in my mind. The way Theoden was written, he seemed to be past his prime even after the spell of Saruman via Wormtongue was lifted by Gandalf. Bernard Hill brought a strength and a vitality to the role the made Theoden more heroic. We never get a sense of Theoden's loss in Tolkien's "The Two Towers" over the death of Theodred. In the film, Hill conveys the full emotion of a man who has outlived his son when he breaks down at Theodred's gravesite, covered with Simbelmyne. He was as a man who had been locked away in a prison only to find upon his release that his flesh and blood had been taken from him before he had a chance to tell him one last time that he loved him. As a parent, I can really connect to that and I applaud Jackson (and Fran Walsh and Phillipa Boyens) for writing that scene. Hill's Theoden stared into hopelessness on the Field of the Pelennor. He looked death in the face and defied it. When he passes on he is at peace, looking upon the loving face of his niece. It was not the death of an old man who's time had come but one of a great leader who gave his all for his people. Very powerful.

#8...

Billy Boyd

as Pippin

Before the films, I never really had a clear idea in my head what I thought either Merry or Pippin looked like, so whomever filled those roles would become the template my brain used for a visual. Both Dominic Monaghan and Billy Boyd did terrific jobs in these roles, but in my opinion Boyd stands out more. A lot of fans complained that the younger hobbits (as well as Gimli) were too often used by Jackson for comic relief. But when you watch the films - as long as they are - in one sitting, frankly you need an occasional light moment to break up the tension. Boyd's puckish disposition certainly filled the bill in the that respect. More than that, however, he brought a range to the hobbit that was worthy of the literary counterpart. "The Return of the King" in particular, gives Boyd a chance to shine. Two scenes especially stand out in my mind: when Boyd sings at the request of Denethor (offset by Faramir's futile charge against the Orcs at Osgiliath) and his discussion with Gandalf during the siege of Minas Tirith about what lies beyond this world. The development of Pippin's character really stands out between the second and third films.

#7...

Cate Blanchett

as Galadriel

Tolkien describes the Elves as looking ageless - both ancient and youthful at the same time. I always had a tough time visualizing this - until I saw Cate Blanchett as Galadriel. Perhaps I'm influenced by her previous portrayal as Britain's Elizabeth I, but Blanchett definitely knows how to play a Queen. Tolkien's description of Galadriel's personality borders on the creepy. There doesn't seem - for me - to be enough warmth in her. Through Cate Blanchett, however, Galadriel is as engaging as she is mysterious. Jackson has one major opportunity to illustrate for the non-fans in the audience the nobility and wonder of the Noldor Elves. By choosing Blanchett as Galadriel, he scores a home run in this respect.

#6...

Brad Dourif

as Grima Wormtongue

It would have been very easy for Jackson to rely more on Weta's make-up talents than an actor's performance to convey how distasteful Wormtongue is. Brad Dourif, however, is one of the premier character actors in film today. In the books, it's easy to write him off as simply a miserable creature enslaved to the power of Saruman. But Dourif is able to remind the audience that underneath the loathsome exterior is a man with very human qualities. Imagine Wormtongue as a faithful servant to the King who has always been seen as a miserable wretch because of his appearance. He longs for Eowyn, knowing he can never have her. But when opportunity presents itself he has the chance to turn the tables on those who have scorned him in the past and he chooses to betray his own people for the chance to fulfill his selfish desires. It's the dream of every unpopular kid in high school. This is the kind of underlying subtext that an actor like Dourif can communicate with a simple look. And before he is killed in the end, he's even able to elicit a bit of sympathy from the audience.

That's the first half of the Top Ten Casting Choices. To see choices 1-5 go here.

The Appendices

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Introduction to The Appendices

Appendix A (Part One) - The Numenorean Kings, The Realms In Exile: The Heirs Of Isildur, The Realms in Exile: The Heirs Of Anarion/The Stewards & The Tale Of Aragorn & Arwen

Appendix A (Part Two) - The House Of Eorl (Rohan) & Durin's Folk (the Dwarves)

Appendices B & C - The Tale Of Years & Family Trees

Appendices D, E & F - The Calendars, Writing And Spelling & Languages Of The Third Age

Appendices D, E & F

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Tolkien's attention to detail in all aspects of Middle-Earth lends an air of greater authenticity to this world. As Middle-Earth is supposed to be an imaginary time of this real world, it makes sense that the calendar by which its history is reckoned should be different than that of the modern Gregorian calendar which was not instituted until 1752. While the Elves measured the passage of time in longer measurements, the calendar used by the Numenoreans at the beginning of the Second Age - known commonly as the "King's Reckoning"- was later adapted by the hobbits after the founding of the Shire.

In the King's Reckoning, there were twelve months broken up into weeks that consisted of seven days just like ours. But whereas we account for 365 days by varying the number days within each month ("Thirty days hath September, April, June and November..."), the Middle-Earth calendar has thirty days in each month plus five specially designated days throughout the year that do not belong to a specific month or day of the week (360 + 5 = 365). One of the biggest differences with our modern calendar is that their equivalent of February has thirty days, something you may or may not have noticed in "The Tale of Years".

The first and last days in Middle-Earth are designated as "Yule" days - Yule I follows the last day of the old year and Yule II precedes the first day of the new year. In between June and July are three days that signify the middle of the year: Lithe (or Lithe I), Mid-Year's Day and Afterlithe (or Lithe II). Because of this configuration, any given date falls on the same day of the week every year. And for leap years, there is one extra Lithe day following Mid-Year's Day called Overlithe.

One glaring error that Peter Jackson made in "The Fellowship of the Ring" was a line delivered by Saruman concerning the Nine Nazgul who he learned were abroad. He says "they crossed the River Isen on Mid-Summer's Eve disguised as riders in black". Well, first of all there is no such thing as Mid-Summer's Eve by Tolkien's calendar. It's possible that Jackson meant the day before Mid-Year's Day but according to "The Tale of Years", the Nazgul crossed the Isen on September 18th - hardly mid-summer or mid-year. Perhaps he felt that audiences would identify with a "mid-summer's eve". I'm sure even most fans failed to notice this. I didn't even think about it until I just read through the Appendix.

Anyway, if you've ever looked at our calendar and marked an anniversary of a significant event in The Lord of the Rings, you were way off. Tolkien didn't include a conversion table that showed the relationship between his dates and our modern calendar. But anyone with a working knowledge of spreadsheet software (and the inclination) can create their own. Being a Tolkien Geek, I did just that. There is one other variable however. Since Mid-Year's Day in Middle-Earth corresponds seasonally to the Summer Solstice, the Middle-Earth calendar is actually ahead of ours by ten days. So our New Year's Day would equate to their Afteryule (January) 9th.

Confused? It's not surprising. But here is a list of significant dates during the War of the Ring converted to our own equivalent:

- September 22nd (Bilbo's Birthday) = September 14th
- October 6th (Attack on Weathertop) = September 28th
- December 25th (Fellowship departs Rivendell) = December 16th
- March 10th (the Dawnless Day) = March 3rd
- March 25th (Destruction of the Ring) = March 18th

One other thing I wanted to mention. When the Ring is destroyed and Sauron is overthrown on March 25th, Aragorn (as King Elessar) decrees that March 25th will be the first day of the new year for every year going forward. This is not an arbitrary date for Tolkien. Knowing his history, he was aware that up until 1752, March 25th was recognized by the Kingdom of Great Britain as the first day of the year because all throughout the Middle Ages, England (as well as much of Europe) adapted the reckoning of the Christian Liturgical year which began on the Feast of the Annunciation (the revelation to Mary of her conception of Jesus Christ) which is March 25th [revised and corrected]. While Tolkien probably didn't plan this from the beginning, it seems he decided at some point to make this parallel.

[I've only scratched the surface here on the intricasies of the Middle-Earth Calendars. For a more in-depth analysis, I heartily recommend this page at "Gondolin.net".]

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Part of the mythology that Tolkien created within Middle-Earth is that the text of the story comes directly from the Red Book of Westmarch, written in the language of Westron or The Common Speech as it existed at the end of the Third Age. Tolkien, as a sort of editor, presents the work as if he has translated it into modern English. So why then discuss such topics as spelling and pronunciation?

Simply stated, the names of beings and places pre-date modern English and are not subject to typical English pronunciation, which is really an amalgam of rules that evolved from several other Germanic and Romance languages. Tolkien, remember, was a professor of languages - a subject very near and dear to his heart. For Tolkien, even words that originated in the Common Speech conformed to the rules of pronunciation associated with Quenya, the ancient High-Elven language of the Noldor. Peter Jackson did a decent job (with a few notable exceptions) of conforming to Tolkien's pronunciation guidelines in his films. In fact, it was here that many a casual reader of the books first heard some of these names pronounced the way that the author had intended.

I, myself, have had to "re-train" myself in the way I read the books to try and get it right. For years, I referred to Celeborn and Cirdan incorrectly as SELLeborn and SEERdan. In Quenya, there is so soft "c". These names are properly pronounced KELLeborn and KEERdan. The letter "G" has only a hard sound as in "give", never a "j" sound as in "gentle". The vowel sounds are also very specific. In English, the vowels a, e, i, o and u each have long and short sounds but in Middle-Earth they are only pronounced as ah, eh, ee, oh and oo, much like in Spanish or Italian. As such, Gandalf's proper pronunciation is GAHndAHlf. I did notice that Peter Jackson's hobbits deviated from this, using a longer "a" as it sounds in "stand". Purists would hate this but frankly that's the way I'm most comfortable saying it. And, hey, perhaps living in such isolation the hobbits developed their own peculiar dialect. There is evidence in the next Appendix to lend credence to this theory.

Incidentally, when you listen to Christopher Lee - who plays SAHrumAHn - his pronunciation is perfect. This is because he himself is a huge Tolkien fan (which makes you wonder if he raised any objections to the "Mid-Summer's Eve" line). The other vowel sound that most people get wrong is "i". Minas Tirith should be Meenas Teereeth, not with an "eye" sound as in the mathematical term "minas". There are also some vowel diphthongs that I've gotten wrong in the past. For example, "au" should always be pronounced as it is in "how", not as in "dinosaur". Sauron should be SOWron, never SAWron. Also, the "ai" diphthong used in words like Edain and Dunedain is pronounced "aye" as in "fine".

Tolkien dedicates the rest of Appendix E to writing. he differentiates between the Tengwar, or letters, and the "Cirith" which are primarily runes. The former was used for writing with an implement, such as a pen. The latter was reserved for inscriptions. Unfortunately, Tolkien overindulges himself here and gets extremely technical. I admit that I find this part difficult to follow. Unless languages are your passion, it's hard to get into it. And I barely got through second year high school Spanish. He also makes no mention of how the Common Speech is written. Did Bilbo and Frodo use the Elvish letters or some other form? He isn't really clear on this one.

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One of the most interesting legacies of Tolkien's work is his creation of the languages of Middle-Earth. He developed enough vocabulary, syntax and grammatical rules that languages such as Quenya and Sindarin can be learned like any other language. For those interested in pursuing this depth of study, I recommend the following websites: Quenya Course, Elvish Dialogue Translations & Ardalambion. As I noted above, languages aren't exactly my thing.

In Appendix F, Tolkien discusses the different languages of Middle-Earth in relation to the races who spoke them: Elves, Men, Hobbits and others. For the Elves, Tolkien explains the difference between Quenya and Sindarin. Quenya is the more formal of the two languages and was spoken chiefly by the Noldor. Sindarin was the more colloquial tongue, spoken mostly by the Wood Elves, or Teleri, in Mirkwood and also in Lothlorien. When Galadriel spoke Elvish, it was mostly Quenya which I believe is the language used for the songs that Tolkien included in the later chapters of Book Two. Legolas' primary language was Sindarin but he understood the language of his Noldor kin.

The Common Speech originated among the Men of Middle-Earth. Although the Numenoreans spoke a language closer to Elvish called Adunaic they were fluent in Quenya. Those Numenoreans who were seduced by Sauron into sailing to Valinor rejected the Elvish language and even outlawed it. But the faithful, including Elendil and his followers, were much closer to the Elves and spoke Quenya as a second language. This tradition followed the Dunedain all the way down to Aragorn. And over time, the Numenoreans and their descendents enriched the Common Speech with element of the Elven language.

Hobbits adapted the Common Speech but Tolkien points out that they may have changed it slightly. He writes that "they used it in their own manner freely and carelessly". Perhaps Peter Jackson took note of this and encouraged the actors to "mispronounce" Gandalf? Who knows? Because one of the three strains of Hobbits, the Stoors, migrated over the Misty Mountains and spent some time in the south near Dunland, they may have brought with them a word that the indigenous people still used, "holbytla", which meant "hole-builder". The word Hobbit may well have been derived from this term.

Tolkien then touches briefly upon the languages of Ents, Trolls and Dwarves. The Dwarves were very secretive of their own language, guarding it as a treasure of the past. In fact they were even more secretive about their names. Tolkien writes:"Gimli's own name, however, and the names of all his kin, are of Northern (Mannish) origin. Their own secret and 'inner' names, their true names, the Dwarves have never revealed to any one of alien race. Not even on their tombs do they inscribe them."

The rest of the section focuses on how Tolkien "translated" the various languages and does it in such a convincing way that the reader is able to buy into the idea that these cultures were real. and that's one of the primary reasons that Tolkien included all of this material that made up the Appendices; to make all of it more "real" to the reader (and perhaps to himself).

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Postscript

Well, there you have it: The Lord of the Rings from Prologue to Appendices. It's been six months to the day since I first posted an introduction to The Fellowship of the Ring, which was the official "kick-off" of this project. It was probably foolish of me to thing that I could get all this done in the three month time period that I originally planned. Actually, I probably could have finished it that quickly, but by doing so I wouldn't have put in half of the effort that I ultimately did.

It's been a long (sometimes grueling) process but I've learned a lot more about the books by doing it. Hopefully, those of you who followed along got something out of it as well. So what's next? I'm not really sure. Certainly, I need a long break. And I'm not eager to tackle anything significant anytime soon. For the time being I'll likely make a general post now and then. I actually have one planned for my top ten favorite casting choices in Peter Jackson's films. One day I'll read through the books again and maybe I'll make amendments to the original posts as I'm always discovering new stuff as I read.

In the meantime I'm open to suggestions as well as any nagging questions that anyone might have. I've appreciated your past input and encouragement.

Appendices B & C

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I'm willing to bet there isn't a single reader of The Lord of the Rings that has never consulted Appendix B. With so much going on - and so much backstory - how can you not? "The Tale of Years" is an absolute necessity for keeping track of the complex plot layering within the story. In fact, not only is it a great resource for the three volumes that precede it but if you're reading The Silmarillion, Unfinished Tales or even The History of Middle-Earth series, this Appendix helps a reader keep his bearings.

While there is reference to the First Age of Middle-Earth and the Elder Days that come before, Tolkien had yet to organize and sift through the tons of material he had written of those periods. So it gets barely a mention. There is, however, a good fleshing out of the events of the Second Age which is kind of the Golden Age of both the Numenoreans and the Elves. Most of the events have already been discussed in Appendix A, but there are some notable entries not previously mentioned.

For example, the whole matter of the forging of the Rings of Power, as well as Sauron's One Ring, is recounted. A lot of readers wonder why the conflict between Sauron and his enemies dragged on so long after the One Ring was created. You have to keep in mind that, while both races of Elves and Men were at the height of their strength, the forces of good engaged Sauron only to the extent that they needed to. And it was only when the Numenorean realms in exile were established that Sauron felt the need to became more aggressive in countering this threat. It wasn't until the Last Alliance of Elves and Men that the conflict came to a showdown over control of Middle-Earth. Later on, by the time of the War of the Ring, Sauron had the advantage because most of the Elves have sailed West over the Sea and the strength of Men had dwindled down to what was left in Gondor.

The arrival of the Istari - the wizards - is also chronicled although it focuses primarily on Saruman and Gandalf. We see the kind of duplicitous actions that Saruman used in the Council of the Wise to allow him to gather his own power while he searched for the One Ring himself. It is also important to note that in the process Tolkien traces the histories of all the races and intertwines their dealings within this one chronology. So we can even see how the hobbits developed from three scattered "tribes" to a united group of little folk existing in the Shire, a region that evolved in the wake of the fall of Arnor.

As far as the War of the Ring goes, Appendix B explains exactly which events are taking place simultaneously throughout Middle-Earth on any given date. Within Tolkien's narrative, he leaves out a lot of this information to maintain the tension throughout the story. Frankly, it wouldn't be as interesting if the reader had the omniscience of knowing everything that was happening at once. It's part of the genius of how The Lord of the Rings is layed out. But with additional readings, it's nice to be able to grasp where Gandalf is as the hobbits trek through the Old Forest or what is going on with Aragorn, Gimli and Legolas as the City of Gondor is under siege.

The other bonus of Appendix B is that we can learn exactly what happened in Middle-Earth after Sam came home to the Shire from the Grey Havens. Interestingly enough, Tolkien converts the measurement of time at this point to that of the Shire Reckoning. We find out the final stories of each of the remaining members of the Fellowship - Sam, Merry, Pippin, Gimli, Legolas and King Elessar (as well as Arwen). In the year 1482 S.R., Rosie Cotton Gamgee dies and Sam (whose surname he has changed to Gardner) follows a fate befitting one who was once a Ring-bearer:

"On September 22, Master Samwise rides out from Bag End. He comes to the Tower Hills, and is last seen by Elanor, to whom he gives the Red Book afterwards kept by the Fairbarns. Among them the tradition is handed down from Elanor that Samwise passed the Towers, and went to the Grey Havens, and passed over the Sea, last of the Ringbearers."

And it is on this premise - the preservation of the Red Book of Westmarch - that we are able to know and read the story of The Lord of the Rings.

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Hobbits were known for their love of personal history as opposed to more general history. While they generally shared a lack of concern for the events of the broader world at large, they were intense about their knowledge of family trees. I suspect that Tolkien was also a genealogy freak. In the section "Family Trees" he goes to great lengths to show the lines of the Baggins', the Brandybucks, the Tooks and the Gamgees.

Frankly, unless you're a genealogy aficionado, this is one of the Appendices that you'll spend very little time on. I would, however, like to point out that having become familiar with the early drafts of "The Fellowship of the Ring" I noticed several of the original names that Tolkien had kicked around for Frodo, Sam, Merry and Pippin scattered among the family trees. Among these are Bingo, Odo, Falco (Folco), Fosco and Marmadoc (Marmaduke). Also if you took through the trees, you can find the familial relationship between not only Bilbo and Frodo, but of Merry and Pippin to the two Baggins'.

Bilbo is referred to as Frodo's cousin in the books and as Frodo's uncle in the films. According to Tolkien, both Bilbo and Frodo trace their families back to one common ancestor, Balbo Baggins. Bilbo was three generations removed from Balbo and Frodo was four generations removed. So to Bilbo, Frodo was (I believe) a second-cousin, once removed. While Bilbo was a first-cousin to Otho Sackville-Baggins, Frodo was much more distantly related. Bilbo was related to the Brandybucks by marriage only. But his mother was Belladonna Took, daughter of Gerontius (the "Old Took"). So Pippin was a closer relation to Bilbo than Merry was.

As for Frodo, he was related to both the Tooks and the Brandybucks because his grandmother was Mirabella Took and his grandfather was Gorbadoc Brandybuck, both parents of his mother, Primula Brandybuck. Primula married Drogo Baggins. He was also a distant cousin of Fredegar "Fatty" Bolger who helped him set up house at Crickhollow and stayed behind to face the attack of the Ringwraiths. Sam's history is interesting enough but what's even more notable was the number children he sired - thirteen. Among them can be found the names Bilbo, Frodo, Merry, Pippin and Hamfast. While Merry did wed Estella Bolger, it seems he had no children. Pippin, on the other hand, had a son with Diamond of Longcleeve. His name was (not surprisingly) Faramir.

I'm sure that other observations can be made from these records but I'll leave those to other readers. Next, we'll wrap it up with Appendices D, E & F: Calendars, Writing and Spelling and Languages.

Appendix A (Part Two)

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The rest of Appendix A discusses the history of the people of Rohan as well as the most recent history of the Dwarves. Having fully developed a backstory for the Numenoreans, Tolkien didn't want to short-change the Men of the Mark. For Tolkien, the population of Rohan was a thinly veiled representation of the Anglo-Saxons of his native England. That is to say they represented what the Anglo-Saxons could have been had they been introduced to horses. It always bothered Tolkien that the Normans had such a strategic advantage when they invaded Britain in 1066. The Anglo-Saxons were a hearty bunch but, for want of a cavalry (among other things), the forces of William the Conqueror were nevertheless able to do what no other army has done since - invade and defeat the British Isles.

Tolkien decided first to establish a distant link to the Numenorean race by having the forefathers of Eorl the Young come from Rhovanion, which lay east of Mirkwood and was early on an extended part of the Kingdom of Arnor. Before they came to live in what was to become Rohan, the people of Eorl were known as the Eotheod and lived in the northern lands between the Misty Mountains and the Anduin, as far south as the Gladden Fields. They were great horse-masters even then and spent much of the middle of the Third Age fighting the forces of Angmar that existed east of the mountains.

Tolkien describes the situation that led to the first alliance between Gondor and the Eotheod which did battle against the Wainriders at the Field of Celebrant. As a reward for their assistance, Cirion - the Steward of Gondor at the time - gave to them the lands from the River Isen to the Anduin, north of Gondor. Eorl named this land, which was originally called Calenardhon, the Mark of the Riders and they called themselves Eorlingas (hence the "Forth, Eorlingas!" command by Theoden). The names Rohan and Rohirrim were actually what the people of Gondor called them.

There are several tales of the various Kings of Rohan but one of the most interesting is that of Helm (for whom Helm's Deep was named). He was named Helm Hammerhand because he killed a Dunlending named Freca with one blow of his fist. The circumstances of this confrontation are explained further by Tolkien which set off a war with the men of Dunland that ultimately claimed Helm's life. We can see now why the men who fought for Saruman so hated the Rohirrim. Upon the death of Helm Hammerhand, his nephew Frealaf became King (for he had no heir).

It was at this time that Saruman first came to the people of Rohan offering friendship. And by the leave of Beren, the Steward of Gondor, he began to live at Isengard acting as its custodian in the name of Gondor. It is no doubt that this move was motivated by Saruman's desire to find the Orthanc-stone and use it for his own designs. From that point on, the White Wizard began to plot his rise as a power in Middle-Earth. And by the year 2953 of the Third Age (the time of The Hobbit), he claimed Isengard as his own and gave up all pretense of allegiance to either the Men of Rohan or Gondor.

Tolkien traces the three lines of Rohan Kings: the first line from Eorl to Helm, the second line from Helm's nephew Frealaf to Theoden, and the third line that began with Eomer, Theoden's nephew. Tolkien writes:

"Eomer became a great king, and being young when he succeeded Theoden he reigned for sixty-five years, longer than all their kings before him save Aldor the Old. In the War of the Ring he made the friendship of King Elessar, and of Imrahil of Dol Amroth; and he rode often to Gondor. In the last year of the Third Age he wedded Lothiriel, daughter of Imrahil. Their son Elfwine the Fair ruled after him."

And Aragorn reaffirmed the gift of Cirion and Rohan was the only land in that part of Middle-Earth that was not subject to his rule.

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By this time, Tolkien probably hadn't developed the origin of the Dwarves because he makes almost no reference to their beginnings. He simply writes that "strange tales are told both by the Eldar and by the Dwarves themselves; but since these things lie far back beyond our days little is said of them here." Later, in The Silmarillion, Tolkien told the tale of the Dwarves' creation. It's a very interesting story involving the Valar Aule and it bears some similarity to the story of Abraham and Isaac in the Old Testament of The Bible. The most renowned of the original Dwarves was Durin, and his descendents are referred to as Durin's Folk. Five Dwarves that followed in his line were also named Durin.

Tolkien's account of this race begins, as with the Numenoreans, at the end of the First Age. The Dwarves moved around a lot. They started living in the Ered Luin (the Blue Mountains) which are on the west coast of Eriador. From there they settled in Moria and had a trading relationship with the Elves of Eregion. After Sauron's creation of the One Ring and the lesser Rings, they shut themselves away under the Misty Mountains and remained there until their activities disturbed and released the Balrog. This was the same Balrog that fought with Gandalf, beginning at the Bridge of Khazad-dum and finishing with the Battle of the Peak. But the leader of the Dwarves at the time, Durin VI, was killed by the Balrog and the creature was known afterwards as "Durin's Bane".

The Dwarves had to leave Moria and eventually established a settlement at Erebor with Durin VI's grandson, Thrain I, taking the title of King Under The Mountain. Tolkien then chronicles that attack of Erebor by Smaug the dragon who remained in possession of the Dwarves' horde of treasure until at last Thorin and Company, with their "burglar" Bilbo Baggins, came to take it back. Among the other events in Dwarf history recounted here is the great War of the Dwarves and Orcs, which was responsible for wiping out a large number of the Orcs population that lived in the Misty Mountains. It also established Dain II - Dain Ironfoot (pictured at right) - as the greatest warrior of all of Durin's Folk. Dain would later succeed Thorin as King Under The Mountain at Erebor when his cousin was killed in the Battle of the Five Armies.

Tolkien also traces the fate of the last of the Seven Dwarf Rings which had not yet been taken back by Sauron or consumed by dragons. These Rings never achieved their intended purpose, which was to enslave the Dwarves. The only affect they really had was to "inflame their hearts with a greed of gold and precious things, so that if they lacked them all other good things seemed profitless." It was this level of greed that drove Durin to delve too deeply for mithril in Moria and Thorin to go to war with the Men of Dale over the treasure of Erebor.

The last Ring was in the possession of Thorin 's father, Thrain II, when it was taken from him by Sauron who captured and imprisoned the Dwarf at Dol Guldur in Mirkwood. Gandalf, while investigating the secret of the "Necromancer" (he did not yet know that this was Sauron), found Thrain at that fortress and the Dwarf gave to the Wizard the map and key to Erebor before he died. These items the Wizard presented to Thorin and thereby sent into motion the events that led to Bilbo's finding of the One Ring. In the text, Tolkien recounts Gandalf as saying that the domination of Middle-Earth by Sauron "has been averted - because I met Thorin Oakenshield one evening on the edge of spring in Bree. A chance meeting, as we say in Middle-Earth." There is a section of Unfinished Tales called "The Quest For Erebor" that serves as a supplement to this part of Appendix A, "Durin's Folk". It gives us the full story of Thrain's capture at Dol Guldur, Gandalf's discovery of the Dwarf, his "chance" meeting with Thorin and the hatching of the plan that would come to involve Bilbo. But reading it requires a familiarity of the material presented here in the Appendix.

Finally, Appendix A wraps up with an account of Gimli and we get to read about what happens to him after the events of The Lord of the Rings. He returns with his people to the Glittering Caves and helps Gondor rebuild the gates of the City that the Witch King broke during the siege of Gondor. In the end, it was said that he accompanied Legolas on a ship to the Undying Lands. Tolkien writes:

"If this is true, then it is strange indeed: that a Dwarf should be willing to leave Middle-earth for any love, or that the Eldar should receive him, or that the Lords of the West should permit it. But it is said that Gimli went also out of desire to see again the beauty of Galadriel; and it may be that she, being mighty among the Eldar, obtained this grace for him. More cannot be said of this matter."

This concludes Appendix A. We will continue on to Appendices B & C: The Tale of Years and Family Trees.

Appendix A (Part One)

2006-02-14T22:30:00.000-05:00

The first Appendix is useful for anyone who could use some clarification on the history of Men, in particular the story of the Numenoreans. Who were they? Where did they come from? What made them more special than other races of men? Appendix A reads like a real history and Tolkien's narrative style is that of an historian who is summarizing information that he derived from primary documents. Before writing The Lord of the Rings, Tolkien had sketched out a lot of material concerning the history of Middle-Earth. Most of it concerned the Elves in the Elder Days and would end up being published in The Silmarillion. But the history of Numenor and the two realms in exile, Arnor and Gondor, are very relevant to how things led up to the War of the Ring.

I'm not going to go through all of it. It occurs to me that summarizing a story that Tolkien himself is already summarizing is a waste of time. Besides, if I discussed it all it would take away any incentive for you to actually read the Appendices yourself. I will, however, mention a number of interesting things that you can learn from experiencing them first hand.

In Tolkien's universe, a lot of stuff happened before Middle-Earth was even created. But in Appendix A, Tolkien picks up at the end of the First Age when Elrond and his twin brother Elros were born to Earendil, a man of mixed lineage. Like their father, Elrond and Elros were both half-elven and were given the choice of which race they wished to be by the Valar. Elrond, of course, chose to be of Elf-kind. Elros, on the other hand, chose to be mortal although he and his people were granted lifespans many times those of lesser men.

Elros was the first High King of Numenor and the men of this race were granted their own island, far west of the lands of Middle-Earth. Numenor is Tolkien's Atlantis legend, adapted to his own created history. Here he sketches out the events that led to the island's destruction and how Elendil, a descendent of Elros, led a group of Numenoreans to Middle-Earth aboard nine ships and escaped the catastrophe. They brought with them seven palantiri, gifts of the Elves, and a seedling of the White Tree Nimloth which comes to symbolize their race. This story is given further development in the chapter of The Silmarillion titled "Akallabeth".

Elendil established the Numenorean realms of Arnor - located in the North in Eriador - and Gondor - in the south, within sight of Mordor. Elendil ruled as High King over both territories and his two sons, Isildur and Anarion, ruled Gondor jointly in his name. How the Last Alliance of Men and Elves was formed to defeat Sauron is described. After the death of Elendil, Isildur becomes the next High King, but he never makes it to Arnor because of the disaster at the Gladden Fields. I would note that an entire account of the attack on Isildur's army and the loss of the Ring is included in the book Unfinished Tales Of Numenor And Middle-Earth. Isildur's one surviving son succeeds him and Anarion's son rules Gondor. Over time the High King would follow in this line, ruling from Annuminas, even though Gondor exists fairly autonomously in the south.

Tolkien then traces the fates of both Arnor and Gondor separately. He describes how Arnor diminished and was divided into three smaller kingdoms. The Witch-King of Angmar - who was the Lord of the Nazgul - made war on the people of Eriador to the point where the kingdom was broken and the line of kings had to be continued in secret through the chieftains of the Dunedain, who became a wandering people. Then he describes the history of Gondor, which found its own struggles against the Men of Harad. In both of these accounts, we learn how three of the palantiri are lost. We also see how the city of Minas Ithil falls into the hands of the enemy and becomes Minas Morgul.

There is also an entire section devoted to the Stewards. I always knew that King Earnur was the last King of Gondor but I had forgotten that the reason the Stewards wait for a return of the King is because, when he goes off to meet the challenge of the Witch-King, there are no witnesses to his death. Therefore, it became tradition for the Stewards to rule Gondor without actually taking the thrones themselves. And the line of Stewards, also related to the Numenorean blood of the Kings, passed down the office to the eldest son.

One of the most interesting passages in the section on the Stewards tells of Ecthelion II, father of Denethor. He was a wise and just Steward who took the counsel of a man who was called Thorongil by the people of Gondor. He had come to Ecthelion after having been in the service of King Thengel, Theoden's father, but he was not a man of Rohan. Thorongil served the Steward by leading a battle against the men of Umbar who threatened Gondor from the south. He also counseled Ecthelion to be wary of Saruman the White and to trust in Gandalf the Grey. But Thorongil departed a few years before Ecthelion's death. Before he even succeeded his father, Denethor was suspicious of Thorongil's background and saw him as a potential rival for the rule of Gondor.

He was correct because Thorongil was actually Aragorn. It was said that Denethor was able to discover the truth about Thorongil's identity as the Chieftain of the Northern Dunedain and was ever after wary that he would return and try to supplant him with the aid of Mithrandir (Gandalf). This fear played a part in motivating Denethor's secretiveness, driving him to look into the palantir of Minas Tirith. During the siege of Gondor, Denethor believed that "this Ranger from the North" was returning to the White City to make his claim to the throne. I don't recall if it is mentioned in the text of The Lord of the Rings, but at the time of the War of the Ring Aragorn is eighty-seven years old. As one of pure Numenorean blood, he aged slowly as one who would eventually live three times the average lifespan of other men.

Tolkien also tells much of the story between Aragorn and Arwen. Peter Jackson saw fit to include this story in his film trilogy. Here we find out about Aragorn's lineage and how he came to live with Elrond in Rivendell after his father's death. Elrond gave him the name Estel (which means "hope") to protect his identity. It was there that he first saw Arwen, who was visiting from her mother's land of Lothlorien. He fell in love with her. When Aragorn turned twenty years old, Elrond told Aragorn of his true heritage. He also guessed Aragorn's love for his daughter. Aragorn left Rivendell and endured many trials, exploring the lands of Middle-Earth. The burden of expectation lay heavy upon him. At one point, he encountered Arwen again in Lothlorien. It was then that they betrothed themselves to each other on the fair hill of Ceren Amroth.

It was Arwen's choice to forsake the ship that would bear her to the Uttermost West with her people, but though Elrond loved Aragorn like a son he insisted that his daughter should not "diminish her life's grace for less cause" than Aragorn's fulfillment of his destiny and the restoration of the line of the High King. Aragorn knew this would only be possible if Sauron were destroyed and he dedicated himself to this cause until it came to being through the War of the Ring. And as we know they were married and Elrond sailed to the Undying Lands without his daughter.

The tale of their marriage over the one hundred and twenty years that followed is bittersweet. At last Aragorn died and their son Eldarion became the new King. Arwen succumbed to her grief:

"But Arwen went forth from the House, and the light of her eyes was quenched, and it seemed to her people that she had become cold and grey as nightfall in winter that comes without a star. Then she said farewell to Eldarion, and to her daughters, and to all whom she had loved; and she went out from the city of Minas Tirith and passed away to the land of Lorien, and dwelt there alone under the fading trees until winter came. Galadriel had passed away and Celeborn also was gone, and the land was silent."

At last, Arwen laid herself down on the hill of Cerin Amroth where she first declared her love and commitment to Aragorn and died. It's a sad ending to their story, but one that makes you appreciate all the more the choice that she had to make. It's perhaps fitting that we should think about this love story on Valentine's Day.

Next up, we'll finish Appendix A with the history of the people of Rohan and of the Dwarves.

Introduction: The Appendices

2006-02-09T23:50:00.000-05:00

Nowadays we're all so used to getting "supplementary material" from DVDs that we almost come to expect it. Some of these special features that we get are quite interesting while others are nothing more than silly filler designed to make a DVD purchase more tempting. Incidentally, I love it when you look at a DVD of an older movie and they list things like "interactive menu" as a special feature. Nice. And how about that "English/French subtitles" deal? Wow. The stuff in the Extended Editions of Peter Jackson's films are superb. Supplementary material for films is standard nowadays. But supplementary material for literature? Unheard of. In this way, Tolkien was a pioneer when you think about it.

And imagine how the publishers must have reacted to Tolkien when he told them he wanted to include 130 or so pages of stuff that isn't even in the story? They must have been beside themselves. But hey, they desperately wanted "Return of the King" published so they went along with it. In fact it was because Tolkien took so long to finish with the Appendices of "Return of the King" that they weren't able to release it to the public until almost a full year after "The Two Towers". But the good folks of Allen & Unwin no doubt forgave the good professor, not just because of the book's financial success but because fans were clamoring for more about Middle-Earth! In hindsight, putting in those Appendices seemed like a shrewd move.

The reason Tolkien was so adamant about the inclusion of the Appendices is that he honestly thought that it would be his only chance to publish them. Of course, the further successes of The Silmarillion, Unfinished Tales and the whole History of Middle-Earth series proved his concerns to be unwarranted. But sadly, all of those volumes were published after his death. Tolkien had much more material to share than what he eventually included with The Lord of the Rings. But he pared it down as best he could.

I can certainly understand why most readers would avoid them. I mean, you just finish a thousand page story to its final conclusion and now there's...more? I'm sure lots of people put aside "Return of the King", expecting that they'll eventually get around to the Appendices. Unfortunately, most never do. And it's a shame. While much of the material isn't as compelling as the story itself, there really is a lot of worthwhile stuff there. So, to entice those who maybe haven't read them and might be interested, I thought I'd write a little about the Appendices.

Giving the material a once over, I've broken it up into four separate posts:

Appendix A (Part One): The Numenorean Kings, The Realms In Exile: The Heirs of Isildur, The Realms In Exile: The Heirs of Anarion/The Stewards & The Tale of Aragorn And Arwen

Appendix A (Part Two): The House Of Eorl (Rohan) & Durin's Folk (the Dwarves)

Appendices B & C: The Tale Of Years & Family Trees

Appendices D, E & F: The Calendars, Writing And Spelling (Pronunciations) & Languages Of The Third Age

Some parts are more interesting than others, but hopefully each part will yield something of interest. Enjoy!

Book Six Chapters

2006-02-09T22:57:00.000-05:00

1) The Tower Of Cirith Ungol

2) The Land Of Shadow

3) Mount Doom

4) The Field Of Cormallen

5) The Steward And The King

6) Many Partings

7) Homeward Bound

8) The Scouring Of The Shire

9) The Grey Havens

ROTK: Bk 6, Ch 9

2006-02-07T22:30:00.001-05:00

The Grey Havens

"One evening Sam came into the study and found his master looking very strange. He was very pale and his eyes seemed to see things far away.
'What's the matter, Mr. Frodo?' said Sam.
'I am wounded,' he answered, 'wounded; it will never really heal.'"

The first order of business for Frodo was to ride to the village of Michel Delving and release the prisoners in the Lockholes. Among them was Lobelia Sackville-Baggins. She looked old and worn and as she emerged the hobbits cheered for her. Frodo felt terrible about having to tell her about Lotho. She decided to return Bag End to Frodo and go to live with her family in Hardbottle. To her credit, when she died the next spring, she left everything she had to be used to help those hobbits who had lost their homes as a result of her son's actions.

Whatever ruffians remained in the Shire were hunted down and shown the borders. The shiffiff-houses were torn down and the hobbit holes were repaired. Bagshot Row was rebuilt and the Old Gaffer was returned to his rightful spot at Number Three. But Sam lamented the loss of all the trees that were destroyed. At last, he remembered the small wooden box that Galadriel had given him. He looked inside and saw that it was filled with a grey dust and in the middle was a small silver seed. After talking it over with Frodo, Merry and Pippin, he went all around the Shire planting saplings where the most beautiful trees had been chopped down. With each he put a small amount of the dust in the soil that surrounded the roots. And the seed he planted where the Party Tree had stood.

By the time spring came, the trees sprouted very quickly and the seed had grown into a small sapling of a Mallorn tree like those in Lothlorien. That year, 1420 by Shire Reckoning, was a prosperous year for the hobbits. But that March, while Sam was out tending to his trees, Frodo fell into a bought of depression. Close to the anniversary of Shelob's sting, Farmer Cotton found him lying in his bed clutching the white gem that hung around his neck. "It is gone forever," he said, "and now all is dark and empty." But this malaise passed by the time Sam returned on the 25th though he didn't tell his friend anything about it.

Sam proposed to Rosie Cotton and Frodo, sensing Sam's wish to still take care of his Master, invited them to live at Bag End and start a family. Within the year they would have a daughter, Elanor, named after the golden flowers of Lorien. Merry and Pippin lived for a while at Crickhollow but returned to Bag End often. They had become the talk of the Shire not only because of their heroics at the Battle of Bywater but for the fact that they had grown taller than any living hobbit because of the Ent Draughts they drank in Fangorn Forest. On October 6th, Frodo seemed distracted and not quite himself. It was the second anniversary of the attack on Weathertop.

Time passed and a year later Bilbo's one hundred and thirty-first birthday was approaching. Frodo asked Sam to go on a short journey with him. Sam assumed they were going to Rivendell to see Bilbo, but Frodo had other plans. He gave Sam the red-bound book in which he and Bilbo had written about their adventures. "I have quite finished, Sam," said Frodo. "The last pages are for you." They journeyed east the same way they had traveled when they first encountered Gildor and the Elves. On September 22nd, they saw Gildor again and he was with Elrond and Galadriel. Riding slowly behind them was a very old Bilbo Baggins. It was the last riding of the Ring-bearers, bound for the Grey Havens and Frodo was going with them.

Sam didn't understand. He thought that Frodo would stay on and enjoy the Shire for years.

"So I thought too, once. But I have been too deeply hurt, Sam. I tried to save the Shire, and it has been saved, but not for me. It must often be so, Sam, when things are in danger: some one has to give them up, lose them, so that others may keep them. But you are my heir: all that I had and might have had I leave to you. And also you have Rose, and Elanor; and Frodo-lad will come, and Rosie-lass, and Merry, and Goldilocks, and Pippin; and perhaps more that I cannot see. Your hands and your wits will be needed elsewhere. You will be the Mayor, of course, as long as you want to be, and the most famous gardner in history; and you will read things out of the Red Book and keep alive the memory of the age that is gone, so that people will remember the Great Danger and so love their beloved land all the more. And that will keep you as busy and as happy as anyone can be, as long as your part of the Story goes on."

They rode throughout the night westwards across the Shire and along the edge of the White Downs. They reached the white towers of the Emyn Beraid and were met by Cirdan the Shipwright. In the distance, they they saw the sea, the beauty of which they had never seen before. Cirdan led them to the Gulf of Lune, where a ship waited for them at the Grey Havens. Also waiting for them was Gandalf. He was robed in white standing alongside Shadowfax and openly wearing the red Elvish Ring Narya, the Ring of Fire. Elrond was wearing Vilya, mightiest of the Three. It was a gold band embedded with a blue stone. And Galadriel wore Nenya, the Ring wrought of mithril with its single white stone. Because of the departure of the Elven Rings, the refuges of Rivendell and Lothlorien would diminish without the power to sustain them. Though, their waning strength would have made this inevitable even if they had remained in Middle-Earth.

Merry and Pippin suddenly rode up to join them and see Bilbo and Frodo off. Gandalf said farewell to his friends, for his work was done and he was taking the journey over the Sea as well. It was the end of the Fellowship. "I will not say: do not weep," said Gandalf, "For not all tears are an evil." He escorted Bilbo onto the large white ship which Elrond and Galadriel had already boarded. Now it was time for Frodo to say goodbye to his friends.

It's sometimes very difficult for some readers to fully understand why Frodo sails to the Blessed Realm. I've had people who had either read the books or seen the films for the first time ask me (knowing full well I'm a Tolkien geek) "Why did Frodo have to go away?" It certainly wasn't the ending they were expecting. It's even more confusing when you consider that he is journeying to a physical place that is removed from this world. And he's going by ship. They also ask "Where is he going?" and "Does he live forever there or does he die." If you haven't read any of Tolkien's other works, it's not surprising for such questions to come up.

The quick answers are that Frodo doesn't have to go. He is given the opportunity to go and he chooses to because he can never be truly happy anymore at home. Like a returning war veteran, Frodo bears many scars - both physical and spiritual - that won't heal and will cause him suffering his whole life. In the Undying Lands, he will be at peace. And there will be friends, particularly those with whom he is now taking the journey. Frodo is a mortal and will eventually die when he reaches his full lifespan but he will live out the remainder of his years in a sort of paradise. There his wounds will heal and he will forget what suffering is. Imagine if you could spend the rest of your life in the perfect vacation spot doing whatever you wanted and never having to worry about the end of the trip. Not a bad deal, huh?

As Tolkien explains in Letter No. 246 in reply to a reader:

"He went both to a purgatory and to a reward, for a while: a period of reflection and peace and a gaining of a truer understanding of his position in littleness and in greatness, spent still in Time amid the natural beauty of 'Arda Unmarred', the Earth unspoiled by evil."

For even though the Ring was destroyed, it still "possessed" Frodo. The evil of the Ring had left its mark on him and its loss would forever torment him. In Valinor, he would be free of that torment.

Sam, Merry and Pippin watched as the ship sailed away down the Gulf into the open Sea. It was time for Sam to let go of Frodo, and to fully embrace the life that waited for him back in the Shire.

The story is now ended. So I will conclude it exactly the way J.R.R. Tolkien (and, thankfully, Peter Jackson) did:

"At last the three companions turned away, and never again looking back they rode slowly homewards; and they spoke no word to one another until they came back to the Shire, but each had great comfort in his friends on the long grey road.

At last they rode over the downs and took the East Road, and then Merry and Pippin rode on to Buckland; and already they were singing again as they went. But Sam turned to Bywater, and so came back up the Hill, as day was ending once more. And he went on, and there was yellow light, and fire within; and the evening meal was ready, and he was expected. And Rose drew him in, and set him in his chair, and put little Elanor upon his lap.

He drew a deep breath. 'Well, I'm back,' he said."

THE END

------
[Chronology: November 4th 3019 through October 6th 3021 T.A.**]
------

** Technically, the Fourth Age began on September 30th 3021 but for simplicity's sake all chronology dates are listed as T.A. (Third Age)

***********************************************

J.R.R. Tolkien had much more to share about Middle-Earth that didn't quite fit into The Lord of the Rings. But he saved much of this additional material for the reader to explore by including it at the end of The Return of the King in The Appendices. First, I'll start off with an Introduction.

(revised 11/14/06)

ROTK: Bk 6, Ch 8

2006-02-05T22:20:00.001-05:00

The Scouring Of The Shire

"'This is worse than Mordor!' said Sam. 'Much worse in a way. It comes home to you, as they say; because it's home, and you remember it before it was all ruined.'"

For Peter Jackson, there was never any debate as to whether or not the next chapter would make it into his film, The Return of the King. With the audience already having sat through three hours in the theater, he knew that they would have a hard time dealing with such a major sequence in the wake of the trilogy's emotional climax. It just wouldn't have fit. Many fans no doubt disagreed and hoped that it would at least make it into the Extended Edition. But Jackson didn't film it. I have to admit that this has always been one of my least favorite parts of the story because at this point I'm ready to finish it. But, alas, the conflict in the Shire and its resolution was an important - and necessary - part of the story for Tolkien. I'm sure it was cathartic in allowing him to relate his own experiences of coming home from World War I. He left an idyllic life, saw the horrors of war and returned to find that for him neither the outside world nor the world he left would ever be the same again.

The four hobbits arrive at the Brandywine Bridge only find that it is gated. It is guarded by several shirriffs - a position that until recently was served somewhat casually as the Shire's means of law enforcement. But Frodo and company had no patience for this nonsense and entered the gate by force. The shirriffs were under orders from the "chief" residing in Bag End. This meant Lotho Sackville-Baggins, to whom Frodo had sold his home before he had left. Bill Ferny, who is one of the chief's "big men", tries to bar the entrance but retreats when he realizes that he is no match for the sword-wielding hobbits. He is never heard from again.

They decide to stay the night at the guard house when they learn that all the inns have been closed. They also get a little information from Hob Hayward - one of the shirriffs that they knew. It appeared that Lotho was now in charge and had established on oppressive new set of rules that were enforced by the shirriffs and a large number of the ruffians that Barliman Butterbur had warned them about. Most of the shirriffs acted out of fear of the men rather than allegiance to Lotho.

Well, Frodo, Sam, Merry and Pippin had just faced Orcs, Balrogs, Trolls, Giant Spiders and Nazgul. They felt no fear for these squinty-eyed men from the south and resolved to investigate the situation and put things right. Our dear hobbits had "grown" in more ways than one. The next day, a new band of shirriffs showed up to arrest them. Frodo and his companions couldn't contain their laughter at this absurdity and told them that they were setting out to confront their chief but if they wanted to follow along with them they were more than welcome. As they rode through the village of Frogmorton, the shirriffs who had traveled on foot were getting tired and had to stop. Merry told them that they were riding on but bid them to "come along in your own time."

They traveled on until they made their approach to Bywater and were shocked at what they saw.

"Many of the houses that they had known were missing. Some seemed to have been burned down. The pleasant row of old hobbit-holes in the bank on the north side of the Pool were deserted, and their little gardens that used to run down right to the water's edge were rank with weeds. Worse, there was a whole line of ugly new houses all along the Pool side, where the Hobbiton Road ran close to the bank. An avenue of trees had stood there. They were all gone. And looking with dismay up the road towards Bag End they saw a tall chimney of brick in the distance. It was pouring out black smoke into the evening air."

They were met in front of The Green Dragon, now boarded up and lifeless, by a group of swarthy men. These men resembled the squint-eyed, orcish-looking southerner that they had seen at The Prancing Pony over a year ago. It was clear from the look of them that they had been the result of Saruman's doing down in Isengard. These half-orcs, half-men had clubs but no other weapons. They warned the hobbits that their "uppish" behavior would be dealt with harshly. Lotho would see to it they said, because "Sharkey's come now, and he'll do what Sharkey says."

Frodo tried to bring the ruffians up on current events regarding the fall of Barad-dur and Isengard and the return of the King to Gondor. One of them snapped his fingers in Frodo's face and called him a little "cock-a-whoop". This was too much for Pippin, who unsheathed his sword and declared himself a messenger of the King. Merry and Sam joined him but Frodo did not move. These men, who weren't used to such defiance from the little folk, turned and fled up the Hobbiton Road. But Frodo knew they would soon return in greater numbers.

Merry told his friends that something needed to be done at once.

"'Raise the Shire!', said Merry. 'Now! Wake all our people! They hate all this, you can see: all of them except perhaps one or two rascals, and a few fools that want to be important, but don't at all understand what is really going on. But Shire-folk have been so comfortable so long they don't know what to do. They just want a match, though, and they'll go up in fire. The Chief's Men must know that. They'll try to stamp on us and put us out quick. We've only got a very short time.'"

Merry understood that at one time the four of them had been just as "comfortable" in their provincial lives, but they had since learned that the safety they had always felt was just a fantasy. The threat of evil had pierced their formerly tranquil existence. And it was time to defend it.

While Merry sounded a horn that was given to him by Eowyn, Sam made a dash for Farmer Cotton's place. Cotton and his sons were up for joining in the fight. Sam also took the opportunity to reacquaint himself with Rosie Cotton, who was pleased to see him return. Soon the whole village had gathered. When the shirriffs arrived, most of them joined their side. Farmer Cotton told Frodo of the resistance shown by the Tooks down at Great Smials over the last year which gave Pippin the idea to hurry down to Tuckborough and bring as many of his kin as he could muster.

The hobbits set up a barrier across the road and beyond it a huge bonfire was set - which was breaking one of the "rules". When a squad of ruffians, about twenty of them, headed into the town they saw the barrier and laughed. The hobbits let them in and they marched to the fire where Farmer Cotton stood alone. But they had led them into a trap. As the men made a move to seize Cotton, they stopped because suddenly they found themselves surrounded by a circle of some two hundred hobbits that had crept out of the shadows, each of them holding some sort of weapon. Merry stepped forward and warned them that they were covered by archers. The leader, however, made a move at Merry with a knife and a club. He was shot dead with four arrows. This was enough for the other men, who gave up and were taken away to be bound and locked up under guard.

They knew a larger scale attack of ruffians would come by morning. Farmer Cotton gave them a further account of how all this had happened. More than a year earlier, Lotho Sackville-Baggins had been secretly buying up large amounts of property throughout the Shire. His source of funds was never revealed but he soon began sending large quantities of pipe-weed out of the Shire. And as he gained more control, other goods followed. Soon the men from the south began to arrive and, about the same time that the Fellowship set out from Rivendell, Lotho declared himself "chief shirriff", had the Mayor arrested and locked up and handed down the "rules".

Merry asked him who Sharkey was and Cotton told him he was "the biggest ruffian o' the lot". No one had ever seen him but he arrived sometime around the end of September and took up residence in Bag End. It seems that now Sharkey was the new "chief" and his orders to his men seemed mostly to be "hack, burn and ruin." And shortly after his arrival he had Lotho's mother, Lobelia, arrested for interfering with Sharkey's men. Lotho had not been seen in weeks.

The next morning there was news that close to one hundred ruffians were heading down the East Road towards them. It was clear they meant to squash this rebellion as quickly as possible. But Pippin had just arrived with one hundred hobbits from Tuckborough to join the other two hundred in Bywater. And Merry had a plan. The men turned up the Bywater Road, which lay between two high banks aligned with low hedges. As they came around a bend, they were stopped by a barrier of overturned carts. Out from the hedges above, the army of hobbits appeared. Merry ordered them to lower their weapons but soon the battle began. As the men tried to climb the banks, the hobbits attacked. Those men that made it out were caught and encircled by a wide ring of hobbit archers.

When it was over, seventy ruffians were killed and the remainder were either taken prisoner or had run away. They buried the men in a large sand pit nearby, which was later named "the battle pit". Nineteen hobbits were killed and thirty were wounded. Frodo had been in the battle but his efforts were focused on preventing those enemies who surrendered from being killed by the other hobbits. Now it was time to deal with the chief.

Frodo, Sam, Merry and Pippin were joined by an escort of about two dozen of the sturdiest hobbits and marched up to Bag End. Even Sam's vision in Galadriel's mirror hadn't prepared him for the devastation that they saw. The old mill had been torn down and a larger one built in its place. In the distance they could see that Bagshot row had been dug up into a quarry. The fields were bare of grass. Large huts had been erected in front of Bag End so that the hobbit hole could not be seen from the road. But worst of all for Sam, the Party Tree under which they had celebrated Bilbo's birthday so many years before had been cut down. Its trunk was lying dead in the field. (click on the before and after graphic below for larger view)

They arrived at the front door of Bag End but there was no answer. They forced their way in to find it was full of filth and disorder. Then suddenly, Saruman appeared at the door. "Sharkey!" cried Frodo. Yes, Saruman said, that was the name that his men called him back at Isengard - a derivative of the orcish word sharku, meaning "old man". He had been the one who financed Lotho's land grabs and sent his people north to ensure that the supply of leaf and other goods in the Shire were sent to his fortress. Lotho had always believed he was more in control of his situation than he really was. But he had ultimately been under the power of Saruman, which is ironic when you consider how similar this was to the relationship Saruman had with Sauron. While the wizard believed that he was a power in his own right, his actions were merely an echo of the purposes of Mordor.

When Saruman left Isengard, he decided to head north and settle a score with the little folk who had caused his ruination. He explained:

"'You thought you had done very well out of it all, and could now just amble back and have a nice quiet time in the country. Saruman's home could be all wrecked, and he could be turned out, but no one could touch yours. Oh no! Gandalf would look after your affairs.'

Saruman laughed again. 'Not he! When his tools have done their task he drops them. But you must go dangling after him, dawdling and talking, and riding round twice as far as you needed. "Well," thought I, "if they're such fools, I will get ahead of them and teach them a lesson. One ill turn deserves another." It would have been a sharper lesson, if only you had given me a little more time and more Men. Still I have already done much that you will find it hard to mend or undo in your lives. And it will be pleasant to think of that and set it against my injuries.'"

Saruman tried to scare the band of hobbits into backing off, but Frodo declared that the old man no longer had any power beyond his persuasive voice and ordered him to leave. Knowing he wasn't in a position to make a stand, Saruman called to Wormtongue to come with him. As he passed Frodo, he produced a knife that he had hidden and stabbed him but Frodo's mithril-mail once again saved him from harm and the knife just turned and snapped. The other hobbits, led by Sam, threw Saruman to the ground. But Frodo stopped them, insisting that he not be slain. This only angered Saruman, who cursed Frodo because he must now "go hence in bitterness, in debt to your mercy."

Frodo told Wormtongue that he didn't have to go with Saruman because he did him no wrong. They would allow him to stay if he wished. Saruman revealed that Grima had killed Lotho, stabbing him in his sleep. Aghast with hatred, Wormtongue hissed that Saruman had ordered him to do it. Saruman only laughed and kicked his servant in the face before turning to leave. But Grima's wrath drove him to seize his master and, producing his own knife, he slit his throat. A hobbit bowman sent an arrow into him and they both fell dead on the doorstep of Bag End.

It seems that for the longest time, Tolkien was uncertain as to the ultimate fate of Saruman. In his notes outlining the story as foreseen from the Field of Cormallen, he wrote regarding the hobbits return trip through Dunland: "They come upon Saruman and he is [?pardoned]."

Christopher Tolkien writes of this matter:

"That they would meet Saruman again on the homeward journey was an old idea (see 'The Story Foreseen from Moria', VII.212), but then it had taken place at Isengard, and the matter of that scene had of course been removed to a much earlier place in the narrative (VII.436). A later note (VII.287) says that 'Saruman becomes a wandering conjuror and trickster', but nothing further has been told of him since he was left a prisoner in Orthanc guarded by the Ents until now." (Volume references are for The History Of Middle Earth)

This idea clearly continued toward the end of his first draft because in the first writing of "The Scouring of the Shire", the Sharkey that the hobbits met at Bag End was simply the leader of the ruffians. He had become the new chief when Lotho had fled the night before after receiving the news of the rebellion. The men still had acted on orders from Isengard but they had not had any contact with Saruman for some time. This original "Sharkey" was dispatched by Frodo, who stabbed the man with Sting. This fierceness of Frodo's demeanor had been present throughout the early draft. It was later that Tolkien chose to make Frodo more passive and abhorrent towards violence.

When Tolkien revised his portrayal of Frodo in the later drafts, he apparently decide to write a final unambiguous ending for Saruman as well. Instead of just disappearing after he went off into the woods of Dunland in "Many Partings", he devised that Saruman made for the Shire and arrived on September 22nd (the day after Frodo and his companions reached Rivendell). Over the next five weeks, he worked his mischief although much had already been done. He got rid of Lotho by ordering Wormtongue to kill him and moved into Bag End.

Now he lay dead with his body shriveled and withered as his spirit left this physical incarnation.

"To the dismay of those that stood by, about the body of Saruman a grey mist gathered, and rising slowly to a great height like smoke from a fire, as a pale shrouded figure it loomed over the Hill. For a moment it wavered, looking to the West; but out of the West came a cold wind, and it bent away, and with a sigh dissolved into nothing."

Saruman's true nature, just like Gandalf's, was that of a Maiar spirit. Bereft of its physical form, it attempted to return to the Undying Lands. But a power in the form of wind from the west destroyed it. For despite opportunities to repent, Saruman remained an evil, twisted version of his former good self. Unlike Gandalf, he would not be welcomed back by the Great Powers of Valinor.

With the death of Saruman came the official end of the War of the Ring. But as Sam observed, there was still quite a mess to clean up which would require much time and work.

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[Chronology: October 30th through November 3rd 3019 T.A.]
------

Next: The Grey Havens

(revised 11/13/06)

ROTK: Bk 6, Ch 7

2006-02-01T22:25:00.001-05:00

Homeward Bound

"'Well, good luck on your road, and good luck to your homecoming!' said Mr. Butterbur. 'I should have warned you before that all's not well in the Shire neither, if what we hear is true.'"

Now the hobbits turned toward home and this last part of their journey was very much like a reunion tour of the sites that they saw throughout Book One, most of them reviving unpleasant memories - especially for Frodo. On October 6th, Frodo was very quiet until Gandalf finally asked if he was in pain. Frodo replied that his shoulder was and that it had been one year ago that day since the Witch-King had stabbed him with his Morgul-blade on Weathertop.

"'Alas! there are some wounds that cannot be wholly cured,' said Gandalf.

'I fear it may be so with mine,' said Frodo. 'There is no real going back. Though I may come to the Shire, it will not seem the same; for I shall not be the same. I am wounded with knife, sting, and tooth, and a long burden. Where shall I find rest?'

Gandalf did not answer."

By the next day, however, Frodo was feeling a bit better. They followed a leisurely pace along the Great East-West Road. Although Frodo pressed his friends to pick up the pace as they passed Weathertop on their right. It wasn't long before they found themselves at the south-gate of the village of Bree. They were met by a different gate-keeper than Harry Goatleaf and as they entered they noticed that the town seemed almost deserted. When they reached The Prancing Pony, Barliman Butterbur was both surprised and delighted to see them, especially Gandalf. There was not much company at the inn and even from the Common Room only the low murmur of a few voices could be heard.

Butterbur led them to the same small parlor where they had gathered a year before and the innkeeper was eager to hear of news from the outside world. After the guests told him some of their tale, he explained to them why business was now so bad. It wasn't long after Frodo and company departed Bree at the end of last September that strange folk from other lands began coming to the area and these ruffians were full of thievery and mischief. Old Harry the gatekeeper had a hand in letting them in and it seems that he threw himself in with their lot. The townsfolk didn't feel safe venturing out after dark. Few people would come to the inn and those that did tended to keep to their rooms.

Butterbur lamented the recent departure of the Dunedain Rangers, who had left to aid Aragorn back in February. He had come to realize that he and the others of the town had taken them for granted. "I don't think we've rightly understood till now what they did for us," he said. Gandalf declared that better times were coming. He told him there was a King again and there would soon be more comings and goings up and down the Greenway - the road that the intersected the Great East-West Road and led northwards to Fornost, the old abandoned capital of Arnor (which was now known locally as Deadman's Dike). At first Butterbur was troubled at the thought of outsiders coming to his inn, but Gandalf assured him that the new King would leave Bree alone because "he knows and loves it." When the wizard told him that the King was in fact Strider, Butterbur couldn't believe it. His jaw dropped at the idea that the mysterious Ranger was now the King of all these lands.

They stayed that night as well as the next one. Their presence had drawn the village's curious inhabitants to the inn and once again the Common Room was full of patrons. Sam was thrilled to learn that not only had Bill the pony survived the wolves that surrounded the West Gate of Moria but he had made it back all the way to The Prancing Pony. When they left the next morning, the pony went with them.

Butterbur wished them a safe journey but also cautioned them that, if what he had heard was true, all was not well in the Shire and they should be careful. Now it was time for Gandalf to say goodbye.

"'I am with you at present,' said Gandalf, 'but soon I shall not be. I am not coming to the Shire. You must settle its affairs yourselves; that is what you have been trained for. Do you not yet understand? My time is over: it is no longer my task to set things to rights, nor to help folk to do so. And as for you, my dear friends, you will need no help. You are grown up now. Grown indeed very high; among the great you are, and I have no longer any fear at all for any of you.'"

Gandalf said farewell for now and he turned Shadowfax Southward away from the road to visit Tom Bombadil. As the hobbits rode on, they saw the Barrow Downs off to their left and, further on, the Green Hill country where their journey had begun. It was close to this point where they left Tom and almost expected to see him standing out on the Downs waiting for them. But they needed to get moving if they were going to reach the Brandywine Bridge by evening.

"Well here we are, just the four of us that started out together,' said Merry. 'We have left all the rest behind, one after another. It seems almost like a dream that has slowly faded.'

'Not to me,' said Frodo. 'To me it feels more like falling asleep again.'"

Frodo felt that his life in the Shire, with no care for the outside world around him, was like being in a blissful sleep. And leaving it over a year ago had been a rude awakening to the evils that lay beyond its borders. Now he was returning to a home that was very different from the one he remembered - one that had been assaulted by the kind of evil that he had just left behind. But as we shall see, Frodo and his friends had also changed.

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[Chronology: October 5th through October 30th 3019 T.A.]
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Next: The Scouring Of The Shire

(revised 11/11/06)

ROTK: Bk 6, Ch 6

2006-01-31T22:00:00.001-05:00

Many Partings

"'Here then at last comes the ending of the Fellowship of the Ring,' said Aragorn"

The next two chapters cover the journey home for Frodo and his friends and were written by Tolkien in one continuous text. The division comes when the hobbits stay for a while at Rivendell. That is the point where "Many Partings" ends and "Homeward Bound" begins. The separation into two chapters is appropriate in the context of refocusing the narrative on just Gandalf and the hobbits, with the remaining characters having said their goodbyes.

In mid-July, Frodo tells Aragorn that he is anxious to return home. The King assures him that in a week's time they will set out northwards. The Fellowship will ride together for one last time. The occasion would be Eomer's return to Gondor for the purpose of bringing back to Rohan the body of Theoden, who has been lying in state in the Rath Dinen. Before they set out, Arwen gives a gift to Frodo. She tells him that because she has chosen a mortal life with Aragorn, her place on a ship sailing to the Undying Lands will be unused.

"'But in my stead you shall go, Ring-bearer, when the time comes, and if you desire it. If your hurts grieve you still and the memory of your burden is heavy, then you may pass into the West, until all your wounds and weariness are healed. But wear this now in memory of Elfstone and Evenstar with whom your life has been woven!'

And she took a white gem like a star that lay upon her breast hanging upon a silver chain, and she set the chain about Frodo's neck. 'When the memory of the fear and the darkness troubles you,' she said, 'this will bring you aid.'"

And so on July 19th, the funeral escort of Theoden set out. Merry, as the King's squire, rode in the wain that carried the body. In the company rode Aragorn and Arwen, Frodo and Sam, Legolas and Gimli and Gandalf astride Shadowfax. Also, Celeborn and Galadriel rode with Elrond and his sons. Pippin accompanied the Princes of Dol Amroth and Ithilien and the other Captains and knights of Gondor. When the company reached Edoras, Theoden King was honored and laid to rest in the barrows where his forefathers lay. Eomer was hailed as the new King of Rohan and, at a feast in the Golden Hall of Meduseld, he gave his blessing for the betrothal of Faramir and Eowyn.

Arwen did not journey any farther and said her final bittersweet goodbyes to Elrond. Faramir and Eowyn remained at Edoras as well. But the rest continued on, stopping first at Helm's Deep. Remembering their agreement, Legolas joined Gimli for a tour of the Glittering Caves of Aglarond, behind the Deep. From there they went to Isengard to find that the Ents had torn down all of the stone wall that encircled it and planted gardens in the land within. They learned from Treebeard that the old Ent had allowed Saruman to leave some seven days earlier. Treebeard believed that since the war was over Saruman was no longer capable of any mischief; "A snake without fangs may crawl where he will," he said. But Gandalf suspected that Saruman's one remaining tooth - his voice - was what was able to persuade the Ent to let him leave. Aragorn told Treebeard that the vale now belonged to the Ents to do with what they wished as long as they agreed to see to it that no one entered Orthanc without leave of the King.

Now it was time for Gimli to return the favor and he and Legolas turned east to visit Fangorn Forest once more. They bid farewell to their friends. The company journeyed on towards the Gap of Rohan, but when they arrived very close to the spot where Pippin had looked into the Orthanc-stone, Aragorn announced that he would ride no further. He said his goodbyes, reminding Pippin that he was still a knight of Gondor in the service of the King. He also told them that he would one day visit his lands to the north and see them again.

"With that they parted, and it was then the time of sunset; and when after a while they turned and looked back, they saw the King of the West sitting upon his horse with his knights about him; and the falling Sun shone upon them and made all their harness to gleam like red gold, and the white mantle of Aragorn was turned to a flame. Then Aragorn took the green stone and held it up, and there came a green fire from his hand."

Now Gandalf, the hobbits and the Elves turned north into the land of Dunland and it wasn't long before they came upon Saruman and Wormtongue. The old man was now dressed in rags, as a beggar, and his servant groveled like a dog at his feet. Galadriel, once a fellow member of the White Council, offers him forgiveness one last time and the wizard refused in his arrogance. He had harsh words for the hobbits, warning them that the might not "find things good" when they returned home. Kicking Grima and ordering him along, he went away off into the woods.

Saruman's words of the Shire concerned both Gandalf and Sam, but Frodo insisted that they must first visit Rivendell for he greatly missed Bilbo. As they reached the entrance to the pass of the Redhorn Gate of Caradhras, Celeborn and Galadriel set off eastwards over the Misty Mountains to return to Lothlorien. Since the Ring had been destroyed and the power of the Elven ring Nenya waned, that land would soon diminish and Galadriel would have to make preparations to leave Middle-Earth forever and take the ship over the Sea.

Now the last of the remaining party reached the valley of Rivendell on September 21st, the day before Bilbo's One Hundred and Twenty-Ninth birthday. Gandalf and the hobbits stayed there for about two weeks, enjoying the hospitality of Elrond and the Elves. In the beginning of October, Frodo and his friends made ready to set out on the final leg of their journey home. Gandalf agreed to ride with them as far as Bree. When they said goodbye to Bilbo, the old hobbit said he was growing very tired and he asked Frodo if he would gather up all his notes and papers and finish his book for him. Frodo was delighted to accept.

The next day, October 5th, Frodo said farewell to Elrond. The Elf wished him a safe journey but told him that he need not worry about rushing back to visit Bilbo because it would not be long before he would ride out with him to the Shire on a westward journey towards the Sea. Frodo understood. He did not share Elrond's words with his companions.

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[Chronology: Mid-Year's Day through October 5th 3019 T.A.]
------

Next: Homeward Bound

(revised 11/10/06)

ROTK: Bk 6, Ch 5

2006-01-29T23:15:00.001-05:00

The Steward And The King

"'Now come the days of the King, and may they be blessed while the thrones of the Valar endur!'"

At this point in the story, Tolkien could very easily have written: "And so, with Sauron destroyed and peace spreading throughout the land, the remaining members of the Fellowship went back to their regular lives and they all lived happily ever after." No one would have blamed him considering all the work he had put into this epic. But there were many loose ends to wrap up - so many loose ends that it took five whole chapters to do it. The rest of Return of the King is focused on what they used to teach you in English Lit was "the resolution phase" of the narrative. So we continue, chapter by chapter, as the scope of the story winds itself back down to the point of view of the Shire, right where we started. It's almost as if the reader, having been taken on a wild ride, now needs to "decompress" as he moves away from the bigger picture of Middle-earth.

First off we have two very important characters to deal with who are convalescing at the Houses of Healing. Chronologically, Tolkien goes back in time about a week or so to Minas Tirith which lay in doubt and dread over the fate of the army of the West that marched out of its gate a few days earlier. Eowyn was recovering quickly save for her frozen arm and her aching heart. She yearns to join the host heading for Mordor but the Warden of the Houses of Healing insists that she must return to her bed. Eowyn does not care to wait around like a victim and declares that "those who have not swords can still die upon them". She demands to see whomever is in command of the City. That would be the new Steward, Lord Faramir, who is also recovering from wounds there at the House.

The Warden brings Eowyn to Faramir and the sight of the Lady of Rohan pierces his heart. She begs Faramir to allow her to leave. But Faramir holds to the counsel of the Warden that she must remain but she can at least be free to walk throughout the City and he ensures that her quarters are changed so that she has a window that faces east. Eowyn, like Faramir, is drawn to gaze in the direction of Mordor in anticipation of either a victorious army or a great calamity. Faramir asks Eowyn if she would stay with him for a while and help ease his care. She asks how she would do this.

"Then, Eowyn of Rohan, I say to you that you are beautiful. In the valleys of our hills there are flowers fair and bright, and maidens fairer still; but neither flower nor lady have I seen till now in Gondor so lovely, and so sorrowful. It may be that only a few days are left ere darkness falls upon our world, and when it comes I hope to face it steadily; but it would ease my heart, if while the Sun yet shines, I could see you still."

Eowyn was non-committal at his request, but she walked with him back to the House of Healing. Faramir sought out information about Eowyn and the Warden suggested he speak with Merry, who was brought to him. The more he learned about Eowyn, the deeper the love he felt for her. The next morning, he saw her standing upon the walls, clad in white and gleaming in the sun. They walked together, sometimes in silence and sometimes speaking. By the fifth day since their first meeting, Eowyn came to him and they looked out upon the City together. Soon, their hands met and clasped, "though they did not know it".

As time passed without word from the host, Faramir became more pessimistic about their fate. Then suddenly on the morning of March 25th, a vast darkness rose about the mountains with lightning flickering above it; "a tremor ran through the earth, and they felt the walls of the City quiver." Faramir tells Eowyn that while his head tells him a great evil has befallen, his heart tells him otherwise. The shadow departed and the light of the sun came through. From the east, a great Eagle flew in to bring the news that the Dark Tower was thrown down.

A party was organized to sail up the Anduin from Osgiliath to Cair Andros to meet the returning Captains. Merry was sent to join them. But even though Eomer sent for Eowyn, she refused to go. Faramir asks her if it is because it was not Aragorn who sent for her or because she didn't want to leave him. She tells him that "she wished to be loved by another" but "I desire no man's pity." Faramir tells her not to scorn the pity of Aragorn which was a "gift of a gentle heart." But he also tells her that he does not feel pity for her. He loves her and he asks for her hand in marriage. Eowyn comes to the realization that she loves Faramir, too.

"'Then must I leave my own people, man of Gondor?' she said. 'And would you have your proud folk say of you: "There goes a lord who tamed a wild shieldmaiden of the North! Was there no woman of the race of Numenor to choose?"'

'I would,' said Faramir. And he took her in his arms and kissed her under the sunlit sky, and he cared not that they stood high upon the walls in the sight of many. And many indeed saw them and the light that shone about them as they came down from the walls and went hand in hand to the Houses of Healing.

And to the Warden of the Houses Faramir said: 'Here is the Lady Eowyn of Rohan, and now she is healed.'"

Back when Aragorn tended her physical wounds before he left for battle, he told Eomer that he could heal her body, but if she woke to despair then she would die "unless other healing comes which I cannot bring." And it was her love for Faramir that wholly cured her.

At some point in 1963, Tolkien received a letter from a fan who was very critical of the way he had written the Eowyn/Faramir love story. The letter is not available but based on Tolkien's response it seems to have focused on the speed with which they fell in love, especially considering Eowyn's love for Aragorn. The reader also seemed to think that the whole "courtship" was too rushed and that it seemed unrealistic. Tolkien's defense was that Eowyn's feelings for Aragorn and Faramir were very different:

"It is possible to love more than one person (of the other sex) at the same time, but in a different mode and intensity. I do not think that Eowyn's feelings for Aragorn really changed much; and when he was revealed as so lofty a figure, in descent and office, she was able to go on loving and admiring him." (Letter No. 244)

And as to the "speed" of the relationship, he writes:

"In my experience feelings and decisions ripen very quickly (as measured by mere 'clock-time', which is actually not justly applicable) in periods of great stress, and especially under the expectation of imminent death. And I do not think that persons of high estate and breeding need all the petty fencing and approaches in matters of 'love'. This tale does not deal with a period of 'Courtly Love' and its pretences; but with a culture more primitive (sc. less corrupt) and nobler." (Letter No. 244)

It's too bad that more of this love story wasn't presented in the film version of Return of the King - I don't think that even the Extended Edition gave it the attention it deserved. I think readers are able to relate better to this couple than the Numenorean-Elven pairing of Aragorn and Arwen.

Aragorn finally arrives at the gates of the City. Faramir meets him and as the last Steward, "begs leave to surrender his office." Aragorn insists that the office will remain with him and his heirs. Faramir asks the crowd for their permission to let Aragorn enter as King and they all shout out a hearty unamimous "yea". The Steward presents the crown of Earnur to Aragorn but the new King in waiting insists that Frodo bear the crown to Gandalf, who should place it on his head for the wizard has "been the mover of all that has been accomplished." And thus, the reign of King Elessar began.

He designated Faramir as Prince of Ithilien, with Beregond serving as Faramir's personal Guard. Minas Morgul, however, was to be destroyed. The Prince would dwell in the Emyn Arnen, the hills that lay between the Ephel Duath and the Anduin that marked the border between north and south Ithilien. He reaffirmed the close ties between Gondor and Rohan as he gave leave to Eomer and Eowyn. The Lady was to journey back to Edoras to assist her brother in the rebuilding of Rohan and the laying to rest of Theoden, after which she planned to return and wed Faramir.

But one problem of Gondor remained. Aragorn was concerned for the future line of Kings and whether or not it would be renewed. Gandalf led him up Mount Mindolluin and they followed an ancient path to a high hallow that overlooked the City. Gandalf directed him to look in the direction where it was most barren and cold.

"Then Aragorn turned, and there was a stony slope behind him running down the skirts of the snow; and as he looked he was aware that alone there in the waste a growing thing stood. And he climbed to it, and saw that out of the very edge of the snow there sprang a sapling tree no more than three foot high. Already it had put forth young leaves long and shapely, dark above and silver beneath, and upon its slender crown it bore one small cluster of flowers whose white petals shone like the sunlit snow."

Here was a remnant of the White Tree that now lay dead in the courtyard of the Tower in Minas Tirith. It's lineage could be traced all the way back to Telperion, one of the Trees of Valinor. It's presence was likely the result of a seedling that of the White Tree that was planted long ago and had lain dormant for many generations. Aragorn took this as the sign of the renewal of the Numenorean Kingdom. The old, dead tree was dug up with reverence and the new sapling was planted in its place. Soon afterward, Elrond arrived at Minas Tirith with Arwen and he presented to Aragorn the Sceptre of Annuminas, which was the heirloom of Elendil who ruled both Kingdoms from Arnor.

Annuminas had been the capital of Arnor and the Sceptre that Elendil bore was one that he had brought with him in his escape from the destruction of Numenor. When the Kingdom of Arnor was divided it passed to the King of Arthedain until the year 1974 of the Third Age, when it was handed down to the Chieftains of the Dunedain. Elrond kept it in Rivendell until the day came when the rightful King would take up the throne and reunite the Numenorean Kingdoms in exile.

On Midsummer's Eve (the day between the end of June and the beginning of July), Aragorn and Arwen wed and the fruit of their long and tortured courtship had finally come to fulfillment.

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[Chronology: March 20th through 1 Lithe 3019 T.A.]
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Next: Many Partings

(revised 11/7/06)

ROTK: Bk 6, Ch 4

2006-01-25T23:00:00.002-05:00

The Field Of Cormallen

"But Gandalf lifted up his arms and called once more in a clear voice: 'Stand, Men of the West! Stand and wait! This is the hour of doom.'"

As the Ring is unmade, so is the battle before the Morannon. With the appearance of the Eagles of the North, the tide turned. The great birds bore straight down on the Nazgul, even as their Fell Beasts began to flee towards Mount Doom heeding the call of the Dark Lord. Now the eyes of the enemies showed fear and confusion. Behind them the Towers of the Teeth collapsed and the Black Gate was thrown down in ruin. Gandalf and the Captains of the West knew that the hour of doom was at hand.

"'The realm of Sauron is ended!' said Gandalf. 'The Ring-bearer has fulfilled his Quest.' And as the Captains gazed south to the Land of Mordor, it seemed to them that, black against the pall of cloud, there rose a huge shape of shadow, impenetrable, lightning-crowned, filling all the sky. Enormous it reared above the world, and stretched out towards them a vast threatening hand, terrible but impotent: for even as it leaned over them, a great wind took it, and it was all blown away, and passed; and then a hush fell."

Most of the Orcs and Men of Sauron's army fled in terror but some of the Easterlings and Southrons threw down their weapons and begged for mercy. Then Gandalf summoned Gwaihir to him and asked the Eagle to bear him one last time. Along with two other Eagles, Landroval and Meneldor, Gwaihir sped away south with Gandalf on his back.

The appearance of the Eagles which heralds the destruction of Mordor and the Dark Lord is a moment that Tolkien calls a "eucatastrophe". This was a word he coined to refer to "the sudden happy turn in a story which pierces you with a joy that brings tears" (Letter No. 89). In a nutshell, a eucatastrophe is diametrically opposed to a catastrophe, a great and sudden calamity. By adding the prefix "eu" which is Greek for "good", Tolkien's philological invention designates a great and sudden fortunate turn of events.

There are actually several moments throughout The Lord of the Rings that would qualify as eucatastrophes. They always come, like a "deus ex machina", just when things seem their bleakest: the sudden rising of the River Bruinen to wash away the Nazgul in "Flight To The Ford", the arrival of Gandalf and Erkenbrand's army in "Helm's Deep" and the blowing of the horns of Rohan to announce the Rohirrim at "The Battle Of The Pelennor Fields" to name a few. But these moments always seem to come in answer to characters holding onto hope and making decisions of selflessness, sacrifice or altruism. Certainly Sam's feeling of pity for Gollum when he had the chance to kill him on the slopes of Mount Doom led directly to the destruction of the Ring, something Frodo found he ultimately could not do.

The origins of this idea that a sudden positive event in the face of despair no doubt is derived from Tolkien's Catholicism. For he considered the Resurrection of Christ to be the ultimate eucatastrophe. Does this imply some kind of Divine Intervention? When the hobbits ask Tom Bombadil about his hearing their cries for help in the Old Forest, Tom replies "Just chance brought me then, if chance you call it." He says it wasn't his plan to be there. Was it someone else's?

Certainly, chance plays a part. But many times these chances present themselves because on the actions of Tolkien's characters who have free will. The paths that they choose lead to positive or negative events based on what motivates them. The decisions of Denethor and, to a lesser extent, Boromir are motivated by a desire for power to defeat their enemies. But this leads to their downfall. Faramir decides, against the wishes of his father, not to bring the Ring to Minas Tirith but rather to allow Frodo to continue on to Mordor. He is motivated by wisdom and prudence.

For Aragorn and Gandalf, they had to march towards the danger of certain death on the belief that Frodo and Sam would fulfill their Quest regardless of whatever dangers they encountered or whatever sacrifices they had to make. As it turned out, their faith was rewarded. And for Tolkien, when faith and hope win out over despair, a eucatastrophe occurs. The idea that there is just as much reason to believe in the possibility of a eucastastrophic event as a catastrophic one stirs the optimism of the reader and is, I believe, one of the reasons the story is so popular among so many different nations and cultures.

As we return to Mount Doom, Frodo and Sam wait for the end on a lone hill surrounded by the lava that is bursting from the heart of the mountain. Sam tells Frodo that despite the hopelessness he doesn't want to give up just yet. "It's not like me, somehow, if you understand", he says. As if in response to Sam's hope, Gwaihir and the other Eagles spy them on the mountain. And as the hobbits lay there worn out and collapsed from the heat and fumes, the birds swoop in and, taking great care, lift them up with their talons and fly back northwards away from the Black Land.

Sam wakes a full two weeks later to the fragrant smell of Ithilien and the sight of Gandalf, now dressed all in white, beside his bed. Frodo is there, too. The Wizard tells him that it is April 8th, the fourteenth day of the new year. Ever after in Gondor the new year would begin on March 25th to commemorate the overthrow and destruction of Sauron. He and Frodo are to be taken to see the King.

When they are able, the hobbits are brought onto the Field of Cormallen, which lay in North Ithilien between the refuge of Henneth Annun and the island of Cair Andros. As they are taken to the King, they see that he is in fact Strider whom they haven't seen since that terrible day at Parth Galen when the Fellowship was broken. A great ceremony takes place and the host that is assembled praises the two Ring-bearers for their heroic deeds. And then Aragorn, to the surprise of the hobbits, lowers himself on his knee and bows to them. In Peter Jackson's Return of the King, this scene is written a bit differently. At his coronation, all four hobbits bow to Aragorn who says in surprise, "My friends. You bow to no one!", before he and Arwen both bow to them, which everyone else does as well. It is a very emotional moment in the film, assisted by Howard Shore's powerful score, and it's perhaps one of my favorite moments in any of the movies.

Later, at a great feast, Frodo and Sam are reunited with the rest of the Fellowship: Merry, Pippin, Gimli and Legolas. They have a lot of stories to share with each other. After the celebration, the host makes ready to journey back to Minas Tirith, where the rightful King would officially return and enter the gates of the City.

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[Chronology: March 25th through April 30th 3019 T.A.]
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Next: The Steward And The King

(revised 11/6/06)

ROTK: Bk 6, Ch 3

2006-01-23T22:30:00.001-05:00

Mount Doom

"'Now for it! Now for the last gasp!' said Sam as he struggled to his feet."

Frodo and Sam lay quietly in the pit as the sounds of the troops passing into the Isenmouthe died down. They passed the evening sleeping in uneasy fits. The next morning, March 19th, they started out again. Southwards in the distance, the mountain loomed. Sam estimated it to be about fifty miles and a week's march away. The other conclusion that hit home was that their provisions were almost gone and, if they managed to make it to the mountain and complete their task, there could be no return. But despite Sam's loss of hope, a new resolve grew in him.

He woke Frodo and they climbed up to the road to Barad-dur that followed along the foot of the northern mountain range. Sauron's forces were moving only under the cover of darkness, for the Dark Lord sought secrecy with the thought of spies traveling in his lands. So the hobbits walked during the day, resting and hiding at night. It was a slow, plodding journey.

"There came at last a dreadful nightfall; and even as the Captains of the West drew near to the end of the living lands, the two wanderers came to an hour of blank despair. Four days had passed since they had escaped from the orcs, but the time lay behind them like an ever-darkening dream. All this last day Frodo had not spoken, but had walked half-bowed, often stumbling, as if his eyes no longer saw the way before his feet. Sam guessed that among all their pains he bore the worst, the growing weight of the Ring, a burden on the body and torment to his mind. Anxiously Sam had noted how his master's left hand would often be raised as if to ward off a blow, or to screen his shrinking eyes from a dreadful Eye that sought to look into them. And sometimes his right hand would creep to his breast, clutching, and then slowly, as the will recovered mastery, it would be withdrawn."

The time had come to turn southwest, off the road and straight for the fiery mountain. And at one point when Sam looked back he thought he could see the pale lights of eyes following them.

On the evening of March 23rd, the hobbits decided to cast away all that they carried to lighten their load. Only Sting was kept by Sam, as a last means of defense in this desolate land. It was hardest for Sam to toss aside his cooking gear. It made him think longingly about the rabbit that they cooked back in Ithilien. But Frodo said that while he remembered that such things happened, he couldn't see them. The images, sounds and feelings that once comforted him were fading.

They pressed on toward the their destination. At the end of the day, they rested again. While Frodo slept, Sam held a debate with himself in a fashion not unlike Gollum had when his two personalities argued over how they would get a hold of the Ring. But here Sam was considering how weak Frodo was and trying to decide whether or not they should press on despite the suffering of his master. In the end, he knew that they must keep going no matter what it took to get there.

The last stage of the journey was tortuous. The air close to the mountain was full of fumes and it was difficult to breathe. But they continued throughout the day and at the moment that sleep took them the army of the West was setting up camp outside the desolation of the Morannon. The Sun poked through the clouds on the morning of March 25th. Lying at the foot of Mount Doom, the hobbits struggled to climb.

Frodo could barely crawl at this point. Sam wept at the sight of Frodo, weighed down by the Ring and pulling himself forward on all fours. He reached down to him saying, "Come Mr. Frodo! I can't carry it for you but I can carry you and it as well." Sam pulled him up onto his back.

"As Frodo clung upon his back, arms loosely about his neck, legs clasped firmly under his arms, Sam staggered to his feet; and then to his amazement he felt the burden light. He had feared that he would have barely strength to lift his master alone, and beyond that he had expected to share in the dreadful dragging weight of the accursed Ring. But it was not so. Whether because Frodo was so worn by his long pains, wound of knife, and venomous sting, and sorrow, fear, and homeless wandering, or because some gift of final strength was given to him, Sam lifted Frodo with no more difficulty than if he were carrying a hobbit-child pig-a-back in some romp on the lawns or hayfields of the Shire. He took a deep breath and started off."

They slowly ascended up the Northern side of Mount Doom. The base of the mountain rose as high as three thousand feet and after hours of steady climbing they drew closer to the narrow central cone. To their surprise, they reached a road that wound its way up from around the southern face. This road - originating from Barad-dur - led to the Sammath Naur, the Chamber of Fire. Step by step, Sam continued along the road, carrying Frodo until at last he could no longer bear him. They lay there for a while gathering their strength for the final crawl to the Crack of Doom.

Sauron's Eye was fixed Northward toward Udun, where the army of the West now challenged the Dark Lord. The last part of the road followed a bend to the right. They were now on the Eastern side, facing the Dark Tower. As they turned the bend, Sam was struck from behind by Gollum. When he got himself back up, he saw Frodo and Gollum locked together in a struggle. Frodo fought with a sudden fury that surprise Sam as much as it did Gollum, who at this point was "a lean, starved, haggard thing."

Soon Frodo appeared to Sam as a towering figure standing over the pititful crouching shape of Gollum. It was reminiscent of how he saw Frodo at the Emyn Muil when he tamed Smeagol. Frodo, clutching the Ring at his breast, said to Gollum sternly, "If you touch me ever again, you shall be cast yourself into the Fire of Doom!" With that, he turned toward the open fissure in the mountain and walked the remaining length of the road. Now Sam could at last finish off this creature that he hated so much. His head was filled with anger and wrath and it seemed that killing Gollum was the logical thing to do. Sam held Sting, poised to strike down the miserable creature.

"But deep in his heart there was something that restrained him: he could not strike this thing lying in the dust, forlorn, ruinous, utterly wretched. He himself, though only for a little while, had borne the Ring, and now dimly he guessed the agony of Gollum's shriveled mind and body, enslaved to that Ring, unable to find peace or relief ever in life again. But Sam had no worlds to express what he felt."

He screamed at Gollum to be off or he would kill him. But as Sam turned to join his master, the creature likewise turned back up the mountain and crept behind him, slinking among the stones. Sam entered the chamber to see Frodo on the brink of the Crack of Doom. He called to him and Frodo turned to Sam, declaring that he no longer chose to destroy the Ring. He would keep it. "The Ring is mine!" he said. It had taken complete control of Frodo and as he slipped it onto his finger he disappeared.

Now Sauron was suddenly aware of him and the Eye shifted across the plain to the eastern opening of the chamber. His vulnerability and danger was now fully revealed to him.

"From all his policies and webs of fear and treachery, from all his stratagems and wars his mind shook free; and throughout his realm a tremor ran, his slaves quailed, and his armies halted, and his captains suddenly steerless, bereft of will, wavered and despaired. For they were forgotten. The whole mind and purpose of the Power that wielded them was now bent with overwhelming force upon the Mountain. At his summons, wheeling with a rending cry, in a last desperate race there flew, faster than the winds, the Nazgul, the Ringwraiths, and with a storm of wings they hurtled southwards to Mount Doom."

This moment of the story was long foreseen by Tolkien. In an outline dated as early as 1939, he wrote of Frodo's inability to destroy the Ring and that Gollum would take it from him: "They wrestle and Gollum takes the Ring and falls into the Crack." In later outlines, Tolkien wrote that Sam would actually push Gollum into the fiery chasm. But in the final version as published, Gollum pushes Sam aside and then wrestles with an invisible Frodo. Bringing the hobbit's right hand to his mouth, Gollum digs his teeth into his finger and rips it from his hand. Frodo cries out as he becomes visible once again and Gollum dances with glee at the recovery of his "precious". But in his delirium, Gollum steps back too far and is hurled into the fiery depths. The Ring is destroyed.

All of Mordor then rumbled. The mountain shook and began to spew forth lava. Sam carries Frodo out of the Sammath Naur and his master, though pale and worn, is himself again. The burden was gone. It was only because of Gollum that the quest was fulfilled. Frodo recalls Gandalf's words that the creature may yet have a part to play in all of this. But now they looked around them and saw the end, for they knew that escape from the mountain would be impossible.

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[Chronology: March 19th through March 25th 3019 T.A.]
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Next: The Field Of Cormallen

(revised 11/3/06)

ROTK: Bk 6, Ch 2

2006-01-20T23:15:00.001-05:00

The Land Of Shadow

"'Now down we go, Sam,' Frodo whispered. 'Down into the valley quick, and then turn northward, as soon as ever we can.'"

According to Christopher Tolkien, based on his father's papers it seemed very clear that this chapter was written "swiftly and in a single burst of writing". In the draft there is very little that is different from the version that we know in The Return of the King. Frodo and Sam ran down the road from the gate, down around a bend and underneath a cliff to get out of sight. Then, down the eastern face of the Ephal Duath they plunged until they reached the road the ran along the bottom. Between the foot of the mountain range and the Plateau of Gorgoroth was a deep ravine in which the Morgai flowed north and south. They came to a stone bridge and had no sooner reached the far side when a "hue and cry" of Orcs came down from the direction of the Tower.

Quickly they scrambled underneath the bridge to hide. After the rush of horses and Orcs crossed the bridge and died own, they decided it was safest to travel along the length of the Morgai valley rather than up on the road. Traversing across the boulders, bramble and thick thorny briar, Sam and Frodo journeyed north. They knew at some point they would have to turn eastwards but for now they couldn't risk being seen. Looking at the map insert above, it's clear that the hobbits were less than a few days journey eastwards from reaching Mount Doom. But Tolkien's problem at this point was that the Army of the West was not due to reach the Black Gate until March 25th. By having the Plateau of Gorgoroth covered with camps of the Enemy, he forced them into a rather long detour - first Northwards, then due East and finally turning Southwest, essentially circumnavigating a loop around the valley to the Northeastern side of the mountain. What follows in this chapter are the circumstances that lead to this longer journey.

They continued for many miles, making several stops to rest. Frodo in particular was weary from the weight of the burden the hung around his neck. Since they first headed east from the cross-roads on March 10th, the sky had been covered in darkness. But now they noticed a change.

"They stood up, and then they both stared in wonder. Away to the left, southward, against a sky that was turning grey, the peaks and high ridges of the great range began to appear dark and black, visible shapes. Light was growing behind them. Slowly it crept towards the North. There was battle far above in the high spaces of the air. The billowing clouds of Mordor were being driven back, their edges tattering as a wind out of the living world came up and swept the fumes and smokes towards the dark land of their home. Under the lifting skirts of the dreary canopy dim light leaked into Mordor like pale morning through the grimed window of a prison."

It was the morning of March the 15th and the wind was coming from the south. It consoled them. Perhaps their fortunes were taking a turn for the better. Overhead, a dark shape flew out of the west towards Barad-dur. From it came "a cry of woe and dismay, ill tidings for the Dark Tower."

On the westward slope of the valley they noticed an Orc-path so they crossed the stony ravine and continued on this easier road. They later encountered a gully out of which trickled a stream. Being parched from their journey, they drank their fill of the unpleasant tasting water and filled their bottles. The weight of the Orc-mail shirt was too burdensome for Frodo. In his exhaustion, he decided to discard it. Then they collapsed into sleep. When they woke up, Frodo was still weary for his sleep was uneasy. They climbed the eastern side and looked out onto Mordor where they saw many camps of Orcs. One of the largest, ordered like a city, was right below them as the plain sloped below the top of the ravine. Sauron was reassembling his armies but for what purpose they did not know. They continued for a ways along the slope, staying out of sight.

A few miles down, they heard Orc voices and they hid in a small cave as they listened. Two Orcs - one small tracker and a large soldier - were speaking. They were looking for something, or someone. From the conversation, Frodo and Sam learned that the Orcs were seeking whoever it was that escaped the Tower as well as the "gobbler with the flapping hands". It seemed that Gollum was also about. Apparently, he was following the hobbits and, because he found and moved Frodo's cast-off mail shirt, the Orcs had lost track of their scent. The tracker Orc was fretting over rumors of bad news about the war. They feared that "they've done in Number One." He meant to desert and the Orc-soldier tried to spear him. But the smaller Orc put an arrow through the soldier's eye and fled.

Frodo thought back to the maps he had studied in Rivendell of this land. He knew they were approaching a point where the northern and western ranges met in a strange way. Inside the Northwestern corner of Mordor was an open area called Udun. It was framed underneath by two spurs that came out of each range. Looking down on Udun, the mountains would appear to wrap around an area in the center similar to one that would be made by touching the index fingers and thumbs of both hands in the shape of a circle. Between the points where the thumbs would meet, was a small opening called Carach Angren, the Isenmouthe. It was through this gap that Sauron's armies were entering the dale that lay behind the Morannon, awaiting a great battle.

Seeing the Isenmouthe in the distance, Frodo decided that it would be a good point to start heading east toward the fiery mountain. While the region was crawling with Orcs, they realized it was necessary to take to the road and try to sneak by. Before they set out, however, they decided to rest. As Frodo nodded off, Sam went in search of water. He came upon a small pool and as he filled his water bottle, something caught his eye. It is notable that in the original draft, there was no mention of Gollum. But in one of the revisions, Tolkien had the tracker make the reference to the "gobbler with the flapping hands" and included at this point the following passage:

"At that moment he caught a glimpse of a black form or shadow flitting among the rocks away near Frodo's hiding-place. Biting back a cry, he leapt down from the spring and ran, jumping from stone to stone. It was a wary creature, difficult to see, but Sam had little doubt about it: he longed to get his hands on its neck. But it heard him coming and slipped quickly away. Sam thought he saw a last fleeting glimpse of it, peering back over the edge of the eastward precipice, before it ducked and disappeared."

Before he plunged into sleep, Sam resolved to be diligent in looking out for Gollum.

The next day they traveled many miles. And it wasn't long before they were overtaken by marching feet. Frodo and Sam tried to huddle off to the side of the road, hoping not to be noticed but slave-drivers spied them and, taking them for Orcs, ordered them to fall into line. They had little choice but to comply. Keeping up with the column of marching Orc was a torment for them both, but especially for Frodo. As they approached the Isenmouthe, his strength gave out. Sam tried to pull him up but his efforts were in vain. He thought they were done for.

But just at that moment, there came an unexpected bit of luck. There were other columns of Orcs heading through the gap from other directions as well. And, in the turmoil of the different marching lines merging together to fit through the opening, the hobbits fell to the ground and crawled on their hands and knees to the edges of the road. Soon they were able to dive into a shallow pit and hide. The armies continued to fill the desolate dale of Udun. It was the morning of March 19th.

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Elsewhere during the War of the Ring: The day after the Battle of the Pelennor Fields, the Captains of the West debated their course of action and two days later set out from Minas Tirith. As Frodo and Sam elude the column of Orcs, the army of the West pass through the Cross-roads, set the head of the king back upon the body of the statue and begin their journey north through Ithilien.

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[Chronology: March 14th through March 19th 3019 T.A.]
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Next: Mount Doom

(revised 11/1/06)