Troels Forchhammer
2004-02-16 13:45:36 UTC
Chapter of the Week LOTR Bk1 Ch5: "A Conspiracy Unmasked"
To host a chapter discussion, for more information, or to check the
previous chapter discussions go to: <http://parasha.maoltuile.org/>
Synopsis:
Having taken their leave of Farmer Maggot, the four Hobbits cross the
Brandywine on the Bucklebury Ferry with Sam as the only passenger who
hasn't been to Buckland yet[1] seeing the crossing as not only physical,
but also metaphorical[2].
Once they've crossed the river Sam, looking back, "as if to take farewell
of the Shire" discovers something on the far stage. This turns out to be a
Black Rider (to stay in the terminology of this chapter), which scares all
the Hobbits, including Merry who hasn't seen these before[3].
The Hobbits quickly retire to Frodo's new house at Crickhollow, where they
are met by Fredegar Bolger. Fatty (as Fredegar is called) and Merry has
arranged Frodo's things very nicely - almost as if he hadn't moved at all.
In their new setting the things reminds Frodo "sharply" of Bilbo[4], and
he wishes that he really was coming there to retire quietly.
Merry's organisational talent and attention to detail shows itself[5] as
he has arranged for three separate bathtubs for the wanderers to use while
Merry and Fatty prepare a second supper. While bathing Pippin also begin
to assert his more carefree character - in this case by splashing water
all over the place as an accompaniment to his bathing song[6].
After the supper, at which the mushrooms from Mrs. Maggot play a prominent
part, it is finally time to get down to business. Merry opens the
discussions with questions about the Black Rider and Farmer Maggot's fear
(which surprised him). Merry and Pippin use this discussion, in an act
that almost looks studied, to carry the discussion to the point where
Frodo has to reveal his real plans.
When Frodo finds it difficult to break the 'news' to his friends, Merry
helps him by starting the explanation for him[7] - much to Frodo's
surprise and initial dismay. Merry explains that Frodo has, to his friends
who know him well, been quite obvious - taking leave of his favourite
spots since spring etc.
When Frodo protests that he has to go, Merry tells him that they don't
intend to stop him, but to go with him; that they "know the Ring is no
laughing-matter, but [they are] going to do [their] best to help [Frodo]
against the Enemy."[8] Merry then disclose that he has seen a glimpse of
the Ring and that he has read, briefly, in Bilbo's book.
In the end he produces their "chief investigator" - Sam. Merrys says about
Sam, "Here's our collector of information! And he collected a lot, I can
tell you, before he was finally caught. After which, I may say, he seemed
to regard himself as on parole, and dried up."[9]
After some initial chagrin (at his own blindness, perhaps, though he
blames Sam's implication) Frodo happily (or as happily as the situation
allows) accepts the company of Merry and Pippin, and the discussion turns
to the immediate course of action. The four Hobbits resolve to enter the
Old Forest the following morning in the hope of fooling their pursuers by
not taking to the road. Fredegar is upset about their decision, which he
thinks more dangerous than the Black Riders (whom he hasn't seen), but, as
he says, "my vote hardly counts, as I am not going on the journey."
The Hobbits go to bed, and towards morning Frodo starts dreaming. He
"seemed to be looking out of a high window over a dark sea of tangled
trees. Down below among the roots there was the sound of creatures
crawling and snuffling. He felt sure they would smell him out sooner or
later."[10]
"Then he heard a noise in the distance. At first he thought it was a great
wind coming over the leaves of the forest. Then he knew that it was not
leaves, but the sound of the Sea far-off; a sound he had never heard in
waking life, though it had often troubled his dreams. Suddenly he found he
was out in the open. There were no trees after all. He was on a dark
heath, and there was a strange salt smell in the air. Looking up he saw
before him a tall white tower, standing alone on a high ridge. A great
desire came over him to climb the tower and see the Sea. He started to
struggle up the ridge towards the tower: but suddenly a light came in the
sky, and there was a noise of thunder."[11]
[1] Buckland is here described as a kind of colony from the Shire. Most of
the Hobbits in the Shire proper apparently view the Bucklanders with
scepticism, but the people in the Marish (or part of it, at least)
still acknowledge the authority of the Master. Is there anything new
to learn about Hobbits and the Shire from the description of Buckland
in this chapter, or does it just confirm the known stuff?
[2] I've got something for Sam in these chapters ;-)
Here we see him cross into the unknown - a bit wistfully, perhaps, and
with an eye back to the Shire he knows, but resolved and willing to go
on. This is, IMO, repeated several times later - most clearly in
Rivendell and in Lórien, where the idea that he has something to do
reappear.
[3] In UT, 3, IV 'The Hunt for the Ring' Tolkien wrote:
"All except the Witch-king were apt to stray when alone by
daylight; and all, again save the Witch-king, feared water,
and were unwilling, except in dire need, to enter it or to
cross streams unless dryshod by a bridge.{3}"
[...]
"{3} At the Ford of Bruinen only the Witch-king and two others, with
the lure of the Ring straight before them, had dared to enter the
river; the others were driven into it by Glorfindel and Aragorn.
[Author's note.]"
And at the end of the text Christopher has added:
" My father nowhere explained the Ringwraiths' fear of water.
In the account just cited it is made a chief motive in Sauron's
assault on Osgiliath, and it reappears in detailed notes on the
movements of the Black Riders in the Shire: thus of the Rider
(who was in fact Khamûl of Dol Guldur) seen on the far side of
Bucklebury Ferry just after the Hobbits had crossed (FotR I 5)
it is said that "he was well aware that the Ring had crossed
the river; but the river was a barrier to his sense of its
movement," and that the Nazgûl would not touch the "Elvish"
waters of Baranduin. But it is not made clear how they crossed
other rivers that lay in their path, such as the Greyflood, where
there was only "a dangerous ford formed by the ruins of the
bridge." My father did indeed note that the idea was difficult
to sustain."
Now - the greatest advantage, as I see it, of this idea is that it not
only explains why the Black Riders didn't turn up in Crickhollow long
before they did, but also because it explains their hesitation at the
Ford of Bruinen.
[4] What is this doing here? Emphasis of Frodo missing Bilbo? Emphasis of
his, at this point, primary motivation for leaving the Shire (i.e. to
follow Bilbo)?
[5] This is the first chapter in which we see more of Merry, and he use
the opportunity to assert himself as quite mature of his age, and
certainly more thoughtful (and provident) than Pippin.
[6] I'm awfully sorry, but I've got to mention the rendition of the
Bathing Song by the Tolkien Ensemble ;-) It's on /At Dawn in
Rivendell/ - the latest album by the ensemble.
<www.tolkienensemble.dk>
[7] What did Merry know - when and how? He's definitely a resorceful
Hobbit and I'm quite impressed by the knowledge he discloses here.
[8] In this passage Merry consequently refers the Ring and the Enemy with
capitalized words, which, to me, implies that he knows exactly what
ring and what enemy they are dealing with - The Master-ring and
Sauron. E.g. in I 2 where Frodo tells Gandalf that "last night you
began to tell me strange things about my ring," the word isn't
capitalized then (and neither is in in the descriptive text), but
once Frodo realizes and accepts what he has, it starts getting
referred to as "the Ring" in both dialogue and narrative text.
I suggest that Merry knew exactly what he was speaking of.
[9] If Sam really did "dry up" at that point, how then did Merry know
about the Ring[7]? It has been discussed before, but I think this
point is important - not because I disagree that Sam must have told
the others (apparently he only felt bound to keep silent what he
discovered /after/ he was caught). The important (to me) thing is what
it might tell us about Sam, if we accept that it was really he who
told the others. It appears that his loyalty to (perhaps we shouldn't
be too afraid to call it his love of) Frodo is far stronger than such
bounds as is put on him. He did what he thought was best for
protecting and helping Frodo instead of unquestioningly following
Gandalf's instructions
[10] Is this merely a combination of the Old Forest and the Black Riders
coming back to haunt Frodo in his dream, or is there more behind this
start of the dream?
[11] The Sea - in his dream Frodo longs for the sea. The white tower - one
of the towers at Tower hills? Are there other elements of this dream
that can be linked to the adventures Frodo is expecting (the black
heath, the struggle up the ridge, the light in the sky, the noise of
thunder?) When was this dream added, and has it stayed constant
throughout (a question for those with access to the pertinent HoMe
volume)?
Characterisation:
I've already pointed out some of the, IMO, more important bits of
characterization in this chapter [2][4][5][7][8][9]. The four Hobbits who
later join the Fellowship have, by now, had their basic character
established - including their relationship and their roles. What comes in
the following chapters (all of book I, IMO) is, IMO, expansion upon what
we've learned now.
So how are the four Hobbits and their relations characterized at this
point - what are the emerging personalities of the four, and how will that
affect the quest?
Story development:
We are still in the chapters which were once projected (and initially
written) as a continuation of the Hobbit not only in plot, but also in
style and themes. The Hobbits have not yet left the Shire, but can it be
detected at this point that the story will develop into the full epic tale
we know, and if so, in what details do you see this foreshadowing?
--
Troels Forchhammer
Valid e-mail address is t.forch(a)mail.dk
"He deserves death."
"Deserves it! I daresay he does. Many that live deserve death. And some
that die deserve life. Can you give it to them? Then do not be too eager to
deal out death in judgement. For even the very wise cannot see all ends."
- Tolkien in The Fellowship of the Ring
To host a chapter discussion, for more information, or to check the
previous chapter discussions go to: <http://parasha.maoltuile.org/>
Synopsis:
Having taken their leave of Farmer Maggot, the four Hobbits cross the
Brandywine on the Bucklebury Ferry with Sam as the only passenger who
hasn't been to Buckland yet[1] seeing the crossing as not only physical,
but also metaphorical[2].
Once they've crossed the river Sam, looking back, "as if to take farewell
of the Shire" discovers something on the far stage. This turns out to be a
Black Rider (to stay in the terminology of this chapter), which scares all
the Hobbits, including Merry who hasn't seen these before[3].
The Hobbits quickly retire to Frodo's new house at Crickhollow, where they
are met by Fredegar Bolger. Fatty (as Fredegar is called) and Merry has
arranged Frodo's things very nicely - almost as if he hadn't moved at all.
In their new setting the things reminds Frodo "sharply" of Bilbo[4], and
he wishes that he really was coming there to retire quietly.
Merry's organisational talent and attention to detail shows itself[5] as
he has arranged for three separate bathtubs for the wanderers to use while
Merry and Fatty prepare a second supper. While bathing Pippin also begin
to assert his more carefree character - in this case by splashing water
all over the place as an accompaniment to his bathing song[6].
After the supper, at which the mushrooms from Mrs. Maggot play a prominent
part, it is finally time to get down to business. Merry opens the
discussions with questions about the Black Rider and Farmer Maggot's fear
(which surprised him). Merry and Pippin use this discussion, in an act
that almost looks studied, to carry the discussion to the point where
Frodo has to reveal his real plans.
When Frodo finds it difficult to break the 'news' to his friends, Merry
helps him by starting the explanation for him[7] - much to Frodo's
surprise and initial dismay. Merry explains that Frodo has, to his friends
who know him well, been quite obvious - taking leave of his favourite
spots since spring etc.
When Frodo protests that he has to go, Merry tells him that they don't
intend to stop him, but to go with him; that they "know the Ring is no
laughing-matter, but [they are] going to do [their] best to help [Frodo]
against the Enemy."[8] Merry then disclose that he has seen a glimpse of
the Ring and that he has read, briefly, in Bilbo's book.
In the end he produces their "chief investigator" - Sam. Merrys says about
Sam, "Here's our collector of information! And he collected a lot, I can
tell you, before he was finally caught. After which, I may say, he seemed
to regard himself as on parole, and dried up."[9]
After some initial chagrin (at his own blindness, perhaps, though he
blames Sam's implication) Frodo happily (or as happily as the situation
allows) accepts the company of Merry and Pippin, and the discussion turns
to the immediate course of action. The four Hobbits resolve to enter the
Old Forest the following morning in the hope of fooling their pursuers by
not taking to the road. Fredegar is upset about their decision, which he
thinks more dangerous than the Black Riders (whom he hasn't seen), but, as
he says, "my vote hardly counts, as I am not going on the journey."
The Hobbits go to bed, and towards morning Frodo starts dreaming. He
"seemed to be looking out of a high window over a dark sea of tangled
trees. Down below among the roots there was the sound of creatures
crawling and snuffling. He felt sure they would smell him out sooner or
later."[10]
"Then he heard a noise in the distance. At first he thought it was a great
wind coming over the leaves of the forest. Then he knew that it was not
leaves, but the sound of the Sea far-off; a sound he had never heard in
waking life, though it had often troubled his dreams. Suddenly he found he
was out in the open. There were no trees after all. He was on a dark
heath, and there was a strange salt smell in the air. Looking up he saw
before him a tall white tower, standing alone on a high ridge. A great
desire came over him to climb the tower and see the Sea. He started to
struggle up the ridge towards the tower: but suddenly a light came in the
sky, and there was a noise of thunder."[11]
[1] Buckland is here described as a kind of colony from the Shire. Most of
the Hobbits in the Shire proper apparently view the Bucklanders with
scepticism, but the people in the Marish (or part of it, at least)
still acknowledge the authority of the Master. Is there anything new
to learn about Hobbits and the Shire from the description of Buckland
in this chapter, or does it just confirm the known stuff?
[2] I've got something for Sam in these chapters ;-)
Here we see him cross into the unknown - a bit wistfully, perhaps, and
with an eye back to the Shire he knows, but resolved and willing to go
on. This is, IMO, repeated several times later - most clearly in
Rivendell and in Lórien, where the idea that he has something to do
reappear.
[3] In UT, 3, IV 'The Hunt for the Ring' Tolkien wrote:
"All except the Witch-king were apt to stray when alone by
daylight; and all, again save the Witch-king, feared water,
and were unwilling, except in dire need, to enter it or to
cross streams unless dryshod by a bridge.{3}"
[...]
"{3} At the Ford of Bruinen only the Witch-king and two others, with
the lure of the Ring straight before them, had dared to enter the
river; the others were driven into it by Glorfindel and Aragorn.
[Author's note.]"
And at the end of the text Christopher has added:
" My father nowhere explained the Ringwraiths' fear of water.
In the account just cited it is made a chief motive in Sauron's
assault on Osgiliath, and it reappears in detailed notes on the
movements of the Black Riders in the Shire: thus of the Rider
(who was in fact Khamûl of Dol Guldur) seen on the far side of
Bucklebury Ferry just after the Hobbits had crossed (FotR I 5)
it is said that "he was well aware that the Ring had crossed
the river; but the river was a barrier to his sense of its
movement," and that the Nazgûl would not touch the "Elvish"
waters of Baranduin. But it is not made clear how they crossed
other rivers that lay in their path, such as the Greyflood, where
there was only "a dangerous ford formed by the ruins of the
bridge." My father did indeed note that the idea was difficult
to sustain."
Now - the greatest advantage, as I see it, of this idea is that it not
only explains why the Black Riders didn't turn up in Crickhollow long
before they did, but also because it explains their hesitation at the
Ford of Bruinen.
[4] What is this doing here? Emphasis of Frodo missing Bilbo? Emphasis of
his, at this point, primary motivation for leaving the Shire (i.e. to
follow Bilbo)?
[5] This is the first chapter in which we see more of Merry, and he use
the opportunity to assert himself as quite mature of his age, and
certainly more thoughtful (and provident) than Pippin.
[6] I'm awfully sorry, but I've got to mention the rendition of the
Bathing Song by the Tolkien Ensemble ;-) It's on /At Dawn in
Rivendell/ - the latest album by the ensemble.
<www.tolkienensemble.dk>
[7] What did Merry know - when and how? He's definitely a resorceful
Hobbit and I'm quite impressed by the knowledge he discloses here.
[8] In this passage Merry consequently refers the Ring and the Enemy with
capitalized words, which, to me, implies that he knows exactly what
ring and what enemy they are dealing with - The Master-ring and
Sauron. E.g. in I 2 where Frodo tells Gandalf that "last night you
began to tell me strange things about my ring," the word isn't
capitalized then (and neither is in in the descriptive text), but
once Frodo realizes and accepts what he has, it starts getting
referred to as "the Ring" in both dialogue and narrative text.
I suggest that Merry knew exactly what he was speaking of.
[9] If Sam really did "dry up" at that point, how then did Merry know
about the Ring[7]? It has been discussed before, but I think this
point is important - not because I disagree that Sam must have told
the others (apparently he only felt bound to keep silent what he
discovered /after/ he was caught). The important (to me) thing is what
it might tell us about Sam, if we accept that it was really he who
told the others. It appears that his loyalty to (perhaps we shouldn't
be too afraid to call it his love of) Frodo is far stronger than such
bounds as is put on him. He did what he thought was best for
protecting and helping Frodo instead of unquestioningly following
Gandalf's instructions
[10] Is this merely a combination of the Old Forest and the Black Riders
coming back to haunt Frodo in his dream, or is there more behind this
start of the dream?
[11] The Sea - in his dream Frodo longs for the sea. The white tower - one
of the towers at Tower hills? Are there other elements of this dream
that can be linked to the adventures Frodo is expecting (the black
heath, the struggle up the ridge, the light in the sky, the noise of
thunder?) When was this dream added, and has it stayed constant
throughout (a question for those with access to the pertinent HoMe
volume)?
Characterisation:
I've already pointed out some of the, IMO, more important bits of
characterization in this chapter [2][4][5][7][8][9]. The four Hobbits who
later join the Fellowship have, by now, had their basic character
established - including their relationship and their roles. What comes in
the following chapters (all of book I, IMO) is, IMO, expansion upon what
we've learned now.
So how are the four Hobbits and their relations characterized at this
point - what are the emerging personalities of the four, and how will that
affect the quest?
Story development:
We are still in the chapters which were once projected (and initially
written) as a continuation of the Hobbit not only in plot, but also in
style and themes. The Hobbits have not yet left the Shire, but can it be
detected at this point that the story will develop into the full epic tale
we know, and if so, in what details do you see this foreshadowing?
--
Troels Forchhammer
Valid e-mail address is t.forch(a)mail.dk
"He deserves death."
"Deserves it! I daresay he does. Many that live deserve death. And some
that die deserve life. Can you give it to them? Then do not be too eager to
deal out death in judgement. For even the very wise cannot see all ends."
- Tolkien in The Fellowship of the Ring