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The New Hobbit Hole

Posted on 03/14/2002 5:07:26 AM PST by HairOfTheDog

Welcome to The New Hobbit Hole

Concerning Hobbits

The New Hobbit Chronicles

This is a continuation of the infamous thread New Zealander Builds Hobbit Hole originally posted on January 26, 2001 by John Farson, who at the time undoubtedly thought he had found a rather obscure article that would elicit a few replies and die out. Without knowing it, he became the founder of the Hobbit Hole. For reasons incomprehensible to some, the thread grew to over 4100 replies. It became the place for hobbits and friends of hobbits to chit chat and share LoTR news and views, hang out, and talk amongst ourselves in the comfort of familiar surroundings.

In keeping with the new posting guidelines, the thread idea is continuing here, as will the Green Dragon Inn, our more structured spin-off thread, as soon as we figure out how to move all the good discussion that has been had there. As for the Hobbit Hole, we will just start fresh, bringing only a few mathoms such as the picture above with us to make it feel like home, and perhaps a walk down memory lane:

Our discussion has been light:

It very well may be that a thread named "New Zealander builds Hobbit hole" will end up being the longest Tolkien thread of them all, with some of the best heartfelt content... Sorry John, but I would have rather it had been one with a more distinguished title!… post 252 - HairOfTheDog

However, I can still celebrate, with quiet dignity, the fact that what started as a laugh about some wacko in New Zealand has mutated and grown into a multifaceted discussion of the art, literature, and philosophy that is Tolkien. And now that I've managed to write the most pompous sentence of my entire life, I agree, Rosie… post 506 - JenB

Hah! I was number 1000!! (Elvish victory dance... wait, no; that would be too flitty) … post 1001 - BibChr

Real men don't have to be afraid of being flitty! Go for it. – post 1011 – HairOfTheDog

Seventeen years to research one mystical object seems a bit excessive… post 1007 - JenB

Okay...who's the wise guy who didn't renew Gandalf's research grant?… post 1024 – Overtaxed

To the very philosophical:

…Judas Iscariot obviously was a good man, or he wouldn't have been chosen to be one of the Apostles. He loved Jesus, like all of the Apostles, but he betrayed him. Yet without his betrayal, the Passion and Crucifixion would never have occurred, and mankind would not have been redeemed. So without his self-destruction infinite good would not have been accomplished. I certainly do not mean this to be irreverant but it seems to me that this describes the character of Gollum, in the scenes so movingly portrayed above… Lucius Cornelius Sulla

To fun but heartfelt debates about the integrity and worth of some of the characters…

…Anyone else notice how Boromir treats the hobbits? He's very fond of them but he seems to think of them as children - ruffling Frodo's hair, calls them all 'little ones'. He likes them, but I don't think he really respects them… post 1536 - JenB

Yes... Tolkien told us not to trust Boromir right off the bat when he began to laugh at Bilbo, until he realized that the Council obviously held this hobbit in high esteem. What a pompous dolt… post 1538 - HairOfTheDog

…I think almost every fault of his can be traced directly back to his blindness to anything spiritual or unseen. He considers the halflings as children, because that is what they look like. He considers the only hope of the ring to be in taking it and using it for a victory in the physical realm. He cannot see what the hobbits are truly made of, he cannot see the unseen hope of what the destruction of the ring might mean--the destruction of Sauron himself, and he cannot see the unseen danger that lies in the use of the ring itself… I just feel sorry for Boromir--he is like a blind but honorable man, trying to take the right path on the road but missing the right path entirely because he simply cannot see it… post 1548 - Penny1

Boromir isn't a jerk, he's a jock… post 2401 – Overtaxed

-----------------------------------------

Oh, I think by the time Frodo reaches the Cracks, he's not even himself anymore! I think he's not only on the brink of a dangerous place physically, he's on the brink of losing himself completely during the exchange with Gollum. But for some reason, the take-over isn't complete till he actually has to throw the Ring in. The person speaking to Gollum is not Frodo, but the "Wheel of Fire" that Sam sees. After the Ring is destroyed, Frodo not only comes back to himself, but comes back with the unbearable (to him) knowledge of what it's like to be completely without compassion. I think that's why it's so important to him to be compassionate in the Shire… post 2506 - 2Jedismom

…Regarding Frodo's compassion... it's a little too much at the end. Even Merry tells him that he's going to have to quit being so darn nice. But you're right. He's learned a lesson about evil that very few ever learn since it wasn't an external lesson but an internal one. (Those kinds of lessons have the greatest impact) Not only did he totally succumb to it, but he was rather ruthless to my little Smeagol… post 2516 - carton253

Well that Frodo was a big mean bully! (to Smeagol)… post 2519 – Overtaxed

So as you can see, everything JRR Tolkien (and Peter Jackson) is welcome here in our New Row, our soon-to-be familiar New Hobbit Hole…; philosophy, opinion, good talk and frequent silliness.


TOPICS: Books/Literature; Chit/Chat; Poetry; TV/Movies; The Hobbit Hole
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To: Overtaxed
I am sure we will rediscover the joy of your character soon enough in the new thread. We don't live edited lives, where we can cut out the chaff, very often. What is there is good. A representative sample of replies per chapter for history's sake so we can get started. I think I am ready. Anyone but us around?
201 posted on 03/15/2002 6:33:38 AM PST by HairOfTheDog
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To: HairOfTheDog
Sure! Let's open. Only it's too early in the day for pints.
202 posted on 03/15/2002 6:36:44 AM PST by Overtaxed
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To: Overtaxed
OK! - Wish me luck - On top of the complexity of the original task, my internet (or this site) is acting possessed.
203 posted on 03/15/2002 6:48:31 AM PST by HairOfTheDog
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To: HairOfTheDog
Luck!
204 posted on 03/15/2002 6:49:15 AM PST by Overtaxed
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To: Overtaxed
OK - The Green Dragon is OPEN - One screw up - Chapter 3 is in there twice... hehehe. So if it begins to sound repetitive, that is why!
205 posted on 03/15/2002 7:08:31 AM PST by HairOfTheDog
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To: ksen
Aahh...y'all are making me want to put my feet up and settle in for a few hours days.
206 posted on 03/15/2002 9:17:05 AM PST by sweetliberty
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To: HairOfTheDog; Overtaxed
I want to finish the thought I started over in the Dragon about Frodo's quest being spiritual. Specifically, I think his two worst wounds tie in with this. There's the Morgul-blade wound, given to him by a creature that's at least half in the spirit world, with an 'unholy' weapon - it's far more than a physical wounding. And Shelob... that creature is basically a living manifestation of evil. She is descended from a Maia-level spirit, which also puts her beyond the merely physical

Incidentally Frodo seems to recognize this and he fights with spiritual weapons: calling on Elbereth. I see this as a sign that he realizes that his struggle is beyond mere physical hardships.

207 posted on 03/15/2002 10:13:07 AM PST by JenB
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To: JenB
Nicely put. I have never given Shelob a lot of spiritual thought. Will be interesting to hear you when we get to that. I had previously put her on the same level as The Watcher in the Water. a big ole beastie of old, without any spiritual meaning. But Frodo definately relies on the power of grace when threatened by these demons. Whether they fear the word Elbereth or not, it gives him strength.

I am having a quick lunch then off I go!

208 posted on 03/15/2002 10:35:36 AM PST by HairOfTheDog
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To: JenB

Shelob... that creature is basically a living manifestation of evil.

I just couldn't resist!

209 posted on 03/15/2002 10:46:32 AM PST by Overtaxed
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To: Overtaxed
All right, so I was rather asking for that one! Silly - we're not supposed to frighten the lurkers!
210 posted on 03/15/2002 10:52:13 AM PST by JenB
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To: JenB
Do you suppose grannie9 is gone forever?
211 posted on 03/15/2002 10:53:01 AM PST by Overtaxed
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To: Overtaxed
Shelob prolly got her... oh well, if we apologize to the pirates they might not invade. But if they do, we can feed them to the spider.
212 posted on 03/15/2002 10:55:21 AM PST by JenB
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To: Overtaxed;JenB
I am off to the movies! - You Tooks will have to keep yourselves out of trouble, and make sure you have enough wings and pints to sustain you when you do get in trouble ;~D
213 posted on 03/15/2002 10:57:31 AM PST by HairOfTheDog
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To: HairOfTheDog
Trouble? Us?
214 posted on 03/15/2002 12:05:44 PM PST by Overtaxed
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To: Overtaxed
A newbie question: has there been much discussion on this thread regarding the LOTR soundtrack?
215 posted on 03/15/2002 1:56:50 PM PST by MozartLover
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To: MozartLover
Yes, there was quite a bit of discussion of the soundtrack back at the old hole New Zealander Builds Hobbit Hole but nothing much recently. If you wish to discuss it here please do! Hobbits like discussing things they already know about and I hope we have some new lurkers and posters who would like to weigh in also.
216 posted on 03/15/2002 3:27:27 PM PST by Overtaxed
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To: MozartLover
Hmmmm......everyone must be off somewhere enjoying yellow cream, honeycomb, and white bread and butter..........
217 posted on 03/15/2002 3:30:16 PM PST by MozartLover
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To: Overtaxed
Okay, I'm going to go & try to find the previous discussion............

FWTW, I think the music is fabulous. I'm listening to it right now.:)

218 posted on 03/15/2002 3:32:25 PM PST by MozartLover
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To: Overtaxed
Overtaxed, the Yahoo site isn't down yet... want to come talk to me about how the Elves are responsible for half of Middle-Earth's problems?
219 posted on 03/15/2002 3:42:03 PM PST by JenB
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To: HairOfTheDog
Re: #138: BE STILL, MY HEART! (Wait till I catch my breath, here!) ZOW-EEE! I think I just OD'd!
220 posted on 03/15/2002 5:31:11 PM PST by Monkey Face
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