Posted on 03/14/2002 5:07:26 AM PST by HairOfTheDog
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.
I'm going to bed. Here is a nightlite:
The Colonial Capitol at Williamsburg during the Christmas "Grand Illumination"
Thanks for the ping, HOTD!
I was sick most of the weeend but I wanted to answer and try to catch up with this thread. But to catch up with 33,742 posts!?
PHEW! I go a lot of reading to do!
God bless you both and I hope to be posting here again and meeting everyone else here.
I see I wasn't the only one inspired by RM's wonderful breakfasts. ;-) After all our talking, I had my brothers and my little sister over for breakfast on Saturday and made a big bunch of bacon and flapjacks - with real maple syrup, of course, this being Vermont and all!
Oh, and I hit the jackpot later on Saturday - we went to a little town in NH just to wander around, and the library was having a book sale. As it was later in the afternoon, they had dropped everything to a dollar a bag! The only table that looked like it had even been picked over was the romance table (which doesn't affect me!), so I was able to get a BIG bag of great stuff...mostly classics I will re-read over and over (Dickens, Hardy, Eliot, etc.), plus some mysteries, science fiction and a few kid's books, too. My bag was pretty stuffed...I offered to pay more when I went to pay because I had such a lot, but they wouldn't take it.
Now I just need to get some bookshelves...good thing none of you live close enough to drop in unexpectedly. ;-) My house is a disaster zone...
Mine, either. Meanwhile various friends were talking about what they were going to do on the "long weekend", and I wanted to slap them silly...life isn't fair! I have TONS to do at home, and instead I'm doing almost nothing at work...
And yeah, my dreams are often weird like this...a few weeks ago I had a dream I was on a mission to carry a special little card with important information on it to certain people...I was running through the Metro (subway) in Paris with various people chasing after me and occasionally shooting at me, plus I had Fiona with me which complicated things a great deal. I kept taking trains and THINKING I'd escaped from them, but then someone would come up and ask me for the time and then pull a gun, or something like that. I have an overactive imagination, I guess.
I've set up the breakfast buffet again. And don't worry Corin, there's PLENTY of bacon this time! :)
Flapjacks, scrambled eggs with ham and cheese, sausage patties and bacon slices for everyone! There's fresh bread in the basket there and creamy butter for the fearless calorie consumers - *grin*.
Fresh squeezed orange juice and ice cold milk are on the side table, along with hot strong coffee and teas. I've put the condiments on this same table because there was no room on the buffet table what with all of the food that's there already.
ENJOY! (and now I'm off to try and catch up - wish me luck).
Rosie, I think you should write your story.
Sorry, I'm one of the ones that has today off. Actually with taking Jr. to the doctor on Friday (and it taking all morning), I'm having a four-day weekend.
So I'm heading outside now to work on painting and replacing storm windows. I promised myself I'd be done by the end of September...
My name is: Donnamira Headstrong from Archet.
What a mouthful! LOL!
Based on your answers, you are most like Frodo.
You were also very much like Samwise and Merry.
At least I know that I am full-blooded Hobbit!!!
At least I know I'm not an Elf!
If I pick just a few fiestier answers I come up as Gimli with Gandalf and Frodo backup. And yes, I would correct Elrond on that split infinitive at the Council of Elrond!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.