Posted on 03/15/2002 6:54:33 AM PST by HairOfTheDog
Repost – Highlights from chapters 1-5 copied from the original forum to the new one. To reference the full version, click here: Original Green Dragon Inn Within the first five chapters... disregard the reply numbers... they wont work.
Thank you ecurbh, for copying and editing our old thread so that the highlights could be moved here! Highlights of the first five chapters from the old thread are pasted into the first 5 replies here. For those of you who are just joining you… as of this post we are beginning Chapter 6.
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Welcome to The Green Dragon Inn
Approaching The Green Dragon Inn
Hobbiton, in The Shire
The Road goes ever on and on
Down from the door where it began.
Now far ahead the Road has gone,
And I must follow, if I can,
Pursuing it with eager feet,
Until it joins some larger way
Where many paths and errands meet.
And wither then? I cannot say.
- JRR Tolkien
Politics also goes ever on and on.
This is a place for FReeper Tolkien fans to come and take a break from the impure reality of conservative activism and relax a little with a great story. We (the other co-conspirators and I) would like to study together the writings of Tolkien, beginning together, and discussing as we go through The Lord of the Rings together.
This is a chapter discussion, roughly one chapter per week, with the discussion mostly centered on the books, though of course the movie will be contrasted and compared, and perhaps used to illustrate another interpretation of the story.
Every week, someone from the group (maybe me) will ping The Green Dragon List to the new Chapter, but we will continue this one thread until it becomes too cumbersome…. Let me know if you would like to be on - or off - this list. I will for now serve as the Thain of the list.
If you are joining late, jump right in, but please stick to the chapter currently being discussed.
Some have loved this story a long time, and some are newly discovering it. If you fit either category, we invite you to join in, but we would like this thread to stay mostly focused on the chapter at hand and keep moving, but at a pace everyone can keep up with… No jumping ahead, and no lagging behind! If you have other news to report or wish to discuss something Tolkien in more general terms… May we recommend the equally homey Hobbit Hole where my co-conspirators and I frequently have plenty of good talk.
One other request…. This thread will get long. In recognition that images slow down the thread for many, let’s keep the posting of images to a minimum on this thread. If there is a great illustration you wish to share, let’s try to use links instead of images wherever possible.
So lets read, listen and become inspired by the many aspects of The Lord of the Rings that touch us deeply and reconnect us to the values we aspire to. Many great discussions have already been had, and I hope that this thread will produce even more. Many FReepers have wonderful things to say about LoTR, whether the fantasy reconnects them with their faith, with their relationships with friends and family, or simply illustrates the splendor of great acts of heroism and sacrifice in the constant battle of virtue versus corruption.
Though it is a work of fiction, we believe the inspiration to be gained can only help us in our larger political goals: to appreciate and defend our freedom, our culture and our political ideals. May the fellowship and insight gained from this discussion help us to work through the issues that are the basis for our many shared ideals.
Besides, we Tolkien fans* need something to keep us busy during the next two years of waiting for the next two films. If you do not enjoy this story, then please simply leave us be.
*Also known as Geeky Hobbity Weirdos, obsessive fanatics, you name it, we have heard it and we see these names as compliments. In other words: don’t act like a troll, or we will distract you with our endless babble until the morning sun turns you to stone.
I do too, it is kind of on topic, Legolas was always going on about it.
" Easier to have them watch a video than take them outside, and little ones are no longer allowed to roam the neighborhood any more for fear of creeps.
You're probably right, but I still think it plays into the hands of the left, whom I do regard as conspiratorial, that is I think they are not always honest about their motives.
Sounds like you are good for your friend's daughter, I don't think the mother may have had much independence as a child?
My brothers and I grew up on a farm in a very rural area. Our parents passed on a while ago, but we still have the place and I still spend time in the woods. There's lots of wildlife there, usually the best times to see it are early evening, just before dark, or sunrise, when all the animals wake up and start moving around.
Yes, it suddenly and delightfully seems that an awful lot of us feel this way. It's very nice to find it out. I guess it's pretty clear that Tolkien did also, it's quite wonderful that he could illustrate his love for trees and forests through stories about such beings as elves, as well as various dark creatures.
I think a lot of it is the over-scheduling of kids with classes and activities. I kind of doubt it's a good thing, overall.
I think that quote sums it up perfectly. Elrond may remember the First Age, but he was born near the end of that time; Galadriel goes back to Valinor itself, and walked in the light of the Two Trees.
Something else that makes a difference, I think, is that Rivendell acted as a haven for travellers on the East/West Road, the "Last Homely House" west of the Misty Mountains. Lothlorien is a haven for Elves; other races did not often visit there, and therefore the Elves there weren't as comfortable around other races as the Elves in Rivendell would have been.
I think it reflects Frodo's growth as the Ring-bearer. When he was in Rivendell, he was still too inexperienced to perceive Elrond's ring; by the time he gets to Lothlorien he has grown wiser. Galadriel herself comments on this, after she shows him the Mirror: "Yet even so, as Ring-bearer and as one that has borne it on finger and seen that which is hidden, your sight is grown keener. You have perceived my thought more clearly than many that are accounted wise. You saw the Eye of him that holds the Seven and the Nine. And did you not see and recognize the ring upon my finger?"
Maybe that reflects the Noldorin influence (Lorien) versus the Sindarin influence (Rivendell). The Noldor made the Silmarils and went to war with Morgoth to recover them; the Sindar "missed the boat" for Valinor because they were goofing off too much on the trip to the coast. ;)
Oh, THAT'S what he said! When my daughter and I saw the movie the other day, I noticed that part. Gandalf pushed Aragorn and said something to him which caused a look of hurt, surprise and questioning on Aragorn's face, then Gandalf said "swords are no more use here". Now I understand the hurt look on Aragorn's face. Not just the being pushed by Gandalf, but the shove combined with the sharp admonition to "Do as I say!".
Mmmm..Boromir!
I think this section had some of the worst editing of the entire movie. In the book at this point Gandalf stays behind and attempts to block the balrog from passing through the door (not that he was sure it was a balrog yet). In the movie he tells Aragorn to lead the group ahead, but then he stays right with them all the way to the bridge.
BTW, one part I really missed in themovie was where Gandalf is confronting the balrog on the bridge and Aragorn, followed by Boromir, runs to support him. The image (in the book) of these pitifully weak men charging against such overwhelming power always affected me about as much as Sam's attack on Shelob. It also illustrates why Boromir was gradually accepting Aragorn as his leader.
(Pardon my getting out of sequence with regard to Shelob.)
HOTD your favoritism is showing. The other day someone BRIEFLY mentioned Legolas and you were right there with a picture. SuziQ mentions Boromir and DAYS pass without even a hint of a pic.
Here you go SuziQ:
;^)
-Kevin
THANK YOU! Smooch Smooch!! Nice Kevinses!!
Call me kooky but I liked the book version of Haldir. That spilled over to the movie version, although he was definitely snootier in the movie. If that is really him during that scene at the top of the wall at Helm's Deep I won't be disappointed. I think he would be a good man, er, elf, to have at your side in a battle.
-Kevin
What was that again about Legolas?
Yeah, well I noticed you posted a pic that included Boromir. You old softy you ;^)
-Kevin
I don't think he was particularly cold in the book. He didn't seem to really want to single Gimli out for blindfolding. He appealed that it was their law, so he was bound to blindfold Gimli.
-Kevin
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