Lord of the Rings Discussion Group (The Green Dragon Inn) II

[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.

[HairOfTheDog]

Happy you could make it... hope you get your books back so you can join in soon!

[HairOfTheDog]

Goldbery is the River-daughter... no riverman involved. Not that the distinction helps understand what she is ;~D

[MozartLover]

Well, as Frodo was running down the path and shouting for help, he became aware of Tom's presence far behind him, not in front of him where it would have been easier to hear. Also, Frodo could barely hear himself because of the effects of the willow-wind. Tom was clearly returning from somewhere as he states in his song ("Old Tom Bobadil water-liles bringing Comes hopping home again. Can you hear him singing")? So it would appear, at least, that he happened upon the scene........

[HairOfTheDog]

Welcome! We do a chapter every week... The thread will buzz for awhile and then die out when we run out of constructive things to say on each chapter. That is normal and we will find it and revive it the next week!

[allthatisgolddoesnotglitter]

well of course they aren't normal! I was merely pointing out that they are more than normal trees and most likely Ents or Huorons (how do spell that again?).

[HairOfTheDog]

Huorns... That one is a troublesome word isn't it? ;~D

[JenB]

Tom was fetching water-lilies for Goldberry, remember? The last of the season, to flower about her feet until spring. In fact he said he would not be going down that path again until spring, so it was both coincidence and not - they said they were watching for Frodo and company. (Um, I'm not sure if some of this is spoilers for the next chapter but you wanted to know!)

[sweetliberty]

"So it would appear, at least, that he happened upon the scene........"

Still, there seems an air of divine providence about it.

[Overtaxed]

Consider perhaps that they did not exactly "choose" to do so. I think it was more like what could be compared to a heaviness that one might experience with certain kinds of drugs.

I had thought at first that maybe they were drawn to Old Man Willow. The fact that Sam wasn't drawn that way made me think that Willow was doing only the sleeping part. After reading your comment, however, I went back and re-read the passage. The only hint I got about drawing the hobbits to him was this:

Frodo lay for a while fighting with the sleep that was overpowering him; then with an effort he struggled to his feet again. He felt a compelling desire for cool water.

Did he [Bombadil] just "happen" along at that time or did he hear their call for help? Or did he perhaps learn of their presence from the trees themselves?

For what it's worth, I think it's just one of those master of his territory things. Tom just knows what's going on in his yard!

[HairOfTheDog]

For what it's worth, I think it's just one of those master of his territory things. Tom just knows what's going on in his yard!

Very true... Tom, it seems, can know of things that are happening far away, and can come quickly to help when called! And help was needed... either Old Man Willow, or the river, or the whole forest were conspiring to lull them to sleep.

Sam sat down and scratched his head, and yawned like a cavern. He was worried. The afternoon was getting late, and he thought this sudden sleepiness uncanny. ‘There’s more behind this than sun and warm air,’ he muttered to himself. ‘I don’t like this great big tree. I don’t trust it. Hark at it singing about sleep now! This won’t do at all!’

[MozartLover]

"... either Old Man Willow, or the river, or the whole forest were conspiring to lull them to sleep. "

To be honest with you I found this part positively delicious. Imagine being hot, tired & drowsy; you plop down against a tree, which then seems to cradle you as it sings sweet lullabies about sleep.............sigh.............sounds good to me........

[carton253]

Thanks for all that past history. It adds to Bombadil, but I still don't care for him.

[The Drowning Witch]

Finally you folks have got to Tom Bombadil!
Love this thread, BTW...Almost like reading the book all over again...

Witch.

[Overtaxed]

So...what's your "Who is Tom Bombadil" theory? Like him? Hate him? Wish he'd shut up with the silly songs? :)

[The Drowning Witch]

He's one of my favorite characters in the book. He's like a pan-dimensional being who just "is"....None of the currents of Middle Earth concern him;
He is the proverbial "uncarved block", "the stone in the stream o'er which the water flows".

[DonnerT]

I think Bombadil is a dirty old man.

He is a totally self absorbed relic of an ancient age. Goldberry, his River-daugher, is an old man's fantasy brought to substance and animation. He has everything the way he wants it and only takes interest in the Hobbits as an amusing curiousity. The Old Forest herded the company to Old Man Willow at his direction so that he could conveniently meet the one who would bring an end to his age.

[HairOfTheDog]

Preposterous! Blasphame!

[Overtaxed]

Have I started a Bombadil war?

[HairOfTheDog]

I don't know, but it looks like there may be a need for a lot of wings in Took's corner if this sort of behavior continues!

[Overtaxed]

I don't know. They might resort to bone-tossing after a while.