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

[HairOfTheDog]

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.

When we are ready to move on, 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 and take up bandwidth, 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 guard 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.

[Monkey Face]

Also, when possession came to Frodo, and he cast it into the fire, Gandalf retreived it with a poker and swept it into Frodo's hand, without touching it himself.

[Romestamo]

The famous first sentence of the Hobbit, "In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit," was written before Tolkien had any idea what a hobbit was. The Hobbit's first presentation was as bedtime stories for his son.

[sphinx]

Re: Aragorn's age. I don't have my copy handy to check, but (having reread recently) I seem to recall that either Celeborn or Galadriel mentions, when the followship reaches Lothlorien after Moria, that it has been "three and eighty" years since Aragorn first came to Lothlorien. One more clue to throw into the puzzle.

[Monkey Face]

Thanks! Now if I can just remember what you said...

I have CFIDS, and once I close the book my short-term memory disappears...however, I still remember things about Tolkein that I read in the '70's.

[ecurbh]

According to the appendix, Aragorn was born on March 1, 2931. Bilbo's party takes place in September 3001, making Aragorn 70. 17 years later would make him 87 at the time of the War of the Ring.

[Romestamo]

A bit of lysdexia there. "Eight and thirty."

[sphinx]

I stand corrected.:)

[Monkey Face]

Well, I may end up with a reading record for myself -- with The Green Dragon Inn now open for business, I may have to read the books for the third time in six months...

That will make it 31, in all. I will forever be an inhabitant of Middle Earth.

[otterpond]

Hi!

I'm pretty busy at work most of the time, but would appreciate being on the ping list. Maybe I can catch up and add a thought or two at odd hours after work and weekends....

[ThomasMore]

Clearly, Tolkien felt that good people needed little government.

Excellant post. Yes! Tolkien was a top of the line sort of chap. He held to principle known as virtues. You don't need hardly any government when people are like that.

[HairOfTheDog]

Welcome... Have a pint! - Come and go at your leisure... If we switch chapters on Fridays according to our initial plan, we ought to be right on your schedule to participate on the weekend! I will ping everyone to new chapters when we move on as well, so you will know if you are keeping up or missing out!

[HairOfTheDog]

And people probably would always strive for virtue of their own accord, if virtue were valued and any sign of "outlandish" behavior roused suspicion and scorn, as it does in Hobbiton.

Somewhere in our own history we lost this idea, and our Shirrifs now must spend all of their time rounding up those who can't handle freedom responsibly, and have no time for rounding up wayward beasts.

[Overtaxed]

I love the carmudgeon-nature of the hobbits...

Me Too! I'm an aspiring curmudgeon myself.

[Restorer]

Ping me!

[Overtaxed]

The Shirrifs would never have let us bring them in.

What with burying ropes in the ground and stringing them up on dead trees they've set up...it ain't natural!

[Ramius]

But it's a GOOD addiction! Why don't you join us?

Hey hey now... I drank the koolaid on matters Tolkein many many years ago. Read it six times. Got a little sailboat named "The Hobbit".

[HairOfTheDog]

So with that background, one would think he would have given me a little support eh? I wonder if Ramius harkens to the Sackville side of the family sometimes.

[Monkey Face]

Re: #137: Heh-heh-heh!

[HairOfTheDog]

burying ropes in the ground.... Definately... Trouble will come of it!

Since it has gotten quiet and we have a long weekend coming up, I am thinking of starting the next chapter early.... (I know, very hasty) Some are quite ready to move on... I am getting FReepmail about pushing up the schedule... But I can't tonight! - I am going to the film!

[Monkey Face]

Would that I were you!