[The Iguana]

Sir,

Nice idea. Count me in as a frequent visitor to the tavern.

I have always thought that this chapter served as the (necessary) transition from The Hobbit to LOTR. It has some of the feel of The Hobbit and of course traffics in familiar characters and places. It's very "hobbity."

The prose is a little deeper, however, and hints creep in quickly that despite all the fun, that this will be a darker tale.

But I suppose my Gaffer would say that's what comes of mixing in the affairs of your betters.

[2Jedismom]

I agree...The Hobbit comes across as being fun, right off the bat and someone starting into FOTR might think it would continue along the same lines until they read the

"reports and complaints of strange persons and creatures prowling about the borders. . .the first sign that all was not quite as it should be." (Tolkien, Prologue FOTR)

[HairOfTheDog]

I agree, I believe it is assumed in Chapter I that we all read The Hobbit, and know Mr. Bilbo. The first chapter serves to say goodbye to our old friend and introduce Frodo.

Interesting to me, that Frodo and Bilbo do not interact at all in the beginning, and yet we feel that they are close from the writing... interesting that Tolkien did not write a parting sequence or dialogue between them.

[Ronnie Radford]

I think you're right on the money. It is definitely a transitionary chapter. Part of the reason for this is that the Hobbit was written for children, specifically one of Tolkien's young relatives (I can't remember which one). To a degree, the first chapter of LOTR reflects a similar style to the Hobbit because Tolkien was still writing with a child audience in mind, and the beginning of the story is therefore light and "hobbity" as you metioned.

Oh yes, could I also be added to the list? Thanks!

[BibChr]

About my second or third reading, I began noticing how the style gradually changes, as if transitioning from the light, for-children tone of The Hobbit, to the darker, more classic tone adopted for the bulk of LOTR.

The oddest single element signalling that we're close to The Hobbit's style (not in this chapter) is where Tolkien tells us what a fox is thinking! ("Hobbits! At this hour! Well, I'll be dipped!" -- or words to that effect.)

Dan