Tolkien's use of language as boiled down history.
Example: "Rule of Thumb" - a medieval custom that restricted a man from using any rod thicker than his thumb for which to beat his wife.
"Good-bye" ->God be with you.
"God Bless you" -> because the English believed that when you sneezed the Devil was trying to tug your soul out of your mouth.
The individual character used language and conversed differently: Hobbits vs. orcs vs. Gondor vs. Elves
Book 4:
Only a few central characters
Frodo
/ \
/ \
Sam -------- Gollum
Q: what causes Frodo to actually pity Gollum?
Because Frodo has carried the ring and now knows
the burden of possession. That Gandalf was right;
Gollum still has a part to play -> Frodo
recognizes that their actions are part of the Music;
ordained -> foresight.
Frodo's growth as a character is shown in his first commanding of Smeago - he perceives Gollum's desire and understands the nature of the relationship of Gollum and the Ring.
Tolkien develops Gollum as a Pitiable character to the sensitive reader - because this feeling is very important later - when Frodo fails at Sammath Naur.
Sam and Gollum both refer to Frodo as "Master".
Sam ->loyal servant out of love
Gollum -> servant out of fear (slave)
slave to Ring and Holder
Frodo's quest is a group effort, not a single hero quest. It takes a complex interplay to accomplish the goal. This is just a reflection of how "real" events unfold.
Frodo is aware of the fact that the quest is near hopeless and a bleak necessity -> that is real heroism according to Tolkien: it is a sacrificial quest.
Tolkien's view of the abhorrence of war but its grim necessity is voiced thru Faramir.
Professor thinks Faramir's custom before meat is a prayer to the Valar.
virture = virtus (manly, true hearted)
Faramir is in Green in a Green land -> Spring/Renewal motif. Frodo at Crossroads - imagery of king - "They cannot conquer forever".
If you don't have to study it - its Fiction.
If you do have to study it - its Literature.
The plot is all thriller after Faramir. [what about the near turning of Gollum on the Stair- Love almost redeems Gollum- most powerful motive in ME for redemption]
Most tragic thing Sam did was scold Gollum at this crucial point ->Sam's good intention (concern over Frodo's safety) produced a bad result; Gollum's chance is gone.
Whenever Frodo is in a tight spot he gets injured:
After Cirith Ungol Sam is the active hero; Frodo is simply a pair of legs for the Ring. Sam is turning into the fairy tale hero while Frodo is turning into the tragic/mythic hero.
cobweb = spiderweb -> cob in Hobbit for spider
This page is maintained by:
Scott Powers
NCSA X Mosaic Lead