Wednesday, June 18, 2014

LOTR Read-Along: The Field of Cormallen (ROTK Ch. 14)

What a happy chapter!  Ten pages of pure denouement, and isn't it lovely?

I noticed, in the little poem that all the people cry out about Frodo and Sam when they're brought to the King, that they refer to "The Ring-bearers."  How does everyone already know that they both bore the ring?  Gandalf has his far sight, of course, but back when the Tower fell, he said, "The Ring-bearer has fulfilled his Quest" (p 928).  I suppose Frodo told him all about it while Sam was still asleep.

I really like the moment when Gandalf kneels down and buckles Sam and Frodo's sword-belts around them.  It makes me think of Jesus washing the disciples' feet.

Favorite Lines:

"But after coming all that way I don't want to give up yet.  It's not like me, somehow, if you understand" (p. 929).

"A great Shadow has departed," said Gandalf, and then he laughed, and the sound was like music, or like water in a parched land; and as he listened the thought came to same that he had not heard laughter, the pure sound of merriment, for days upon days without count.  It fell upon his ears like the echo of all the joys he had ever known" (p. 930-31).

Possible Discussion Questions:

Gandalf says, "Twice you have borne me, Gwaihir my friend... Thrice shall pay for all, if you are willing" (p. 928).  Pay for all of what?  Does Gwaihir owe Gandalf for something that I'm totally forgetting from The Hobbit or something?

Interesting word choice:  when the minstrel of Gondor sings the song of Frodo of the Nine Fingers and the Ring of Doom, Tolkien says "their joy was like swords" (p. 933).  What do you think that's supposed to mean?

No comments:

Post a Comment

What do you think?

Comments on old posts are always welcome! Posts older than 7 days are on moderation to dissuade spambots, so if your comment doesn't show up right away, don't worry -- it will once I approve it.

(Rudeness and vulgar language will not be tolerated.)