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Post by Sparrow on Jul 12, 2004 6:27:20 GMT -6
The elves tease Bilbo as being too fat to get through key-holes, and Gandalf warns them to hush. If "evil things did not come into that valley," why the need for the warning? What, if anything, do the elves already know about the dwarves' quest? What do the elves know about Bilbo, and how do they know him?
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Post by Desi Baggins on Jul 13, 2004 16:30:41 GMT -6
When Gandalf reunites with the dwarves and BIlbo he tells them he went looking ahead and ran into someone elf friends. I assume he told them about Bilbo and the dwarves quest.
I have often wondered why Gandalf was afriad of evil things hearing the elves singing, so what I figure is that they were not in Rivendell yet so evil things could be lurking near by.
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Post by Androga Erindalant on Jul 23, 2004 4:52:23 GMT -6
I'm quite certain Gandalf told what he knew about Thorin and especially his father Thrain to the Elves. From other works we learn Gandalf is seated in a council together with Elrond and some other Elves and Wizards. I'm hesitent to speak more of this matter, since it would contain spoilers of later events in the Hobbit. I hope I may do so later. When he goes ahead, he most likely will have told more about Thrain's son and his actions.
As far of evil things I'm not sure why Gandalf is afraid. Most likely indeed because they are not yet within the protecting borders.
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Post by Stormrider on Jul 23, 2004 5:47:57 GMT -6
Gandalf knows there is very strong evil in Middle-earth and he has seen Melkor, Balrogs, Ungoliant, and dragons in action in earlier ages when he was a Maiar in Valinor. I would say that he was wise to be afraid because that made him more cautious.
I am sure that Gandalf knew Goblins (Orcs) hid in the mountains and lived throughout Middle-earth still as the servants of Sauron. He knew that Sauron (known as the Necromancer) was in Southern Mirkwood. Gandalf had found Thorin's father Thrain held prisoner in the dungeons of the Necromancer.
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Post by Stormrider on Jul 26, 2012 7:03:31 GMT -6
There were many evil creatures in Middle Earth from the previous rampage of Melkor/Morgoth. They were not all killed off and were continuing to multiply over the years and spread out into many other areas of Middle Earth.
The Elves were a huge part of the older Ages and most likely knew this, too. Gandalf may not have had to tell them much at all. The Elves lived it and so did Dwarves and Men! and there is much to fear and Gandalf was wise to warn them.
Not only that, Sauron had already been defeated in the last battle with Men and Elves--where he lost his Ring. Gandalf knew he was still looking for it and the Ringwraiths were still active. However, The Hobbit was written before all of these ties were made and later revised The Hobbit to fit the later LOTR tale.
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Post by Andorinha on Jul 28, 2012 10:48:41 GMT -6
Gandalf must have "blabbed" quite a bit to his Elf friends, and they, in turn, must have blabbed a lot to the rest of the Elves as the merry-making Elves who met the Dwarves and Hobbit seem quite well informed. They certainly knew Bilbo's role in the company (burglar), and they knew enough about Hobbits in general to consider it rather strange and absurd that one of his kind should be out and about in the wide world, pony-backing it with Dwarves:
" 'Well, well,' said a voice. 'Just look! Bilbo the hobbit on a pony, my dear! Isn't it delicious!' " (The Hobbit, A Short Rest, p.47)
Gandalf, who must have been the source for the Elves knowledge, may have "shushed" them, not really fearing that the valley might have "malicious ears," but out of embarrassment that their knowledge was evidence of his "gabbiness?"
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Post by Stormrider on Jul 28, 2012 13:40:26 GMT -6
Hmmm . . . I find it hard to believe that Gandalf would be blabby and gossipy. I always felt he only told those who needed to know anything only when they needed to know it. He always struck me as one who knows much and is careful with what he shares.
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