Post by MajahTR on Jan 17, 2009 0:50:11 GMT -6
Stormrider would like us to track the development of Pippin and Merry. I see their characters really developing in TTT so, I thought we could combine the two for FotR and then separate them in TTT. We will do this as a group effort though I hope Stormrider pays extra attention to it.
DA
Book I, Chapters I and II
The Early Years
-Merry and Pippin were a couple of Frodo’s closest friends, even though they were 14 (Merry) and 22 (Pippin) years younger than Frodo.
-After Frodo inherited the Ring, he did not age so he seemed like he was closer to Pippin and Merry’s ages.
-They were more or less related but how did they actually become friends?
- Frodo trusted both Merry and Pippin.
After Bilbo’s Birthday Party and surprise departure
Merry stayed with Frodo to help him keep a watch on his place when the other Shire Hobbits stopped by to pick up their gifts from Bilbo. He helped by making sure items that were not on the list as gifts would not be lifted and pocketed by sly Hobbit relations and friends. He managed to keep the Sackville-Baggins waiting in the foyer a long time before allowing them to see Frodo and pick up their spoons.
During the years between Bilbo’s Party and Frodo’s departure from Hobbiton
Pippin and Merry frequently accompanied Frodo on many of his journeys about the Shire. They were so close to Frodo that they were very aware of his restlessness. They kept watch on him and noticed that he took many solitary walks in the starlight and suspected that he visited with Elves. They became anxious when they realized that he was beginning to wander further and further away from his usual hiking places. They noticed that he was constantly looking at maps.
When Frodo decided to sell Bag End and move to Buckland, Pippin and Merry were not surprised. Merry went ahead of the other to ready the new home.
On The Road to Buckland
After setting out toward Buckland, Sam wants to shoulder some of Frodo’s pack and Pippin insists that exercise and carrying the same load as the others would be good for Frodo’s waistline! Pippin is not one to allow Frodo to take advantage of their friendship and feels that he can speak up in protest without offending Frodo. Even though it was Pippin’s idea to share equal loads, it is Pippin who tires out the easiest--he lags behind first and wants to stop and rest. He also falls into a restful sleep first when Sam, Pippin, and Frodo meet up with Gildor and the High Elves.
Therefore, this far into the book, we find Merry and Pippin long-time friends of Frodo, who are trustworthy and true, they are very aware of Frodo’s restlessness and watchful of him. They are comfortable enough to be at ease with him and not allow him an upper hand.
Book I, Chapter IV
I had forgotten in the book that it was Frodo who was the one who stole the mushrooms and vegetables from Old Farmer Maggot. The movie made Pippin and Merry the culprits and in the book they were very well acquainted with Farmer Maggot and had been friends of his for years.
Book I, Chapter V
"Deceitful Scoundrels" is the way Frodo describes them after Merry confesses to seeing Bilbo use The Ring to hide from the Sackville-Baggins. He saw a flash of gold go into Bilbo’s pocket and decided to find out Bilbo’s secrets. Merry actually confessed to spying on Bilbo and even managed to get a look at Bilbo’s secret book. Merry was smart enough not to spill the beans on Bilbo’s secret until the last Spring when they decided to form their conspiracy and they made Sam the "Collector of Information."
So now, Pippin and especially Merry are discovered to be very excellent spies and undercover detectives and they can keep secrets! Despite the fear they have encountered with the Black Riders and the new knowledge that Frodo and any who accompany him could be in grave danger they will not allow Frodo to go it alone.
Book I, Chapter VI - The Old Forest
Merry steps forward and takes the lead here. He has lived near the Old Forest most of his life and is the most familiar with it and the legends and tales about it. Merry explains a few things about the Forest's queerness:
• Everything in the forest is aware of what is going on around it
• The trees do not like stangers and keep watch on them
• Mostly the trees may drop a branch on you or trip you during the daylight
• At night the trees whisper to each other and plot against outsiders
• The trees actually move and can surround intruders
• Long ago the trees did attack the Hedge which caused the hobbits to cut down and burn hundreds of the trees. The trees gave up but remained unfriendly ever since. Why did the trees attack the Hedge? I don't believe Merry explained that. Did they feel that civilization was closing in on their forest and they wanted to stop the hobbits from moving into (or near) their forest?
• Another queer thing about the Old Forest is the way the paths change directions.
Besides all of these things about the Old Forest, Merry seems the only one in good spirits and undisturbed by it. The path keeps shifting on them and they keep feeling uncomfortable due to the dislike they feel from the trees. Merry is the only one who does not feel as if he is becoming depressed and anxious. I think this is from living in close proximity with the forest for all his life. He just became immune to its strangeness.
What is it that makes the paths shift? Could the trees be moving and causing trespassers to go in the direction the trees want them to go? Are these trees Ents or some strange offshoot of the Ents? The paths keep shifting and moving the Hobbits toward the Withywindle which, Merry explains, is the center from which the queerness comes.
Although Merry seemed to be leading them in a good direction and out of the Old Forest, they finally lose their direction and end up at the Withywindle anyway. Of course, they all get sleepy and fall asleep at Old Man Willow who swallows Pippin and Merry! When Frodo and Sam light a fire to make the Willow release the Hobbits, it squeezes them more. Thank goodness for Tom Bombadil who saves them.
DA
Book I, Chapters I and II
The Early Years
-Merry and Pippin were a couple of Frodo’s closest friends, even though they were 14 (Merry) and 22 (Pippin) years younger than Frodo.
-After Frodo inherited the Ring, he did not age so he seemed like he was closer to Pippin and Merry’s ages.
-They were more or less related but how did they actually become friends?
- Frodo trusted both Merry and Pippin.
After Bilbo’s Birthday Party and surprise departure
Merry stayed with Frodo to help him keep a watch on his place when the other Shire Hobbits stopped by to pick up their gifts from Bilbo. He helped by making sure items that were not on the list as gifts would not be lifted and pocketed by sly Hobbit relations and friends. He managed to keep the Sackville-Baggins waiting in the foyer a long time before allowing them to see Frodo and pick up their spoons.
During the years between Bilbo’s Party and Frodo’s departure from Hobbiton
Pippin and Merry frequently accompanied Frodo on many of his journeys about the Shire. They were so close to Frodo that they were very aware of his restlessness. They kept watch on him and noticed that he took many solitary walks in the starlight and suspected that he visited with Elves. They became anxious when they realized that he was beginning to wander further and further away from his usual hiking places. They noticed that he was constantly looking at maps.
When Frodo decided to sell Bag End and move to Buckland, Pippin and Merry were not surprised. Merry went ahead of the other to ready the new home.
On The Road to Buckland
After setting out toward Buckland, Sam wants to shoulder some of Frodo’s pack and Pippin insists that exercise and carrying the same load as the others would be good for Frodo’s waistline! Pippin is not one to allow Frodo to take advantage of their friendship and feels that he can speak up in protest without offending Frodo. Even though it was Pippin’s idea to share equal loads, it is Pippin who tires out the easiest--he lags behind first and wants to stop and rest. He also falls into a restful sleep first when Sam, Pippin, and Frodo meet up with Gildor and the High Elves.
Therefore, this far into the book, we find Merry and Pippin long-time friends of Frodo, who are trustworthy and true, they are very aware of Frodo’s restlessness and watchful of him. They are comfortable enough to be at ease with him and not allow him an upper hand.
Book I, Chapter IV
I had forgotten in the book that it was Frodo who was the one who stole the mushrooms and vegetables from Old Farmer Maggot. The movie made Pippin and Merry the culprits and in the book they were very well acquainted with Farmer Maggot and had been friends of his for years.
Book I, Chapter V
"Deceitful Scoundrels" is the way Frodo describes them after Merry confesses to seeing Bilbo use The Ring to hide from the Sackville-Baggins. He saw a flash of gold go into Bilbo’s pocket and decided to find out Bilbo’s secrets. Merry actually confessed to spying on Bilbo and even managed to get a look at Bilbo’s secret book. Merry was smart enough not to spill the beans on Bilbo’s secret until the last Spring when they decided to form their conspiracy and they made Sam the "Collector of Information."
So now, Pippin and especially Merry are discovered to be very excellent spies and undercover detectives and they can keep secrets! Despite the fear they have encountered with the Black Riders and the new knowledge that Frodo and any who accompany him could be in grave danger they will not allow Frodo to go it alone.
Book I, Chapter VI - The Old Forest
Merry steps forward and takes the lead here. He has lived near the Old Forest most of his life and is the most familiar with it and the legends and tales about it. Merry explains a few things about the Forest's queerness:
• Everything in the forest is aware of what is going on around it
• The trees do not like stangers and keep watch on them
• Mostly the trees may drop a branch on you or trip you during the daylight
• At night the trees whisper to each other and plot against outsiders
• The trees actually move and can surround intruders
• Long ago the trees did attack the Hedge which caused the hobbits to cut down and burn hundreds of the trees. The trees gave up but remained unfriendly ever since. Why did the trees attack the Hedge? I don't believe Merry explained that. Did they feel that civilization was closing in on their forest and they wanted to stop the hobbits from moving into (or near) their forest?
• Another queer thing about the Old Forest is the way the paths change directions.
Besides all of these things about the Old Forest, Merry seems the only one in good spirits and undisturbed by it. The path keeps shifting on them and they keep feeling uncomfortable due to the dislike they feel from the trees. Merry is the only one who does not feel as if he is becoming depressed and anxious. I think this is from living in close proximity with the forest for all his life. He just became immune to its strangeness.
What is it that makes the paths shift? Could the trees be moving and causing trespassers to go in the direction the trees want them to go? Are these trees Ents or some strange offshoot of the Ents? The paths keep shifting and moving the Hobbits toward the Withywindle which, Merry explains, is the center from which the queerness comes.
Although Merry seemed to be leading them in a good direction and out of the Old Forest, they finally lose their direction and end up at the Withywindle anyway. Of course, they all get sleepy and fall asleep at Old Man Willow who swallows Pippin and Merry! When Frodo and Sam light a fire to make the Willow release the Hobbits, it squeezes them more. Thank goodness for Tom Bombadil who saves them.