Post by Stormrider on Jan 19, 2009 12:27:32 GMT -6
From: Annie2 (Original Message) Sent: 5/18/2003 9:20 PM
Wk9, Bk6, Ch2, DISCUSSION: The Land of Mordor, Land of Shadow and Death
"Upon its outer marges under the westward mountains Mordor was dying land, but it was not yet dead. And here things still grew, harsh, twisted, bitter, struggling for life . . . low scrubby trees lurked and clung, coarse grey grass tussocks fought with the stones . . . and everywhere great writhing, tangled brambles sprawled . . . sullen shrivelled leaves of a past year hung on them, grating and rattling in the sad airs . . . and above the briar thickets clouds of hungry midges danced and reeled."
When I read passages like this one I can understand why Orcs are quarrelsome and cruel, why any traveler would feel exhausted and why Sauron would choose to live here.
How does Tolkien use description of environment to create the feeling of exhaustion, despair, hopelessness, turmoil, strife, and death? How do these descriptions compare to the images you have of Sauron?
There are many passages in this chapter that describe dead and dying things through the description of the surroundings. What passages glare at you and what do you think and feel when you read them? What mood does Tolkien create with these descriptions?
The chapter ends with Frodo becoming a "dead thing" as if he has succumbed to the environment, becoming one with his surroundings. Do you feel as if all hope has died as well at this point? Why or why not?
Hobbits Make Their Way Across Gorgoroth
Copyright Ted Nasmith and Harper Collins. All Rights Reserved
Copyright Ted Nasmith and Harper Collins. All Rights Reserved
Wk9, Bk6, Ch2, DISCUSSION: The Land of Mordor, Land of Shadow and Death
"Upon its outer marges under the westward mountains Mordor was dying land, but it was not yet dead. And here things still grew, harsh, twisted, bitter, struggling for life . . . low scrubby trees lurked and clung, coarse grey grass tussocks fought with the stones . . . and everywhere great writhing, tangled brambles sprawled . . . sullen shrivelled leaves of a past year hung on them, grating and rattling in the sad airs . . . and above the briar thickets clouds of hungry midges danced and reeled."
When I read passages like this one I can understand why Orcs are quarrelsome and cruel, why any traveler would feel exhausted and why Sauron would choose to live here.
How does Tolkien use description of environment to create the feeling of exhaustion, despair, hopelessness, turmoil, strife, and death? How do these descriptions compare to the images you have of Sauron?
There are many passages in this chapter that describe dead and dying things through the description of the surroundings. What passages glare at you and what do you think and feel when you read them? What mood does Tolkien create with these descriptions?
The chapter ends with Frodo becoming a "dead thing" as if he has succumbed to the environment, becoming one with his surroundings. Do you feel as if all hope has died as well at this point? Why or why not?