|
Post by Stormrider on Nov 9, 2011 21:29:24 GMT -6
I can understand Thorin wanting to get his mountain with all of its treasures back. I know I would be struck by gold lust if I saw a hoard as magnificent as this hoard I'm ashamed to say! Of course, with the dragon perched on top of the hoard, it really puts a damper on going crazy-goofy-wild in stuffing my pockets, hat, boots, underware with treasure! I would like to think I would be choosy and only take the things that I could really use or give away as gifts, but I don't know...just thinking about it! (Stormrider dancing on the mound of treasure, swimming in the gold, silver, and mithril coins, a zillion necklaces around my neck, putting rings on my fingers and toes until they start falling off the tips, putting on as much armor and plate mail until I can't move because of the weight) H E L P ! It must have been difficult for Bilbo to hold back and only sneak off with the one cup...and being very careful and stealthy in taking just that one thing!
|
|
|
Post by Andorinha on Nov 14, 2011 8:13:35 GMT -6
LOL, I have to admit I too often catch "gold-fever" when I re-read this chapter. Even got so far in my schemes as to figure out how much time I would have -- when Smaug is away attacking Laketown and the Dwarves/Hobbit are still huddled up in the tunnel -- to sneak in the front gate and help myself to some goodies. I'm usually looking first for mithril chain mail, a fabled sword and helm, then a rucksack full of gems (partial to rubies, saphires, emeralds -- don't care much for colorless diamonds). Of course I pick up the arkenstone, and wonder at the play of its marvellous lights, but I exercise great discipline in leaving it there as important to the narrative plot, placing it high up on the pile where Bilbo cannot fail to see its glitter...
|
|
|
Post by Vanye on Nov 14, 2011 12:33:08 GMT -6
I have been racking my brain to try & recall where it was that I read another book with the trope of a character entering the dragon's lair & stealing on object from under the dragon's very nose! I still have not been ale to dredge it up from wherever it lurks. Ultimately I may figure it out! Anybody else know what it might be? 8^)
|
|
|
Post by Vanye on Nov 14, 2011 14:25:22 GMT -6
Well, on the 12th, the elves arrived @ Laketown & confer w/the survivors who, after hashing it over as to who to lay the blame on decide that it is Bilbo & his bunch who brought this down upon them by angering the dragon. So they all prepare to set out for The Lonely Mtn. The drums of war are beating & the 5 armies are converging. Bilbo gets the word from the thrush, by way of Old Roac, the crow, that Smaug is dead & trouble is coming their way! The dwarves begin their fortifications. 8^)
|
|
|
Post by Stormrider on Nov 15, 2011 7:19:06 GMT -6
Well, on the 12th, the elves arrived @ Laketown & confer w/the survivors who, after hashing it over as to who to lay the blame on decide that it is Bilbo & his bunch who brought this down upon them by angering the dragon. So they all prepare to set out for The Lonely Mtn. The drums of war are beating & the 5 armies are converging. Bilbo gets the word from the thrush, by way of Old Roac, the crow, that Smaug is dead & trouble is coming their way! The dwarves begin their fortifications. 8^) Well...it would now be safer for me to grab my stash of the treasure! ;D Of course, I would have Thorin Oakenshield to deal with then! He could be a more formidable obstacle to my treasure gathering than Smaug was! It seems that the thrush was faithful to the Dwarves concidering he came back with Roac to warn them of the mass of people and elves coming their way. Hey! how did Roac know ordinary speech let alone speak at all?
|
|
|
Post by Vanye on Nov 15, 2011 22:15:52 GMT -6
On this day (15th of Nov.) the joint forces arrive at Dale at dusk! So, not much sleep is to be had by Bilbo & the dwarves on this night. (Just before the battle, Mother...) 8^)
|
|
|
Post by Andorinha on Nov 16, 2011 1:31:32 GMT -6
RE Vanye: "I have been racking my brain to try & recall where it was that I read another book with the trope of a character entering the dragon's lair & stealing on object from under the dragon's very nose! I still have not been ale to dredge it up from wherever it lurks. Ultimately I may figure it out! Anybody else know what it might be? 8^)"
You know, Tolkien did a lot of work on Beowulf, and there is a dragon in its later sections. I have the vague feeling there was also a cup stolen by some servant that roused that dragon?
|
|
|
Post by Fredeghar Wayfarer on Nov 16, 2011 13:25:47 GMT -6
You know, Tolkien did a lot of work on Beowulf, and there is a dragon in its later sections. I have the vague feeling there was also a cup stolen by some servant that roused that dragon? There was. A slave sneaks into the cave and steal a golden cup. The dragon emerges and lays waste to the countryside in rage, not unlike Smaug's attack on Lake-town.
|
|
|
Post by Vanye on Nov 16, 2011 13:35:52 GMT -6
Aha! I was not just imagining it after all-that must be where I remember it from. I will have to revisit it now. Thanx! 8^)
|
|
|
Post by Vanye on Nov 16, 2011 13:59:49 GMT -6
This morning the siege is begun! The Lake men & elves have come & stated their terms which Thorin of Oakenshield rejects out of hand, the emisraries tell him that they will return later after he has thought it over. But, of course Thorin has not budged an inch. And so it begins... The Battle of the 5 Armies commences.
It is now nearly 7 months since Bilbo & the dwarves set out from Hobbiton! 8^)
|
|
|
Post by Vanye on Nov 22, 2011 22:10:22 GMT -6
Bilbo & the dwarves have now been besieged for 6 days! Bilbo is weary of the whole thing & has been hatching a plan; he puts it into action tonite. Taking the place of Bombur on the watch he slips' invisibly' over the wall to talk w/Bard & the Elven King. He gives them the Arkenstone so they can bargain w/Thorin Oakenshield mayhap? 8^)
|
|
|
Post by Vanye on Nov 28, 2011 0:59:30 GMT -6
Of course Dain arrived 5 days ago & the Battle of 5 Armies ensued in which Thorin & Bolg are slain. Now Gandalf , Bilbo & Beorn are leaving the Lonely Mountain & setting off in the general direction of the Shire from which they departed exactly 7 months ago today! But is indeed a Long & Winding Road cuz they will not reach Bagend for another 5 months! 8^)
|
|
|
Post by Stormrider on Nov 28, 2011 7:12:20 GMT -6
Sounds like this thread will be quiet for a while then! But they make a few stops along the way back to The Shire.
|
|
|
Post by Andorinha on Nov 28, 2011 20:24:04 GMT -6
Ah, a pause in the action! A chance to catch up!
I think I'll go back to where we left off, Bilbo's first two expeditions to the Dragon's lair, and work up some thoughts on those scenes... Once Bilbo starts his homeward bound journey, we should have plenty of time for fuller discussions of all the material that happened in the climax chapters.
Even time to look up the Beowulf dragon and do a little contrast/ comparison?
|
|
|
Post by Stormrider on Nov 29, 2011 19:51:03 GMT -6
Good idea, Andorinha! We have lots of time to discuss things until the book progress meets calendar time! Oooh! Oooh! It really amazes me how Smaug knew one cup was missing from his hoard. JRRT says Smaug had a dream in which a small warrior with a sword and courage woke him from his sound doze. It doesn't say Smaug dreamt in which direction the warrior went or whether he took anything. But Smaug knew because it says "Then he missed the cup!" The lust must have been the reason. Smaug's lust was so great for having hoarded the whole heaping pile of goodies that he knew exactly what he had and where it was! But how would he notice one thing missing with just one sweep of his lazer eyes? Must have been pretty sharp eyes! I feel so sorry for the poor ponies left outside while Smaug crashed the side of the mountain and then chased them down to eat. Poor things! But now Smaug is ready for the thief! He knows there is no other exit except through the little drafty hole in the wall. So there he lurks, just waiting...
|
|