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Post by Sparrow on Aug 3, 2004 23:13:08 GMT -6
To put distance between the company and the goblins, Gandalf leads the travelers to a clearing in the woods. At this point, Wargs make their presence known, and our heroes are forced to take refuge in the trees. Once perched, it becomes apparant this glade is a meeting place for the wolves. Why would Gandalf lead them to such a place? Does this experience have any benefit to the members of the company or to the overall goals of the quest?
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Post by Desi Baggins on Aug 5, 2004 7:06:02 GMT -6
I would have thought Gandalf knew about that spot being Warg infested. Maybe he did, but maybe he also knew Eagles wathced over those areas and maybe he was hoping to get some help from the Eagles. The Eagles did get them some food and helped them travel on quick than they would have by foot.
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Post by Stormrider on Aug 9, 2004 6:14:49 GMT -6
I know Gandalf knew a lot of what was going on in Middle-earth, but I am sure there were some things that he was not party to.
I just cannot believe that Gandalf would have led them into such a confrontation with wargs (and goblins) on purpose! I don't think Gandalf would have been counting on the Eagles to get them out of the situation either!
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Post by Stormrider on Aug 10, 2012 19:08:48 GMT -6
Well . . . This chapter is called Out of the Frying Pan into the Fire! Considering they had blundered into the goblins' lair and managed to escape it, that was very lucky for them all. If they were in goblin territory (even if they hadn't known it) then wherever they came out of the mountains was most likely not a very safe area. They got out with all of them in tact and their mission at that point was to get as far away as possible because the goblins may be coming out looking for them. Gandalf led them by the best way he could and unfortunately, it was into more trouble. It would make sense that if the wargs were cohorts of the goblins, then the goblins would call on friends to help them find the escapees.
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Post by Andorinha on Aug 11, 2012 10:25:48 GMT -6
RE "Why would Gandalf lead them to such a place?"
Gandalf did not know that the goblins had opened a new door in the cave (or he would not have slept there!), here, he seems likewise to not know that this particular glade is a meeting place for the wargs and goblins. He is a wizard, but he is not all-knowing.
So, I don't think he "led" the party to any specific place, they just stumbled downhill and eastward trying to put as much distance between themselves and the "back door" of the goblins as they could. Gandalf is able to compute the fact that they are off-course, too far to the north of their intended path, but he does not seem to know the surrounding country in great detail -- in fact, I doubt he even knew of the wrag/ goblin glade at all. They actually get into the glade by accident, caught up in a landslide that sort of swept them into the trees at the foot of the slope. From here they just push on southward hoping to find the mountain road (p. 144 Annt. Hobbit). Then they finally come across the goblin glade, where the wargs close in on them before they have a chance to go further. Trapped!
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