Wk4 Bk5 Ch4: And Grond Crawled On

[Stormrider]

From: AnnieLT (Original Message) Sent: 4/6/2003 8:47 PM

One picture was lost--It was a picture entitled "Grond" by Stephen Hickman

P. J.'s Grond (think he might have been influenced by Stephen Hickman?)

Wk4, Bk5, Ch4, DISCUSSION: AND GROND CRAWLED ON

For me one of the most powerful images in the Siege of Gondor is the coming of Grond. As frightening and hideous the winged ones are and those who follow them, Grond out does them, sending my heart catapulting. Did anyone else react as I did? What poetic devices does Tolkien employ to suspend his readers in dread and in suspense? I can think of at least four. Can you identify some of these and give examples? (You might want to start with the title of this discussion.) What mood or effect is created by utilizing these devices? Can you think of other examples from this chapter where Tolkien implements poetic effects?

Grond's head was shaped like a wolf's head and made of black steel. What significance do you think the boar has to those in Mordor who shaped this battering ram? It was said that Grond was named after the great mace that Morgoth used in battle and was called Grond or the Hammer of the Underworld. Who was Morgoth? And why do you think the Dark Lord chose this name for his war engine?

[Stormrider]

From: LindaS Sent: 4/6/2003 9:37 PM
One dramatic device is repetition. "And Grond crawled on." Also short, blunt sentences, one after another: "Grond crawled on. The drums rolled wildly." "It reached the Gate. It swung."

One significance of the wolf might be that it was a shape that Sauron took on when he was in Morgoth's service, Morgoth was the original Dark Lord.

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From: DaleAnn Sent: 5/16/2003 6:05 AM
One thing that struck me about Grond was that those surrounding it each had a specific role to play. "Great beasts drew it, orcs surrounded it, and behind walked mountain-trolls to wield it." And "on it spells of ruin lay."

One thing I had never noticed before was "As if stricken by some blasting spell [The Gate of Gondor] burst asunder: there was a flash of searing lightning, and the doors tumbled in riven fragments to the ground."
Comparing this to The Helm's Deep chapter "'But the Orcs have brought deviry from Orthanc', said Aragorn, 'they have a blasting fire....'" Brackets and boldface are mine. Of course, Saruman relied on the technology of gunpowder while Sauron had "magic" -- "Then the Black Captain rose in his stirrupsand cried aloud...words of power and terror...".

Perhaps, just as the chapters "A Journey in the Dark" and "Lothlorien" from FotR have multiple similarities, there are more things to compare within these two chapters -- "Helm's Deep" and "Seige of Gondor".
--DA

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From: William Huggins Sent: 5/16/2003 12:18 PM
You asked for more examples with poetic effects that Tolkien used in this chapter, two that moved me strongly was these two parts. (My first outspoken participent in the book study so I hope it is ok with large quotations?).

"Then among the greater casts there fell another hail, less ruinous but more horrible. All about the streets and lanes behind the Gate it tumbled down, small round shot that did not burn. But when men ran to learn what it might be, they cried aloud or wept. For the enemy was flinging into the City all the heads of those who had fallen fighting at Osgiliath, or on the Rammas, or in the fields. They were grim to look on; for though some were crushed and shapeless, and some had been cruelly hewn, yet many had features that could be told, and it seemed that they had died in pain; and all were branded with the foul token of the Lidless Eye."

And after Grond has done it´s purpose and the Witch-king is about to enter through the gate of Minas Tirith...

"The Black Rider flung back his hood, and behold! he had a kingly crown; and yet upon no head visible was it set. The red fires shone between it and the mantled shoulders vast and dark. From a mouth unseen there came a deadly laughter.
'Old fool!' he said. 'Old fool! This is my hour. Do you not know Death when you see it? Die now and curse in vain!' And with that he lifted high his sword and flames ran down the blade.
Gandalf did not move. And in that very moment, away behind in some courtyard of the City, a cock crowed. Shrill and clear he crowed, recking nothing of wizardry or war, welcoming only the morning that in the sky far above the shadows of death was coming with the dawn."

At this time I feel that the city has fallen, all is about to be lost, and then the sound of the rooster, welcoming the morning in his blissfull ignorance of all that is happening around him.

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From: AnnieLT Sent: 5/21/2003 6:29 AM
Linda S.: Very dramatic example of repetition, yes. I would add assonance with the repeating of the vowels in especially, "Gond crawled on." Where would I find this reference of Sauron taking on the shape of a wolf? Sil?

DA: I too marvelled at the specific roles of those who drew, walked, and wielded it (Grond). This is one of my favorite passages and am just tryiing to figure out what poetic device might describe what Tolkien is doing here. (Oh, Rivers, wherefore art thou, Sea Foam?) Interesting examples you gave of "blasting". I will have to review Helm's Deep and think on this. Thank you.

William Huggins: Your participation is definitely "Ok" and most welcome. I agree that this chapter is full of imagery. And you have cited some of the most powerful passages. The presence of the rooster at the closing of this chapter has an almost transcendent quality, doesn't it?

Annie