Wk5 Bk5 Ch6: The Arrival of Aragorn

[Stormrider]

From: AnnieLT (Original Message) Sent: 4/17/2003 4:23 PM

The pictures were lost--they were:
"Corsairs of Umbar ROTK" by Rankin/Bass
"Battle of the Pelennor Fields" by Mariet Theune

Wk 5, Bk 5, Ch 6, DISCUSSION: The Arrival of Aragorn

What was going through your mind when you saw the black ships of the Corsairs of Umbar rowing toward the shore? I could easily feel the doom that the hosts of Gondor and Rohan were experiencing as that fleet sailed in. And moments later I felt the despair replaced by jubilation as the great Standard was unfurled. This is one of my favorite scenes in LOTR.

"...the mirth of the Rohirrim was a torrent of laughter, and a flashing of swords, and the joy and wonder of the city was music of trumpets and a ringing of bells." (The reverse of emotions that the hosts of Mordor must have felt.) How did Tolkien create such profound changes of emotions for his reader? Was it by description alone that he instills despair and then carries his reader to ecstatic joy?

What were you thinking and feeling when you realized that this was Aragorn and company sailing in under the subterfuge of enemy banners? Do you think Aragorn knew what effect he would have on those who were fighting in the field? Why did he choose to enter Gondor in this manner? And why do you think Tolkien chose not to inform his reader of Aragorn’s plan? Would we have reacted so enthusiastically had we known what Gondor did not know?

Compare this "surprise" attack with the Coming of Rohan. We know the plan. We know they are coming and yet we are held in suspense. How does Tolkien accomplish this? Which arrival was more stirring for you,

[Stormrider]

From: Ruscosenda Sent: 4/17/2003 4:41 PM
In contrast to my previous comments about the wind changing, I felt desperation when the black ships arrived exactly because I was hoping that the change in the wind was a sign that the battle against the Corsairs had gone well. Fortunately, Tolkien didn't make me suffer too long before revealing that Aragorn was commanding the Black Fleet.

-- Rusco

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From: Merlin the mad Sent: 4/19/2003 7:07 PM
My brother (who had read the Trilogy years before) had largely spoiled any suspense for me when I finally got around to reading Tolkien's books. But I could not help feeling the desperation of the characters at this point: and I think the contrast between this momentary suspense and the suspense we were left in as Aragorn took the Paths of the Dead (with NO followup to put our minds at rest) is a brilliant execution of contrasts: the Ride of the Rohirrim adds to this by putting us in the know: because Tolkien uses each of these forms to give us information we don't know if we are being told enough or too little. Are we coming or going?

Elsewhere, the "suspense" over the Paths of the Dead has been criticized as being somewhat predictable or flat: I disagree with this, because it is woven into the narrative of the battle of the Pelennor Fields as part of one piece of continuous action - tho separated by many miles and a confusing number of days. I think the whole outcome of the Paths of the Dead was left unanswered to form the mainspring of the dread felt during this battle: if we had felt terrible doubt about Aragorn's survival - we did not, as it was never intended to be life-threatening to him - we would not have this dreadful suspense when the "Corsairs" show up. The real suspense therefore is: "Dang! the Rohirrimn are played out and we are losing this battle. Where has Aragorn gotten himself to? Shouldn't he have arrived by now to save this increasingly bad situation?" And then, there he is, old reliable Strider once again. By now, I trusted Tolkien utterly to bring me a good ending.

MtM