Post by MajahTR on Jan 17, 2009 8:48:27 GMT -6
I would like us to track the Theme of Friendship. The strength to make the right decisions and to continue on the quest comes from the character's friendships and loyalties to one another. Tracking this will be a group effort.
DA
In the Prologue, Tolkien makes a point of mentioning Friendship in Of the Finding of the Ring. There he states that Bilbo's lie of how he got the Ring strained his friendship with Gandalf. Again in BookI Chapter1 during the argument over leaving the Ring, Bilbo's and Gandalf's friendship is tested. Bilbo almost draws his sword on his friend. In the end The Ring could not permanently damage their friendship. Bilbo gets his strength from Gandalf to first tell the truth (Prologue) and then to leave The Ring behind.
In BookI Chap 2: about midway through, we hear the story of Smeagol (Gollum) and his friend Deagol. Smeagol kills his friend in order to possess the Ring. And from that point on is friendless.
Sam is caught eavesdropping on the conversation between Gandalf and Frodo toward the end of the chapter. Though it is not apparent at this time, Sam has enough feelings of friendship towards Frodo to be the major informant for Merry and Pippin so that Frodo cannot slip away on his own.
BookI Chap 3&4: At the end of Chap3, Gildor the Elf advises Frodo to take friends that are trustworthy and willing to go to Rivendell. But at the beginning of Chap4, Frodo does not want to endanger his friends. Frodo tells Sam of the danger they are facing. Sam tells Frodo of his loyalty. "If you don't come back, sir, then I shan't."
Later in the chapter, out of friendship and a loyalty to Buckland where Frodo was from, Farmer Maggot helps them reach Bucklebury ferry even though he is afraid.
BookI Chap 5: A Conspiracy Unmasked Merry and Fatty Bolger carefully arranged Frodo's things in his new house to help Frodo feel comfortable. Frodo felt it was unfair that he put his friends through all the trouble, since he was leaving the next day. Frodo's friends had created a conspiracy out of their love to help and protect Frodo. They tell him that he will need more than one companion on his dangerous journey. All of them know something of what they will face.
Tolkien's definition of Friendship as quoted by Merry about three quarters through the chapter: "You can trust us to stick to you through thick and thin---to the bitter end. And you can trust us to keep any secret of yours---closer than you keep it yourself. But you cannot trust us to let you face trouble alone, and go off without a word."
BookI Chap 6: The Old Forest, Chap7: In the House of Tom Bombadil, Chap8: Fog on the Barrow-Downs Tom and Goldberry call the Hobbits their "merry friends" and offered them their hospitality and advice. Tom saves them from Old Man Willow and the Barrow-wights.
BookI Chap 8: Fog on the Barrow-Downs At one point Frodo considers saving himself from the Barrow-wight and saw himself grieving for for the others in his mind. But he found the courage to strike the Barrow-wight with a knife in order to save his friends.
DA
FotR, Book I, "Three is Company":
'O Fair Folk! This is good fortune beyond my hope,' said Pippin. Sam was speechless. 'I thank you indeed, Gildor Inglorion,' said Frodo bowing. 'Elen sila lumen omentilmo, a star shines on the hour of our meeting,' he added in the high elven-speech.
'Be careful, friends!' cried Gildor laughing. 'Speak no secrets! Here is a scholar in the Ancient Tongue. Bilbo was a good master. Hail, Elf-friend!' he said, bowing to Frodo.'
Notice that Pippin, Sam and Merry are close by, but the specific title "Elf-friend" does not seem to include them.
There seems to be a formal quality to the status of "Elf-friend" that is granted from time to time throughout the LotR, I do NOT think it is granted lightly because of some trained linguistic skill of Frodo's! Later (cannot find the source just now) another Elf seems to merely recognize that Frodo carries this title by the "ring of his voice and the light in his eyes" (paraphrase!). Bilbo, I believe, was made "Elf-friend" after the Battle of Five Armies by Thranduil, and I think several poor, much abused and heavily provoked Goblins (and later some LotR Orcs), refer to "Elf-friends" as though it were a specific rank-title (in their case one carrying with it great opprobium!).
Any idea as to whether this is something that fits under this category, and may be worth tracking in the hope of further defining just what confers this status?
Karo6
DA
In the Prologue, Tolkien makes a point of mentioning Friendship in Of the Finding of the Ring. There he states that Bilbo's lie of how he got the Ring strained his friendship with Gandalf. Again in BookI Chapter1 during the argument over leaving the Ring, Bilbo's and Gandalf's friendship is tested. Bilbo almost draws his sword on his friend. In the end The Ring could not permanently damage their friendship. Bilbo gets his strength from Gandalf to first tell the truth (Prologue) and then to leave The Ring behind.
In BookI Chap 2: about midway through, we hear the story of Smeagol (Gollum) and his friend Deagol. Smeagol kills his friend in order to possess the Ring. And from that point on is friendless.
Sam is caught eavesdropping on the conversation between Gandalf and Frodo toward the end of the chapter. Though it is not apparent at this time, Sam has enough feelings of friendship towards Frodo to be the major informant for Merry and Pippin so that Frodo cannot slip away on his own.
BookI Chap 3&4: At the end of Chap3, Gildor the Elf advises Frodo to take friends that are trustworthy and willing to go to Rivendell. But at the beginning of Chap4, Frodo does not want to endanger his friends. Frodo tells Sam of the danger they are facing. Sam tells Frodo of his loyalty. "If you don't come back, sir, then I shan't."
Later in the chapter, out of friendship and a loyalty to Buckland where Frodo was from, Farmer Maggot helps them reach Bucklebury ferry even though he is afraid.
BookI Chap 5: A Conspiracy Unmasked Merry and Fatty Bolger carefully arranged Frodo's things in his new house to help Frodo feel comfortable. Frodo felt it was unfair that he put his friends through all the trouble, since he was leaving the next day. Frodo's friends had created a conspiracy out of their love to help and protect Frodo. They tell him that he will need more than one companion on his dangerous journey. All of them know something of what they will face.
Tolkien's definition of Friendship as quoted by Merry about three quarters through the chapter: "You can trust us to stick to you through thick and thin---to the bitter end. And you can trust us to keep any secret of yours---closer than you keep it yourself. But you cannot trust us to let you face trouble alone, and go off without a word."
BookI Chap 6: The Old Forest, Chap7: In the House of Tom Bombadil, Chap8: Fog on the Barrow-Downs Tom and Goldberry call the Hobbits their "merry friends" and offered them their hospitality and advice. Tom saves them from Old Man Willow and the Barrow-wights.
BookI Chap 8: Fog on the Barrow-Downs At one point Frodo considers saving himself from the Barrow-wight and saw himself grieving for for the others in his mind. But he found the courage to strike the Barrow-wight with a knife in order to save his friends.
DA
FotR, Book I, "Three is Company":
'O Fair Folk! This is good fortune beyond my hope,' said Pippin. Sam was speechless. 'I thank you indeed, Gildor Inglorion,' said Frodo bowing. 'Elen sila lumen omentilmo, a star shines on the hour of our meeting,' he added in the high elven-speech.
'Be careful, friends!' cried Gildor laughing. 'Speak no secrets! Here is a scholar in the Ancient Tongue. Bilbo was a good master. Hail, Elf-friend!' he said, bowing to Frodo.'
Notice that Pippin, Sam and Merry are close by, but the specific title "Elf-friend" does not seem to include them.
There seems to be a formal quality to the status of "Elf-friend" that is granted from time to time throughout the LotR, I do NOT think it is granted lightly because of some trained linguistic skill of Frodo's! Later (cannot find the source just now) another Elf seems to merely recognize that Frodo carries this title by the "ring of his voice and the light in his eyes" (paraphrase!). Bilbo, I believe, was made "Elf-friend" after the Battle of Five Armies by Thranduil, and I think several poor, much abused and heavily provoked Goblins (and later some LotR Orcs), refer to "Elf-friends" as though it were a specific rank-title (in their case one carrying with it great opprobium!).
Any idea as to whether this is something that fits under this category, and may be worth tracking in the hope of further defining just what confers this status?
Karo6