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That is an interesting one! I found that little thread too while looking around for clues, but I like your take on it. I'm sure Gollum would have lots to say about the benefits of the One Ring if he could get it back. ;p

No, I agree, I don't think it's a matter of Frodo trying to protect Gollum from making his oath - I think it's something that he knows it's a promise that Sméagol will actually keep. It's a way for Sam and Frodo to be able to sleep around Sméagol without worrying about being strangled in the...

This is the first time I paid as close attention to the words - a side effect of "Exploring the LOTR" class I think. But I think you're right, it's a matter of keeping the ring out of Gollum's hands.

I'm re-reading LOTR this year, and I have reached The Taming of Sméagol. Frodo has just insisted that Sméagol not swear "on" the Ring. He can swear "by" it, but not "on" it. It's clearly an important distinction for Frodo, but the difference is lost on me. Is it because Sméagol would have to...

When we talked about Farmer Maggot this week, I noticed something I never caught before. (That keeps happening in this class! XD). When our heroes come to the farm, Maggot says, "And who may you be, and what may you be wanting?" It sounded very "Tom Bombadil-ish" to me, so I went forward and...

This is wild! It DOES work surprisingly well, and most of it actually falls into "hobbit meter" (iambic tetrameter). !!!

It occurred to me while listening to this part of last week's class that Gildor might have been exactly right about keeping details of the ringwraiths a secret. I remember feeling like Frodo every time I read this passage - Gildor's hints and warnings are worse than any knowledge! But when...

Yay!!! Thanks so much, I'll add a reminder for myself. :) I'll probably have to just watch and listen, I'm still trying to level up to 25 to meet Bingo in the Lone Lands XD.

Is Bingo Night still happening?

Right! I can see why you might have thought it, too, it's possible! Especially since the "let them pass" happens in the chorus part, so it can be why the song changes from talking about "us" to saying "them". But it's so easy to get stuck assuming it's one way and never even try to look at...

Posted this over on Narnion's page, but thought I would put it here, too, in case people want to join me in nerding out. :p I am SO excited about last night's class! I have been a fan of Tolkien since I was a kid - going on 30 years of loving him now. I've never skipped the poems. I've...

Comment, rather than question, but I am SO excited about last night's class! I have been a fan of Tolkien since I was a kid - going on 30 years of loving him now. I've never skipped the poems. I've always enjoyed them, sometimes memorized them, used them as calligraphy practice. But I've...

Lol, that phrase just tickles me because I strongly associate it with Pippin, and it sounds like someone talking about his biggest exploit yet.

Thanks, Cithrin, this is great! Juicy, detailed stuff, I love it. And I can still officially compare Pip and my falcon to each other, since their names came from the same place! Thanks for including info about Frodo's name, that's great info as well - true to Frodo's experience. I love the...

I was surprised by the discussion of Pippin's name, because when I first looked up the definition of Peregrine years ago, I found the word defined as a small strong falcon, rather than a wanderer. I guess the alternate definition wasn't included, because I don't even remember reading it and...

Lol, I really like the idea of Radagast telling Frodo (or Bilbo, or both) the story. I often wondered what happened to Radagast after his brief appearance in the beginning of the book. I like imagining a little scene where he, Gandalf, Frodo (and Sam, of course), and Bilbo (maybe all of the...

I think it's fun to think about/talk about the possibilities! I'm honestly surprised that people have a problem with the thinking fox, when there's talking eagles, spiders and wolves. I suppose because this is supposed to be a "normal" fox. But, I'm pretty sure I can read my cat thinking "Why...

I think that could be the case, too. But I do tend to think that Bilbo (or even Frodo, thinking about the journey back when he was more "light hearted" about it) might have influenced the modern narrator's choice there.

I like the Radagast idea! I wonder if this part isn't still Bilbo, writing from Frodo's account. Doesn't explain how he would know about the fox, but it still sounds very Hobbit book-ish in that part of the story. It feels like a little embellishment Bilbo would add.

It's my understanding that Sam has been spying and sneaking info to Merry and Pippin for a while before he gets caught. We will see later that after this, Sam dries up, but Frodo gives his intentions away himself. In the months after Gandalf leaves, he's been looking wistfully at his favorite...