Episode 102 Summary

Tony Meade

Active Member
SESSION 102

Comment on the last adventure of the Dúnedain:
  • The use of the word “adventure” by Gandalf is important because he used that word to describe Bilbo and the Dwarves’ activities in The Hobbit. This is later picked up by the younger Hobbits.
  • What Gandalf seems to mean by “adventure” is that it is something done with purpose, such as a quest, and for which the end is unknown and uncertain.
  • Note: In Latin, “adventure” is related to “adventus”, or the arrival of something. This is preserved in the Catholic season of Advent preceding Christmas, which celebrates the coming of Christ. Tolkien would have recited the Latin Lord’s prayer, which also contains this usage.
  • The idea of a “last adventure” may refer to a final coming of the Kings of Men, as well as a final quest. Therefore, the use of “adventure” may be used with a dual meaning.
  • Note: In Le Morte d'Arthur, Malory uses the French version of the word “adventure” in reference to the Arthurian knights, of which Tolkien would have been well aware.
  • Tolkien, as both a linguist and Catholic, would have been sensitive to this double-meaning.
  • The undercurrent of Advent implies a positive ending, even though the ending is not known.
Frodo, dead or worse:
  • The phrase “dead or worse” is an insight into Gandalf’s fears once Frodo is recovered. This points to the unnatural process of being brought into the wraith-world.
  • The Ring’s power of invisibility is a side-effect of it’s allowing a mortal to be physically in the visible and wraith-world at the same time. It’s parallel to what was happening from the wound.
  • This is not exactly the same, however, as the wound did not turn him invisible like the Ring.
  • Therefore, the real danger of the wound was that he would be brought spiritually into the wraith-world, not necessarily physically. The permanent invisibility is an effect only of the Ring.
  • It’s important that Gandalf believes that being dead and being a wraith look basically the same.
  • It seems that Gandalf believes that the wound would not have turned Frodo into a wraith physically, only taking his spirit and dominating his will.
  • Note: There is no evidence that Sauron can communicate telepathically with the Ringwraiths, so there would not be a way for him to know what Frodo knows automatically from the wound.
  • Though Gandalf had said that Frodo would become like this Ringwraiths, he means spiritually.
  • It’s possible that Frodo’s companions might not have understood what the worst-case scenario was for Frodo, and therefore saw this only as a physical matter.
  • A third possibility of interpreting Frodo’s condition is that he was not a wraith, but past the point of no return, and another is that they may believe that his spirit has been taken away.
  • The hobbits have had only a vague idea of what was happening to Frodo, though Aragorn and Glorfindel would understand it more, and they may think that he was beyond their aid.
  • This possibility of taking Frodo’s spirit from his body is a dark parallel to the Elves, who die and go to Mandos, and do not leave Arda. Frodo, however, would be in torment in Mordor.
  • This may be a parallel to the tormenting limbo that the Barrow-wight described in its poem.
  • Gollum is an example of someone who has not become invisible but is enslaved by the Ring. This would make him like the Ringwraiths, though not invisible like they are.
  • Would Elrond have told Glorfindel to prioritize keeping the Ring from Sauron over Frodo’s fate?
  • This is unlikely, because Elrond would be wise enough to know that that the manner in which one acquires the Ring matters and taking it by force or stealing it would lead to destruction.
  • Note: This is part of the reflections of Sam at Cirith Ungol when he chooses to leave Frodo’s body and take the Ring to finish the quest. Sam is hard on himself, and feels that he made the wrong choice, but this was not an easy choice to make, and he truly believed Frodo to be dead.
On the madness of the horses:
  • Why are the horses of the Black Riders stricken with madness in this particular situation? It could be simple panic at the sight of the destruction of their brethren in the flood.
  • However, the text seems to point to their fear being partly due to the appearance of Glorfindel.
  • The Ringwraiths were the ones who are dismayed by Glorfindel’s display and the flood simultaneously. Glorfindel did not seek to affect the horses directly but did so indirectly.
  • It seems unlikely that Glorfindel would attempt to destroy the horses, but it seems that forcing the horses into the Ford is the only way to ensure that the Ringwraiths were caught in the flood.
  • The horses may also be reacting to the dismay of their Riders, and this combined with the flood and the fire may account for their madness.
  • Elves have command over animals, so the possibility exists that this was done deliberately.
  • Horses bred for war are often considered precious but expendable by humans, but Elves are usually held to a different standard. However, these two groups at the Ford are at open war.
  • Note: Glorfindel personally understands the idea of sacrifice for victory or safety from Gondolin.
  • Would Glorfindel consider the destruction of the horses as a kind of mercy killing, freeing them from slavery in Mordor? Euthanasia is often considered justifiable in cases of great suffering.
  • Have the horses been corrupted to evil by their service, and are therefore enemies in their own right? This is the question that defines the moral question about their deliberate killing.
  • Note: As we learn later, these horses are stolen from Rohan, and are raised and trained in Mordor for this purpose, so the question is if they are victims or they are collaborating.
  • Note: This is example of another instance in which there is an idealization of Tolkien’s characters that goes beyond the text. Just like Hobbits are not flawless creatures living in harmony with Nature, but instead are farmers in competition with The Old Forest, Elves are hunters and warriors and have always been. They interact with the world in similar ways to all incarnated beings, killing and eating living things, and making use of their products. Elves are held to a higher standard than humans because of their wisdom and long vision, but also flesh and blood.
  • Note: It’s important to remember that these are warhorses, not wild or tamed companions, and warhorses are both targets and casualties in combat situations. Tolkien would have seen much of this during his service in WWI. Also, the attitude towards horses in a pre-industrialized society was much different than it is now, before the advent of automobiles, for instance. Nowadays, we see horses as precious and faithful companions, but in those times, they were thought of also as forms of transportation and means of labor, and sometimes even as food animals.
  • Note: In the text of The Silmarillion, Beren choosing to live in harmony with animals and becoming vegetarian was a departure from the norm, even among the Elves of Doriath.
(continued below)
 

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(continued)

The crippling of the Ringwraiths:
  • Gandalf does explain that the reason that the horses don’t respond to the Ringwraiths like other animals is that they have been raised and trained to obey the servants of Mordor.
  • For this reason, they cannot simply take other horses and ride those back to Sauron. They are forced to travel on foot now, and this will slow them down and buys the good guys some time.
  • It also seems as though all their other connections to the physical world, such as their cloaks, are also lost in the flood, and they now must use their weak vision and diminished physicality alone.
  • Are their allies that might speed their trip back to Mordor? Possibly Isengard, but Saruman is a traitor and may not help them, and they may have a difficult time navigating to it so far away.
  • They would also have a hard time communicating with any potential allies in their current state.
  • How long would it take the Ringwraiths to reach Mordor on foot? That is unclear, as we don’t know if they did receive help in some way, or if walking is their only way of non-horse transport.
  • Note: It seems unlikely that the Nazgûl have the power of flight, as they are given winged mounts, and if they could fly this would be better than riding horses in the hunt for the Ring. It also didn’t seem as if they had access to the fell beasts yet, as they either were nor prepared, or that Sauron had not deemed it was time to reveal them, and this was supposed to be a secret pursuit. Later, when the Nazgûl are more empowered by Sauron, the time will have come.
  • One factor that would decrease their travel time is their apparent lack of need for food and rest.
  • The Ringwraiths are in a different position from either Gandalf, who dies indeed and is returned in a new form, or Sauron, whose bodily form is destroyed and must be rebuilt.
  • The Nazgûl almost certainly did not die at the Ford since their spirits did not leave their bodies. Gandalf does not acknowledge any injury to them except for the loss of their horses.
  • In the spectral forms, they’d keep their kingly robes and ghostly swords, as they aren’t physical. However, their bodies have weight and are tangible and can interact with the physical world.
  • It does seem as though normally physical dangers cannot harm them, possibly due to their Rings, so they are not in in the flood, and we hear that weapons that pierce them perish.
  • Also, they exist, in a more extreme sense, the way that Bilbo or Frodo exist when they wear the Ring; invisible, but tangible and able to be affected physically, though less so than the hobbits.
  • Note: Would Elvish weapons fare any differently against the Nazgûl? It’s hard to say how those two kinds of power would interact, and it would depend on the will and power of the users.
  • Note: There are many examples of broken swords throughout the book. While this is practical, as swords do sometimes break in battle, this also is used metaphorically to indicate defeat.
  • In contrast to the lost horses of the Black Riders, Asfaloth survives and stands guard over Frodo.
Frodo’s arrival in Rivendell:
  • Frodo seems to have been carried into Rivendell by hand, not on the horse, to spare Frodo.
  • While it would seem that they would try to get him to Rivendell quickly, there may be a concern for injuring Frodo through rough riding, and that this might cause his death.
  • Note: Symbolically, their slow procession is reminiscent of the reverence of a funeral, much as the way that the Rohirrim treat Théoden and Éowyn when they are both thought dead.
Elrond and the flood:
  • Frodo may be interested in who is responsible for the final defeat of the Ringwraiths.
  • Gandalf does not say that Elrond made the flood, only that he commanded it to happen. This distinction seems to be saying that the river’s waters already existed but rose up in response.
  • This seems to be a case of Gandalf revealing a way in which magic really works. He acknowledges that the river has some agency and is actively responding to the words of Elrond.
  • Gandalf even attributes emotions, such as anger, to the river, as if this were a mutual alliance.
  • The releasing of the river is spoken in the passive voice to acknowledge that this was a collaborative act between Elrond and the river together.
Gandalf’s touches:
  • Gandalf’s contribution to the flood may appear merely aesthetic but seem to add to its power.
  • Note: In the radio adaptation by The Mind’s Eye, Gandalf is played as if this was just for show.
  • Were the boulders part of Gandalf’s additions? Contextually, it would seem that they were.
  • Note: This is an anticipation of Gandalf’s transformation into The White Rider later in the story.
  • Gandalf is clearly putting forth his power which manifest in this way against the Black Riders. He is making a statement to the Black Riders that he is opposing them with White Riders.
  • This is also being conveyed to Sauron that they are openly turning their power against him.
  • Was this an image that was created spontaneously, was this a deliberate choice of Gandalf? Judging by his fireworks, Gandalf is definitely able to choose the form which his magic takes.
  • What was the message of the rolling and grinding boulders, if they were not a natural effect? It’s possible that the boulders were specifically to be used against the Black Riders’ horses.
  • However, it would not be necessary to add the boulders to destroy the horses, as the flood is enough, so they, like the white horses and riders, are also oriented towards the Nazgûl.
  • The boulders may be merely physical, being brought down in the great flood current, but they may also have been magical. If the boulders are not physical, why did Gandalf choose that form?
  • Gandalf lists the horses, riders, and boulders as part of his own additions, claiming all of them.
  • Could the Black Riders see the shapes of the boulders, or was this not for their vision? It does seem that they could perceive Gandalf’s power in the flood, and it was for their vision.
  • There may be a combination of physical and spiritual contributions to the flood, intertwined.
  • The water itself would have a power over them, as they seem to have a problem crossing it.
  • If the boulders are merely physical, why would Gandalf take credit for them? It’s possible that they were more and bigger boulders that would normally be carried by that flood.
  • Moving large rocks or other things doesn’t seem to be a power that Gandalf displays elsewhere.
  • Gandalf’s usual medium is fire, but in this case, he is only adding his powers to Elrond’s flood.
  • Therefore, these may be manifested as “spiritual boulders”, and are intended to send the message that Arda itself is rising against the Enemy in alliance with the Free Peoples.
END OF SESSION
 

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  • Session 102.pdf
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A "boulder chucking move" is NOT required to add more rocks and boulders to the flood. I have shoveled dirt while standing knee deep in water, and was pleasantly surprised how much easier it was than regular dirt. Gandalf, whose concentration was already riding the wave, need only extend some telekinetic power (command a door to close, anyone?) to pick some choice stones to dislodge to join the deluge.
 
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