Episode 17 Summary

Tony Meade

Active Member
SESSION 17

The Hobbit’s progress:
  • The Maggot and Cotton families are some of the few examples we get of mainstream hobbitry.
  • The rest of the hobbits we spend time with are usually outside of the mainstream.
  • There are no encounters in Chapter 4 with the Black Riders, except for the cry. But there are many stories and much anticipation of them.
  • When they first encounter the Black Riders, they have no idea what they’re dealing with.
  • Frodo chooses to hide, but out of impulse. They don’t know if they should take them seriously.
  • It’s only after the meeting with Gildor and the Elves that they start to understand their peril.
  • The encounter with the Elves makes them feel as though they are in tale of Faerie.
  • This knowledge changes their perception of the land around them.
  • The talk of disbelief of these uncanny experiences happening in the Shire has now ceased.
  • As they approach Farmer Maggot’s house, they are returning from Faerie.
  • They all now know, including Pippin, that they are on a perilous quest.
The power of the Shire:
  • Gandalf will talk about how the Black Riders fail in the Shire during the Council of Elrond later.
  • C.S. Lewis says that there are two different ways to examine a text; from within the text, and from outside the text.
  • Both are valid, but they shouldn’t be confused with one another.
  • The lack of power shown by the Black Riders is explainable either way.
  • From outside the text, Tolkien simply did not revise because he didn’t know about the Ringwraiths when he began.
  • From within the text, Tolkien explains that the Nâzgul fail because of a power within the Shire.
On Sam’s purpose, again:
  • Sam seemed clear on his purpose before meeting the Elves.
  • He seems to be foreseeing the road ahead in a way that the other hobbits, even Frodo, haven’t.
  • His desire and purpose have now seemingly aligned with his fate or doom.
  • The specific desires to see wondrous things was originally paired with his duty to Frodo.
  • Now that he has met the Elves, a lot of those personal desires were satisfied.
  • Frodo asks him if the satisfaction of his desires has sated his desire to leave the Shire.
  • Sam says that these personal desires have been replaced for what is fated.
  • Sam is contrasted with Tuor from The Silmarillion, who turns his back on his desire for the sea to pursue his fate in Gondolin.
  • Frodo and Sam are both called and destined to go on this quest, which Tolkien emphasizes.
  • Sam’s remaining personal desire may be to see the things that Bilbo told him about.
Farmer Maggot tells his tale:
  • Maggot’s primary impression of the rider is the blackness of the Black Rider.
  • The emphasis is put on the Rider’s strangeness of appearance and of behavior.
  • Maggot seems to assume that there is a mundane explanation for the Rider’s strange appearance, which is that he wished to conceal his identity. This is odd behavior.
  • Maggot would not know or have any reason to think that this is uncanny.
  • Maggot’s other observation is of the Black Rider’s manner of speech.
  • Note: This is the longest piece of dialogue from any of the Black Riders.
  • The Riders’ Westron does not seem to be very good, so the use of the word “yonder” is noteworthy. This is something they have picked up within the Shire.
  • The Riders are clearly paying attention and attempting to acclimate to local culture.
  • The use of the term “Baggins” alone belies that he is a foreigner, as this is not the way Hobbits would speak or use names.
  • Maggot seems to be quoting the Rider directly in order to convey the strangeness of the encounter.
  • This also seems to be the Black Rider on his best behavior.
  • This again raises the question of why the Black Rider feels the need to be polite.
  • Maggot is polite himself, but also firm and assertive. He assumes that the Rider is lost.
  • Maggot definitely feels the power of the Black Breath. He feels a shudder, just like the Gaffer.
  • The power of the Black Breath seems to be subdued within the Shire.
Maggot sends off the Rider:
  • Maggot actually gives the Rider information. He tells the Rider where he can find Bagginses.
  • The Rider speaks only in simple sentences, like someone who does not speak the language well.
  • The only complex sentence is his question about if he will tell him if he sees Baggins.
  • The Rider may also be being patronizing towards the hobbits.
  • Maggot actually makes a threat to the Nâzgul, and he realizes his peril.
  • Though the Rider tries to ride Maggot down, this seems a tame response from a Nâzgul.
  • The hissing is the thing in the conversation that stands out most to Maggot. He tries to explain it with laughter, but he really can’t explain it. He understands that this might be unnatural.
  • The Rider’s response is clearly that of displeasure at the farmer’s defiance and threats.
  • Maggot goes through three stages in this conversation; polite deflection, firm redirection, and then open defiance.
  • Maggot seems to have his strongest reaction at the offer of the bribe.
  • This is when he realizes that this stranger is actively hunting another hobbit.
  • Maggot has no interest in the bribe and alarmed at the idea of the threat to another hobbit.
  • The Rider never commands Maggot to do anything. He merely states facts and asks a question.
  • This is why Maggot’s defiance angers the Rider, after having tried to be polite to a local.
  • This is the strangeness of the Riders’ behavior. They are asking for help and offering to pay.
  • There are no open threats issued by the Riders. They seem to be doing this because they must.
  • There is no kingliness being shown here, as they issue no commands.
  • Note: The Nâzgul do seem to have a memory of their former lives and positions.
(continued below)
 

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(continued)

Those strange doings of Mr. Bilbo’s:
  • As usual, any hobbit from one part of the Shire will think someone from another part of the Shire is queer.
  • In this case, Farmer Maggot actually has a point. Bilbo was strange for a hobbit, and if Maggot associates Hobbiton with Bilbo, he could be forgiven for thinking Hobbiton folk strange.
  • Frodo is probably mistaken in feeling disconcerted by Maggot’s guesses. They are perfectly reasonable without any knowledge of the Ring or the Ringwraiths.
  • Strange doings would be associated with Bilbo, because of his adventures outside of the Shire and the treasure with which he returned.
  • There may be an assumption that Bilbo’s riches were associated with something shady.
  • Frodo may be getting a little paranoid, making connections that Maggot is not making.
Maggot states his intentions:
  • Maggot states his intention to deal with any of the Riders if they come back.
  • He may be mistaken, but he is clearly sincere.
  • Maggot is keenly aware of the connection between the arrival of the Rider and Frodo.
  • Maggot shows Frodo and company generosity, courtesy, and discretion.
  • He refrains from asking Frodo awkward questions about his situation and offers help without any information. Hobbits are generally nosy, but Maggot shows discretion.
  • He would have been justified in sending Frodo away due to the danger to him and his family.
  • Maggot’s generosity also includes a lot of courage, as he is putting himself in danger.
  • He further shows generosity and hospitality by offering dinner and a ride to the ferry.
  • He also refrains from mentioning the Rider, as he knows this is uncomfortable.
Frodo’s confession to Maggot:
  • The fact that this is the truth of Farmer Maggot, who Frodo thought of as a deadly ogre, shows that young Frodo lived in something of a sheltered fantasy world.
  • In spite of living with Bilbo and being taught and trained by him, and learning so much about the outside world, this part of his childhood lingers.
  • The fact that Frodo thinks of Maggot like a dragon puts an ironic spotlight on Frodo’s desire for an invasion of dragons to wake up the Shire Hobbits and give them perspective.
  • Frodo is partially proved right by the arrival of the Black Riders, as it changes both his own and Farmer Maggot’s way of treating each other, as it shows them greater concerns from outside.
  • How old is Farmer Maggot? This is unknown. He has grown children, but no grandchildren.
Dinner with the Maggots:
  • This is a vision of normal, everyday hobbitry.
  • There are normally eleven in the household, including Mr. & Mrs. Maggot, seven children, and four farmhands who live and eat with the Maggot family.
  • There is no direct description of the hobbits enjoying their food, though that is assumed.
  • The only direct description of the enjoyment of food is by the dogs.
  • There are possibly at least one of the four farmhands who works inside to help Mrs. Maggot.
Forth, Farmer Maggot:
  • The prudence of Mrs. Maggot is charming, as she characterizes the danger of the Black Riders as “arguing” with foreigners. Her worries are understated.
  • The imagery used in the preparations of the wagon and ponies is an example of rustic hobbitry.
  • The hobbits are very exposed and vulnerable, due to the open causeway.
  • Because it is dark and foggy, they are forced to travel quietly and without lights, they are going very slowly to avoid detection and for safety, but this adds to their vulnerability.
  • The wagon is also a trap if they are detected, as it offers no protection.
A rider in the dark:
  • Tolkien invites us to enter the scene by using the onomatopoetic sounds of the horses.
  • Farmer Maggot’s first impulse is to run forward into danger, and to control the ponies to protect them and his guests from danger.
  • Farmer Maggot is very assertive and willing to give orders to a stranger in the dark.
  • Sam does not actually voice his courage, but it is highlighted by the narrator.
  • Sam nor Maggot have any plan to deal with the Rider, but they are willing to stand, nonetheless.
  • Note; It’s a shame that we don’t get any more of Farmer Maggot in the novel.
The rider revealed:
  • We are made aware, even before we are told by the narrator, that this is not a Black Rider by the use of the proper diction and titles for “Mr. Baggins”.
  • The hobbits’ fear has played tricks on their perceptions, though they still show courage.
END OF SESSION
 

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