Episode 240 Summary

Tony Meade

Active Member
SESSION 240

A plague and a nuisance:
  • This is the second conversation regarding the crows, but while Aragorn and Gandalf’s discussion was high-level and strategic, this commentary from the hobbits is more practical and personal.
  • Pippin’s sleeping through the entire incident is consistent with his character, though Aragorn only woke Gandalf when he reported on the crows, though others, like Frodo, may have heard.
  • The lack of food and warmth is understandable considering hobbits and their usual concerns.
  • Note: It seems clear that, within the frame, this section is being narrated by Frodo, as it would be unlikely that Sam would include this much of his “talk”, including this long speech, too. Since Tolkien clearly loved Sam’s talk, there is a pattern throughout the book of getting Sam’s commentary following an event. It seems to be a part of the epistemic regime of the narrative to have the frame of reference be the least knowledgeable character as the point of view. There is also a difference between the characters in terms of humility and stature that affects this.
  • Gandalf acts as intermediary and transition between these two conversations about the crows.
  • Sam had heard Gandalf and Aragorn’s previous conversation but didn’t understand all of it.
  • Note: In almost all cases, if there is a hobbit present in a scene, the hobbit will provide the point-of view, and therefore it is from them that the narration is derived. Here however, Pippin’s interjection is less for narrative and more for character revelation of the hobbits, and for levity.
  • This interjection seems to reveal Pippin’s naivete and that he doesn’t understand the scale of the danger, though this may also just be the Hobbit tendency to joke to break the tension.
  • While Gandalf has acted strategically to keep Frodo’s spirits up, this seems to be more of a spontaneous attempt to lighten the mood by displaying a false bravado for their comfort.
  • This doesn’t seem to be totally genuine annoyance, judging from the juxtaposition of the two words “plague” and “nuisance”, which is done more for the sake of a humorous hyperbole.
  • Pippin would be unused to hard physical labor being the son and heir of the Thain of the Shire.
Go on looking forward:
  • Gandalf shifts in tone quickly from pure hobbitry in response to Pippin to acknowledging his own physical sufferings but offers some genuine hope for what may come in the future.
  • There is a slight edge to the idea of it being warmer in the south, as Mordor is awaiting them.
  • Sam’s comment seems to pick up on this slight joke, even though he has no idea what to expect.
  • Note: The climate of Gondor is very close to what we have in Italy, as Tolkien compared the two.
  • This is another incident of Sam’s grumbling to Frodo in an aside, voicing a kind of pragmatism.
  • Note: While this is a typically British attitude, Sam uses it to express a desire to either tamp down expectations or as resistance to Gandalf’s words, as he isn’t comforted by any words of amdir. This becomes more important as Sam will become one voice of estel later in the book.
  • Sam’s mistaking the Redhorn for Mount Doom is more than just a confession of his ignorance of the maps, but also his feeling a kind of frustration at the long distances that he can’t imagine.
  • This may be a misunderstanding of the job that he and Frodo have to do and its consequences.
  • Sam possibly has a misplaced confidence that doing the job as quickly as possible will allow them to go home, and for life to return to normal, which belies his own innocence and fatigue.
  • Note: This understanding of the nature of their task will grow and evolve over the course of the story for both Sam and Frodo, as well as the other hobbits, as experience widens their view.
  • It’s possible that “fair jaw-cracker” is a saying that Sam picked up from the Gaffer in his youth.
  • This seems to be a bit of hobbitry at Gimli’s expense, though not an intended insult to Khuzdul.
  • Sam also seems to be excited at the idea of learning languages, which he picked up from Bilbo.
  • He may be playing the jester in order to make Frodo laugh, as seen before with the troll song.
  • In this way, he is contributing to Gandalf’s desire to keep up Frodo’s spirits but doing it in a hobbit way that is better and more familiar, but not in any way undermining Gandalf’s work.
  • Rather than talking about negative things in a positive light, he finds a way to laugh about them.
  • He also invites Frodo to laugh at his own shortcomings in regards to languages and geography.
END OF SESSION
 

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