Episode 329 Summary

[Tony Meade]

SESSION 329

Listen to this:

• Gandalf only reads part of the text, with the rest being his interpretation of unreadable parts.
• Note: Since Tolkien had prepared a visual aid, being the copy of the page from the book, he is allowing the readers to look at the text that Gandalf doesn’t read aloud for themselves. He also gives clues in the text that allow readers to learn how to interpret the alphabets and languages.
• The marking of “one – three” labels the page of the section, not two different page numbers.
• Gandalf is pointing out that this means that sections “one – one” and “one – two” are missing.
• He is extrapolating that the system the Dwarves are using is based on the year after their arrival.
• This means that the book is meant to be a long-term record or survey, not making daily entries.
• The entries would be focused on the major events that they felt important enough to chronicle.
• Note: While there is a parallel to the Bible’s Book of Chronicles, those were compiled later from earlier sources that it cites, whereas this book is being written contemporaneously with events.

The fortunes of Balin’s folk:

• The missing pages could be recording the events before getting to Moria or just after entering.
• The use of the word “fortunes” is important, as The Hobbit emphasizes importance of “luck”.
• Gandalf does not use the word “misfortunes” as this would be prejudiced by the evidence around them, as not all that is recorded is misfortune, though Gandalf is focused on their doom.
• He makes the assumption that they first came to Dimrill Dale based on the evidence in the text of the fact that they entered from the great gate on the eastern side which opens up there.
• Gandalf seems to be cautious and specific in order to prevent confusion, even when guessing.
• This also appears to be a spontaneous sightreading of the text and narrating it aloud as he goes.
• There is no mention of how many dwarves went with Balin, but it seems to be at least in the hundreds, due to Glóin’s story in the Council of Elrond of “many” dwarves and Dáin’s resistance.
• Balin would have been sufficiently important to desire Dáin’s blessing to leave Erebor, but the fact that there was a delay and a need for Dáin’s permission indicates a much larger number.
• There is an inconsistency in the use of grammar, which may point to either a broken sentence, due to the damage to the book, or partial sentences for recordkeeping, or multiple authors.
• Note: The fact that Flói is buried “under grass” seems strange in retrospect from the point of view of the Appendices, but those would be written several years later than this passage.
• The lack of definite article in “under grass” may point to this as an unusual practice, but its possible that the exception was made because of the sacred nature of the Mirrormere.
• There are many possibilities as to what Flói slew, but it was great enough to honor him for it.

The Chamber of Records:

• It is possible that a long time passed between the initial battle and taking of the twentyfirst hall.
• So far, this seems to be a record of unbroken success, with a major victory and taking much territory within Moria, culminating in the setting of Balin on the seat of lordship thereof.
• The reference to “shaft” could be about light, but it could also be about arrows or mining.
• Note: There is no evidence of any sign or dread of the Balrog being perceived at that time.
• It is possible that where Balin’s tomb now rests under that shaft of light, Balin’s seat once sat.
• While it would be a sad act to make his tomb from the stone of his seat, it would be appropriate.
• It may be intuitive to Gimli that Balin’s tomb is set where his seat had been in Dwarvish culture.

Blurred and burned:

• There is a suggestion that the Dwarves somehow drew the Orcs out into bright sunlight to fight.
• This would point towards a well thought out strategy on the part of the expedition leadership.
• It seems that something “great” nearly turned the tide for the Orcs, but it was slain by Flói.
• The fact that the battle was near the Mirrormere is another reason to bury Flói nearby the site.
• Gandalf has had to guess nouns based on the modifiers, but he doesn’t attempt with “great”.
• It is possible that this is a substantified adjective in Khuzdul being used, but with no translation.
• This means that Gandalf doesn’t act like there is a word he can’t read because there isn’t one.
• Gandalf also may be translating directly and literally from what he is reading from the pages.
• Note: On the page created by Tolkien is transliterated English, however, just in other alphabets.
• The lack of a definite article for “North end” must mean that this is a proper name for that area.
• Having won the battle, there is no reason to be in haste writing down and ignoring grammar rules in the process of simply making notes, so this must be a translation artifact from Khuzdul.
• Note: The effect of putting the pauses where Tolkien does is to give an impression of the whole history of the initial venture into Moria, but by highlighting only a few notable events, while maintaining the experience of the obscuring of the past, setting our expectations for the rest.
• This narrative also matches what was shared in the Council of Elrond by Glóin, based on what was known in Erebor, and it seems that they were comfortable enough to send messengers.
• Gimli recognizes the phrase “Chamber of Mazarbul” and guesses that is where they are, which means that he is possibly familiar with the place, and that it translates to “Chamber of Records”.
• “Mazarbul” has a genitive “ul” ending, providing evidence that Khuzdul is an inflected language.
• It’s not clear how full Gandalf’s knowledge is of Khuzdul, when Gimli helps with his translations.

END OF SESSION