Episode 35 Summary

Tony Meade

Active Member
SESSION 35

A response to the shadow:
  • There is a juxtaposition between the ominous shadow that passes by the window and the sudden appearance of Goldberry framed in light.
  • The image of the light flowing through Goldberry’s hand shows that she is more translucent than a normal person.
  • That light might be more like light shining through a flower petal or leaves.
  • She is framed in light, even though it is currently dark outside.
  • The last time the hobbits were aware of her location, she was outside and above them on a hill singing in the rain.
  • It was very dark in the room at the time, as Tom must light a candle from hers.
  • Note: It is easy to let personal biases and various adaptations skew our mental pictures of the scenes away from what is described in the text.
  • If the shadow was not Goldberry, what might it have been? There are many possibilities.
  • There might not be anything, but an effect of the hobbits’ nerves and fears.
  • The shadow is likely not Goldberry, as they see the shadow outside in the opposite direction from which Goldberry appears inside.
  • Was Goldberry inside the whole time, since she seems dry? Her dryness isn’t necessarily a sign of this, as we’ve seen Tom choose not to be wet from the rain.
  • Tom does not need to wave his arms to stay dry, as he seems to enjoy the movement.
  • Note: We likely cannot be accused of overthinking these details compared to Tolkien, who obsessed over details such as the moon phases.
  • We don’t know how much time has passed since the morning, as they have been enchanted by Tom’s storytelling, so we don’t know how long Goldberry has been back in the house.
  • Could the light framing Goldberry be a remnant of their enchantment? There does seem to be an unusual amount of light for a single candle.
  • In any event, the light which frames and passes through Goldberry is uncanny and unnatural.
“Awed” vs “Odd”:
  • All the verbs describing Tom’s movements are about some type of bouncing around.
  • Their change of clothing seems to a twist on the Victorian notion of dressing for dinner.
  • It’s interesting that Tom’s description uses all flower imagery. He may be wearing this in honor of his wife. Goldberry usually has similar forget-me-not flowers in her belt.
  • Note: Goldberry’s fish-mail shoes may be a reference to Tolkien’s poem, “Princess Mee”. The fishes’ mail shoes seem to be associated with fairies and Faerie.
  • There is an odd juxtaposition between the humor and silliness of Tom’s movements and the grace and beauty of Goldberry’s.
  • Tom’s lack of caring about his silliness is important to his character.
  • Tolkien emphasizes the differences, not to put them at odds, but to show how they fit together.
  • The dance that they do is functional, as it serves the purpose of hospitality to their guests.
Goldberry’s new enchantment:
  • The hobbits do not shake off their fear and awe all at once. Rather, it takes them watching Tom and Goldberry’s movement and eating dinner to break the enchantment.
  • Goldberry’s song is a song of the river, but this does not invalidate her association with flowers.
  • She is the daughter of the river and lived there a long time before leaving to live with Tom, and therefore can tell the hobbits about the life of the river.
  • The point of view is not from the river’s, as they could only see the stars in the pools watching them from above. This may represent the rain’s point of view.
  • Note: These images of stars in the pools are reminiscent of both Cuiviénen and Kheled-zâram.
  • The hobbits have seen stars and pools before, but the description hints at something mythical.
  • Goldberry is clearly weaving her own enchantment for the hobbits in her songs.
Tom’s turn for questions:
  • We don’t know in what fashion the news has reached Tom, though there are some possibilities.
  • There could have been an Elf messenger, a bird or beast messenger, or direct communication.
  • The trees themselves could also have passed the news to Tom.
  • This is all to say that Tom did not share with the hobbits how that information reached him
  • It would seem to say that Gildor’s elves know who Tom is and how to reach him.
  • Gildor would have more chance to know Tom than Elrond, who does not travel much anymore.
  • Tom did say that he had heard news of the hobbits prior to their arrival, but he also seemed aware of their arrival in the forest after they arrived.
An admirer of Farmer Maggot:
  • How often does Tom go to the Shire and speak with Farmer Maggot?
  • The poem about Tom’s boating seems to take place after this time, after Merry and the other Buckland hobbits become familiar with him.
  • Merry would have heard of Tom before if they were familiar with him before now.
  • It seems more likely that Farmer Maggot has gone into the Old Forest to visit time.
  • Tom’s trip on the boat seems to be a first, or at least unusual, according the poem.
  • Farmer Maggot may have encountered Tom Bombadil as a wilder youth braving the Old Forest and maintained his connection as he got older.
(continued below)
 

Attachments

  • Session 35.pdf
    101.2 KB · Views: 4
(continued)

Tom and the Ring:
  • It is notable that Tom uses the word “precious” in reference to the Ring, as if he knows and understands the effect it has upon its owner. He may be saying this wryly.
  • Why is Frodo more open with Tom than Gandalf? Gandalf doesn’t ask the questions.
  • Gandalf is more focused on the quest, while Tom asks Frodo about him personally.
  • We’ve seen already that Frodo has held back from telling Gandalf about his feelings regarding following Bilbo, but Tom asks him about these things.
  • Gandalf has been more professionally interested in Frodo, while Tom is more personally interested. Gandalf is Frodo’s friend, but Tom also has no interest in the Ring.
  • Gandalf also does not try to make Frodo comfortable, rather impressing on him the danger.
  • Did Frodo mention the Ring, or did Tom already know about it? We don’t know.
  • Tom may have guessed after Frodo opened up to him, but Frodo might also have told him.
  • Tom gives an imperative in asking for the Ring, and Frodo is surprised by his giving the Ring over.
  • There is no hesitation or pause as before in Bag End; rather, he gives over the Ring immediately.
  • Tom’s mastery extends even to override the influence of the Ring over Frodo.
  • Is Tom trying to dominate Frodo’s will here? The fact that he has a different response than in any other occasion where the Ring is involved shows that Tom is putting forth his power.
  • This makes it easier for Frodo to hand over the Ring, as he bypasses the Ring’s influence.
  • This is like the way Gandalf puts forth power to break the Ring’s hold over Bilbo, though Gandalf must do this in a much more indirect way.
  • The fact that the Ring grows larger in Tom’s hand is probably not an illusion, but the Ring’s reaction to the possibility of Tom as a new master.
  • Why does Tom put the Ring up to his eye? Is this for him, for Frodo, or for the Ring?
  • It’s possible that this is Tom mocking Sauron by parodying the Eye symbol.
  • Tom’s putting on of the Ring is Tom showing the smallness of the Ring as an object.
  • By putting the Ring on his little finger, he may be making a point to Sauron or the Ring itself that there’s no point in trying to tempt him with it.
  • The fact that Tom doesn’t become invisible is a shock to the hobbits, but at this point they really don’t understand how the Ring and the invisibility works.
  • Tom does not seem to be building himself up, but rather putting down the Ring.
  • Note: Sauron, nor none of the other great ones would become invisible either.
  • Is Tom using magic or sleight of hand in making the Ring vanish? It’s hard to draw that line.
  • Tom is also demonstrating his mastery and has no interest in domination.
  • The Ring, in resizing itself, is making a hard play for Tom as its new master.
Frodo’s proves the Ring to be real:
  • The fact that Frodo refers to the Ring as “his own ring” is telling, showing Frodo’s perspective.
  • This is like the other descriptions of Ring temptations in Frodo’s mind.
  • Frodo’s first thought is of his ownership, and this leads him to suspect Tom of theft.
  • This suspicion completely ignores all that he has seen of Tom and shows that he has missed the point of Tom’s demonstration. His annoyance shows his resistance to it.
  • The Ring is clearly working on Frodo in convincing him to put it on to test it.
  • It’s important that this is the first time he has put on the Ring since he knew what it was.
On the Ring’s sentience, again:
  • Where is Frodo going when he moves towards the door?
  • Frodo’s feelings and actions could very easily come from him and not the Ring.
  • Frodo has already confirmed the Ring’s identity, so his leaving is not part of that.
Tom breaks the Ring’s spell:
  • Tom’s ability to see him shows him able to see through the Ring, in many senses of that phrase.
  • Tom’s segue into planning for their departure allows him to break the spell of the Ring.
  • Tom does seem to understand what is happening to Frodo and helps him to recover himself.
  • Tom has no interest in taking the Ring from Frodo or ending the quest.
  • Frodo is clearly uncomfortable with what has happened, for many reasons.
  • He feels embarrassed at his lack of power over the Ring and understands that Tom is allowing him to pass this all off as a joke for his sake.
  • He is also still under the influence of the Ring, and that aspect feels thwarted by Tom’s power.
  • Had Frodo been allowed to follow the impulses of the Ring, he likely would have been captured.
  • The only direct rebuke of Frodo over this incident is that his hand is fairer without the Ring, and this is very gentle advice, and makes it into a game.
  • Is Tom giving another imperative when he tells Frodo to take off the Ring? It may be, as Frodo once again immediately complies.
  • Tom makes a small deal of the Ring, and therefore makes a small deal of Frodo’s temptation.
  • Why is Sam silent in the presence of Tom, as he was with the Elves? Sam is good at awe.
END OF SESSION
 

Attachments

  • Session 35.pdf
    101.2 KB · Views: 5
Back
Top