It is notable that the narrator chooses to call Pippin by his true name of “Peregrin” at the beginning, but when he speaks the narrator reverts back to Pippin.
This may indicate a change in frame narrator but could also be in the context of the passage where he is paired with Sam, as Sam is his social inferior.
It is worth noting where the switch is made between Peregrin/Pippin, Meriadoc/Merry, and Samwise/Sam. It’s possible that this is evidence of the editing of Findegil in Gondor.
Signs of the Rangers:
Strider sounds very confident that the firewood is a sign of the Rangers, where he has been more diffident about the signs he saw earlier.
His lack of surety about Gandalf’s code points to this not being a common code used by others.
The clues that Strider finds he also interprets as Rangers, as they are too fresh to be Gandalf’s.
Strider becomes cautious again in trying to interpret who made the tracks by the spring.
Strider avoids overconfidence wherever possible and doesn’t commit himself to any interpretation of which he’s not entirely sure. He’s always careful in making statements.
This diffidence may be for the benefit of the hobbits but doesn’t show any great self-doubt.
Strider is interested in finding out what happened to Gandalf and the Black Riders after the fight, and what he can expect to happen with the hobbits on Weathertop.
Strider chides himself, and not Sam or Pippin, for the destruction of the evidence.
Strider takes Sam aside:
It is a sign of Sam’s respect when he addresses “Mr. Strider”, which is a first sign of a change. Does this mean that he considers Strider above him because of his position as their guide?
It’s possible that this change occurs due to Strider’s skill at reading the signs. Sam is now deferring to Strider’s opinion, though he assumes that he knows the answer to his question.
Sam had called him Mr. Strider sarcastically back in Bree, as a sign of his doubts about Strider.
Many things have changed since then, as Strider was right about his advice in Bree, and has led them well through the wilds. Sam has had time to see Strider live up to his end of the bargain.
Sam had been their guide on the first night in the Shire, so he would respect that knowledge.
Note: In Rivendell, Frodo will interpret Sam as still doubting Strider all along the journey.
Strider is including Sam and the others in the decision-making process and does not simply assert leadership and start issuing orders.
Strider shows Sam respect by affirming Sam’s feelings about the dell, and he understands Sam’s value in his protectiveness of Frodo.
The dell that they are in had seemed promising before, but Sam now has misgivings about it.
Sam seems to have some kind of feeling or premonition about what will happen later tonight.
The presence of the Black Riders may also exacerbate their anxieties, as they are nearby now.
Strider acknowledges Sam’s feelings, which he shares, but he rationalizes that none of their other options are any better, and that is why they’re staying in concealment.
Concealment seems to be the dell’s main advantage, as it is not defensible from an attack.
Who are the spies that Strider is worried about? He may be referring to the birds and beasts.
It’s hard to tell if the proximity of the Black Riders is affecting them directly yet. They were not directly affected by the presence of them Black Riders in Bree.
Note: Sam’s use of the word “hole” is a pejorative, which is ironic for a hobbit. This is a pattern.
Gandalf had probably camped in the dell when he arrived on Weathertop, and sensing the approach of the Black Riders, went to the top of the hill where he could defend himself.
After fighting off the Ringwraiths, Gandalf probably returned to the dell, collected his horse, and then left in great haste with some of the Riders in pursuit. Some stayed and searched the dell.
Note: We will learn later that it is Shadowfax that is with Gandalf, and he would not have needed tying up or protection. The Ringwraiths probably would not have any interest in the horse, and if they did, they would not be able to catch Shadowfax if he ran away.
Merry asks his questions based on the hobbits’ observations, as well as his own encounter with Black Rider in Bree. He had not seen the smelling of the Riders, but he had heard about it.
Note: We are told in The Hobbit that the someone wearing the Ring will cast a shadow at noon, and this seems to be related to the shadows of others’ bodies being destroyed in the minds of the Ringwraiths. This seems to be reversal of the same effect in the wraith’s world. Any shadows cast by the Ringwraiths are wholly from their cloaks, as there seems to be a shadow left behind of their former physical forms. There seems to be a negative image left behind between worlds.
There are things that are connected to the wraith world that the Ringwraiths can see that we can’t, and especially in the dark, in a reversal of the way the sun works for us in ours.
The Nazgûl are not dead, or undead, but they have had their lives stretched out to this form.
Note: The violent wraith world as shown in the films is not directly supported by the text, especially as Bilbo lived invisible for weeks in the Elvenking’s halls during The Hobbit. Rather, Frodo’s experience is not that extreme yet, and sees the world mostly as we see it. However, the wraith world become more apparent the longer the wraithification process goes on, and as the Ring gains in power. Sam will have some experience like this in Mordor.
The smell of blood referred to doesn’t require blood to be shed, like a shark. They seem to be able to sense the blood in living creatures, and they are attracted to the life which they lack.
Note: This is reminiscent of the way the senses involved in vampirism is described in Dracula, where he shown as drinking blood to preserve his own life, though there is no evidence that the Nazgûl are vampires in any sense. They are described as both desiring and hating the blood, as it reveals the presence of life. This dichotomy of desire and hate is present in other evil creatures, much like the Barrow-wights and Gollum.
How does Strider know all this, and what is the source of his lore? We know he has been directly taught at Rivendell and had the lore there available, as well as his own personal experiences.
Strider’s pained reaction was a clue that he has interacted with the Ringwraiths before.
When Strider talks about sensing the presence of the Ringwraiths, he is referring to the lingering effect of them upon Weathertop from their previous time there, not their approach now.
The Black Riders’ seeing-eye horses:
What is the role of the black horses, in that they can see? Does this imply that there is a connection between the Riders and their horses, or something else?
It’s possible that the will of the horses has been corrupted, and we know that other beasts and birds can be used as spies, so there must be some form of communication.
Note: We know that Gandalf and Radagast can communicate with birds and beasts, so it’s not out of the question that the Nazgûl can do the same, especially the Witch-king, who was once a sorcerer. Frodo will sing of this ability in his lament for Gandalf in Lothlorien later in the book.
The way that the Ringwraiths act is very bestial, so this might show an affinity for beasts.
At the simplest level, we know that the horses are able to see for themselves.
Note: We learn later that these are most likely horses from Rohan that have been stolen, but we don’t know what happened to those horses afterwards. The Riders of Rohan are renowned for their riding ability and the abilities of their horses, so this may have been corrupted by the Nazgûl for their own purposes. Their wills may also have been broken to serve new masters.
Note: Bill Ferny and Harry Goatleaf are examples of both kinds of evil alliances. Bill Ferny has an affinity with the Ringwraiths and chooses to serve the Ringwraiths for his own benefit, while Harry Goatleaf is daunted by fear to serve Black Riders. We don’t know which category the horses fall into.
Fire as friend in the wilderness:
Note: It is ironic that Aragorn spent his early life being called Estel, or “hope”, and that he tells Frodo that there is still hope here.
Strider is reassuring Frodo primarily to avoid his giving into despair, which makes the Black Riders stronger. Frodo has not been alone up until now, but he needs reminding.
Frodo had said to Gildor that he couldn’t imagine anything worse that hints and warnings, but now he is experiencing the surety of his imminent danger from the Enemy.
Strider is saying three different things to reassure Frodo: One, that they have resources, such as fire, that have been left by others who are on their side. Two, that they are all together and they can stand as one to protect him and each other. Three, Strider references the firewood as a direct sign of the work of Providence, and not in an oblique reference to luck or chance.
It’s already been established by Strider that concealment in the dell was their best option, but Sam is now correctly observing that the fire will contradict that approach.
Strider seems to have decided to forego concealment as that is now impossible and sheds any diffidence to definitively choose to resist the Ringwraiths’ coming attack.
He also makes this interpretation in an inclusive way, to remind Frodo that he is not alone.
This is an important moment regarding the idea of Fellowship. This started with Gandalf saying that Frodo should not go alone and has been emphasized many other times through the story.
Sam is the one who makes it clear that the consequence of Strider’s decision to build a fire is a choice to abandon stealth. Sam is being candid and doubtful, but not truly mistrusting Strider.
Sam is having a very common-sense reaction, in line with his usual character.
