Episode 83 Summary

Tony Meade

Active Member
SESSION 83

On the textual history of the winged Nazgûl:
  • The dream or vision that Frodo has of pursuers riding on dark wings points to something for which we don’t yet have a precedent. The winged Nazgûl have not yet been seen.
  • This may be another anxiety dream, but this is too specific to be a vague metaphor about the will of the Ringwraiths or Sauron himself searching for him. The word “rode” makes it stand out.
  • This is present in the early drafts, too, but the writing of this passage predates Tolkien’s concept of the fell beasts in the creation of the story.
  • Within the chronology of the story, the use of the fell beasts as winged steeds does precede this, but the first time they are seen is when Legolas shoots one on the Anduin.
  • Gandalf has stopped riding Eagles and has been on horseback for some time.
  • This doesn’t seem like the kind “recent events” dream that he’s had before, and it is described as “half in a dream”, which implies that his spirit is wandering close to the wraith world.
  • The crebain are also unprecedented at this point, and the use of crows as spies doesn’t match the use of the word “rode”.
  • There is some evidence that this represents the seed of the idea of the winged Nazgûl that Tolkien will create later, based on this vision, which in retrospect, will look prescient.
  • Frodo’s mind is not connected to Sauron through the Ring, but his will is certainly connected to the Witch-king through the splinter of the blade, and the Witch-king’s aware of the fell beasts.
  • This doesn’t bear the hallmarks of a vision sent by the Valar, but more the wraith world.
A cold night and a bright morning:
  • We know that trolls don’t build, so who quarried this stone? This land had originally been owned by Rhudaur, and it was more populated in past times, so it was probably them.
  • There doesn’t seem to be any direct sunlight, in spite of the bright, clear dawn. It seems to still be cloudy, and the lack of sunlight has negative effect on Frodo’s wound.
  • Strider still needs to look around from a high place because of his lack of knowledge of the area.
  • Strider’s taking Merry with him seems to be a promotion in respect and involvement. He accompanied Frodo and Strider to the top of Weathertop, but this is the first time on his own.
  • He has been taking the measure of each of the hobbits in turn, and he seems to think that Merry is more comfortable with scouting ahead, based on what he has done in the past.
  • Sam would need to stay to look after Frodo, and he doesn’t seem to respect Pippin yet.
  • Strider does seem to be admitting that the plan he had tried in going away from the Road was a good idea, but that plan seems to have failed. This long-cut seems to have gone a bit wrong.
  • When Strider refers to finding a path, he really means making a path, as there were no paths.
  • Frodo’s condition is a deciding factor, as he realizes that he cannot take the time to wind through the hills to avoid the Road. Frodo not making it is worse than being caught on the Road.
The sun lightens everything:
  • The sun acts against the Shadow, both literally and spiritually. They all feel better in the sunlight, including Frodo, and just like the blade vanished in the sunlight, it seems to affect his wound.
  • Note: As Bilbo proved in The Hobbit, sunlight is definitely one’s friend in the Trollshaws.
  • Also, the rising of the spirits of all his companions is helpful to Frodo’s condition.
  • Note: If Frodo were further along the path to becoming a wraith, he might not be cheered by the morning sunshine, but pained by it, much like Gollum is. This is parallel to Mina Harker in Dracula, in which Van Helsing tracks her condition by how she responds to sunlight and food.
  • There is evidence that a malevolent spiritual attack seems stronger in the darkness and gloom.
  • This is not to say that nighttime itself is a negative thing, as this is a blessed time for the Elves who love the starlight. It isn’t night, but the darkness itself that seems to attract the evil things.
  • Note: Gollum was constitutionally different from Frodo when he comes into possession of the Ring, and he seems to have wanted to avoid daylight when he was still Sméagol.
  • Bill the pony is attributed an ability to help take care of Frodo by finding smooth pasts. He seems to be influenced by Sam’s care for Frodo, and he wants to make Sam happy.
  • Note: The last time we saw Bill Ferny, Sam hit him in the face with an apple, and the next time we will see him, he will be kicked by Bill the pony, so it seems that Sam’s influence will grow, though he would have his own reasons for kicking Bill Ferny, too.
  • Sam will surely be praising Bill for his treatment of Mr. Frodo, and positively reinforcing that.
Pippin finds a path:
  • Pippin may be feeling left out, having seen the others taken into Strider’s confidence, or he may be being reckless or restless, but either one may be driven by a desire to impress Strider.
  • Strider doesn’t rein in Pippin, and permits him to go on ahead, though he doesn’t say anything.
  • The path is leading them both toward the Road (and past Bilbo’s trolls), but it’s unclear where it starts further uphill. It is not as well-maintained as the path as it goes south toward the Road.
  • Was there coming and going on this road in the past? This doesn’t seem like a man-made path created by Rhudaur, but this has all the evidence that this was made by the trolls.
  • There is a sense of destruction in making the path, breaking the trees and rocks in their way.
  • It has been 78 years since the trolls used this path, so someone else may have used or maintained this path since then. The heavy footprints indicate that the path is recessed.
  • The word “track” is used, which implies that this may be naturally water worn, like a gully.
Finding the troll-hole:
  • Note: This place is certainly the troll-hole found after Thorin’s Company after their adventure with the trolls, as it was described as uphill from the place of the troll’s fire. Bilbo would probably have shared this story, and Strider may have taken it upon himself to find the place.
  • Strider seems to certainly know exactly where they are in relation to Bilbo’s troll adventure.
  • He seems to be having a little fun with the hobbits, and this would explain why he allowed Pippin to go on ahead, as he knew that it was safe, and they are recovering from a hard day.
  • Strider seems to know that the hobbits would be really excited to find Bilbo’s trolls, and this will help to raise their spirits, especially Frodo’s.
  • Did Strider lead the hobbits this way on purpose? He didn’t know where they were before, but upon seeing the land from the hilltop, he realized their location and led them down here.
  • He doesn’t seem to be having a joke on the hobbits, but he does allow them to make their own discovery of the place, without giving anything away.
  • Note: In a reversal of their situations, Thorin’s Company approached this area without fear in spite of obvious danger, while Frodo’s party approach with anxiety, despite complete safety.
  • Strider goes in with Merry, but he does so warily, and only to explain what Merry is seeing.
  • Strider seems unconcerned with any more recent troll activity, or even animal occupation.
  • Pippin tries to assert influence over the party, trying to show wisdom in front of Strider. He also tries to address Strider as though he were one of their party, as he would the other hobbits.
  • The use of the hyphenated term “troll-hole” points to a single common and understood word used among them, like hobbit-holes. This may come from the stories they’ve heard about trolls.
Strider trolls the hobbits:
  • Strider seems to be trying not to laugh at the hobbits through this whole episode. He knows what he’s going to find and is enjoying the suspense leading up to the revelations.
  • He also knows that the effect on Pippin of his facing the trolls with only a stick in his hand, which is also reminiscent of Thorin also facing them with only burning sticks.
  • There’s already a fair amount of awe among the hobbits for Strider, so this would impress them.
  • Pippin is afraid, but he faces his fear in order to impress Strider. This is a safe environment to allow the hobbits to confront their fears and learn lessons in reading the signs around them.
  • Strider is gentler with them, especially Pippin, than Gandalf would be, and he is counting on the inevitable laughter being good for their spirits, even his own.
END OF SESSION
 

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