Episode 92 Summary

Tony Meade

Active Member
SESSION 92

Comment on Frodo’s will in his escape:
  • The hopelessness, as opposed to fear, that Frodo feels as the approaches the Ford is reminiscent of what happens in Minas Tirith during the siege. This seems justified by Frodo’s assessment.
  • The Witch-king doesn’t wish to compel Frodo’s will; he wants Frodo to submit to his will instead.
  • Glorfindel’s choice to put Frodo on the horse is more than pragmatic. He knows that Asfaloth will not despair, even if Frodo does, and will continue to resist the Witch-king when Frodo stops.
  • This is parallel to what happens at Mount Doom, when his will is under siege by the Enemy. His quest is not to defeat the Witch-king; just as with the Ring, it’s to hold out as long as possible.
  • Did Frodo’s struggle with the wound and the shard prepare him to resist the Ring later? It’s not clear that he was toughened by it, as he is permanently wounded, but he does gain wisdom.
  • Note: Sam will use the word “schooling” when he describes this learning later on, which once again raises the question of schools in the Shire, and what form they would take.
Comment on Frodo, far from home:
  • The cry of the Riders being associated with the incident in the Eastfarthing highlights how far away from this home and past he has now come, and how much danger he is in, mostly alone.
  • As we’re told that he can no longer see his friends, it’s highlighted that he has to make this final stretch of the journey on his own, with only the help of Asfaloth.
  • This boundary is not just one of safety, but also one in which he’s more alone as he goes further.
  • Frodo has known all along that this is a one-way trip, at least in some sense, and once he crosses each boundary, he doesn’t believe that he will cross back over it again.
  • There is a sense in which Frodo is crossing into Faerie, and this is always a perilous realm.
  • In The Hobbit, Rivendell itself serves as a kind of boundary, transitioning between the tame lands and the wild. It doesn’t serve exactly the same purpose here, but it is similar.
  • Rivendell is their first contact with many of the greater stories that they have heard about, but never seen. Bilbo’s role is to stir the pot of the cauldron of story that lives in Rivendell.
Frodo across the Ford:
  • Note: It’s not clear how much practical experience Tolkien had as a rider of horses in the army. Tolkien was a signals officer, so his contact with horses would have been limited.
  • Asfaloth’s actions are curious, including why he doesn’t keep running after crossing the river. He can still outrun the other horses, even if they were to cross the river.
  • Instead, he turns about and confronts the Riders directly, even though escape is the final goal.
  • Does Asfaloth stop because he knows what is coming? Does he have instructions to stop here?
  • He does need to stop to make sure that the Riders stay in the Ford until the water takes them.
  • Note: Asfaloth is an elf-horse, which seems to be distinct from the Mearas, like Shadowfax.
  • Asfaloth may be responding to the command to stop by the Witch-king, which could be directed to both of them, not just Frodo alone. He seems to defy the command by neighing fiercely.
  • His response mirrors Frodo’s own emotional response of hatred at being commanded to stop.
  • Asfaloth, as a stallion, could be reacting aggressively in a sense of territoriality over the Ford.
  • There is a contrast between Frodo and Asfaloth, as while the horse feels the will to resist, Frodo no longer feels strong enough to fight back.
  • Note: This is parallel to his experience in the Cracks of Doom, where his strength of will fails him.
  • Frodo’s hatred is distinct from his defiance, as though he is being corrupted by trying to fight.
  • As when he drew his sword, his will to resist is good, but by doing this he is playing into the Enemy’s hands. Glorfindel understands this and that’s why he wants him to run away.
  • Note: In a spiritual sense, hatred of evil is good, but hatred of evildoers is questionable. This is where pity is so important, and that pity provides a shield from being corrupted by their evil. This will culminate in Frodo warning the hobbits of the Shire against hatred of Sharkey.
  • Frodo’s despair continues in his belief that the Riders can easily cross and capture him.
The Black Riders at bay:
  • Even though Frodo doesn’t know about the flood, and neither do the Riders, but there are clearly things to prevent them crossing. Running water is a problem for them at the least.
  • A normal ford crossing would hold them back, but this Ford is special, and they know that.
  • The Black Riders’ whole strategy was to prevent the Ringbearer from reaching Rivendell, and now that he has crossed that boundary, they are faced with the big choice of invading it.
  • Note: Elrond will feel confident that he would not be able to resist Sauron himself forever, but we are told in The Hobbit that evil things don’t come into Rivendell, so this crossing is a big deal.
  • Frodo’s fear that they can simply ride through the shallow water shows that he is only thinking in physical terms here, but this is a spiritual border, which the Witch-king must dare to cross.
  • The Witch-king is in a desperate moment, and his only real choice is either to get Frodo to stop and come back to him, or to attempt to cross the river himself, which is perilous for him.
  • The capitalization of “Nine Riders” draw our attention to their identity as the Ringwraiths.
  • The Witch-king is also in danger from behind from Glorfindel, Strider, and the other hobbits.
Frodo’s last effort:
  • Note: We’re told that Frodo doesn’t have the power or Bombadil, and this may be referring to the Barrow-wight in this version, but in the original drafts, when the Black Riders were Barrow-wights themselves, Tom confronts the Black Riders directly and is able to send them off with his words. Frodo is trying to do the same here but fails. These lines are preserved since they still work here less directly, since we have seen Tom give commands and have them obeyed.
  • Frodo’s thin, shrill voice does evoke the sound of the wraiths, though he’s also weak and in pain. This is also Frodo’s perception of his voice in his state and adds to his sense of despair.
  • It’s important that though he doesn’t have Bombadil’s power, the Riders do stop momentarily.
  • Also, it’s the horse that checks at the river, not the Witch-king, even though he spurred the horse forward. It may be that the horse could sense his hesitancy at entering the water.
  • Are the two who follow him into the water the same as the ones in the dell at Weathertop?
  • Note: The line about the power of Bombadil sounds like a Frodo interjection, rather than Sam.
  • Horses are good at sensing danger, but the flood has not yet happened, so this is anxiety.
  • Frodo tries to invoke Elbereth again, and even Lúthien, but it is not as effective as before. Lúthien was known for the power of her voice, so this was good choice of invocation.
  • Why doesn’t Varda respond this time? This invocation is different, as is the situation.
  • The Riders take his defiance and try to twist it around, with their laughter, to make his will to resist them become a will to obey them, using his own words against them.
  • Frodo continues to resist, even though it is weak and useless. He has the will, but not strength.
  • When Frodo makes his invocation, it is in the form of prophecy. They show their desire for the Ring, but he is making a statement in the future indicative of what shall happen, not an action.
  • Frodo is not making an oath, though he is swearing by Elbereth and Lúthien, because he is not promising to do something. He is invoking them as witnesses to his statement of fact.
  • Frodo is not relying on his own strength to do something, but in his faith in their assistance.
  • He is setting himself as the object of the action, rather than the subject, letting go of control.
  • Frodo may be reminding the Witch-king of what happened the last time he invoked Elbereth.
  • Note: There is an echo of the Catholic idea of the intercession of saints through their invocation.
  • Note: There is also an echo of the later statement by Gandalf when he declares Saruman’s staff broken, and as it is stated in the present indicative, it happens. Frodo is speaking of the future, and that is the point at which he has to use his faith. He has no idea of what will actually happen, and his current circumstances look bad, but he chooses to trust.
  • It’s possible that it is Asfaloth’s defiance that gives Frodo the strength for this last confrontation.
  • Where did Frodo get the words for his invocation of Elbereth and Lúthien? This doesn’t seem spontaneous, and he has shown that he doesn’t have the strength to speak. This is inspiration.
  • Frodo’s finding in himself things he didn’t know he had, but it isn’t only his strength involved.
  • Why do the Riders say “The Ring! The Ring!”? They may be expressing a desire or an action, but this is more like religious awe. They are possibly invoking the power of the Ring.
  • All of the Ringwraiths, not just the Witch-king have been involved in this confrontation vocally.
  • It’s not clear that even the Ringwraiths understand what they are saying about the Ring. They are expressing their own slavery to Sauron’s will, and to the power of the Ring, ultimately.
  • This may be similar to Gollum’s hateful desire for the Ring, though this is less personal. They are subordinate to its power, but they have also been commanded to find it.
  • The fact that Sauron has sent them to retrieve the Ring shows that he does not believe that any of them could take it up and wield it themselves.
  • Frodo reveals that he is still thinking of himself and the Ring as two separate things at this point.
END OF SESSION
 

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