Blad The Inspirer
New Member
This is a small comment regarding the discussion from the previous lesson. I found the different ideas regarding why Gandalf suddenly looks at Frodo very interesting, particularly the claim that Gandalf may have had a knee-jerk reaction to the Gollum-like "we".
However, I do feel that one of the other explanations -- the idea that Gandalf was thinking that they are not safe, might deserve more credit than it received in the last lesson. In a few pages, we will get some additional evidence for this, but it seems like Gandalf spends a lot of time playing mental chess, thinking about the movements of the enemy, and constantly aware that they are "sitting in a fortress", but that "outside it is getting dark".
So, when he hears Frodo say "but now we are safe", Gandalf may be surprised out of his private thoughts, rather than being surprised at how naive Frodo's claim is. Gandalf's sudden look at Frodo could be a problem, because it would naturally prompt Frodo, who should be resting, to ask "Wait, Gandalf, are we not safe?" However, as stated in the text, Frodo's eyes are closed, and he doesn't see Gandalf's sudden look. Therefore, Gandalf is able to avoid explaining himself, and protect the newly awoken Frodo, just as he did on the previous page when he said "You look splendid".
That being said, I really like the new explanations that were raised in class, probably even more than I like the one that I have provided here. For my reading, I think the biggest weakness is "but he had shut his eyes", which works a little better if Gandalf is looking at Frodo in alarm at the "we", but overall I think my reading works fairly well. What do you think?
However, I do feel that one of the other explanations -- the idea that Gandalf was thinking that they are not safe, might deserve more credit than it received in the last lesson. In a few pages, we will get some additional evidence for this, but it seems like Gandalf spends a lot of time playing mental chess, thinking about the movements of the enemy, and constantly aware that they are "sitting in a fortress", but that "outside it is getting dark".
So, when he hears Frodo say "but now we are safe", Gandalf may be surprised out of his private thoughts, rather than being surprised at how naive Frodo's claim is. Gandalf's sudden look at Frodo could be a problem, because it would naturally prompt Frodo, who should be resting, to ask "Wait, Gandalf, are we not safe?" However, as stated in the text, Frodo's eyes are closed, and he doesn't see Gandalf's sudden look. Therefore, Gandalf is able to avoid explaining himself, and protect the newly awoken Frodo, just as he did on the previous page when he said "You look splendid".
That being said, I really like the new explanations that were raised in class, probably even more than I like the one that I have provided here. For my reading, I think the biggest weakness is "but he had shut his eyes", which works a little better if Gandalf is looking at Frodo in alarm at the "we", but overall I think my reading works fairly well. What do you think?