Session 9 Summary

Tony Meade

Active Member
SESSION 9

Comment on Frodo and Gandalf’s conversation:
  • Gandalf is not saying that he wished these dark times had not happened in his own time, as he’s immortal and to confront the darkness is his mission.
  • He is only expressing his sympathy with Frodo’s situation.
  • It’s important to remember that at the time of the writing, the identity of the wizards was not fully developed, as it would be in Unfinished Tales and The Silmarillion.
  • The embodiment of the Wizards is different from what the Ainur do normally. They are truly incarnated, and therefore their perspective is different from the other Ainur.
  • It is more like that of other incarnate races, like Elves and Men.
  • They are subject to the worries, hurts, forgetfulness, and all other frailties of incarnate beings.
  • Gandalf and Saruman’s deaths show that this difference is present, as their bodies truly die.
  • Radagast is shown to possibly forget his identity and purpose by going native.
  • Gandalf is chastised by Saruman for going somewhat native in his interest in Hobbits.
  • Gandalf (as Olórin) was reluctant to come to Middle-earth on this mission, though willing.
  • We should remember that all of this is retconned material written after The Lord of the Rings.
Comment on Frodo’s worthiness:
  • Hobbits are shown as aggressively ordinary, as opposed to being special or inherently heroic.
  • The Hobbits are stand-ins for readers, so we see the story and characters from that perspective.
  • Unlike the superhero genre shows how special people wrestle with their gifts and how to use them properly, the Hobbits have to deal with trying to be heroes while not special.
  • That the Hobbits are not special make them thoroughly modern heroes, rather than the mythic archetypes that Tolkien uses for other characters, like Gandalf and Aragorn.
  • This also emphasizes that all these characters have to make moral choices constantly.
Comment on the wind directions:
  • The direction from which the wind comes has both a practical and mythic significance.
  • Examples are the south wind, which is a warm wind, but also brings clearing of the Shadow.
  • Often west winds have mythic significance, due to the location of Valinor.
  • It’s important to be discerning regarding reading these things practically or mythically. Not everything is metaphorical, allegorical, or symbolic, though that is there. But most of the time, it is simply geographical detail that adds to the realism of the scene.
  • The conditions of travel are based on real experience, so add to the detail.
Comment on the title of the Took:
  • “Thain Paladin” combines two words for servants of kings: “Thane”, from the Anglo-Saxon and “Paladin”, from the French tradition under Charlemagne.
  • This is exactly the kind if etymological game Tolkien was so fond of in naming characters.
  • Nearly all of the names Kings of Rohan have Anglo-Saxon names that mean “king”.
Comment on Pippin’s names:
  • “Peregrin” means “pilgrim”, indicating Took wanderlust. This is fitting for a Took.
  • Paladin and Peregrin both have Latinate roots, which is unusual, but not unheard of.
  • Tolkien fans overemphasize Tolkien’s dislike of Greco-Roman things, as he studied classics and classical languages, and uses it where appropriate, though the preferred the Norse.
  • Tolkien is more whimsical in his use of Greek and Latin names for the Hobbits.
Comment on Sam’s imaginative life:
  • The first glimpse of Sam in the book, and indeed the first time Sam shows up in the drafts, is in the scene with Ted Sandyman.
  • In this scene, what is emphasized is not Sam’s practicality, but his imagination.
  • Sam is imaginatively engaged with the stories of the Elves and histories, including both the marvelous and the melancholy.
  • Sam then goes on to live those stories out.
On Sam’s sigh in the Green Dragon:
  • Is Sam thinking about Elves “sailing, sailing”? Yes, but not that only.
  • Sam is not just thinking about the conversation with Ted, but about both his work as a gardener, and as part of the conspiracy to keep tabs on Frodo and Gandalf.
The end of the conversation between Frodo and Gandalf:
  • Gandalf sets a high standard for Frodo’s choice of companions and warns him of spies.
  • Frodo immediately settles into caution or paranoia and is aware of the unusual silence.
  • There was indeed a spy outside Frodo’s own window, and it turns out to be Sam.
Why does Sam say “Lor’ bless you” in this scene? Is this anachronistic?
  • Traditionally, this is a Christian expression, with “Lord” meaning God.
  • Sam is using the term as a lower-class hobbit referring to a vassal’s lord.
  • This is a memory of the old kingdom of Arnor.
Gandalf letting in the sun:
  • Gandalf opens the window to let in the sun when the conversation gets too gloomy.
  • This is both physical and metaphysical. Gandalf is physically letting in sunlight to brighten the room and the mood of the conversation, but it is also a spiritual act to drive back evil will.
  • We are often told that evil creatures prefer the dark and cannot abide the light, so this is a defensive act against that spiritual interference.
Dropping eaves?
  • Sam is clearly playing dumb by using this expression, but Gandalf is not having it.
  • He is playing the same game with “eavesdropping” as Gandalf and Bilbo with “good morning”.
  • Sam is not as dumb as he’s playing here, as he reveals what he heard, but not why he listened.
  • He does not blow his cover or give away the conspiracy.
  • Sam did not just happen to be at the window cutting the grass, he was asked to do this.
  • He would also be known to be enchanted by the stories of Elves, so this covers his spying.
  • Cutting the grass puts him in perfect position to listen.
Frodo’s reactions:
  • Frodo is amused, startled, and puzzled. The juxtaposition of news of spies with the sight of Sam’s head makes him have all these reactions, due to the cognitive dissonance.
  • Frodo clearly buys Sam’s explanation for his behavior, as nothing else makes sense to him.
  • The things that Sam claims that he listened for all have to do with his wonder at them.
  • Sam alludes back to his conversation with Ted, saying that his belief makes him unusual.
  • Sam’s summary is pretty good, but it emphasizes the things that he’s interested in.
  • Frodo’s experience of hearing Bilbo’s stories, and the rumors of Mordor, make him aware that he has now become part of these stories, and what that means.
  • Frodo’s reaction of horror at these stories is contrasted with Sam’s wonder and faith.
Gandalf deems a doom:
  • Sam seems to have an inkling that he will be taken along and shows that he already wants to go. For Frodo, this is exile, but for Sam this is a treat.
  • Frodo’s perspective on wizards is shown in what he believes Gandalf can do to Sam.
  • Frodo makes a wizardly threat to keep Sam’s silence, though this is not entirely serious.
  • Sam takes this seriously, though, and it works to keep his silence.
  • Sam is clearly loyal to Frodo personally, and he is telling the truth in his concern about Frodo.
  • Gandalf would never confirm or deny Frodo’s suggestion about his powers.
On Hobbit class differences, again:
  • Frodo is teasing Sam lightly here but does not engage in the kind of hobbitry that he does with his kinsmen, like Merry and Pippin. That’s because they are social peers.
  • Sam is Frodo’s servant, and Frodo treats him with kindness the way a good master should.
  • Sam, in return, almost never engages in hobbitry with Frodo, Merry, and Pippin, as they are not social equals.
On Sam’s awareness of the peril:
  • Sam does not seem to be fully aware of the danger, because he is not well-informed.
  • However, Sam does seem to understand part of the danger, but it is overridden by wonder.
  • He loves the stories of elves that he has heard so much, that he is willing to run the danger.
  • Gaffer predicted earlier that Sam’s interest in these stories that would land him in danger too big for him, which proves true. This justifies the Gaffer’s suspicion of literacy.
Sam’s mixed reactions:
  • Sam also bursts into tears after his excitement, but these are not tears of joy.
  • Sam is having to confront the fear of the journey, and his sadness at leaving home.
  • Being mixed up in the business of his betters defines Sam’s flavor of heroism.
(continued below)
 

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(continued)

Gandalf’s plans, and Sauron’s limitations:
  • Gandalf will admit that he made a very serious mistake in allowing Frodo to delay his departure until September. However, Gandalf can be excused, given his knowledge at the time.
  • Gandalf prioritizes quietness over quickness in Frodo’s departure.
  • He does not yet know that the Ringwraiths are in pursuit at this point, though he knew that Sauron was actively searching for Hobbit using spies. But he did not expect the Nazgul.
  • Once again, we must remember that there are not reliable maps nor mass transit in Middle-earth. This search and the travel involved will be difficult and long.
  • The relative distances involved are much greater and daunting for the characters in the story.
  • The only things that Sauron knows, through Gollum, is that Bilbo is generally from Eriador and the name of a country of which no one knows the location.
  • The search is aided by the rumors of Bilbo’s departure in Bree.
Frodo’s uncertainty:
  • Frodo is committed to leaving, but he is rootless, without a clear destination.
  • Without a destination to steer by, there doesn’t seem to be urgency.
  • Frodo also feels a desire to follow in Bilbo’s footsteps and on his trail.
Breathing Rivendell’s air:
  • The air of Rivendell is different from the normal world. We know because it “smells like elves”.
  • In the Silmarillion, the Elves have to breathe the air of Middle-earth in order to survive.
  • There’s something of the old world preserved in the valley of Rivendell, that outsiders perceive.
  • This seems to be an actual physical phenomenon, and not just spiritual.
  • This effect also seems to extend to Lórien and Hollin.
  • The breathing of elvish air seems to result in a growth in stature among mortals.
END OF SESSION
 

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