Lord of the Rings Discussion Group (The Green Dragon Inn) II

[HairOfTheDog]

Repost – Highlights from chapters 1-5 copied from the original forum to the new one. To reference the full version, click here: Original Green Dragon Inn Within the first five chapters... disregard the reply numbers... they wont work.

Thank you ecurbh, for copying and editing our old thread so that the highlights could be moved here! Highlights of the first five chapters from the old thread are pasted into the first 5 replies here. For those of you who are just joining you… as of this post we are beginning Chapter 6.

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Welcome to The Green Dragon Inn

Approaching The Green Dragon Inn
Hobbiton, in The Shire

The Road goes ever on and on
Down from the door where it began.
Now far ahead the Road has gone,
And I must follow, if I can,
Pursuing it with eager feet,
Until it joins some larger way
Where many paths and errands meet.
And wither then? I cannot say.
- JRR Tolkien

Politics also goes ever on and on.
This is a place for FReeper Tolkien fans to come and take a break from the impure reality of conservative activism and relax a little with a great story. We (the other co-conspirators and I) would like to study together the writings of Tolkien, beginning together, and discussing as we go through The Lord of the Rings together.

This is a chapter discussion, roughly one chapter per week, with the discussion mostly centered on the books, though of course the movie will be contrasted and compared, and perhaps used to illustrate another interpretation of the story.

Every week, someone from the group (maybe me) will ping The Green Dragon List to the new Chapter, but we will continue this one thread until it becomes too cumbersome…. Let me know if you would like to be on - or off - this list. I will for now serve as the Thain of the list.

If you are joining late, jump right in, but please stick to the chapter currently being discussed.

Some have loved this story a long time, and some are newly discovering it. If you fit either category, we invite you to join in, but we would like this thread to stay mostly focused on the chapter at hand and keep moving, but at a pace everyone can keep up with… No jumping ahead, and no lagging behind! If you have other news to report or wish to discuss something Tolkien in more general terms… May we recommend the equally homey Hobbit Hole where my co-conspirators and I frequently have plenty of good talk.

One other request…. This thread will get long. In recognition that images slow down the thread for many, let’s keep the posting of images to a minimum on this thread. If there is a great illustration you wish to share, let’s try to use links instead of images wherever possible.

So lets read, listen and become inspired by the many aspects of The Lord of the Rings that touch us deeply and reconnect us to the values we aspire to. Many great discussions have already been had, and I hope that this thread will produce even more. Many FReepers have wonderful things to say about LoTR, whether the fantasy reconnects them with their faith, with their relationships with friends and family, or simply illustrates the splendor of great acts of heroism and sacrifice in the constant battle of virtue versus corruption.

Though it is a work of fiction, we believe the inspiration to be gained can only help us in our larger political goals: to appreciate and defend our freedom, our culture and our political ideals. May the fellowship and insight gained from this discussion help us to work through the issues that are the basis for our many shared ideals.

Besides, we Tolkien fans* need something to keep us busy during the next two years of waiting for the next two films. If you do not enjoy this story, then please simply leave us be.

*Also known as Geeky Hobbity Weirdos, obsessive fanatics, you name it, we have heard it and we see these names as compliments. In other words: don’t act like a troll, or we will distract you with our endless babble until the morning sun turns you to stone.

[fire and forget]

Thanks. Never delved into Tolkien's works outside the Hobbit, LOTR and the Silmarillian, and I've read only the LOTR in the past 17 years (after the movie in fact). Tolkien was a great and passionate man. The passion is obvious. The greatness derives from his ability to impart his passion on to so many others.

Tolkien forever! Greatest representative of humanity the 20th Century produced. And given the self-sacrifice, invention and foresight of so many of the past century, this says alot (albeit, it's only my humble opinion).

[fire and forget]

First reply I've received from a Middle Earth thread since I found my way on ping-lists (not that I've made more than three replies ). I don't know. I've read probably 1% of everything that's been posted on this topic, and had I gone further, I'm sure I'd be much better qualified to reply to anything. I have read the books many times apiece. Obsessed about them in JR. High. Never gotten deeply philosophical about them, however.

Hope to follow the happenings more closely from now on and to participate more fully. Thanks.

[Overtaxed]

Thanks. Never delved into Tolkien's works outside the Hobbit, LOTR and the Silmarillian...

You're welcome! I'm most familiar with LOTR, then The Hobbit (which I've only read once). I've read the Silmarillian once but I don't remember much from that. This thread is giving me a great chance to get into all the background stuff...of both Middle Earth and Tolkien. I've got Letters that I've read bits of (of which I've read bits?) So I'm slowly fitting all the background and story parts together!

[Overtaxed]

So the Barrow-wights are not the spirits of the kings who were buried there at all?

Some trace of the kings' spirits are present in the barrow, aren't they? When Merry wakes up he says:

'Of course, I remember! The men of Carn Dum came on us at night, and we were worsted. Ah! the spear in my heart!' He clutched at his breast. 'No! No!' he said, opening his eyes. 'What am I saying? I have been dreaming.'

Now I have to look up Carn Dum!

[JenB]

Carn Dum was a city, the city of the men of Angmar (bad guys). The barrows were originally for the 'good' guys, who were destroyed by Angmar after... well, see, Arnor got broken up into three parts by a king who wanted all three of his sons to rule; Arthedain, Cardolan and Rhudaur. Then in two of them, the line of Numenor died out, and the king of Arthedain wanted to reclaim the other two, but they weren't having any of it. Then up comes Angmar, and its witch-king, and basically wipes out all three parts of Arnor... which is why it's the Lost Realm. But Aragorn comes from the kings of Arthedain, and Arnor before that...

[Overtaxed]

So were the Angmar folks bad Numenoreans or did they come from somewhere else?

[JenB]

Some of both, I believe. It existed for about 700 years and was ruled all the time by the Witch King, who we know as the head Nazgul, so there certainly weren't many charities operating out of the place. I think the Witch-King brought up evil Lesser Men, but there have always been some bad Numenoreans, and I wouldn't discount turncoats. The relevant documents are not with me and Tolkien was never very specific on this point, IIRC.

[Restorer]

Welcome and good luck!

I post quite a bit, and surprisingly often there is no response to my brilliant, witty, insightful posts. :)

so try not to get discouraged!

[HairOfTheDog]

Welcome, and thank you for posting your responses today!

Listen, in this group, I would say if no one responds, it is because you said something right! - If you said something wrong, all the detail fanatics would have jumped right on it! hehehehe

I hope you do keep posting... The small group of regulars in here talk to each other all day long... we appreciate new voices!

[Overtaxed]

If you said something wrong, all the detail fanatics would have jumped right on it!

Hehehe. Should I say something about cheese-eating Elves?

[Overtaxed]

This is one scene that I wish they had put in the movie so Frodo doesn't look as wimpy. Frodo rejects the idea of saving himself and abandoning his friends and strikes back at the nasty beasties.

Also, picking up the swords at the Barrow makes more sense than....getting them the way they did in the movie.

[fire and forget]

Thanks for the encouragement. I don't sit on the edge of my seat waiting for someone to reply to my posts but it is always nice to receive replies. I'm way behind the curve here as I've not been following the thread except sporadically. What little I have seen has made it abundantly clear that I'm a good long way from being a Tolkien scholar :)

[JenB]

Hey, not everyone has to be a Tolkien scholar. We've got enough of those - we need new voices to tell us things we might overlook, and new friends who share our love of Middle-Earth. You're not really behind the curve - we've barely started on our trip! All the best stuff is still ahead of us. Hope you continue to join us.

[Overtaxed]

Tom will give you good advice, till this day is over (after that your own luck must go with you and guide you): four miles along the Road you'll come upon a village, Bree under Bree-hill, with doors looking westward. There you'll find an old inn that is called The Prancing Pony. Barliman Butterbur is the worthy keeper. There you can stay the night, and afterwards the morning will speed you upon your way. Be bold, but wary! Keep up your merry hearts, and ride to meet your fortune!

'It may be all we could wish,' said Frodo; 'but it is outside the Shire all the same. Don't make yourselves too much at home! Please remember - all of you - that the name of Baggins must NOT be mentioned. I am Mr. Underhill, if any name must be given.'

Are we there yet?

[JenB]

No, we've got a very long way to go. Mordor is a very long way away, and we're walking most of the way with Frodo and Company. So quit asking - you'll know when we do get there. (The volcano, overcast skies, and poisonous fumes are a good clue)

[Overtaxed]

Silly...I meant Bree! :)

[JenB]

Ah, well then, we're almost there. Only the three gratuitous Tom Bombadil chapters to get through. (all right, that's not even a funny joke, I'm feeling lame this afternoon).

[Overtaxed]

Bree's where all the "fun" starts-although I don't suppose it's fun for our hobbits. And there are Pints in Bree!

[Overtaxed]

I wonder if they have wings at The Prancing Pony.

[Overtaxed]

I could always bring a batch (is it 200?)