Shakespeare

E270 Tolkien Chris Barkley Lord of the Rings Fellowship of the Ring BOOK 1 Will address plot elements / compare to Hobbit LOTR 6 books, wait to end to trace overall motifs Will mention so before lecture on bk 6, you try to plot them out Fellowship of the Ring – Book 1 Plot Summary  Prologue Why? Red Book of Westmarch  Connects MIDDLEEARTH to our world, gives ending away         The Long-Expected Party 1937-1954/55 17 years Shadow history/RING/Gollum Frodo chooses Black Riders (and Gildor) The Old Forest like MIRKWOOD Barrow Downs undead world Strider variation on disappeare/reappeare Weathertop worse than SMAUG Flight to the Ford Frodo challenges (inner heroism)  Black Riders lose mounts Fellowship of the Ring – Book 1 Characters Major Characters Hobbits: Bilbo, Frodo, Sam, Merry, and Pippin Gandalf knowledgeable moral anchor pity, judgment Strider mysterious, skilled, disappear/reappear Minor Characters Tom Bombadil omitted from film but IMMUNE to RING Barliman Butterbur Bree men/hobbits coalition building Glorfindel, Gildor elves save hobbits Fortuitous Fate Farmer Maggot Predistination vs Free Will Fellowship of the Ring – Book 1 Monsters Black Riders nightmare, smelling, fear  Old Man Willow malevolent not like Ents  Barrow Wights undead motif  Trolls reminder of Bilbo after Weathertop  Fellowship of the Ring – Book 1 The RING  What are Characteristics of the RING?   Makes one invisible Becomes addiction Puts one in wraith world, unDead world   Frodo sees Glorfindel as white light Perceived by Black Riders, draws eye of Sauron     Prolongs life Gollum 500 Bilbo thin and stretched Has a will of its own leaves gollum, Bree Has power to overcome will of others Impervious to regular fire, Orodruin alone hot enough Frodo can’t throw into his own fire May speak, discuss later  Fellowship of the Ring – Book 1 Comparison of Characters  Bilbo      Frodo     Relied on luck, wits, sharp eyes Generous / shares wealth / Gives away Ring Has some physical prowess (spiders) Gathers more and more allies Relies on perseverance, will, humility Acquires Ring through inheritance Has less physical prowess than Bilbo (feet) Gathers some allies, but then must go alone (with just Sam) AND GOLLUM Fellowship of the Ring – Book 1 Tom Bombadil      Nature character like Anthropomorphic god, no power over him Immortal like elves yet childlike  Eldest  Married to River Woman’s daughter Power over Ring / Why?  Exists in both worlds  Does not desire power over others  Unreliable as caretaker of Ring Rescues Hobbits, teaches them to call for help Knowledgeable of history, Black Riders, sings stories Was originally a stuffed doll of Pricilla’s that she wanted her father to include in his story  Fellowship of the Ring – Book 1 Settings The Shire Mathoms, gardening, food, drink, smoke  Place of birthday parties, comfortable living INNOCENT Malevolent place not under control of Sauron DANGEROUS Center is the Inn, The Prancing Pony Integrated place where hobbits and men live side by side NOT IDYLLIC BUT MULTICULTURAL, INTEGRATED The Old Forest  Bree COMMUNITY    The Wild  Natural obstacles: midges, rough terrain Place of advantage in sight but open REMINDER OF NORTHERN KINGDOM / ABANDONED Weathertop   Fellowship of the Ring – Book 1 Songs Sauron  Three Rings Travel songs ―Road Song‖ ―Upon the Hearth‖ ―Farewell We Call‖ Food and drink / comforts of home Bath song ur-cow jumped over the moon Troll song (Sam) also quotes ―Gilgalad‖ Hobbits      Bombadil   Nonsense rhymes stories Elves  Elbereth Tinuviel Aragorn  Fellowship of the Ring – Book 1 Themes          Inheritance BAG END/RING/RESPONSIBILITY Connection between past and present  Shadow of the Past TIME  Road Song SPACE Loyalty Other hobbits to Frodo, Road Song Pity Frodo begins with no pity Seriousness and foolishness Trust friends / stranger like Strider Temptation leave quest for others, abandon friends (Barrow Downs), put on Ring Road/Weathertop Power corrupts Desire for power a weakness DEATH AND DEATHLESSNESS Fellowship of the Ring – Book 1 Parallels Black Riders and Merry Suspense  Old Willow / Barrow Wights caught inside  Attack on Creekhollow and the Prancing Pony KNIFE IN THE DARK (11)  Gandalf’s fight with Black Riders and Frodo’s confrontation (FEET and Heroic)  Bilbo’s encounter with Trolls and Frodo’s   Reminder of happy ending, contrast with Bilbo  MORE SERIOUS TONE OF LOTR Fellowship of the Ring – Book 1 Motifs  Gifts gifts to Frodo: Bag End and Ring  Bombadil’s gifts: swords, lives, peace of mind  Barliman’s contributions because ponies stolen  Bilbo’s  Growing number of Conspirators/supporters  ROAD SONG Fellowship of the Ring – Book 1 The Quest Opposite of regular quest: Quest to destroy or lose not find, not militaristic, Frodo to sneak into Mordor; not fight—resist evil  Nightmare quality of Black Riders: hoarse, hissing, sniffing (animal-like)  Childlike hero, wise old man advisor   FAIL 1st TEST LEARN