"Lord of the Rings" ReadAlong Part 6: "Many Meetings" through "The Ring Goes South"

Chapter 1 “Many Meetings”

Summary

Frodo awakes in Rivendell with gandalf sitting by his bedside. Gandalf answers Frodo about some of his questions and explains what happened at the Ford. He also explains that Elrond has tended him for four nights and 3 days. Frodo goes back to sleep for a short while.

He awakes again to find clothes laid out for him and Sam comes in and leads Frodo out to a porch where Merry, Pippin, and Gandalf are all waiting. Frodo soon learns there is a feast being held that night at which he will have a place of honor.

The Hall of the feast is mostly filled with Elves, though there are some other folk as well. Elrond, Glorfindel, and Gandalf are seated at the head of the table. Frodo also sees Arwen, Elrond’s daughter seated towards the middle. Frodo eventually starts talking to the dwarf seated next to him who turns out to be Gloin, Bilbo’s companion from all those years ago.

At the end of the feast everyone goes to the Hall of Fire for music and storytelling. There Frodo is reunited with Bilbo. Bilbo tells him somewhat of his journey to Rivendell then on to Dale. Bilbo apologizes to Frodo for putting the burden of the Ring on him. Strider comes over to help Bilbo finish a song and they go off to work on it. Frodo is momentarily left alone. He dozes off and wakes to Bilbo reciting his new song and Earendil the Mariner. After the song (which the Elves very much liked) Bilbo and Frodo go off to talk more. As Frodo is leaving he sees Aragorn, clad in Elven mail with a “star on his breast,” standing next to Arwen. After talking to Bilbo for some time Sam turns up to remind Frodo he should get some sleep.

Discussion Points

Discussion points are somewhat difficult to come up with for this chapter as not much happens and yet so much happens.

Even though Aragorn is not in this chapter much we get some interesting information/more hints about him. Aragorn is in attire we are not accustomed to seeing him in and he helps Bilbo with his song. He is apparently much more than “only a Ranger” (though we have gotten hints from his knowledge of Elvish lore). Clearly many of us already know this, so what do you think of how Tolkien writes the character, in addition to any discussion of Aragorn himself?
We also learn who the Rangers are. If they are such a noble people why is it that no one seems to know who they are? Why do are the Breelanders so distrustful of them?
How did Elrond remove the splinter of the knife? Is he the closest thing to a surgeon we have in Middle Earth?
Hobbits are made of pretty stern stuff. Gandalf says that the wound Frodo took would have overcome many strong Men, yet Frodo resisted for 17 days. Is Frodo that strong? That lucky? Or is fate or some higher power involved?

Chapter 2: The Council of Elrond

Summary

Sorry guys, this is a ridiculously long chapter that honestly I didn't have time to write up a summary for. I blame course work (stupid physics labs). But I do still have plenty of discussion points. If you like a refresher I'm sure Spark Notes or somewhere has a decent recap of everything that happens. What follows is a very very short summary

Frodo and Gandalf go to the council. Frodo is acquainted with those he does not know. Gloin tells his tale of Balin's journey to Moria and of the messengers they received from the Mordor. Then the tale of the Ring is told. Elrond starts (Boromir comes in telling of Gondor and his dream) and Bilbo tells his part, then Frodo tells his tale of his journey to Rivendell. Gandalf then tell of the treachery of Saruman's councils and his journeys and the Hunting of Gollum. Legolas reveals Gollum has escaped from Mirkwood. Gandalf then tell of his imprisonment and after journeying.

They then start to discuss what do do with the Ring. Bombadil comes up, but is ruled out as a option. All other options are ruled out (Boromir even want the Ring to go to Gondor) except, to destroy it in Oroduin, Mt. Doom. Bilbo jumps up to claim the Ring and take it to Mordor. Frodo rises after a time of long silence and say he will take the Ring, but he does not know the way to Mordor. Sam then jumps in saying he will be going too.

Discussion Points

There's so MANY! Please give them all a read. I wouldn't have put them there if I didn't think they were worth discussion.

I believe it was discussed before but, Gandalf is much much more than what the Hobbits know him for. Clearly he keeps his agenda hidden to keep the Hobbit innocent by why hide it from Frodo (I assume by this time Bilbo knows a good deal of Gandalf)?
We see Aragorn start to be much sterner, yet still kind. He reveals his heritage, will reforge the Sword that was Broken and go to Minas Tirith with Boromir to fight in Gondor's wars. What do you think of Aragorn at this point? Is this a big change in his character or just a part of his character we haven't seen yet? Is this the right choice for him?
Also, what do you think of the Dunedain and their ceaseless wars in the North? Why don't they make it known what they do?
Bombadil again! Some other interesting things about him. Namely Gildor's quote:

Power to defy our Enemy is not in him, unless such power is in the earth itself.

 Time for more speculation on him.

What do you think of Frodo choosing to take the Ring?

At last with an effort he spoke, and wondered to hear his own words, as if some other will was using his small voice.

What do you think of Bilbo's gesture to take the Ring? Does he still secretly desire to have it?
What do you make of Gloin's tale of Balin and Moria? Of the messengers from Mordor? Gloin says how Sauron knows a Hobbit has the Ring. Why did they wait so long to send a message?

Sauron says he will give them Moria. Was Moria Sauron's to give?
Is it coincidence or fate that so many of them just happened to turn up in Rivendell near the same time. Legolas is there to bring news of Gollum's escape and Boromir sent from the South by a dream, and Gloin is there also seeking Elrond's council and bringing news.
Boromir only once had the dream. For is brother it was reoccurring. Why the dreams? (Already we have seen dreams can mean a lot since Frodo's dream of Gandalf was indeed true). Were these dreams sent by some higher power? If so, why did his brother have them more often? Was Faramir the one meant to go seek Imladris?
What Elrond says of the great Elf-Friends:

But if you take it freely, I will say that your choice is right; and though all the mighty elf-friends of old, Hador, and Húrin, and Túrin, and Beren himself were assembled together your seat should be among them.'

I have seen a theory that Elrond and Gandalf knew all along what needed to be done with the Ring and the purpose of the Council was simply to convince everyone else of that. What do you think?
With all his suspicions why did Gandalf wait so long to act?
Why is the history of such an important thing like the Ring known to so few people?
Quoted from elsewhere since I cannot word it any better:

Gandalf says that the Enemy did not learn the full truth until "this very summer". This, it seems, is why Osgiliath was assaulted as a diversion to allow the Nazgul to cross the River and begin their hunt for the Ring. Gollum was captured, taken to Mordor and later released, long before this (the previous year in fact). So what exactly was it that finally prompted Sauron to declare his strength and send the Nazgul forth to find the Ring? (I'll provide the source of the question if anyone really wants it. It was another chapter by chapter discussion thread)

Why so little debate of Battle strategy or another Alliance to physically combat Sauron?
If Boromir had volunteered to take the Ring (even volunteered to take it to Mordor) would they have allowed it?
Did the Council make the right decision?
What do you make of "Saruman the Wise, Saruman Ring-maker, Saruman of Many Colours"?
We will see through out the story how characters react to being offered the Ring (as we already have with Gandalf). How did Aragorn fair at the test?
Did Saruman really believe Gandalf would join him or was he trying to convince himself his course was the right one?

So many discussion points but as always feel free to add anything you'd like to talk about.

Chapter 3: The Ring Goes South

Summary

Merry and Pippin are distraught that they are going to be left behind. Gandalf has decided he will joining Frodo and Sam on the journey (right now they are the only companions). They wait two months for the scouts to return (who find no sign of the Riders except their dead horses). The companions are chosen: Frodo, Sam, Gandalf, Aragorn, Legolas, Gimli, Boromir, Merry, Pippin. Narsil is reforged and named Anduril. Frodo spends much of his time with Bilbo before leaving. Bilbo gives Frodo the sword Sting and his Mithril shirt.

The Company sets out. Frodo is still the only one who has taken an oath. They start out South and keep that way for 2 weeks. Gimli gives them geography lessons on the names of the mountains. Crows pass over head multiple times. Something else passes overhead which they feel but do not see. Eventually they see the mountain Caradhras looming ahead. They decide to climb the mountain. A snow storm stops their progress. They decide they must turn back, Aragorn and Boromir beat a path through the snow, which turns into almost nothing very quickly.

Discussion Points

Gimli says Caradhras has had a bad reputation “When rumor of Sauron had not been heard in these lands.” Is that an exaggeration or does the reputation of this mountain go back all the way to the First Age?
Was Caradhras trying to stop their passage or was it something/someone else? If you think is was Caradhras how is it a mountain can decide such things? Remember the brunt of the storm seems to be focused on their exact location.
Why only 9 companions? Surely an Elf Lord like Glorfindel would be an incredible advantage and 10 would not arouse more attention than 9.
Do you think it would have been better for Merry and Pippin to return to the Shire? Or perhaps only one of them return?
Why are Boromir and Aragorn only armed with swords and not additional weapons like bows?
What was the shadow overhead they felt?
On a lighter note, what do you make of the Hobbit’s love of snow?

Apologies this is being posted so late. I'm not at home and rather busy lately.

Of course I encourage you to bring up any other ideas/questions you may have!

Next week we will cover Chapter 4, 5, and 6 of Book II!

 [Spoiler](/s "write spoiler-text inside quotes")

Link to all previous discussions.

Posted Feb 24, 2014, 3:12 AM UTC · edited

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