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12-21-2004, 03:33 PM | #1 |
Advocatus Diaboli
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The Lord of the Rings Discussion, Book II, Chapter 6
Lothlórien
The chapter opens with the Fellowship, now lead by Aragorn, escaping Moria and orcish pursuit. The ranger mourns the loss of Gandalf, but quickly reminds the party that they must concentrate on finding safe haven before night falls, saving tears and remembrance for a more opportune moment. They make there way quickly towards Lothlórien, land of Legolas' kindred elves, with a momentary stop by Gimli, Frodo and Sam at Mirrormere, the legendary pool associated with Durin and the dwarvish crown. They do not see their shadows in the reflection from the pool, a reflection which also shows stars in the sky when we know that it is daytime above. Any speculation on this "magical" pool, or Gimli's comments about Durin and his crown? After travelling some miles from the gates of Moria, they stop so that Aragorn can tend to the wounded. We see Frodo reluctant to reveal his mithril coat to the rest of the fellowship. Is this just modesty, or is there some other reason for him to attempt to keep it under wraps? Approaching the border of Lothlórien, Boromir expresses his misgivings about the "perilous" wood, to which Aragorn replies that "only evil need fear it, or those who bring some evil with them." It is obvious that the ranger has been here previously, but does he also suspect Boromir's intentions towards the ring? Is it a veiled warning? The fellowship cross Nimrodel and Legolas sings the song of the elven maid for which it is named. A tragic tale of love lost, due in part to the departure of elves into the West. Legolas alludes to the fact that the awakening of the balrog in Moria was a factor in their departure, and possible a bone of contention between the elves of Lothlórien and the dwarves. Is this a fair argument on the part of either race? As night falls, looking for shelter among the treetops, they come across the elves of the wood, lead by Haldir of the Galadhrim. They are wary, but having received messages from Elrond, and seeing Legolas among them, they are willing to trust the newcomers to their wood. (Note: it was about two months between the Council of Elrond and the departure of the Fellowship, which explains the possibility of advance notification) Here, once again, we also here reference to the "Dark Days" and the severe mistrust between elves and dwarves. The Fellowship stays the night in the tree with the elves, during which many orcs from Moria pass below the tree shelter, and Frodo once again notices the pale-eyed creature that has been following since their trip under the Misty Mountains. In the morning, the elves lead on, forcing the Fellowship to ford a large stream by way of a makeshift rope-bridge. After crossing they ask for Gimli to be blindfolded, as it is a law in their land. Gimli is offended by this lack of trust, but Aragorn attempts to soften the blow by saying that they will all accept blindfolds, to which Legolas gives equal offense. Haldir of the Galadrim leads them onward blindfolded and speaks some of the current state of the position of Lothlórien between many evils, Sauron, Saruman and the south of Mirkwood. Finally they reach Cerin Amroth, the heart of Elvendom in Middle-Earth. Aragon takes Frodo to the top of this beautiful hill to take in the surrondings, and Tolkien leaves us with the interesting comment that the ranger "came (there) never again as a living man"
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12-22-2004, 12:23 AM | #2 | |||
Fëanorophobic
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Great intro, bj!
It seems I missed a lot by not taking part in the discussion on the previous chapter Anyway: Quote:
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12-22-2004, 03:44 AM | #3 | ||
Greatest Elven woman of Aman
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Thanks bj!
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I think it says a lot on how important the pool is for Dwarves that Gimli just has to take this sidetrip to look into the Mirrormere, even if they are fleeing from grave peril and time is short. Also it is nice to see that he asks, or rather commands, Frodo to come with him. The friendship between Glóin and Bilbo continues into the 'next generation'. And Sam again follows unbidden, as the faithful servant and guard that he is. Quote:
An observation about Nimrodel: Here again we hear about Legolas' ear for voices in the nature, the music of the waterfall. But this time Frodo is also able to hear it, another sign I think of how the Ring, and maybe the wound of the Morgul-knife, is affecting him. And how come Legolas is unable to remember the whole song of Nimrodel? Elves do not forget things easily, and songs least of all. More later ... must do some work ...
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12-22-2004, 05:05 AM | #4 | ||||
Warrior of the House of Hador
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Great intro Brownie.
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Then Huor spoke and said: "Yet if it stands but a little while, then out of your house shall come the hope of Elves and Men. This I say to you, lord, with the eyes of death: though we part here for ever, and I shall not look on your white walls again, from you and me a new star shall arise. Farewell!" The Silmarillion, Nirnaeth Arnoediad, Page 230 |
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12-22-2004, 09:51 AM | #5 | |
Advocatus Diaboli
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maybe the pool, instead of reflecting the current world is somewhat of a "shapshot" of the time when Durin first looked into it. A time before the sun and the moon, which explains only stars in the sky and on the "crown" reference, maybe Gimli was not speaking of a physical crown, but of the idea that only Durin's reflection would show in the pool, identifying him as the heir to the dwarven crown
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12-22-2004, 10:41 AM | #6 | |
Greatest Elven woman of Aman
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I like your thoughts very much bj.
Just a little thing that I find funny: Quote:
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12-30-2004, 08:48 AM | #7 |
Elven Warrior
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[QUOTE=brownjenkins]i had some interesting thoughts last night on the ride home about mirrormere, though completely speculative on my part... i believe this has always been the spot where the dwarven race was believed to have "awoken"... and their first king was Durin, who supposedly would reappear throughout dwarven history/QUOTE]
Actually Durin is said to have awoken far to the North, on Mount Gundabad, I believe. He travelled south (alone) and there found Mirromere, taking the view as a sign that this would be where he set his Kingdom.
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01-04-2005, 03:14 PM | #8 | |
Greatest Elven woman of Aman
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01-04-2005, 04:08 PM | #9 | |
Advocatus Diaboli
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it is interesting the way it is written... one would assume that with legolas' age, heritage and proximity, he would certainly have visited lórien in the past, probably many times... it wasn't that far away
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01-05-2005, 05:46 AM | #10 | ||
Elf Lord
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Nice work, once again, BJ.
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Two other things about it: Frodo is, again, the one who sees things other than the temporal world. It is through his eyes that we glimpse the deeper significance of the events of the story. It's also particularly powerful and ambiguous foreshadowing. We don't know what is going to happen to Aragorn, whether he is going to fufil his destiny or not. Last edited by The Gaffer : 01-05-2005 at 06:01 AM. |
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01-06-2005, 12:56 PM | #11 | |
Warrior of the House of Hador
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Then Huor spoke and said: "Yet if it stands but a little while, then out of your house shall come the hope of Elves and Men. This I say to you, lord, with the eyes of death: though we part here for ever, and I shall not look on your white walls again, from you and me a new star shall arise. Farewell!" The Silmarillion, Nirnaeth Arnoediad, Page 230 |
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01-09-2005, 05:21 AM | #12 | |
The Chocoholic Sea Elf Administrator
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01-09-2005, 11:01 PM | #13 | |
The Intermittent One
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01-10-2005, 12:07 PM | #14 |
Warrior of the House of Hador
Join Date: Aug 2004
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Aragorn can't have done because Celeborn said it was eight and thrity years since he was last in Lorien.
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Then Huor spoke and said: "Yet if it stands but a little while, then out of your house shall come the hope of Elves and Men. This I say to you, lord, with the eyes of death: though we part here for ever, and I shall not look on your white walls again, from you and me a new star shall arise. Farewell!" The Silmarillion, Nirnaeth Arnoediad, Page 230 |
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