Welcome to the new thread discussion of The Two Towers! I have a brief (probably too brief) summary of the action in Chapter 4, where our beloved Treebeard enters the story. There actually isn't much action in this chapter, and much of the dialogue is recapping past events. I trust that my summary hasn't left out anything important, but please speak up if you think it has.
The questions are just the ones that occurred to me as I reread this chapter. The first two and #5 are real mysteries to me. Questions 3 and 4 I do have opinions on, which I can talk about later. If you have other questions, please bring them up!
Summary
Merry and Pippin follow the Entwash into the edge of Fangorn Forest. They drink from the Entwash and don't notice how it quickly begins to refresh and heal them. They see a sunny area and head for it, finding it eventually to be a rock outcropping with an old tree on top. This is in fact Treebeard, who is initially somewhat suspicious of them but is pleased at Pippin's saying he "almost felt I liked the place." They chat briefly and discover that Treebeard considers Gandalf a friend. Treebeard carries them to "one of my homes" and tells them a bit of Entish history on the way. They explain to him what hobbits are. At Wellinghall the hobbits tell the complete story of their adventures so far, omitting mention of the Ring. Talk of the Uruk-hai gets Treebeard to talking about Saruman, and he gets quite riled up. After calming down, he tells the story of the Entwives.
The next morning Treebeard calls an Entmoot. After 3 days the decision is made to attack Isengard.
Questions
1. Soon after meeting, Pippin asks Treebeard why Celeborn warned them against his forest. Treebeard shows no sign of being surprised at Pippin's knowing Celeborn. Is this a plot hole, or just Treebeard's reserve? If the latter, why doesn't Tolkien describe it as such?
2. Treebeard says Gandalf is "the only wizard that really cares about trees." What about Radagast?
3. Discuss Pippin's character as revealed in this chapter.
4. Compare the description of the forest in this chapter with the description of the Old Forest near Bombadil in Book 1 of FOTR.
5. Suppose Treebeard had learned of the Ring. Would he have wanted it?