Thewhitetree
Mariner
Alliance: Gondor
Last Visited: 13 Feb 2008
Joined: 06 Oct 2003
Posts: 7438
Location: T-Dot, Canada
|
Posted: Sat Nov 27, 2004 8:32 am |
     |
|
The LOTR Reaction Project HOME 'Chapter 3'
Here we will start the project where you can write your reactions and what you felt the first time you read LOTR. I will be changing the title as we advance to other chapters. As of yet I'm not quite sure how fast we will finish discussing one chapter and move on to the next, but as time goes on I will be sure to make a more definet schedule. For the moment I can only venture to guess that it will be aproximatly 2 weeks per chapter. I could be wrong though. 
Of course you may also write what you feel now when you read it. Its all relevant and I hope you will have as much fun as I will with this project.
Chapter 1 - A Long Expected Party
Summary
In Chapter 1 we are first introduced to the wonderfull Hobbits and some of the main characters of the story. Tolkien writes much about the Hobbit way of life and how beautifully simple it is. This chapter is very light and funny for its way of portraying the stuck-in-their-ways hobbits.
The first chapter of this trilogy does little to advance the plot but a lot for us to better understand the characters that we will come to know so well by the time this story is over.
A long Expected Pary gives us our first introduction to the Ring and its effects on Bilbo. In certain passages we are left wondering for there are things said that would prove suspicious. Such as Bilbo's long life and good looks, the rumors about the wealth (although we know from whence it came), and finally Gandalf's little insinuations as the the ring's origins.
We also learn of the special relationship between Bilbo and Frodo, how they share the same birthday, and how Bilbo has left everything to Frodo (including rather reluctantly the Ring). We see the hopes of the Sackville Baginses slashed to peices upon learning that they will never recieve Bag-end. In Bilbo's speech we start to see the genius of Tolkien's writting and how he can use play-on words and twist expressions to make them rather amusing. We also see Tolkien's first bit of poetry with 'The road goes ever on' an although it is a great poem, it only wet's our appetite for the greater poems to come.
That is basically what happens in the first chapter and now we need your opinions, feeling, reactions etc...
|
|
Last edited by Thewhitetree on Thu Feb 3, 2005 8:14 pm; edited 2 times in total |
|
|
|
Thewhitetree
Mariner
Alliance: Gondor
Last Visited: 13 Feb 2008
Joined: 06 Oct 2003
Posts: 7438
Location: T-Dot, Canada
|
|
Posted: Sun Nov 28, 2004 9:46 am |
|
|
Well it seems that I'll be starting the 'reactions' after all.
I read The Hobbit before I ever read LOTR. I wasn't really sure what to expect. I have a great love for liturature and although not much happened in the first chapter of LOTR I enjoyed it nonetheless for its linguistic prevailence.
I loved Tolkien's style. For one thing he used a lot of (brackets) something that I use a lot when writing also.
I loved the characters and laughed at many points in this first chapter.
Being a big fan of poetry I loved the 'Road goes Ever On' poem and immediatly compared it to the 'Road goes Ever On' from The Hobbit.
I remember being glad that Gandalf was in this story also cause I liked him a lot from The Hobbit.
To this day A Long Expected Party remains one of my favourite chapter from the books and probably my favorite scene from the movies.
Will write more later as others comment.
|
|
|
|
|
|
rowanberry
In dancing she delights
Alliance: House of Feanor
Last Visited: 02 Sep 2010
Joined: 10 Apr 2002
Posts: 17007
Location: Back row of the chorus in a silly Bollywood movie
|
|
Posted: Sun Nov 28, 2004 10:28 am |
|
|
Heck, I read the LOTR for the first time so long ago that I don't actually remember what I felt...
But, the first chapter must have caught my interest with the lively description of the hobbits and their down-to-earth lifestyle, and as a contrast to it, Bilbo's adventurous nature and Gandalf's mystical character. And the premonitions about the nature of the Ring, of course... At that time, I was already in my late twenties, and hadn't read
The Hobbit
so, I must have looked at the story quite a bit differently from those who read the book in their childhood or teens.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Alcina
Shield Bearer
Alliance: Angband
Last Visited: 16 Jul 2005
Joined: 23 Jan 2004
Posts: 359
|
|
Posted: Sun Nov 28, 2004 10:52 am |
|
|
My first reaction was puzzlement. It wasn't what I was expecting at all.
I first read LotR when I was 15. At that time, I was heavily into such stuff as David Eddings, Dragonlance, and similar *cough*wonderful works*cough*. It occurred to me that as I adored 'Sword and Sorcery' (*wince*), I ought as a kind of duty to read LotR, as the book had been influential for many books in the genre. So I sat down with The Hobbit and LotR with that attitude and mindset.
When I got to Chapter 1 of LotR, I was confused. I suspect I'd been expecting a very different style of writing and place where the adventure was set. I'd read the Hobbit earlier that day, but I knew that The Hobbit was a 'Children's' book. For LotR I was expecting something much more like what I was used to. But it seemed very much, reading the first Chapter, as if LotR was more of the same. I was very disappointed. Where were the cool heroes in shiny armour?
The Shire was very unlike the sort of scene I had been expecting, with its rural idyll type stuff. It wasn't a kind of setting I had been expecting. I'd been thinking Castles, ancient Cities, besieged Fortresses, Colleges of Wizards...
Gandalf, of course, I believed to be a human who had learned magic at 'Magicians' Academy' or whatever. I didn't even notice that he didn't seem to have got any older in the previous sixty years, so I clearly wasn't paying much attention.
|
|
|
|
|
|
MaidenOfTheShieldarm
Ranger of the North
Alliance: Angband
Last Visited: 12 Mar 2005
Joined: 09 Apr 2004
Posts: 1726
|
|
Posted: Sun Nov 28, 2004 2:53 pm |
|
|
My mom read
The Hobbit
to me when I was eight, and it immediately became one of my favorite books ever, literally from the first sentence. I don't remember much of my first encounter with LOTR...my mom read it to me when I was nine. I was terribly pleased that Bilbo was back, because I loved Bilbo. This kind of signalled to me that LOTR was just a really long continuation of
The Hobbit
. Gandalf was there, too, and that was exciting. Frodo threw me off a bit...I couldn't figure out what he was doing there, because it was (I supposed) a book about Bilbo. (Yes, Bilbo was 111. That didn't really matter. Maybe I thought he was superhobbit.) I liked the party, and I still look forward to the party scene. One of my lasting images of LOTR from when I was nine was of Bilbo and Frodo tramping around the Shire, and of Bilbo using the Ring to hide from the S-nonsense. And the fireworks...I really, really wanted to see the fireworks. The description of them sounded so amazing and magical, I figured that that didn't do them justice nearly. Anyway, I was terrbily glad to see Bilbo and Gandalf again, and Frodo was just some random hobbit who wasn't terribly important.
I do love"The Road Goes Ever On and On." I remember trying to make up a tune for it, so that I could sing it. I never did, so now I use the tune from the movie and ad lib some of my own.
Now, I still like this first chapter. It's nice to see the hobbits being hobbits, without all the fuss about the Ring. There's no real hint of darkness about it, which is nice. However, I've always felt that it's a bit too long, for some reason. I don't know why..and I don't think I ever really feel that way when I'm actually reading it. Maybe just because it's the first chapter.
|
|
|
|
|
|
SilmevanaIriel
Shield Bearer
Alliance: default
Last Visited: 03 May 2005
Joined: 06 Sep 2004
Posts: 201
|
|
Posted: Sun Nov 28, 2004 4:15 pm |
|
|
I also read the hobbit before reading The Lord of the Rings. I quickly fell in love with it, so it was not even a debate as to whether or not I would read them or not.
Reading the first chapter had me laughing loudly many times. Tolkien's sense of humor comes through so much throughout the books. I was very intrigued by all the details of the party and the many elusive comments JRRT makes about Bilbo's leaving and then the incident with the ring. Though I was familiar with JRRT's style and general pace from having read The Hobbit, it had a bit of a different feel as well. Overall I had found The Hobbit to be pretty light, and after reading just the first chapter of The Fellowship, I knew I was in for a ride!
Gandalf's fireworks of course exploded brilliantly in my mind. I could smell and taste the food as well. Gandalf and Bilbo being present was wonderful since they were familiar characters from The Hobbit. I was always very much interested in Gandalf, and he has always been my favorite character, so I was glad he was a constant presence in the first chapter. My thoughts on Frodo were that he didn't seem to be terribly important at first...but as the chapter progressed and he did not fade into the background, I figured that Tolkien must have something planned for him!! 
edited for spelling**
|
|
|
|
|
|
Lady_Niwella
Ranger of the North
Alliance: Gondor
Last Visited: 08 Feb 2010
Joined: 24 Feb 2004
Posts: 1800
|
|
Posted: Mon Nov 29, 2004 9:42 am |
|
|
To begin with: I had heard of Lord of the rings from various sources but not thought much about it. Until, one summer afternoon when I happened to hear a reading of FOTR on the radio. One chapter a week was read and I happened to stumble in on "Flight to the Ford". To begin with I was intrigued because of the voice of the reader. He was a Swedish actor who had withdrawn from stage because of his terrible stagefreight and had become renown for readings and theatre on radio, (this was in the 70-ies) this because of his wonderful voice. And after a while a started to listen to
what
he was reading and I got very curious. What kind of a book was this?
Many months passed and I wasn't thinking much about the book until one day in the school library I found a copy of The Two Towers. I didn't understand that it was the continuing story and borrowed it and of course got very puzzled by the first chapter. So I went back and found Fellowship of the ring.
And I really had to struggle (I was 12, going on 13 and had not read the Hobbit or any other fantasy). I started with the prologue and I didn't understand a thing! I somehow got through with that. I liked the Ring verse, that sort of whetted my appetite. And started on the first chapter. Wich took me sooo long to get through. What was this about hobbits? And ring? And this talk of Bilbo and what he had done, what was I missing?
I did not understand much, thought the pace kind of slow and a bit boring to be honest. But I wanted to know how Frodo ended up flying to the ford so I
had
to continue. Normally I am a fast reader and was even then at age 12. But this party was not just long expected but a long way to come to... I was somewhat interested in Gandalf and his fireworks - but the rest? 
And the song - what was that? I didn't even read it all the way through...
That was my beginning with LOTR - I almost got lost already in the first chapter...
|
|
|
|
|
|
Evenstar_of_Imladris
Ringbearer
Alliance: House of Elrond
Last Visited: 26 Aug 2010
Joined: 12 Jan 2002
Posts: 19096
|
|
Posted: Mon Nov 29, 2004 10:42 am |
|
|
(don't worry Lady Niwella - I did the same thing, only starting at RotK because I didn't understand that it was a continuing story  )
I read The Hobbit about 4 years before I read LotR. I loved The Hobbit (I read it when I was 12), but I thought that that was it, nothing else, so I let it be. Later my brother was playing an LotR computer game and I got into it and he told me it was based on books that followed The Hobbit. Immediately intrigued I went to the library and looked up which of the 3 books they had - they had TTT and RotK - I checked out both of them. I started with RotK, got lost, gave up, returned the books, and forgot about them for about 4 years.
I couldn't tell you what inspired me to try reading them again because I don't remember, but when I was 16 I checked all 3 books out and read them, in order, and loved them.
The first chapter really sucked me into the story. I liked the imagery, the detail, the "realness" of it all. I liked how I got a feel for a lot of the characters personalities right away. It completely and utterly fascinated me.
Up to this point I had read nothing but Goosebumps and Babysitter's Club and other related literature. I don't think I've touched any of those books since. I just keep reading LotR over and over, have moved on to the Silmarillion.
The first chapter of any book is probably the most critical because that determines if you get into it enough to go on to the next chapter and the next. A Long Expected Party is the best first chapter I have ever read. And the nice thing is, as you get older, as you experience different things in your life, as you change, the books have a whole new meaning each time you read it.
Evenstar_of_Imladris
|
|
|
|
|
|
Thewhitetree
Mariner
Alliance: Gondor
Last Visited: 13 Feb 2008
Joined: 06 Oct 2003
Posts: 7438
Location: T-Dot, Canada
|
|
|
|
|
rowanberry
In dancing she delights
Alliance: House of Feanor
Last Visited: 02 Sep 2010
Joined: 10 Apr 2002
Posts: 17007
Location: Back row of the chorus in a silly Bollywood movie
|
|
Posted: Tue Nov 30, 2004 5:07 am |
|
|
I wouldn't say that the first chapter was uneventful. True, there wasn't lots of action the way the word is understood nowadays, but there actually happened a lot. Bilbo and Gandalf planning something, and then, in the middle of a fabulous party - PANG! Bilbo makes his disappearance trick. Not to mention, as I already said before, the tension caused by Bilbo's reluctance to give up the Ring, and Gandalf's suspicions arising from it... There is "action", it's just rather subtle.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Orangeblossom_Bumbleroot
Shield Bearer
Alliance: The Shire
Last Visited: 16 Aug 2005
Joined: 09 Sep 2002
Posts: 469
|
|
Posted: Tue Nov 30, 2004 2:09 pm |
|
|
It's the imagery and place that draws me into all of the chapters, but I like the homeyness and sense of belonging that that draws me in in ''The Unexpected Party''. I love the character and descriptions of the hobbits and the Shire, even the idiosyncracies of the characters. And wandering what will happen after Bilbo slips on the ring
and disappears. And yes...I love the Road Goes Ever On. I always get tears in my eyes when I read it.
Bright Blessings and Peace...Obie 
|
|
|
|
|
|
Eluchil
Mariner
Alliance: House of Elwe
Last Visited: 16 Aug 2006
Joined: 19 Nov 1999
Posts: 6151
|
|
Posted: Wed Dec 1, 2004 12:58 pm |
|
|
I don't know how often I'll be able to look in but,I should at least try and make a comment here in the first chapter.
I grew up with
The Hobbit
from a young age. Since it was my favorite story, narrowly beating out Lloyd Alexander's Prydain books and Lewis' Narnia, I naturally asked to be read the sequal. I don't recall my exact age, but I was too young, I was confused by much of the first chapter and wanted more Bilbo so much that when he disappeared at the end I was refused to keep going and didn't pick LotR back up until I read it on my own shortly after my tenth birthday.
At that time I was ready for Tolkien and plowed through the books at great speed and then immeadiately started again at the beginning. The paper back set I used then (a rather nice 25th anniversary edition from Ballantine which was not new) got very beat up over course of the next year or so that it remained my primary edition.
As for the chapter itself, I have rather less to say. It is, as Alcina points out, very clearly the sequal to the Hobbit and it can, I think, be slightly off-putting for those who are expecting something different. I remember a friend of mine in the fifth grade asking about these books I read so much and if she would like them. She said that she could evaluate any book by its first sentence. I read her the opening line and she said she wasn't interested in reading about some old man.
De gustibus non disputandum
.
On a personal note I find hobbits hilarious and think nothing more funny than the reactions to Bilbo's farewell speach and will.
|
|
|
|
|
|
mithrandir111
Ranger of the North
Alliance: -None-
Last Visited: 12 Jul 2010
Joined: 02 Oct 2002
Posts: 1518
Location: On a journey
|
|
Posted: Wed Dec 1, 2004 2:20 pm |
|
|
Well to comment on the first chapter of The lord of the rings I feel I should explain how I got there.
Well to start of with I never used to read much for reasons I will now not explain. Now it was a very sunny and beautiful day(We even get them in Wales although they are seldom), in July I think it was and I was sixteen anyway I had just finished reading a Redwall book being a fan of Brian Jacques, I cannot recall which one but I don't think that matters. Now I was looking on one of my bookcases the one with my fiction books in and I was looking and looking and I thought "Well I don't really want to read any of them right now, but right on the bottom shelf were three curious looking books that I had never really heard of before although some stagnant vague memory was tickling the back of my mind. The first book was called The Hobbit the second was a one volume edition of The Lord of the rings and the third was called The Silmarillion. Now this pre-mentioned vague memory informed me that The Hobbit should be read first and then The Lord of the rings (I had never heard of The Silmarillion.) So I started to read The Hobbit and I enjoyed very much and finished in about two weeks (A small triumph for me.) I then asked my Dad who's books they had being what the Lord of the rings was like because to be honest I was intimidated by its size, I had never read such a large book. My Dad said that it was a very good book (A large under evaluation.)
I over came my fear of "the large book" and started to read I fell straight into Middle earth again but more deeply than when reading The Hobbit. I thought it was wonderful and was very glad to see that Gandalf and Bilbo were still in the story. And as I was reading of this ring I thought that it must hold some signifigance as the name of the book was The Lord of the rings (How right I was to be.)
That's all I'll say for now thank you readers for your time and patience and for those who didn't read my post but just skipped past it I don't blame you
|
|
|
|
|
|
elfshadow
Ringbearer
Alliance: Stewards of Gondor
Last Visited: 13 Aug 2010
Joined: 19 Dec 2003
Posts: 13815
Location: C to the olorado
|
|
Posted: Wed Dec 1, 2004 5:27 pm |
|
|
I first read "The Hobbit" when I was 9, and didn't really get into it until a few years later. I read FOTR a few years after reading the Hobbit, and after the first chapter I remember how much I loved the wonderful descriptions of such a quaint, happy race. It perfectly embodied the images I have of an ideal reality, and from then on I was hooked.
I almost found the action scenes later on slightly less interesting after reading the first chapter, which I love to pieces. I'm strange that way, I'd rather have long, detailed descriptions than action and battle . I also recognized Gandalf from The Hobbit, much that TWT did, because I was happy to know and like some of the characters.
And I really liked the tune to "A road goes ever on" that they used in the movie. Now I can't really remember what I imagined as before the movies came out, but I love the movie tune. I think maybe it's partly the tune I love, and also how perfectly Ian McKellan sings it...so Gandalf-y!
|
|
|
|
|
|
Thewhitetree
Mariner
Alliance: Gondor
Last Visited: 13 Feb 2008
Joined: 06 Oct 2003
Posts: 7438
Location: T-Dot, Canada
|
|
|
|
|
None_Elf_Ear
Ranger of the North
Alliance: House of Fingolfin
Last Visited: 18 Jul 2007
Joined: 09 Jun 2003
Posts: 4531
|
|
Posted: Thu Dec 2, 2004 9:08 am |
|
|
It is hard for me to talk about this topic, as I have so many things to say.
First of all, I have read The Hobbit when I was around 12 maybe, and it was at the recommendation of one of my mother's workmates. The book was rather old and it was titled "A Story with A Hobbit". I recall enjoying it very and having a good laughing
Then, in 2002, I read LOTR for the first time. It was such a joy! I burrowed the books, as I could not afford them at that moment, and read the first on one month, the second in 2 weeks and the third in around 3 nights !  Then, my mother bought me as an Easter present, and I had the occasion to read them again, which I have done, in less than a week all this time (only nights).
I want to read them again now, but for the moment the first one is to my beloved, who struggles with the latest chapters 
Have to think better how I felt when I first read the 1st chapter.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Evenstar_of_Imladris
Ringbearer
Alliance: House of Elrond
Last Visited: 26 Aug 2010
Joined: 12 Jan 2002
Posts: 19096
|
|
Posted: Tue Dec 21, 2004 8:43 pm |
|
|
Just wondering if we should move on to Chapter 2 now
Evenstar_of_Imladris
|
|
|
|
|
|
LORDkolbamees
Petitioner to the Council
Alliance: Rohan
Last Visited: 29 Jun 2006
Joined: 15 Dec 2004
Posts: 15
|
|
Posted: Wed Dec 22, 2004 4:24 am |
|
|
I just finnished the book so i felt...i was a little confused so much iformation whit in so little pages but i read it second time and then i got what i needed to know...mostly about hobbits.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Thewhitetree
Mariner
Alliance: Gondor
Last Visited: 13 Feb 2008
Joined: 06 Oct 2003
Posts: 7438
Location: T-Dot, Canada
|
|
Posted: Thu Jan 6, 2005 10:07 pm |
|
|
After much wait I'm happy to say that we're now ready to start the second chapter.
We will continue the original plan to have 2 weeks for every chapter.
I's been over
four
weeks since we started the last but I think it was good to have a little break for the holidays.
[ENTER SUMMARY HERE]
Will do the above ASAP.
|
|
|
|
|
|
SilmevanaIriel
Shield Bearer
Alliance: default
Last Visited: 03 May 2005
Joined: 06 Sep 2004
Posts: 201
|
|
Posted: Fri Jan 7, 2005 8:17 pm |
|
|
The book really does make quite a jump between chapters one and two. All of a sudden, the party is over, literally and in the metaphorical sense. The tone becomes quite different. Though there were undertones in the first chapter, everything is brought to light now, and it is quite shocking. It becomes apparent that this book is about something much bigger, and yet Tolkien was able to present that in a way that made me want to plow right through to find out all about this ring and this journey and even the Dark Lord.
As the chapter draws to an end and it's obvious that Frodo does not really know what he is in for, but he does know enough to realize he should leave the Shire. By far, my favorite lines are the last:
"'Me, sir!' cried Sam, springing up like a dog invited for a walk. 'Me go and see Elves and all! Hooray!' he shouted, and then burst into tears."
|
|
|
|
|
|
Lady_Niwella
Ranger of the North
Alliance: Gondor
Last Visited: 08 Feb 2010
Joined: 24 Feb 2004
Posts: 1800
|
|
Posted: Tue Jan 11, 2005 4:14 am |
|
|
I liked the second chapter better from the first time I read FOTR. Probably because I am a hopeless sucker for history, as a teenager I was actually thinking of studying archeology. Since Gandalf does get into "older times" my curiousity "what's going to happen next" was raised.
Anyway, my interest became a little higher with the second chapter. Gandalf throwing the ring in the fire and the inscription becoming visible, the small suspense when Gandalf hears someone at the window and the releif when it turns out to be Sam.
This is the chapter when I started to feel "that mmm, this might be worth struggling my way through". Still feeling a bit hard to get along with the tale, but definately my hopes being raised that I was getting in to something worthwhile to bother about...
|
|
|
|
|
|
Thewhitetree
Mariner
Alliance: Gondor
Last Visited: 13 Feb 2008
Joined: 06 Oct 2003
Posts: 7438
Location: T-Dot, Canada
|
|
Posted: Tue Jan 25, 2005 3:59 pm |
|
|
BUMP
Reminder: Discussion for chapter 2 ends with this month. We will go on with chapter 3 in Febuary. I hope everybody's less tied down then.
|
|
|
|
|
|
scion_arwenevenstar
Citizen of Imladris
Alliance: Servant to Luthien
Last Visited: 25 Jul 2005
Joined: 15 Jan 2005
Posts: 43
|
|
Posted: Tue Jan 25, 2005 5:10 pm |
|
|
Gushing? book I is my favourite after all
LotR has been like this great big love affair spanning 15 years now.
I could not put it down when I first read it
. I even took it to highschool to read at recess & lunch. My friends thought this was very odd behaviour for me- to be reading a book instead of paying attention to them! Which, because it was so thick they at first thought it was a bible! 
But this was
the
book that sparked off a passion for reading outside of shoolwork or being read to as a child.
Chapter two for me was where the story really began on first reading it, though of course I'm of a different opinion now. After reading through the charmingly absurd Prolugue & Long expected party the deeper & darker things surfaced, suspension of disbelief began & we were off...
I find every time I read LotR now that reading the forward & prolugue is like curling up in a comfy chair by a fireplace to read a good book. I adore the doings of unexpected party because I love Hobbits & it is essential to why the ring was destroyed and the third age finally passed. Then the threads begin to come together in shadow & we're off on the quest to destroy the ring (again).
|
|
|
|
|
|
starlin
Ranger of the North
Alliance: Gondor
Last Visited: 04 Feb 2010
Joined: 29 May 2002
Posts: 2333
Location: LT (Vilnius) - UK (London)
|
|
Posted: Fri Jan 28, 2005 2:23 pm |
|
|
BUMP
The Lithuanian translation of LotR came in volumes, the first being released in 1994, when I was 8. I guess I read it then. It is hard now to remember the feelings for particular chapters, but I know that what I remembered from it in 1998, when finally TTT made its way to the bookshops, was that "somebody had to climb some mountains". Nothing else. Of course, even with such a childish translation as it was (not very good, precioussss...), FotR at the age of 8 wasn't a good idea. But when I re-read it when we got TTT, it was like a blow! I remember 'gobbling up' TTT together with my breafast, lunch, dinner... Yes, I couldn't stop! I read RotK in English before the first film was about to be released, because I couldn't wait for the translation (it came only in 2001), and so my tolkienism career began.
Now when I read Chapter 2, I guess that my reaction must have been quite excited: finding out all those cool things about the ring? It's... totally cool! I can't speak now for my 8-year-old experience, but rather for that second time. But I certainyl had difficulties following it, there was lots of new material and some of it you can only get when you have finally read all the book.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Thewhitetree
Mariner
Alliance: Gondor
Last Visited: 13 Feb 2008
Joined: 06 Oct 2003
Posts: 7438
Location: T-Dot, Canada
|
|
Posted: Thu Feb 3, 2005 8:15 pm |
|
|
Commencing:
CHAPTER
3
Happy posting.
|
|
Last edited by Thewhitetree on Fri Feb 4, 2005 6:47 pm; edited 1 time in total |
|
|
|
oldtoby
Ringbearer
Alliance: Minas Morgul
Last Visited: 02 Sep 2010
Joined: 13 Jan 2002
Posts: 13669
|
|
Posted: Thu Feb 3, 2005 9:01 pm |
|
|
Well I'm here, now what do I do?
|
|
|
|
|
|
Thewhitetree
Mariner
Alliance: Gondor
Last Visited: 13 Feb 2008
Joined: 06 Oct 2003
Posts: 7438
Location: T-Dot, Canada
|
|
Posted: Fri Feb 4, 2005 6:02 am |
|
|
You write as much or as little as you want about when you thought and felt about the third chapter of LOTR. Try and remember how you felt the first time you read it, if you can't remember tthe first time then write a general idea of how you feel. Was it interesting? Did it captivate me? Etc...
|
|
|
|
|
|
Aramel
Ranger of the North
Alliance: House of Feanor
Last Visited: 22 Aug 2006
Joined: 11 Jul 2003
Posts: 1587
|
|
Posted: Fri Feb 4, 2005 7:04 am |
|
|
TWT, I think that was Chapter 3 you meant...
Books mainly give me
impressions
, instead of feelings that can be put into words, but the best way to describe how I felt about the beginning of Chapter 3 as related to Chapter 2 was a return to the bright and down-to-earthiness of the Shire from the far-away things of fear and darkness that Gandalf told of. It's almost like stepping from a dark room into bright sunlight. The first time I read it, I was rather... relieved.
Then, I was quite amused by the many rumours floating around pertaining to the reason of Bag End's sale to the S-B's. But Frodo does not begin his journey yet. It is merely delaying the inevitable, but suddenly the summer of the Shire seems quite precious.
As autumn approaches, the "restlessness" comes, though enforced. I found myself itching for Frodo to just leave and be done with it. And he did. Setting out under the stars was quite romantic for one, with the excitement that comes before a journey, though I kept having the nagging fear that
something
was lurking in the dark. And indeed this fear is confirmed, when the Gaffer's shrill voice sounds from down the lane. Comic relief arrives when Sam emerges from "saying farewell to the beer-barrel". The journey commences.
On the top of a hill, when Frodo looks down again upon the gentle lights shimmering in the windows of Bywater and Hobbiton, I felt warm but lonely at the same time. I expect that I was feeling what Frodo was at that moment, beholding a homely gladness and innocent cheer that he, at this point, already knew was not to be his. He must set out upon the cold road.
The companions walk a while more, and go to bed under the stars. The next morning, when they wake, everything is rather stiff and cold. Frodo moans about selling his beds to the S-B's, which roused a chuckle from me. Then, the three quip about mornings, and Sam makes breakfast. How utterly hobbit-like. At this point, I felt quite awake, and waiting for what would come next.
As it turns out, nothing exactly happens. Sam sees new horizons, and I felt a strong empathy with him, for wondering about the world and wanting to see Elves. If I was in his shoes, I'd have wanted to see them too.
It is after sunset, when the Black Rider appears, that I begin to be afraid, and acutely aware that the characters are walking in darkness, unprotected. Anything can leap out at them. I waited with bated breath for their sake, and the Rider went away. I was relieved, but there was still that nagging sense of danger. The hobbits, apparently, did not feel too afraid, but are nonetheless worried. Looking back, I find it rather ironic. As Gildor said, in the end, Frodo knew more about the Nazgul than anyone else.
When Frodo sang the "Upon the hearth the fire is red" song, I once again, felt rather like I did at that last glimpse of the valley: warm and cozy, but lonely as well. Then the Rider comes again, and I feel even more afraid. It creeps closer, and I silently urge Frodo to edge away.
And then, the Elves come. I felt relieved, and marvelling, and slightly awed by the fact that they managed to drive the Rider away. Their song was beautiful, but I had not at that time read the Sil, so I could only guess at the meaning. Still, the image of someone spilling stars across the sky is really quite beautiful.
Gildor surprises me with his acknowledgement of Frodo, and question come to mind-- how did he know Frodo? However, once more there is the feeling of safety, since I guessed that the Black Rider would not come near the Elves. Pippin asks about the Riders, and when I see the Elves murmur, I guessed that the Riders were greater than I had imagined. Indeed, I thought them to be robbers or something at first.
The journey to Woodhall passed in a daze, and it was only when the story turned to the Elves and the feasting that I really really paid attention. Because I adore Elves. And the part about them all bursting into song at once made me wonder how they communicated, but it seemed to me that they did not need to communicate, and that the sight made them want to sing.
Then the impression shifts from silver to gold when the Elves start feasting, and I, like Sam, could only read in wonder. However, Frodo's convo with Gildor was quite serious, and revealed much knowlege. The Riders are revealed to be very, very dangerous, but somehow the fear is less. It's like knowing you aren't alone in the dark.
So, did I do that right? Or was it too long?
|
|
|
|
|
|
oldtoby
Ringbearer
Alliance: Minas Morgul
Last Visited: 02 Sep 2010
Joined: 13 Jan 2002
Posts: 13669
|
|
|
|
|
starlin
Ranger of the North
Alliance: Gondor
Last Visited: 04 Feb 2010
Joined: 29 May 2002
Posts: 2333
Location: LT (Vilnius) - UK (London)
|
|
Posted: Sat Feb 5, 2005 7:44 am |
|
|
One of the most intriguing points in Chapter 3 is the fox-episode. As I have said above, I cannot be sure what I really thought the very first time reading FotR, but I am convinced that reading it for a second time I was still feeling allright with the style: the Lithuanian translation is childish, of course, but still, the fox-episode somehow adds to the impression that it is still the sequel to The Hobbit. And now I regard it as as little turning point in the style: as soon as the fox passes, we are no longer in a sequel, and Gandalf's tales in Bag End somehow become more real and draw nearer. This is emphasised by the appearance of the Elves, first time without tra-la-las. A rather exciting moment for a first-time reader who has read only Hob before! Elves were mysterious to you, you wanted to find out who they were - and voila!
|
|
|
|
|
|
  |
|
Goto:
|
|
| Goto page 1, 2 Next |
|
|
| The time now is Fri Sep 3, 2010 8:16 am ... All times are GMT - 8 Hours
|
|
| |
Give Thewhitetree a Premiere Membership!
