Dec 15, 2003

The Return of the King :: JRR Tolkien

Ok, so the blog died. I missed my LJ (and all the comment emails) too much. Comments behind the links will contain spoilers.

So! First, very appropriatley (as the movie comes out in two days- eee!) is The Return of the King.

I read it because mostly because I couldn’t bear the thought of going to the movie without reading it first. I’ve excepted the fact that I’ll never be a true Tolkien geek, but I’d never want to be one of those people who loves the movie but knows nothing about the book. Also, I felt pressured by Tolkien geeks in my life. I was sick of saying “Well… I never actually read the third book….” So I did.

I was reluctant because frankly, the first two bored me out of my mind. I enjoyed it, though. It kept me interested pretty much all the way through. I never had the urge to give it up.

After the big climax there were at least three chapters of wrapping-up. I liked that, I love the wrapping-up parts at the end of books.

If I had the patience, I’d like to read more about Middle Earth- The Silmarillion and such. For instance- are there any wizards other than Gandalf and Saruman? What happened in the first two Ages?

Idle musing: I know that Middle Earth is supposed to be in the distant past of our world, and the land where The Lord of the Rings takes place in around Europe. When the Elves sail off into the west, they’re sailing for America. Did Tolkein realize this/do it on purpose? Strange.

- Being the slash freak that I am, I have to say that there was definitley something more than friendship between Frodo and Sam- at least on Sam’s part. Rosie can just go away.

- Don’t know why, but I loved the Eowyn/Faramir bit. So cute.

- Why was Gandalf wearing one of the three Elvish rings at the end?

Posted at 10:14 PM in Media

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3 Comments

Alex at 9:34 PM on 12/16/03

I know of another wizard, because I read bad fics. . . Radagast the Brown or something, I think. There were five in total. My memory could be playing tricks on me though.

I just finished the book as well. It rocked. I’m so glad I finally got around to reading it. It was definately the best of the three.

Marcus at 12:02 AM on 12/29/03

Alex is right, there were 5 wizards total. Saruman the White, Gandalf the Grey, Radagast the Brown, and the two blue wizards Alatar and Pallando. Each wizard was chosen by a Vala (or god) for his innate characteristics. Saruman was chosen by Aluë the smith and creater of the Dwarves. Radagast was chosen by Yavanna, Queen of the earth. Alatar was the choice of Oromë, the Hunstman, and Pallando came along as Alatar’s friend. Gandalf was chosen by Manwë and Varda, the king and queen of the gods. It’s said that Alatar and Pallando went immediately into the east upon arrival to Middle Earth and were never seen or heard from again. I like to think they had their own part to play in the third age but their stories didn’t directly effect the fellowship.

As for what happened in the first two ages you’d have to read the Silmarillion. I could paraphrase but I’d be typing all night.

In the Third Age the elves were actually sailing to another dimension, the equivalent of Heaven. I’ve never heard or read about Tolkien purposly making a reference to America but the idea is cool.

I agree there was more to Frodo and Sam’s relationship. To my knowledge Tolkien never confirmed or denied a homosexual relationship between them. I think he avoided the subject all together due to socital pressures and hoped the reader would make the correct inferences. Personally I believe Hobbits were an enlightened people. After all, Sam and Rosie moved in with Frodo when they returned to Bag End. I doubt they all slept in separate beds.

Gandalf was wearing Narya, the Ring of Fire. It was origionally given to Cirdan the Shipwright, noted amoung the wisest of Elves. When Gandalf arrived on the shores of Middle Earth Cirdan greeted him and percieved that he was the greatest of the wizards. He gave him Narya to help enflame the hearts of all free peoples to his cause. You can also note that Gandalf prefered spells that utilized fire, light, or smoke as their components in both The Hobbit and LOTR.

Loden at 12:56 AM on 12/29/03

Ok, you get the Cool Kid award for proposing the Frodo/Sam/Rosie threesome, or flexible set of twosomes, or whatever. I never thought of that, but I did think of how awful it must have been for Frodo to live with two newlyweds- especially if he was in love with one of them.

You make me want to read the Silmarillion. I’ll have to get my hands on it.