Uni Kim – FOTR, Book II, Chap. 6 “Lothlórien”
1) Frodo says that Lorien is a world out of the past. Explain why you think he believes this. Does that make the Elves living in Lorien trustworthy?
2) Frodo says that when he walks through Naith, he feels that he has entered the lost world of the Elder days, even though he can not see anything. Why do you think he feels this way, and do you believe it is the world of the Elder days?
Christine Danielsson – FOTR, Book II, Chap. 7 “The Mirror of Galadriel”
1) What happened when Galadriel took Frodo and Sam to the basin? What did they see?
2) What did Frodo find on Galadriel’s hand? What does she tell him about that ring? How does Frodo handle the situation?
Iliana Hernandez – FOTR, Book II, Chap. 8 “Farewell to Lorien”
1. Galadriel presents gifts to each member of the company, all of which will aid them in their journey, except for the gifts of Sam and Gimli. Why are these gifts so different than the other gifts? What is the significance in the dust for Galadriel’s garden for Sam and the three golden hairs for Gimli?
2. What is the significance in Boromir’s behavior and his comment about throwing away the ring? What is his reasoning behind this? Is he an actual threat or is this just Frodo’s possessiveness over the ring taking over?
India Rangel – FOTR, Book II, Chap. 9 “The Great River”
1) In “Farewell to Lorien,” Galadriel’s ship is carved in the likeness of swan – a bird which is often associated with beauty and grace. However, in the beginning of this chapter, large black swans fly over the fellowship, adding to the mournful appearance of their surroundings. Why do you think Tolkien used swans in both of these instances, and what could they represent?
2) Throughout the story, many characters say the name “Elbereth Gilthoniel” in the presence of great evil. In this chapter, Legolas calls out the name before he shoots the “great winged creature” of the sky. Do you think Tolkien intended these words to be prayer-like or to have some other special meaning?
Dr. B – FOTR, Book II, Chap. 10 “The Breaking of the Fellowship”
1) What breaks the Fellowship?
2) When Frodo puts on the Ring, what does he see? What sees him?
3) Does Frodo succeed in going on alone? Toward Mordor? Why not?
Mythology of J.R.R. Tolkien 
Ch. 8
1) I think that the gifts that Sam and Gimli receive are representative of their pure souls. To me, they seem like very pure characters that see beauty anywhere they can. Sam has always been more receptive to the beauty of nature than most, and I think Gimli has never seen anyone or anything as beautiful as Galadriel- not only in her appearance but also in the way she holds and presents herself.
2) I think that Boromir is not really a threat. The real threat is the Ring, whose power can alter the situation to make others look threatening. If anything, the interaction between Frodo and Boromir shows how Boromir is the opposite of a threat- it shows his weakness and dearth of self control and balance.
Ch.10
1) Strangely enough, I think that what breaks the fellowship is friendship, a recurring theme in lotr. The reason friendship is a cause of the break is that Frodo will not bring the people he cares most about into the heart of danger. He is protecting them and his relationships with them by leaving them behind.
2) When he puts on the Ring, he sees dark things. He sees war, and he sees the tower of Sauron, which also sees him. It is dangerous for him to give in to temptation, as this is Sauron’s force being used to find Frodo and the Ring. Fortunately Frodo rips the Ring off just in time.
3) Frodo is not successful in going alone, as Sam sacrifices his life to join him. However, Frodo does not really want to go alone, and in the future, having Sam by his side will save his life multiple times. In fact, I think that if it wasn’t for Sam, the Ring would never be destroyed in the end. (Spoil alert: the Ring gets destroyed in the end)
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I think that your idea about how friendship breaks the fellowship is very interesting. I agree with you, and I never thought of friendship in this way. This is so interesting to me. Great thought.
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I agree, I think the idea that friendship breaks the fellowship is a really interesting way to look at it. It also reinforces Tolkien’s belief that good can come from evil (Boromir’s desire for the Ring), but sometimes complete selflessness is required to bring forth that good.
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I agree that friendship, however indirectly, broke up the fellowship. Friendship is an overarching theme in The Fellowship of the Ring, going as far back as Part I, when Merry, Pippin, and Sam refused to let Frodo make the journey to Bree alone and later insisted to join the Fellowship. The password to open the secret door into Moria was the Elven word for “friendship,” and not long after entering Gandalf sacrificed himself in order to let the others escape. Friendship is shown as both a unifying and dividing force, the latter as a result of sacrifice for the remainder of the group. Frodo’s decision to take the Ring to Mordor alone reflects this.
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Good point, I agree that friendship breaks the fellowship. HAdnt seen it that way til you pointed it out.
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Chapter 7
1)Galadriel showed Frodo and Sam her mirror. Sam sees parts of Hobbiton being destroyed and a factory with dark smoke. Frodo sees a clad in white, ships, a fortress, and a dark eye rimmed with fire.
2) Frodo sees that Galadriel has a ring on her hand which is one of the 3 Elvish Rings of Power. Feeling the power and goodness Galadriel has Frodo offers her the ring to keep.
Chapter 9
1) I think that Tolkien is trying to say that with all good there comes evil. I think he harps on this point because he was Christian. So he believes that people are inherently bad because of Adam and Eve, but he also believes that they can be good.
2) Yes I think for them it is a way of asking God for help. It would be like a prayer and it reminds the characters that there is power above them that they can ask to help them.
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Elbereth Gilthoniel is actually the Sindarin (or Elvish) name for Varda, queen of the Valar, and a bit like the Elves patron goddess. Thus is makes sense for many characters to invoke her name when in dire straits. So yes, I do believe that Tolkien meant for Varda’s name to be used in a prayer-like fashion because she was so sacred and revered a figure.
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I like your responses Yoonhee, you respond briefly but you respond very clearly to the question. I specially like your responds to chapter 9 because it is your own point of view so it’s more interesting and personal.
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Chapter 8:
1. Galadriel’s gifts to Sam and Gimli are significant in that they were not meant to aid in their current quest, but lead to good things in the future instead. Galadriel foresaw the Scouring of the Shire, and so she provided Sam with magical dust to re-constitute the vegetation of his homeland. The hairs she gave to Gimli had no practical use, but instead signified the new friendship between dwarves and elves.
2. Boromir’s intention to take matters into his own hands is becoming increasingly apparent. He accidentally speaks his dissatisfaction for the Fellowship’s current plan, but covers his tracks by claiming that he was speaking on behalf of the good of Gondor. Clearly, Boromir’s mental state is steadily diminishing in the presence of the Ring.
Chapter 10:
1. Rising tensions among the Fellowship contribute to its Breaking, but several other factors can be cited as well. Boromir loses all control of his mind, and attempts to take the Ring for himself. In addition, the absence of their wise leader Gandalf, who they believe to be dead, makes it so there is no central authority to keep the Fellowship together.
2. Frodo sees a dark mirror of Middle-Earth, in which the Eye of Sauron is easily visible. Most frighteningly, the Eye looks back at Frodo, as he senses the Ring’s presence.
3. Sam manages to attach himself to Frodo for the long journey to Mordor. Sam has always been a faithful ally to Frodo, and is likely his closest and most trusted friend. There is no better person to accompany him to Mordor.
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I love your insight on Galadriel’s gifts to Sam and Gimli. It is interesting how neither of them have an obvious practical use, but they are really arguably the most useful gifts in the bunch. While Legolas’ bow may kill many many orcs, an alliance between elves and dwarves has potential to be much more significant in winning the war, if used correctly.
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Chapter 7
1) Galadriel leads Frodo and Sam to a basin that she tells them that she commands. The Mirror shows things “stranger and more profitable than things which we wish to behold.” When Sam looks into the basin, he sees the Shire has been uprooted and is instead home to a dark factory of some sort. After seeing these visions, Sam falls to the ground in despair and regrets every having looked into the basin. Frodo sees many small visions, such as a bent figure and white sails, but the last vision shows a dark eye rimmed with fire, informing him that Sauron is searching far and wide for Frodo and his Ring.
2) Frodo discovers that Galadriel has a Ring of Power on her own hand, but it is one of the three Elven Rings, and Sauron does not know that she is its keeper. She tells Frodo that with Sauron rising in power, the Elves will eventually lose their powers and fade. This statement fills Frodo with such sympathy that he offers Sauron’s own Ring to her. She quickly refuses however, because, like Gandalf, she knows that the Ring would corrupt her and she might not have the willpower to stop it.
Chapter 10
1) The Fellowship is broken after Frodo realizes that the Ring has corrupted the Fellowship itself, specifically Boromir. Boromir attempts to attack Frodo and take the Ring from him, which causes Frodo to make the final decision that he should travel on to Mordor alone.
2) When Frodo puts on the Ring, he is able to see into Mordor itself and see the Dark Tower of Sauron. As he looks toward the Tower, he feels Sauron’s eye searching for him. Frodo is compelled to keep on the Ring until the eye finally discovers where he is, but another voice tells Frodo to remove the Ring. He eventually does, and thus evades the eye of Sauron for the time being.
3) Frodo does not succeed in leaving for Mordor by himself because of Sam’s loyalty. When Sam realizes that Frodo intends to go by himself, he chases after Frodo and nearly drowns himself in the process. Sam is unflinchingly loyal to Frodo, and thus forces Frodo to have at least one traveling companion on his way to Mordor.
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Chapter 6:
1-2) I think what Tolkien is trying to convey here is that the elves are affected by time differently than the rest of the world is. In Chapter 9, Legolas states that for the Elves, “the world moves… both very swift and very slow. Swift, because they themselves change little, and all else fleets by: it is a grief to them. Slow, because they do not count the running years, not for themselves.” Frodo senses this, since Lorien has a beauty that has been preserved from when the world was young. I think the elves are trustworthy because they want to keep their land free from evil and destruction. Although they know that they can’t stay in Middle Earth forever, they will fight to save what beauty they can.
Chapter 10:
1,3) I think that the Ring itself played the biggest part in the breaking of the fellowship The hold it had on Boromir’s mind drove him to attack Frodo, and this convinced Frodo that if he didn’t set out alone, it would corrupt the entire fellowship. However, as we discussed in class, with the appearance of an unexpected enemy often comes an unexpected friend. Frodo was completely committed to leaving all of his friends behind to save them, as he did at the Ford, but Sam’s loyalty prevents him from doing so.
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How trustworthy can the Elves be if they are primarily interested in preserving their own land? And if they aren’t staying in Middle Earth, why bother themselves with “beauty” before they leave?
I think this brings up a really interesting point about the Elves that do opt to stay in Middle Earth, and how they fight for the land that they will now share with men and all other races, as opposed to the Elves who have been moving out and are taking little notice of what is going on around them. Their motivation is what dictates their “trustworthiness” in my opinion.
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Chapter 8
1) These gifts are differnt because they have seen present use. However, as we will later see, the dust viven to Sam will later be what a key factor in rebuilding the Shire after Sauron is defeated. Gimli’s gift poses a completely different use. The three strands of hair is supposed to be a call back to the Silmerillion, to the story about the creation of the Silmarils. It is said Feanor based the Silmarils after the golden hair of Galadriel, who refused him three times when he asked for a strand. I believe Galadriel giving Gimli three strands of hair when he asks for one is very significant in that it shows the omprovement of the relationship between dwarves and elves. Galadriel is know for being able to see into a person’s heart, and she saw that this dwarf was more worthy than one of the “greatest” elves. This gift is a sign to all who know the story of the Silmarils that Gimli is pure of heart.
2) I believe Boromir’s comment on the ring is foreshadowing to him loosing to his desires. This is a warning, if anything, tgat he is not to be trusted around the Ring. However, I believe it is both the threat Boromir poses and Fordo’s mind. Yes, Boromir is showing signs of corruption, but him being a total danger is definitely the influence of the Ting in Frodo’s judgement.
Chapter 10
1) I believe it is the Ring that breaks up the Fellowship. That might seem like too simple an answer, but it is what drives Boromir off the edge, what tempts Fridi to put on the Ring, what brings the orcs to them, etc. Everyone who was not vorrupted by the Ring stayed together (i.e. Strider, Gimli, Legolas, Merry, Pippen).
2) When Frodo puts on the Ring, he sees the tower of Sauron, as the Eye of Sauron, which sees him.
3) Thankfully, no he doesn’t. His old friend Sam catches up to him and even tries to swim out to Frodo’s boat, nearly drowning.
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I think the simple answer of the Ring being the reason for the breaking of the Fellowship is important because it shows just how much the Ring can affect even the most loyal of people. Friendships are obviously important to Tolkien, and the fact that the Ring can break a fellowship shows it’s dark power.
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Ch 7
1) Galadriel originally takes Sam and Frodo to see the basin because they made a few side comments about wanting to see elven magic. The basin allows the viewer to see events that have the probability of happening in the future or give insight in some way. Sam, due to his love for the Shire, sees it in chaos or a future where under the hobbits serve dark forces like Sauron. Frodo sees his mission to come, possibly Saruman, Bilbo, Sauron’s forces, and finally the eye of Sauron himself.
2) Galadriel herself has one of the rings of power that was given to the elves. Its power is what helps her maintain Lothlorien in a timeless state and protect her people. Sauron does not know Galadriel has a ring of power so while she is at an advantage, if Sauron were to find out he could try to take Lothlorien by force and have a ring for himself. Frodo, knowing Galadriel is a powerful and capable person, wants to give her the ring. She’s tempted at first but recognizes that it would only corrupt her eventually and she would rather lose her powerful magic than become corrupt and harm others.
Ch 8
1) Sam’s gift is obvious because of his more home-centered nature and fondness for the Shire. He’s given soil that can bring life and happiness to his home and others, something he always wanted to do. Sam is also not a fighting oriented character; he’s there to support others and help them emotionally. The flowers are a sign that even if the Shire is very different then when he left, he has hope that he can turn it around and help his people. Gimli’s gift is more representative of Gimli’s character development and the idea that dwarves and elves can be friends again one day. By taking strands of Galadriel’s hair back, it’s a sign of good faith and respect for the elves and the other way around. It also reflects Gimli’s relationship with Legolas, who also is described with golden hair. Gimli wants a better relationship between dwarves and elves because hes grown to love Legolas so much and they’ve both shaped each other’s opinions of each other’s people.
2) Throughout the previous chapters it’s obvious Boromir thinks the ring would be best suited to fight Sauron rather than giving up a tactical advantage. Considering how the final chapter goes, Frodo’s suspicions were accurate, but not knowing this it could go either way. Boromir has been frustrated and constantly questions Frodo’s judgement despite the party’s faith in him. He also has been lingering in fairly close proximity to the ring for a while now, so it’s envious effects could be further warping his judgement. Frodo does have an exaggerated perception of Boromir especially when he gets angry later on, but considering the whole group can tell Boromir is acting strangely it’s most likely Boromir’s intentions and not Frodo’s.
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I really like the response you had for chapter 8 question 1. Even though Sam is not a powerful warrior or anything, he is willing to do whatever he can to help Frodo and the fellowship. And most of the time, the only fighting that they are doing is on the inside, and in those situations Sam’s determination is invaluable. As for Gimli, it is really quite interesting how his friendship with Legolas can develop after such a stressful and arduous journey, but I think he feels an appreciation for elves that not many dwarves understand, and would certainly like to improve their relationship.
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Chapter 7
1) When Galadriel shows Frodo and Sam the basin, Sam sees the destruction of the shire. Frodo sees glimpses of things like white sails as well as Sauron’s eye which is in constand search of Frodo.
2) Galadriel carries a ring of power given to the elves. Sauron does not know that she is in possession of this ring. Frodo sees that Galadriel is very wise and strong so he tries to give her the ring but she refuses to accept because she knows such dark power would corrupt her.
Chapter 10
1) The dark influence of the ring is what broke the fellowship. After Frodo saw how the ring corrupted Boromir, he understood that he had to complete his mission to Mordor by himself.
2) When Frodo puts on the ring, he sees all types of destruction and war, but most importantly he sees the eye of Sauron looking at him.
3) Frodo does not succeed in going alone, Sam follows him as he tries to leave.
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Ch. 8 Question 1:
Both Sam and Gimli’s gifts are distinct for separate reasons. While Sam is a gardener, it is unlikely that the skills required of being a gardener will be very useful on a quest such as this. So, it follows that Galadriel knows, or at the very least hopes, that Sam will make it home. We know from future reading that the Shire will be ravaged by Saruman, and nothing will be capable of growing. Galadriel likely intuits that Sam will be in a position to help his people, rather than keep the magic dust for himself and his own garden.
Gimli’s gift holds especial significance, particularly in the context of the Silmarillion. In the Silmarillion, Fëanor, the creator of the silmarils, asks Galadriel for a strand of her hair three separate times, and each time she refuses. Galadriel was capable of seeing into this Elf hero’s heart, and knew that evil dwelt there. Gimli, knowing nothing of this, asks for only one hair. Galadriel knows he is worthy, and sees the good in his heart, and in giving him three hairs instead serves to mend the divide that has existed between Elves and Dwarves for a very long time.
Ch. 10 Question 2:
When Frodo puts on the Ring he sees the entirety of Middle-earth, as if from above. Not only that, but he sees signs of war everywhere he looks. He appears to see both what is happening currently in the far off reaches of Middle-earth, events that have yet to come. He sees the threat the Enemy poses, how war and death will spread to all reaches. And then, he sees the Eye, Sauron himself. Or rather, the Eye senses Frodo’s gaze upon Baradur, and his will is immediately pitted against the Ring’s control, trying to force him to reveal himself entirely to the Enemy. Frodo’s will is still intact that this point, as he is able to rip the Ring off his finger before Sauron can locate him.
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I liked the insight on Gimli and the strands of Galadriel’s hair. It makes that moment in the book a lot more meaningful and significant. Thank you for that insight!
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I like how you related Gimli’s gift to a story out of the Silmarillion. Also the way you described Frodo’s vision when he’s wearing the ring sounds similar to how Sauron is able to have a presence over Middle-Earth (not exactly that Frodo is seeing through Sauron’s eyes but in a similar way).
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Chapter 6:
1) I think that Frodo says Lothlorien is a world out of the past for several reasons. First of all, the Elves live and interact with their surroundings that preserve time. They tend to the trees and life in the forest of Lothlorien so that it may live for many years and endure. Frodo must also think it is a world out of the past because of its long history. It’s like walking into an old library where you can see all the old books, smell the age on them, and sense the many years that people have come and gone. Finally, what I think may also affect the age of Lothlorien in Frodo’s mind is the power of Galadriel’s ring, Nenya, which we hear about in the next chapter. Galadriel says to Frodo about what would happen if he succeeded in destroying the One Ring, thereby ending the power of Nenya, “Yet if you succeed, then our power is diminished, and Lothlorien will fade, and the tides of Time will sweep it away”.
2) I don’t believe that Frodo has actually gone back in time to the Elder Days but he is certainly getting a perspective of how they might have looked. He probably felt like he walked into the Elder Days when going through Naith because the work of Elves on the forest have given it senses that can’t be seen or quantified exactly but just exist. Elves are subtle in the way they affect the world around them, so it’s easier to feel their handiwork than to see it.
Chapter 9:
2) The way that characters have used the name “Elbereth Gilthoniel” makes me think of the devout Catholic that Tolkien was. It seems like they use the name to bring courage or comfort in dark times. From what I know, deeply religious people will often name a saint or an angel of particular significance to them when their need for comfort is dire. I never thought of looking at Tolkien’s work as coming from a religious man but after what we have learned in class, it’s hard not to make those connections back to his beloved religion.
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I like your description of Lothlorien! It is the high elves’ haven against the destructive forces which consumed much of their kin in older days. To me, it almost seems a somber place, for it serves as a reminder of what the elves were once able to build and accomplish before their fall from grace.
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Chapter 8
The gifts that Sam and Gimli receive are gifts that represent themselves. It is probably gifts that represent the situation they are in, and might help them in the future. Their gifts has two different signification. For example, the hair given to Gimili shows the connection between dwarves and elves.
I don’t think Boromir is a threat, but the ring is so powerful that it corrupt everybody. Everybody wants the ring and might act bad at some point.
Chapter 10
What breaks the Fellowship is that Boromir started to be crazy and wanted to have the ring. He looks the ring from Frodo. Therefore, Frodo felt that it was best if he continued the journey alone.
By putting the ring on, Frodo is able to see the Dark Tower of Sauron. He gets the feeling that Sauron’s eye is looking for him.
No Frodo does not succeed to go alone toward Mordor because Sam is following him. Sam has been a true friend for Frodo, and wants to help him go through this long journey.
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Chapter 6:
1) For Frodo I think Lorien seems out of the past because of two reasons. One, he has not seen much of the world so anything new is slightly fantastical to him. Secondly, as of now, Lorien is untouched by the events occurring on Middle Earth so anything that seems so perfect in this time of darkness comes off as surreal. I don’t think the elves are untrustworthy, I think they just might be unaware of the events happening in the world.
2) This feeling of the past that comes over Frodo could relate to one of the Elven rings being in Lorien, though we don’t find that out until next chapter. We know the one ring is capable of stalling aging and death, like it does with Sméagol, so maybe the Elven ring could have a similar power, but it could be affecting Lorien instead of just the ring bearer.
Chapter 7:
1) They saw a vision, where in time that vision is located seems uncertain. They saw the culling of the Shire and Frodo saw Sauron, which informed him that Sauron was looking for him.
2) Galadriel reveals that she is one of the secret ring bearers of the Elven rings. It seemed Frodo overreacted he suddenly offered Galadriel, basically a stranger, the one ring of power. It seemed strange to me that Frodo was so ready to give up his quest, it makes me think that maybe the Elven ring was having some effect on him. Regardless, it is good that Galadriel was not corrupt, or else the quest might have ended right there.
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Chapter 6
1. I think Frodo at this point is at a loss for words. Lorien is not only out of the past, it’s otherworldly. There is little to no familiarity within it, and even compared to the Old Forest, arguably the oldest place in Middle Earth, there is Elvish magic that enchants it, not just the magic of time. It’s not to say that there is a disadvantage to the way that the Elves live here, but that it’s an ideal that has been forgotten in history; a preservation of the Garden of Eden in a way. The Elves, being immortal and not involved generally in the wars and affairs of mortals, have been able to truly preserve the forest in a way that descendents cannot. With short life spans comes the need for change and growth. With immortality, a preservation of what was once perfect is what should be sought.
It doesn’t necessarily make the Elves in Lorien trustworthy or not. Elves are typically more self-serving, because of their immortality. They were blessed and do not lightly cast aside their lives the way that they perceive men to do.
2. I think Frodo feels like this mostly due to the mystery of his location and the secrecy kept around it. In a sense, it is the world of the Elder days, if you were to take the same people who would have been around at that time, since they are still around and guarding Lorien. They have done their best to preserve what they have and to shield it from prying eyes and essentially tourism. They have their own idyllic space and society, and do not wish to share with anyone, but the current desperate times call for desperate measures.
Chapter 8
1. They are given these gifts because these characters represent the changing times as much as the gifts do. Sam is meant to rebuild the shire, and to sow seeds that will create a new world within the old, signifying the changing of the times. Sam is a gardener, not a warrior or a noble or anything else that would call him to action, but his character and his inherent loyalty to Frodo. Sam is what the world will need going forward: someone who will create life and nurture it, and has a deep moral sense of right and wrong. Gimli brings about a different change, one much more political. As we have seen and will see soon is that Gimli and Legolas’ friendship becomes deeper than any bond between dwarf and elf than there has been in a long time. Gimli is bringing about the connection that is needed for a more unified Middle Earth, and Galadriel’s token to him is a reminder of what his role in the future will be.
2. Boromir is acting out, and his talk of throwing the Ring away is just that: talk. He is the most upset and emotional over the fate of the Ring, especially leading up to this point, and the Ring is affecting him from such a distance as well. He is as much a threat to Frodo as the Ring is capable of making people, so yes, he is a potential threat to Frodo and the Quest. It may be amplified through Frodo’s point of view that is presented, but I think it’s the Ring that knows it’s fate and wants to be saved, and is willing to be taken by Boromir who is much easier to sway than Frodo is.
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Chapter 6 questions 1 & 2
Its really interesting how Tolkein makes references to larger narratives running in the background, but never calls attention to them. Part of effective worldbuilding I guess. Its important to note that in the time of Frodo and his adventures magic is slowly fading from the earth. That is why elves are making pilgrimages to the sea so they can sail back to the land that they come from. Lothlorien, for now is preserved. It is, quite literally, a land from the previous ages, untouched by the decay that is encroaching on the rest, due to Galadriel’s elven ring of power. This is actually quite relevant to the motives of the elves. They are, of course, concerned with the plight Middle Earth, but its important to remember their stake in it is different. They are fading, and soon none will be left. Either they will be driven out or enslaved by Sauron or if his ring is destroyed, the power of the Elven rings that preserve Lothlorien and Rivendell will also fade. Frodo’s thoughts on the matter are certainly poignant, as it is indeed a “lost world” one that will never be seen again in Middle Earth, but I think even sadder is Aragorn’s words as a stands on Cerin amroth:
“At the hill’s foot Frodo found Aragorn, standing still and silent as a tree; but in his hand was a small golden bloom of elanor, and a light was in his eyes. He was wrapped in some fair memory: and as Frodo looked at him he knew that he beheld things as they once had been in this same place. For the grim years were removed from the face of Aragorn, and he seemed clothed in white, a young lord tall and fair; and he spoke words in the Elvish tongue to one whom Frodo could not see. Arwen vanimelda, namárië! he said, and then he drew a breath, and returning out of his thought he looked at Frodo and smiled.
`Here is the heart of Elvendom on earth,’ he said, `and here my heart dwells ever, unless there be a light beyond the dark roads that we still must tread, you and I. Come with me! ‘ And taking Frodo’s hand in his, he left the hill of Cerin Amroth and came there never again as living man.”
Goosebumps. Whether or not he knows it, Aragorn will live to see the last of the elves leave Middle Earth, and men rise up at the dawn of the 4th Age.
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It is interesting to note also how there is the imagery of Aragorn as glorified and with more power, almost as if this is what he is suppose to be like; just as Middle-earth was suppose to be like Lorien
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Chapter 8 Question 1
I believe Galadriel gave Sam that piece of her garden because she perhaps sees how the Shire might be devoted after the Riders and darkness have gone through it. And Sam being a member of this quest, it is his finally duty to restore the Shire. Galadriel sees this and gives him the land and power to do so and reconstruct the Shire.
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1) Frodo looks at Lorien and see’s it as a land without blemish, a picture of the world prior to all the wars and evil abounding. From his interactions with Hadil and the other elves he would probably consider the elves living there to be trustworthy.
2)Once again, it is the effect of the land, that Lorien is almost a perfect place in Middle-earth. There are several references in this chapter where people talk about the lands beyond the Sea to compare it to Lorien, so there is definitely some element of the older days in it.
CHAPTER 10
1) As Frodo is deciding where to go, whether to Gondor or Mount Doom, Boromir enters and tries to take the ring from him. It is this selfish action which physically ruptures the fellowship, but previously we had discussed that ultimately the presence of evil is what breaks the fellowship.
2) He gets a wide scope view of the entirety of Middle-earth. But at the same time he gazes at the Eye of Sauron and that ends up almost paralyzing him with fear, which he had confessed to Boromir that he was already feeling.
3) No, he is sabotaged by Samwise Gamgee. But this ends up being rather for the best, as Frodo looks to the coming task with much weight and weariness, while Sam sheds hope in saying that they might once more see the remainder of the fellowship.
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