Favourite chapter titles

[Sir Eowyn]

Let's pretend we've never read the book, it's post-apocalypse, and all that survives is a table of contents. So forget what goes on in those chapters; just the beauty of the titles.

My own are:
The Mirror of Galadriel
The Grey Havens
Minas Tirith
The Forbidden Pool
In the House of Tom Bombadil
Lothlorien
A Knife in the Dark
The King of the Golden Hall
Shelob's Lair
The Stairs of Cirith Ungol
Treebeard
The White Rider

 

[Squint-eyed Southerner]

Interesting perspective -- chapter titles only!

I'd have to think about it; it's difficult to detach chapter titles from chapter contents, at least for me. Off the top of my head, "Fog on the Barrow-Downs" is quite evocative.

But if you don't mind an OT expansion, an examination of Tolkien's choices in titling chapters would be interesting as well. For instance, why the change of Chapter 2 from the long-held "Ancient History" to "The Shadow of the Past"? The latter certainly sets up resonances with the ambiguities that cluster around the the uses of "shadow(s)" throughout the story.

Another aspect to consider: the author's conception of the significant moments contained in a given chapter. For instance, the company spends nearly a month in Caras Galadon, yet the chapter covering this period is titled for a brief episode at its end.

A different sort of example is "A Conspiracy Unmasked" -- an adroit bit of misdirection on the author's part, IMO, as it sets up expectations of sinister machinations, especially in light of the reappearance, at the beginning of the chapter, of the Nazgul from previous chapters. Only to be deflated, in humorous fashion. I can imagine Tolkien smiling to himself, when giving this chapter its title.

Back on topic: "The Ride of the Rohirrim", "The Pyre of Denethor", "The Land of Shadow", and of course "Mount Doom", all from ROTK, are evocative in themselves, though again, I find it difficult to divorce titles from chapter contents.

 

[Alice]

Well, I like "Of Herbs and Stewed Rabbit".
Though not so epic

 

[Tulukastaz]

Scouring of the Shire - one of the most underrated chapters! Not many are aware of it either.

 

[Sir Eowyn]

But if you don't mind an OT expansion, an examination of Tolkien's choices in titling chapters would be interesting as well. For instance, why the change of Chapter 2 from the long-held "Ancient History" to "The Shadow of the Past"? The latter certainly sets up resonances with the ambiguities that cluster around the the uses of "shadow(s)" throughout the story.

Another aspect to consider: the author's conception of the significant moments contained in a given chapter. For instance, the company spends nearly a month in Caras Galadon, yet the chapter covering this period is titled for a brief episode at its end.

A different sort of example is "A Conspiracy Unmasked" -- an adroit bit of misdirection on the author's part, IMO, as it sets up expectations of sinister machinations, especially in light of the reappearance, at the beginning of the chapter, of the Nazgul from previous chapters. Only to be deflated, in humorous fashion. I can imagine Tolkien smiling to himself, when giving this chapter its title.

Back on topic: "The Ride of the Rohirrim", "The Pyre of Denethor", "The Land of Shadow", and of course "Mount Doom", all from ROTK, are evocative in themselves, though again, I find it difficult to divorce titles from chapter contents.

That's interesting. I confess I haven't read through Tolkien's early drafts --- "The Shadow of the Past" is so much more evocative than "Ancient History." And yes, I guess "Farewell to Lorien" covers a lot more, story-wise, than that farewell.

I mean, imagine you had no context for it, all you had was the title name, "Treebeard." You'd be left to imagine, just what is a Treebeard? Is it a thing, or a phenomenon? It sounds a little mystical, but also earthy. Fascinating.

 

[Elthir]

Difficult to pick favorites . . . especially when I can't remember all the titles 🤔

But I like the sounds and wonder-inducings of . . .

The Window on the West
Flotsam and Jetsam (fun to say, but not really about Sam)
The Horse and His Boy
The Grey Havens

🐾

 

[Squint-eyed Southerner]

"Farewell to Lorien"

I see I wasn't very clear there -- the "it" I was referring to was the chapter, which is "The Mirror of Galadriel".

 

[Tulukastaz]

The Window on the West
Flotsam and Jetsam (fun to say, but not really about Sam)
The Horse and His Boy
The Grey Havens

Yeah, Flotsam and Jetsam! That's the chapter when Merry and Pippin find tobacco (among other shire products) in the sheds of Isengard, that Saruman hade acquired via trade, during the War of the Ring. Treebeard and the Ents wrecked the orcs and flooded Isengard, then kept Saruman and Wormtongue captive in the tower.

Couldn't recall The Horse and His Boy, so I looked it up, and found out that I've never heard of it before and the reason is I've never read any C.S.Lewis, only knew he and Tolkien were friends.

My own are:
The Mirror of Galadriel
The Grey Havens
Minas Tirith
The Forbidden Pool
In the House of Tom Bombadil
Lothlorien
A Knife in the Dark
The King of the Golden Hall
Shelob's Lair
The Stairs of Cirith Ungol
Treebeard
The White Rider

I like the list, In the House of Tom Bombadil is surely the mightiest chapter of those - the ring does not "work" on Merry Old Tom Bombadil.

A Knife in the Dark - A true horror tale. Along with The Shadow of the Past. Really scary chapters. Now when I think about it, the movies version was not able to deliver the danger (especially Shadow of the Past) eventhough the movies focus more on details on the villains than the book. By sticking to the exact sequence of events that are laid out in the story, are far more intesive than the motion picture which - again - has the advantage in the details, but still falls short compared to ("the truth") the real story... The elves came singing - magical.

Lothlorien - The respected abode of the mighty elves. The fellowships first rest since loosing their leader Gandalf the gray in the mines of Moria, on the bridge of Khazadum. The feeling in this chapter is (And also In the House of Elrond): Comfort and Security, Grief and Joy, Serenity and Tranquility... Like the Elves themselves.

I could go on and on, and I maybe might do so - that'll be for another day however. Good thread idea btw. Sir Eowyn. Inspires me to write this.

 

[Starbrow]

I've always liked "The Long Expected Party" as it parallels "The Unexpected Party" in The Hobbit.

 

[Sir Eowyn]

If we're going with The Hobbit too, there are few chapter titles in anything I've ever read as strangely, simply evocative as "Riddles in the Dark."

 

[Halasían]

One out of each book:

• A Knife in the Dark
• The Breaking of the Fellowship
• The King of the Golden Hall
• The Window on the West
• The Passing of the Grey Company
• The Scouring of the Shire

 

[Squint-eyed Southerner]

Couldn't recall The Horse and His Boy,

Elthir is a real prince, but keep in mind he often posts from his silver chair (I've heard he's a magician's nephew).

I, on the other hand, try my best to toe the line (which is in my wardrobe).

BTW, Elthir: Didn’t you read "The Breaking of the Fellowship"? Sam couldn't flot.

Goo.

⚖🧷

 

[Elthir]

BTW, Elthir: Didn’t you read "The Breaking of the Fellowship"? Sam couldn't flot.

The story's kinda long. So far I've only read The Mirror of Galadriel, Flotsam and Jetsam, The Magician's Nefyew, and Mount Doom.

I got the gist 🐣

 

[Squint-eyed Southerner]

But did you degistem?

🥓

 

[Olorgando]

A thread that leaves me utterly confused … 🥴

 

[Ealdwyn]

A thread that leaves me utterly confused … 🥴

you're not the only one

 

[Elthir]

To sum up: as Elthir (me) couldn't remember all the chapter titles, I included a title that is really a Narnian book title. Plus, I added a dumb "joke" (pronunciation aside) about -sam . . . due to flot and jet . . . considering Samwise.

S-eS picked up on this and added wittical references to Narnian titles, also noting that Sam could not flot, or float, considering that flotsam . . . well, the genius of this part takes too long to explain. Then there are scales (I'm not sure, but maybe for balance?), and a safety pin. . .

. . . with a preceding goo. Goo is a baby word, used in part because I prefer to reckon my age in Elvish Long Years. And thus the chicken hatching too (after the gist remark, see below).

S-eS also asked if I read the chapter in which Sam does not flo(a)t, and I replied that I had only read three chapters of The Lord of the Rings, but I got the "gist" . . .

. . . to which S-eS asked if I digisted them (these chapters), as if they were bacon, or like bacon.

And who doesn't like bacon. And 🥓 hails from 🐷

Anyway, I can't speak for S-eS, but for me, something like that.

And for starting it all, ultimately I expect another reprimand from the mods here, who I must say, are not only smart and beautiful people, but forgiving.

🐾

 

[Olorgando]

Now your post was perfectly clear and lucid, Elthir … 😀

 

[Squint-eyed Southerner]

He's the Wittical Kittical.

🐈

 

[Squint-eyed Southerner]

(I'm not sure, but maybe for balance?)

I was weighing my optpins.