📖👀 Chapter 9: At the Sign of The Prancing Pony

[Rivendell_librarian]

This and chapter 10 ("Strider") go together but maybe Tolkien wanted to have a chapter devoted to the introduction of Strider who is such an important character in the story and so separated this account into two chapters. Fonstad in her Atlas of Tolkien's Middle Earth gives us an excellent map of Bree and a layout diagram of The Prancing Pony. This explains why it's a good idea for Strider and the hobbits to stay in the parlour overnight since the hobbit bedroom has obvious hobbit round windows on the outside of the building furthest from the East Road.

Butterbur's frequent use of cliche and proverbs convey that he is too busy to do otherwise. Sam shows his suspicion of all things non Shire by being suspicious of such a tall building. He would prefer to find accommodation with some hobbits in their holes in the hill but the sound of merry song from the common room encourages them. Butterbur shows them to a cosy parlour and lays on a substantial meal and "good deep mugs of beer" serve to dispel Sam's misgivings. Refreshed, Frodo, Pippin and Sam decide to join the company in the the common room but Merry prefers to have some fresh air. This is part of the plot but are we told something more of Merry's character by this? There are Bree hobbits, men and dwarves together in the common room and in this chapter Tolkien remarks how the Big Folk and Little Folk were on friendly terms in what he describes as a peculiar but excellent arrangement.

Frodo notices a "strange-looking weather-beaten man sitting in the shadows near the wall". He had a tall tankard and was smoking a curiously carved long-stemmed pipe and wore good quality but well worn leather boots caked in mud. Frodo asks Butterbur about him who names him as Strider and says he is a Ranger. Strider beckons Frodo over and advises him an his friends to keep a low profile. However, Pippin starts telling stories about The Shire and fearful Pippin might give them away Frodo starts up a nonsense song but losing his balance inadvertently (?) puts his finger in it (as Strider puts it) and disappears. Bill Ferny and a squint-eyed southerner slip out. Frodo reappears near Strider and tries to assure the revellers that nothing untoward has happened but the locals soon disappear. Before Frodo leaves the common room, Butterbur says he has something to tell him as has Strider.

I think the story really begins to take off in this and the next chapter.

 

[Olorgando]

It's interesting that in the early "New Hobbit" phase JRRT envisioned a weather-beaten Hobbit Ranger called "Trotter" in place of Aragorn. In the first phase of writing, Hobbit-Trotter makes it all the way to Rivendell, but in notes, JRRT was thinking that no Hobbits could be Rangers.
And he almost pigheadedly stuck to stuck to "Trotter" long after the figure had become Aragorn.

 

[grendel]

Olorgando, I am reading "The Treason of Isengard" now, and it is fascinating how the Aragorn character evolved. I have to chuckle at him originally being a hobbit named Trotter who went around in wooden shoes.

 

[d4rk3lf]

It's interesting that in the early "New Hobbit" phase JRRT envisioned a weather-beaten Hobbit Ranger called "Trotter" in place of Aragorn. In the first phase of writing, Hobbit-Trotter makes it all the way to Rivendell, but in notes, JRRT was thinking that no Hobbits could be Rangers.
And he almost pigheadedly stuck to stuck to "Trotter" long after the figure had become Aragorn.

The original Trotter went to London and started Trotters Independent Traders.

 

[Rivendell_librarian]

Yes I wonder if Tolkien thought it more natural for a hobbit to be a Ranger protecting the Shire. This brings to mind the question as to why Strider does protect the Shire before he knows it houses the Ring. Is this an example of Christian charity?

 

[Glorfindel Goldtress]

If I recall correctly, Gandalf sets a watch on the Shire, requesting the Dunédain to double their guard. The threat of the Ringwraiths is no simple matter, and Aragorn would take this very seriously as would the other Rangers. I'm not sure how this jumps to Christian charity.

 

[Rivendell_librarian]

Yes you're right I've just noticed that in the next chapter: Gandalf had asked Strider to keep a watch on The Shire. But that doesn't mean that Strider doesn't consider the safety of the hobbits in The Shire for their own sake. I think Strider's (and Gandalf's) keeping watch over The Shire is started before the Black Riders come into the region looking for the Ring.

 

[Muskrat]

I one of Steve Donoghue’s podcasts on YouTube he suggests that the risky behavior of all the hobbits happened, at least partially, because our fellas got a little too deep into their muges of beer. The idea that they were, well, intoxicated, had never occurred to me, but it makes a lot of sense. Someone at the inn suggested that Frodo was in his cups, but not the others. What do you think?

 

[Starbrow]

I think it's a plausible that their judgement may have been affected by their drinking. I also think being the center of attention also affects your judgement. It's hard to think clearly when many hobbits are looking at you.

 

[Muskrat]

I saw this podcast a few days ago. In fifty years it never occurred to me that the hobbits were drunk. At an inn, yet. I guess it shows I don’t drink much!

 

[Deimos]

Even a little alcohol can affect your judgement....you need not be drunk/intoxicated to [uncharacteristically] speak or act or imprudently. (DAMHIKT)

 

[Eljorahir]

Even after Merry told them to mind their Pints and Quarts, they still got a little carried away.

 

[Muskrat]

So did Merry. A stroll in the dark alone with possible enemies around? Reminds me of bad horror movies.