📖👀 Concluding thoughts on The Two Towers

[Rivendell_librarian]

When Frodo and Sam got round to comparing notes with Merry and Pippin over a pint (new innovation brought in by Pippin) or three at The Green Dragon. I think Frodo and Sam would conclude they had the worst of it. Apart from North Ithilien (which wasn't as it was before) the terrain they encountered has been unremittingly grim. Sam might mutter something about having to put up with Stinker as well. Rohan and Fangorn are much more pleasant places. In fact it's not too great a stretch to call them beautiful.

Also, book IV is far narrower in its cast of characters focussing mainly on Frodo, Sam and Gollum. As I wrote before it's rather like two SOE agents sent to Nazi occupied Europe on a suicide mission "vital to the outcome of the war" as they always say with a stiff upper lip in the best WW2 films. Gollum is their untrustworthy guide and Faramir is leading a resistance group who have different priorities.

Book III is far more expansive with a lot of riding the range and a huge set piece battle plus other battles as well. It also includes the revelation that Gandalf is alive, and transformed. The relationship between Gimli and Legolas is developed and there is a greater range of characters. A book with a very different feel from book IV.

 

[TrackerOrc]

When Frodo and Sam got round to comparing notes with Merry and Pippin over a pint (new innovation brought in by Pippin) or three at The Green Dragon. I think Frodo and Sam would conclude they had the worst of it. Apart from North Ithilien (which wasn't as it was before) the terrain they encountered has been unremittingly grim. Sam might mutter something about having to put up with Stinker as well. Rohan and Fangorn are much more pleasant places. In fact it's not too great a stretch to call them beautiful.

Also, book IV is far narrower in its cast of characters focussing mainly on Frodo, Sam and Gollum. As I wrote before it's rather like two SOE agents sent to Nazi occupied Europe on a suicide mission "vital to the outcome of the war" as they always say with a stiff upper lip in the best WW2 films. Gollum is their untrustworthy guide and Faramir is leading a resistance group who have different priorities.

Book III is far more expansive with a lot of riding the range and a huge set piece battle plus other battles as well. It also includes the revelation that Gandalf is alive, and transformed. The relationship between Gimli and Legolas is developed and there is a greater range of characters. A book with a very different feel from book IV.

This difference between the expansive and the laser focus on just a few characters is, of course, carried on in RoTK; I wonder how early this choice was made?

 

[TrackerOrc]

When Frodo and Sam got round to comparing notes with Merry and Pippin over a pint (new innovation brought in by Pippin) or three at The Green Dragon. I think Frodo and Sam would conclude they had the worst of it. Apart from North Ithilien (which wasn't as it was before) the terrain they encountered has been unremittingly grim. Sam might mutter something about having to put up with Stinker as well. Rohan and Fangorn are much more pleasant places. In fact it's not too great a stretch to call them beautiful.

Also, book IV is far narrower in its cast of characters focussing mainly on Frodo, Sam and Gollum. As I wrote before it's rather like two SOE agents sent to Nazi occupied Europe on a suicide mission "vital to the outcome of the war" as they always say with a stiff upper lip in the best WW2 films. Gollum is their untrustworthy guide and Faramir is leading a resistance group who have different priorities.

Book III is far more expansive with a lot of riding the range and a huge set piece battle plus other battles as well. It also includes the revelation that Gandalf is alive, and transformed. The relationship between Gimli and Legolas is developed and there is a greater range of characters. A book with a very different feel from book IV.

One of the great joys of these threads is realising how you can change personally with the umpteenth readings of the various chapters.
My for instances include me reading the dreaded Bombadil chapters closely for the first time in quite a long time,instead of skimming through from the Shire to Bree. Now this hasn't changed my overall opinion of Bombadil, but I've realised that I quite enjoyed the Barrow Downs and will pay particular attention in my future readings.

What I've found most illuminating (and a bit shocking) is how much I'm now doubling down on my favourite characters. I'm sure I used to give a whole range of characters an awful lot of elbow room, but now I find myself muttering things like 'Oh, untrustworthy eh? If it wasn't for good old Gollum, those two idiots woud have starved to death on the Emyn Muil'...and I'm pretty sure that most people wouldn't find the Orcs the lovable little scamps that I seem to think them to be!

But that's the beauty of the books isn't it? Lots and lots of room for interpretation.

Bring on The Return of The King! And possibly The Silmarillion! And what about The Hobbit!

 

[Rivendell_librarian]

One of the great joys of these threads is realising how you can change personally with the umpteenth readings of the various chapters.
My for instances include me reading the dreaded Bombadil chapters closely for the first time in quite a long time,instead of skimming through from the Shire to Bree. Now this hasn't changed my overall opinion of Bombadil, but I've realised that I quite enjoyed the Barrow Downs and will pay particular attention in my future readings.

What I've found most illuminating (and a bit shocking) is how much I'm now doubling down on my favourite characters. I'm sure I used to give a whole range of characters an awful lot of elbow room, but now I find myself muttering things like 'Oh, untrustworthy eh? If it wasn't for good old Gollum, those two idiots woud have starved to death on the Emyn Muil'...and I'm pretty sure that most people wouldn't find the Orcs the lovable little scamps that I seem to think them to be!

But that's the beauty of the books isn't it? Lots and lots of room for interpretation.

Bring on The Return of The King! And possibly The Silmarillion! And what about The Hobbit!

I'm wondering whether JRRT ever considered writing The Adventures of Shelob?

 

[TrackerOrc]

I'm wondering whether JRRT ever considered writing The Adventures of Shelob?

Yikes.
I'd read every word in a cold sweat. Multiple times...
It's only the GIANT SPIDER thing that stops me from fully appreciating Shelob. She really is a fascinating creature. If she was a giant stick insect, or a giant ladybird I'd be much more on her side.

 

[Starbrow]

I tried to imagine a terrifying ladybug and couldn't do it. Even the AI pictures don't seem all that scary.

 

[TrackerOrc]

I tried to imagine a terrifying ladybug and couldn't do it. Even the AI pictures don't seem all that scary.
View attachment 36627

Now that's more like it!