A Favorite Passage

[Squint-eyed Southerner]

This thread has gone somewhat astray from my original question, but that's OK; here's an old one on yours that recently got necro'd:

http://thetolkien.forum/index.php?threads/biblos-insult-read-and-answer.14568/

I'd still like to hear any further thoughts on the passage I first posted about, though!

 

[Glorfindel Goldtress]

"Do not speak that name so loudly!"

Few years late to the party yup yup, but I find this line intriguing solely because it reminds the reader that words have power. For example, when Frodo halts Shelob's progress and also later completely breaks the will of the Watchers at the Tower of Cirith Ungol, he gives the cry, or a variant of,

Aiya Eärendil elenion ancalima!​

The words for both good and evil carry great weight/portance.

 

[Eljorahir]

what is it about this particular section that would be of interest?

What I find interesting in the passage is how it elevates Sam in a small (and perhaps symbolic) way.

Aragorn mentions Gil-galad.
Merry asks: "Who was Gil-galad".
You'd expect Aragorn to simply answer the question, but he's busy daydreaming and remains silent.
Well, when the mighty falter the lesser must lead. So, Sam answers the question by reciting the Gil-galad poem he'd been taught by Bilbo. 'The others turned in amazement, for the voice was Sam's.'

So, in a small way, in the conversation Sam takes the lead above Aragorn just as he will take the lead time and time again later in the story when it's time to fight a giant spider, sneak into one of the most evil places in Middle-earth, carry a friend up a mountain, etc.

 

[Squint-eyed Southerner]

Here's how the 1981 BBC Radio version handled that:

I found it moving at the time -- and still do.

 

[Firiel23]

Here's how the 1981 BBC Radio version handled that:

I found it moving at the time -- and still do.

this is so beautiful! I'm always looking for LORT poems put to music, which i can sing to my children. this is definitely going to be a staple.
here's another favorite:

 

[Aramarien]

this is so beautiful! I'm always looking for LORT poems put to music, which i can sing to my children. this is definitely going to be a staple.
here's another favorite:

Thank you so VERY much for sharing this!! I absolutely LOVED this. I've read this chapter so many times, but this song that Frodo sang really came to life. I could picture this scene more vividly and gained more depth and meaning to this important scene. As modern readers, it may be hard to picture this scene because we have piped in music or jukeboxes, but not so back in the day where impromptu songs were the entertainment. I really enjoyed this and knew the words that I actually was speaking the lyrics, I really enjoyed this!!

 

[Halasían]

A Favorite Passage​

The Strait of Juan de Fuca was always my favorite passage, probably because I hiked the beaches on the Washington side a lot. The trek out Dungeness Spit to the lighthouse is always fun.

I always liked Rush's 'Passage to Bangkok' too. Listening to it right now!

That is two favorite passages....

 

[Deimos]

The Strait of Juan de Fuca was always my favorite passage, probably because I hiked the beaches on the Washington side a lot. The trek out Dungeness Spit to the lighthouse is always fun.

I always liked Rush's 'Passage to Bangkok' too. Listening to it right now!

That is two favorite passages....

*tsk* ....that is so corny 🙄

 

[Halasían]

*tsk* ....that is so corny 🙄

↑ ↓

This thread has gone somewhat astray from my original question, but that's OK;

 

[Deimos]

↑ ↓

It's the way you've "gone astray" 🙄....it's like punning🙄🙄🙄

 

[Rivendell_librarian]

I've just come across this fascinating thread - it's remarkable how much there is in an apparently innocuous passage. Strider seems superstitious of the M word (Mordor) but uses it himself later in the chapter - not long before the Black Riders make their dramatic appearance in the dell. Pippin's loud voice is another factor here (already experienced at The Prancing Pony).

You may well say that for me all roads lead to Vertigo but these memorable comments by Martin Scorsese have a similar theme to that of the apparently innocuous having hidden meanings.

Oh and btw the colour of the car is green (!)

 

[Muskrat]

Hobbits are modderns, like us. To them, words are words. To everyone else names share in the reality the thing named. Mentioning Gil-galad of Luthien warms the air and cheers the heart. Mentioning Mordor does the reverse. “Nay, I speak no words of ill omen.” The M word is about as ill- omened as it gets.