"Frodo Lives!"

[Tigerlily Gamgee]

Well, the title is sort of self explanatory. I have seem this phrase on some merchandise online & I was wondering what is really referred to.
My friend told me that when The Two Towers was written it was a long time before Return of the King was released, but people who read the second book spray painted this on walls, busses, etc, because they were so excited about the ending of the book & wanted the third one.
I don't know if this is true, I was wondering if anyone could help me out.

[Child of the 7th Age]

Hi Tigerlily! I've never heard that explanation before.

As far as I know, the phrase orginated in the sixties with the generation that first went in for Tolkien in a big way. College students used the term "Frodo Lives" to express the hope that the dreams and ideals Frodo stood for were still alive and well...that the earth would be cleansed, that there would be peace, that our lives and imaginations would be returned to us instead of controlled by coporations and governments. You saw these words on bumper stickers and also on grafitti.

There was another thread discussing this--"Does Frodo live?" (I think it's on page two of Books II)

I haven't heard the meaning you mentioned Perhaps someone else has, or it may be a misunderstanding.

sharon, the 7th age hobbit

[Tigerlily Gamgee]

Thank you so much! That is actually quite inspiring smilies/smile.gif

[Naaramare]

I'm a second generation Tolkienite, but according to my father, one of the most uplifting times of his life (oddly enough) was one day he was wandering in and around some tunnels near Simon Frasier University and saw "Frodo Lives!" spraypainted all over the wall . . .in English and Sindarin.

I thought that was neat.

[Birdland]

I remember having the 1975 Ballantine Map of Middle Earth hanging in my dorm room, (wish I had that thing now. It was beautiful.) Along with "Frodo Lives", there were "Frodo for President" bumper stickers, and my favorite button, "I Grok Frodo".

Now, do any of you science fiction fans out there remember the origin of the word "Grok"? smilies/biggrin.gif

[Tigerlily Gamgee]

Wow, those are some really great stories. It's too bad you don't see stuff like that anymore.
Birdland - I don't know the origin of "Grok", though I am interested to know.

[Birdland]

Oh, OK, Tigerlily. You twisted my arm. smilies/biggrin.gif

grok /grok/, var. /grok/ vt.

[common; from the novel "Stranger in a Strange Land", by Robert A. Heinlein, where it is a Martian word meaning literally `to drink' and metaphorically `to be one with'] The emphatic form is `grok in fullness'. 1. To understand. Connotes intimate and exhaustive knowledge. When you claim to `grok' some knowledge or technique, you are asserting that you have not merely learned it in a detached instrumental way but that it has become part of you, part of your identity.

"Stranger in a Strange Land" was a hugely popular novel during the 60's as well, and "grok" was a word that was picked up, (in a humorous vein) by the college kids of the day. Another favorite button was "I Grok Spock".

[Bramblerose Gamgee-Took]

Now that would be decent grafiti worth seeing! smilies/biggrin.gif smilies/tongue.gif

[littlemanpoet]

I laughed when I saw your title, Birdland. I know I've seen the word Neekerbreeker before, but I forget where. Where is that from?

[Birdland]

Littlemanpoet! I'm shocked! I thought you knew your Tolkien better than that! smilies/biggrin.gif

Of course, it is an obscure part of the book. The Neekerbreekers were the "evil relatives of the cricket" whose cry of neek-breek neek-breek drove everyone to distraction when the camped in the Midgewater Marshes. It was Sam, of course, who called them Neekerbreekers.

I thought it was a good metaphor for my usual contribution to the Downs. "There goes Birdie, Neek-Breekin' again."

[piosenniel]

GROK

Oh my, that does take me back!

[Tigerlily Gamgee]

Thank you, Birdland, that is very interesting!

[Naaramare]

Thanks to "Frodo Lives!" and "I Grok Frodo" I was treated to several hours of 70's LotR nostalgia. It was fascinating.

[Child of the 7th Age]

Birdland --

Oh, yeah, NOW I remember Grok and Heinlen. Boy, do I remember Heinlen. Everybody around me was crazy about him. I think I blocked it out because I was less crazy!

By the way, on my dorm walls, I had the psychedelic picture from the cover of the three Ballentine paperback editions of LotR in the late 60s. Is that the same one you meant?
(the one Tolkien said he hated!)

sharon, the 7th age hobbit

[ May 31, 2002: Message edited by: Child of the 7th Age ]

[Birdland]

Child - No, this was a poster of the cover art from the big, white Ballantine box set. It showed Tolkien's map of Middle Earth, with the Nine Walkers (including Bill), at the top. At the bottom were the Nine Black Riders in pursuit.

I actually saw that poster on e-Bay last year, complete with thumb tack holes. Someone's mom had rolled it up and stuck it in a closet for thirty years. I was sorely tempted, but I let the poster (and my lost youth,) go to some other bidder. smilies/biggrin.gif