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Gandalf_theGrey · 06-03-2002, 01:31 AM

* a familiar figure cloaked in grey and encircled by rising pipeweed smoke enters, bowing a greeting to all present *

Hail and Well Met, Child of the 7th Age:

It is a pleasure to find such worthy discussion. Please permit me to add a few musings.

You say, “It's so easy for us to relate to the Shire. We understand the beauties of this world and of family and friends. But maybe a seer and prophet, which Frodo has become, needs something else, a different path, which most of us have trouble comprehending.”

I would venture that a seer and prophet can relate to the Shire with the acuteness of a touch from a blade of Westernesse, experiencing heightened awareness of heart even as he finds himself cut from the life he knew. For one thrust into such a life, “ordinary” and “extraordinary” even go so far as to switch places. The routine of home and hearth with pleasures so plentiful they lull you to complacency vanishes, replaced by the routine of surviving varying encounters with whatever fell creatures appear on your path while you live aware of continual risk, serving in the line of duty. Frodo’s burden is two-fold, the Ring being only one. The other burden being, responsibility. Sam, though not having Frodo’s sensitivity as a seer, shared Frodo’s road and eventually followed his friend’s path over the sea.

As for the quote you cite:

“And then it seemed to him that as in his dream in the house of Bombadil, the grey rain-curtain turned all to silver glass and was rolled back, and he beheld white shores and beyond them a green country under a swift sunrise.”

I believe that the symbolism of the colors and motions in this quote speak to the “positives that underlay Frodo's yearning for the West and the Sea,” that you wish to see addressed. Grey = Veil. Silver = Precious. Glass = Transparency. Combination of silver with glass = Cleanness. White = Purity. Green = Life. The movement of the opaque glass rolling back reminds me of the words,
"For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in
part; but then shall I know even as also I am known." 1 Corinthians 13:12

Another way to communicate the commingled nostalgia at leaving Middle Earth with anticipation of fulfillment and peace at the end of the journey West is perhaps through song.

Clicking on the link below will allow you to listen to “The Last Ship” by Glass Hammer.
http://www.glasshammer.com/audio/Gla..._Last_Ship.mp3

Clicking on this following link will allow you to read the typed lyrics to “The Last Ship” by Glass Hammer.
http://www.glasshammer.com/lastship.html

At your Service,

Gandalf the Grey

06-03-2002, 01:31 AM	#18
Gandalf_theGrey Visionary Spirit Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 633	* a familiar figure cloaked in grey and encircled by rising pipeweed smoke enters, bowing a greeting to all present * Hail and Well Met, Child of the 7th Age: It is a pleasure to find such worthy discussion. Please permit me to add a few musings. You say, “It's so easy for us to relate to the Shire. We understand the beauties of this world and of family and friends. But maybe a seer and prophet, which Frodo has become, needs something else, a different path, which most of us have trouble comprehending.” I would venture that a seer and prophet can relate to the Shire with the acuteness of a touch from a blade of Westernesse, experiencing heightened awareness of heart even as he finds himself cut from the life he knew. For one thrust into such a life, “ordinary” and “extraordinary” even go so far as to switch places. The routine of home and hearth with pleasures so plentiful they lull you to complacency vanishes, replaced by the routine of surviving varying encounters with whatever fell creatures appear on your path while you live aware of continual risk, serving in the line of duty. Frodo’s burden is two-fold, the Ring being only one. The other burden being, responsibility. Sam, though not having Frodo’s sensitivity as a seer, shared Frodo’s road and eventually followed his friend’s path over the sea. As for the quote you cite: “And then it seemed to him that as in his dream in the house of Bombadil, the grey rain-curtain turned all to silver glass and was rolled back, and he beheld white shores and beyond them a green country under a swift sunrise.” I believe that the symbolism of the colors and motions in this quote speak to the “positives that underlay Frodo's yearning for the West and the Sea,” that you wish to see addressed. Grey = Veil. Silver = Precious. Glass = Transparency. Combination of silver with glass = Cleanness. White = Purity. Green = Life. The movement of the opaque glass rolling back reminds me of the words, "For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known." 1 Corinthians 13:12 Another way to communicate the commingled nostalgia at leaving Middle Earth with anticipation of fulfillment and peace at the end of the journey West is perhaps through song. Clicking on the link below will allow you to listen to “The Last Ship” by Glass Hammer. http://www.glasshammer.com/audio/Gla..._Last_Ship.mp3 Clicking on this following link will allow you to read the typed lyrics to “The Last Ship” by Glass Hammer. http://www.glasshammer.com/lastship.html At your Service, Gandalf the Grey