LotR -- Book 1 - Chapter 04 – A Short Cut to Mushrooms
This chapter begins and ends with brief refuges from the danger of the Black Riders – from the Elven camp to Farmer Maggot’s house. In both cases, there were narrow escapes.
Sam has taken a big step in his growth through the conversation with the Elves. Not only was his task made clear to him, he sees farther than before, both in his opinion on the Elves (‘They seem a bit above my likes and dislikes…’ ) and in his vision of the goal of their journey. The latter is a foresight – very unusual for Sam. (‘I seem to see ahead… I have something to do before the end… I must see it through…’ )
Pippin has an important function as a guide and as an introduction to Farmer Maggot. Other than that, he brings a touch of light-heartedness to the conversations.
Frodo sets his will to the journey ahead (‘…we have got to try and get there; and it won’t be done by sitting and thinking.’ )
And Tolkien does a suspenseful bit of writing with the cloaked rider who seems dangerous and turns out to be a friend.
I look forward to seeing where the discussion of this chapter takes us!
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'Mercy!' cried Gandalf. 'If the giving of information is to be the cure of your inquisitiveness, I shall spend all the rest of my days in answering you. What more do you want to know?' 'The whole history of Middle-earth.. .'
Last edited by Estelyn Telcontar; 07-11-2004 at 10:16 PM.
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