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I thought one of my favourite chapters wouldn't get a mention, but respect to Lathriel and the hot, crispy nice hobbit (!) for mentioning it:
The Old Forest
I think this is one of the best (if not the best) written chapters of the whole trilogy.
It takes some concentration to take in EVERY WORD of tolkien's description of the hobbits' journey from crickhowell to tom's house. But it's well worth the work.
I actually feel like I'm with the hobbits on their journey in this chapter, the events are that well explained by Tolkien. I'm with them from the start of their trip in the early dark hours of the morning, through the tunnel into the forest, and I can hear the gate shutting as they go through. Their ominous feelings as they walk through the forest. Their brief happiness as they find the bonfire glade and the hill above it. The feeling of aminosity I get from the forest whilst travelling through it.
The way the forest forces them to turn southwards towards the withywindle and old man willow. The view of the river valley, full of willow trees on the banks, and willow leaves scattered on the river. The feeling of tiredness as old man willow does his work, and Sam's anger towards the tree. I feel Merry and Pippin's hoplesness as they cry telling Sam to stop burning the tree. I pity Frodo's helplesness as he runs off screaming for help. I feel this all.
And finally, of course, we have the arrival of the one and only Tom Bombadil.
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