[Formendacil]

Hmmm.... I seem to be lagging behind in discussion... I blame being sick- although I suppose that's not really true in this thread's particular case.

This chapter has a bit of a final feel to it, as if we're done with the Goblins and their ilk, and we're on to other adventures. The next chapter confirms that view, and so it seems that we're in a story of serial, unconnected, adventures, moving from Trolls, to Goblins (and Gollum), and now on to... Beorn.

Of course, once we reach the end of the book, these threads are all tied back together. As we learn then, the Goblins do NOT give up regarding Thorin and Co. However, discussion of such returns should be left, perhaps, for the chapter of the return.

"Out of the Frying Pan and Into the Fire" always seems a little bit disjointed. As noted, it's really more of a bridge chapter than one of the big adventure ones, although with burning pine combs, Wargs, and the Great Eagles does give it plenty of adventure in and of itself. It's main purpose, however, seems to be to bring Bilbo back to the Dwarves, to resolve the Goblin situation, and to move the whole company a little closer to their next adventure.

Two very interesting things happen in this chapter. The first is Bilbo's reluctance to tell the Dwarves the truth about his Ring. Although this can be explained as him looking for respect, feeling guilty about its theft, or whatnot, one has to wonder if this secretiveness on Bilbo's part isn't what started Tolkien down on the the train of thought that resulted in very crucial parts of Frodo's Ring-behaviour in the Lord of the Rings.

The other, very momentous first-appearance in this chapter that ought to be noted with full fanfare is that of the Wargs. Yes Virginia, here is the original appearance of the noble beasts whose followers are known on this website as the Warg and Warg Rider Appreciation Society.