This episode is one of the central points of a new online article by Michael Drout on
"The Heroic World and the Bourgeois World". He explains that it is the clash of values and customs between those two different cultures in Middle-earth that make up not only much of the humour of the story, but also some of the moral conflicts, such as that of the Arkenstone. The article gives excellent insights and food for thought, especially concerning this chapter. Enjoy - and if you like, discuss!
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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..
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