Comical Parts

[Feanor of the Peredhil]

The part that has always been my favorite and will possibly always be my favorite, in terms of light humor, was Eomer and Gimli's dispute over Galadriel.

And before he went to his rest he sent for Gimli the Dwarf, and he said to him: 'Gimli Gloin's son, have you your axe ready?'

'Nay, lord,' said Gimli, 'but I can speedily fetch it, if there be need.'

'You shall judge,' said Eomer. 'For there are certain rash words concerning the Lady of the Golden Wood that lie still between us. And now I have seen her with my eyes.'

'Well, lord, said Gimli, 'and what say you now?'

'Alas!' said Eomer. 'I will not say that she is the fairest lady that lives.'

'Then I must go for my axe.'

They fought a hard battle and became dear friends. They have triumphed over evil and have formed an unbreakable bond. I smile every time at the cordiality of the death threat.

[MatthewM]

Notice all of these scenes involve Gimli...Jackson did it right!

[Bêthberry]

Well, my favourite comic part in Tolkien is not in Lord of the Rings; it is in the essay On Fairy-Stories.

Originally Posted by Tolkien

But what of the banana skin? Our business with it really only begins when it has been rejected by historians. It is more useful when it has been thrown away.

[Folwren]

Oh! oh! oh!

Of Herbs and Stewed Rabbits:

'Right,' said Sam. 'I does ask. And if that isn't nice enough, I begs.

And all the rest of that conversation!!

-- Folwren

[Macalaure]

Interestingly, most of my favourite comical scenes involve Legolas.

Farewell! I go find the sun!

A plague on Dwarves and their stiff necks.

Time wears on, and the mists are blowing away, or would if you strange folk did not wreathe yourselves in smoke.

Maybe they're not that comical, but they make me smiles every time I read them.


Another one is the disarming before Meduseld:
"Foolishness! Prudence is one thing, but discourtesy is another." - priceless


But my absolute favourite is the three young hobbits who go treasure-seeking in Frodo's cellar. It is so ludicrous a picture if you visualise this.

[MatthewM]

Originally Posted by Macalaure

"Time wears on, and the mists are blowing away, or would if you strange folk did not wreathe yourselves in smoke."

hahaha I also love this one!

[ninja91]

I always love the parts where you know Sam would just like to beat the living snot out of Gollum, and Gollum acts all helpless and pitiful.

[Folwren]

Originally Posted by Macalaure

But my absolute favourite is the three young hobbits who go treasure-seeking in Frodo's cellar. It is so ludicrous a picture if you visualise this.

That is funny! As is the humorous thought of Frodo actually having a tussle with one of them!

Another part that makes me chuckle is this:

'You'll live to regret it, young fellow! Why didn't you go too? You don't belong here; you're no Baggins-you-you're a Brandybuck!'

'Did you hear that, Merry? That was an insult, if you like,' said Frodo as he shut the door on her.

'It was a compliment,' said Merry Brandybuck, 'and so, of course, not true.'

Also. . .

'Come in! Come in! I thought it was Lobelia.'

'Then I forgive you,' said Gandalf. 'But I saw her some time ago, driving a pony-trap towards Bywater with a face that could have curdled new milk.'

'She had already nearly curdled me.'

[Glaurung]

In LotR there is one passage that always makes me if not laugh, then at least smile.

'Dark ways, doubtless,' said Gimli, 'but no darker than these staves are to me.'

Or this one, also (suprisingly) by Gimli:

'Since Gandalf's head is now sacred, let us find one that is right to cleave!'

But, though all my favourite comical parts involve Gimli, I think Jackson has made Gimli far too humorous a character. It takes all the point away of the comical part of Gimli's nature.. At least so it seems to me.