Hey dol! Merry dol! Get lost Tom!!! - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

mark12_30 · 09-24-2004, 11:18 AM

It's more than that.

He had, or thought he had, a perfect easy escape in his pocket-- the Ring. All he had to do was put it on, and he was free. He thought of himself running over the grass, grieving for his friends, but free. Too bad for his friends, but "Gandalf would have agreed there was nothing else he could do."

Horrible temptation. And what a horrible thing to live with afterward-- talk about survivor guilt...

What Frodo rejected in the Barrow was his own freedom at the cost of his friends' lives. He decided to stay, and die with them if he could not get them out.

From then on, instead of being consumed by fear, he used his wits. First he thought of using the sword to hack at the hand; then he remembered the song for calling Bombadil.

Essex · 09-24-2004, 12:43 PM

I know this is turning into a 'book' type thread, but for me the scenes from crickhowell to Bree are SO important to me, and are some of the most 'atmospheric' among the whole book. I know this sounds daft, but it starts for me when frodo and company are starting off in the early morning towards the old forest. Whenever I read this, I get the feeling of being up early in the morning, ready to leave. I can't put my finger on why, this is just one of the passages that sticks with me. And the way tolkien describes the hobbits fulling into slumber as they approach and sit by old man willow, also leaves me feeling tired (but not bored!) as well. his descriptive style is second to none.

and then onto one of the most startling passages in the entire trilogy, as first Tom asks for the ring (and frodo willingly obliges) and puts it on without vanishing. then Frodo tries to leave with the ring on and tom says he's not that blind yet!

I know this couldn't have worked in the film, as jackson has given the ring, or to be more precise, Sauron, too much power for this to work. (Exactly the same reason why Sam couldn't wear the ring later on in rotk).......

Meneltarmacil · 09-24-2004, 06:40 PM

No offense to all you Tom Bombadil fans out there, but I personally have never really liked Tom a whole lot. He just seemed kind of random, like he was just thrown in there for basically no reason. And forgive me for saying so, but even in the book it didn't seem like he added much to the plot. Tom just didn't really fit in well with the story, so I don't really care about his absence in the movies.

Boromir88 · 09-25-2004, 12:48 PM

Essex:

Quote:

I know this is turning into a 'book' type thread, but for me the scenes from crickhowell to Bree are SO important to me,

I happen to agree Essex, I think these chapters are important ones. First off, skipping these chapters means you have basically skipped 3 chapters of the book, and people may say "Tom is not important." But, these chapters are key chapters to figure out, how Frodo, Merry, Pippin, and Sam acted back then, and then how they grow maturely by the end of the book. Tom may not be important, but it's important if you want to see the growth of the Hobbits from beginning to end.

As Mark said, Frodo completed a brave feet on his part, even more so then people give him credit for. I mean come on PJ give Frodo some bravery, it's pathetic that he falls down some 200 times in the 3 films. Mark, I like how you bought up the fact that Frodo resisted his temptation, from the ring, to leave his friends behind, to escape easily, and leave his friends to their own fate, I never considered that before and it has shown me a whole "new light" to Frodo, which is only more cause for me to stress these chapters are important to pick up on how the characters act in certain situations, good post.

Again Essex:

Quote:

and are some of the most 'atmospheric' among the whole book.

Good point Essex, The Old Forest adds this sort of majestic, magical, haven for the hobbits seperate from Middle-Earth. You get this magical feeling when reading the chapters in the Old Forest, it's something totally different then the rest of Middle-earth, then maybe besides Fangorn. Fangorn and Old Forest have a lot of simularities, and parallels.

Elianna · 09-25-2004, 07:04 PM

I don't know whether to hide in shame or blush with embrassment. I feel so bad, I completely forgot about Frodo cutting off the hand. Completely forgot about so much of that scene in the book. I'm so sorry about my comment. (in my defense, it was at least the beginning of the year since I read it last.)

09-24-2004, 11:18 AM	#1
mark12_30 Stormdancer of Doom Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Elvish singing is not a thing to miss, in June under the stars Posts: 4,349	It's more than that. He had, or thought he had, a perfect easy escape in his pocket-- the Ring. All he had to do was put it on, and he was free. He thought of himself running over the grass, grieving for his friends, but free. Too bad for his friends, but "Gandalf would have agreed there was nothing else he could do." Horrible temptation. And what a horrible thing to live with afterward-- talk about survivor guilt... What Frodo rejected in the Barrow was his own freedom at the cost of his friends' lives. He decided to stay, and die with them if he could not get them out. From then on, instead of being consumed by fear, he used his wits. First he thought of using the sword to hack at the hand; then he remembered the song for calling Bombadil. __________________ ...down to the water to see the elves dance and sing upon the midsummer's eve.

09-24-2004, 06:40 PM	#3
Meneltarmacil Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: The bottom of the ocean, discussing philosophy with a giant squid Posts: 2,254	No offense to all you Tom Bombadil fans out there, but I personally have never really liked Tom a whole lot. He just seemed kind of random, like he was just thrown in there for basically no reason. And forgive me for saying so, but even in the book it didn't seem like he added much to the plot. Tom just didn't really fit in well with the story, so I don't really care about his absence in the movies. __________________ I ♣ baby seals.

09-25-2004, 07:04 PM	#5
Elianna Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Ad finem itineris Posts: 384	I don't know whether to hide in shame or blush with embrassment. I feel so bad, I completely forgot about Frodo cutting off the hand. Completely forgot about so much of that scene in the book. I'm so sorry about my comment. (in my defense, it was at least the beginning of the year since I read it last.) __________________ Enyale cuilenya, ú-enyale mandenya.

09-24-2004, 12:43 PM	#2
Essex Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Essex, England Posts: 886	I know this is turning into a 'book' type thread, but for me the scenes from crickhowell to Bree are SO important to me, and are some of the most 'atmospheric' among the whole book. I know this sounds daft, but it starts for me when frodo and company are starting off in the early morning towards the old forest. Whenever I read this, I get the feeling of being up early in the morning, ready to leave. I can't put my finger on why, this is just one of the passages that sticks with me. And the way tolkien describes the hobbits fulling into slumber as they approach and sit by old man willow, also leaves me feeling tired (but not bored!) as well. his descriptive style is second to none. and then onto one of the most startling passages in the entire trilogy, as first Tom asks for the ring (and frodo willingly obliges) and puts it on without vanishing. then Frodo tries to leave with the ring on and tom says he's not that blind yet! I know this couldn't have worked in the film, as jackson has given the ring, or to be more precise, Sauron, too much power for this to work. (Exactly the same reason why Sam couldn't wear the ring later on in rotk).......