Hobbit2 - Chapter 17 - The Clouds Burst - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

jallanite · 11-17-2012, 08:08 PM

There seems to me to be little to say about this chapter.

It is clearly written and even contains some humour when Tolkien glosses what Dain really means by his polite and formal language in his message sent to Bard.

The battle has just broken out between Men and Elves on one side and Dain’s dwarves on the other, when Gandalf unexpectedly calls a halt because Bolg and his host of goblins, and wargs, and bats have come upon them. Suddenly there is peace between Men and Elves and Dwarves as they at once agree to join forces against the Goblins and Wargs.

Tolkien tells us, “it is plain that he [Gandalf] had not expected this sudden assault.” Indeed the coming just at this moment was fortunate, before there had been a chance for any killing by Elves and Men of Dwarves or by Dwarves of Elves and Men. That would have complicated matters.

Tolkien writes of Gandalf:

Gandalf too, I may say, was then, sitting on the ground as if in deep thought, preparing, I suppose, some last blast before the end.

Tolkien does not say whether “last blast” refers to previous blasts of fire in this same battle or whether Gandalf in this battle has been previously only fighting with his sword Glamdring. What Gandalf may have been planning is something like he planned to do earlier when under attack by the goblins:

The sudden splendour flashed from his wand like lightning, as he got ready to spring down from on high right among the spears of the goblins. That would have been the end of him, though he would probably have killed many of them as he came hurtling down like a thunderbolt. But he never leaped.

Just at that moment the Lord of the Eagles swept down from above, seized him in his talons, and was gone.

It is obvious enough why Gandalf had not earlier been so desperate as to attempt some such suicide blast against the Goblins at the Lonely Mountain.

11-17-2012, 08:08 PM	#2
jallanite Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: Apr 2001 Location: Toronto Posts: 479	There seems to me to be little to say about this chapter. It is clearly written and even contains some humour when Tolkien glosses what Dain really means by his polite and formal language in his message sent to Bard. The battle has just broken out between Men and Elves on one side and Dain’s dwarves on the other, when Gandalf unexpectedly calls a halt because Bolg and his host of goblins, and wargs, and bats have come upon them. Suddenly there is peace between Men and Elves and Dwarves as they at once agree to join forces against the Goblins and Wargs. Tolkien tells us, “it is plain that he [Gandalf] had not expected this sudden assault.” Indeed the coming just at this moment was fortunate, before there had been a chance for any killing by Elves and Men of Dwarves or by Dwarves of Elves and Men. That would have complicated matters. Tolkien writes of Gandalf: Gandalf too, I may say, was then, sitting on the ground as if in deep thought, preparing, I suppose, some last blast before the end. Tolkien does not say whether “last blast” refers to previous blasts of fire in this same battle or whether Gandalf in this battle has been previously only fighting with his sword Glamdring. What Gandalf may have been planning is something like he planned to do earlier when under attack by the goblins: The sudden splendour flashed from his wand like lightning, as he got ready to spring down from on high right among the spears of the goblins. That would have been the end of him, though he would probably have killed many of them as he came hurtling down like a thunderbolt. But he never leaped. Just at that moment the Lord of the Eagles swept down from above, seized him in his talons, and was gone. It is obvious enough why Gandalf had not earlier been so desperate as to attempt some such suicide blast against the Goblins at the Lonely Mountain.