The Straight Stair - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Elianna · 05-01-2005, 02:48 PM

Question: If the Straight Stair was built by the Gondorians, or even maybe by Sauron's orcs, why was it chiseled out to be barely big enough for little Hobbits to crawl up it?

Azaelia of Willowbottom · 05-01-2005, 07:01 PM

Good question. Perhaps someone more experienced than I can provide a more satisfactory answer, but here's my shot at it.

Perhaps the stairs had eroded over time...They were built a very long time before LOTR took place. They can't have been easy to carve in the first place: going almost straight upwards. Maybe they were only able to carve thin steps.

A simpler answer would be that it makes for dramatic movie shots. The sense of vertigo during those scenes in the movie was pretty strong, and I doubt that it would have been quite so strong had the stairs been shown as larger.
I can't remember exactly how they were described in the book, but I *think* that the stairs being so thin may have been a PJ addition.

Gurthang · 05-03-2005, 05:27 PM

Yes, I agree with Azaelia. Does it ever say in the books that the stairs were narrow? I would also wonder if the stairs themselves were actually of Gondorian make. Minas Ithil was, of course, a city of Gondor, but why would/did they build a pass into Mordor? Do you have a quote to back that up? It would be most helpful.

mormegil · 05-04-2005, 08:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gurthang

Yes, I agree with Azaelia. Does it ever say in the books that the stairs were narrow? I would also wonder if the stairs themselves were actually of Gondorian make. Minas Ithil was, of course, a city of Gondor, but why would/did they build a pass into Mordor? Do you have a quote to back that up? It would be most helpful.

No from what I read about it the other night, it doesn't say that they were particularly narrow. However, I would imagine that they were due to the fact the the climb a steep mountain and go nearly straight up. But without more conclusive evidence this is just my imagination at work.

Elianna · 05-05-2005, 03:10 PM

I asked here on the movies' thread because I couldn't remember any exact description in the books.

Beanamir of Gondor · 05-18-2005, 11:10 AM

I don't really remember a specific description of them in the movie, either, but I got the impression that they were built by orcs rather than Gondorians. (I willingly accept criticism on that subject.) At any rate, when Sam and Frodo were climbing those mentioned steps in ROTK, it looked to me as if they were having the same problems as Merry and Pippin did in Moria in FOTR--as if the steps were built for longer legs and bigger feet than they possessed.
Ideas on that, anyone?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

There's not a joy the world can give like that it takes away...

Nimrodel_9 · 05-18-2005, 05:06 PM

My best guess is that they wanted them to be 'secret' and thus made them as unnoticeable as possible. (Yes, unnoticeable is a word. I looked it up to be sure.)

Holbytlass · 05-31-2005, 04:23 PM

I noticed that, too, about the trouble the hobbits were having on the Moria steps. Interesting when those steps were made by dwarves for dwarves who weren't much taller than hobbits.

05-01-2005, 02:48 PM	#1
Elianna Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Ad finem itineris Posts: 384	The Straight Stair Question: If the Straight Stair was built by the Gondorians, or even maybe by Sauron's orcs, why was it chiseled out to be barely big enough for little Hobbits to crawl up it? __________________ Enyale cuilenya, ú-enyale mandenya.

05-01-2005, 07:01 PM	#2
Azaelia of Willowbottom Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: By the Sea Posts: 455	Good question. Perhaps someone more experienced than I can provide a more satisfactory answer, but here's my shot at it. Perhaps the stairs had eroded over time...They were built a very long time before LOTR took place. They can't have been easy to carve in the first place: going almost straight upwards. Maybe they were only able to carve thin steps. A simpler answer would be that it makes for dramatic movie shots. The sense of vertigo during those scenes in the movie was pretty strong, and I doubt that it would have been quite so strong had the stairs been shown as larger. I can't remember exactly how they were described in the book, but I think that the stairs being so thin may have been a PJ addition. __________________ "Wherever I have been, I am back."

05-03-2005, 05:27 PM	#3
Gurthang Sword of Spirit Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Oh, I'm around. Posts: 1,507	Yes, I agree with Azaelia. Does it ever say in the books that the stairs were narrow? I would also wonder if the stairs themselves were actually of Gondorian make. Minas Ithil was, of course, a city of Gondor, but why would/did they build a pass into Mordor? Do you have a quote to back that up? It would be most helpful. __________________ I'm on a Mission from God.

05-05-2005, 03:10 PM	#5
Elianna Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Ad finem itineris Posts: 384	I asked here on the movies' thread because I couldn't remember any exact description in the books. __________________ Enyale cuilenya, ú-enyale mandenya.

05-18-2005, 11:10 AM	#6
Beanamir of Gondor Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: the Shadow Gallery Posts: 276	I don't really remember a specific description of them in the movie, either, but I got the impression that they were built by orcs rather than Gondorians. (I willingly accept criticism on that subject.) At any rate, when Sam and Frodo were climbing those mentioned steps in ROTK, it looked to me as if they were having the same problems as Merry and Pippin did in Moria in FOTR--as if the steps were built for longer legs and bigger feet than they possessed. Ideas on that, anyone? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ There's not a joy the world can give like that it takes away... __________________ The answer to life is no longer 42. It's 4 8 15 16 23... 42. "I only lent you my body; you lent me your dream."

05-18-2005, 05:06 PM	#7
Nimrodel_9 Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Utah Posts: 786	My best guess is that they wanted them to be 'secret' and thus made them as unnoticeable as possible. (Yes, unnoticeable is a word. I looked it up to be sure.) __________________ .:A friend is someone who reaches for your hand and touches your heart:.

05-31-2005, 04:23 PM	#8
Holbytlass Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: May 2003 Location: The Party Tree Posts: 1,096	I noticed that, too, about the trouble the hobbits were having on the Moria steps. Interesting when those steps were made by dwarves for dwarves who weren't much taller than hobbits. __________________ Holby is an actual flesh-and-blood person, right? Not, say a sock-puppet of Nilp’s, by any chance? ~Nerwen, WWCIII