14. B1:C3 - Three Is Company - [LoTR Read Along]

 

The Nicks discuss Frodo's departure from Bag End, dealing with the Sackville-Bagginses, Gaffer Gamgee (a ninja?), Black Riders, High Elves, and walking through the Shire - which should have been the safest part of the journey.

 

Maps

Map of Middle-earth 

LoTRproject.com interactive map - Caution: spoilers for new readers!

 

How far is 20 miles around you? If you were Sam, how far would your geographic knowledge take you?

 

Last time in The Lord of The Rings

Last episode we spoke about Gandalf, and how he chased all over Middle-earth to learn everything he could about the ring Bilbo found in Gollum's cave nearly 80 years ago. With Bilbo gone, and Frodo the new owner of the Ring (and Bag End), danger is growing and coming ever closer to the Shire. Frodo, under the guidance of Gandalf, and with the companionship of his gardener, Sam Gamgee, must get the Ring OUT of the Shire to save his home from danger!

 

Where are we in the narrative?

Bilbo Baggins, who found a “Magic” Ring nearly 80 years ago, wills the Ring to his heir Frodo. Gandalf the wizard has discovered the true identity of Frodo’s ring. The Ring is the One Ring that the Dark Lord Sauron made, to dominate the whole world. Frodo learns that the only way to defeat the Dark Lord is to destroy the Ring, but that can only be done in the fires of Mt. Doom where it was made. Frodo then decides that he must take the Ring away from the Shire to protect his homeland, and also help the free people of Middle-earth to defeat the Dark Lord.

 

Notes for this episode

Cheese fest is a thing in Wisconsin - there are several held around the state

Gaffer Gamgee - The Ninja - Nick Andrew promises a prize for a fanfic about the Gaffer being or becoming a ninja.

• Frodo plans to leave the Shire at around the time of his Birthday
• Gandalf suggests that he travel to Rivendell, the home of Elrond
• • Gandalf leaves after 2 months in the Shire (around June)
• Frodo sells Bag End to the Sackville-Bagginses
• • Hints that he may be running out of money
• Merry helps to find a home in Buckland called Crickhollow
• We see how the Hobbits are when they’re not as polite as they might seem
• • Lobelia walking into Bag End and declaring “Ours at last!”
  • Leaving the dishes for Lobelia - tid for tat - little jabs at each other.
• Strange voices and conversations down the hill
• • The adventure begins - trekking across the Shire
  • The fox having his thoughts? What do you make of it?
  • • Nicholas missed the song reference Nick was hinting at.
    • Radagast and the way he talks to animals
    • Crebain and other animal spies and informers
    • The way Frodo teases his friends
  • Songs - show up throughout the story, but less common as hope is not reinforced.
    • Robert Inglis version of Bilbo's Walking Song from the audio book
    • Another version of Bilbo's Walking Song put to music
• The first Black Rider
• • Another song “Upon the hearth...” - 3rd stanza becomes Pippin’s song in the movie
• Second Black Rider
• • The High Elves
  • Gildor Inglorion
  • • Worried about the news of Black Riders
    • Unwilling to give advice
    • Sam feels safe enough to fall asleep, but not willing to leave Frodo
    • VERY unwilling to give advice
    • Gandalf is missing - DANGER - RED FLAG!

 

Notable Difference(s) from Films:

Frodo and Sam leave together -- IMMEDIATELY, with no “alternate residence” misdirect.

Accidentally meet up with Merry and Pippin who are running away with some carrots.

The Black Rider is not in Hobbiton in the movie, instead is somewhere further away.

 

Locations/Distance Traveled/Distance apart:

The Shire (we don’t get very far this episode)

New Characters:

• Peregrin “Pippin” Took
• Meriadoc “Merry” Brandybuck
• Fredegar “Fatty” Bolger
• Folco Boffin
• Gildor Inglorion et al

 

Links

greendragonlive.com

Twitter

Facebook

Special thanks to our friend Harry Murrell for the use of his music. Listen to more and subscribe to his channel here.