The Nicks discuss favorite musical themes from the films, the motions of Gandalf throughout Middle-earth and the hunting of Gollum in Chapter 2 of The Lord of The Rings.
Maps
LoTRproject.com interactive map - Caution: spoilers for new readers!
If you had to pick one musical theme from the films as your favorite, which would it be?
Nick Andrew's pick - The Grey Havens - The final version of the Grey Havens theme
An orchestrated version of Into The West. The melody/vocal line is played on the cello.
Fellowship Reunited - the fully formed and matured Shire theme first heard in Concerning Hobbits.
Last time in The Lord of The Rings
Last episode we spoke about Frodo, and how he experienced the chapter as Gandalf laid an almighty hammer blow of scariness. The Dark Lord Sauron is looking for The Ring, and he now knows about the Shire and the name Baggins.
Where are we in the narrative?
Through dangers untold, and hardships unnumbered, Gandalf has traveled many paths to find the secrets of the Ring that Frodo has inherited. He returns to the Shire to find that, so far, all is well. But danger is closer than Frodo ever thought - it is in his pocket. Gandalf tells his story of how he pieced together the puzzle of the One Ring and how it came to Gollum and thus to Bilbo.
Notes for this episode
Episode 6 - Places of Middle-earth - [Prologue 0.6
Gandalf pieces the history of the ring together (more or less chronologically)
Reference chart for the pronunciation of Elvish words
8. Magic, Maiar, & The Rings of Power - []Prologue 0.8]
Deagol finds the ring in the Anduin - Ring saves him from drowning?
The Gollum’s Road
5. Peoples of Middle-earth: Orcs, Trolls, & Wraiths - Prologue 0.5
Links
The Nicks find out which hobbit they are most like, and discuss Chapter 2 from Frodo's perspective. Who is more scared, Gandalf who knows better, Frodo who doesn't understand but is holding the Ring, or Sam who doesn't understand and is mostly afraid of Gandalf?
Maps
LoTRproject.com interactive map - Caution: spoilers for new readers!
Notes for this episode
What Happened Last Time?:
Bilbo and Frodo shared a birthday! Frodo came of age for a hobbit (33), and Bilbo turned a whopping eleventy-one years old. During his speech, Bilbo said farewell, slipping on his magic ring and VANISHED! Gandalf followed him back up to Bag End, they had a bit of a tiff over the ring and how Bilbo was acting very strangely. Ultimately, Bilbo let the ring go, leaving it to his nephew Frodo, and set out for a final “adventure”. After a short but odd conversation with Gandalf the next morning, Frodo was left alone in Bag End to tie up his uncle's affairs.
Where Are We in the Narrative?:
Chapter 2 carries us through the next few years after Bilbo leaves. We go from 3001 to 3018 TA, Frodo is turning 50, and life in the Shire changes almost as little as Frodo does. The Hobbits are noticing that the big folk and foreigners are on the move to places that the Hobbits only suspect (they’ve never actually been there).
What hobbit are you most like - take the quiz along with the Nicks
Links
The Nicks are ready to go on an adventure, and there's no better way to start than with a party! But after the food, drink, friends, and fireworks, how is it that such a little thing can cause such big problems? And how does this chapter kick off such an expansive story?
This is the first episode of an ongoing read-along podcast series, for The Lord of The Rings. If you are reading along (and we encourage you to do so), especially if this is your first time reading this book: we recommend that you finish reading Chapter 1 of Book 1 in The Fellowship of The Ring.
Send us your questions about this chapter or any other Tolkien/Middle-earth topic. Links below!
NOTE: Nicholas Jon's audio was destroyed by a digital Balrog - and we were forced to use our backup track for his audio.
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Maps
LoTRproject.com interactive map - Caution: spoilers for new readers!
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Notes from this episode:
"Who or what brought you to Middle-earth or The Lord of The Rings?"
Tweet us your answer @greendragonlive
Novel or Novels? - Listen to Episode
Last Time In The Lord of The Rings
Bilbo went on an adventure with the wizard Gandalf and some Dwarves, on the way he found a magical golden ring that helped to make him invisible. Many different things happened throughout that narrative as a result of Bilbo allowing himself to become invisible. Close that story and fast forward 60 years, and Bilbo is very much the same as he was at the end of the Hobbit narrative, and he’s itching for another adventure.
Where Are We in the Narrative?
Year 3001 of the third age - The Shire - Bilbo is turning eleventy-one (111) and Frodo, his adopted heir, and nephew, is turning 33 and coming of age. Bilbo and Frodo are planning an extravagant joint birthday party to celebrate, and everyone is invited.
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3001 is the same as Shire Reckoning 1401.
Who is the narrator, can she or he read minds, and, more importantly, can we trust her or him?
This story is told from the perspective of a "Third Person (Omniscient)" narrator, in short, this means that the narrator is separate from or watching the action, and also happens to be able to know all of the actions, thoughts, or feelings of anyone in the world in any place or time.
Read More about Tolkien's choice of narration here:
Hobbit Culture - Listen to Episode 2
Read more about J.R.R. Tolkien's writing style here:
Family Stories and the Re-hashing of the same stories over and over again
- Think of the Hobbits as a big family, telling these stories is a way of keeping their identity, culture, and public opinions intact, and in check. Read more about why we might tell family stories here:
Read about Tolkien's use of poetry in The Lord of The Rings
The Nicks think this is an interesting video:
Sir Ian McKellen, on acting - [VIDEO]
New Characters from this episode (dates in Shire Reckoning)
Links
The Nick's meet up on location for a special episode of follow up and trivia. And we bring guests along with us. We exchange Mathom in celebration of beginning The Lord of The Rings narrative.
This episode was recorded live in The Duke of Devon, Sheboygan, WI and you will be able to hear the din of the restaurant throughout the episode. We want to give an Uruk-sized thank you to The Duke of Devon for allowing us to sit and record even as the dinner hour was rolling in.
Maps
LoTRproject.com interactive map - Caution: spoilers for new readers!
Notes for this episode
Nicholas clarifies his pronunciation of Iluvatar
Fran Walsh and the scream of the Nazgul [video]
Did we conflate Tuckborough and Brandy Hall?
Who would win? Ringwraith or Wizarding World Dementors?
Nicholas' mathom from Nick
Nick's mathom from Nicholas - Animated LoTR
Nick's early Christmas present from Nicholas - Comprehensive Music of LoTR by Doug Adams
Links