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Green Dragon Live

A new podcast for Middle-earth. Made for your first and eleventy-first time to J.R.R. Tolkien's high fantasy world. Served up from The Green Dragon in Bywater of the Shire.
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Mar 4, 2017

The Nicks discuss the consequences of sleeping, mid-day naps, getting lost in the fog, being ambushed by wights, running naked in the sun, singing about "old Fatty Lumpkin", and the history of Angmar and the small Kingdoms of former Arnor.

Maps

Map of Middle-earth 

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

Map of the Small Kingdoms of former Arnor

Notes for this episode

What Happened Last Time?:

The Hobbits have found possibly the strangest thing in Middle-earth in the form of Tom Bombadil. “Master”, “eldest”, “he is as you see him” are just some of the terms used to describe the who and what of good ol’ Tom. Through song and tale he weaves his knowledge and divulges the hearts and goings on of the trees and other fantastic beasts in the Old Forest, and he even knows a thing or two about the Ring, though it curiously doesn’t seem to affect him very much, if at all. Now the Hobbits, are laid to rest before venturing forth from the house of Tom Bombadil back toward the road, and then toward Rivendell.

The Story in this Chapter:

  • Waking
  • Leave taking
  • Goldberry is calling after them!
  • A view of the road - but not really
  • An unexpected nap
  • Fog on the Barrow-downs
  • “Follow me!”... “Where are you guys?”
  • Atop the Barrow
  • Within the Barrow
  • Garbed in white, with circlets, and rings
  • A sword lay across their necks
  • A SEVERED ARM crawls toward them like a macabre spider
  • Calling out to Tom Bombadil Frodo finds his voice again.
  • Running in the sun to shake off the darkness
  • Fatty Lumpkin - Tom’s pony!
  • On the road to Bree.

Other comments or observations:

  • Angmar!  Carn Dum!   Nick Andrew LOVES THESE PLACES!!
  • Referenced in the Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies as the reason Bolg travels north and Tauriel and Legolas follow him -- the threat of a resurrected Angmar is too much to ignore!
  • LotRO Players who completed the first major story arc of the game's narrative got to know Angmar extremely well. Most of you even got to play through a raid into Carn Dum itself.
  • Speaking of Carn Dum, it's an oddity in the world of Middle-earth as we don’t exactly know what that name means… we can assume it is a compound of Elvish and Dwarvish, in which case it means “the Red Halls.”  Creepy, eh?
  • Angmar was founded in midway point through the third age of ME with a singular purpose… DESTROY any and all remnant of the North that brought about Sauron’s demise at the War of the Last Alliance.  
  • Witch-king!!!!!!

Notable Difference(s) from Films:

We get a small shot of the fog-laden Barrow-downs as one of the Nazgul looks over it atop his horse.

Locations/Distance Traveled/Distance apart:

  • East of the HoTB - up into the Barrow-downs, then northward toward the main road leading into the village of Bree.

New Characters:

  • The barrow wight

Info/History from Other Titles/Sources:

  • Lots of information about Carn Dum and Angmar in Tolkien’s various other published works. I highly encourage you to check them out -- even if you just google it.

What to Watch for in the Next Chapter:

  • BREE!

Links

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

 

Feb 19, 2017

In this episode the Nicks discuss what it's like to be the house guest of the biggest enigma in literary history - as Nick likes to say. Nicholas asks about potentially bad habits of being a house guest, and together they try to uncover some clues about Tom Bombadil and his wife Goldberry - the River Woman's Daughter.


Maps

Map of Middle-earth 

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


Notes for this episode

Last Time - In the Lord of The Rings:
Frodo, Pippin, Merry, and Sam have reached a safe haven…. Or have they?!  After a dizzying experience in the Old Forest and a harrowing brush with death at the roots of Old Man Willow our hobbits are invited to the home of a strange man who seems to have saved them from danger with mere song.  Who is this “Tom Bombadil, Tom Bombadillo”, and was it mere chance that he happened on them just in the nick of time?  

The Story in this Chapter:

  • They are greeted by Goldberry, Frodo is stirred into a sudden outburst of song.
  • The hobbits can’t help but SING when they are in the HoTB
  • Song is everywhere in the HoTB!  Everywhere.
  • They bathe and are treated to an amazing dinner where they all drink sing together.
  • Dreams - each of the hobbits has a dream (Except Sam).
  • Frodo clearly dreams of a tower that we may or may not have talked about in the prologue series… and an old man with white hair wielding a staff.
  • The hobbits are all comforted back into sleep by the words spoken earlier by Tom and/or Goldberry.
  • Tom tells stories by speaking and singing -- as he tells them the hobbits lose themselves in his words.
  • They learn all about Old Man Willow. They also keep losing him and then catching up with his song/tale.
  • Tom tells them he came before. He is “Eldest”.  What could this mean?

Notable Difference(s) from Films:

“Gnawing, biting, breaking, hacking, burning.” is a line given by Treebeard in the films when he describes creatures that come into the woods.  This line here is spoken by Tom when he is telling the Hobbits about the ways of trees.

New Characters:

  • Tom Bombadil
  • Goldberry

What to Watch for in the Next Chapter:

The Barrows!


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.

 

Feb 6, 2017

The Nicks discuss walking in the woods and being scared in real life. The Hobbits come in close contact with the menace of the trees, Old Man Willow, and a stranger called Tom Bombadil.


What Happened Last Time?:

Frodo, Pippin, Merry, Sam, and Fatty Bolger have finally met up in Frodo’s new house at Crickhollow. After a bath, and some supper, the friends talk about what has happened on their journey through the Shire. Frodo, though reluctant, is finally put on the point of telling his friends that he is leaving the Shire altogether, but, as it turns out, he doesn’t have to because they already know a good deal of the story themselves. With Sam gathering information the friends have helped Frodo by conspiring to help him on his journey toward Rivendell. With final preparations in order, a quick night’s sleep is all that separates these Hobbits from their adventure into the Old Forest and beyond.

Where Are We in the Narrative?:

Frodo has finally made it to his home at Crickhollow in his attempt to disguise his departure from the Shire, his mission to take the Ring to Rivendell is about to start. His friends have conspired to help him, which is very welcome to Frodo especially as Gandalf is still conspicuously missing! Though none of them fully understand the dangerous road they are embarking on... they at least have each other.

The Story in this Chapter: 

  • Waking up at 4:30 AM is hard to do
    • On the road by 6:00 AM
  • Through the Hedge
    • When trees attack
  • The menace of the trees
    • With ears to hear
  • The Clearing - “Bonfire Glade”
    • Still empty of trees - a safe place?
    • The trees really can move, and the trail on the other side.
    • Can they erase trails or just move them around?
      • Do created things count differently? Capital ‘P’ Places
  • The bald hill
    • Speaking the plan out loud
  • All roads lead to Withywindle
    • Down and to the right until you get to the river
    • The Barrow’s effect in the River, and on the forest?
  • The Lullaby of Papa Willow
    • Words in the wind
    • Suspicious Sam
  • The Revenge of Old Man Willow -or “Get off my roots!”
    • Sam saves the ponies
    • And Frodo
    • OTHER SOURCES: See #1
  • Deep rooted laughter -or- Feeling the heat
    • “He’ll squeeze me in two”
  • The voice of Tom Bombadil
    • Stops Frodo and Sam in their tracks “...they stopped short as if they had been struck stiff.”
    • Much more to come next time
  • An invitation to supper, a lawn, and a brick-lined path.

Other comments or observations:

Notable Difference(s) from Films:

All of this forest is missing from the movie, the only parts that survive in the extended cuts are lines given to Treebeard and a tree that attacks Merry and Pippin in the same way Old Man Willow does.

Locations/Distance Traveled/Distance apart:

  • The Old Forest
  • The River Withywindle
  • The House of Tom Bombadil

New Characters:

  • Old Man Willow
  • Tom Bombadil
  • Goldberry

Info/History from Other Titles/Sources:

  1. The Complete Tolkien Companion 3rd Edition - Entry: “Old Man Willow”
  2. More next time from the Letters

What to Watch for in the Next Chapter:

Possibly the strangest creature in all of Middle-earth has just invited the hobbits to his home - what effect will he have on the hobbits, the journey, the Ring?

Links - If you enjoyed this episode please consider rating and reviewing us on iTunes. Your support helps us grow the show and make more of it. Thank you for being here, use the links below to find more about us and get in touch!

greendragonlive.com

Twitter

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

 

Jan 29, 2017

In this episode, The Nicks rip apart Buzzfeed's attempt at knowing things about LoTR, discuss Chapter 9 - A Conspiracy Unmasked, and decide if they would rather be in Frodo's shoes or Fatty's.

Maps

Map of Middle-earth 

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

Notes for this episode

This is the quiz we worked from for the beginning of the episode, though we don't highly recommend it. There are spoilers, mistakes, and a lot of partial answers.

What Happened Last Time?

Frodo, Pippin, and Sam took a shortcut through the forest and across the field from Woodhall toward the ferry. Though it was harder than the road and took them off course, it seems to have been a good idea because they missed the black riders the whole day, and the end up on Farmer Maggot’s farm. While there Farmer Maggot feeds them and offers to take them by cart to the ferry, where they happen to meet their friend - Merry.

Where Are We in the Narrative?:

Frodo, Sam, and Pippin are on the border of the Shire, in Buckland, where Crickhollow resides. Danger has come upon them sooner than anyone, including Gandalf, could have imagined. Frodo must leave for Rivendell immediately, in spite of Gandalf’s continued absence. But, Frodo is miserable because he doesn’t know how to tell his friends that he is leaving.

The Story in this Chapter:

  • Over the ferry
  • Buckland (Bucklebury is almost a suburb of Buckland… it's its own small country!)
  • Crickhollow
    • Very hobbit-hole like, despite being a house. Creature comforts -even arranged similarly to Bag End
  • Conspirators revealed DUN DUN DUNNNNN!!!!!
  • Making plans
    • Preparations already made - because Merry is a boss.
    • Fatty stays behind - who has the more dangerous role?
  • Resting up for the first leg of the journey through the Old Wood and Eastward to Rivendell
  • Frodo has a weird dream -- on a tower, near the seeaaaaaa [turtles]

Notable Difference(s) from Films:

  • All of this is missing from the movie

Locations/Distance Traveled/Distance apart:

  • Bucklebury Ferry
  • Buck Hill & Brandy Hall
  • Bucklebury
  • Crickhollow
  • Probably a total of around 5 miles

New Characters (but not really):

  • Fredegar Fatty Bolger

What to Watch for in the Next Chapter:

The Journey out of the Shire begins with the next chapter as Frodo and company enter into the potentially dangerous Old Forest on the borders of Buckland.

Links

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

 

 

Jan 18, 2017

The Nicks discuss Chapter Four of Fellowship - Getting caught in the bogs and thickets, Black Riders, Bamfurlong, Farmer Maggot's dogs, whether Frodo's story mirrors Bilbo's, narrow misses, social status, and traveling in the fog without lanterns.


Nicholas Jon sounds like he's hiding from the black riders in a tin can, and tries a looser editing style. Nick Andrew lives in the loudest place possible and tries to imagine Sam's fangirling over the Elves with a real-world example... from his own experience? We'll never know.

 

Maps

Map of Middle-earth 

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

 

Last time in The Lord of The Rings

Frodo inherited the Ring from Bilbo and learned that it is the One Ring and must be destroyed. He sells his house and takes his friends on an adventure through the Shire only to be dogged by a black rider. Some elves take them in for the night and give them the advice to not wait for Gandalf.

 

Where are we in the narrative?

Frodo, Sam, and Pippin are still in the Shire making their way to Buckleberry Ferry and then on to Crickhollow, Frodo’s new house. The Elves showed concern for Frodo especially when they heard that the travelers have seen a black rider and Gandalf hasn’t come as promised. Unwillingly the Elves give the advice to move ahead with their plan and not to wait for Gandalf.

 

Notes for this episode

The Story in this Chapter:

  • A chance to get to know Hobbits better
  • Thinking at breakfast? Hobbits are supposed to EAT!! Food is their THING.
  • Frodo speaking aloud - sign of the Ring?
  • The change coming over Sam
  • Oracle-esque? Something in his heart/gut tells him that he “has to see it through.”
  • Shortcuts
    • Golden Perch, Ivy Bush, Green Dragon (Most of the buildings mentioned in the Shire are Inns)
    • If you look at the map - the road (trail?) to Woodhall dead-ends. Was Frodo planning to go over the country from the beginning?
  • Pippin - and Hobbit jesting/poking/digging “First check.”
  • Sam saves the company - “You’ve got sharp ears, Sam”
    • Is this a recognition of having spotted the rider
    • Or a request to listen and keep an ear out?
  • Golden Drink (possibly Miruvor as we later learn) - alcohol? stimulant? some other nourishing thing? REDBULL!
  • The first Nazgul cry - “There are words in the cry,” and that was no hobbit voice.
  • The ease at which the Hobbits forget their fear when the Shire does its thing.
  • Bamfurlong is a great bit of LoTR trivia - good to have in your back pocket to show your knowledge - also useful as a substitute curse word when around children.
  • Farmer Maggot
  • How near the miss - Nazgul / Frodo at Farmer Maggot’s
  • Sam’s suspicious nature
  • Dogs response to the Nazgul (movie-book)
  • Maggot tells off a Nazgul - “Back where you belong” - funny because he doesn’t really know what that might mean
  • 14 to dinner - some mirroring to Bilbo? Bilbo had 15 - symbolically could show the incompleteness of the party (Gandalf? Merry? The rest?)
  • Sam’s position showing? - “You & Pippin and all” - “You & Merry (Maggot’s closer friend) and all”
  • Sundown - and they only got to the farm from Woodhall
    • 5+ more miles to the ferry
  • Frodo is anxious - Pippin is drowsy - Sam is watchful “I want Mr. Baggins, have you seen him?” - not as effective in the audio book - frighteningly ambiguous in writing.

Other comments or observations:

  • Book pacing
    • Natural divide between character based narrative and descriptive narrative?
    • Fast = action and character?
    • Or Fast = a lack of world description?
    • Slow = A lot of everything? - For Tolkien the physical world is hugely important - character-like - but the characters are not described in much detail.
      • We can see the world, and the people in it, but we can’t see their faces except as we imagine them to be.
  • Some books with different pacing
    • Wheel of Time - Robert Jordan - slow (though starts okay)
    • Belgariad - David Eddings - Quick pace - every chapter moves the story ahead
    • Angels and Demons - Dan Brown - Very fast pace (movie like cuts)
    • Lord of the Rings - Slower very descriptive - minimal character description - not a lot of politic-ing

Notable Difference(s) from Films: All of this is missing from the movie

Locations/Distance Traveled/Distance apart: The actual distance traveled is probably 20 miles maximum including 5+ by cart.

New Characters: Farmer Maggot and his family/household

Info/History from Other Titles/Sources: Letter 206 - Funny incident where Tolkien went to a Hobbit Dinner and spoke, and on the menu was “Maggot Soup” which was, of course, mushroom soup named for Farmer Maggot.

What to Watch for in the Next Chapter: Next chapter Frodo and all finally make it to Crickhollow - but Frodo needs to leave right away. He will have to tell his friends that he is going, but he doesn’t know how to break it to them.

 

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.

Jan 10, 2017

The Nick's go live on Facebook and answer questions collected from our listeners.

The questions and answers in today's episode may contain spoilers and are not limited to the chapters already covered in the read along.

 

Maps

Map of Middle-earth 

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

 

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.

 

Jan 2, 2017

 

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 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.

Dec 26, 2016

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.

This is part 2 of this discussion - in the first part we discussed the chapter from Frodo's point of view. Click to go back to that discussion.

Maps

Map of Middle-earth 

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?

Nicholas Jon's pick - The Charge of the Rohirrim - the fully developed and orchestrated version of the Rohirrim theme.

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)

  • Eregion - the first Elven-rings were made by Celebrimbor

Reference chart for the pronunciation of Elvish words

8. Magic, Maiar, & The Rings of Power - []Prologue 0.8]

  • Sauron makes the One Ring
  • After many years the Last Alliance faces off with Sauron
  • Isildur, Elendil’s son cuts the Ring from Sauron and claims the Ring
  • The Ring is not destroyed
  • The Ring betrayed Isildur in the river Anduin
  • The Ring is lost
  • Deagol finds the Ring

Deagol finds the ring in the Anduin - Ring saves him from drowning?

  • Deagol is promptly killed by Smeagol
  • Smeagol is cast out, and eventually finds his way into the roots of the Misty Mountains
  • The Ring eventually abandons Smeagol
  • Bilbo finds the Ring

The Gollum’s Road

  • Bilbo and Gollum have their riddle contest
  • Bilbo wins on a technicality
  • vSmeagol doesn’t take too kindly to this
  • After a couple of years Smeagol leaves the mountains
  • Makes his way through Mirkwood to Dale
  • Learns that Bilbo was there, and where he is from
  • Back through Mirkwood avoiding the Wood Elves who are tracking him
  • Turning aside he presumably went toward Mordor
  • He was eventually captured and brutally interrogated
  • He told his captors enough that they now know Baggins has it and it is in the Shire
  • He escaped or possibly released
  • He was hunted by Aragorn and Gandalf
  • When found Gandalf spoke with him for many weary days to learn what he knew
  • He was left under the guard of the Wood Elves in Mirkwood

5. Peoples of Middle-earth: Orcs, Trolls, & Wraiths - Prologue 0.5

Links

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

Dec 19, 2016

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

Map of Middle-earth 

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

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.

 

Dec 9, 2016

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

Map of Middle-earth 

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

----

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.

----

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)

  • Bilbo - Loner - Rich - Peculiar - Long-lived - Eccentric! - Feels stretched - 1290 - first adventure at age 50 - returned to the Shire in 1340
  • Frodo - young - coming of age - generally liked by all, especially the younger cousins - 1368
  • Gandalf - old - fiery - wearing blueish-grey - uses [Dwarvish] Runes/Elvish - hidden power & purpose “Fires - Smokes - Lights” - worried about the Ring
  • Merry Brandybuck - Frodo’s friend - helps with the distribution of presents - young - not yet of age - 1382 (Pippin 1390)
  • Sackville-Bagginses - Family of Bilbo’s - want Bag End - foiled by the inheritance Frodo is given

Links

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

Dec 5, 2016

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

Map of Middle-earth 

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 NickWatercolor inspired by GDL logo

Nick's mathom from Nicholas - Animated LoTR

Nick's early Christmas present from Nicholas - Comprehensive Music of LoTR by Doug Adams

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.

Nov 30, 2016

Nick and Nicholas recorded their very first episode, which is conveniently referred to as Episode Zero.

This test episode takes us on a journey that will be very rare in the arc of this podcast. We re-cast the Lord of The Rings movie trilogy with the cast and characters of the Harry Potter film series.

If you are just now learning who I (Nicholas Jon) am, I recently created a Facebook group for people who wanted to re-read Harry Potter. This "Re-Read Harry Potter" group was fairly popular, and now I am turning my sights on another literary love, Lord of The Rings. Along with my long-time friend Nick Andrew, we want to dive into Middle-earth and explore it from all the angles.  In order to tie the two series together (and to be fodder for a test episode) we chose to do this re-cast/mashup of the two fandoms.

This is your "heads-up" because - we had so much fun choosing our cast, that we want to give you the chance to make your own!

Use the link below to download a PDF of the chart we used to make our episode, and fill it in. Then share it with us as a picture or attachment on Facebook, Twitter, or by e-mail: contact@greendragonlive.com. We really want to see your picks and see what choices you made in your version of the story.

Notes

Blank PDF for you to re-cast the movies yourself

The Nicks Picks PDF

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.

 

Nov 23, 2016

The Nicks take a moment to the stand back and prepare for the beginning of the The Lord of The Rings. Looking at Middle-earth in a snapshot view, and discussing the state of the world as we enter into the story.

Maps

Map of Middle-earth 

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

 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.

Nov 21, 2016

The Nicks preview some of the different regions and key sites in the narrative of The Lord of The Rings. Follow along with the map in your book, or one of the maps provided in the show notes.

Notes from the episode:

Map of Middle-earth

Map of Middle-earth superimposed on Europe

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

Shire - 3:25

Bree - 6:39

Rivendell - 9:44

Misty Mountains - 12:59

Caradhras - 15:41

Moria - 17:27

Lorien - 19:21

ZED - try to imagine the Elves raving...

Anduin -20:15

Anduin Lothar

Argonath

Isengard 23:00

Rohan 23:37

Fangorn 24:40

Edoras 25:28

Helms Deep 25:48

Dunharrow 26:55

Gondor 28:02

Minas Tirith 29:10

Minas Morgul 32:10

Ithilien 32:43

Osgiliath 35:05

The Black Gate 35:28

Udun 38:13

Mordor 38:48

Sauron Realm of Influence 38:55

Dagorlad 40:49

Mordor again 41:24

Orodruin 41:47

Plateau of Gorgoroth 45:26

Emyn Muil 46:46

Dead Marshes 47:53

Osgiliath again 49:12

Minas Morgul again 50:29

Cirith Ungol 51:23

Barad Dur 52:18

The Eye of Sauron 52:47

Sauron's Road 54:54

The One Ring 56:22

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.

 

Nov 12, 2016

Nick is all fired up as we he and Nicholas discuss the baddies of Middle-earth, their origins, their pros, cons, and abilities.

As the discussion about the various peoples comes to a close, we hope that you feel a little more prepared to enter into the world having a little bit of insight as to what to expect from these people and creatures.

Next time we will take a very quick tour through the locations of Middle-earth and try to give some perspective of the scale and distance between the various sites we come across in the story.

Notes from the episode:

Map of Middle-earth

Orch, Yrch, Orc, Uruk, Goblin

What would happen to humans if they lived underground? [A discussion for what it's worth]

What the heck is a Gulper Eel? [video]

Black Numenorians

Sorcerers in Middle-earth

The Lord of the Nazgul

Khamul Lieutenant of the Witch-King

Mouthpiece of Sauron

Links:

greendragonlive.com

@greendragonlive

/greendragonlive

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

 

Nov 5, 2016

The Nicks discuss Men and their mortality and being the 2nd children of Iluvatar., how different they are in every region, and languages. And also the Dwarves, their creation mistake, the animosity between them and the Elves, and the way each race copes with the evil of the world.

Notes from the episode:

Map of Middle-earth

Rohirric - naming conventions

Beowulf's "Heorot" the Mead Hall aka Golden Hall aka Meduseld

Comparison: Tolkien's Meduseld, Beowulf, and similar historical architecture

Timeline of Thorin Oakenshield's life

Links:

greendragonlive.com

@greendragonlive use #GDLive

/greendragonlive

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

 

Nov 2, 2016

Welcome to the Green Dragon!

In this episode, the Nicks briefly discuss the immortal race of elves, and why they don't look like Santa's helpers, and the wizards who just happen not to be human, but a special contingent of the Maiar sent to assist Middle-earth in resisting Sauron.

This prologue series is leading up to a chapter by chapter discussion and reflection of The Lord of The Rings. We invite you to grab your copy and join us in a read-along whether it is your first time or eleventy-first time in Middle-earth.

Notes from the Episode

Map of Middle-earth

Mock up of various elf-types and their heights

Starry skies with no light pollution

Nicholas misspeaks and confuses...

Thingol (Ancient King of the Elves, and prominent in the Silmarillion)

with Thranduil (King of the Woodland Realm, Legolas' father)

History of Arwen Undómiel

Khazad-Dûm AKA Moria Was built at an unknown time in the First Age

Quick hierarchy of the celestial beings

 

Links

greendragonlive.com

Twitter: @greendragonlive use #GDLive

GDL on Facebook

Special thanks to Harry Murrell for letting us use his music in our podcasts. Listen to more of his music and subscribe to Harry's channel on YouTube

Oct 31, 2016

The Nicks discuss the Hobbits - the main characters of The Lord of the Rings, and the namesake of The Hobbit. What kind of people are they? And how long have they been in The Shire? Who are the prominent Hobbits in our Story? All of this and more live from the Green Dragon.

Notes From the Episode:

Map of Middle-earth


Map of The Shire


Gollum IS a hobbit or at least "of hobbit-kind" - Nicholas is wrong - Tolkien does reference this point in one of his letters (#214).


Baggins Family Tree


Episode Zero - The Boy Who Lived... In Middle-earth?

Middle-earth vacations

 

Links

greendragonlive.com

Twitter: @greendragonlive use #GDLive

GDL on Facebook

Special thanks to Harry Murrell for letting us use his music in our podcasts. Listen to more of his music and subscribe to Harry's channel on YouTube

Oct 30, 2016

Welcome to the Green Dragon!

Grab yourself a half-pint, and pull up a chair for this, the first episode of the Green Dragon Live podcast! We are the Nicks, and we're happy you have joined us.

This episode primarily deals with why are we here, but the rest of our prologue series will be a primer to the world of Middle-earth leading into a chapter-by-chapter reflection and discussion of The Lord of The Rings.

So, grab your copy, and pour another half-pint, and join us! We invite newcomers to Middle-earth as well as veteran adventurers!

Notes from the Episode

A map of Middle-earth we like.

A map of the Shire from the books

A map of the Shire highlighting Hobbiton and Bywater

Nick Andrew's edition

Nicholas Jon's edition

Nicholas Jon's dream edition It used to be $100, now it's much less expensive.

 

Links

greendragonlive.com

Twitter: @greendragonlive use #GDLive

GDL on Facebook

Special thanks to Harry Murrell for letting us use his music in our podcasts. Listen to more of his music and subscribe to Harry's channel on YouTube

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