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It's time for some BS!



grammaboodawg
Immortal


Jan 4 2013, 5:46pm


Views: 323
It's time for some BS!

Here's a Book Spoiler that describes the waterway from Mirkwood towards Lake-town… for a moment of Tolkien-zen.

From A Warm Welcome: The Hobbit


..."...as the roads out of the East towards Mirkwood vanished or fell into disuse; and of the bickerings of the Lake-men and the Wood-elves about the upkeep of the Forest River and the care of the banks. Those lands had changed much since the days when dwarves dwelt in the Mountain... ...They had changed even in the recent years, and since the last news that Gandalf had had of them. Great floods and rains had swollen the waters that flowed east; and there had been an earthquake or two (which some were inclined to attribute to the dragon—alluding to him chiefly with a curse and an ominous nod in the direction of the Mountain). The marshes and bogs had spread wider and wider on either side. Paths had vanished, and many a rider and wanderer too, if they had tried to find the lost ways across. The elf-road through the wood which the dwarves had followed... ...now came to a doubtful and little used end at the eastern edge of the forest; only the river offered any longer a safe way from the skirts of Mirkwood in the North to the mountain-shadowed plains beyond, and the river was guarded by the Wood-elves' king…"

..."… as they floated along… …the river rounded a steep shoulder of land that came down upon their left. Under its rocky feet like an inland cliff the water had flowed lapping and bubbling. Suddenly the cliff fell away. The shores sank. The trees ended. Then Bilbo saw… ... …The lands opened wide about him, filled with the waters of the river which broke up and wandered in a hundred winding courses, or halted in marshes and pools dotted with isles on every side, but still a strong water flowed on steadily through the midst… …far away, its dark head in a torn cloud, there loomed the Mountain! Its nearest neighbours to the North-East and the tumbled land that joined it to them could but be seen. All alone it rose and looked across the marshes to the forest. The Lonely Mountain! Bilbo had come far and through many adventures to see it, and not did not like the look of it in the least…."


gramma's The Hobbit: Unexpected Journey Line Party Report & Review


sample

I'm SO HAPPY these new films take me back to that magical world!!



TORn's Observations Lists
Unused Scenes



grammaboodawg
Immortal


Jan 5 2013, 9:16am


Views: 256
It's time for some MORE BS!

Here's a Book Spoiler that I'm inclined to share close to Tolkien's birthday... for a moment of Tolkien-zen.

From Of Beren and Lúthien: The Silmarillion


..."It is told in the Lay of Leithian that Beren came stumbling into Doriath grey and bowed as with many years of woe, so great had been the torment of the road. But wandering in the summer in the woods of Neldoreth he came upon Lúthien, daughter of Thingol and Melian, ...under moonrise... ...she danced upon the unfading grass in the glades beside Esgalduin. Then all memory of his pain departed from him, and he fell into an enchantment; for Lúthien was the most beautiful of all the Children of Ilúvatar. Blue was her raiment as the unclouded heaven, but her eyes were grey as the starlit evening; her mantle was sewn with golden flowers... ...her hair was dark as the shadows of twilight. As the light upon the leaves of trees, as the voice of clear waters, as the stars above the mists of the world, such was her glory and her loveliness; and in her face was a shining light.
...But she vanished from his sight; and he became dumb, as one that is bound under a spell... ...he strayed long in the woods, wild and wary as a beast, seeking for her. In his heart he called her Tinúviel... ...for he knew no other name for her....
......There came a time near dawn on the eve of spring, and Lúthien danced upon a green hill; and suddenly she began to sing. Keen, heart-piercing was her song as the song of the lark that rises from the gates of night and pours its voice among the dying stars... ...and the song of Lúthien released the bonds of winter... ...and flowers sprang from the cold earth where her feet had passed.
...Then the spell of silence fell from Beren, and he called to her, crying Tinúviel; and the woods echoed the name. Then she halted in wonder, and fled no more, and Beren came to her. But as she looked on him, doom fell upon her, and she loved him; yet she slipped from his arms and vanished from his sight even as the day was breaking. Then Beren lay upon the ground in a swoon, as one slain at once by bliss and grief; and he fell into a sleep as it were into an abyss of shadow... ...and his heart barren and forsaken. And wandering in mind he groped as one that is stricken with sudden blindness, and seeks with hands to grasp the vanished light. Thus he began the payment of anguish for the fate that was laid on him; and in his fate Lúthien was caught, and being immortal she shared in his mortality, and being free received his chain; and her anguish was greater than any other of the Eldalië has known. ...Beyond his hope she retuned to him where he sat in darkness... ...she laid her hand in his. Thereafter often she came to him, and they went in secret through the woods together from spring to summer; and no others of the Children of Ilúvatar have had joy so great, though the time was brief."


gramma's The Hobbit: Unexpected Journey Line Party Report & Review


sample

I'm SO HAPPY these new films take me back to that magical world!!



TORn's Observations Lists
Unused Scenes



grammaboodawg
Immortal


Jan 6 2013, 9:35pm


Views: 228
It's time for some MORE BS!

Let's look at a Book Spoiler that visits a moment used in An Unexpected Journey... for a moment of Tolkien-zen.

From An Unexpected Party: The Hobbit


... "I am so sorry to keep you waiting!" he was going to say, when he saw that it was not Gandalf at all. It was a dwarf with a blue beard tucked into a golden belt, and very bright eyes under his dark-green hood. As soon as the door was opened, he pushed inside, just as if he had been expected.
... He hung his hooded cloak on the nearest peg, and "Dwalin at your service!" he said with a low bow.
... "Bilbo Baggins at yours!" said the hobbit, too surprised to ask any questions for the moment... ...he added: "I am just about to take tea; pray come and have some with me." A little stiff perhaps, but he meant it kindly...
......They had not been at table long... ...when there came another even louder ring at the bell.
... "Excuse me!" said the hobbit, and off he went to the door.
... "So you have got here at last!" was what he was going to say to Gandalf this time. But it was not Gandalf. Instead there was a very old-looking dwarf on the step with a white beard and a scarlet hood: and he too hopped inside... ...just as if he had been invited.
... "I see they have begun to arrive already," he said when he caught sight of Dwalin's green hood hanging up. He hung his red one next to it, and "Balin at your service!" he said with his hand on his breast.
... "Thank you!" said Bilbo with a gasp. It was not the correct thing to say, but they have begun to arrive had flustered him badly. He liked visitors, but he liked to know them before they arrived, and he preferred to ask them himself...
... "...Come along in, and have some tea!" he managed to say after taking a deep breath.
... "A little beer would suit me better, if it is all the same to you, my good sir," said Balin with the white beard. "But I don't mind some cake—seed-cake, if you have any...."
... ...loud came a ring at the bell again, and then another ring.
... "Gandalf for certain this time," he thought as he puffed along the passage. But it was not. It was two more dwarves, both with blue hoods, silver belts, and yellow beards; and each of them carried a bag of tools and a spade. In they hopped, as soon as the door began to open—Bilbo was hardly surprised at all.
... "What can I do for you, my dwarves?" he said.
... "Kili at your service!" said the one. "And Fili!" added the other; and they both swept off their blue hoods and bowed.
... "At yours and your family's!" replied Bilbo, remembering his manners this time.
... "Dwalin and Balin here already, I see," said Kili. "Let us join the throng!"
... "Throng!" thought Mr. Baggins. "I don't like the sound of that..." ... the four dwarves sat around the table, and talked about mines and gold and troubles with the goblins, and the depredations of dragons, and lots of other things which he did not understand, and did not want to, for they sounded much too adventurous...
... ...there came—a loud knock. Not a ring, but a hard rat-tat on the hobbit's beautiful green door. Somebody was banging with a stick!
... Bilbo rushed along the passage, very angry, and altogether bewildered and bewuthered... ...He pulled open the door with a jerk, and they all fell in, one on top of the other. More dwarves... ...And there was Gandalf behind, leaning on his staff..."


gramma's The Hobbit: Unexpected Journey Line Party Report & Review


sample

I'm SO HAPPY these new films take me back to that magical world!!



TORn's Observations Lists
Unused Scenes



dernwyn
Forum Admin / Moderator


Jan 6 2013, 11:49pm


Views: 255
The door-bell kept ringing...

...and our flustered Mr. Baggins found himself the host of one, no two, now four, now a pile of Dwarves who knew precisely why there were there...

And there's a big, silly grin on my face each time I've watched this happen! What can I say but...Heart!


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

"I desired dragons with a profound desire"






grammaboodawg
Immortal


Jan 7 2013, 12:02pm


Views: 206
Me Too!

Just sitting here thinking about it has me smiling! They did SUCH a great job with Bilbo's invasion! :D


gramma's The Hobbit: Unexpected Journey Line Party Report & Review


sample

I'm SO HAPPY these new films take me back to that magical world!!



TORn's Observations Lists
Unused Scenes



grammaboodawg
Immortal


Jan 7 2013, 12:03pm


Views: 222
TIME - January 7

Today in Middle-earth.

January 7, 2942 (S.R. 1342)
1. Gandalf and Bilbo accompany Beorn.
(determined from text)
..."[Bilbo] had many hardships and adventures before he got back. The Wild was still the Wild, and there were many other things in it in those days besides goblins; but he was well guided and well guarded—the wizard was with him, and Beorn... ...and he was never in great danger again."


gramma's The Hobbit: Unexpected Journey Line Party Report & Review


sample

I'm SO HAPPY these new films take me back to that magical world!!



TORn's Observations Lists
Unused Scenes



dernwyn
Forum Admin / Moderator


Jan 8 2013, 2:54am


Views: 211
It's too short.

C'mon, Tolkien, there's another half a book of adventures between the lines here! Please, pretty please? Aww...

Evil


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

"I desired dragons with a profound desire"






grammaboodawg
Immortal


Jan 8 2013, 10:14am


Views: 200
TIME - January 8

Today in Middle-earth.

January 8, 3019 (S.R. 1419)
1. The company reaches Hollin.
(from the appendices)
..."They had been a fortnight on the way when the weather changed. The wind suddenly fell and then veered round to the south...
......Away in the south Frodo could see the dim shapes of lofty mountains that seemed now to stand across the path that the Company was taking...
......Gandalf stood at Frodo's side and looked out under his hand. 'We have done well,' he said. 'We have reached the borders of the country that Men call Hollin; many Elves lived here in happier days, when Eregion was its name. Five-and-forty leagues as the crow flies we have come, though many long miles further our feet have walked. The land and the weather will be milder now, but perhaps all the more dangerous.'
...'Dangerous or not, a real sunrise is mighty welcome,' said Frodo, throwing back his hood and letting the morning light fall on his face...

......they lit a fire in a deep hollow shrouded by great bushes of holly, and their supper-breakfast was merrier than it had been since they set out. They did not hurry to bed afterwards, for they expected to have all the night to sleep in, and they did not mean to go on again until the evening of the next day. Only Aragorn was silent and restless... ...he left the Company and wandered on to the ridge; there he stood in the shadow of a tree, looking out southwards and westwards, with his head posed as if he was listening. Then he returned to the brink of the dell and looked down at the others laughing and talking.
...'What is the matter, Strider?' Merry called up. 'What are you looking for? Do you miss the East Wind?'
...'No indeed... ...But I miss something. I have been in the country of Hollin in many seasons. No folk dwell here now, but many other creatures live here at all times, especially birds. Yet now all things but you are silent. I can feel it. There is no sound for miles about us, and your voices seem to make the ground echo. I do not understand it.'
...Gandalf looked up with sudden interest. 'But what do you guess is the reason... ...Is there more in it than surprise at seeing four hobbits, not to mention the rest of us, where people are so seldom seen or heard?'
...'I hope that is it,' answered Aragorn. 'But I have a sense of watchfulness, and of fear, that I have never had here before.'
...'Then we must be more careful,' said Gandalf. 'If you bring a Ranger with you, it is well to pay attention to him, especially if the Ranger is Aragorn. We must stop talking aloud, rest quietly, and set the watch.'

...It was Sam's turn that day to take the first watch, but Aragorn joined him. The others fell asleep. Then the silence grew until even Sam felt it. The breathing of the sleepers could be plainly heard. The swish of the pony's tail and the occasional movements of his feet became loud noises... ...Dead silence was around him, and over all hung a clear blue sky, as the Sun rode up from the East. Away in the South a dark patch appeared, and grew, and drove north like flying smoke in the wind.
...'What's that, Strider? It don't look like a cloud,' said Sam in a whisper to Aragorn. He made no answer, he was gazing intently at the sky; but before long Sam could see for himself what was approaching. Flocks of birds, flying at great speed, were wheeling and circling, and traversing all the land as if they were searching for something; and they were steadily drawing nearer.
...'Lie flat and still!' hissed Aragorn, pulling Sam down into the shade of a holly-bush; for a whole regiment of birds had broken away suddenly from the main host... ...flying low, straight towards the ridge. Sam thought they were a kind of crow of large size. As they passed overhead, in so dense a throng that their shadow followed them darkly over the ground below, one harsh croak was heard.
...Not until they had dwindled into the distance, north and west, and the sky was again clear would Aragorn rise. Then he sprang up and went and wakened Gandalf.
...'Regiments of black crows are flying over all the land between the Mountains and the Greyflood... ...they have passed over Hollin. They are not natives here; they are crebain out of Fangorn and Dunland. I do not know what they are about; possibly there is some trouble away south from which they are fleeing; but I think they are spying out the land. I have also glimpsed many hawks flying high up in the sky. I think we ought to move again this evening. Hollin is no longer wholesome for us: it is being watched.'
...'And in that case so is the Redhorn Gate,' said Gandalf; 'and how we can get over that without being seen, I cannot imagine. But we will think of that when we must...'
...'...Luckily our fire made little smoke, and had burned low before the crebain came,' said Aragorn. 'It must be put out and not lit again.'
...'Well if that isn't a plague and a nuisance!' said Pippin. The news; no fire, and a move again by night, had been broken to him, as soon as he woke in the late afternoon. 'All because of a pack of crows! I had looked forward to a real good meal tonight; Something hot.'"

[league = 3 miles]


gramma's The Hobbit: Unexpected Journey Line Party Report & Review


sample

I'm SO HAPPY these new films take me back to that magical world!!



TORn's Observations Lists
Unused Scenes



grammaboodawg
Immortal


Jan 8 2013, 10:19am


Views: 197
Yeah!

Just one more chapter... or two... or three... OR A COUPLE OF MOVIES :D


gramma's The Hobbit: Unexpected Journey Line Party Report & Review


sample

I'm SO HAPPY these new films take me back to that magical world!!



TORn's Observations Lists
Unused Scenes



grammaboodawg
Immortal


Jan 9 2013, 10:21am


Views: 200
TIME - January 9

Today in Middle-earth.

January 9, 3019 (S.R. 1419)
1. The Fellowship travels through Hollin.
(not from the appendices)
..."Guided by Aragorn they struck a good path. It looked to Frodo like the remains of an ancient road, that had once been broad and well planned, from Hollin to the mountain-pass. The Moon, now at the full... ...cast a pale light in which the shadows of stones were black. Many of them looked to have been worked by hands, though now they lay tumbled and ruinous in a bleak, barren land.
...It was the cold chill hour before the first stir of dawn and the moon was low. Frodo looked up at the sky. Suddenly he saw or felt a shadow pass over the high stars, as... ...they faded and then flashed out again. He shivered.
...'Did you see anything pass over?' he whispered to Gandalf, who was just ahead.
...'No, but I felt it, whatever it was,' he answered. 'It may be nothing, only a wisp of thin clouds.'
...'It was moving fast then,' muttered Aragorn, 'and not with the wind.'"


gramma's The Hobbit: Unexpected Journey Line Party Report & Review


sample

I'm SO HAPPY these new films take me back to that magical world!!



TORn's Observations Lists
Unused Scenes



geordie
Tol Eressea

Jan 9 2013, 10:43am


Views: 189
I'm pretty sure

- that Christopher made a recording of this, plus 'The Darkening of Valinor'. At any rate, his two 'Silmarillion' readings are available on the cd set with his father's readings of excerpts from TH, LotR and The Adventures of Tom Bombadil. And very good they are, too.

Smile


geordie
Tol Eressea

Jan 9 2013, 10:59am


Views: 225
I have an odd notion

- not backed up by any evidence that I know of, that Tolkien may have borrowed the idea of the mark which Gandalf made on bilbo's door - 'Burglar wants good job with plenty of reward' or some such - from an article in the Strand magazine of 1902. Hear me out - we know that he took ideas for Roverandom from E. Nesbit's book 'Five Children and It' (the sand-wizard in that book is called a psammead). Well, Nesbit's short story was serialised in The Strand, and also in that year's run was an article on the sign language of tramps. Tolkien had a soft spot for tramps, I think - he wrote favourably of one such in one of his letters, and writes in LotR of 'poor bodies who have no home, but scrape a hole in a bank' here and there.

Anyway, in this issue of The Strand, there is an illustrated article which shows various graffiti used by tramps as information or warnings to their kind, done in chalk on walls or fences. One such is 'the woman in this house will give food for work'. Another reads 'The people in this house will have you taken in charge'. One says, very to the point - 'get out of this village now!'

Smile


grammaboodawg
Immortal


Jan 10 2013, 11:18am


Views: 191
*eyebrows shoot up* I think you've got it!

FASCINATING! Actually... I love this notion, and it feels right! Of course there would be codes that would also assure others that a kindred spirit had been in the area possibly assuring safety to move through those lands.

This is great, geordie! I love it :D


gramma's The Hobbit: Unexpected Journey Line Party Report & Review
and first draught of TH:AUJ Geeky Observation List



sample

I'm SO HAPPY these new films take me back to that magical world!!



TORn's Observations Lists
Unused Scenes



grammaboodawg
Immortal


Jan 10 2013, 11:20am


Views: 178
I've got those

and love his readings. He's got a wonderful voice and gives the readings so much depth, imho. It's a treat to actually have both of them do these readings. They ended up being templates for Sir Ian McKellen's opportunity to represent Professor Tolkien in the films in those vocal mannerisms. :)


gramma's The Hobbit: Unexpected Journey Line Party Report & Review
and first draught of TH:AUJ Geeky Observation List



sample

I'm SO HAPPY these new films take me back to that magical world!!



TORn's Observations Lists
Unused Scenes



dernwyn
Forum Admin / Moderator


Jan 10 2013, 11:22am


Views: 198
It's too bad Tolkien

didn't leave any scraps around, showing sketches of his idea of what this symbol might have looked like!

I think the hobo graffiti for "good woman lives here" was a simplified cat. So a "burglar wants job" might be a cat with a mask and bag - a "cat burglar"! Laugh


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

"I desired dragons with a profound desire"






geordie
Tol Eressea

Jan 10 2013, 7:37pm


Views: 183
Funny you should say that!

because Tolkien actually did make a drawing which includes that mark! It's a sketch of Gandalf standing next too the door at Bag End. It looks to me like a runic B, with a runic D underneath, and a diamond shape underneath.

The drawing can be found on p.23 of Hammond & Scull's book, 'The Art of The Hobbit',


* 'cat burglar' - yeesh!

Smile


N.E. Brigand
Half-elven


Jan 10 2013, 10:51pm


Views: 223
Darkstone once suggested hobo marks as a possible inspiration for Gandalf's sign.

See here. However, he didn't make the specific connection to that Strand article.

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