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macfalk
Valinor
Nov 23 2014, 10:42pm
Post #1 of 66
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Which moment from the books move you the most?
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If you had to name just one (hard, I know). For me, I always get something in my eye when Bilbo enters Thorin's tent and he lays there dying, repenting everything he said to Bilbo and finally acknowledging Bilbo's qualities. I guess I just find it so sad that just when this stubborn, greedy character sees the bigger picture and appreciate Bilbo and truly embrace him as a friend, he's gone in a heartbeat. I think it's very powerful writing and probably my favourite part Tolkien has ever written.
The greatest adventure is what lies ahead.
(This post was edited by macfalk on Nov 23 2014, 10:43pm)
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Rembrethil
Tol Eressea
Nov 24 2014, 1:50am
Post #2 of 66
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Right now, the one that sticks in my mind ATM is the point where Faramir dispels Sam and Frodo's fears over his desire for the Ring and his truthfulness. "I would not take this thing, if it lay by the highway. Not were Minas Tirith falling in ruin and I alone could save her..." Nice to know that there is a small measure of goodness in Men. Up to this point each and every man has been tempted by the Ring and future failure to resist it is at least implied.
Call me Rem, and remember, not all who ramble are lost...Uh...where was I?
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Cari
Bree
Nov 24 2014, 2:18am
Post #3 of 66
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I always get the image that Tolkien purposely did this to contrast Faramir and Boromir, where one sees the ring as a device to save their home and the other sees it as the cause of their home's destruction.
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Bracegirdle
Valinor
Nov 24 2014, 2:43am
Post #5 of 66
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Charge of Theoden and the Rohorrim never fails to thrill. I want so much to try and keep up with that old man - but he is ever before me!
"You cannot pass! You didn't say 'Simon says.'" Only those in the know will know.
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SirDennisC
Half-elven
Nov 24 2014, 3:43am
Post #6 of 66
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"'I will forget my wrath for a while Éomer son of Éomund,' said Gimli; 'but if ever you chance to see the Lady Galadriel with your eyes, then you shall acknowledge her the fairest of ladies, or our friendship will end.'" ~ From The King of the Golden Hall Actually I love the whole movement captured in the last few pages of that chapter.
(This post was edited by SirDennisC on Nov 24 2014, 3:44am)
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Rembrethil
Tol Eressea
Nov 24 2014, 3:51am
Post #7 of 66
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Yes, I love discussing them and their differences
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Faramir and Boromir rank among my favourite characters. We had a great discussion of both characters a while ago, and it was great to see the insights and thoughts everyone had. Here they are if you care to take a look! Faramir Boromir
Call me Rem, and remember, not all who ramble are lost...Uh...where was I?
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Elizabeth
Half-elven
Nov 24 2014, 7:31am
Post #8 of 66
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Yes, that's the one that gets me:
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Then suddenly Merry felt it at last, beyond doubt: a change. Wind was in his face! Light was glimmering. Far, far away, in the South the clouds could be dimly seen as remote grey shapes, rolling up, drifting: morning lay beyond them. But at that same moment there was a flash, as if lightning had sprung from the earth beneath the City. For a searing second it stood dazzling far off in black and white, its topmost tower like a glittering needle: and then as the darkness closed again there came rolling over the fields a great boom. At that sound the bent shape of the king sprang suddenly erect. Tall and proud he seemed again; and rising in his stirrups he cried in a loud voice, more clear than any there had ever heard a mortal man achieve before: Arise, arise, Riders of Théoden! Fell deeds awake: fire and slaughter! spear shall be shaken, shield be splintered, a sword-day, a red day, ere the sun rises! Ride now, ride now! Ride to Gondor! With that he seized a great horn from Guthláf his banner-bearer, and he blew such a blast upon it that it burst asunder. And straightway all the horns in the host were lifted up in music, and the blowing of the horns of Rohan in that hour was like a storm upon the plain and a thunder in the mountains. Ride now, ride now! Ride to Gondor! Suddenly the king cried to Snowmane and the horse sprang away. Behind him his banner blew in the wind, white horse upon a field of green, but he outpaced it. After him thundered the knights of his house, but he was ever before them. Éomer rode there, the white horsetail on his helm floating in his speed, and the front of the first éored roared like a breaker foaming to the shore, but Théoden could not be overtaken. Fey he seemed, or the battle fury of his fathers ran like new tire in his veins, and he was borne up on Snowmane like a god of old, even as Oromë the Great in the battle of the Valar when the world was young. His golden shield was uncovered, and lo! it shone like an image of the Sun, and the grass flamed into green about the white feet of his steed. For morning came, morning and a wind from the sea; and the darkness was removed, and the hosts of Mordor wailed, and terror took them, and they fled, and died, and the hoofs of wrath rode over them. And then all the host of Rohan burst into song, and they sang as they slew, for the joy of battle was on them, and the sound of their singing that was fair and terrible came even to the City. Yeah, it's a long quote, but so wonderful! The only thing better is hearing Tolkien read it. If you don't have the recordings, you should! There are some lengthy exerpts here. The second one, Lord of the Rings Side 2, is what I'm referring to.
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Darkstone
Immortal
Nov 24 2014, 5:44pm
Post #9 of 66
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"At least she should not die alone, unaided."
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Éowyn it was, and Dernhelm also. For into Merry's mind flashed the memory of the face that he saw at the riding from Dunharrow: the face of one that goes seeking death, having no hope. Pity filled his heart and great wonder, and suddenly the slow-kindled courage of his race awoke. He clenched his hand. She should not die, so fair, so desperate. At least she should not die alone, unaided.
****************************************** "Kai provseisi, kai avpeisi." ("There and back again.") -Heraclitus of Ephesus, c. 500 BC
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IdrilofGondolin
Rohan
Nov 24 2014, 6:52pm
Post #10 of 66
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Even after spending quite a lot of thought on just how the passage works, it doesn't matter. It sends a chill down my spine. Delicious! This is mine, too. There are few if any greater passages in literature in my opinion. "For morning came, morning and a wind from the sea; and the darkness was removed, and the hosts of Mordor wailed, and terror took them, and they fled, and died, and the hoofs of wrath rode over them. And then all the host of Rohan burst into song, and they sang as they slew, for the joy of battle was on them, and the sound of their singing that was fair and terrible came even to the City."
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Bracegirdle
Valinor
Nov 24 2014, 6:53pm
Post #11 of 66
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Always worth another read! Contrast with another favorite – the poignancy of Aragorn’s farewell to Arwen in the appendix. Excitement or grief, Tolkien writes with a singular beauty....
"You cannot pass! You didn't say 'Simon says.'" Only those in the know will know.
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Bracegirdle
Valinor
Nov 24 2014, 7:09pm
Post #12 of 66
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And their later exchange is priceless. ’Gimli Gloin’s son, have you your axe ready?’ ‘Nay, lord,’ said Gimli, ‘but I can speedily fetch it, if there be need.’ ‘You shall judge,’ said Eomer. ‘For there are certain rash words concerning the Lady of the Golden Wood that lie still between us….’ …and what say you now?’ ‘Alas!’ said Eomer. ‘I will not say that she is the fairest….’ ‘Then I must go for my axe,’ said Gimli. ‘….. Shall I call for my sword?...’ ‘You are excused for my part, lord… you have chosen the Evening; but my love is given to the Morning….’
"You cannot pass! You didn't say 'Simon says.'" Only those in the know will know.
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macfalk
Valinor
Nov 24 2014, 7:33pm
Post #13 of 66
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I am the only one here being more attached to the characters of The Hobbit than LOTR. Not surprised though, I've always been aware of that LOTR has a higher status as literature and is more popular. If only I could enjoy the story told in LOTR as much as the one in TH...
The greatest adventure is what lies ahead.
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CuriousG
Half-elven
Nov 24 2014, 9:27pm
Post #14 of 66
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Merry & Eowyn vs the Nazgul for me too: always moving.
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The other one that never fails to move me is "Horns, horns, horns...Rohan had come at last." It's because on 1st read, I really did think Minas Tirith was doomed at this low point, and I didn't think Rohan would come in time. All truly seemed lost. So given the despair I felt on 1st read, I never seem to forget the hot blood flowing through my veins when the cavalry arrived to save the day.
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CuriousG
Half-elven
Nov 24 2014, 9:31pm
Post #15 of 66
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Moving point in The Hobbit for me
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is when Bilbo is in Thranduil's halls and realizes that he's going to have to save the Dwarves on his own. That's a big turning point for him, even more than saving them from the spiders, which happened more quickly and out of necessity of the moment. Something about Bilbo wandering around the Elven halls, safe but wretched, helplessly expecting someone else to bail them out, and gradually steeling his courage to the point where he realized he was the answer (and pulling it off), is a moving passage for me. No longer the squeaky hobbit from Bag End who seemed more grocer than burglar!
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Darkstone
Immortal
Nov 24 2014, 9:37pm
Post #16 of 66
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"Roads go ever ever on Under cloud and under star, Yet feet that wandering have gone Turn at last to home afar. Eyes that fire and sword have seen And horror in the halls of stone Look at last on meadows green And trees and hills they long have known.” Gandalf looked at him. “My dear Bilbo!” he said. “Something is the matter with you! You are not the hobbit that you were.” So very very sad....
****************************************** Not all those who wander are lost. (But that's the way to bet.)
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ElanorTX
Tol Eressea
Nov 25 2014, 1:16pm
Post #18 of 66
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Another one of many: Sam's anguish
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The passage in which Sam decides what to do after Frodo apparently dies is one of the most emotional and revealing. Revenge? Suicide? Carrying out the mission?
"I shall not wholly fail if anything can still grow fair in days to come."
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Bracegirdle
Valinor
Nov 25 2014, 1:34pm
Post #19 of 66
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but I can think of no favorite lines or events when compared to LOTR. I know we’re talking books here but it has been mentioned by several that they will probably tear-up at the (movie) funeral scene of Thorin. This is one example of where there will always be somewhat of a schism between readers and watchers. I could never (book) get close to Thorin. He starts out as a bumbling fool falling over other Dwarves. He is a leaderless complainer throughout most of the book, relying on Bilbo to take the lead and the risks; and so illogical and lustful at the end. I’m sure he was brave during BOFA, but I just have little more feeling for his death than for Fili or Kili. Now compare the death of Thorin to the parting of Arwen and Elessar (as I mentioned above). They are just incomparable! As you say The Hobbit is ‘warm’ and fuzzy, whereas LOTR is ‘moving’ in various ways. The two books are not comparable, nor (I think) were they intended to be such.
"You cannot pass! You didn't say 'Simon says.'" Only those in the know will know.
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Bracegirdle
Valinor
Nov 25 2014, 1:46pm
Post #20 of 66
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is when the Three Hunters meet Eomer’s eored and Aragorn gives his ‘dozen’ names and titles, then: ”Aid me or thwart me, choose swiftly!” You got to love it! Also the ‘Tolkien Twist’ where Elessar banishes Beregond is done so cleverly.
"You cannot pass! You didn't say 'Simon says.'" Only those in the know will know.
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macfalk
Valinor
Nov 25 2014, 3:40pm
Post #21 of 66
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To each his own - I liked book-Thorin a lot more than book- Aragorn.
The greatest adventure is what lies ahead.
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BlackFox
Half-elven
Nov 25 2014, 4:37pm
Post #22 of 66
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It looks like I'm the first to go with a scene from The Silmarillion
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Then Fingon the valiant, son of Fingolfin, resolved to heal the feud that divided the Noldor, before their Enemy should be ready for war; for the earth trembled in the Northlands with the thunder of the forges of Morgoth underground. Long before, in the bliss of Valinor, before Melkor was unchained, or lies came between them, Fingon had been close in friendship with Maedhros; and though he knew not yet that Maedhros had not forgotten him at the burning of the ships, the thought of their ancient friendship stung his heart. Therefore he dared a deed which is Justly renowned among the feats of the princes of the Noldor: alone, and without the counsel of any, he set forth in search of Maedhros; and aided by the very darkness that Morgoth had made he came unseen into the fastness of his foes. High upon the shoulders of Thangorodrim he climbed, and looked in despair upon the desolation of the land; but no passage or crevice could he find through which he might come within Morgoth's stronghold. Then in defiance of the Orcs, who cowered still in the dark vaults beneath the earth, he took his harp and sang a song of Valinor that the Noldor made of old, before strife was born among the sons of Finwë; and his voice rang in the mournful hollows that had never heard before aught save cries of fear and woe. Thus Fingon found what he sought. For suddenly above him far and faint his song was taken up, and a voice answering called to him. Maedhros it was that sang amid his torment. But Fingon climbed to the foot of the precipice where his kinsman hung, and then could go no further; and he wept when he saw the cruel device of Morgoth. Maedhros therefore, being in anguish without hope, begged Fingon to shoot him with his bow; and Fingon strung an arrow, and bent his bow. And seeing no better hope he cried to Manwë, saying: 'O King to whom all birds are dear, speed now this feathered shaft, and recall some pity for the Noldor in their need!' His prayer was answered swiftly. For Manwë to whom all birds are dear, and to whom they bring news upon Taniquetil from Middle-earth, had sent forth the race of Eagles, commanding them to dwell in the crags of the North, and to keep watch upon Morgoth; for Manwë still had pity for the exiled Elves. And the Eagles brought news of much that passed in those days to the sad ears of Manwë. Now, even as Fingon bent his bow, there flew down from the high airs Thorondor, King of Eagles, mightiest of all birds that have ever been, whose outstretched wings spanned thirty fathoms; and staying Fingon's hand he took him up, and bore him to the face of the rock where Maedhros hung. But Fingon could not release the hell-wrought bond upon his wrist, nor sever it, nor draw it from the stone. Again therefore in his pain Maedhros begged that he would slay him; but Fingon cut off his hand above the wrist, and Thorondor bore them back to Mithrim. - Of the Return of the Noldor
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Bracegirdle
Valinor
Nov 25 2014, 6:50pm
Post #25 of 66
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The the spell of silence fell from Beren, and he called to her, crying Tinuviel: 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;..(My bold) “Faithless is he that says farewell when the road darkens.” But, sneaking off in daylight takes much more cunning.
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