And then there was much eating.

Faenoriel

Faenoriel

Tol Eressea
There's lots of partying and feasting going on in the Hobbit. We meet the Dwarves in a tea invitation turned into a public feasting. When we got to Rivendell, the Elves are singing and dancing to celebrate Midsummer. Then we meet Beorn and he stuffs them with food (after a psychedelic bear dance party scene). Off we go to Mirkwood, and what do people do there? Well dance and party to their heart's contest. First the Elves party in the forest glade, and then we hear there's a party going on in the upstears while Bilbo escapes with the Dwarves. So far so good, we reach Laketown... and once again, eating and feasting. One wonderds how much of this is going to end up on the film.

And even more, how important the concept of eating is in the story. The good guys eat a lot when they can, and when they can't they dream of it. The bad guys on the other hand are constantly trying to eat the heroes. The Trolls and the Spiders plan of eating them, the Goblins and Smaug ate their poor ponies and Smaug at least has eaten Dwarves before. Wargs are scary because they're wolves and wolves are scary because they can potentially eat you. Gollum too wants to eat Bilbo.

Eating, devouring, gluttony. Such primal things. What's the meaning of that?
 
We used to read the Famous Five books as kids, and in them there's often detailed, blissful descriptions of each and every tasty item the heros eat. Later I learned the books were written in the 40s-60s, and because of the food regulations and the general shortage everyone had of everything the author wrote the eating scenes as a kind of escapism.
 
What to sell during the Hobbit? Roasted meat and salty beer a la Dwarrowdelf? Or Hobbity pastries and cakes? Perhaps Elvish cooking is more fine? There surely needs to be honey cakes after Beorn's own recipe!
 
buttered scones and tea


better yet replace popcorn with fresh loaves with cream and butter and horns of mead from Beorn
 
put on about 25 pounds
Craft Services maybe need to restrict his Diet
Fran might get a little pissed Off!!
Bomby
 
That we will have plenty of movie goodness to feast our eyes and spirits upon! [laugh]
There's lots of partying and feasting going on in the Hobbit. We meet the Dwarves in a tea invitation turned into a public feasting. When we got to Rivendell, the Elves are singing and dancing to celebrate Midsummer. Then we meet Beorn and he stuffs them with food (after a psychedelic bear dance party scene). Off we go to Mirkwood, and what do people do there? Well dance and party to their heart's contest. First the Elves party in the forest glade, and then we hear there's a party going on in the upstears while Bilbo escapes with the Dwarves. So far so good, we reach Laketown... and once again, eating and feasting. One wonderds how much of this is going to end up on the film.

And even more, how important the concept of eating is in the story. The good guys eat a lot when they can, and when they can't they dream of it. The bad guys on the other hand are constantly trying to eat the heroes. The Trolls and the Spiders plan of eating them, the Goblins and Smaug ate their poor ponies and Smaug at least has eaten Dwarves before. Wargs are scary because they're wolves and wolves are scary because they can potentially eat you. Gollum too wants to eat Bilbo.

Eating, devouring, gluttony. Such primal things. What's the meaning of that?
Click to expand...
 
Apparently eating scenes aren't that popular with actors, because they have to eat obscene amounts of food during all the numerous takes.

Actually, that's one more thing to look forward in the future making-of extras!
 
An actor takes a bite
Then the camera moves to
another who does Not have his mouthfull..
& can deliver a line of dialogue

Then the actor who they cut back to
(Who is supposedly chewing but has already spit
Whatever Out) and she or he Acts like they are chewing...?
SO they can deliver their line. (This cutback could be days later)

Watch closely any show you watch where there
is Eating!

Eating and delivering a line is an early skill any Actor
learns.

bomby
 
eating in ROTK, it was just so ravenous and violent and all the while cutting the scene with Faramir surely riding to his death
 
Because every now and then in behind-the-scenes material or in interview the actors laugh at how unpleasant it was to film that and that scene, for they were so sick of all the food they had to stuff themselves with.
 
The worst part about eating scenes is often they involve real food that sits there and gets cold (or warm, depending) as you do take after take. The food usually goes from appetising to disgusting over several takes and camera moves but often it cannot be replaced (or freshened up) because of continuity. Very rarely does the actor actually eat the food that is set before them in a scene.
 
I'd say it was where Tolkien's mind was at the time. Not that he was a glutton or anything, but I think

Speaking as a writer, I know that all writers draw upon their personal experiences/thoughts/desires when crafting their stories. That was probably doubly true for Tolkien, who was contracting an entire world with his books.

We know he drew heavily upon his experiences in WWI and his interest in Medieval/Classical literature when crafting Middle Earth. Maybe his tumultuous and sometimes lean childhood (i.e. growing up in South Africa and later an orphan in England) are reflected in the way his books emphasize for large quantities of food. Maybe, as a young, lonely boy, he always yearned to have as much food or have as many meals as the Hobbits habitually have.
 
Even during WW2 there was Rationing

EXAMPLE ..soldiers were issued cigarettes
to help keep Hunger away...
Food is often a motive for WAR?

The Hunger for new cropland could be considered
the True Cause of Conflict.

As JRRT was finishing his LOTR during The Battle
for British soil ...he was quite aware of this Motive.

Brilliant musings ..

bomby
 
was written between 1938 and 1949 I believe taking most of a year (1943, 44, or 45) off from writing (can't quite remember which) and was published in 1952 So If I remember my history right England wasn't all that rich during that time frame could be wrong I've never been to England (maybe someday)[;)]
 
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