The Return of the King Book V Chapter I: Minas Tirith From the cliffhanger ending of The Two Towers, we got back in time a few days. The great horse Shadowfax is carrying Pippin and Gandalf to the city of Minas Tirith. To Pippin, these days of travel pass in a blur. He sleeps through … Continue reading LotR Reread: On the Move
The Lord of the Rings
LotR Reread: Along Came a Spider
Chapter IX: Shelob's Lair It might be daytime at the top of the Stairs of Cirith Ungol, but it's still dark. Dark and smelly, and the stink gets worse as Frodo and Sam head toward the tunnel Gollum has been leading them toward. A few steps in and the darkness deepens, beyond anything they've known … Continue reading LotR Reread: Along Came a Spider
LotR Reread: Don’t Go Chasing Waterfalls
Chapter V: The Window on the West As the chapter opens, Sam wakes up from an accidental nap and finds Faramir questioning Frodo about their presence in Ithilien and what his business was with Boromir. Both are cagey in their responses; Frodo because he can't reveal the nature of the Quest, and Faramir because he … Continue reading LotR Reread: Don’t Go Chasing Waterfalls
LotR Reread: You Can’t Get There From Here
Chapter III: The Black Gate is Closed At last, Frodo and Sam have reached Mordor. As promised, Gollum led them to the Morannon, the Black Gate that guards the most direct road into that dark country. It's been a bleak journey there, and the outlook gets worse with every step. The rocky cliffs are riddled … Continue reading LotR Reread: You Can’t Get There From Here
LotR Reread: The Darkening of Frodo Baggins
The Two Towers, Book IV Chapter I: The Taming of Sméagol When I hear people discuss The Lord of the Rings, they always seem to say the same thing: The Two Towers is the boring part. I have to assume they're talking about the second part because the first half with Aragorn, Merry, and Pippin is … Continue reading LotR Reread: The Darkening of Frodo Baggins
LotR Reread: ‘Fool of a Took’, Take Two
Chapter X: The Voice of Saruman Now that most of the gang is back together, it's time to go see Saruman. Though he might have turned to evil, he was wise once (and still might be) and he may know what Sauron's plans are. Talking to Saruman isn't like having a conversation with your best … Continue reading LotR Reread: ‘Fool of a Took’, Take Two
LotR Reread: The Trees That Hit Back
Chapter VIII: The Road to Isengard The Battle of Helm's Deep is over. The sun has risen, Gandalf has returned, our main heroes have survived, and now there's a forest. Everyone is confused. There wasn't a forest there last night. Everyone things Gandalf is responsible for that, but no, it's not his doing: "Gandalf laughed … Continue reading LotR Reread: The Trees That Hit Back
LotR Reread: ‘This is the hour when we draw swords together!’
Chapter VII: Helm's Deep As the chapter opens, Aragorn, Gandalf, Legolas, Gimli, Theoden, Eomer, and a lot of other warriors are riding across the plains of Rohan toward the fortress of Helm's Deep. Why aren't they holing up in Edoras, where the king normally lives? Location, location, location. Edoras is in a great location if … Continue reading LotR Reread: ‘This is the hour when we draw swords together!’
LotR Reread: All the Pretty Horses
Chapter V: The White Rider After two chapters following Merry and Pippin into Fangorn Forest, we go back to Aragorn, Gimli, and Legolas. They're just inside Fangorn, investigating the area where they saw the old man the night before. There are no tracks, though. This creeps Gimli out, but Legolas says it's because the grass … Continue reading LotR Reread: All the Pretty Horses
LotR Reread: The Tree is Talking, Merry…
Chapter III: The Uruk-hai This is my least favorite chapter in The Lord of the Rings. It’s not just because Merry and Pippin, two of my favorite characters, have been captured and treated cruelly by the orcs. It’s the orcs themselves that make me hate this chapter. Of all of Tolkien’s bad guys, the orcs … Continue reading LotR Reread: The Tree is Talking, Merry…
