Epic Tolkien Bookclub: Week Three

[sigridhr]

  Epic Tolkien Bookclub: Week Three (The Hobbit)
Chapter V: Riddles in the Dark
Chapter VI: Out of the Frying-Pan into the Fire

Rules

I very much doubt we'll require much in the way of formal rules, but just for the sake of formality and clarity:

• Discussion is welcome and encouraged, as is disagreement. Name-calling and personal attacks will be punished by purchasing $10,000 worth of shares in Mordor Inc. in your name. 
  
• There is no spoiler policy in place. Although we're reading the Hobbit, please feel free to bring in things from other Tolkien works, any of the films, the History of Middle Earth, the Letters of JRR Tolkien, and, if you should like, other literary sources. 
• There is no such thing as too much geekery. Or taking the text too seriously.  
• If you have any concerns at any point, I'm the closest thing this gong show has to a mod, so feel free to get in touch. I can be reached either by PM through this site, or directly by email at sigridhr.lokidottir@gmail.com. 

Discussion on this post will officially run from Friday 18th January 2013 to Friday 25th January 2013. However, the post will remain open after that point, so you're more than welcome to continue discussions on. 

Comments

[(Anonymous)]

Ugh, love these chapters, I have a lot of feelings about Gollum, even though he's kind of a creep.

'He put the ring in his pocket almost without thinking'
I think this just shows that it was always almost Bilbo's ~destiny~ to find the ring here, the whole thing of the ring knowing who it needs to latch it self to and everything. I don't know if there's any significance in him putting it in his pocket instead of immediately putting it on? Although to be fair if I found a random ring somewhere I probably wouldn't just immediately start wearing it!

Gollum. Oh, Gollum. I know Smeagol was supposed to be a somewhat devious kind of character, but I always get the impression that Gollum is sort of strangely innocent? Or maybe it's more that he's sort of child-like. I know he has probably killed many people and is not the nicest of characters, but maybe he's just become so dependent on the ring after all those years in the dark and cold that he's out of control of his own life. He's lonely in the dark cave but he also hates the light and the outside world.
Is it weird that a part of me wants to bake Gollum a cake and take him on a day trip to the zoo or something?

....yes, yes it probably is......

[starliings.livejournal.com]

literally realised as I pressed 'post comment' that I hadn't signed in. Sigh.

[sigridhr]

I join you in the feelings-about-Gollum brigade. Because, yes, LOTS.

I imagine it's a bit like finding a lucky penny... only, you know, eviler. A sort of 'hmm, I'll deal with this later' as you absentmindedly stuff it away to have it turn up when you're doing laundry, or something.

I think of the two Smeagol's usually considered the more innocent, and Gollum the more conniving. Not that either of them are innocent, really. What makes you say Gollum's the more innocent one?

[starliings.livejournal.com]

That's interesting that Gollum's the more conniving one.. I don't know, maybe innocent isn't the right word but he seems sort of child-like to me? Like, using a game of riddles to decide whether to eat someone or not (although he probably was planning on eating Bilbo either way but still), I feel like he doesn't kill people in some sort of Grand Plan of Evilness, but it's more like he's playing some strange game with himself because he doesn't have anyone else. I suppose that still does make him kind of conniving.... I just feel so sorry for Gollum, I probably forgive him too much!