sigridhr | Epic Tolkien Bookclub: Week Five

Epic Tolkien Bookclub: Week Five (The Hobbit)
Chapter IX: Barrels out of Bond
Chapter X: A Warm Welcome

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 forcing you to read Evil!Thranduil Badfic for the rest of eternity.
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 8th February 2013 to Friday 15th February 2013. However, the post will remain open after that point, so you're more than welcome to continue discussions on.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"I am like a burglar that can’t get away, but must go on miserably burgling the same house day after day"

I really like this simile - it's really quite domestic and mundane after the excitement and glamour attached to the role of burglar when they first set out on their quest. I really feel for Bilbo stuck wandering about invisibly in Thranduil's tunnels for days on end, not knowing what to do. There is the obvious comparison between Bilbo being the last one out of the goblins' caves, and this situation, where Bilbo saves them all. If that doesn't indicate character progression, I don't know what else does.

Also, I love that Bilbo complains and moans about his predicament, but he still gets stuff done! It's usually a poor character trait for the hero to whinge about things, but Bilbo just does it anyway - and, boy, can I relate to that, because I spend a considerable amount of time griping over things that tick me off.

(When I got to the scene where Bilbo finds where Thorin's been imprisoned, I couldn't help but be reminded of

sigridhr's NC-17 version. Steamy.)

The wine of Dorwinion that the butler and chief guard drink brings "deep and pleasant dreams" – once again, there may be some significance of Bilbo being awake when the others aren’t, as he takes advantage of their drunken stupor to execute his plan.

"Come along back to your nice cells and I will lock you all in again, and you can sit there comfortably and think of a better plan"

I will never get tired of sassy-and-sarcastic!Bilbo.

He was in the dark tunnel floating in icy water, all alone – for you cannot count friends that are all packed up in barrels.

I can't help but see this as a proverb. I feel like quoting it solemnly at anyone who asks me for advice.

Being a relative Tolkien newbie, chapter 10 made me wonder as to the nature of the relationship between the men and the dwarves? Is it usually amicable like this, or have they been enemies in the past too?

Also, I am not impressed with the Master of Lake-town - he seems pretty ineffective and defunct, especially compared to Thranduil.

I, too, have always loved Bilbo stuck in the elfking's palace, burgling the same house day after day. It's a sad, creepy image, and I've always wondered about that span of time, wanting to know more about it.

And seconded on the love of Bilbo's complaining! That's a favorite character type of mine - will get shit done, but refuses to be all stoic and manly about it. This sucks, and Bilbo will let you know about it. <3

Yes, I wonder how long it really was. I'm guessing anywhere from around a week to up to a month. I'd like to read some fic exploring Bilbo's mindset during that time.

will get shit done, but refuses to be all stoic and manly about it
Exactly! It's so refreshing, and realistic. If I have to do something that I don't want to do you'll bet I'll complain long and loudly about it before I finally get it done. Bilbo is such a great and relatable protagonist - you can't help but love him.

'(When I got to the scene where Bilbo finds where Thorin's been imprisoned, I couldn't help but be reminded of sigridhr's NC-17 version. Steamy.)'

yES. I sort of feel like I need to formally apologise to Thorin for this but at the same time I'm not sorry at all.

Haha, exactly! Have you read that fic? Part of me feels guilty that reading The Hobbit reminds me of gay porn, but then I remember the high quality of the porn in question and I stop caring.

Thirded. (Fourthed?) I am going to be v. disappointed when that is not in the movie. ;)

(When I got to the scene where Bilbo finds where Thorin's been imprisoned, I couldn't help but be reminded of sigridhr's NC-17 version. Steamy.)

Oh GOD. *crawls into a corner* I have done horrible things and they are horrible.

I second your adoration for the fact that Bilbo is a (justified) whinger. And a snarky bastard.

I wonder if there's also a parallel of sorts between the wine and the enchanted river - at least as far as deep sleep and pleasant dreams go. Bombur (and Bilbo when he was put into an enchanted sleep in the elven glade) dreamed of food - which was probably wish fulfilment, given how hungry they were, but could also be considered pleasant.

We need people like you to give us alternative homoerotic interpretations of things like that! But I definitely won't be able to keep a straight face when that scene comes up in the film.

I like that parallel between the wine and the river. I was always surprised by how pleasant the dreams the river water causes are, just because it's Mirkwood and it's scary and I expect some sort of spooky undertone. I suppose it is sinister in the end, because you just want to stay dreaming, and then you'd die of starvation in the forest.

I think the river water makes Bombur forget a lot of what's happened as well? That reminds me of the ale of forgetfulness in the Saga of the Volsungs. It's a pretty tenuous link, but my brain can't not make these Norse connections.

I love sassy Bilbo too. Just because he's out of his element doesn't mean he'll take crap from whiny dwarves.

The Master (my mind kept jumping to Doctor Who, LOL) comes across as how some of my religious friends see atheists: hardline skeptics who are just overly practical and wordly. Given Tolkein's devoutness, I wonder if this was his jab at non-believers.

Hmm, that's an interesting take on the Master! He has no faith in the dwarves and he thinks it's all a con to trick the people of Lake-town. But he does come to the same conclusion as Thranduil - that the dwarves are trouble, so just let them get on with it as long as they leave and (hopefully) don't come back.

(Haha, yes, it's impossible for me to hear 'the Master' without thinking of Doctor Who.)

Epic Tolkien Bookclub: Week Five

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