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Epic Tolkien Bookclub: Week Six
Epic Tolkien Bookclub: Week Six (The Hobbit)
Chapter XI: On the Doorstep
Chapter XII: Inside Information
Rules
I very much doubt we'll require much in the way of formal rules, but just for the sake of formality and clarity:
Chapter XI: On the Doorstep
Chapter XII: Inside Information
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 live in an AU where Tolkien was never born.
- 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.
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I am fascinated by the imagery of greed in these two chapters. The Hubs and I had a conversation during a long drive the other day about how interesting it is that you can almost read Smaug as a metaphor—as if Thorin's grandfather and father actually became the dragon, in a way, because of the greed for gold. Obviously Bilbo has a conversation with him and the whole riddling thing/naming thing is lovely and fun to read, but the idea that that they have to defeat more than a dragon, but the actual weight of their ancestry... I could be just a little drunk right now, but that was kinda neat.
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And, of course, it turns out that greed itself is perhaps more perilous than any dragon. :P
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Smaug and Thorin have this, in a sense, and more obviously, Bilbo with Gollum. I loved the line: "Dwarves are not heroes, but a calculating folk with a great idea of the value of money." Although truth be told that (and other descriptions) stray into the Unfortunate Implications territory when you read that Tolkien was modeling them on the Jews...
Other lines I marked:
"His heart was filled and pierced with enchantment and with the desire of the dwarves; and he gazed motionless, almost forgetting the frightful guardian, at the gold beyond price and count."
And, just a bit later:
"It does not do to leave a dragon out of your calculations, if you live near him." Heh.
But my favorite:
"His rage passes description—the sort of rage that is only seen when rich folk that have more than they can enjoy suddenly lose something that they have long had but have never before used or wanted."
I love that one not only because it's completely the kind of description you instantly understand, but also because I love the little moments where Tolkien just can't help himself. If it truly passes description then why did he go an describe it? Hah.
And, finally:
"They shall see me and remember who is the real King under the Mountain!" Ooooo...
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(Anonymous) 2013-02-25 08:36 pm (UTC)(link)no subject