TORN discussion -Courage of Hobbits

[periantari]

7. "Evolution of hobbits and how their seed of courage had been awakened: The growth of courage in the the 'Quest Hobbits,'"

There is a reason why Tolkien wrote his humble hobbits to be the heroes in his story. Tolkien always thought well of his hobbits and sprinkled in his writing the importance they served. He also wrote in his letters that he characterized the most with hobbits “I am in fact a Hobbit (in all but size). I like gardens, trees and unmechanized farmlands; I smoke a pipe, and like good plain food (unrefrigerated), but detest French cooking; I like, and even dare to wear in these dull days, ornamental waistcoats. I am fond of mushrooms (out of a field); have a very simple sense of humor (which even my appreciative critics find tiresome); I go to bed late and get up late (when possible). I do not travel much. -Letters of JRR Tolkien

Therefore, it is important to have a discussion about the instances of how the hobbits were transformed in the Quest and the theme of bravery throughout the Quest is apparent.

We will cover the topic in three parts. We will explore the hobbits’ actions in the Fellowship and see how it has matured in Two Towers and Return of the King.



As we can see in the beginning of Fellowship, we learn that hobbits are peace-loving and do not submit to conflict that easily. They do not want to learn about the wider world and are content in their corner of Middle-earth.

1. How and why does Frodo change once he hears about Mordor and the One Ring with Gandalf?

First, you see Frodo’s skepticism in his ability and why he was chosen. “I do really wish to destroy it! Or well, to have it destroyed. I am not made for perilous quests. I wish I had never seen the Ring! Why did it come to me? Why was I chosen.”

In which Gandlaf answers that they can’t answer these questions. HOw much does fate have to do with Frodo obtaining the Ring from Bilbo?

Let’s compare Frodo’s reluctance to when Bilbo was also “forced” to go on the Quest of Erebor. Both Baggins did not want to go on a Quest and would be forever changed because of it.

I always found this quote from Frodo interesting which makes him different from other hobbits:

“I should like to save the Shire, if i could-though there have been times when I thought the inhabitants too stupid and dull for words and have felt that an earthquake or invasion of dragons might be good for them. But I don't feel like that now. I feel that as long as the Shire is left behind, safe and comfortable, I shall find wandering more bearable.”

1. Why does Frodo think that his Shire is safe if he goes away to “save” it? WIth this thinking, how does returning to the Shire in shambles make it all the more painful for him to know what he tried to save the Shire but possibly not for himself?
2. Why does Sam follow along so quickly? What do we know about Sam so far that qualifies him a good sidekick to Frodo?

One thing I have noticed upon rereading is that Sam was always different from the other hobbits because he was curious about Elves and the outside world unlike other hobbits. Frodo and Sam already are characterized differently from the inwardly looking hobbits to actually care about life beyond the Shire.

We get to see bravery exhibited when Merry, Pippin, and Fatty explain their intentions and plan to Frodo in “A Conspiracy Unmasked” one of my favorite chapters.

Merry has a plan of making it seem that Frodo was moving to Crickhollow, Pippin and Fatty are brave enough to play their parts in accompanying Frodo to Rivendell.

1. Why do you think Merry and Pippin want to go on the Quest with Frodo? Do they think it’ll be a dragon chasing Quest like Bilbo’s? What do you gather in this fifth chapter to show qualities different from say Fatty? How do we think Fatty differs from the other hobbits in his reluctance to go on the Quest?

We see real change starting to happen in FOg in the Barrow-downs when Frodo is faced with his first challenge where his friends are captured by the Barrow-wight . He could’ve left them but he tries to save them.

“But the courage that had been awakened in him was now too strong: he could not leave his friends so easily. He wavered, groping in his pocket, and then fought with himself again; and as he did so the arm crept nearer. Suddenly resolve hardened in him, and he seized a short sword that lay beside him, and kneeling he stooped low over the bodies of his companions.” The hand broke off.

Tom Bombadil appears and helps the hobbits out but in this instance, Frodo shows hobbit courage.

My favorite chapter that was butchered by the movies but always saved in the books is how Frodo acted in the chapter the “Flight to the Ford”. As we know he was stricken by the Witch-king using a Morgul Blade that was quickly sapping his strength and turning him into a wraith. Frodo resists that power for two weeks and also resists till the end at the Bruinen Ford against the wraiths.

1. Where did his willpower to withstand these evil forces come from?

Throughout the chapter, you can see that his friends, athelas, steadfast hope help him get through two weeks of trudging to find the hard to find Rivendell. What else helped Frodo get through two weeks between Weathertop to Rivendell?

There are many instances where it is inferred that Frodo was “falling into shadows” and was “increasingly being affected by the Morgul wound” -This chapter really shows his resilience and his strong will to not give in. I would say it illustrates beautifully why he is the Ring-bearer and that this incident has only made him all the stronger. As we find out in “Many Meetings”, this Morgul wound would usually become fatal and for him to bear it for seventeen days and mortal men usually die from it.

Hobbits throughout the story have shown their mettle and strength as found in the example of all the hobbits pulling through with their burdens heavy and the pace being quick for they had to escape from the pursuing Ring-wraiths. Frodo definitely shows spirit and endurance here in this chapter especially in his last stand against the Ring-wraiths. “By Elbereth and Luthien the Fair, you shall have neither the Ring nor me!”

1. Frodo’s stand against the Black Riders: is this an example of his change in our hobbit hero's character or confidence or both? And does this act redeem him of putting on the Ring in the previous chapter?
2. Do you think the other hobbits would fare better or worse than Frodo? For example, if Sam had been afflicted with the Morgul wound, would he survive? Did the Morgul wound only inflict men to die?

Contrast this chapter to how Frodo eventually falls deeper into the power of the Ring. We read glimpses of this in Two Towers but after his capture at Cirith Ungol, we hear less of Frodo’s point of view, but rather Sam’s point of view of all that occurs.

Therefore, Frodo’s courage and bravery shows a huge arc of being able to get through to Mordor till the last second, still bearing the Ring. He does not return to the Shire as the hobbit he once was.

We see Frodo’s next courageous step in the “Breaking of the Fellowship” in which we see him just plain scared to go ahead to make the step to Mordor rather than Gondor but Boromir made him decide to break with the Fellowship due to the Ring’s increasing power to corrupt the Fellowship.

1. Do you think Frodo should’ve decided earlier and told the Fellowship his intentions? Why or why not?
2. Sam rightly guesses his mind and goes after Frodo in Parth Galen. He had always meant to follow his master. Where does his courage come from? Plain faithfulness or a bit more?

We will talk more about Frodo and Sam later but we will turn to Merry and Pippin in Book 3 now.

The main display of courage for Merry and Pippin is how they dealt with the Uruk-hai and the Ents in Book 3.

The Uruk-hai chapter is mainly from the point of view of Pippin who regains consciousness first and did three main things that helped with his and Merry’s survival. He cut off his bonds early, left his brooch for Aragorn to find, helped Merry regain strength through giving him some lembas and guided both of them to Fangorn.

Pippin really grew in this chapter.

1. Where do you think his practical ideas came from? Can we contribute this quick thinking to his Tookish blood in him? WE do know that Tooks were the most adventurous and more ambitious and adventurous than other Hobbits, with a reputation for unusual behavior . Can we deduce it’s because of this that Pippin was starting to establish himself in the Quest?
2. Did this same quick thinking led Pippin to be curious about the palantir and its use in the “Palantir” chapter later in the book? We know how much looking in the palantir threw off Sauron who was still inwardly looking but he knew nothing of what happened with Saruman and his ploy in Rohan and taking the hobbits across the plain.
3. Pippin then goes to Minas Tirith with Gandalf and does some key actions there.  He pledged allegiance to Denethor- did the guilt of Boromir led him to give his service to Gondor? Did he knew it’ll serve him well in the future if he did this?
4. He saves Faramir by disobeying Denethor and rallying Beregond to help him. How did this action positively affect the fate of Gondor and MIddle-earth? How did he know of the importance of doing this?
5. Pippin closes book 5 in his point of view as he slays the troll that struck Beregond but he loses consciousness himself being knocked down by the troll himself.

Merry and his growth with courage:

I think Merry shows his courage in different ways. There is something about being left behind that makes it hard. We always focus on characters who do more in terms of action but Merry shows “a new kind of courage” ever since he was left behind by Gandalf and Pippin in Rohan, left behind by Aragorn, Gimli and Legolas when they went to the Paths of the Dead. He still steadfastly wants to ride along with Rohan and forms relationships with Eowyn and Theoden.

1. In what ways does Merry consciously or unconsciously also set himself up for a good future between the Shire and Rohan?

Merry helps Eowyn slay the Witch-king. “Pity filled his heart and great wonder, and suddenly the slow-kindled courage of his race awoke. “

This is not the first time we hear about “slow kindled courage”. Frodo in the Barrow Downs also had a slow acting type of courage. It is interesting the Tolkien wrote about it again here. How many instances of slow-kindled courage do we see arise with our hobbits?

Merry also shows courage in the Scouring of the Shire where he led the Travelers and the hobbits against the ruffians and Saruman. He rallied the hobbits and also killed the leader of the ruffians. Merry is characterized as being practical, smart and forward looking. From his planning of how to hide the fact that Frodo was moving to being determined to not being left behind in Rivendell to his relations with Rohan, slaying the Witchking with Eowyn and finally the events of the Scouring of the Shire, we see his growth and maturity as the Quest comes to an end.

Similarly, we see Sam becoming conspirator, wizard and finally a warrior in his duel with Shelob and also being courageous to rescue his master at the Tower of Cirith Ungol. Again, we see hobbits doing the impossible if their loved one’s life is at stake. Sam’s devotion and loyalty is how Frodo made it to Mount Doom.  Sam also shows devotion when he was met with the decision to either leave his master or go back to the SHire when he looked into the Mirror of Galadriel and saw that there was trouble there.

Sam was also a Ring-bearer briefly in the most dangerous part of the Quest. What made him not claim the Ring for himself at that critical moment at Cirith Ungol?

Needless to say, it was Sam who carried Frodo through the plains of Gorgoroth through plain will. “His will was set and only death could break it.”

To conclude with the four Travelers, growth from the Quest is evident. Merry, Pippin and Sam grew so that they could eventually lead the Shire. However, Frodo was too hurt from the Quest and some say that he even became “elvish” enough that he must leave the Shire since he grew too much in addition to being hurt. How each hobbit shows their courage was dependent on which characters they met and faced with what obstacles they acted according to their hobbity common sense.

i'll cover Bilbo in another post. :P ( i need to post this on the boards but feel like editing this a bit more.)