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Forum Home » Books Discussion » BC Archive: Lord of the Rings » 4.IV. Of Herbs and Stewed Rabbit
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Figwit
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Post 4.IV. Of Herbs and Stewed Rabbit
on: April 04, 2004 11:25
1. We are yet again introduced to a new quarter of Middle-earth: Ithilien. How is it described? What does it remind you off? What's Tolkien's purpose of creating this specific location?

2. This chapter is dominated by food. Do you think this has a reason?

3. Gollum says about himself: 'He's frightened, and he's very tired, and this Hobbit's not nice, not nice at all.'
How is Gollum presented in this chapter?

4. We are for the first time introduced to the Rangers of Ithilien and of course Captain Faramir. What's your first impression of them? *no spoilers please!*

5. Frodo tries to gain Faramir's trust: how does he go about that?

6. Why an Oliphaunt? What could it symbolize?

PbHf's Quote of the Week deals with Sam and the dead Haradrim warrior.

[Edited on 6/4/2004 by Figwit]
k
Cavegirl
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Post RE: 4.IV. Of Herbs and Stewed Rabbit
on: April 05, 2004 12:39
This is almost a calm before the storm chapter isnt it..... from adventuring up mountains, through mines, across marshes and down rivers... from experiencing the magic of the elves, coming face to face with nazgul, orcs and a balrog... suddenly the hobbits are thrown back into the "shire" (albeit a slightly more exotic version)

ithilien is this pretty green place that gives off an atmosphere of comfort and homliness almost- the foods are the same, the "bed" is soft etc etc.
Food is a huge part of a hobbits life, as we are told in the beginning of the book, the fact that the chapter draws your attention to the food again shows a comparison between hobbiton and ithilien and lends a sense of calm and also it allows the hobbits to be just that, hobbits, not ringbearers or adventurers or members of the fellowship... just themselves

which makes the reality of war even more harsh.... if death can occur in this place thats so simelar to the shire then it can occur anywhere and the enemy isnt this distant foreign evil but real people, real men. It could easily be them lying there.

LOL from what ive just rambled on about up there it would seem the chapter serves to give frodo and sam a rest and a reason again for thier quest, to bring them back to the roots of why they are doing it... to save the shire. Though actually i dont recall much evidence of that being the case- would be nice thought wouldnt it
Figwit
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Post RE: 4.IV. Of Herbs and Stewed Rabbit
on: April 05, 2004 12:53
Oh k, you put that beautifully! I guess in a way it is a reminder not only of the Shire but also of the reason for their quest - to save places like Ithilien or their own home country from the terror of Sauron.

Ithilien is also a bit of a glimpse of what The Shire could become like if they fail: permanently endangered, under a reign of terror waiting just behind the horizon (I like the way the Eye is discribed as being hidden behind the Mountains once they turn south).
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