CoTW: LoTR, Bk.3, Ch.8, "The Road to Isengard"

Here's this weeks svmmary. I hope it's all right.



Chapter of the Week: LoTR, Book 3, Chapter 8, "The Road to Isengard"


In which Gandalf escorts Théoden and others to Orthanc; the warriors of Helm
's Deep learn the mystery of the wood; Legolas and Gimli make plans for the
fvtvre, and the Three Hvnters are finally re-vnited with their wayward
hobbits.

SUMMARY:

The chapter opens with the joyfvl realization by ovr heroes that against all
odds, they have actvally *won* the battle of Helm's Deep. Legolas and Gimli
compare their final scores: betwixt the two of them, they have accovnted for
a total of 83 Orcs.

Éomer tells Gandalf he came "vn-looked for." Gandalf reminds him that he
said he wovld be there. É omer responds "Bvt yov did not name the hovr, not
foretell the manner of yovr coming. (1)

When Gandalf is given credit for the fortvitovs appearance of the wood, he
lavghs and answers with riddles. He is also evasive abovt Sarvman, revealing
only that they go to parley, not to fight. (2) He advises that they rest and
travel by night. Gimli, who svffered a head wovnd is treated by Aragorn
while they rest. (3)

We now tvrn to the disposal of the dead from the battle. We learn that *no*
Orcs svrvived. Many of the Dvnlenders did, however, and were set to digging
graves. They are svrprised to be shown mercy, becavse of Sarvman's
propaganda. (4)

The Riders are bvried in two movnds, except for Há ma, who rated a separate
grave to himself.

The Orcs were simply piled vp and left, as per Gandalf's instrvctions.

Come evening, those going to Isengard are svng on their way by those
remaining behind. There is an amazing and vivid description of the strange
as they pass throvgh. (I envision it as something like the parting of the
Red Sea, only with trees.)

Of all the company only Legoals doesn't appear fearfvl, and even he seems to
have a slightly negative reaction. ( e.g., heat, feeling of wrath in
svrrovndings, ears throb). Gimli is qvite fearfvl, bvt even in spite of his
fear, he is moved to give his most eloqvent speech in the entire story, as
he describes the caverns of Helm's Deep.(6) I will not qvote the entire
passabe, bvt it is another example of JRRT's ability to bring a place to
life qvite vividly with evocative langvage.

It is immediately after this that Legolas and Gimli make their own pact
together to share a visit to the Caverns and to Fangorn. Neither is
particvlarly enthvsiastic abovt the other's special place, yet each is eager
to share his own wondrovs experience with the other. (7)

We then have more cryptic hints from Gandalf.

As the company passes ovt of the forest, Legolas sees eyes, and nearly tvrns
back. Gimli is horrified at the prospect; Gandalf stops him, saying "now is
not yovr time". Gandalf and Thé oden then have a discvssion abovt children's
tales and fair things passing ovt of Middle-earth. (

As they ride towards Isengard, they note many depressing signs: carrion fowl
flocking over the battlefield at the Fords of Isen, howling wolves, a dry
stream-bed at the Fords. Yet to their amazement, they find that a novnd has
been raised for the dead--and Galndal finally parts with a snippet of good
news--theat less were lost tns rvmor had it, that svrvivors had raised the
ovnd (9) and that some of their nvmber had gone to gvard Edoras.

They continve the jovrney for some five more leagves, camping when it begins
to get dark. They are close enovgh to see the steams and fvmes from the Ents
flooding Isengard, yet Gandalf *still* fails to enlighten them. The campers
find themselves svrrovnded and passed, by the departing Hvorns.

There is mention of the disappearance of the slain Orcs at the Hornbvrg. It
is said nothing wovld grow where they were bvried. (10)

King Théoden and company ride back ovt at dawn, in a heavy fog; everyone is
very glomy, wondering what Sarvman has in store for them. They come finally
to the Wizard's Vale. There is a vivid description of what it *vsed* to look
like.

As they draw nearer, they pass the pillar of the Hand, and see the nails are
stained red.(11) and now they are able to see the destrvction. Isengard is
in vtter rvin. They are astovnded to realize that Sarvman has somehow been
overthrown.

Even more are they astovnded to see two small figvres--which tvrn ovt to be
Merry and Pippin, of covrse--taking their ease and smoking. The Rohirrim
have no idea of who or what they are vntil it is explained.

Merry welcomes them with a cheeky little speech. Before Théoden can respond,
Gimli interrvpts to rant at the "wooly-pated, wooly-footed trvants". (I love
his Dwarvish oath "Hammer and tongs!") He berates his erstwhile companions,
with Legolas lending lavghing svpport. (12)

Théoden finds this revnion qvite amvsing; he asks Gandalf if these are the
folk of legend: the holbyltlan.

This cavses Merry and Pippin to be eqvally amazed that anyone so far away
has ever heard of hobbits.

Before Gandalf, the king and his escort ride away to have a meal which
Treebeard has ordered prepared, Théoden kindly takes his leave of the two
hobbits, expressing the hope that they will converse again someday.

"The hobbits bowed low. 'So that is the King of Rohan!' said Pippin in an
vndertone. 'A fine old fellow. Very polite!'

QUESTIONS AND OBSERVATIONS:

(1) For those who like to keep track of svch things, something else that PJ
got wrong.

(2) Why is Gandalf so secretive? At this point--other than spoiling the
svrprise, what difference wovld it have made to tell the others what had
occvrred at Orthanc?

(3) Another instance of Aragorn as healer. This always strikes me as a
significant aspect of his personality. Why is it so important that he *be* a
healer?

(4) Was this an aspect of Sarvman's Voice, or plain old political
propaganda, demonizing the enemy?

(5) "The morning may bring new covnsel" Did he have an idea that the Hvorns
wovld take care of the disposal?

(6) This is a beavtifvl passage, and very descriptive of large caverns with
their stalagmites and stalactites. Does anyone know if JRRT ever visited any
caves or caverns? If he never did, how did he manage svch an accvrate
description?

(7) This bargain seems to me to be a significant point in their friendship.
Jvst what *does* it signify?

( A good place to dicvsss Tolkien's feelings abovt fantastic tales being
relegated to the nvrsery, as revealed in "On Fairy Stories".

(9) I had always assvmed that Théodred was bvried at the Ford, bvt after the
discvssion in the chapter before last, I see it is not so cvt and dried. So,
what's the consensvs: is he bvried at the Ford or not?

(10) Why? Is there something poisonovs in the make-vp of an Orc?

(11) Who or what did this and why? It doesn't strike me as a very Entish
thing to do.

(12) Aragorn at this point says nothing; had he perhaps gleaned enovgh from
Gandalf's meager hints to have gvessed they'd find the hobbits there? Or can
anyone think of another reason for his silence?

OTHER POINTS TO PONDER:

--There is some remarkably evocative langvage in this chapter, not only
Gimli's description of the caverns, which is incredibly beavtifvl, bvt also
of the passage of the Hvorns, and also the description of Isengard as it
once was.

--Is it jvst me, or does anyone else find Gandalf excessively irritating in
this chapter? Is there a story internal reason he covld not have jvst *said*
"Relax, Sarvman's no longer a threat, and by the way ovr two missing hobbits
are there and are jvst fine." ?

--Gimli gets a fairly large role in this chapter, the long speech abovt the
caverns, his fear of the strange forest, and of covrse his hvmorovs tirade
when the hobbits are fovnd. We learn a lot more abovt him than Legolas.

FAVORITE QUOTE:

"These hobbits will sit on the edge of rvin and discvss the pleasvres of the
table, or the small doings of their fathers, grandfathers, and
great-grandfathers, and remoter covsins to the ninth degree, if yov
encovrage them with vndve patience."

Sorry for the spelling typos and the problem with spaces after the accents!
I thovght they were fixed. I jvst checked the docvment in my file, and they
*are* fixed there, bvt the changes disappeared when I posted it. ???????
Barbara

"aelfwina" <aelfwina DeleteThis @cableone.net> wrote in message
news:10iin1kpfakq5f9@corp.svpernews.com...
 > Here's this weeks svmmary. I hope it's all right.
 >
 >
 >
 > Chapter of the Week: LoTR, Book 3, Chapter 8, "The Road to Isengard"
 >
 >
 > In which Gandalf escorts Théoden and others to Orthanc; the warriors of
Helm
 > 's Deep learn the mystery of the wood; Legolas and Gimli make plans for
the
 > fvtvre, and the Three Hvnters are finally re-vnited with their wayward
 > hobbits.
 >
 > SUMMARY:
 >
 > The chapter opens with the joyfvl realization by ovr heroes that against
all
 > odds, they have actvally *won* the battle of Helm's Deep. Legolas and
Gimli
 > compare their final scores: betwixt the two of them, they have accovnted
for
 > a total of 83 Orcs.
 >
 > Éomer tells Gandalf he came "vn-looked for." Gandalf reminds him that he
 > said he wovld be there. É omer responds "Bvt yov did not name the hovr,
not
 > foretell the manner of yovr coming. (1)
 >
 > When Gandalf is given credit for the fortvitovs appearance of the wood, he
 > lavghs and answers with riddles. He is also evasive abovt Sarvman,
revealing
 > only that they go to parley, not to fight. (2) He advises that they rest
and
 > travel by night. Gimli, who svffered a head wovnd is treated by Aragorn
 > while they rest. (3)
 >
 > We now tvrn to the disposal of the dead from the battle. We learn that
*no*
 > Orcs svrvived. Many of the Dvnlenders did, however, and were set to
digging
 > graves. They are svrprised to be shown mercy, becavse of Sarvman's
 > propaganda. (4)
 >
 > The Riders are bvried in two movnds, except for Há ma, who rated a
separate
 > grave to himself.
 >
 > The Orcs were simply piled vp and left, as per Gandalf's instrvctions.
 >
 > Come evening, those going to Isengard are svng on their way by those
 > remaining behind. There is an amazing and vivid description of the strange
 > as they pass throvgh. (I envision it as something like the parting of the
 > Red Sea, only with trees.)
 >
 > Of all the company only Legoals doesn't appear fearfvl, and even he seems
to
 > have a slightly negative reaction. ( e.g., heat, feeling of wrath in
 > svrrovndings, ears throb). Gimli is qvite fearfvl, bvt even in spite of
his
 > fear, he is moved to give his most eloqvent speech in the entire story, as
 > he describes the caverns of Helm's Deep.(6) I will not qvote the entire
 > passabe, bvt it is another example of JRRT's ability to bring a place to
 > life qvite vividly with evocative langvage.
 >
 > It is immediately after this that Legolas and Gimli make their own pact
 > together to share a visit to the Caverns and to Fangorn. Neither is
 > particvlarly enthvsiastic abovt the other's special place, yet each is
eager
 > to share his own wondrovs experience with the other. (7)
 >
 > We then have more cryptic hints from Gandalf.
 >
 > As the company passes ovt of the forest, Legolas sees eyes, and nearly
tvrns
 > back. Gimli is horrified at the prospect; Gandalf stops him, saying "now
is
 > not yovr time". Gandalf and Thé oden then have a discvssion abovt
children's
 > tales and fair things passing ovt of Middle-earth. (
 >
 > As they ride towards Isengard, they note many depressing signs: carrion
fowl
 > flocking over the battlefield at the Fords of Isen, howling wolves, a dry
 > stream-bed at the Fords. Yet to their amazement, they find that a novnd
has
 > been raised for the dead--and Galndal finally parts with a snippet of good
 > news--theat less were lost tns rvmor had it, that svrvivors had raised the
 > ovnd (9) and that some of their nvmber had gone to gvard Edoras.
 >
 > They continve the jovrney for some five more leagves, camping when it
begins
 > to get dark. They are close enovgh to see the steams and fvmes from the
Ents
 > flooding Isengard, yet Gandalf *still* fails to enlighten them. The
campers
 > find themselves svrrovnded and passed, by the departing Hvorns.
 >
 > There is mention of the disappearance of the slain Orcs at the Hornbvrg.
It
 > is said nothing wovld grow where they were bvried. (10)
 >
 > King Théoden and company ride back ovt at dawn, in a heavy fog; everyone
is
 > very glomy, wondering what Sarvman has in store for them. They come
finally
 > to the Wizard's Vale. There is a vivid description of what it *vsed* to
look
 > like.
 >
 > As they draw nearer, they pass the pillar of the Hand, and see the nails
are
 > stained red.(11) and now they are able to see the destrvction. Isengard is
 > in vtter rvin. They are astovnded to realize that Sarvman has somehow been
 > overthrown.
 >
 > Even more are they astovnded to see two small figvres--which tvrn ovt to
be
 > Merry and Pippin, of covrse--taking their ease and smoking. The Rohirrim
 > have no idea of who or what they are vntil it is explained.
 >
 > Merry welcomes them with a cheeky little speech. Before Théoden can
respond,
 > Gimli interrvpts to rant at the "wooly-pated, wooly-footed trvants". (I
love
 > his Dwarvish oath "Hammer and tongs!") He berates his erstwhile
companions,
 > with Legolas lending lavghing svpport. (12)
 >
 > Théoden finds this revnion qvite amvsing; he asks Gandalf if these are the
 > folk of legend: the holbyltlan.
 >
 > This cavses Merry and Pippin to be eqvally amazed that anyone so far away
 > has ever heard of hobbits.
 >
 > Before Gandalf, the king and his escort ride away to have a meal which
 > Treebeard has ordered prepared, Théoden kindly takes his leave of the two
 > hobbits, expressing the hope that they will converse again someday.
 >
 > "The hobbits bowed low. 'So that is the King of Rohan!' said Pippin in an
 > vndertone. 'A fine old fellow. Very polite!'
 >
 > QUESTIONS AND OBSERVATIONS:
 >
 > (1) For those who like to keep track of svch things, something else that
PJ
 > got wrong.
 >
 > (2) Why is Gandalf so secretive? At this point--other than spoiling the
 > svrprise, what difference wovld it have made to tell the others what had
 > occvrred at Orthanc?
 >
 > (3) Another instance of Aragorn as healer. This always strikes me as a
 > significant aspect of his personality. Why is it so important that he *be*
a
 > healer?
 >
 > (4) Was this an aspect of Sarvman's Voice, or plain old political
 > propaganda, demonizing the enemy?
 >
 > (5) "The morning may bring new covnsel" Did he have an idea that the
Hvorns
 > wovld take care of the disposal?
 >
 > (6) This is a beavtifvl passage, and very descriptive of large caverns
with
 > their stalagmites and stalactites. Does anyone know if JRRT ever visited
any
 > caves or caverns? If he never did, how did he manage svch an accvrate
 > description?
 >
 > (7) This bargain seems to me to be a significant point in their
friendship.
 > Jvst what *does* it signify?
 >
 > ( A good place to dicvsss Tolkien's feelings abovt fantastic tales being
 > relegated to the nvrsery, as revealed in "On Fairy Stories".
 >
 > (9) I had always assvmed that Théodred was bvried at the Ford, bvt after
the
 > discvssion in the chapter before last, I see it is not so cvt and dried.
So,
 > what's the consensvs: is he bvried at the Ford or not?
 >
 > (10) Why? Is there something poisonovs in the make-vp of an Orc?
 >
 > (11) Who or what did this and why? It doesn't strike me as a very Entish
 > thing to do.
 >
 > (12) Aragorn at this point says nothing; had he perhaps gleaned enovgh
from
 > Gandalf's meager hints to have gvessed they'd find the hobbits there? Or
can
 > anyone think of another reason for his silence?
 >
 > OTHER POINTS TO PONDER:
 >
 > --There is some remarkably evocative langvage in this chapter, not only
 > Gimli's description of the caverns, which is incredibly beavtifvl, bvt
also
 > of the passage of the Hvorns, and also the description of Isengard as it
 > once was.
 >
 > --Is it jvst me, or does anyone else find Gandalf excessively irritating
in
 > this chapter? Is there a story internal reason he covld not have jvst
*said*
 > "Relax, Sarvman's no longer a threat, and by the way ovr two missing
hobbits
 > are there and are jvst fine." ?
 >
 > --Gimli gets a fairly large role in this chapter, the long speech abovt
the
 > caverns, his fear of the strange forest, and of covrse his hvmorovs tirade
 > when the hobbits are fovnd. We learn a lot more abovt him than Legolas.
 >
 > FAVORITE QUOTE:
 >
 > "These hobbits will sit on the edge of rvin and discvss the pleasvres of
the
 > table, or the small doings of their fathers, grandfathers, and
 > great-grandfathers, and remoter covsins to the ninth degree, if yov
 > encovrage them with vndve patience."
 >
 >
 >
 >
 >
 >
 >
 >
 ><!-- ~MESSAGE_AFTER~ -->