LoTR Discussion project; Book II Chapters 9 and 10

[BeardofPants]

Chapter IX: The Great River


Image courtesy of Karen Fonstad's "The Atlas of Tolkien's Middle-Earth".

In this chapter, the Fellowship have just left Lothlorien. They initially travel through woodlands, journeying down the river; a harsh decision still to be decided, with regards to whether or not to travel East or West. There is a sense of dawdling, of oppression, of fear. The Fellowship appears to have no desire to hasten either the journey, or the decision to be made. However, Aragorn has a fear of time pressing.

The first two days out of Lothlorien are repetitive. The dull grey hours passing without event.

On the Third day, the landscape changes. The trees thin out, and fail … On the Eastern bank lies the Brown Lands, which lie between Mirkwood and Emyn Muil. There is no last vestige of grass: “No living blade of green”.

What was the Cause of this wasteland?

The landscape changes on the western bank as well. The trees have disappeared, to be replaced by flat, green plains. Instead of trees, there are great forests of reeds, blocking the view of the plains. There is a sense of exposure on the Eastern Bank, and hidden eyes on the Western Bank. To add to the Fellowship’s anxiety, there is no sign of life – except for birds, including Black Swans.

Are the Black Swans messengers for Sauron?

Originally Posted by Frodo

“How wide and empty and mournful all this country looks! … I always imagined that as one journeyed south it got warmer and merrier, until winter was left behind for ever.”

Geography:

Originally Posted by Aragorn

“…not above sixty leagues, I guess, south of the Southfarthing away in your Shire, hundreds of long miles yonder. You are looking now south-west across the north plains of the Riddermark, Rohan the land of the Horselords….”

Is the Great River a frontier of War? A boundary, or division, both physically, and metaphorically?

Over the next day or two, driven by the sense of exposure, and oppression, there is a hastening of the journey on the River Anduin. Fear is repetitively expressed in conjunction to a growth of insecurity as the Fellowship draws closer to its perceived Journey’s End. At this stage, the scenery has shifted as well. The Great River has broadened, and become shallower, and there are long stoney beaches on the East, with gravel-shoals, bleak wolds and a chill air. On the West Bank, the rolling meads have become withered grass amidst fen and tussock. This scenery is in direct contrast to the scenery from Lothlorien (which Frodo recalls at this point, remembering the lawns, fountains, sun, and gentle rain of Lothlorien). Tolkien uses the descriptive scenery as well as the feelings of the Fellowship to create a separation from one Act, to another. From the calm relaxation of Lothlorien, the Fellowship has now transferred to the uncertainty of the Great River. The Stoney Banks hint at dangerous shoals hidden in the depths of the River. This is reflected by the fact that there is little speech and laughter. Each member of the Fellowship appears isolated in his own thoughts. Boromir’s pre-occupation with both Frodo and the Ring seems to have intensified at this stage; Pippin notes the strange gleam in Boromir’s eye, his obsession seemingly expressed by his need to frantically paddle to his boat to catch up with Frodo…

By the end of the Fourth Day from Lothlorien, we have the First Interlude between Sam and Frodo, on the Camp on the Eyot. Sam tells Frodo about the “log with eyes” on the river, and again, we have a sense of eyes being everywhere the Fellowship goes.

Is this “obsession” with eyes (and being watched) somehow tied into the symbolism of Sauron – the Great Eye?

Of course we find out from both Frodo and Aragorn that this has not been the first sighting of the little “footpad”. It is decided that the Fellowship will now keep watch at nights.

By the Fifth day, the company are on their guard, paddling for long spells, journeying mostly by night, and resting during the day – lying hidden. The days pass by without event… until the Seventh day out from Lothlorien. The weather is still grim, grey, and overcast with the chill wind from east still haunting the Fellowship. But there is now a New Moon casting pools of faint light, yellow and pale green….

On the Eighth day: the shore-banks begin rising. The Fellowship has reached the Grey hill country of Emyn Muil. Deep brakes of thorn and sloe, brambles and creepers. There are Birds again in the sky. Hunting Eagles, far from the Mountains.

Are they the messengers of Sauron, or the work of Gollum? (This can probably be discussed in conjunction with the Black Swans mentioned earlier – also, interesting to tie into a discussion of how traditionally, the Evil (Morgoth et al) seldom has dominion of the Air (realm of Manwe).)

The appearance of the Hunting Eagle has made the Fellowship leery of travelling until it is fully dark. The Eighth Night is silent, and windless. The grey east wind that has until now dogged them, has faded away. It is unerringly quiet. Almost like the Calm before the Storm. For the first time, Aragorn, the Natural Leader of the Fellowship, is not familiar with this leg of the journey. It is to be a journey in the dark, through unfamiliar territory. Sam is appointed Watchman in the leading boat. Boromir counsels that this is Madness.