"I hope so."

Rosie Gamgee · 09-09-2004, 03:57 PM

Hey, in FotR, at the end of the chapter titled 'Strider' (sorry, I just read it, but can't remember the number of the chapter), one of the hobbits says, I believe, something about the Nazgul coming back, and then Strider says "I hope so." What was mean by that, do you think? I mean, was this just something Tolkien put in there to keep us guessing whether or not Strider was a good guy, or did it have a deeper meaning. The line seems strange coming from Aragorn, and I was thinking we might discuss it.

Telcontar_Dunedain · 09-09-2004, 03:59 PM

What page is it on?

***Valandil*** · 09-09-2004, 04:17 PM

I just checked... his 'I hope so' is actually in response to what Merry says when he hears about the incident in the meeting room. Merry says that the worthies of Bree would be talking about the episode for one hundred years. Strider saying 'I hope so' indicates that for them to be able to do so, all will have gone well and the Enemy would not have conquered.

Telcontar_Dunedain · 09-09-2004, 04:19 PM

I don't get that. Surely that means there will be news of the Ring bearer and that they would be followed.

Rosie Gamgee · 09-09-2004, 04:43 PM

Oh, right. 'Worthies of Bree'. Yeah, I think it would mean that people would be on their tails, spreading news of some guy who turned invisible. Talk of that kind would certainly catch the eye of the Enemy (no pun about the eye was originally intended

). I don't think I'd want people to talk about it.

Halbarad of the Dunedain · 09-09-2004, 04:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Telcontar_Dunedain

I don't get that. Surely that means there will be news of the Ring bearer and that they would be followed.

Aragorn wasn't saying "I hope so" to the immediate future. He was making the statment about the end of the War of the Ring, assuming all had gone well. Aragorn was lementing the future, and their fate. Not to mention the knowledge of the ring in the Shire and in Bree was already known to the enemy. Both Sauron and Saruman both knew the ring was found and it was in the Shire, moving east to Bree. The Nazgul had arrived at Bree and attempted to kill the Hobbits. So I don't think the hundred years of talk about the ring bearrer would have any more negative impact on Frodo & Co. after leaving.

Telcontar_Dunedain · 09-09-2004, 04:50 PM

Unless there could have been others searching for it. What if Gollum found that it was travelling towards Rivendell. He could have strangled Strider, Frodo, Sam, Merry and Pippin in their sleep.

Halbarad of the Dunedain · 09-09-2004, 05:03 PM

All of them!? Including the greatest Ranger of the Dunedain!? Without any of the others being roused!? Gollum couldn't even sneak up on Frodo and Sam alone! I don't think gollum was a factor that worried Aragorn to much especially on the road from Hobbiton to Rivendel. Also who cares if anyone else was searching for it!? Sauron new master of all evil or Middle-Earth, or gollum? Sauron new master of all evil or anything else!? They had the greatest incarnation of evil, on middle-earth at that time, already searching for, and following them! No, I personally don't feel the talk in Bree will hurt them. The only thing would be the actual event of Frodo slipping the ring on! If that could have been avoided then the Nazgul may not have been anywhere near them, ever! They may have gotten to Rivendell all in one peice! So the acuall 100 year talk I don't feel hurt them in any way.

Attalus · 09-09-2004, 05:51 PM

I agree with Valandil. Aragorn was hoping that the worthies of Bree would be around at all to discuss anything, and by mentioning it, he was indirectly calling into question the Hobbits unthinking assumption that they in fact would be by interposing the thought that if Sauron conquered, there would be no Bree at all.

Olmer · 09-09-2004, 07:22 PM

Hm, interesting...Since the subject came up... I had an acquaintance from England who was always saying " I hope so" instead "I think so".
Could it be just a common expression at Tolkien's time? Something like our expression "forget about" sometimes can carry the meaning " don't worry", sometimes "it's too outlandish " or sometimes it does really means to forget about something?

Telcontar_Dunedain · 09-10-2004, 02:36 AM

Didn't Gandalf say something like this to Bilbo before he left?

Elanor the Fair · 09-10-2004, 05:51 AM

I have always considered Aragorn's response to be as Valandil suggests - hope that there will be a future where such events are not commonplace and that "worthy" people will be discussing them as an amazing event in the past. This also suggests that there will be nothing more momentous to discuss.

Haradrim · 09-11-2004, 01:07 AM

This type of line is in movies all the time. Its like evil foreshadowing. Just to throw doubt in there. Its just saying that Aragorn hopes Bree wil be there in 100 years because of Saurons rise. However I am no master of expressions so I am also inclined ot hink that maybe its just a common englush phrase.

Telcontar_Dunedain · 09-18-2004, 03:52 AM

It's not a common English phrase so it was probably hoping that Bree will still be able to talk about it in a hundred years.

09-09-2004, 03:57 PM	#1
Rosie Gamgee The Lovely Hobbit-Lass Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Bounded in a nut-shell Posts: 1,593	"I hope so." Hey, in FotR, at the end of the chapter titled 'Strider' (sorry, I just read it, but can't remember the number of the chapter), one of the hobbits says, I believe, something about the Nazgul coming back, and then Strider says "I hope so." What was mean by that, do you think? I mean, was this just something Tolkien put in there to keep us guessing whether or not Strider was a good guy, or did it have a deeper meaning. The line seems strange coming from Aragorn, and I was thinking we might discuss it. __________________ It's New Years Day, just like the day before; Same old skies of grey, same empty bottles on the floor. Another year's gone by, and I was thinking once again, How can I take this losing hand and somehow win? Just give me One Good Year To get my feet back on the ground. I've been chasing grace; Grace ain't so easily found One bad hand can devil a man, chase him and carry him down. I've got to get out of here, just give me One Good Year!

09-09-2004, 03:59 PM	#2
Telcontar_Dunedain Warrior of the House of Hador Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 4,651	What page is it on? __________________ Then Huor spoke and said: "Yet if it stands but a little while, then out of your house shall come the hope of Elves and Men. This I say to you, lord, with the eyes of death: though we part here for ever, and I shall not look on your white walls again, from you and me a new star shall arise. Farewell!" The Silmarillion, Nirnaeth Arnoediad, Page 230

09-09-2004, 04:17 PM	#3
*Valandil* High King at Annuminas Administrator Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Wyoming - USA Posts: 10,752	I just checked... his 'I hope so' is actually in response to what Merry says when he hears about the incident in the meeting room. Merry says that the worthies of Bree would be talking about the episode for one hundred years. Strider saying 'I hope so' indicates that for them to be able to do so, all will have gone well and the Enemy would not have conquered. __________________ My Fanfic: Letters of Firiel Tales of Nolduryon Visitors Come to Court Ñ á ë ?* ó ú é ä ï ö Ö ñ É Þ ð ß ® ™ [Xurl=Xhttp://entmoot.tolkientrail.com/showthread.php?s=&postid=ABCXYZ#postABCXYZ]text[/Xurl] Splitting Threads is SUCH Hard Work!!

09-09-2004, 04:19 PM	#4
Telcontar_Dunedain Warrior of the House of Hador Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 4,651	I don't get that. Surely that means there will be news of the Ring bearer and that they would be followed. __________________ Then Huor spoke and said: "Yet if it stands but a little while, then out of your house shall come the hope of Elves and Men. This I say to you, lord, with the eyes of death: though we part here for ever, and I shall not look on your white walls again, from you and me a new star shall arise. Farewell!" The Silmarillion, Nirnaeth Arnoediad, Page 230

09-09-2004, 04:43 PM	#5
Rosie Gamgee The Lovely Hobbit-Lass Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Bounded in a nut-shell Posts: 1,593	Oh, right. 'Worthies of Bree'. Yeah, I think it would mean that people would be on their tails, spreading news of some guy who turned invisible. Talk of that kind would certainly catch the eye of the Enemy (no pun about the eye was originally intended ). I don't think I'd want people to talk about it. __________________ It's New Years Day, just like the day before; Same old skies of grey, same empty bottles on the floor. Another year's gone by, and I was thinking once again, How can I take this losing hand and somehow win? Just give me One Good Year To get my feet back on the ground. I've been chasing grace; Grace ain't so easily found One bad hand can devil a man, chase him and carry him down. I've got to get out of here, just give me One Good Year!

09-09-2004, 04:50 PM	#7
Telcontar_Dunedain Warrior of the House of Hador Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 4,651	Unless there could have been others searching for it. What if Gollum found that it was travelling towards Rivendell. He could have strangled Strider, Frodo, Sam, Merry and Pippin in their sleep. __________________ Then Huor spoke and said: "Yet if it stands but a little while, then out of your house shall come the hope of Elves and Men. This I say to you, lord, with the eyes of death: though we part here for ever, and I shall not look on your white walls again, from you and me a new star shall arise. Farewell!" The Silmarillion, Nirnaeth Arnoediad, Page 230

09-09-2004, 05:03 PM	#8
Halbarad of the Dunedain Elven Warrior Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Arthedian Posts: 460	All of them!? Including the greatest Ranger of the Dunedain!? Without any of the others being roused!? Gollum couldn't even sneak up on Frodo and Sam alone! I don't think gollum was a factor that worried Aragorn to much especially on the road from Hobbiton to Rivendel. Also who cares if anyone else was searching for it!? Sauron new master of all evil or Middle-Earth, or gollum? Sauron new master of all evil or anything else!? They had the greatest incarnation of evil, on middle-earth at that time, already searching for, and following them! No, I personally don't feel the talk in Bree will hurt them. The only thing would be the actual event of Frodo slipping the ring on! If that could have been avoided then the Nazgul may not have been anywhere near them, ever! They may have gotten to Rivendell all in one peice! So the acuall 100 year talk I don't feel hurt them in any way. __________________ "Can you feel her, running through your veins? She will always live forever!" ~ Atreyu [Her portrait in Black] "I want to see pretty people doing ugly things..." ~ Unknown "Damn it n' such!" ~ Stewie Griffen

09-09-2004, 05:51 PM	#9
Attalus Swan-Knight of Dol Amroth Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: On the Bay of Belfalas Posts: 1,125	I agree with Valandil. Aragorn was hoping that the worthies of Bree would be around at all to discuss anything, and by mentioning it, he was indirectly calling into question the Hobbits unthinking assumption that they in fact would be by interposing the thought that if Sauron conquered, there would be no Bree at all. __________________ "What song the Sirens sang, or what name Achilles assumed when he hid himself among women, though puzzling questions are not beyond conjecture." - Sir Thomas Browne, Urn Burial.

09-09-2004, 07:22 PM	#10
Olmer Elf Lord Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: LI-woods, NY Posts: 653	Hm, interesting...Since the subject came up... I had an acquaintance from England who was always saying " I hope so" instead "I think so". Could it be just a common expression at Tolkien's time? Something like our expression "forget about" sometimes can carry the meaning " don't worry", sometimes "it's too outlandish " or sometimes it does really means to forget about something?

09-10-2004, 02:36 AM	#11
Telcontar_Dunedain Warrior of the House of Hador Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 4,651	Didn't Gandalf say something like this to Bilbo before he left? __________________ Then Huor spoke and said: "Yet if it stands but a little while, then out of your house shall come the hope of Elves and Men. This I say to you, lord, with the eyes of death: though we part here for ever, and I shall not look on your white walls again, from you and me a new star shall arise. Farewell!" The Silmarillion, Nirnaeth Arnoediad, Page 230

09-10-2004, 05:51 AM	#12
Elanor the Fair Elven Warrior Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: In the kitchen ...... still! Posts: 228	I have always considered Aragorn's response to be as Valandil suggests - hope that there will be a future where such events are not commonplace and that "worthy" people will be discussing them as an amazing event in the past. This also suggests that there will be nothing more momentous to discuss. __________________ Life's too short to eat bad chocolate

09-11-2004, 01:07 AM	#13
Haradrim The Official Court Jester of the Entmoot Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Far Harad Posts: 1,006	This type of line is in movies all the time. Its like evil foreshadowing. Just to throw doubt in there. Its just saying that Aragorn hopes Bree wil be there in 100 years because of Saurons rise. However I am no master of expressions so I am also inclined ot hink that maybe its just a common englush phrase. __________________ A Bit More Grown Up This Time...

09-18-2004, 03:52 AM	#14
Telcontar_Dunedain Warrior of the House of Hador Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 4,651	It's not a common English phrase so it was probably hoping that Bree will still be able to talk about it in a hundred years. __________________ Then Huor spoke and said: "Yet if it stands but a little while, then out of your house shall come the hope of Elves and Men. This I say to you, lord, with the eyes of death: though we part here for ever, and I shall not look on your white walls again, from you and me a new star shall arise. Farewell!" The Silmarillion, Nirnaeth Arnoediad, Page 230

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