The One Ring Forums: Off Topic: The Pollantir:
Who, who, who would you like next in the Reading room?

Poll: Who, who, who would you like next in the Reading room? Sam 1 / 3% Bilbo 0 / 0% Elrond  1 / 3% Glorfindel 0 / 0% Merry 2 / 7% Treebeard 5 / 17% Pippin 0 / 0% Theoden 0 / 0% Aragorn 0 / 0% Galadriel 0 / 0% Gaffer Gamgee 1 / 3% the Witch King 2 / 7% Tom Bombadil 5 / 17% Gandalf 1 / 3% Saruman 2 / 7% Eomund 0 / 0% Wormtongue 2 / 7% Gollum 0 / 0% Faramir 5 / 17% Legolas 1 / 3% Gimli 1 / 3% Frodo 1 / 3% Someone else? 0 / 0% 30 total votes

Ethel Duath Half-elven Apr 18 2023, 10:46pm Views: 19733 Who, who, who would you like next in the Reading room?  We've been doing LOTR (book) character explorations and are on Denethor currently. Is there someone you've been hankering to delve into? Insights you're dying to share? A favorite you've been longing to highlight? Let us know! It doesn't mean you'll be tapped to lead a discussion. It's just an idea to see where the most interest lies. Please name anyone else you would like to see discussed in replies to this post. (This post was edited by dernwyn on May 11 2023, 9:35pm)

squire Half-elven Apr 19 2023, 1:33am Views: 19626 Um, Eomund? At first I thought that was a little too obscure a character for even the Reading Room, but then I looked at the list and thought, just maybe, that a mistake had been made. Thanks for doing this! squire online: RR Discussions: The Valaquenta, A Shortcut to Mushrooms, and Of Herbs and Stewed Rabbit Lights! Action! Discuss on the Movie board!: 'A Journey in the Dark'. and 'Designing The Two Towers'. Archive: All the TORn Reading Room Book Discussions (including the 1st BotR Discussion!) and Footerama: "Tolkien would have LOVED it!" Dr. Squire introduces the J.R.R. Tolkien Encyclopedia: A Reader's Diary = Forum has no new posts. Forum needs no new posts.

Ethel Duath Half-elven Apr 19 2023, 2:12am Views: 19622 Ah yes, I did mean Eomer. Too much in a hurry between 2 new students. Perhaps I should have included Theodred! I'll put Eomer in a reply to my initial post. Thanks for the catch!

Ethel Duath Half-elven Apr 19 2023, 2:14am Views: 19619 Adding Eomer. Vote in replies to this post. //

noWizardme Half-elven May 3 2023, 4:59pm Views: 19237 I voted 'Saruman' We could dust off this suggested programme. In recent discussions we've used the last week to view the character as they appear from texts outside the LOTR story itself (e.g. Appendices, and in this case the UT Istiri chapter, and other places Tolkien might have written something relevant about Saruman). That could simply be added as a fifth week. ~~~~~~ "I am not made for querulous pests." Frodo 'Spooner' Baggins.

elentari3018 Rohan May 11 2023, 12:52am Views: 19048 Did we do Frodo? if so, can someone link me the discussion? Thank you! "By Elbereth and Luthien the fair, you shall have neither the Ring nor me!" ~Frodo "And then Gandalf arose and bid all men rise, and they rose, and he said: 'Here is a last hail ere the feast endeth. Last but not least. For I name now those who shall not be forgotten and without whose valour nought else that was done would have availed; and I name before you all Frodo of the Shire and Samwise his servant. And the bards and the minstrels should give them new names: Bronwe athan Harthad and Harthad Uluithiad , Endurance beyond Hope and Hope Unquenchable.." ~Gandalf, The End of the Third Age , from The History of Middle Earth series

Ethel Duath Half-elven May 11 2023, 2:06am Views: 19043 Not Frodo yet. We've just started on these character discussions. It was always the books in general, or the Hobbit, etc. before this.

elentari3018 Rohan May 11 2023, 2:23am Views: 19047 ok thanks! Frodo should be added in the poll then. :)   "By Elbereth and Luthien the fair, you shall have neither the Ring nor me!" ~Frodo "And then Gandalf arose and bid all men rise, and they rose, and he said: 'Here is a last hail ere the feast endeth. Last but not least. For I name now those who shall not be forgotten and without whose valour nought else that was done would have availed; and I name before you all Frodo of the Shire and Samwise his servant. And the bards and the minstrels should give them new names: Bronwe athan Harthad and Harthad Uluithiad , Endurance beyond Hope and Hope Unquenchable.." ~Gandalf, The End of the Third Age , from The History of Middle Earth series

Ethel Duath Half-elven May 11 2023, 4:05pm Views: 19030 Yes, you're right! I actually intended to include him. Off the ask the admins!

dernwyn Forum Admin / Moderator May 11 2023, 9:36pm Views: 19025 There he is! I'm not sure if you can vote for him, if you've already voted, though. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "I desired dragons with a profound desire"

Ethel Duath Half-elven May 11 2023, 11:47pm Views: 19021 Thanks so much!!

elentari3018 Rohan May 15 2023, 2:04am Views: 18938 Thank you! but alas, i have voted already. Do you know when we will know the result of the poll and when the next character discussion will take place? Thank yoU! "By Elbereth and Luthien the fair, you shall have neither the Ring nor me!" ~Frodo "And then Gandalf arose and bid all men rise, and they rose, and he said: 'Here is a last hail ere the feast endeth. Last but not least. For I name now those who shall not be forgotten and without whose valour nought else that was done would have availed; and I name before you all Frodo of the Shire and Samwise his servant. And the bards and the minstrels should give them new names: Bronwe athan Harthad and Harthad Uluithiad , Endurance beyond Hope and Hope Unquenchable.." ~Gandalf, The End of the Third Age , from The History of Middle Earth series

Ethel Duath Half-elven May 15 2023, 4:41pm Views: 18918 You can vote just by sticking it in the subject line, and I know that's a definite vote for you. I'm hoping anyone that wants to add their vote for Frodo, or anyone that wants to add a name will juts stick it in a subject line on here.

Ethel Duath Half-elven May 15 2023, 4:45pm Views: 18921 Oh, and I'm not sure when the next one is--not sure who might want to take the leap to organize it either. I think a week or 2 break would be good to clear the air a bit, and also see if anyone else would like to take a turn to organize the next one. I'll be happy to keep up with the voting, and coax some more responses, if necessary.

noWizardme Half-elven May 18 2023, 10:37am Views: 18812 Notes from an ex-organiser Firstly, it is important to say that the character discussions so far have been a triumph. Everyone who has been actively involved deserves the congratulations and appreciation of the forum. Anyone who thinks about what has been achieved will realise that the long, through, knowledgable, non-dogmatic and insightful starter posts which have been so enjoyable here -- and so different from much online Tolkien fandom these days -- are not something that can done in an hour, or even an afternoon. It's a wonderful achievement by very talented and generous people. And of course everyone is a volunteer. So it is entirely natural that we tire the small group who are willing and able to organise things at any one time, or to act as chapter leaders. These projects should keep on being fun for organisers and chapter leaders -- as well as people who reply to any discussion, or just lurk and read what is provided -- because the fun is the healthy motivation for doing it. So I think it is a good idea to take a break whenever needed. And for new people willing to help organise or otherwise contribue to come forwards, if they were hesitating to do so or didn't realise that would be useful. ~~~~~~ "I am not made for querulous pests." Frodo 'Spooner' Baggins.

noWizardme Half-elven May 18 2023, 6:08pm Views: 18807 Fanarchy in the UK while we sort his out democratically, I hope you don't mind a proposal to 'do' Saruman My thought is that it would be a decent stop-gap, and the advantage of this forum being a fanarchy is that anyone can just get something started. ~~~~~~ "I am not made for querulous pests." Frodo 'Spooner' Baggins.

Ethel Duath Half-elven May 18 2023, 10:35pm Views: 18795 Not a bad idea! If we get enough post-ers, I say go for it. I'm dying to do Treebeard, though, sometime--although I'm sure it wouldn't be a very long set of discussions. He just is one of my favorites.

oliphaunt Lorien May 19 2023, 12:06am Views: 18793 Two for Treebeard That makes two of us. I'm all for reading Treebeard after Saruman and am going to work up a tentative schedule. I'm thinking two or three sections should do it. *** Middle Earth Inexpert ***

noWizardme Half-elven May 19 2023, 3:51pm Views: 18769 Or Frodo and Sam together as nearly a BOGOF? Frodo and Sam are almost always interacting, and if we 'did' Frodo without Sam, I think it would feel artificial and be difficult to do Sam afterwards without lots of repetition. But if we do them together we can naturally and efficiently cover what is arguably LOTR's most important relationship. No less a writer and critic than Urslua LeGuin has suggested that Frodo and Sam are like two aspects of one character -- it would be interesting to see if we agree. She's bound to have had an interesting insight there, even for any of us who don't end up agreeing! I don't think doing the two together would add all that much to the work of doing just Frodo (or, of just doing Sam). But on the other hand it would be a long study anyway. How long exactly it isn't possible to say without working out a breakdown of the story into weeks of discussion. But I'm going to guess it is 12-15 weeks. I expect it would need people who don't normally lead discussions to give that task a go. ~~~~~~ "I am not made for querulous pests." Frodo 'Spooner' Baggins.

elentari3018 Rohan May 20 2023, 11:13am Views: 18737 That sounds good to study them together. That'll be a great discussion! I would take them on definitely and try to lead. Would that be after Saruman and Faramir? "By Elbereth and Luthien the fair, you shall have neither the Ring nor me!" ~Frodo "And then Gandalf arose and bid all men rise, and they rose, and he said: 'Here is a last hail ere the feast endeth. Last but not least. For I name now those who shall not be forgotten and without whose valour nought else that was done would have availed; and I name before you all Frodo of the Shire and Samwise his servant. And the bards and the minstrels should give them new names: Bronwe athan Harthad and Harthad Uluithiad , Endurance beyond Hope and Hope Unquenchable.." ~Gandalf, The End of the Third Age , from The History of Middle Earth series

CuriousG Half-elven May 25 2023, 1:44am Views: 18608 Really like this idea //

elentari3018 Rohan Jun 26 2023, 2:10am Views: 17997 Whos' next in Reading Room? Is it Treebeard or Faramir? :) "By Elbereth and Luthien the fair, you shall have neither the Ring nor me!" ~Frodo "And then Gandalf arose and bid all men rise, and they rose, and he said: 'Here is a last hail ere the feast endeth. Last but not least. For I name now those who shall not be forgotten and without whose valour nought else that was done would have availed; and I name before you all Frodo of the Shire and Samwise his servant. And the bards and the minstrels should give them new names: Bronwe athan Harthad and Harthad Uluithiad , Endurance beyond Hope and Hope Unquenchable.." ~Gandalf, The End of the Third Age , from The History of Middle Earth series

Ethel Duath Half-elven Jun 26 2023, 2:44pm Views: 17985 I believe it's Treebeard next, because of his link to Saruman.

elentari3018 Rohan Feb 16, 3:37am Views: 3571 Who is next character after Faramir?   "By Elbereth and Luthien the fair, you shall have neither the Ring nor me!" ~Frodo "And then Gandalf arose and bid all men rise, and they rose, and he said: 'Here is a last hail ere the feast endeth. Last but not least. For I name now those who shall not be forgotten and without whose valour nought else that was done would have availed; and I name before you all Frodo of the Shire and Samwise his servant. And the bards and the minstrels should give them new names: Bronwe athan Harthad and Harthad Uluithiad , Endurance beyond Hope and Hope Unquenchable.." ~Gandalf, The End of the Third Age , from The History of Middle Earth series "He knew now why Beregond spoke his name with love. He was a captain that men would follow, that he would follow, even under the shadow of the black wings."- Siege of Gondor, RotK

Ethel Duath Half-elven Feb 16, 4:25pm Views: 3537 Looks like Tom has the most votes, but I'll make a post soon in the RR to ask again.

elentari3018 Rohan Feb 19, 2:48am Views: 40684 Thanks mellon nin!   "By Elbereth and Luthien the fair, you shall have neither the Ring nor me!" ~Frodo "And then Gandalf arose and bid all men rise, and they rose, and he said: 'Here is a last hail ere the feast endeth. Last but not least. For I name now those who shall not be forgotten and without whose valour nought else that was done would have availed; and I name before you all Frodo of the Shire and Samwise his servant. And the bards and the minstrels should give them new names: Bronwe athan Harthad and Harthad Uluithiad , Endurance beyond Hope and Hope Unquenchable.." ~Gandalf, The End of the Third Age , from The History of Middle Earth series "He knew now why Beregond spoke his name with love. He was a captain that men would follow, that he would follow, even under the shadow of the black wings."- Siege of Gondor, RotK

elentari3018 Rohan Mar 17, 9:13pm Views: 39759 Did we ever talk about Beregond? He's forefront on my mind lately. It'll be cool to talk about him and his decisions and his role in the Ring war though he's a minor character. "By Elbereth and Luthien the fair, you shall have neither the Ring nor me!" ~Frodo "And then Gandalf arose and bid all men rise, and they rose, and he said: 'Here is a last hail ere the feast endeth. Last but not least. For I name now those who shall not be forgotten and without whose valour nought else that was done would have availed; and I name before you all Frodo of the Shire and Samwise his servant. And the bards and the minstrels should give them new names: Bronwe athan Harthad and Harthad Uluithiad , Endurance beyond Hope and Hope Unquenchable.." ~Gandalf, The End of the Third Age , from The History of Middle Earth series "He knew now why Beregond spoke his name with love. He was a captain that men would follow, that he would follow, even under the shadow of the black wings."- Siege of Gondor, RotK

CuriousG Half-elven Mar 21, 6:47pm Views: 39705 Beregond: my only reserevation is that we don't have much content to work with But that hasn't stopped us in the past. I'd be willing, I guess, but if I sound likewarm, I am. I like him but have trouble seeing what interesting tidbits we could extract from the text about thim.

elentari3018 Rohan Mar 22, 1:38am Views: 39098 It could be a short one like the one we did for Treebeard with points of his importance as related to Faramir and also what we can gather from Tolkien's point to include secondary characters that have a great impact. I wonder if Tolkien mentioned him much in his letters? : goes to look: "By Elbereth and Luthien the fair, you shall have neither the Ring nor me!" ~Frodo "And then Gandalf arose and bid all men rise, and they rose, and he said: 'Here is a last hail ere the feast endeth. Last but not least. For I name now those who shall not be forgotten and without whose valour nought else that was done would have availed; and I name before you all Frodo of the Shire and Samwise his servant. And the bards and the minstrels should give them new names: Bronwe athan Harthad and Harthad Uluithiad , Endurance beyond Hope and Hope Unquenchable.." ~Gandalf, The End of the Third Age , from The History of Middle Earth series "He knew now why Beregond spoke his name with love. He was a captain that men would follow, that he would follow, even under the shadow of the black wings."- Siege of Gondor, RotK