This weekend in The Hall of Fire we’ll return to our chapter-by-chapter discussion of the Hobbit with Chapter 9 — Barrels out of Bond.

Bilbo saw that the time had come to explain his idea, as far as he could; but he did not feel at all sure bow the dwarves would take it. His fears were quite justified, for they did not like it a bit, and started grumbling loudly in spite of their danger.

“We shall be bruised and battered to pieces, and drowned too, for certain!” they muttered. “We thought you had got some sensible notion, when you managed to get hold of the keys. This is a mad idea!”

The Hobbit Chapter 9: Barrels out of Bond

After nabbing Thorin, the Wood-elves capture the rest of the Company — except Bilbo. Bilbo secretly follows the elves as they take the dwarves to Thranduil’s underground realm.

Bilbo realises it’s up to him to save everyone — again. Wearing the ring constantly, he soon comes up with and carries out a daring escape plan.

But why doesn’t he give up and wander off home? What do we think of this risky plan? Inspired? Risky? Mad?

And what do we think of the behaviour of the dwarves and elves? Are the elves being dreadfully impolite and inhospitable? Or are the dwarves being too stiff-necked?

And with Bilbo wearing the ring almost constantly, why doesn’t it seem to affect him nearly as much as it does Frodo half a century or so later?

Join us this Saturday May 23 at 6pm EDT in #thehalloffire on irc.theonering.net when we’ll discuss these questions and many others as we look at Chapter 9 of ‘The Hobbit’ — Barrels out of Bond.

Upcoming discussion: Ralph Bakshi’s Lord of the Rings

Also, a quick advance notice of our upcoming chat topic for next weekend. The weekend of May 30/31, we’ll be having a special discussion about the Ralph Bakshi’s 1978 animated adaptation of The Lord of the Rings. Dust off your copy for a rewatch and join us then!

Bilbo-on-the-Barrel
Bilbo comes to the Huts of the Raft-elves by J.R.R. Tolkien

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