Archive for the ‘Hall of Fire’ Category
August 10, 2013 at 3:57 am by Demosthenes
This weekend in the Hall of Fire, we will be discussing one of the great (and tragic) stories of Tolkien’s Legendarium, Akallabêth: The Downfall of Numenor.
A land was made for the Edain to dwell in, neither part of Middle-earth nor of Valinor, for it was sundered from either by a wide sea; yet it was nearer to Valinor. It was raised by Ossë out of the depths of the Great Water, and it was established by Aulë and enriched by Yavanna; and the Eldar brought thither flowers and fountains out of Tol Eressëa. Akallbeth, The Silmarillion.
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Posted in Barliman News, Barlimans, Hall of Fire
August 2, 2013 at 4:43 am by Demosthenes
This weekend in the Hall of Fire, we’ll be chatting about the final chapter of Book III of The Two Towers.
‘Go to sleep!’ said Merry. ‘You’ll get information enough, sooner or later. My dear Pippin, no Took ever beat a Brandybuck for inquisitiveness; but is this the time, I ask you?’ (more…)
Posted in Barliman News, Barlimans, Hall of Fire
July 27, 2013 at 9:50 am by Demosthenes
Last weekend in Hall of Fire we discussed the hero and the heroic in Lord of the Rings. The topic proved quite popular for everyone, so by request this weekend we’ll be honing in a little more to examine heroism among the Fellowship itself.
‘I wish it need not have happened in my time,’ said Frodo.
‘So do I,’ said Gandalf, ‘and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given, us. A Shadow of the Past, The Lord of the Rings.
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Posted in Barliman News, Barlimans, Hall of Fire
July 19, 2013 at 11:26 pm by Demosthenes
This weekend, Hall of Fire we’ll be exploring the hero, and the heroic, in the Lord of the Rings.
I think the simple ‘rustic’ love of Sam and his Rosie (nowhere elaborated) is absolutely essential to the study of his (the chief hero’s) character, and to the theme of the relation of ordinary life (breathing, eating, working, begetting) and quests, sacrifice, causes, and the ‘longing for Elves’, and sheer beauty. Letter #131, Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien.
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Posted in Barliman News, Barlimans, Hall of Fire
July 13, 2013 at 9:28 am by Demosthenes
Last weekend in the Hall of Fire, bouncing off Gandalf’s famous “For I also am a steward” rejoinder to Denethor, we discussed exactly what made a steward in Middle-earth. For those who couldn’t attend, here’s a log.
And remember, tomorrow (July 13 at 6pm EDT (New York time)) we’ll be discussing the next chapter of The Two Towers: The Voice of Saruman. (more…)
Posted in Barlimans, Green Books, Hall of Fire, Hobbit Book, Lord of the Rings, LotR Books, The Hobbit, The Two Towers
July 12, 2013 at 10:23 pm by Demosthenes
A couple of weekends back in the Hall of Fire, we discussed the events of the Two Towers chapter Flotsam and Jetsam, and the reunion of five of the Fellowship’s members. For those who couldn’t attend, here’s a log.
And remember, tomorrow (July 13 at 6pm EDT (New York time)) we’ll be discussing the next chapter: The Voice of Saruman. (more…)
Posted in Barlimans, Green Books, Hall of Fire, Lord of the Rings, LotR Books, The Two Towers
July 12, 2013 at 7:54 pm by Demosthenes
This weekend, Hall of Fire returns to The Lord of the Rings as we continue our chapter discussions of The Two Towers and journey with Gandalf, Aragorn, Theoden and his riders to the very door of Orthanc.
‘I am not Gandalf the Grey, whom you betrayed. I am Gandalf the White, who has returned from death. You have no colour now, and I cast you from the order and from the Council.’ He raised his hand and spoke slowly in a clear cold voice. ‘Saruman, your staff is broken.’ There was a crack and the staff split asunder in Saruman’s hand, and the head of it fell down at Gandalf’s feet.
Book III, Chapter X: The Voice of Saruman (more…)
Posted in Barliman News, Barlimans, Hall of Fire
July 5, 2013 at 8:25 pm by Demosthenes
This weekend, Hall of Fire will focus on the stewards of Middle-earth.
“…the rule of no realm is mine, neither of Gondor nor any other, great or small. But all worthy things that are in peril as the world now stands, those are my care. And for my part, I shall not wholly fail of my task, though Gondor should perish, if anything passes through this night that can still grow fair or bear fruit and flower again in days to come. For I also am a steward. Did you not know?”
Gandalf, The Lord of the Rings.
Stewards of Middle-earth. Who? What? Why? (more…)
Posted in Barliman News, Barlimans, Hall of Fire
June 28, 2013 at 9:49 pm by Demosthenes
This weekend, Hall of Fire returns to The Lord of the Rings as we continue our chapter discussions of The Two Towers.
Throughout the first half of The Two Towers, Tolkien weaves together two threads of narrative. On one hand we have Aragorn, Gimli and Legolas and their efforts to find the hobbits, and then to assist the Rohirrim. On the other, Merry and Pippin’s captivity among the Uruk-hai, their escape and their burgeoning friendship with the Ents of Fangorn.
Flotsam and Jetsam finally reunites the two groups and reveals what happened after the Ents marched on Isengard. (more…)
Posted in Barliman News, Barlimans, Hall of Fire
June 28, 2013 at 9:28 am by Demosthenes
A couple of weekends ago, we delved into the aftermath of the battle of Helm’s Deep and joined Gandalf, Legolas, Gimli and Aragorn on the short, but interesting, The Road to Isengard.
For those who couldn’t attend, here’s a log. Plus, as a reminder: this weekend (Saturday June 29 at 6pm EDT) the Hall of Fire topic is the next chapter of The Two Towers: Book III Chapter IX – Flotsam and Jetsam. See you then! (more…)
Posted in Barlimans, Green Books, Hall of Fire, J.R.R. Tolkien, Lord of the Rings, LotR Books, The Two Towers, Tolkien
June 22, 2013 at 2:59 am by Demosthenes
A couple of weekends ago, we dedicated an entire, spoiler-filled session to exploring the new character Tauriel, the Silvan captain of guards that Jackson, Boyens and Walsh are introducing into their adaptation of The Hobbit. .
For those who couldn’t attend, here’s a log. And a reminder: tomorrow (Saturday June 22 at 6pm EDT) we’ll be discussing the Desolation of Smaug trailer. (more…)
Posted in Aidan Turner, Barlimans, Evangeline Lilly, Green Books, Hall of Fire, Hobbit Movie, J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, Tolkien
June 15, 2013 at 4:28 am by Demosthenes
A couple of weekends ago, we dived into the big battle of The Two Towers as we discussed Helm’s Deep (Book III, Chapter VII) in Hall of Fire.
For those who couldn’t attend, here’s a log. And a reminder: tomorrow (Saturday June 15 at 6pm EDT) we’ll be moving onto the next chapter as we examine the events of The Road to Isengard. (more…)
Posted in Barlimans, Green Books, Hall of Fire, J.R.R. Tolkien, Lord of the Rings, LotR Books, The Two Towers, Tolkien
