Archive for the ‘Barliman News’ 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 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 14, 2013 at 6:56 pm by Demosthenes
Throughout the War of the Ring there were several turning points, but among the most crucial to the downfall of Sauron was the battle of Helm’s Deep and the defeat of Saruman’s forces.
This Saturday, (July 15 at 6pm EDT (New York time)) the Hall of Fire crew invite you to join us as we discuss the downfall of Saruman, the wizard who would become the Lord of the Ring.
‘Welcome, my lords, to Isengard!’ he said. ‘We are the doorwardens. Meriadoc, son of Saradoc is my name; and my companion, who, alas! is overcome with weariness’ – here he gave the other a dig with his foot – ‘is Peregrin, son of Paladin, of the house of Took. Far in the North is our home. The Lord Saruman is within; but at the moment he is closeted with one Wormtongue, or doubtless he would be here to welcome such honourable guests.’ (more…)
Posted in Barliman News, Barlimans, Hall of Fire
June 9, 2013 at 7:24 am by Demosthenes
So, you’ve probably seen and heard Ian Walters’ hilarious filk Gollum-style parody of the Taylor Swift hit I Knew You Were Trouble. If you haven’t go here — it’s superb.
Then I began thinking about Tauriel… and Kili. And those rumours. So, of course, having too much time on my hands and an over-active mind, I started toying with some concepts to see if something might fit the rhyming structure.
Turns out, it kinda does. I call it I thought hot dwarf, and … well … enjoy … or something. Oh, and mad props to TORn Barlichatter Elanesse for the moral support and extra ideas. (more…)
Posted in Barliman News, Fans, Fool
June 7, 2013 at 10:13 pm by Demosthenes
Earlier this week, the Hobbit production crew released the first official still (if you missed it, head here) of the Silvan elf and captain of Thranduil’s guards, Tauriel.
So, this Saturday at 6pm EDT New York time Hall of Fire will be dedicating an entire, and probably spoiler-filled, session to exploring this new character that Jackson, Boyens and Walsh are introducing into their adaptation of The Hobbit. Warning: character and plot spoilers follow below! (more…)
Posted in Aidan Turner, Barliman News, Barlimans, Evangeline Lilly, Hall of Fire, Hobbit Movie
June 1, 2013 at 8:47 am by Demosthenes
We resume our Two Towers chats a little later today in Hall of Fire and examine the clash of the mustered forces Rohan and the orc and Dunlendish legions of Saruman at Helm’s Deep.
Suddenly the clouds were seared by a blinding flash. Branched lightning smote down upon the eastward hills. For a staring moment the watchers on the walls saw all the space between them and the Dike lit with white light: it was boiling and crawling with black shapes. The Two Towers Bk III, Ch VII. (more…)
Posted in Barliman News, Barlimans, Hall of Fire
May 23, 2013 at 7:33 am by Demosthenes
Few Numenorean heroes have a more remarkable history – or a more ambiguous persona.
He was capable of great deeds – at great cost to himself he saved the seed of the White Tree from under the nose of Sauron and bore it to Middle Earth.
Sauron hated him above all other men and elves, and even after Isildur was long dead, poured all his malice and hatred into the destruction and corruption of Minas Ithil – Isildur’s city. (more…)
Posted in Barliman News, Barlimans, Hall of Fire
