Ithilien is the new battleground between the forces of Sauron and those of Gondor, and Frodo, Sam and Gollum soon find themselves enmeshed in greater events.
Book IV, Chpater 4: Of Herbs and Stewed Rabbit
Sam decides stewed rabbit is in order for dinner, and convinces Gollum to help out. Later, Gollum, less than happy about the idea of a fire, stalks off and disappears. His warnings prove correct, and Frodo and Sam are captured by none other than Faramir, brother of Boromir.
Faramir’s questioning is only interrupted by impending battle, but what do these Men of Gondor intend?
Join us this weekend for what should be a great discussion as the countdown to The Two Towers continues! And don’t forget your Oliphaunts!
Upcoming topics:
Oct 12&13 Two Towers trailer discussion
Oct 19&20 TTT Ch 5 The Window on the West
Oct 26&27 TTT Ch 6 The Forbidden Pool
Place: #thehalloffire on theonering.net server; come to theonering.net’s chat room Barliman’s and then type /join #thehalloffire .
Saturday Chat: 5:30 pm ET (17:30) [also 11:30 pm (23:30) CET and 7:30 am Sunday (07:30) AET]
Sunday Chat: 7:00 pm (19:00) CET [also 1:00 pm (13:00) ET and 4:00 am (04:00) Monday morning AET]
ET = Eastern Time, USA’s East Coast CET = Central European Time, Central Europe
Got a topic you think is worthy of discussion? E-mail the HoF team at halloffire@theonering.net
After many days on the road to Mordor, Frodo and Sam finally reach a crucial checkpoint on their journey to destroy the One Ring; Morannon, the Black Gate of Mordor. Striving to reach the mighty entrance to the land of Mordor, the hobbits come to realise on arrival that an alternative entrance to Mordor is vital to their success … and it turns out that Gollum knows of such a place. This weekend, the Hall of Fire crew invite you to join us as we discuss
Book IV, Chapter 3 – The Black Gate is Closed
‘The Black Gate is Closed’ sets in motion the hobbits journey towards Cirith Ungol, the home of Shelob, and also gives us a better idea of how the armies of Sauron assemble themselves in anticipation for his final assault on the forces of good in Middle-earth. Also the conflict in Gollum between Slinker and Stinker is once again a major presence as he becomes clearly torn between telling Frodo the truth and telling him lies. This weekend, join us for what should be a great debate as the countdown to The Two Towers continues!
Place: #thehalloffire on theonering.net server; come to theonering.net’s chat room Barliman’s and then type /join #thehalloffire .
Saturday Chat: 5:30 pm ET (17:30) [also 11:30 pm (23:30) CET and 7:30 am Sunday (07:30) AET]
Sunday Chat: 7:00 pm (19:00) CET [also 1:00 pm (13:00) ET and 4:00 am (04:00) Monday morning AET]
ET = Eastern Time, USA’s East Coast CET = Central European Time, Central Europe
It’s an intriguing question. Who is the hero in the Lord of the Rings? Who did Tolkien see as the hero? Is there more than one? What is it that characters such as Frodo, Aragorn, Sam and even Gollum do that make us regard them as heroes (or antiheroes)?
Is Gollum actually an antihero? What makes an antihero? Is rebellion against authority all that is required, or is antihero simply another word for exciting villain?
And what are the traits and acts which make a man or woman a hero? Is it military conquest? Sheer physical strength and courage such as Boromir exhibited? The ability to inspire and guide that Arathorn and Gandalf show? Are quieter, less flashy traits the most important ingredients in heroism? Traits such as steadfastness and loyalty to a seemingly impossible cause or task?
Join us this weekend for what is sure to be yet another lively debate.
Upcoming Topics: Sep 28 & 29 – TTT Book 4, Chap 3 – The Black Gate is closed
Place: #thehalloffire on theonering.net server; come to theonering.net’s chat room Barliman’s and then type /join #thehalloffire .
Saturday Chat: 5:30 pm ET (17:30) [also 11:30 pm (23:30) CET and 7:30 am Sunday (07:30) AET]
Sunday Chat: 7:00 pm (19:00) CET [also 1:00 pm (13:00) ET and 4:00 am (04:00) Monday morning AET]
ET = Eastern Time, USA’s East Coast CET = Central European Time, Central Europe
Do you have a topic you think would be worth discussing in hall of fire? E-mail us at halloffire@theonering.net
At the end of The Fellowshp of the Ring, the Fellowship are broken up into two perilous quests; the Three Hunters attempt to rescue Merry and Pippin from their captors, and Frodo and Sam on their original mission to journey into Mordor to destroy the One Ring. This weekend, the Hall of Fire crew invite you to discuss the opening chapter in the latter half of The Two Towers, as we join Frodo and Sam on the road to Mordor in:
Book IV, Chapter I – The Taming of Sméagol
For the most part throughout their journey, Frodo and Sam have found themselves being pursued by the creature nicknamed Gollum, the bearer of the One Ring before Bilbo happened upon it on an adventure of his own. However, the two hobbits never had the opportunity to speak to Gollum himself, always the stalker, slinking behind them and guided by his desire to onc eagain regain his precious. All that changed once Gollum fell into the trap laid for him, and was forced to assume the role of guide through the devastated lands around Mordor.
The Taming of Smeagol is a fascinating chapter, principally because it gives us a greater insight into the namesake of the chapter and the two conflicting guises that battle out in his tortured mind: Sméagol the slinker and Gollum the stinker. We also see a touchingly humane side to Frodo, who despite Sam’s advice treats Sméagol with civility rather than cruelty, remembering the conversation with Gandalf in the Mines of Moria over pity and justice. This is one of the more character-driven chapters in The Two Towers, and should be a great basis for discussion this weekend!
Place: Sep 14 & 15 – TTT Book 4, Chap 2 – The Passage of the Marshes Sep 21 & 22 – Hero & the Heroic in LoTR Sep 28 & 29 – TTT Book 4, Chap 3 – The Black Gate is closed
Place: #thehalloffire on theonering.net server; come to theonering.net’s chat room Barliman’s and then type /join #thehalloffire .
Saturday Chat: 5:30 pm ET (17:30) [also 11:30 pm (23:30) CET and 7:30 am Sunday (07:30) AET]
Sunday Chat: 7:00 pm (19:00) CET [also 1:00 pm (13:00) ET and 4:00 am (04:00) Monday morning AET]
ET = Eastern Time, USA’s East Coast CET = Central European Time, Central Europe
The Lord of the Rings is a book of undeniable quality, arguably one of the greatest books ever written and in recent years winner of the incredible accolade of ‘greatest book of the 20th century’. In comparison, The Hobbit has often been criticised for being a more childish and simplistic tale, some say fairly, some say not. This weekend, the Hall of Fire discusses whether The Hobbit is a worthy precursor to The Lord of the Rings.
Some claim that The Hobbit should not be judged in comparison to The Lord of the Rings but a singular piece of work in its own right. Originally, The Hobbit was conceived by J.R.R Tolkien as a story to tell his children at bedtime, and from that evolved into the story of an unintentional hero called Bilbo Baggins. The Hobbit is a different literary genre to The Lord of the Rings, written with no thought or intention on having a successor. Is it not unfair to view it as otherwise?
However, there are a number of people who hold a contrasting view to the above. The fact that The Hobbit was written as a children’s tale is irrelevant: as the predecessor to The Lord of the Rings it is highly unsatisfactory, a mediocre piece of writing, unworthy of being spoken in the same breath as The Lord of the Rings.
But which view do you share? The believe that The Hobbit is a more simplistic and idealistic tale that shares the innocent view of Bilbo Baggins as he steps out into the big, wild world? Or is it a piece of literature that pales in comparison to The Lord of the Rings, and falls short of its high standard. Whichever view you share, join us this weekend for what should be a fantastic debate!
Place: Sep 7 & 8 – TTT Book 4, Chap 1 – The Taming of Smeagol Sep 14 & 15 – TTT Book 4, Chap 2 – The Passage of the Marshes Sep 21 & 22 – Hero & the Heroic in LoTR Sep 28 & 29 – TTT Book 4, Chap 3 – The Black Gate is closed
Place: #thehalloffire on theonering.net server; come to theonering.net’s chat room Barliman’s and then type /join #thehalloffire .
Saturday Chat: 5:30 pm ET (17:30) [also 11:30 pm (23:30) CET and 7:30 am Sunday (07:30) AET]
Sunday Chat: 7:00 pm (19:00) CET [also 1:00 pm (13:00) ET and 4:00 am (04:00) Monday morning AET]
ET = Eastern Time, USA’s East Coast CET = Central European Time, Central Europe
Throughout the Lord of the Rings, there are many works of a mysterious, wonderous and, despite Tolkien’s dislike of the concept, magical nature; the Elven blades that light in the prescence of Orcs, the staffs of the Wizards, and most prominent of all the One Ring. This weekend, the Hall of Fire is host to a discussion on a chapter from the Two Towers based on another one of these amazing objects from the history of Middle-earth:
Book III, Chapter XI: The Palant’r
When Wormtongue throws a black orb out from Saruman’s chamber in Orthanc to the ground below, no-one pays heed to it save Pippin who becomes immeaditely interested by it. Later that night when Gandalf and the rest of the company rest on their way to Edoras, Pippin finds a way to take the orb from Gandalf’s grasp and finally gets a chance to peer into it’s dark depths. What he gazes upon within it however is something he would ever desire to see. Soon, it becomes clear what the nature of the orb is: a palant’r.
This chapter not only gives us great insight into the nature of the palant’r, a mysterious and powerful creation from times before the Third Age, but also highlights the strength and resolve of Hobbits. We also see Aragorn take one step closer to accepting his destiny as he receives the palant’r from Gandalf. Join us this weekend for what should be a great discussion!
Place: #thehalloffire on theonering.net server; come to theonering.net’s chat room Barliman’s and then type /join #thehalloffire .
Saturday Chat: 5:30 pm ET (17:30) [also 11:30 pm (23:30) CET and 7:30 am Sunday (07:30) AET]
Sunday Chat: 7:00 pm (19:00) CET [also 1:00 pm (13:00) ET and 4:00 am (04:00) Monday morning AET]
ET = Eastern Time, USA’s East Coast CET = Central European Time, Central Europe
