April 14, 2017 (April 13, 3018)

The Shadow of the Past

Shire Reckoning: Astron 13, 1419

Pages To Read:
-FR.Shadow “next morning after a late breakfast” (~p.5) – (end)

Music:
– Christopher Lee reading the ring lore poem. Highly recommended to play as you read the section, makes it pretty dramatic.

Events:
– Gandalf and Frodo discuss the origin of the rings of power, of which the ring passed to Frodo by Bilbo is the greatest. (illustration by Donato Giancola)
– By throwing the Ring in the fire, Gandalf reveals the secret inscription which confirms it as the One Ring. (drawing of the Elvish lettering)
– Gandalf gives Frodo an extended account the history of the Ring, focusing on its time in Gollum’s care.
– After a long day of talk, Gandalf concludes by saying the Ring must be destroyed by throwing it back into the Cracks of Doom in Mordor (illustration by erzsebet-beast)
– Frodo bravely volunteers to leave the Shire with the Ring to keep it safe, surprising both Gandalf and himself.
– Finally, Gandalf catches Sam Gamgee eavesdropping and tells him that he will accompany Frodo, to which Sam responds ‘Hooray!’ … and bursts into tears. (Hilarious illustration by Robert Chronister)

Quotes:
– “‘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.'”
– “‘He deserves death.’ ‘Deserves it! I daresay he does. Many that live deserve death. And some that die deserve life. Can you give it to them? Then do not be too eager to deal out death in judgement. For even the very wise cannot see all ends.'”
– Finally, my favorite awesome quote from this quote-heavy chapter, especially because it’s the payoff for that incredible moment in the Hobbit:
– “‘My heart tells me that [Gollum] has some part to play yet, for good or ill, before the end; and when that comes, the pity of Bilbo may rule the fate of many – yours not least.'”

Details:
– We learn a lot of interesting details about rings of power today – why they make their users invisible (eventually permanently), what happened to all the rings described in the poem, why the One Ring cannot be hidden, etc. Very interesting is that Bilbo was able to survive the influence of the Ring for so long because he took it from Gollum in a nonviolent manner.
– There is quite a bit of detail given about Gollum here, it is no mystery to Frodo who Gollum is and why he is after the Ring. Also I kinda want to know more about Gollum’s cool grandmother.
– The fact that Sam bursts into tears when he learns he’s going to see elves is just adorable.

Notes: Lots of famous quotes and important information today. Won’t be a reading for a while, just some art and such. That leaves plenty of time to catch up if you are behind. Just be done with Chapter 2 by May 1st and you’ll be good 🙂 ~Tom