Sunday, November 13, 2011

Read-along: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King: Week One

This past week began the read-along of the last book in The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King. This read-along is hosted by the Little Red Reviewer and Geeky Daddy.

I was running a bit behind (still had to finish The Two Towers!), but I'm all caught up. If you've read the books or seen the movies, feel free to jump in the discussions! Please be aware that there are spoilers for those who have not yet experienced LOTR.

Here are some other discussions to check out:
The Little Red Reviewer
Blue Fairy’s Bookshelf
Geeky Daddy
Lynn’s Book Blog
Polishing Mud Balls

This week's questions come from Clint at Geeky Daddy.

1.With the company that went with Aragorn through the Paths of Death. Would you have volunteered knowing it may be curse and ghosts haunting the paths?

I think if I made it that far on the journey, there would be no turning back. 

'I will go with you even on the Paths of the Dead, and to whatever end they may lead,' said Gimli.

2.What were your thoughts of Merry and Pippin in the preparation to the Battle of Gondor. It seemed that each ruler just thought that each hobbit could not be a contribution to the battle.  

Merry and Pippin - being small and unworldly - were more humored than taken seriously. I've had instances in my past - being young and female - where I had to prove my worth in a way those around me did not. I can appreciate Merry and Pippin holding their ground and coming out as important contributors.

3.Did you think that the preparations to the Battle sparked your interest and all or did you find that the flow was bogged down a bit?

I rushed through this in order to catch up, so I may have escaped some of the "bog down". :)

4. I thought that it was great that both Eowyn and Merry made it to the Battlefield. Yet against orders of the King and made a huge contributions. What did you think both of them doing this and would you have done this if it was you?

I immediately want to say "yes" I would have done it, but that's probably because I keep putting myself into the journey and into the roles of these characters. I'm loving Eowyn defying her role and heading out to battle alongside Merry.

5. What do you think of Denethor's rash decision to send Faramir to hold Western Osgiliath against the hosts of the Enemy that outnumbered their own greatly?

I do not enjoy Denethor. He does give me more insight into Boromir, though. Not only did Boromir want the ring to protect his people, he may have needed it to not be a shame to his father. Poor Faramir! Gah. He seems to already be a shame, and he still does as his father pleases.

Jennifer

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4 comments:

  1. I think you make a good comment about Denethor's behaviour giving you more of an insight into Boromir's. I hadn't really considered that but I guess he was also trying to live up to his father's expectations.
    Thanks
    Lynn :D

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  2. "I've had instances in my past - being young and female - where I had to prove my worth in a way those around me did not."

    ahh, yup. been there done that. never much fun.

    Denethor seems to be the character that's getting the most discussion, because no one likes him! He put both of his children in horrible positions, that they only way they can gain their fathers love is to do some terrible. What a jerk!

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  3. Marry, Pippin and Eowyn all doing important deeds, despite not being expected to, is a great way of Tolkien sending the message out that everyone's actions mater, that everyone is capable of greatness.
    I'm with you on Denethor and his sons, their relationship is dysfunctional and Faramir gets the worst out of it.

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  4. I like the way that Tolkien has the smaller characters to come through at the right moments and is more beneficial to the War of Middle Earth.

    I totally agree with your thoughts of Denethor. What a jack wagon!

    ReplyDelete

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