LotR -- Book 1 - Chapter 11 - A Knife in the Dark
The beginning of this chapter takes us back to Crickhollow and Fatty Bolger. Three of the Black Riders attempt to capture the hobbits there, but the Horn-call of Buckland sounds alarm and the Ringwraiths ride away.
Most of the chapter concerns the hobbits’ journey from Bree to Weathertop, with Strider acting as guide and protector. In the last chapter, we got to know Aragorn by conversation and Gandalf’s letter; here we get to know him by his actions. He starts by saving the lives of the hobbits in the Inn, since he was the one who kept them from being in their rooms when the Wraiths attacked (well-coordinated with the attack at Crickhollow, apparently). Then he leads them into and through the unknown woods and marshes, finally defending them against the direct attack of the Nazgul at Weathertop.
There are two poems, the Gil-galad poem, translated by Bilbo and recited by Sam; and the Tinúviel poem, sung by Strider. Aragorn also gives us readers a glimpse of the greater ancient history of Middle-earth with his tales.
The chapter ends with Frodo succumbing to the temptation to put on the ring and being injured by the Witch-King, yet calling out to Elbereth and removing the ring in the final lines.
There are some nice humorous lines in these passages, such as “Waste of a good apple” and “What do they live on when they can’t get hobbit?”, but my personal favorite is about the fate of the ponies that had disappeared: “They missed a dark and dangerous journey. But they never came to Rivendell.” How poignant!
Which parts do you find most interesting, amusing, and/or thought-provoking? What makes this chapter special and important?
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'Mercy!' cried Gandalf. 'If the giving of information is to be the cure of your inquisitiveness, I shall spend all the rest of my days in answering you. What more do you want to know?' 'The whole history of Middle-earth.. .'
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