Question Concerning Shelob - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

01-18-2004, 09:56 PM

About the second or third time watching RotK in theaters I noticed something that has been puzzling me. When Shelob finally corners Frodo and stabs him, isn't Frodo wearing his mithril coat? How does Shelob get through it? (another thing, spiders don't "sting" people like bees, do they?) In case you're thinking that Shelob stabbed Frodo <I>above</I> the mithril, when Sam rescues Frodo, on the shoulder not sporting the wound from the morgul blade, there is a yellow-ish wound, which is from Shelob, that would clearly have been covered by the mithril, the wound being below the shoulder. So anyway, I was just wondering if anyone has an explanation or if I'm just hallucinating.

Grimkû the Blood-Axe · 01-19-2004, 06:34 AM

One of the worlds greatest mysteries to me aswell buddy. Maybe overlooked by JRR or someone.

Gil-Galad · 01-19-2004, 07:55 AM

Shelobs stinger is pointed right? so maybe it was small enough to get trhough the holes then just widen around it, or maybe it went through the hole where the cave troll left a little hole...

Finwe · 01-19-2004, 08:12 AM

Nope. The cave troll "stabbed" Frodo on his other side, definitely not anywhere near his shoulder. I think that Shelob might have gotten some part of the stinger through the mithril. If you have a point that can fit partially through the chain mail, and if you apply enough pressure, you can cause a rather nasty-looking wound, possibly even like the one that Frodo had.<P>There's another thread on this subject, in this same Forum, called "Branded in the Tower of Cirith Ungol."<p>[ 10:05 AM January 20, 2004: Message edited by: Estelyn Telcontar ]

01-18-2004, 09:56 PM	#1
Lilotelasserie Guest Posts: n/a	Question Concerning Shelob About the second or third time watching RotK in theaters I noticed something that has been puzzling me. When Shelob finally corners Frodo and stabs him, isn't Frodo wearing his mithril coat? How does Shelob get through it? (another thing, spiders don't "sting" people like bees, do they?) In case you're thinking that Shelob stabbed Frodo <I>above</I> the mithril, when Sam rescues Frodo, on the shoulder not sporting the wound from the morgul blade, there is a yellow-ish wound, which is from Shelob, that would clearly have been covered by the mithril, the wound being below the shoulder. So anyway, I was just wondering if anyone has an explanation or if I'm just hallucinating.

01-19-2004, 06:34 AM	#2
Grimkû the Blood-Axe Animated Skeleton Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Australia Posts: 28	One of the worlds greatest mysteries to me aswell buddy. Maybe overlooked by JRR or someone. __________________ The end comes, drums, drums in the deep...they are coming. Grimkû the Blood-Axe - Talented Ringwraith.

01-19-2004, 07:55 AM	#3
Gil-Galad Psyche of Prince Immortal Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Above a Parapet Obvious exits are: North, South, and Dennis Posts: 4,733	Shelobs stinger is pointed right? so maybe it was small enough to get trhough the holes then just widen around it, or maybe it went through the hole where the cave troll left a little hole... __________________ Love doesn't blow up and get killed.

01-19-2004, 08:12 AM	#4
Finwe Deathless Sun Join Date: May 2003 Location: The Royal Suite in the Halls of Mandos Posts: 2,609	Nope. The cave troll "stabbed" Frodo on his other side, definitely not anywhere near his shoulder. I think that Shelob might have gotten some part of the stinger through the mithril. If you have a point that can fit partially through the chain mail, and if you apply enough pressure, you can cause a rather nasty-looking wound, possibly even like the one that Frodo had.<P>There's another thread on this subject, in this same Forum, called "Branded in the Tower of Cirith Ungol."<p>[ 10:05 AM January 20, 2004: Message edited by: Estelyn Telcontar ] __________________ But Melkor also was there, and he came to the house of Fëanor, and there he slew Finwë King of the Noldor before his doors, and spilled the first blood in the Blessed Realm; for Finwë alone had not fled from the horror of the Dark.