The Hobbit - Chapter 02 - Roast Mutton - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Estelyn Telcontar · 03-13-2006, 01:56 PM

Tolkien's own artwork on this chapter may or may not be identical with your own images; what do you think of his drawing?

Kath · 03-13-2006, 04:57 PM

Ah I have that one. I love the smoke from the fire curling upwards like that, and the shadows of the trolls in the trees.

To be honest though I sit and stare at pictures like that and just jealousy wish I could draw half so well

JennyHallu · 03-14-2006, 10:03 AM

I like the picture, but I never really thought the picture showed the trolls as any sort of threat. They are large, grotesque...they would barely be able to fit in the spaces between the trees to chase Bilbo and the Dwarves, were their confrontation to come to that. It makes me wonder if the Dwarves, in order to get captured, had cheerfully walked into the bags themselves (singing a Disneyesque "Heigh Ho" while little birds and forest animals frolicked around them).

davem · 03-20-2006, 05:15 PM

Gandalf's Wand!

This is one of the few (the only?) pictures of Gandalf 'in action' by Tolkien.

Its not too easy to make out here, but he seems to have a wand, as opposed to a staff, going by the way he's holding the thing. He's clearly grasping it by the end, & its simply not long enough to be a staff. Yet its clearly stated in Ch1 of TH that Gandalf had a staff.

Does this illustration show the 'official' method of using a staff? Did Gandalf also have a wand concealed under his cloak, or did Tolkien just forget himself for a moment?

The other interesting question is what exactly Gandalf is using the wand/staff for at that point? Is he 'helping' the effect of the sun on the trolls, is he showing Arien exactly where the trolls are, so she can focus her powers on them, or what?

What we seem to have is the only illustration of Gandalf doing magic, at a time when he doesn't actually need to do anything at all....

(I particularly like the 'Doh!!!' look on the middle troll's face, btw)

Estelyn Telcontar · 03-21-2006, 03:35 AM

Could you please provide a link address/URL for that picture, davem? The site doesn't allow hotlinking, so we can't see it.

davem · 03-21-2006, 07:28 AM

This should work http://www.tolkienist.de/bilder/bild...ls_cd_jrrt.jpg

JennyHallu · 03-21-2006, 07:56 AM

The trolls don't seem to be wearing any clothes, either, which would make picking their pockets an even less enjoyable experience. Did Tolkien make his illustrations before or after he wrote the chapter?

deal_with_it · 03-30-2006, 04:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JennyHallu

I like the picture, but I never really thought the picture showed the trolls as any sort of threat. They are large, grotesque...they would barely be able to fit in the spaces between the trees to chase Bilbo and the Dwarves, were their confrontation to come to that. It makes me wonder if the Dwarves, in order to get captured, had cheerfully walked into the bags themselves (singing a Disneyesque "Heigh Ho" while little birds and forest animals frolicked around them).

I was slightly disappointed in the Dwarves in the Hobbit. The typical Dwarf we've all come to know and love goes down fighting with a curse on his breath. These dwarves were pretty wimpy and and inexperiencd thief with a magic ring had to keep saving them. Kinda sad. I mean 13 dwarves. Hand em some weapons and chain mail and that would be an awesome front line to have in any AD&D party. But these guys...wow. Good thing they had the chubby thief with no adventuring experience along. lol

03-13-2006, 01:56 PM	#1
Estelyn Telcontar Princess of Skwerlz Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: where the Sea is eastwards (WtR: 6060 miles) Posts: 7,500	Tolkien's own artwork on this chapter may or may not be identical with your own images; what do you think of his drawing? __________________ '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...'

03-13-2006, 04:57 PM	#2
Kath Everlasting Whiteness Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Perusing the laminated book of dreams Posts: 4,533	Ah I have that one. I love the smoke from the fire curling upwards like that, and the shadows of the trolls in the trees. To be honest though I sit and stare at pictures like that and just jealousy wish I could draw half so well __________________ “If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world.”

03-14-2006, 10:03 AM	#3
JennyHallu The Pearl, The Lily Maid Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: In my luxury Barrow, snuggled up in a pile of satin pillows, eating fresh fruit. Posts: 1,628	I like the picture, but I never really thought the picture showed the trolls as any sort of threat. They are large, grotesque...they would barely be able to fit in the spaces between the trees to chase Bilbo and the Dwarves, were their confrontation to come to that. It makes me wonder if the Dwarves, in order to get captured, had cheerfully walked into the bags themselves (singing a Disneyesque "Heigh Ho" while little birds and forest animals frolicked around them). __________________ <=== Lookee, lookee, lots of IM handles!

03-20-2006, 05:15 PM	#4
davem Illustrious Ulair Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: In the home of lost causes, and forsaken beliefs, and unpopular names,and impossible loyalties Posts: 4,240	Gandalf's Wand! This is one of the few (the only?) pictures of Gandalf 'in action' by Tolkien. Its not too easy to make out here, but he seems to have a wand, as opposed to a staff, going by the way he's holding the thing. He's clearly grasping it by the end, & its simply not long enough to be a staff. Yet its clearly stated in Ch1 of TH that Gandalf had a staff. Does this illustration show the 'official' method of using a staff? Did Gandalf also have a wand concealed under his cloak, or did Tolkien just forget himself for a moment? The other interesting question is what exactly Gandalf is using the wand/staff for at that point? Is he 'helping' the effect of the sun on the trolls, is he showing Arien exactly where the trolls are, so she can focus her powers on them, or what? What we seem to have is the only illustration of Gandalf doing magic, at a time when he doesn't actually need to do anything at all.... (I particularly like the 'Doh!!!' look on the middle troll's face, btw) __________________ “Everything was an object. If you killed a dwarf you could use it as a weapon – it was no different to other large heavy objects." Last edited by davem; 03-20-2006 at 05:19 PM.

03-21-2006, 03:35 AM	#5
Estelyn Telcontar Princess of Skwerlz Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: where the Sea is eastwards (WtR: 6060 miles) Posts: 7,500	Could you please provide a link address/URL for that picture, davem? The site doesn't allow hotlinking, so we can't see it. __________________ '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...'

03-21-2006, 07:28 AM	#6
davem Illustrious Ulair Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: In the home of lost causes, and forsaken beliefs, and unpopular names,and impossible loyalties Posts: 4,240	This should work http://www.tolkienist.de/bilder/bild...ls_cd_jrrt.jpg __________________ “Everything was an object. If you killed a dwarf you could use it as a weapon – it was no different to other large heavy objects."

03-21-2006, 07:56 AM	#7
JennyHallu The Pearl, The Lily Maid Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: In my luxury Barrow, snuggled up in a pile of satin pillows, eating fresh fruit. Posts: 1,628	The trolls don't seem to be wearing any clothes, either, which would make picking their pockets an even less enjoyable experience. Did Tolkien make his illustrations before or after he wrote the chapter? __________________ <=== Lookee, lookee, lots of IM handles!