The Original Plan for the Fellowship? - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Lotrelf · 06-25-2014, 08:37 PM

I think they all had faith. Strong faith. Valar had "plan", and probably Gandalf was aware of it to some degree. As for the start Fellowship remaining together, no was bound to the quest. No catastrophe was going to take place. And I cannot not think Gandalf was planning to enter Mordor. As Inzil said he could be spotted by Sauron and his minions. I don't think Gandalf was going to risk that(it would have turned out to be Sauron's victory). According to Gandalf the whole quest of destruction of the Ring thing was a 'fool's hope'. They all believed in "[doing] something is better than [doing] nothing." So they tried to do their best having faith in the higher power. Also, things "by chance" turned out to be right. It was all about a plan but of Higher Authority. :3

Galadriel55 · 06-25-2014, 09:03 PM

I think Gandalf had no fixed plan on purpose. If you make a plan from the outset, you tend to try to stick to it even though circumstances change, and the result might not be the best. So some bits, like Moria (and, had Gandalf lived to see the day, Parth Galen, and Henneth Annun, and the Crossings, and etc), had to be decided on the spot.

Gandalf made sure he knew his options. That's what the scouts from Rivendell were for. He knew which ways were open and which were not.

Some parts, like the getting-into-Mordor part, he had no solution for, so he could not have made a plan at that time, or really at any time. He probably thought to worry about those mountains when he got to them. He would have to think of it on the spot. And sometimes it's not that bad of an idea - once you see something firsthand you can try things and do things and see potential solutions, something you can't accomplish from a distance.

Mostly, though, I think his goal was to keep the "plan" as flexible as it could be. Like none of the Fellowship bound themselves to the Quest with oaths, Gandalf did not bind the Quest to a plan, since no one knows where it would lead.

cellurdur · 06-26-2014, 04:18 PM

Hard to say, because as quoted not even Aragorn was sure what the plan would be. Personally I think that the Fellowship would have eventually have split up. Aragorn and Boromir, possibly with the other Hobbits would have gone to Minas Tirith. Sam and Frodo would have gone together most likely with Gandalf, but it's hard to know. Legolas and Gimli are complete wildcards and could fit in with either party. I don't think Gandalf would want to bring the ring to where Denethor was, more so when he brought the Heir of Isildur with it.

06-25-2014, 08:37 PM	#1
Lotrelf Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: Mar 2014 Posts: 265	I think they all had faith. Strong faith. Valar had "plan", and probably Gandalf was aware of it to some degree. As for the start Fellowship remaining together, no was bound to the quest. No catastrophe was going to take place. And I cannot not think Gandalf was planning to enter Mordor. As Inzil said he could be spotted by Sauron and his minions. I don't think Gandalf was going to risk that(it would have turned out to be Sauron's victory). According to Gandalf the whole quest of destruction of the Ring thing was a 'fool's hope'. They all believed in "[doing] something is better than [doing] nothing." So they tried to do their best having faith in the higher power. Also, things "by chance" turned out to be right. It was all about a plan but of Higher Authority. :3 __________________ A short saying oft contains much wisdom. ~Sophocles

06-25-2014, 09:03 PM	#2
Galadriel55 Blossom of Dwimordene Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: The realm of forgotten words Posts: 10,490	I think Gandalf had no fixed plan on purpose. If you make a plan from the outset, you tend to try to stick to it even though circumstances change, and the result might not be the best. So some bits, like Moria (and, had Gandalf lived to see the day, Parth Galen, and Henneth Annun, and the Crossings, and etc), had to be decided on the spot. Gandalf made sure he knew his options. That's what the scouts from Rivendell were for. He knew which ways were open and which were not. Some parts, like the getting-into-Mordor part, he had no solution for, so he could not have made a plan at that time, or really at any time. He probably thought to worry about those mountains when he got to them. He would have to think of it on the spot. And sometimes it's not that bad of an idea - once you see something firsthand you can try things and do things and see potential solutions, something you can't accomplish from a distance. Mostly, though, I think his goal was to keep the "plan" as flexible as it could be. Like none of the Fellowship bound themselves to the Quest with oaths, Gandalf did not bind the Quest to a plan, since no one knows where it would lead. __________________ You passed from under darkened dome, you enter now the secret land. - Take me to Finrod's fabled home!... ~ Finrod: The Rock Opera

06-26-2014, 04:18 PM	#3
cellurdur Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: Dec 2012 Posts: 276	Hard to say, because as quoted not even Aragorn was sure what the plan would be. Personally I think that the Fellowship would have eventually have split up. Aragorn and Boromir, possibly with the other Hobbits would have gone to Minas Tirith. Sam and Frodo would have gone together most likely with Gandalf, but it's hard to know. Legolas and Gimli are complete wildcards and could fit in with either party. I don't think Gandalf would want to bring the ring to where Denethor was, more so when he brought the Heir of Isildur with it.