LotR -- Book 5 - Chapter 04 - The Siege of Gondor - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Formendacil · 03-02-2019, 12:23 PM

Four chapters into Book V, we're also more than half way through the page count: there's a parallel between the slow, almost burdensome pace of the early chapters and the torrid rush through the later chapters and the content of each section. "The Siege of Gondor" is the very nadir of hope in the narrative. Even Gandalf, though he goes around cheering the hearts of men during the siege and resists the Witch-king at the gates, is arguably at his most hopeless. We see this when he falters at the news that Frodo has gone to Cirith Ungol (of all places) with Gollum (of all guides). And perhaps we see it in his much previously-discussed treatment of Denethor.

The fact that we see things through Pippin's eyes always means we don't quite get a full view of things, but I almost wonder if Tolkien is pulling us a bit closer to our viewpoint than usual here. Everything is almost claustrophobic. Wherever knowledge might help us understand, it's hidden away. Thus we see Denethor snap from being proud but involved and rational to utterly bereft of hope. Obviously, the grievous injury to Faramir (another sapping of hope, since we, the readers, share the sentiment that he is the hope of Gondor's future) shakes him, but we are tellingly given the information that Denethor's change comes during the night AFTER Faramir has been brought back. Any elucidation regarding the Anor-Stone must wait till a similar chapter.

Likewise, the hope offered by Beregond defending Faramir (likened above to Sam defending Frodo) isn't actually shown here. Pippin rushes away, leaving Beregond with the dilemma of following orders or saving Faramir, but we don't actually see his choice. For all we know, as Pippin rushes off, Beregond is going to do the dutiful thing (one might say "the Gondorian thing" in a land ofnkess tradition...).

But the very last line is the eucatastrophe of Book V: Rohan has come in the nick of time.

03-02-2019, 12:23 PM	#39
Formendacil Dead Serious Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Perched on Thangorodrim's towers. Posts: 3,328	Four chapters into Book V, we're also more than half way through the page count: there's a parallel between the slow, almost burdensome pace of the early chapters and the torrid rush through the later chapters and the content of each section. "The Siege of Gondor" is the very nadir of hope in the narrative. Even Gandalf, though he goes around cheering the hearts of men during the siege and resists the Witch-king at the gates, is arguably at his most hopeless. We see this when he falters at the news that Frodo has gone to Cirith Ungol (of all places) with Gollum (of all guides). And perhaps we see it in his much previously-discussed treatment of Denethor. The fact that we see things through Pippin's eyes always means we don't quite get a full view of things, but I almost wonder if Tolkien is pulling us a bit closer to our viewpoint than usual here. Everything is almost claustrophobic. Wherever knowledge might help us understand, it's hidden away. Thus we see Denethor snap from being proud but involved and rational to utterly bereft of hope. Obviously, the grievous injury to Faramir (another sapping of hope, since we, the readers, share the sentiment that he is the hope of Gondor's future) shakes him, but we are tellingly given the information that Denethor's change comes during the night AFTER Faramir has been brought back. Any elucidation regarding the Anor-Stone must wait till a similar chapter. Likewise, the hope offered by Beregond defending Faramir (likened above to Sam defending Frodo) isn't actually shown here. Pippin rushes away, leaving Beregond with the dilemma of following orders or saving Faramir, but we don't actually see his choice. For all we know, as Pippin rushes off, Beregond is going to do the dutiful thing (one might say "the Gondorian thing" in a land ofnkess tradition...). But the very last line is the eucatastrophe of Book V: Rohan has come in the nick of time. __________________ I prefer history, true or feigned.