about the boats on Amon Hen - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

lathspell · 09-11-2002, 09:29 AM

If this has come up before, please tell me where the thread is, and this topic can be closed.

I'm reading the LotR (again) and noticed something when the Fellowship is on Amon Hen. I'll set a quoet from FOTR - Book 2 - The Breaking of the Fellowship:

Quote:

'Of course it is,' answered Sam. 'But not alone. I'm coming too or neither of us is going. I'll knock holes in the boats first.'
Frodo actually laughed. A sudden warmth and gladness touched his heart. 'Leave one!' he said. 'We'll need it. But you can't come like this without your gear or food or anything.'

So Sam has the idea of knocking holes into the boats, and Frodo says him to leave one for themselves. Afterwards there is no information if Sam actually does knock holes into them or not.
Later Boromir is laid in another boat and floats down Anduin. He did not sink for Faramir saw him float in the Anduin near Ithilien and that is many miles away from Amon Hen.
The other boat Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli hided in some bushes. But Gimli says: 'Our choice then is either to take the remaining boat and follow Frodo, or else to follow the Orcs on foot. There is little hope either way. We have already lost precious hours.'

So it seems that none of the boats have holes in them for both of them could be used. Still I find it quite unlikely for Sam to forget such a thing. So, now my question is: Did Sam forget to knock holes in the boats (which seems quite unlikely to me), or did Tolkien make a mistake in his book considering the boats (which also seems quite unlikely for he read, wrote and bettered it for a long time)!

I'd like to hear some of your opinions on this.

greetings,
lathspell

Eol · 09-11-2002, 10:11 AM

Do not be shocked as it is possible that even the more accomplished writers can make mistake. Though I think that would be a large mistake to overlook, so I will go with that Sam did not poke holes in the other boats.

piosenniel · 09-11-2002, 10:13 AM

I think what is meant by Sam is that if Frodo tries to go without him, he will 'knock holes in the boats' so that Frodo cannot use ANY of them to escape.

Frodo is joking with him in his reply - saying that what he should do is leave one boat for the two of them to travel in.

Sam then understands that Frodo is going to let him come with him, so there is no need to 'knock' holes in the any of the boats.

[ September 11, 2002: Message edited by: piosenniel ]

Eol · 09-11-2002, 10:15 AM

Hmmm, that works for me, as it makes better sense then what was posed.

lathspell · 09-11-2002, 01:03 PM

Thank you guys.
I totally overlooked that possibility.

greetings,
lathspell

09-11-2002, 10:11 AM	#2
Eol Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: The Pacific Northwest - Tir Nan Og Posts: 306	Do not be shocked as it is possible that even the more accomplished writers can make mistake. Though I think that would be a large mistake to overlook, so I will go with that Sam did not poke holes in the other boats. __________________ Mes sana in corpec sano- (lt.) A sound mind in a sound body

09-11-2002, 10:13 AM	#3
piosenniel Desultory Dwimmerlaik Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Pickin' flowers with Bill the Cat..... Posts: 7,779	I think what is meant by Sam is that if Frodo tries to go without him, he will 'knock holes in the boats' so that Frodo cannot use ANY of them to escape. Frodo is joking with him in his reply - saying that what he should do is leave one boat for the two of them to travel in. Sam then understands that Frodo is going to let him come with him, so there is no need to 'knock' holes in the any of the boats. [ September 11, 2002: Message edited by: piosenniel ] __________________ Eldest, that’s what I am . . . I knew the dark under the stars when it was fearless - before the Dark Lord came from Outside.

09-11-2002, 10:15 AM	#4
Eol Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: The Pacific Northwest - Tir Nan Og Posts: 306	Hmmm, that works for me, as it makes better sense then what was posed. __________________ Mes sana in corpec sano- (lt.) A sound mind in a sound body

09-11-2002, 01:03 PM	#5
lathspell Regenerating Ringkeeper Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Holland Posts: 757	Thank you guys. I totally overlooked that possibility. greetings, lathspell __________________ 'You?' cried Frodo. 'Yes, I, Gandalf the Grey,' said the wizard solemnly. 'There are many powers in the world, for good or for evil. Some are greater than I am. Against some I have not yet been measured. But my time is coming.'