The need of Guidance. - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Hookbill the Goomba · 08-15-2004, 10:52 AM

If this has been discussed elsewhere I do apologise.

There was a theme that I knottiest while reading LotR recently. In almost every new area the company go to they have a guide.

For the first part of the Shire Sam is said to know this land quite well and so guides them to the extent of his knowledge. Then they are guided by the elves lead by Gildor. Then as they get close to buckland Pippin begins to show his knowledge of the land. Farmer Maggot guides them to Buckelberry, and then Merry to Crickhollow.

Merry again guides them through the old forest untill they are lost and have to follow Tom Bombadill. Tom again guides them out of the Barrow downs and they then come to Bree. Here they meet up with strider who guides them to weather Top and then on to Troll Shaw. From there Glorfindell seems to be acting as a guide to Rivendell. From Rivendell Gandalf takes them through Hollin and Moria.
After Gandalf's fall Aragorn guides them to Lothlorien where Haldir guides them to Calas Galathon.

I guess you could say that the Anduin guides them southwards, but that may be debatable.

Then Frodo and Sam are guided through the dead marshes and through Ithilian to Shelob's lair by Gollum. Then, Sam has to guide Frodo although he does not know the way. Then (Many 'thens' in this post) they are guided by the band of orcs until they have to go on their own up the mountain before they reach Sauron's road that (in much the same way as the Anduin) guides them upwards to the crack of Doom.

Don't think I've finished, I've not.

Then Gwihir the wind lord 'guides' them out of Mordor. On the journey home the company guides them until Isenguard where Gandalf once again takes the lead and guides them to the borders of the Shire. Then in the shire the sheriffs guide them for a short while.

At the End of the book Gildor again guides them to the grey havens. Then, once again, there is a none living guidance, the sea that takes Frodo to Valinor. Unless you count whom ever it was who was driving the boat.

Is Tolkien trying to make some statement here, something along the lines of, everyone needs guidance?

Any thoughts on this?

(I've probably spelt half of the names here wrong, do forgive me)

08-15-2004, 10:52 AM	#1
Hookbill the Goomba Alive without breath Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: On A Cold Wind To Valhalla Posts: 5,912	The need of Guidance. If this has been discussed elsewhere I do apologise. There was a theme that I knottiest while reading LotR recently. In almost every new area the company go to they have a guide. For the first part of the Shire Sam is said to know this land quite well and so guides them to the extent of his knowledge. Then they are guided by the elves lead by Gildor. Then as they get close to buckland Pippin begins to show his knowledge of the land. Farmer Maggot guides them to Buckelberry, and then Merry to Crickhollow. Merry again guides them through the old forest untill they are lost and have to follow Tom Bombadill. Tom again guides them out of the Barrow downs and they then come to Bree. Here they meet up with strider who guides them to weather Top and then on to Troll Shaw. From there Glorfindell seems to be acting as a guide to Rivendell. From Rivendell Gandalf takes them through Hollin and Moria. After Gandalf's fall Aragorn guides them to Lothlorien where Haldir guides them to Calas Galathon. I guess you could say that the Anduin guides them southwards, but that may be debatable. Then Frodo and Sam are guided through the dead marshes and through Ithilian to Shelob's lair by Gollum. Then, Sam has to guide Frodo although he does not know the way. Then (Many 'thens' in this post) they are guided by the band of orcs until they have to go on their own up the mountain before they reach Sauron's road that (in much the same way as the Anduin) guides them upwards to the crack of Doom. Don't think I've finished, I've not. Then Gwihir the wind lord 'guides' them out of Mordor. On the journey home the company guides them until Isenguard where Gandalf once again takes the lead and guides them to the borders of the Shire. Then in the shire the sheriffs guide them for a short while. At the End of the book Gildor again guides them to the grey havens. Then, once again, there is a none living guidance, the sea that takes Frodo to Valinor. Unless you count whom ever it was who was driving the boat. Is Tolkien trying to make some statement here, something along the lines of, everyone needs guidance? Any thoughts on this? (I've probably spelt half of the names here wrong, do forgive me) __________________ I think that if you want facts, then The Downer Newspaper is probably the place to go. I know! I read it once. THE PHANTOM AND ALIEN: The Legend of the Golden Bus Ticket...