The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum


Visit The *EVEN NEWER* Barrow-Downs Photo Page

Go Back   The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum > Middle-Earth Discussions > The Books
User Name
Password
Register FAQ Members List Calendar Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 02-04-2020, 03:12 PM   #1
The Mouth of Sauron
Wight
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Barad-Dur
Posts: 196
The Mouth of Sauron has just left Hobbiton.
Why not use Sting's light?

When the Company left the Chamber of Mazarbul, leaving Gandalf at the top of the stairs leading away from the Chamber to try and lock the door, it was stated that the Company was in great danger because in the darkness they couldn't tell when flights of stairs started and they might fall. But surely with the close proximity of Orcs if they had taken Frodo's blade Sting it would have given off enough light to guide them?
The Mouth of Sauron is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-04-2020, 08:00 PM   #2
Morthoron
Curmudgeonly Wordwraith
 
Morthoron's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Ensconced in curmudgeonly pursuits
Posts: 2,528
Morthoron is a guest of Galadriel in Lothlórien.Morthoron is a guest of Galadriel in Lothlórien.Morthoron is a guest of Galadriel in Lothlórien.Morthoron is a guest of Galadriel in Lothlórien.Morthoron is a guest of Galadriel in Lothlórien.
Quote:
Originally Posted by The Mouth of Sauron View Post
When the Company left the Chamber of Mazarbul, leaving Gandalf at the top of the stairs leading away from the Chamber to try and lock the door, it was stated that the Company was in great danger because in the darkness they couldn't tell when flights of stairs started and they might fall. But surely with the close proximity of Orcs if they had taken Frodo's blade Sting it would have given off enough light to guide them?
Unreliable. It would grow dimmer the further one moves away from Orcs. Besides, they had a more reliable light source, Gandalf's staff:

Quote:
As the wizard passed on ahead up the great steps, he held his staff aloft, and from its tip there came a faint radiance. -- The Fellowship of the Ring, LoTR Book 2, Ch 4, A Journey in the Dark
Quote:
Gandalf walked in front.... In his left hand he held up his glimmering staff, the light of which just showed the ground before his feet... -- The Fellowship of the Ring, LoTR Book 2, Ch 4, A Journey in the Dark
Quote:
In the pale ray of the wizard's staff, Frodo caught glimpses of stairs and arches and of other passages and tunnels... -- The Fellowship of the Ring, LoTR Book 2, Ch 4, A Journey in the Dark
__________________
And your little sister's immaculate virginity wings away on the bony shoulders of a young horse named George who stole surreptitiously into her geography revision.
Morthoron is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-05-2020, 12:37 AM   #3
mhagain
Wight
 
mhagain's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: The best seat in the Golden Perch
Posts: 219
mhagain has just left Hobbiton.
Quote:
Originally Posted by The Mouth of Sauron View Post
But surely with the close proximity of Orcs if they had taken Frodo's blade Sting it would have given off enough light to guide them?
You've found a plot hole! Bad writing! The Internet!

But more seriously, no, it actually doesn't give off sufficient light. This is consistent with the original description in The Hobbit, where the party also has to rely on Gandalf's light to navigate the Goblin caves, despite also having both Orcrist and Glamdring, and where Glamdring is quite obviously described as glowing enough to see the sword by, but not enough to cast light on it's surroundings.

True, Bilbo is subsequently described as using Sting but he's also described as feeling his way around a lot, and that was in narrow tunnels rather than a great hall.
__________________
Then one appeared among us, in our own form visible, but greater and more beautiful; and he said that he had come out of pity.
mhagain is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-05-2020, 08:44 AM   #4
Inziladun
Gruesome Spectre
 
Inziladun's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Heaven's doorstep
Posts: 8,058
Inziladun is a guest of Galadriel in Lothlórien.Inziladun is a guest of Galadriel in Lothlórien.Inziladun is a guest of Galadriel in Lothlórien.Inziladun is a guest of Galadriel in Lothlórien.Inziladun is a guest of Galadriel in Lothlórien.
I would just add that the purpose for Sting (and Glamdring/Orcrist) glowing was not to provide light; it was to alert the user of the presence of Orcs. It would even seem that a very strong light could be a liability when enemies are about.
__________________
Music alone proves the existence of God.
Inziladun is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 02-13-2020, 05:36 AM   #5
The Mouth of Sauron
Wight
 
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Barad-Dur
Posts: 196
The Mouth of Sauron has just left Hobbiton.
When the Company was descending the stairway from the Chamber of Mazarbul Gandalf remained at the top of the stairs, so Glamdring's light or illumination from his staff were not available.

Also at Parth Galen Aragorn asked Frodo to draw Sting to see if orcs were nearby, and although at that moment Sting was faint it did show that orcs didn't have to be in close proximity for a light to be generated.
The Mouth of Sauron is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 11:17 AM.



Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.9 Beta 4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.