Hi everyone, I’m really sorry I haven’t blogged in a while. Maybe I’ll tell you about my Camp NaNoWriMo adventures sometime, but today I have something special to write about. Apparently there’s this thing going around where lots of bloggers write Tolkien-related posts in honor of the release of The Fellowship of the Ring on July 29, 1954. (I missed the anniversary by a day, but who cares.) Therefore, as a huge fan of Tolkien, I will dedicate this entire post to talking about, and fangirling over, his books.
Favorite Character:
Samwise Gamgee.
If you asked me who my favorite character was, I would not hesitate, not in the least. Sam is my favorite character, hands down, no arguments.
Why?, you ask. Well, first off, I always love the sidekicks for some reason. Sam Gamgee, obviously. Ron Weasley from Harry Potter. John Watson from Sherlock. Even amongst my own characters, I love all the sidekicks the best.
I could give you an exhaustive list of all the reasons I love Sam, but that would just lead into…
Favorite Chapter in the Entire Trilogy:
“The Choices of Master Samwise,” from The Two Towers.
(WARNING: SPOILERS)
If you’ve never read the books, go read them the ending of The Two Towers is quite different from the way its respective movie ended. The book ends in Shelob’s lair, when Sam thinks Frodo is dead, so he takes the Ring with the intent to destroy it himself. (In the movies, we don’t see this part until The Return of the King.)
Anyway, in this chapter, we really get to see Sam’s character come out. He’s in quite the predicament: He’s just traveled across half of Middle-earth with his best friend Frodo, only to be attacked by a gigantic spider when they are so close to the end of their journey. He is devastated because he thinks Frodo is dead, and he is torn between his duty to his friend and his duty to Middle-earth. The last thing he wants to do is take the Ring and destroy it himself. He longs to go back home to the Shire. He can’t bear to leave his friend alone in this dark place. But he knows he can’t stay with Frodo; otherwise the enemy would find them both and take the Ring. His heart longs for vengeance against Gollum for deceiving them and bringing them here in the first place. But he knows that wouldn’t be worth it.
I love seeing Sam’s internal struggle here. Deep down, he knows the answer, but he has to wrestle with it first. Eventually he sees that the fate of Middle-earth rests in his hands and that it is his solemn duty to finish what Frodo started. This passage is the reason Sam is my favorite character in the first place.
Things I Wish Were in the Movies:
(MORE SPOILERS)
-Tom Bombadil and that whole part about the Barrow-downs
I know Tom Bombadil was a pretty ridiculous character who added almost nothing to the plot, but I liked him. I think there were some things which he said and did that were important. And the Barrow-downs, which also added nothing to the plot, were pretty creepy. They were kind of a part of the whole Tom Bombadil subplot, too. I think it would have been fun to see.
-Éowyn and Faramir’s romance
The movies did mention it, but it was infinitely better in the books. The reader sees them get to know each other, and their love grows as the story goes on. It also offers more closure for both of the characters. It’s one of my favorite parts.
-Arwen
Um… Talia? Arwen is already in the movies… duh!
Exactly my point. She was much different in the books. Now don’t get me wrong; I have no problem with the movie’s version of Arwen. It’s just that she plays a lot bigger part than she did in the books. Like I said, I have no problem with it. It just bothers me a little bit.
Favorite Quotes:
I’m limiting this to book quotes. Otherwise we’ll all be here all day. Also, I’m only going to mention my personal favorite quotes, which does not include the really famous ones that everybody knows and loves.
“You can trust us to stick with you, through thick and thin – to the bitter end. And you can trust us to keep any secret of yours – closer than you keep it yourself. But you cannot trust us to let you face trouble alone, and go off without a word. We are your friends, Frodo.”
-Merry
“Many that live deserve death. And some that die deserve life. Can you give it to them? Then do not be too eager to deal out death in judgment.”
-Gandalf
“I am Aragorn son of Arathorn; and if by life or death I can save you, I will.”
-Aragorn
“The Shadow that bred them [the orcs] can only mock, it cannot make: not real new things of its own. I don’t think it gave life to the orcs, it only ruined them and twisted them.”
-Frodo
That’s all I have for now, aside from the fact that Tolkien has been an inspiration to fantasy authors everywhere, including me. In the meantime, I’d love to hear from you in the comments about anything and everything Tolkien-related.
For His Glory Alone 
SAMWISE! I love Samwise, as well. And that chapter of Two Towers is one of the reasons I re-read just that book by itself so often. A lot of people don’t love the Two Towers because they don’t like all the trudging across Mordor… but it is in that crucible that we really get to see the character development of Sam and Frodo, and I always loved that part of the story.
Tom Bombadil and the Barrow Downs are a scene I’d have loved to see in the movie. I get that they left it out because it would have confused people who hadn’t read the books… but… well… those people should go read the books! haha
YES, Eowyn and Faramir!!!!! I couldn’t believe they left so much out… even the extended edition does not give their story the time it deserves… here they had a beautiful romantic aspect practically HANDED to them and Jackson and co left it out?!?!? Still incomprehensible to me!
I totally get what you mean about Arwen. In the books, it is enough for us that ARAGORN loves Arwen. But in the movies, I think they felt the need to convince us a bit further that she was worthy of him or something. I like both versions, really.
Ahhh, so many lovely quotes!
Thanks for participating in the online birthday bash for the greatest fantasy adventure ever penned!
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Yeah this post was so much fun to write!! Lord of the Rings is pretty much one of my favorite stories of all time, so I definitely couldn’t pass up this opportunity to dedicate an entire blog post to it. 🙂 I loved the Silmarillion Awards by the way! I’ve never even read The Silmarillion. Maybe I should go do that. xD Thanks for commenting!
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My favorite is Frodo (or Frodoandsam) – for suffering so much to save Middle-earth, for showing us when going through hell just to keep going, for embracing his cross fearfully but completely, for being a scribe like me. Such an inspiration! I love that quote of Merry’s too. That’s my favorite chapter in book 1. For TTT, it would be Sam seeing Frodo’s light and musing about how he loves him. For ROTK, it would the reunion of Frodo and Sam in Cirith Ungol. What a beautiful and tender celebration of their blessed bond! My favorite quote to live by is Gandalf’s about deciding what to do with the time given to us. I love Sam’s hope and his pure love for Frodo – so many broken and shattered souls in the world desperately needs this! Re: Faramir and Eowyn – she’s the luckiest lass in all Middle-earth. I like how they handled it in the movie. He’s my favorite man – a gentle man and a gentleman, a hobbit in a man’s skin. His transformation in TTT movie was one of the worst transgressions. I’m glad they decided to show his true self in ROTK.
Namarie, God bless, Anne Marie 🙂
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Yes, I love seeing Frodo and Sam’s friendship. Sam is so loyal to Frodo, even through the darkest of times when many would have turned back. I love seeing their journey – both across Middle-earth, and their inner journeys as well. And I love the quote by Gandalf you mentioned as well. It’s a great quote to live by.
Thanks for reading and commenting! 😀
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