Pippin's Commitment

In class today, we discussed the new loyalties of Pippin and Merry. I didn't get a chance to ask everyone's opinion- but I wonder how exactly Gandalf feels about Pippin's new commitment. Up until this point, everyone on the mission has had the same purpose in the quest. Now with Pippin's decision, is it possible he may have to choose between the fellowship and Denethor?

On page 18, Gandalf says he doesn't know why Pippin chose to do what he did, but he did it with good intentions, and it honored Denethor. So Gandalf says that he must remember what he has chosen. In your opinion then, do you think Gandalf was proud of Pippin, does he think he shouldn't have made a vow to Denethor, or does it not matter one way or the other?

Milton's influence in The Lord of the Rings

In class today we began to talk extensively about John Milton's Paradise Lost in its relation to The Lord of the Rings. We see Tolkien's view of the orcs vs. the elves in comparison to the faithful vs. the fallen in Paradise Lost. Another similarity is Isilador vs. the fall of man.
We further discussed the elves being angelic figures and orcs are elves fallen from grace; they may not want to be associated with Sauron but nonetheless follow him because there isn't anything better to do and what other races want to be associated with orcs.
I was wondering if my colleagues found any other connections that can be drawn between the two texts. I also was hoping for Dr. Joy's input on the idea of Tolkien drawing on a lot of ideas from Milton's work.

Gollum's Shelob Trickery

Today in class we talked about how Gollum may/may not have used Shelob for his own devices, but we only discussed it *after* Frodo's semi-treachery at the Pool. I thought I had read that, much earlier, Gollum had hatched the plan to lead them to "her" (Shelob). This was before they even reached the Gates, after the Dead Marshes (halfway down on p268):
"We wants it. But--" and here there was a long pause, as if a new thought had wakened. "Not yet, eh? Perhaps not. She might help. She might, yes."
"No, no! Not that way!" wailed Smeagol.

Could "that way" be the secret passageway that leads to Shelob's lair? Gollum/Smeagol sure is quick to offer another path once they reach the gate, and he even mentions that they would have to find another route to Sam before they realized they couldn't pass through the gates - granted smeagol/gollum muttered it under his breath. If that's true, then Gollum was planning on going against Smeagol's promise to Frodo anyway.

Would knowledge of Shelob have stoped them?

Before Sam, Frodo, and Gollum enter Shelob's lair they make note of how bad it smells. It seems to me that they should have known that there was some sort of creature inside other than an orc. So why wouldn't they press Gollum more strongly about what was in there before they went in? I mean they only mildly muse over what might be in there. Do you think at this point that they had come so far and were so committed that even if they did know what awaited them inside they would have gone in anyway?

Five Towers and Zero Alliteration

The Two Towers is a great title but I'm counting a few more pointy buildings in this book: Saraman in Orthanc is a given, then Pippin sees the white tower of Minas Tirith in the palantir, Fram finds themselves climbing stairs near Minas Morgal, then its on to the Tower of Cirith Ungol, and oh yeah, don't forget Sauron's all seeing eye atop Baradur...but just two? Which Two Towers are we talking about here? The world may never know.

Last Act

So much has been said about Free Will, but most of that has been concerning the good side of the book if you will. What about the likes of Worm Tongue and Saruman? Both are given the opportunity to repent their evil ways, and both deny this opportunity. Is it in this final or last act of free will that defines them? In the end, is it this solitary choice that makes them evil? Or are they written so one-dimensionally, that they too only have one choice, once again negating free will?

Why cant it be this simple?

this interpretation of LOTR is inciteful and simple. What do you think?

http://youtube.com/watch?v=b0sc-gS9AqM