Quotes from JRR Tolkien

Contexts of quotes for the past week. All but for the last are from The Two Towers, by JRR Tolkien

“It is my fate to receive help from you, where I least looked for it.” Frodo to Gollum, in the desolation before the Gates of Mordor.

“Your fate [is] to help me whom you long pursued with evil purpose. A continuation of Frodo’s speech to Gollum.

“The desire of it may betray you to a bitter end.” Frodo warning Gollum about the treachery of the Ring.

“Which way should he choose? And if both led to terror and death, what good lay in choice?” Frodo is faced with the choice of trying the “secret” way Gollum wants to show them and the obvious peril of the Black Gate.

“If ever you met me you wouldn’t forget me.” Part of a bit of nonsense poetry Sam declaims, about Oliiphants.

“We might be wanting to go back. We might!” Sam, deciding to send Gollum hunting in hopes of stretching their rations.

“His mother had told him about the sky, but he had never expected it to be this far away.” Sue Ann Bowling, Homecoming. Roi is remembering the first time Derik ever took his slaves outdoors, and his first sight of the sky.

Quotes from JRR Tolkien

Here are the contexts of a number of quotations. All but the last are from The Two Towers by J. R. R. Tolkien.

“It is more treacherous than you are. It may twist your words.” Frodo to Gollum, when Gollum offers to swear on “the precious” (the Ring.)

“Perhaps you can’t even try, not yet anyway.” Frodo has offered Gollum a share of the elven-bread, but Gollum cannot eat it.

“I do not think we need give thought to what comes after that.” Frodo’s first open admission to Sam that they are unlikely to survive the mission to destroy the Ring

“They know that they can only come to morning through the shadow.” And the shadow seems very dark to Frodo and Sam as they catch their first glimpse of the lands before the Gate of Mordor.

“There is another way. Darker, more difficult to find, more secret.” Gollum, offering to show Frodo and Sam a “back door” to Mordor.

“He’s as wise as any, but he’s soft-hearted.” Sam’s opinion of Frodo, as they follow Gollum to Cirith Ungol.

“She had forgotten a lot about planets, Marna decided less than a day after returning to Riya.” Homecoming, Bowling. Marna has spent her last two centuries on an isolation satellite, and is not at all used to being rained on (literally) or in fact any kind of weather.

 

Quotations from Tolkien

Here are the contexts of the quotes tweeted from October 9 through October 15, 2014. All but the last are from The Two Towers, by JRR Tolkien.

“Oft evil will shall evil mar.” Theoden, quoting a saying to Gandalf as they discuss the palantir.

“Perilous to us all are the devices of an art deeper than we possess ourselves.” Gandalf, discussing how the palantir may have led to Sauruman’s downfall.

“If it must be, let’s get it over.” Sam, when Frodo has decided to climb down the face of the Emyn Muil by rope.

“If we kill him, we must kill him outright.” Frodo, after they have captured Gollum.

“What he means to do is another matter.” Frodo, still considering what to do with Gollum.

“Now that I see him, I do pity him.” Frodo, replying to his memory of Gandalf’s words about Gollum, back in the Shire. (It was the Shire in the book, though the speech was moved to Moira in the movie.)

“Just try and stop me.” Sue Ann Bowling, Homecoming. Marna’s response to Lai’s suggestion that they take in Roi.

Quotes from J.R.R. Tolkien

These are the contexts of the quotes tweeted from @sueannbowling between August 28 and September 3, 2014. The first six are from The Two Towers, by J.R.R. Tolkien.

“A wild beast cornered is not safe to approach.” Gandalf, as they approach Saruman trapped in Orthanc.

“The guest who has escaped by the roof will think twice before he comes back in by the door.” Gandalf, when Saruman tries to invite him back into Orthanc.

“He cannot be both tyrant and counselor.” Gandalf, speaking of Saruman at Orthanc.

“I grieve that so much that was good now festers in the tower.” Gandalf, after Saruman has refused to work with them, and chosen instead to remain a prisoner in Orthanc. This is from the book, not the movie.

“Do not meddle in the affairs of wizards, for they are subtle and quick to anger.” Gildor’s saying, quoted by Merry to Pippin when Pippin is curious about the palantir.

“Do not then stumble at the end of the road.” Gandalf’s advice to Aragorn as he gives him the palantir.

“I took a fresh look at the consequences of what I believe, and I didn’t like what I saw.” Sue Ann Bowling, Tourist Trap. Penny’s thought, after a discussion with Roi on the effects of a local law she had taken for granted.

Quotes from J.R.R. Tolkien

These are the contexts of the quotes tweeted from @sueannbowling between July 24 and July 30, 2014. All but the last are from The Two Towers, by J.R.R. Tolkien.

“He that flies counts every foeman twice.” One of the scouts to Theoden, referring to the force ready to come down on them as they flee toward Helms Deep. This is from the book, not the movie.)

“Trust not to secret ways.” Theoden to Eomer, warning that Sauruman may have scouted out the hidden paths in Helm’s Deep.

“The world changes, and all that was strong now seems unsure.” Theoden, usure of the safety of the “unconquerable” Hornburg after the Deeping Wall has fallen.

“One who cannot cast away a treasure at need is in fetters.” Aragorn to Pippin, as he returns the brooch Pippin cast away as a sign to any tracker.

“Luck served you there, but you seized your chance with both hands.” Gimli, referring to the cutting of the bonds on the hobbits’ wrists.

“It is difficult to know with these evil folk when they are in league, and when they are cheating one another.” Aragorn, referring to the question of whether Sauruman and Sauron are working together or in rivalry. Note that this and the two previous quotes are at Isengard, after its overthrow by the Ents.

“Just wait until you get hungry enough.” Sue Ann Bowling, Homecoming. Marna to Cinda, after Cinda has found a very strange looking creature she hopes in inedible. (They are stranded on Mirror, without food.)

Quotations from J.R.R. Tolkien

Here are the contexts of the quotes tweeted from @sueannbowling between June 26 and July 2, 2014. All but the last are from The Two Towers, by J.R.R. Tolkien.

“In doubt a man of worth will trust to his own wisdom.” Hama the doorward of Edoras, when he decides not to take Gandalf’s staff.

“Alas, that these evil days should be mine.” Theoden, once he has returned to himself and understands Saruman’s treachery.

“Faithful heart may have forward tongue.” Theoden realizing that Eomer has been loyal to him.

“To crooked eyes truth may wear a wry face.” Gandalf to Theoden, same scene.

“Men need many words before deeds.” Gimili to Legolas as they set out for the Hornburg.

“The gift seems already to be given.” Theoden, as he gives Shadowfax to Gandalf, and realizes that the horse has already given himself.

“Since he had to get some sleep, in class was the place to do it.” Sue Ann Bowling, Homecoming. This refers to Roi, having to prepare for a judicial challenge while spending his days in school, but I don’t think it’s that uncommon an attitude among students.

Quotes from J.R.R. Tolkien

Here are the contexts of the quotes tweeted from @sueannbowling between May 22 and May 28. All but the last are from J.R.R. Tolkien, The Two Towers.

Map of the Misty Mountains, from the original English version of the book.

“I could have been happy here, if I had come in days of peace.” Legolas, speaking to Gimli about Fanghorn Forest.

“I have forgotten much that I knew, and learned again much that I had forgotten.” Gandalf, first meeting Aragorn’s group after his return.

“A habit of the old: they choose the wisest person present to speak to; the long explanations needed by the young are wearying.” Gandalf, explaining that he is speaking to himself.

“That we should wish to cast him down and have no one in his place is not a thought that occurs to his mind.” Gandalf, speaking to Aragorn of Sauron.

“I have spoken words of hope. But only of hope. Hope is not victory.” Gandalf, speaking to Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli as they prepare to ride to Edoras.

“We are all friends here. Or should be, for the laughter of Mordor will be our only reward if we quarrel.” Gandalf, when the doorward of Edoras tries to bar their way.

“I don’t have to buy anything to shop.” Sue Ann Bowling, Tourist Trap. Flame, as she prepares to visit the ship’s store on the way to Faleron.

Letter T: Quotes from J.R.R. Tolkien

Map of the Misty Mountains, from the original English version of the book.

T is for J. R. R. Tolkien (1892-1973) He is best known as the author of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings trilogy, and a number of short fiction books as well. But he was also a university professor and published a good many translations and scholarly articles. After his death his son Christopher published a good deal of the background information his father put together in the invention of Middle-Earth.

My own first introduction to his work was before his books were officially available in this country, when my uncle brought copies of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings back with him from England. I have lost track of how many times I have reread them.

I tweeted quotes from The Two Towers (and put them on my facebook pages) last week, and here are the contexts of those quotations. Note that all are from the books, and differ somewhat from the movies.

“I must cool myself and think, for it is easier to shout stop! than to do it. Treebeard has worked himself up about Sauruman, and feels he needs to cool off.

“I am not altogether on anyone’s side, because nobody is altogether on my side.” Treebeard talking to the hobbits, and explaining that no one else cares for the trees as he does.

“He has a mind of metal and wheels, and he does not care for growing things.” Treebeard’s description of Sauruman.

“If that happened I had rather not be on the other side.” Merry, thinking about an aroused Ent.

“We may help the other peoples before we pass away.” Treebeard, thinking that the Ents might accomplish something in their last march.

“Songs like trees bear fruit only in their own time: and sometimes they are withered untimely.” Treebeard, wishing that the songs about the Ents finding the Entwives could come true.

“I can’t stay with you. Not after what I did to you.” Bowling, Tourist Trap. Timi feels guilty over what Zhaim did by taking over his body, and refuses to accept that it wasn’t really his fault.

Quotes from J.R.R. Tolkien

Map of the Misty Mountains, from the original English version of the book.

These are the quotes that were tweeted from @sueannbowling (and on my facebook pages) from February 20 through 26, 2014. All but the last are from The Two Towers, by J.R.R. Tolkien.

“Maybe there is no right choice.” Aragorn, faced with the choice between following Frodo and Sam or rescuing Merry and Pippen.

“When the great fall, the less must lead.” Aragorn, speaking to Eomer, referring to Gandolf’s loss in Moria.

“Good and ill have not changed since yesteryear.” Aragorn to Eomer when Eomer is uncertain what to do about Aragorn’s company.

“There are some things that it is better to begin than to refuse, even though the end may be dark.” Aragorn, referring both to Gandalf’s fall and to the apparent end of their quest to find the young hobbits.

“Real names tell you the story of the things they belong to.” Treebeard, esplaing to Merry and Pippen that it would take him a very long time to tell them his name.

“The withering of all woods may be drawing near.” Treebeard’s slant on the growth of Sauron’s power in Mordor.

“I’d like to see this world studied properly some day.” Sue Ann Bowling, Homecoming. Marna is speaking, and the world she refers to is Mirror, on which they are stranded and which has organisms using both left-handed and right-handed proteins.