Category: LOTR

Of Gandalf and Frodo’s dilemma The end of chapter 2 is a long dialogue between Gandalf and Frodo. The first tells the story of the ring, and all its ramifications; the second, while listening to it, becomes more and more reluctant to set off on his journey. The peak moment…

Of the tribulations of evil and of its geography The main focus of chapter two is backstory. It serves as a lynchpin between The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings proper. Because the reader may be new to the story, or may need refreshment, we learn the full story…

Of the preparation of the hero What was Frodo doing during the seventeen years it took Gandalf to identify the origin of the ring? The text gives us a very brief description of this period of maturation, but it is packed with important themes. For one, his life keeps unfolding,…

Of time and evil I entered the world of The Lord of the Rings through the movies that were made in the early 2000s. I watched them in a theater, in Paris, with a couple of friends who were already hooked because of the books. I rewatch them occasionally, mostly…

Of the quiet before the storm There is an old story in Hollywood that goes something like this: what is the difference between a European movie and an American movie? In the European movie, the story starts with a beautiful view of a plane, flying against an incredible sunset. The…

Of heroes and wars The first chapter of The Lord of the Rings starts piano piano. Like many epics, it starts by telling us about the genealogy of the hero. Who is the main character, and where does he come from? Anyone who knows a little bit about the story…

Of classics Is The Lord of the Rings a classic? Many heated discussions have taken place on social networks on this topic in recent years. Some say Tolkien is the equal to Dante, if not superior, when others say that only a fool would think such a thing. Some say…

Of beginnings After October 7, for months, I couldn’t read anything. My brain was frozen. I couldn’t pick up a book, read more than two sentences, and find meaning in them. You may think: so what? After all, many people go through years without reading much, and still enjoy a…