By J.R.R. Tolkien
For a clarification, BOOK ONE of The Fellowship of the Rings refers to the book which includes the chapters from "A Long-expected Party" through to "Flight to the Ford".THE SHORT
J.R.R. Tolkien finally managed to deliver on his promise of a sequel to The Hobbit, and this is what we have. BOOK ONE successfully manages to tie in what happened at the end of The Hobbit and also introduces the more sinister side of the One Ring. By far the most suspenseful and exciting chapter in BOOK ONE has to be "The Shadow of the Past", in which it is revealed that Sauron, the Enemy, has risen again. Tolkien then plods the story along for quite a bit, resulting in the story becoming draggy and a bit boring. The journey to Bree is thoroughly unexciting except for the appearance of the Black Riders, Tom Bombadil, and the Barrow-wight. When they meet Strider, things start picking up, and finally culminates in an amazingly well-described chase to the Bruinen.
As such, BOOK ONE starts off slow, but the adventure-fantasy element later present in the rest of The Lord of the Rings makes its own appearance.
THE REVIEW
The book's main adventurers are the foursome of Frodo Baggins, Sam Gamgee, Peregrin (Pippin) Took and Meriadoc (Merry) Brandybuck. Through all the ancient lore and whatnot, Tolkien doesn't have much time to go into detail about their appearances, feelings (other than that of a vague sense of fear and doom), and their motivations, really. The last one is mainly the Ring, but the rest don't really have much of a reason to go on other than Tolkien needs some hobbits to focus on. Frodo is the main character, the one with the burden of the Ring. Sam, the ordinary hobbit on an adventure to see Elves. Merry and Pippin, the two who really don't recognize the danger of the Ring and the Enemy. The main weakness of these characters, is, as stated, that they aren't really fleshed out. As such, we, the readers, don't really identify with these characters, making them seem more distant and in a fairytale, but perhaps that was Tolkien's intention.
Gandalf the Grey is charismatic as ever, and this is the main redeeming point of the first part of BOOK ONE. Making a larger presence here than in The Hobbit, he is the warner of dangers, although he does disappear before long, and then we are left with Frodo and his companions. Nevertheless, Gandalf is delightful as long as he is in the book. Sauron, the Enemy, seems more like a danger, vaguely defined, but not described much other than Gandalf's hints in "The Shadow of the Past". More threatening are the Black Riders, who really pop into their menacing positions in "A Knife in the Dark", where the full spectrum of their powers is revealed. The leader's crown, the shadowy robes which clothe them, the feeling of fear which seems to surround them, everything about them just screams "EVIL!!!"
Finally, we have Tom Bombadil and the Barrow-wight. Bombadil is more of a comic relief than a major character in the book, who is mainly there to help the hobbits out of the Old Forest. Most puzzling, however, is his ability to wear the Ring without turning invisible, and how he is able to see others who are wearing it. His lumbering way of walking is comedic and desperately brings life into what is becoming dreary as Tolkien tries to think up more ways to describe the word "walk". Bombadil's introduction into the novel is the start of the more exciting part of the book, leading to the meeting with Strider. The Barrow-wight, with its rattling breath, creeping hand, is as evil, if not more, than the Black Riders.
A main theme in this book is the temptation of the Ring, which seems to parallel the many instances of abuse of substances in this world. Wearing it, you would have great power, but great doom would befall you. The Ring's dark history is beautifully tied in with Gollum and The Hobbit, and what seemed in the previous novel to only be a harmless toy is revealed to be the One Ring. This theme warns us of the dangers of free power, reminding us that nothing comes freely, and everything has a consequence. The seduction of power is most prevalent in this book, what with Gandalf warning Frodo not to use it, the Black Riders tempting Frodo with its power, and so on.
Another theme is more subtle, but still there nonetheless. It's the theme of bravery, where the tiny hobbits display the most bravery, in not giving in to the power of the Ring, in daring to carry it through danger's jaws to Rivendell, and in Frodo's case, carrying a wound from a Rider's knife for many days, struggling through hardship, pain, and torment.
The plot of BOOK ONE is rather simple, starting with Bilbo's 111th party, and then moving on to Gandalf's history lesson with Frodo, and then Frodo has to set out for Rivendell. As such, there seems to be very little substance in the part immediately after "The Shadow of the Past". This may be the reason why so few casual readers actually finish The Fellowship of the Ring, because they are turned down by the lack of action. The directions given by Tolkien seems to be far too many, the hobbits turning west, and north, and then heading south-west. They're mind-boggling, and without the helpful map that had been given as the frontispiece, it would have been impossible to imagine the world that Tolkien had imagined. This is the main insufferable part of Tolkien, for, him having to jam in everything that he couldn't in the Prologue, he has to put in geography, history, and it is all thoroughly boring, and unexciting, and as dry as year-old bread.
On another note, things really start moving from "Fog on the Barrow-downs", and from then on, there is almost always a few action scenes to keep us satisfied while also letting Tolkien conceptualize Middle-earth. The meeting with Strider has that underlying tension that is characteristic of Tolkien's writing, with Frodo becoming suspicious of Strider, but then later trusting him. The danger and horror of the Black Riders are by far the most fleshed out object after Strider, and the Ring-wraiths of Mordor are terrifying in their guise as Sauron's servants. The danger is very much felt with the last mile or so to Rivendell, as the Riders chase Frodo in what is probably one of the most suspenseful and well-described scenes in fantasy history.
The songs and whatnot in the book are sometimes welcomed after a lengthy bit of prose, but, more often than not, one remembers the initial, and most powerful poem, which appears written on the Ring and which Gandalf recites.
All in all, The Fellowship of the Ring: The Lord of the Rings Part One (BOOK ONE) was a bit boring at the start, one having sometimes to force oneself to continue reading. However, later on, the plot dislodges itself from the boulder which had been blocking its way, and flows swiftly on to the resolution, where Frodo loses consciousness.
Rating: 8.7/10
Advice: Read the first two chapters, and then skip all the way until "In the House of Tom Bombadil". All chapters in between are thoroughly unnecessary, unless you want the full experience.
I have loved BOOK ONE, so let's see how BOOK TWO fares!
Next week: The Fellowship of the Ring: The Lord of the Rings Part One (BOOK TWO)!!! Make sure to check out my review of BOOK TWO, where Frodo is finally reunited with Gandalf, and the Fellowship is formed. What dangers will they encounter in the Mines of Moria? Find out in my review of BOOK TWO, coming out next week!
Gandalf the Grey is charismatic as ever, and this is the main redeeming point of the first part of BOOK ONE. Making a larger presence here than in The Hobbit, he is the warner of dangers, although he does disappear before long, and then we are left with Frodo and his companions. Nevertheless, Gandalf is delightful as long as he is in the book. Sauron, the Enemy, seems more like a danger, vaguely defined, but not described much other than Gandalf's hints in "The Shadow of the Past". More threatening are the Black Riders, who really pop into their menacing positions in "A Knife in the Dark", where the full spectrum of their powers is revealed. The leader's crown, the shadowy robes which clothe them, the feeling of fear which seems to surround them, everything about them just screams "EVIL!!!"
Finally, we have Tom Bombadil and the Barrow-wight. Bombadil is more of a comic relief than a major character in the book, who is mainly there to help the hobbits out of the Old Forest. Most puzzling, however, is his ability to wear the Ring without turning invisible, and how he is able to see others who are wearing it. His lumbering way of walking is comedic and desperately brings life into what is becoming dreary as Tolkien tries to think up more ways to describe the word "walk". Bombadil's introduction into the novel is the start of the more exciting part of the book, leading to the meeting with Strider. The Barrow-wight, with its rattling breath, creeping hand, is as evil, if not more, than the Black Riders.
A main theme in this book is the temptation of the Ring, which seems to parallel the many instances of abuse of substances in this world. Wearing it, you would have great power, but great doom would befall you. The Ring's dark history is beautifully tied in with Gollum and The Hobbit, and what seemed in the previous novel to only be a harmless toy is revealed to be the One Ring. This theme warns us of the dangers of free power, reminding us that nothing comes freely, and everything has a consequence. The seduction of power is most prevalent in this book, what with Gandalf warning Frodo not to use it, the Black Riders tempting Frodo with its power, and so on.
Another theme is more subtle, but still there nonetheless. It's the theme of bravery, where the tiny hobbits display the most bravery, in not giving in to the power of the Ring, in daring to carry it through danger's jaws to Rivendell, and in Frodo's case, carrying a wound from a Rider's knife for many days, struggling through hardship, pain, and torment.
The plot of BOOK ONE is rather simple, starting with Bilbo's 111th party, and then moving on to Gandalf's history lesson with Frodo, and then Frodo has to set out for Rivendell. As such, there seems to be very little substance in the part immediately after "The Shadow of the Past". This may be the reason why so few casual readers actually finish The Fellowship of the Ring, because they are turned down by the lack of action. The directions given by Tolkien seems to be far too many, the hobbits turning west, and north, and then heading south-west. They're mind-boggling, and without the helpful map that had been given as the frontispiece, it would have been impossible to imagine the world that Tolkien had imagined. This is the main insufferable part of Tolkien, for, him having to jam in everything that he couldn't in the Prologue, he has to put in geography, history, and it is all thoroughly boring, and unexciting, and as dry as year-old bread.
On another note, things really start moving from "Fog on the Barrow-downs", and from then on, there is almost always a few action scenes to keep us satisfied while also letting Tolkien conceptualize Middle-earth. The meeting with Strider has that underlying tension that is characteristic of Tolkien's writing, with Frodo becoming suspicious of Strider, but then later trusting him. The danger and horror of the Black Riders are by far the most fleshed out object after Strider, and the Ring-wraiths of Mordor are terrifying in their guise as Sauron's servants. The danger is very much felt with the last mile or so to Rivendell, as the Riders chase Frodo in what is probably one of the most suspenseful and well-described scenes in fantasy history.
The songs and whatnot in the book are sometimes welcomed after a lengthy bit of prose, but, more often than not, one remembers the initial, and most powerful poem, which appears written on the Ring and which Gandalf recites.
All in all, The Fellowship of the Ring: The Lord of the Rings Part One (BOOK ONE) was a bit boring at the start, one having sometimes to force oneself to continue reading. However, later on, the plot dislodges itself from the boulder which had been blocking its way, and flows swiftly on to the resolution, where Frodo loses consciousness.
Rating: 8.7/10
Advice: Read the first two chapters, and then skip all the way until "In the House of Tom Bombadil". All chapters in between are thoroughly unnecessary, unless you want the full experience.
I have loved BOOK ONE, so let's see how BOOK TWO fares!
Next week: The Fellowship of the Ring: The Lord of the Rings Part One (BOOK TWO)!!! Make sure to check out my review of BOOK TWO, where Frodo is finally reunited with Gandalf, and the Fellowship is formed. What dangers will they encounter in the Mines of Moria? Find out in my review of BOOK TWO, coming out next week!
No comments:
Post a Comment