Six & Seven
"Well, it is the first time that even a mouse has crept along carefully and quietly under my very nose and not been spotted," said Balin, "and I take off my hood to you." Which he did.
"Balin at your service," said he.
"Your servant, Mr. Baggins," said Bilbo.
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"Nori at your service, Ori at . . . " they began; but Beorn interrupted them.
"Thank you! When I want your help I will ask for it. Sit down, and let's get on with this tale, or it will be supper-time before it is ended."
I'm with Beorn. What's with all this "at your service" stuff? That's rhetorical; I understand it was good manners. But do you really intend to put yourself literally at the service of everyone you meet? It's an interesting mindset. And Beorn doesn't have the same expectations of hospitality that the more "mannered" folk in this book do. I guess he's less "civilized" because he's half beast?
The wizard, to tell the truth, never minded explaining his cleverness more than once.
I think Gandalf comes across as more human and fallible in this book than in LOTR.
And as a man he keeps cattle and horses which are nearly as marvelous as himself. They work for him and talk to him. He does not eat them; neither does he hunt or eat wild animals.
It works because the other animals are portrayed as his friends and all, but bears eat meat and humans eat meat, so why wouldn't a bear-human hybrid eat meat?
Bombur is fattest and will do for two, he had better come alone and last.
Bombur takes a lot of grief for his weight. Tolkien's not exactly sensitive and PC in his treatment of the obese, is he? Doesn't really go over today, but I bet it's a reflection of his time.
"Balin at your service," said he.
"Your servant, Mr. Baggins," said Bilbo.
----------
"Nori at your service, Ori at . . . " they began; but Beorn interrupted them.
"Thank you! When I want your help I will ask for it. Sit down, and let's get on with this tale, or it will be supper-time before it is ended."
I'm with Beorn. What's with all this "at your service" stuff? That's rhetorical; I understand it was good manners. But do you really intend to put yourself literally at the service of everyone you meet? It's an interesting mindset. And Beorn doesn't have the same expectations of hospitality that the more "mannered" folk in this book do. I guess he's less "civilized" because he's half beast?
The wizard, to tell the truth, never minded explaining his cleverness more than once.
I think Gandalf comes across as more human and fallible in this book than in LOTR.
And as a man he keeps cattle and horses which are nearly as marvelous as himself. They work for him and talk to him. He does not eat them; neither does he hunt or eat wild animals.
It works because the other animals are portrayed as his friends and all, but bears eat meat and humans eat meat, so why wouldn't a bear-human hybrid eat meat?
Bombur is fattest and will do for two, he had better come alone and last.
Bombur takes a lot of grief for his weight. Tolkien's not exactly sensitive and PC in his treatment of the obese, is he? Doesn't really go over today, but I bet it's a reflection of his time.
posted by Degolar | 5:26 PM
2 Comments:
nice observations about Beorn's manners. makes sense.
i also agree about Gandalf. matter of fact, that same phrase stuck out to me: "The wizard...never minded explaining..." it's the first time i'd really noticed it. interesting.
i could be wrong, but i think bears actually prefer vegetation to meat, particularly wild berries. how they get enough of it to sustain themselves i have no idea.
This is where I start to get confused about Gandalf. Picturing him "dreadfully afraid" in a tree doesn't fit the same image I seem to remember from the LOTR movies.
I also wondered what he knows of the future. Why does he put this group together? He seems to know there is more at stake than just the return of the treasure. He seems to have his own motives.
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