AC
2003-12-23 02:45:23 UTC
Chapter of the Week
The Hobbit - Chapter 17: The Clouds Burst
To view previous Chapters of the Week or to sign up to do your own, please
go to http://parasha.maoltuile.org/
I. Synopsis
Bilbo returns the night before after delivering the Arkenstone into Bard's
hands. In the morning, trumpets can be heard in the camp, and a single
runner comes up asking if Thorin would listen to another embassy now that
new tidings had come to hand. Thorin knows immediately that is is Dain, and
so permits another embassy, unarmed and few in number.
At midday a company of twenty, including Bard, the Elvenking and an old man
wrapped in clock and hood bearing a strong casket. come. Bard asks if
Thorin's mind is the same, and if nothing will sway him. Then Bard reveals
he has the Arkenstone. Thorin is thrown into confusion and demands to know
how Bard came by it. Bilbo admits to being the thief, and Thorin is so put
out that he calls Bilbo an "undersized burglar" and shakes him terribly.
Gandalf reveals himself and asks that Bilbo not be harmed. Bilbo tries to
make something of an excuse for stealing the Arkenstone.
Bilbo is allowed to leave, and though Thorin's anger is great, some among
the Dwarves feel guilt and shame at this treatment. Thorin finally agrees
to give over one fourteenth of the treasure; Bilbo's share. Bard gives
Thorin until tomorrow to make good. When the company departs, Thorin sends
Roac to Dain to tell him what has occured.
A day passes, and the next day comes with news that Dain is moving quickly
around the eastern spur of the Mountain. Bard will not let Dain and his
Dwarves pass, hoping still that the treasure will be delivered in exchange
for the Arkenstone. Dain comes with supplies that might keep Thorin for
many weeks. With Dain blocked from bringing aid to Thorin, Bard sends
messengers back to the Gate, but they receive only arrows. It now seems
that battle is inevitable, and so it comes to pass.
But just as battle is joined, a darkness rolls across the sky in the form of
a black cloud from the north. Thunder rolls on the Mountain and lightning
lights its peak. Gandalf appears suddenly and alone and calls the
combatants to halt and announces that Bolg of the North is coming, with bats
above his army, and goblins riding on wolves, with Wargs as well. Gandalf
calls for Dain to make council with the Elvenking and Bard.
Thus ensues the Battle of Five Armies; with Goblins and Wolves on one side
and Elves, Men and Dwarves on the other. It seems that news of the Great
Goblin's fall has lead to the Goblins launching an attack from all their
cities and colonies, with the plan to gain dominion of the North. Around
and underneath the mountain Gundabad of the North, the goblins' capital, an
army was gathered to sweep down during the storms to catch their enemies
unaware. Emboldened by the news of the death of Smaug they came on the
heels of Dain.
So the council of the Dwarves, Bard and the Elvenking decide to that their
only chance is to lure the goblins into the valley between the arms of the
mountain. Elves man the Southern spur, while Men and Dwarves the Eastern.
Bard and the nimblest men climb up the Eastern shoulder. A vanguard of a
few men make a feint of resistance, and draw the goblins into the valley.
Bilbo, for his part, takes little part, and uses his magic ring to
disappear. Meanwhile the Elves charge, and then while the Goblins are still
recovering Dain and his Dwarves make their attack. But just as victory
seems assured, goblins that have scaled the Mountain are streaming down the
slopes above the Gate, and the defenders realize they have only stopped one
part of the goblin army.
As darkness falls the goblins gather again the valley with Wargs and the
bodyguard of Bolg with them. The bats prove terrible, as they fasten on to
the strick like vampires. Bard is defending the Eastern spur while the
Elves are trapped near the watch-post of Ravenhill.
Then with a trumpet call, Thorin and Company come through the Gate, and then
utters the stirring cry "To me! To me! Elves and Men! To Me! O my
kinsfolk." And come the Dwarves of Dain, and many of the Lake-men, and on
the other side the spearmen of the Elves. Thorin drives against the body
guard of Bolg, though he cannot push through. None can come to his aid,
for all are beset and being slowly beaten back.
Bilbo finally takes his stand on Ravenhill among the Elves, thinking in part
in offers the best chance of escape, and part (the Tookish) side deciding to
the last desperate stand. Gandalf is sitting there in deep thought,
possibly preparing some last blast of magic.
A final surprise awaits however. The clouds are torn by the wind revealing
a red sunset, and the Eagles come. Bilbo cries, unseen, "The Eagles!" a few
times but then a stone falling from above strikes him and he knows no more.
II. Points of Interest
- This has proved to be a very eventful chapter. With some detail, Tolkien
describes this battle, which begins between Dain's folk and Bard's, and ends
with a great battle with a great army of goblins in the north.
- Reading this again, I am rather surprised that Thorin did not just toss
Bilbo over the wall. Either he was seriously confused by the revelation of
who held the Arkenstone, or he felt a sufficient debt not to do Bilbo too
much harm (he did shake him rather vigorously).
- Bilbo tries to remind Thorin of the services he has offered. I thought
this rather a bit of cheek on Bilbo's part, considering he did steal and
deliver into enemy hands the treasure Thorin most valued.
- We get a fairly good description of what Dain's folk had for armor.
Hauberks of steel, flexible metal hose, metal caps and round-shields on
their backs, as well as wielding heavy two-handed mattocks. Most
frightening, if I were facing these fellows, would be their beards forked
and plated and thrust into their belts. Even more impressive, each carried
a substantial amount of supplies. Nowhere in all of Tolkien's writings do I
get a better vision of just how hardy and strong Dwarves really were.
- I wonder how a battle between Dain and his Dwarves on one side and the
Lake-men and the Elves on the other would have turned out. What would the
ramifications been for the War of the Ring?
- We get a detailed account of the Battle of the Five Armies, at least up
until Bilbo is knocked unconscious. I can't think of another children's
novel that packs that much battle into a few pages. I do confess that when
I read this chapter to my daughters, they found it boring (they were only
five and six at the time).
- Bolg, son of Azog, seems to the centerpiece of the goblin army. I also
note that Wargs are apparently not ridden in this battle, but rather wolves.
- The North of the Wilderland must be filled with warrens and tunnels for
goblins from all over the Misty Mountains to gather at Mount Gundabad.
- Bilbo does not exactly play the brave hero in this chapter. He puts on
the Ring, and spends the entirety of it invisible. He makes his stand (if
you can call it that) at Ravenhill, though his motives are mixed (to say the
least).
Please don't hesitate to post other points. I apologize for the length of
the synposis, but as I said, this is an action-packed chapter. I thought of
cutting out the Battle itself, but it is such an integral part of the
chapter, and of the next chapter as well, that I decided to write up a
summary of it as well. I hope that compression and my own lack of decent
wits about battle descriptions doesn't malign a very good chapter too much.
The Hobbit - Chapter 17: The Clouds Burst
To view previous Chapters of the Week or to sign up to do your own, please
go to http://parasha.maoltuile.org/
I. Synopsis
Bilbo returns the night before after delivering the Arkenstone into Bard's
hands. In the morning, trumpets can be heard in the camp, and a single
runner comes up asking if Thorin would listen to another embassy now that
new tidings had come to hand. Thorin knows immediately that is is Dain, and
so permits another embassy, unarmed and few in number.
At midday a company of twenty, including Bard, the Elvenking and an old man
wrapped in clock and hood bearing a strong casket. come. Bard asks if
Thorin's mind is the same, and if nothing will sway him. Then Bard reveals
he has the Arkenstone. Thorin is thrown into confusion and demands to know
how Bard came by it. Bilbo admits to being the thief, and Thorin is so put
out that he calls Bilbo an "undersized burglar" and shakes him terribly.
Gandalf reveals himself and asks that Bilbo not be harmed. Bilbo tries to
make something of an excuse for stealing the Arkenstone.
Bilbo is allowed to leave, and though Thorin's anger is great, some among
the Dwarves feel guilt and shame at this treatment. Thorin finally agrees
to give over one fourteenth of the treasure; Bilbo's share. Bard gives
Thorin until tomorrow to make good. When the company departs, Thorin sends
Roac to Dain to tell him what has occured.
A day passes, and the next day comes with news that Dain is moving quickly
around the eastern spur of the Mountain. Bard will not let Dain and his
Dwarves pass, hoping still that the treasure will be delivered in exchange
for the Arkenstone. Dain comes with supplies that might keep Thorin for
many weeks. With Dain blocked from bringing aid to Thorin, Bard sends
messengers back to the Gate, but they receive only arrows. It now seems
that battle is inevitable, and so it comes to pass.
But just as battle is joined, a darkness rolls across the sky in the form of
a black cloud from the north. Thunder rolls on the Mountain and lightning
lights its peak. Gandalf appears suddenly and alone and calls the
combatants to halt and announces that Bolg of the North is coming, with bats
above his army, and goblins riding on wolves, with Wargs as well. Gandalf
calls for Dain to make council with the Elvenking and Bard.
Thus ensues the Battle of Five Armies; with Goblins and Wolves on one side
and Elves, Men and Dwarves on the other. It seems that news of the Great
Goblin's fall has lead to the Goblins launching an attack from all their
cities and colonies, with the plan to gain dominion of the North. Around
and underneath the mountain Gundabad of the North, the goblins' capital, an
army was gathered to sweep down during the storms to catch their enemies
unaware. Emboldened by the news of the death of Smaug they came on the
heels of Dain.
So the council of the Dwarves, Bard and the Elvenking decide to that their
only chance is to lure the goblins into the valley between the arms of the
mountain. Elves man the Southern spur, while Men and Dwarves the Eastern.
Bard and the nimblest men climb up the Eastern shoulder. A vanguard of a
few men make a feint of resistance, and draw the goblins into the valley.
Bilbo, for his part, takes little part, and uses his magic ring to
disappear. Meanwhile the Elves charge, and then while the Goblins are still
recovering Dain and his Dwarves make their attack. But just as victory
seems assured, goblins that have scaled the Mountain are streaming down the
slopes above the Gate, and the defenders realize they have only stopped one
part of the goblin army.
As darkness falls the goblins gather again the valley with Wargs and the
bodyguard of Bolg with them. The bats prove terrible, as they fasten on to
the strick like vampires. Bard is defending the Eastern spur while the
Elves are trapped near the watch-post of Ravenhill.
Then with a trumpet call, Thorin and Company come through the Gate, and then
utters the stirring cry "To me! To me! Elves and Men! To Me! O my
kinsfolk." And come the Dwarves of Dain, and many of the Lake-men, and on
the other side the spearmen of the Elves. Thorin drives against the body
guard of Bolg, though he cannot push through. None can come to his aid,
for all are beset and being slowly beaten back.
Bilbo finally takes his stand on Ravenhill among the Elves, thinking in part
in offers the best chance of escape, and part (the Tookish) side deciding to
the last desperate stand. Gandalf is sitting there in deep thought,
possibly preparing some last blast of magic.
A final surprise awaits however. The clouds are torn by the wind revealing
a red sunset, and the Eagles come. Bilbo cries, unseen, "The Eagles!" a few
times but then a stone falling from above strikes him and he knows no more.
II. Points of Interest
- This has proved to be a very eventful chapter. With some detail, Tolkien
describes this battle, which begins between Dain's folk and Bard's, and ends
with a great battle with a great army of goblins in the north.
- Reading this again, I am rather surprised that Thorin did not just toss
Bilbo over the wall. Either he was seriously confused by the revelation of
who held the Arkenstone, or he felt a sufficient debt not to do Bilbo too
much harm (he did shake him rather vigorously).
- Bilbo tries to remind Thorin of the services he has offered. I thought
this rather a bit of cheek on Bilbo's part, considering he did steal and
deliver into enemy hands the treasure Thorin most valued.
- We get a fairly good description of what Dain's folk had for armor.
Hauberks of steel, flexible metal hose, metal caps and round-shields on
their backs, as well as wielding heavy two-handed mattocks. Most
frightening, if I were facing these fellows, would be their beards forked
and plated and thrust into their belts. Even more impressive, each carried
a substantial amount of supplies. Nowhere in all of Tolkien's writings do I
get a better vision of just how hardy and strong Dwarves really were.
- I wonder how a battle between Dain and his Dwarves on one side and the
Lake-men and the Elves on the other would have turned out. What would the
ramifications been for the War of the Ring?
- We get a detailed account of the Battle of the Five Armies, at least up
until Bilbo is knocked unconscious. I can't think of another children's
novel that packs that much battle into a few pages. I do confess that when
I read this chapter to my daughters, they found it boring (they were only
five and six at the time).
- Bolg, son of Azog, seems to the centerpiece of the goblin army. I also
note that Wargs are apparently not ridden in this battle, but rather wolves.
- The North of the Wilderland must be filled with warrens and tunnels for
goblins from all over the Misty Mountains to gather at Mount Gundabad.
- Bilbo does not exactly play the brave hero in this chapter. He puts on
the Ring, and spends the entirety of it invisible. He makes his stand (if
you can call it that) at Ravenhill, though his motives are mixed (to say the
least).
Please don't hesitate to post other points. I apologize for the length of
the synposis, but as I said, this is an action-packed chapter. I thought of
cutting out the Battle itself, but it is such an integral part of the
chapter, and of the next chapter as well, that I decided to write up a
summary of it as well. I hope that compression and my own lack of decent
wits about battle descriptions doesn't malign a very good chapter too much.
--
Aaron Clausen
tao_of_cow/\alberni.net (replace /\ with @)
Aaron Clausen
tao_of_cow/\alberni.net (replace /\ with @)