Chapter of the Week - LotR Bk1 Ch6: "The Old Forest"

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Summary

Frodo is woken up before dawn by an energetic Merry. As soon as their
preparations are done (and breakfast eaten), Merry leads the party
through the countryside, along the Hedge, and into the Old Forest. Fatty
takes his leave of them, and the Hobbits leave the Shire. The silent
hostility of the forest immediately makes an impression on the party.
A friendly shout from Pippin and a cheerful song by Frodo only seem
to increase this discomfort.

The hobbits lunch on a naked hill above the forest roof, and are given a
lesson in the local geography by Merry. As they leave the hill, they
find that the forest inevitably nudges them in the direction they do not
want to go - southeast, towards the root of the forest's "queerness". At
the bank of the river Withywindle they find a path which they follow
until a sudden sleepiness overpowers them. Sam is the only one who
doesn't find peace against the trunk of a willow, but remains alert
enough to save Frodo from drowning when he falls into the river. The
two then discover that Pippin and Merry are being swallowed by a
willow. Attempts to release them by lighting a fire only leads to the
tree squashing them harder.

Frodo, despairing, runs along the path, crying for help. To his
surprise, he is answered. The person he meets is man-like, yet not quite
a Man, and incessantly singing. He calls himself Tom Bombadil, and
easily makes the willow release the captive hobbits. He then promises
the travellers lodgings at his house and gives them directions on how to
find it. As they are again about to collapse from exhaustion, they reach
a neat garden, and a house emanating song and golden light.

***

Comments & Questions

Feel free to drag writings from this chapter, other Tolkien works, or
your own wild speculations into this discussion.


This is a chapter that leads into the unknown. The hobbits leave the
Shire, locking the gate behind them, and venture into unfamiliar
territory. This is symbolised by the dense mist that envelops them as
they set out, and returns to do so in the evening. However, the mist
doesn't reach Tom Bombadil's, which signals a small respite from the big
wide world. His garden is neat and ordered in an English manner, which
must be very comforting to the hobbits. But why does he have such a
pretty garden? Doesn't he like the forest?

This chapter is called, and takes place in, the Old Forest. The forest
has already been mentioned several times in the previous chapter, and
now both readers and hobbits will find out if the rumours about it are
true. Are they?

The forest Hedge is covered in cobwebs. Is this a sign from the author
saying "Danger. Keep Out"? Do you think any of the hobbits remembered
the spiders of Mirkwood at this stage, or had other premonitions?

They enter the forest through a tunnel and gate, made out of brick and
iron. Why would the Brandybucks create such an elaborate entrance into a
place that seemed to be so unwelcoming? Were they just adventurous, or
had they been thinking ahead?

We are told about the Forest encroaching on the Hedge, threatening to
swallow it. Would the trees actually have entered the Shire if the
Hobbits hadn't fought it so fiercely? Was this a "necessary war"?

Was this conflict the only reason the Forest resented the
hobbits, or did the trees have a general reason for disliking two-
footers?

How do the trees communicate? They seem to be pretty quick, both in
relaying information and in changing their formations.

Could the hobbits possibly have gone in any other direction than the one
chosen for them by the Forest?

Wasn't it a marvellous coincidence that Tom came wandering down that
path just when they needed him the most?

As the chapter begins, Frodo is still shaken by his dream, whereas Merry
is friskily prepared for the journey ahead. Further indications of
Frodo's spiritual personality versus Merry's being a man of action?

"I'll sing his roots off. I'll sing a wind up and blow leaf and branch
away."

Song is very important in this chapter. The hobbits are lulled to sleep,
but also saved by it. What does this reflect, if anything - the magical
power song has in Middle Earth? The fact that this power can be both
used and misused?

There is also an interesting contrast in that the tree makes the hobbits
sleep, whereas Tom says the tree should not be waking.

"In their shed they found the ponies; sturdy little beasts of the
kind loved by hobbits, not speedy, but good for a long day's work."

We did it for the dogs, and I believe the ponies deserve no worse. What
kind of modern-day pony would this kind resemble? The extremely small
toy horses, or a more rugged Northern type, such as a Shetland pony?
(guess where my money lies)

"In the midst of it there wound lazily a dark river of brown water,
bordered with ancient willows, arched over with willows, blocked with
fallen willows, and flecked with thousands of faded willow-leaves."

An example of Tolkien's willowy phrases of nature description. In this
case, it's also important for what follows.

We first meet the famous Tom Bombadil. As the author states, what he's
singing is nonsense, and clearly, his rhymes are not meant to be
poetical. However, his songs very much remind me of certain nonsense
lines in British folk songs (for instance "to me ri-fol-lair-ry, fol-
the-diddle-ay" or "must-a-whack-a-row-di-dow-now, right-a-fol-di-
daddy"). If you just listen to Tom Bombadil's singing without trying to
make sense of it, it's actually quite euphonious. Like "cellar door".

I'll leave the biggest question, "Who is Tom Bombadil", to the next
chapter discussion. };

--
Tamf, lellow dwagin and CHOKLIT-eater at your service.

Ents for E-books

Tamfiiris Entwife wrote:

 > The forest Hedge is covered in cobwebs. Is this a sign from the author
 > saying "Danger. Keep Out"?

No, this is just a natural phenomon. At that time of year spiders are
abundant, and the dew and fog makes their webs very visible in the morning.

I think Tolkien mention it to stress the slight sinister feeling: early
morning, fog, travelling into the unknown.

 > Do you think any of the hobbits remembered
 > the spiders of Mirkwood at this stage, or had other premonitions?

Nope.

 > They enter the forest through a tunnel and gate, made out of brick and
 > iron. Why would the Brandybucks create such an elaborate entrance
 > into a place that seemed to be so unwelcoming?

It would be useful, if the forest once again tried to attack the hedge. how
else would they get near the trees?

 > Wasn't it a marvellous coincidence that Tom came wandering down that
 > path just when they needed him the most?

Indeed. But as we know (some of us, at least) a million to one chances turn
out nine times out of ten. Which is good for Frodo, since this is neither
the first nor the last time he is helped by a million to one chance.

--
Kristian Damm Jensen damm (at) ofir (dot) dk
"He deserves death."
"Deserves it! I daresay he does. Many that live deserve death. And some
that die deserve life. Can you give it to them? Then do not be too eager to
deal out death in judgement. For even the very wise cannot see all
ends." -- Tolkien in The Fellowship of the Ring