…“Who’s the bad one: Saruman or Sauron?” He must have gotten this question from the recent movie.
Unbeknownst to me, nine-year-old Kyle’s become enthralled with the Ring trilogy, has begun reading the Hobbit and asks me questions such as this one out of the blue. Another recent one was, “Why are the Dwarves going to Bilbo’s house?” He’s also informed me that I have to take him to see Two Towers upon it’s opening this December. Wasn’t the first movie released last year?
Yes, I played D&D when I was younger and I read and liked LotR, but I don’t like the trilogy if you catch my meaning. Hell, I barely remember the Dwarves, let alone know why they’re visiting Bilbo!
My usual response is, “Keep reading.” Which is more often than not countered with a whiny, “C’mon, Dad!”
Someone, quick… help me deflect some of my son’s distain with a modicum of Tolkien knowledge. What do I need to know so I don’t sound dumb to my kid?
Yes, the first one came out in the theaters late last year, and the DVD and video were just released.
If he’s read any of the books, he’ll be ahead of the pack. I thought the movie did a good job of summing up the plot without making it tough for novices to follow.
Regarding Saruman and Sauron:
Sauron is pure evil. At the beginning of Fellowship of the Ring, his background is provided - he’s the one who created the One Ring, and it is to him that the One Ring wishes to return. Definitely a bad guy.
Saruman the White is good, one of the wizards of the High Council (I think that’s the name), along with Gandalf the Grey. Unfortunately, he’s apparently susceptible to corruption, as later events show.
The dwarves are visiting Bilbo because they feel a Hobbit would be very useful in their adventure - Hobbits are great at moving about undetected, and they’re excellent thieves, too.
Other LoTR people will undoubtedly chime in, perhaps before I finish posting.
I should add that I was deliberately vague here just in case he hasn’t gotten to that particular point in the book (Fellowship); I don’t want to ruin it for him.
Also, all three of the movies in the trilogy were made at the same time. So the last one will most likely be released around Christmas time next year. They were busy working out the special effects for the latter movies after the first one was released.
Minor nitpick, The dwarves go to Bilbo’s house because Gandalf inscribed a secret message on Bilbo’s door saying that he was a theif looking for work. They don’t think much at all of Bilbo… until he saves their butts from the mountain trolls anyway.
Another minor nitpick. I believe it was Gandalf that saved their butts by throwing his voice and keeping the trolls arguing until the sun rises. Bilbo is the first to get captured by the trolls (a burrahobbit, eh?). Bilbo saves their butts much later by giving away the dragon’s secret weak spot to the Bard of Dale.
Get your nitpicks straight! The dwarves become impressed with Bilbo’s thieving abilities when he plans and carries out their escape from the wood elves on the borders of Mirkwood – although they are less than thrilled with being almost drowned in the process. They are simply amazed by his ability to sneak around, not knowing it’s because he can go invisible.
If you want a simple plot and story summary, rent the animated version. Heresy, I know, but it is the simplest way to become somewhat familiar with the story.
If you have read the Hobbit, the dwarves are there because Gandalf put the sign on Bilbo’s door. Bilbo was just the lucky number to avoid travelling with thirteen in a party.
If you have read the trilogy, including its appendiceses, the dwarves are there because Gandalf was trying to influence the dwarves in order to thwart Sauron’s free movement in region of Dale, and Mt. Erebor.
If you have read The Silmarillion, the dwarves are there because nothing really happens by chance, but rather because great forces were at work, long before even the wise were aware of it.
Mirkwood … spiders … obviously those Middle Earthers never heard of controlled burning…
ChiefScott, note that “The Hobbit” is not a part of the trilogy, “The Lord of the Rings”. The first is oriented toward young people. If your son is wading through “The Lord of the Rings”, you might want to try reading it again, if only to help him through it. It is quite difficult reading for a nine-year old, but the reading skills gained… well worth your trouble.
When I were a lad (aged about 9), my parents read the Hobbit aloud to me.
It has lots of climaxes, when of course you stop reading and leave the kid enthusiastic for more.
As a grown-up, I’m now reading the book aloud to a 7 and 9 year old.
I get to do voices (Gandalf is confident*, Thorin is posh, the dwarves are from the UK West Country…).
I get to do sound effects (kettles boiling, fireworks, doors opening…)
ChiefScott, trust me - this is top quality time.
Reading aloud to kids is also pure enjoyment.
*and so would you be if you had one of the 3 Elvish Rings!
Well, I am sure I would be posh, but Thorin never had the elvish ring his Father had. He took it with him, and it was taken from him in Dol Goldur, by either the Nazgul, or Sauron himself.
Tris, the man who explained superbly why the dwarves made the journey, using 3 source books, now makes 2 simple mistakes. :eek:
Of course you meant Thorin never got a dwarf ring. Also I did say that Gandalf was the one with the Elvish Ring (Nenya, Ring of Fire, if memory serves).
Nine for Mortal Men, Doomed to Die
Seven for Dwarven Kings, in their Halls of Stone
Three for the Elves under the sky
and One for the Dark Lord on his Dark Throne.
One Ring to rule them all,
One Ring to bind them,
One Ring to bring them all,
and in the Darkness bind them
In the Land of Mordor where the Shadows lie.
Plus I think it was Cirdan the shipwright who bunged Gandalf the Ring.
IIRC, it was Cirdan, the shipwright, who loaned or gifted Gandalf with Nenya.
Crap. This thread has made me want to re-re-re-re-re-re-re-read the Hobbit & the LOTR again. I thought my Tolkein itch was scratched sufficiently by re-re-reading the Silmarilion this winter, not to mention the movie > DVD release.
And if you have read the NYC MegaDopefest III thread, the dwarves are there because he has bagels with your choice of lox, whitefish, cream cheese or butter and other tasty toppings like incidentals such as scallions and capers.
One ring to rule them all, one ring to find them,
one ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them
in the original language (Also from memory) Ash-nazg durbatuluk, ash nazg gimbatul,
ash nazg thrakatuluk agh burzum-ishi krimpatul!
(When I think of the time it took me to memorize that! :o I can’t remember where the accents go though.)