Book 6

Cirith Ungol
Mordor
Mount Doom
Crowning of King
Homeward Bound
Scouring of Shire
Grey Havens

2 part book: fulfillment of Quest, return home

1-3 Frodo and Sam (Mordor) 4-9 New World

1-3 Quest -- Gollum does play important part, sign that pity and mercy rewarded, seems providential

Frodo the nine-fingered like Sauron and Isildur, sense of pattern completed

Gollum needed because Frodo can't do it himself

Gollum has promised to keep it from Sauron

in a paradoxical way, he keeps his word.

Book IV tied together in spirit of cooperation, effect is helpful

"spirit of Mordor" Shagrat and Gorbag

p. 217 opposite to spirit of cooperation, crowning of Aragorn individual stature diminished but group action emphasized

Scouring of Shire

p. 271 Red Book put together by Bilbo, Frodo, and Sam

Frodo's state early in Book VI, his memory fails

sees only "wheel of fire" suggestive of Hell

vaguely suggestive of Gandalf's fireworks, image of torture

Frodo seems to be cold, so fire is perverse, it doesn't heat

Frodo pretty much useless, lost touch with reality

p. 195 Ring can create visual effects [Sam in Tower of Cirith Ungol, orc sees him as monstrous Lord] p. 157

doubleness of vision, robed in white the good Frodo and the fire is bad Frodo [could be his full evil power]

VI important thing about Frodo -- first time we see him he has been stripped, bared before Power (of Ring , of Eye)

he also throws away his weapons, he will not strike a blow again, he becomes the ultimately passive character, he is pacifist in Shire, most wounded character in book

Sam changes toward Gollum, shows pity, continues to have hope, sees star

p. 187, 191 series of temptation scenes / easier to give up. Sam's will prevails

master/servant taken over by Frodo/Smagol (alternative is slave--worst character exhibit)

Sam/ Frodo's relationship changes to friendship, not camaraderie (Pippin and Merry, Legolas and Gimli)

Chaps 4-9 renewal, end of 3rd age (revivification)

tree -- Eowyn / Faramir

feast, crowing, new tree, marriage (Aragorn/ Arwen, Faramir/ Eowyn, Sam/Rosie)

[Sam's responsibility to Frodo so much more important than Rosie]

Scouring of Shire / Grey Havens

marriages as ending is conventional -- settling down, end of transient life (adventures protect the normative existance)

promise of Aragorn's reign -- family continuity

Sam and Rosie's child name apporpriate because Sam revives vegetation (Elanor = flower)

marriage -- union between Rohan and Gondor, replaces fellowship

Elrond not happy about Arwen's marriage (Arwen not at death)

Shire -- changes: Mill polutes but does no work, build ugly houses, rules (way slaves are treated) gathering and sharing, chopped down trees, no such thing as fun (no ale)

maturity -- relevation of Merry as military hobbit, Frodo becomes more statesman

Sam's role, character who can bring back life. Trees, child, capable of hard work

end of book discusses kings -- vegetable growth when king returns

old king gets sacrificed -- Frodo (no cure for him, no healing)