![]() Fernand Cabrol in his 1911 Catholic Encyclopedia "Octave" article says, "Certain octaves were considered as privileged days, on which work was forbidden." The original 3 April would make sense in this typological liturgical-year context - but Tolkien then tried 4, 7, and finally 6 April - none of which obviously fits in with any such approach as far as I can see.ĭr. If one thought of the Annunciation and Crucifixion as coinciding on 25 March, then 3 April would be the Octave of Easter. Tom Shippey was the first person I read attending to the wealth of events variously thought to have taken place on 25 March. That "the third of April, and subsequent revision put-in fourth and seventh, before settling on sixth" is a fascinating aspect of the matter - and 'mystery'. Given their respective stories, my expectation would have been for Sam to recover faster. ![]() What has puzzled me is the fact that although Sam's is the point of view from which we see their re-awakening, it was actually Frodo who woke first. This would parallel the larger story of Frodo's failure to completely heal, as a consequence of his physical sufferings and his spiritual battles, and therefore his need to be 'removed from the consciousness of Middle-earth'. Is it possible that Tolkien wished to emphasise the magnitude of what the hobbits, individually, have achieved and suffered, by having them somehow overcome by enemies even though ultimately victorious? In which case the time spent unconscious by Frodo and Sam would indicate that their struggle and achievement was so much greater that those of the other hobbits. And finally, Frodo and Sam are rendered unconscious by exhaustion, noxious gases, the after-effects of carrying the Ring and Sauron's downfall. Pippin is knocked or crushed unconscious by a troll at the final battle, after hearing Gandalf announce the Eagles. Merry was found, effectively unconscious, by Pippin, after stabbing the Witch King this was the 'high point' of Merry's story, after which he is inactive until after the destruction of the Ring. Bilbo was knocked unconscious after seeing the Eagles at the Battle of Five Armies, which is the resolving event of The Hobbit. Tolkien appears to use unconsciousness as a sort of 'plot punctuation' at the crux of his hobbit characters' stories. ![]() I have puzzled over the chronology of this period of time, and I cannot see any reason why F&S should be compelled to remain comatose for such an unfeasibly long period of time - in an era without the possibility of parenteral hydration and nutrition! In The History of Middle Earth - Sauron Defeated Christopher Tolkien comments that in the earliest draft the date of Frodo and Sam's awakening was the third of April, and subsequent revision put-in fourth and seventh, before settling on sixth.īut why so long? Christopher says: "I do not know precisely what considerations impelled my father so greatly to prolong the time during which Sam and Frodo lay asleep." The only clue is a marginal note saying: "More time required for of goods" And though you have indeed slept long and blessedly, still it is now time to sleep again.' 'But you went to the very brink of death ere he recalled you, putting forth all his power, and sent you into the sweet forgetfulness of sleep. The only explanation comes a few pages later when Gandalf says: 'The hands of the King are hands of healing, dear friends,' he said. Ħ - The Ring-bearers are honoured on the Field of Cormallen.Īpparently Frodo and Sam were asleep for about a fortnight! Downfall of Barad-dûr and passing of Sauron. Gollum seizes the Ring and falls in the Cracks of Doom. ![]() Frodo and Samwise reach the Sammath Naur. March 25 - The Host is surrounded on the Slag-hills of Dagorlad. In the chronology of The Lord of the Rings - Appendix B - there is a strangely long period between the destruction of the One Ring and the rescue of the unconscious Frodo and Sam by Gandalf and the eagles - and Frodo and Sam awakening to participate in the celebration on the Field of Cormallen.
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