Friday, September 20, 2002
Hall of Fire Chat This Weekend
- Demosthenes @ 00:22 PST
The hero and the heroic in Lord of the Rings It's an intriguing question. Who is the hero in the Lord of the Rings? Who did Tolkien see as the hero? Is there more than one? What is it that characters such as Frodo, Aragorn, Sam and even Gollum do that make us regard them as heroes (or antiheroes)? Is Gollum actually an antihero? What makes an antihero? Is rebellion against authority all that is required, or is antihero simply another word for exciting villain? And what are the traits and acts which make a man or woman a hero? Is it military conquest? Sheer physical strength and courage such as Boromir exhibited? The ability to inspire and guide that Arathorn and Gandalf show? Are quieter, less flashy traits the most important ingredients in heroism? Traits such as steadfastness and loyalty to a seemingly impossible cause or task? Join us this weekend for what is sure to be yet another lively debate. Upcoming Topics: Place: Saturday Chat: 5:30 pm ET (17:30) [also 11:30 pm (23:30) CET and 7:30 am Sunday (07:30) AET] Sunday Chat: 7:00 pm (19:00) CET [also 1:00 pm (13:00) ET and 4:00 am (04:00) Monday morning AET] ET = Eastern Time, USA’s East Coast Do you have a topic you think would be worth discussing in hall of fire? E-mail us at halloffire@theonering.net
Sep 28 & 29 - TTT Book 4, Chap 3 - The Black Gate is closed
#thehalloffire on theonering.net server; come to theonering.net’s chat room Barliman's and then type /join #thehalloffire .
CET = Central European Time, Central Europe
Saturday, September 07, 2002
Hall Of Fire Chats For September 7th & 8th
- Strider @ 09:49 PST
At the end of The Fellowshp of the Ring, the Fellowship are broken up into two perilous quests; the Three Hunters attempt to rescue Merry and Pippin from their captors, and Frodo and Sam on their original mission to journey into Mordor to destroy the One Ring. This weekend, the Hall of Fire crew invite you to discuss the opening chapter in the latter half of The Two Towers, as we join Frodo and Sam on the road to Mordor in: Book IV, Chapter I - The Taming of Sméagol For the most part throughout their journey, Frodo and Sam have found themselves being pursued by the creature nicknamed Gollum, the bearer of the One Ring before Bilbo happened upon it on an adventure of his own. However, the two hobbits never had the opportunity to speak to Gollum himself, always the stalker, slinking behind them and guided by his desire to onc eagain regain his precious. All that changed once Gollum fell into the trap laid for him, and was forced to assume the role of guide through the devastated lands around Mordor. The Taming of Smeagol is a fascinating chapter, principally because it gives us a greater insight into the namesake of the chapter and the two conflicting guises that battle out in his tortured mind: Sméagol the slinker and Gollum the stinker. We also see a touchingly humane side to Frodo, who despite Sam's advice treats Sméagol with civility rather than cruelty, remembering the conversation with Gandalf in the Mines of Moria over pity and justice. This is one of the more character-driven chapters in The Two Towers, and should be a great basis for discussion this weekend! Place: Place: Saturday Chat: 5:30 pm ET (17:30) [also 11:30 pm (23:30) CET and 7:30 am Sunday (07:30) AET] Sunday Chat: 7:00 pm (19:00) CET [also 1:00 pm (13:00) ET and 4:00 am (04:00) Monday morning AET] ET = Eastern Time, USA’s East Coast Questions? Topics? Send ‘em here.
Sep 14 & 15 - TTT Book 4, Chap 2 - The Passage of the Marshes
Sep 21 & 22 - Hero & the Heroic in LoTR
Sep 28 & 29 - TTT Book 4, Chap 3 - The Black Gate is closed
#thehalloffire on theonering.net server; come to theonering.net’s chat room Barliman's and then type /join #thehalloffire .
CET = Central European Time, Central Europe
Friday, August 30, 2002
Hall Of Fire Chats For August 31st & September 1st
- Strider @ 20:03 PST
The Lord of the Rings is a book of undeniable quality, arguably one of the greatest books ever written and in recent years winner of the incredible accolade of 'greatest book of the 20th century'. In comparison, The Hobbit has often been criticised for being a more childish and simplistic tale, some say fairly, some say not. This weekend, the Hall of Fire discusses whether The Hobbit is a worthy precursor to The Lord of the Rings. Some claim that The Hobbit should not be judged in comparison to The Lord of the Rings but a singular piece of work in its own right. Originally, The Hobbit was conceived by J.R.R Tolkien as a story to tell his children at bedtime, and from that evolved into the story of an unintentional hero called Bilbo Baggins. The Hobbit is a different literary genre to The Lord of the Rings, written with no thought or intention on having a successor. Is it not unfair to view it as otherwise? However, there are a number of people who hold a contrasting view to the above. The fact that The Hobbit was written as a children's tale is irrelevant: as the predecessor to The Lord of the Rings it is highly unsatisfactory, a mediocre piece of writing, unworthy of being spoken in the same breath as The Lord of the Rings. But which view do you share? The believe that The Hobbit is a more simplistic and idealistic tale that shares the innocent view of Bilbo Baggins as he steps out into the big, wild world? Or is it a piece of literature that pales in comparison to The Lord of the Rings, and falls short of its high standard. Whichever view you share, join us this weekend for what should be a fantastic debate! Place: Place: Saturday Chat: 5:30 pm ET (17:30) [also 11:30 pm (23:30) CET and 7:30 am Sunday (07:30) AET] Sunday Chat: 7:00 pm (19:00) CET [also 1:00 pm (13:00) ET and 4:00 am (04:00) Monday morning AET] ET = Eastern Time, USA’s East Coast Questions? Topics? Send ‘em here.
Sep 7 & 8 - TTT Book 4, Chap 1 - The Taming of Smeagol
Sep 14 & 15 - TTT Book 4, Chap 2 - The Passage of the Marshes
Sep 21 & 22 - Hero & the Heroic in LoTR
Sep 28 & 29 - TTT Book 4, Chap 3 - The Black Gate is closed
#thehalloffire on theonering.net server; come to theonering.net’s chat room Barliman's and then type /join #thehalloffire .
CET = Central European Time, Central Europe
Friday, August 23, 2002
Hall of Fire Chats For August 24th & 25th
- Strider @ 21:45 PST
Throughout the Lord of the Rings, there are many works of a mysterious, wonderous and, despite Tolkien's dislike of the concept, magical nature; the Elven blades that light in the prescence of Orcs, the staffs of the Wizards, and most prominent of all the One Ring. This weekend, the Hall of Fire is host to a discussion on a chapter from the Two Towers based on another one of these amazing objects from the history of Middle-earth: Book III, Chapter XI: The Palant'r When Wormtongue throws a black orb out from Saruman's chamber in Orthanc to the ground below, no-one pays heed to it save Pippin who becomes immeaditely interested by it. Later that night when Gandalf and the rest of the company rest on their way to Edoras, Pippin finds a way to take the orb from Gandalf's grasp and finally gets a chance to peer into it's dark depths. What he gazes upon within it however is something he would ever desire to see. Soon, it becomes clear what the nature of the orb is: a palant'r. This chapter not only gives us great insight into the nature of the palant'r, a mysterious and powerful creation from times before the Third Age, but also highlights the strength and resolve of Hobbits. We also see Aragorn take one step closer to accepting his destiny as he receives the palant'r from Gandalf. Join us this weekend for what should be a great discussion! Place: Saturday Chat: 5:30 pm ET (17:30) [also 11:30 pm (23:30) CET and 7:30 am Sunday (07:30) AET] Sunday Chat: 7:00 pm (19:00) CET [also 1:00 pm (13:00) ET and 4:00 am (04:00) Monday morning AET] ET = Eastern Time, USA’s East Coast Questions? Topics? Send ‘em here.
#thehalloffire on theonering.net server; come to theonering.net’s chat room Barliman's and then type /join #thehalloffire .
CET = Central European Time, Central Europe
Monday, August 19, 2002
Upcoming Hall of Fire Chats for August
- Demosthenes @ 11:32 PST
Just a quick heads up to let people know what's coming up in Hall of Fire over the next fortnight. This weekend we'll be finishing Book 3 of The Two Towers with a discussion of the chapter "The Palantir". Then over the weekend of August 31 - Sept 1 we'll be having a special discussion: "Is the Hobbit a worthy precursor to Lord of the Rings?" The literary styles of the Hobbit and LoTR vary wildly, and where LoTR has been hailed as the Book of the century, the Hobbit often is overlooked. Is this because of a deficiency in the storytelling of the Hobbit? Is it simply a less worthy and interesting tale? Does the simplistic style and the seemingly childish hobbits/dragons/dwarves trivialise this as a prelude to LOTR, or do the hints of deeper waters, larger stories, wider lands, and myths, give the Hobbit an extra dimension that works as a springboard to a more complex story? Don't forget to brush the dust off your copy of the Hobbit and re-read it beforehand! Hope to see you all there for what should be a cracker of a discussion.
Tuesday, August 13, 2002
Maegwen's Barlibash 2002 Section!
- Pippin_Took @ 23:58 PST
Many, many thanks from TheOneRing.net to Barliman's regular maegwen for putting together a fantastic Barlibash 2002 section! If you didn't make it to Barlibash this year, a quick glance will let you know how much fun was had by all, and it might even convince you to join us next year. If you were with us in Seattle, the section is a great collection of reflections and memories of all the good times. Either way, you won't want to miss browsing through! [More]
Friday, August 09, 2002
Hall Of Fire Chats For August 10th & 11th
- Strider @ 20:30 PST
Throughout the first half of The Two Towers, Tolkien shifts narratives constantly from Aragorn, Gimli and Legolas plight to save their friends and to assist the Riders of Rohan to Merry and Pippin's escape from their Uruk-hai captors and their new friends the Ents. However, there finally comes a chapter after the events of Helm's Deep where the two groups are finally reunited and by recounting their own adventures, fill in any gaps in the story that the reader may have missed along the way: Book III, Chapter IX: Flotsam and Jetsam Flotsam and Jetsam is a chapter which finally gives us a chance to take in the events of the previous chapters which moved at such a quick pace and introduced us to one of the most innovative races in the history of literature. The chapter also sheds light on the things unsaid in the previous passages, such as how the Ents arrived at Isengard and how they went about wrought the incredible damage and havoc they did. It has often been said that you don't truly understand a character and the strife they go through until you hear them recounting the experience itself. In this way, listening to the characters in The Two Towers describe their journeys themselves, along with the thoughts and emotions they had at the time, only heightens our understanding of the characters themselves. This chapter has something for everyone, from Ent fans to Hobbit fans, so join us this weekend for what should be a great discussion! Upcoming Discussions: Place: Saturday Chat: 5:30 pm ET (17:30) [also 11:30 pm (23:30) CET and 7:30 am Sunday (07:30) AET] Sunday Chat: 7:00 pm (19:00) CET [also 1:00 pm (13:00) ET and 4:00 am (04:00) Monday morning AET] ET = Eastern Time, USA’s East Coast Questions? Topics? Send ‘em here.
Aug 18 & 28: TTT Chapter Chat - The Voice of Saruman
#thehalloffire on theonering.net server; come to theonering.net’s chat room Barliman's and then type /join #thehalloffire .
CET = Central European Time, Central Europe