I KNOW he's not up to the work of his ancestors, but darn it, what else are
Dwarves FOR?
1) Rivendell serves a similar purpose in both The Hobbit and LotR. Do you
see any parallels between Frodo’s and Bilbo’s journeys to Rivendell?
a: Of course I do. If I didn't, you just quoted the letter that
makes them explicit. One obvious thing the two scenes have in common is
the revelation of mysteries. That'll do for me.
2) Did you think it strange that Frodo (a convalescent considered a few hours
before this almost too delicate to hear what had happened to him at the Ford)
was left to fend for himself in an unfamiliar social situation?
a: Resiliant little varmits, ain't they?
3) The “fading” of the Elves from Middle-earth is emphasized in LOTR. The
fate of the Dwarves is not discussed as much. Are we seeing a hint here
that the Dwarves are also fading?
a: Just about everything in Middle-Earth is declining, and has been for
some time. Here, I think, the Swarves are just sharing in the common
trend.
