Grouped questions are variations of the same thought. You
may pick just one, a few, or all questions in a grouping [or none].
Text:
Bilbo began to nod again. Suddenly up stood Gandalf.
"It is time for us to sleep," he said, "–for us, but not I think
for Beorn. In this hall we can rest sound and safe, but I warn you all not to
forget what Beorn said before he left us: you must not stray outside until the
sun is up, on you peril."
Q: Beorn’s Warning: Or is it Gandalf’s warning (I don’t remember Beorn saying
any such thing!) . . . is he reminding, relaying, or generating in Beorn’s
name? Is this warning familiar? Why must they not stray outside until the sun
is up? Why would they want to, anyway, after what they went through?
Text:
Bilbo found that beds had already been laid at the side of the
hall, on a sort of raised platform between the pillars and the outer wall. For
him there was a little mattress of straw and woolen blankets. He snuggled into
them very gladly, summertime though it was. There fire burned low and he fell
asleep. Yet in the night he woke: the fire had now sunk to a few embers; the
dwarves and Gandalf were all asleep, to judge by their breathing; a splash of
white on the floor came from the high moon, which was peering down through the
smoke-hole in the roof.
There was a growling sound outside, and a noise as of some great
animal scuffling at the door. Bilbo wondered what it was, and whether it could
be Beorn in enchanted shape, and if he would come in as a bear and kill them.
He dived under the blankets and hid his head, and fell asleep again at last in
spite of his fears.
Q: Growling and Scuffling: What are the great scuffling and growling noises
outside caused by? Is Beorn in enchanted shape? What is going on outside? Could
they come in and would that be dangerous for Bilbo and the others?
Q: Bilbo’s Courage: ‘He dived under the blankets and hid his head’ Last week we
agreed that Gandalf sees and likes most about Bilbo is his courage! He faced
being trapped by terrible danger and came out unscathed…now he is safe in bed
and is frightened by noises outside. – So where did his courage go? Does it
only come out in a pinch? Why would noises outside scare him after facing
Gollum and the Orcs so
boldly?
* * * * * * * * * * *
Links for this week’s RR discussions: Queer Lodgings Chapter #7:
1. Notation Page for ‘Queer Lodgings’; 2. Beorning Questions; 3. The Beornings Book quotes ; 4. Artists of Middle-Earth [OneRing.net]; 5. Queer Lodgings Annotated Art: [Torania.com] "Mightier than Estë is Nienna, sister of the Fëanturi; she dwells alone. She is acquainted with grief, and mourns for every wound that Arda suffered in the marring of Melkor. So great was her sorrow, as the Music unfolded that her song turned to lamentation long before its end, and the sound of mourning was woven into the themes of the World before it began. But she does not weep for herself; and those who hearken to her learn pity, and endurance in hope. . . . All those who wait in Mandos cry to her, for she brings strength to the spirit and turns sorrow to wisdom." Valaquenta
Aloha & Mahalo – What is The Aloha Spirit
