A Long-Expected Party

[Elessar]

Oh, I didn't mean to say that I thought that he didn't have a sense of humor, just that I've heard people say it before at other places. I certainly don't agree with it though. I love how his humor is usually very subtle, and not over-the-top.

Oh and I agree about the way the Ring is used in relation to Gandalf. It sort of plants a seed of tension in the chapter.

It has been awhile since I've read the prologue as well... thanks for the quotes Mirkgirl! Very interesting.

[Arwen Evenstar]

I love Tolkien's sense of humor! I love the line about Lobelia, she took the point at once, but she also took the spoons.
And his descriptions are wonderful!
One thing I really noticed this time was how much of a 'gentlehobbit' the Gaffer seems to be. When the other hobbits are talking about Frodo, and how odd he is because he's a Brandybuck, the Gaffer is talking about how nice Frodo was. He wasn't letting the prejudice against the Brandybuck's make him view Frodo any differently. He was looking at Frodo for who he really was. And even though he knows the other hobbits disagree with him, he's willing to still stick up for Frodo and Bilbo, and say how good he thinks they are.

[Shieldmaiden]

That was my favorite line! Hobbits are the most wonderful creatures! I was really suprised at how much they really left out of the movies! Like the Dwarves bringing things to Bilbo and the gifts given at the party. Some of my favorite parts too.

[Linwen]

About Tolkien's sense of humour: there's a quote in Letters that might be interesting...it's in Letter no. 213: I am in fact, a hobbit (in all but size) - this bit is fairly well known, and it goes on about smoking a pipe and wearing ornamental waist-coats. And then he says:I have a very simple sense of humour (which even my appreciative critics find tiresome) -- so evidently he doesn't see himself as a terribly funny person at all...Just thought it might be interesting.

Personally, I think there's a lot of homour, especially in the hobbit descriptions, and even more in the 'nasty' hobbits...it makes you laugh about these things - the way I suppose you'd laugh about kittens playing. After all, they're small, and they can't really do a lot of harm yet, but imagine them as full-grown lions and you'll probably stop laughing. I expect I was taking the hobbits to seriously for a minute, although the hobbits'll probably be terribly upset now, because I expect the'd prefer to be taken seriously.

I guess you're right about 1) the 'nasty' hobbit traits showing how child-like they are, and 2) about them not being perfect as well...prolly just goes to show the personality tests were right after all and I belong in Lothlórien

I love that quote, I read it out to my mum because I loved it that much (she doesn't really like LotR, and hasn't read it). I also love that Gandy moment: If you don't let me in, Frodo, I shall blow your door right down your hole and out through the hill

woops - this turned out a bit longer than I expected   - sorry about being boring again

[MirkwoodArcher]

Your posts are never boring. I love to read your opinions and ideas and your posts are never too long!

;D

Nen

[Linwen]

Really? Awww, you've just completely made my day

Sorry -- now this was really off topic...

[Shieldmaiden]

I loved that line too. I think Tolkien had more of a sense of humor than he gave himself credit for, but we proabaly wouldn't love him if he had known how funny he really was.

I love the party mostly because you get to meet some of your favorite charachters for the first time and when you read the books the first time you don't really understand how familiar and well loved the names and charachters really will become.

[Lothiel]

Well you know, sometimes the people who don't view themselves as funny are the funniest of all!

(OT: I experience this on a daily basis... It's really bad when I'm trying to be serious and then people just about die with laughter...!)

[EldarLOTRfan]

Marieke said:

Maybe the Hobbits just aren't that perfect. But if you have lived in peace with each other for so many years, I don't think that it makes the Hobbits bad. If humans aren't able to live a couple of years without war, I think the hobbits are doing way better. And maybe they can accept more than humans, so it's not that bad if there are Sandymen and Sackvile-Bagginses.

Interesting point. Mostly wars seem to be driven my this mad and insane (at least I think so) desire for power. Greed, excess, jealousy, and all that sort of thing indulged to the point where evil wins out.

Though the hobbits have some envy, greed and whatnot; note Lobelia and the spoons, it is not quite to the degree that it threatens the general tranquility of the Shire.

[Mirkgirl]

Well Tolkien made such a humours description of the hobbits live... maybe it's not the humour we're used to see now tho (just look at most LotR related humour ), but it's funny in a way that doens't make the objects look like idiots or freaks.

The Gaffer is indeed a grand chap... but there's something else I noticed in the way the craft is passed. The Gaffer is introduced to gardening by his father's cousin and then it passes to Sam, who is the youngest of his sons... somehow I'd think that it'd be the son and the biggest son to take the father's work... then again maybe it is to prove that some love to the gardening is required and they didn't go simply by seniority


S
P
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Don't read if you haven't read the whole book![/B]
Indeed Lobelia is not a rolemodel, but she is one of the ones who are imprisoned for standing against the new "government" of the Shire... The hobbits do not wish and do not accept dominance... as is proved that they have no real laws (the Rules, old and just), that they never really were a part of the old Kingdom even tho they recognized the King as their King... as Gandalf says, one can learn all about them in ten minutes and after many years they can still surprise them. (not right quote)

[Shieldmaiden]

Lothiêl said:

(OT: I experience this on a daily basis... It's really bad when I'm trying to be serious and then people just about die with laughter...!)

Happens to me all the time. I can never get anyone to take me seriously!

Honestly I think you're right. I garden and it's not easy work you'd really have to love it to get things to grow.

[Brannwen]

That's very true, Shieldmaiden. I like plants and such, but I do not have the patience to do gardening. Everyone in my family is good at it except me. Tolkien has the perfect amount of sense of humor for me. It doesn't get overly funny and silly; just a healthy sprinkle of lines to amuse you while still writing a very serious story.

[EldarLOTRfan]

Mirkgirl said:

as Gandalf says, one can learn all about them in ten minutes and after many years they can still surprise them.

That is one of my many favorite lines in the story. I think it is coming up in the next chapter too!

[Mirkgirl]

I know about plants... I managed to dry a cactus myself ...I can only admire people who have the patience and love to grow something!

Does it? I'm a bit behind and haven't started reading chapter 2 yet... that quote is well stuck in my mind tho

One more thing for this chapter I just remembered today.. it's great how Tolkien makes the connection between The Hobbit and LotR wiht the first chapter... "Unexpected Party" to "A Long-Expected Party"... in a way the Hobbit, without he knowing it when he started writing become one unexpected party for all the readers... and then all the letters he got begging for a sequel... and finally the long expected party began (: