LOTR Read-Along: The Fellowship of the Ring: Fog on the Barrow-Downs

All good things come to an end. Frodo and his companions have regained their strength while under the hospitality of Tom Bombadil and Goldberry. Now, they venture into the Barrow-Downs. A rather dodgy and murky countryside that borders into the supernatural. As always, Tolkien stretches out this chapter would unrelenting narration of nature, trees, ground and green. However, the tour comes to an abrupt halt when Frodo gets caught in--guess what?--fog.

In a tale form that completely harkens back to George McDonald's fantasy/sci-fi artistry, Tolkien reads into Frodo's psyche and we begin to see the true effects of evil. Frodo is alone and unprotected. The Ring seemingly his only companion, naturally, the hobbit begins to panic. Then he saws the most bizarre sights. His three friends laid out on the ground. All of the them in a deep sleep, wearing crowns and gold and belts with knives. 

Scared and confused, Frodo begins to hears a maddening voice that comes closer and closer. An evil spirit or an unknown entity of Middle-Earth magic. He is almost tempted to put on the Ring and escape, however, his loyalty to his friends proves to be stronger than his fear of the unknown. Despite Frodo's courage to remain, this impending evil continues to creep closer. That is until Tom Bombadil comes to the hobbits' rescue once again. He vanquishes the evil force and gets the hobbits out of the Barrow-Downs and into the safety of sunlight

It seems that this enigma-like character of Tom Bombadil could either be a spirit of ultimate good, a magician of nature, or even an angel like entity. However, one may want to look at it, Tom Bombadil's constant protection and care of the hobbits might make one wonder if he knew of these events beforehand. George McDonald's dark narrative that is predominantly seen in The Princess & Curdie and Lilith, may have served as inspiration for this chapter. 

Frodo is unable to tell fantasy from reality. All he knows is that the Ring for all its evil could give him what he is desperate for at the moment, protection. Yet, Frodo's good heart wins out. He would rather risk this oncoming evil protecting his friends, then to take the coward's way out. And maybe Tom Bombadil's rescue was the reward for such courage.

Heidi's Questions:

• A test of courage or loyalty is hardly a test if the temptation to escape it isn't there too, rearing its ugly head. Do you think Frodo's initial thought of putting on the Ring and escaping the barrow alone was highly reasonable/easy to identify with given the disorienting circumstances?

Absolutely. For a hobbit who has grown up in such a safe and protected environment, it's understandable that Frodo may have used the Ring to escape. 

• If this was your first time reading, was this chapter what you expected?

I really didn't know what to expect, except constant rambling about nature. Yet, the dark and supernatural elements as well as Tom Bombadil's second rescue made this a strong chapter.