Stories of Arda - Lord of the Rings Fan-Fiction Archive


	About Us News Resources Login Become a member Help Search

Words of Explanation by Larner	3 Review(s)
Antane	Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 10/14/2014
Heartbreaking essay on our dearest hobbit - branded as the Ring's slave - whoa. One of the interesting pictures from the Fellowship movie is the reflection of the fiery letters on Frodo's cheek - as though he is indeed branded, the Ring burned into his soul. I've recently finished an essay on Frodo's PTSD and relating it to The Sea-Bell, my favorite poem and a devastating one, that I hope to get published. I've thought recently whether there is any truth to one of his Took ancestors taking a 'fairy' wife - it could explain his 'elvish air' and the Second Sight that gifted him. I can't remember if it was only in a fic or from the Professor that some Tooks had the Sight. I know I've read it somewhere. Of course, these could be direct gifts from Iluvatar also without the intervention of a strain of Elvish blood. I thought also that maybe his March 13 illnesses are not tied to Shelob's sting but to the loss of the Ring - it is gone forever and now all is dark and empty - no mention of the sting still bothering him. Is he truly still mourning the loss even then or just having a vivid flashback to the time he woke in the Tower and it was gone? I always thought the former but wonder now if it was latter. I would love to know your thoughts! Namarie, God bless, Antane :) Author Reply: I don't know how I managed to fail to respond to this comment, Antane. Certainly several writers have explored the possible nature of that hinted at "fairy wife," although so far I've not played with the idea. Shelob's bite marked the entrance of Frodo to Mordor itself, as the loss of the Ring heralded the return to the living lands. Just as Frodo's distress during his return home appears to have begun on the anniversary of the blow at Weathertop and does not appeared to have fully resolved itself until the anniverary of the encounter with the Nine at the Ford, followed by the entrance to Rivendell and the beginning of his recovery under Elrond's care, so it appears that the entire period of their exposure to Mordor itself appears to have been replayed in Frodo's mind as being part of the loss of the Ring. I suspect that throughout the whole of that anniversary period from the attack by Shelob to the bite from Gollum he would have felt distress, with Tolkien himself indicating that he was especially vulnerable on the anniversary of the spider bite and probably with a second crisis on the anniversary of the loss of the Ring. And I suspect that Frodo both knew flashback memories of the great distress endured in Torech Ungol as well as mourning the Ring. Thanks so for your patience with me.

MlleGigi	Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 9/16/2014
It's interesting that you believe the trauma (both physical and psychological) which Frodo suffered on his way to and through Mordor potentially could have tempted him to consider suicide -- as you may already know, you're not the first writer of Tolkien fan fiction to suggest this. Perhaps you're already acquainted with the stories of JoDancingTree which are hosted on this site (especially "Another Way Of Leaving" in which she portrays Frodo not only contemplating suicide but actually coming up with a plan to do so, only to be mercifully interrupted in the midst of carrying it out). If you have not read her stories, I cannot recommend them highly enough. I particularly like "The Queen's Orc" which is a sequel to "Another Way Of Leaving" even though it focuses on an original character -- even though Frodo does not appear in that story, he's nevertheless still very much a part of it because the main character was profoundly affected and influenced by his friendship with Frodo. Author Reply: Yes, I've read "The Queen's Orc" and several others of JoDancingTree's stories, and I credit her influence in several of my works. I especially like her works where Frodo follows Radagast. I know several of us have considered that at times Frodo might have felt suicidal, although I suspect that a good deal of it was due to inability to sleep properly as a result of migraines, nightmares, and so on. As I have him explaining to Galadriel, there were simply times when the pain and tension were so great he was so tempted just to see it ended as swiftly and painlessly as possible. Thanks so!

Freyalyn	Reviewed Chapter: 6 on 9/12/2014
What a gorgeous little essay, and expressing so many of my own thoughts too. Thank you. Author Reply: I'm so glad that you appreciate it and agree with it, Freyalyn. Thank you!

Return to Chapter List