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Words of Explanation  by Larner 3 Review(s)
AndreaReviewed Chapter: 7 on 10/11/2015
That was very interesting and insightful! Thank you very much.

And I just wanted to add that the Christian meaning of "caritas" is "charity". Like in the commandment "Love your neighbour as yourself!".

Think of Frodo's reaction to Saruman at the steps of Bag End. That is pure Christian "caritas"!

Author Reply: And I thank you, Andrea. Oh, yes, Frodo Baggins has indeed learned empathy and caring beyond the norm. He could put himself in Saruman's place and wished that the Wizard could know similar healing.

AntaneReviewed Chapter: 7 on 10/8/2015
I love this and the points made so poignantly about Frodo being both autumn and winter and caritas, which would fit Sam as well. Pippin could be spring's celebration of a return to life and energy after winter, or he could be the joy of summer with its long and warm days that are so wonderful and full of light and cheer. He is great for the virtue of hope as is Sam.

Namarie, God bless, Antane :)

Author Reply: Both Frodo and Sam embody hope, each in his own manner, as does Aragorn as well, not to mention Gandalf, of course.

Pippin could indeed be the Hobbit for All Seasons, but I love to think of him as the one who is simply growing into his role, more so than the others do.

Thanks so for the comments--you know how much I appreciate them!

PeriantariReviewed Chapter: 7 on 10/2/2015
What an insightful and wonderful essay! To compare the hobbits to the four seasons is intriguing and very well thought of. I think both you and Tallis have good points about which hobbit represents what season with both reasoning pretty well on point.
Several great lines from the essay:
He is the hope and endurance seen in evergreens, the courage of new life stirring personified by the first snowdrops pushing through the melting snow.
Winter def has too meanings and with your reasoning, i think it does make sense. I do think that PIppin is fire for he is the most inquisitive, energetic one and Tolkien did nto write too much that he was ever really down unless it was in the Pyre of Denethor chapter which we see that is the lowlight of the Quest along with the orc capture in "The Urukhai".
I like Sam to be Autumn as well ...he can also be Spring for he does represent harvest as well as springing back from a horrible ordeal in Mordor.
Sam, who’s suppressed his education under Bilbo and Frodo so as to remain the rather rustic individual expected of his birth, parentage, and social status, now finds himself realizing that those stories of Elves he so loved as a child are not just stories but history, and that he and his Master are involved in the extensions of that very history of which he’d read and heard throughout his life. I liked this line a lot and find it true that he keeps himself down to earth and that now he's also part of history as well and it's probably boggles his humble mind but he is. (Also, you meant 13 children right? for you only put 12)

Frodo does lose the most and that is why i am so attached to him and his sorrow. The Quest took away innocence, took away his happiness forever. And i think there is some Tolkien in there too for he's never the same after WWI which he fought and suffered from. PTSD is very real and it's unfortunate that the "Shire is saved but not for him." IN that way, i think he is winter season for i do feel like winter is more of a slow, dead season even though the major holidays are also there. That is a matter of perspective i guess.

Interesting thoughts about when their birthdays lie for you do not get a particular date for Merry and Pippin so it's interesting to think that their personalities and perceived seasons can give a hint to when their birthdays are.

I agree with the perceived values for the hobbits. They all represent something good and i'm so glad for this essay to have a new appreciation for all of them. <3

Thank you.

Author Reply: Tallis has read many of the comments on this essay, and is honored others think as she does. Thank you from both of us! We do love our Hobbits!

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