The Tolkien Heads: Recent Episodes
Join us as we read through J. R. R. Tolkien's "The Lord of the Rings." Each week we work with a different chapter and explore various themes both in the novel and in our lives.
In this episode, our third and final Peter Jackson movie review—unless we enter Hobbit territory at some point in the future—we are joined by Tolkien enthusiast Worthy to contemplate the age-old question: Which was better, the book or the movie?
Well, not exactly. But we do explore some major (and minor) differences between Return of the King the novel and the film adaptation, discuss our favorite and least favorite alterations, and decide whether all those endings were really necessary.
RANDOM-ASS THEME: Stealing glasses from restaurants
https://thetolkienheads.files.wordpress.com/2020/01/079-19.12.15-rotk-film-recap.mp3
Once again, we have wandered into uncharted territory as we do our final book recap episode, where anything can happen!
After going through some chapter summaries, we delve into a discussion of the following topics that span Book 6 of The Lord of the Rings:
- the vulture-faced Watchers in Mordor
- Frodo’s wounds and his recovery therefrom
- forgetfulness of the natural world
- stewardship and the many forms it takes in LOTR.
RANDOM-ASS THEME: Artificially distressed wooden floors
https://thetolkienheads.files.wordpress.com/2019/12/078-07.11.2019-book6-receap.mp3
It’s our last chapter-based episode! Our discussion addresses some old themes in a new light: history as a sequence of interlocking stories (exemplified by the many crossed-out titles in the in-world Lord of the Rings manuscript); and the impossibility of true recovery from some wounds. Besides Frodo’s, we also consider Sam’s recovery following the trauma of the quest and what recovery means for him, especially giving that Frodo will leave him soon.
The lectio divina section is a parable in which three Hobbits respond differently to a question posed by the fourth.
RANDOM-ASS THEME: Religion
https://thetolkienheads.files.wordpress.com/2019/10/077-19.10.11-the-grey-havens.mp3
This surprise return to the previous week’s episode—What can we say? We just don’t want to be done!—features an in-depth discussion of Saruman’s death and the circumstances surrounding it, as well as a closer look at Frodo’s persistent pacifism.
RANDOM-ASS THEME: WWE wrestling
https://thetolkienheads.files.wordpress.com/2019/10/076-19.09.27-scouring-of-the-shire-pt-2-9_29_19-12.37-pm.mp3
The Hobbits return from their world-changing adventure to a home that is home no longer. While we have had our eye on the geopolitics of Middle-Earth writ large, strange things have been afoot in the Shire at the hands of “ruffians” and their mysterious leader, and we are afforded a view of the Hobbit-country as an industrialized wasteland.
Much of our discussion in this chapter focuses on the subjectivity of historiography. How do we know to trust the historical accounts that are passed down to us? Even the Red Book of Westmarch itself?
RANDOM-ASS THEME: Frozen dinners
https://thetolkienheads.files.wordpress.com/2019/09/075-19.09.06-scouring-of-the-shire.mp3
This episode—a favorite of Simon and Garfunkel fans—features an insightful lectio divina discussion on trauma, both physical and psychological (“knife, sting, and tooth, and a long burden”), as we ponder Frodo’s possibly-not-rhetorical question, “Where shall I find rest?” which is ultimately unanswered by Gandalf.
The rest of the episode, like the chapter, largely concerns Barliman Butterbur and his questionable statements about the current political situation of Bree. Is Butterbur expressing genuine concern for his safety, or just xenophobia (or a mix of both)?
RANDOM-ASS THEME: The Olympics
https://thetolkienheads.files.wordpress.com/2019/09/074-19.08.29-homeward-bound.mp3
In this chapter, in many ways a counterpart to “Many Meetings” (Bk. 2, Ch. 1), we encounter various manifestations of the inevitability of moving on … before the discussion devolves into a surprisingly insightful reflection on the various interrelated systems of government in Gondor and Middle-Earth.
Our lectio divina section is a vignette of four shadowy figures sitting across from each other—a metaphor for The Tolkien Heads, perhaps—contemplating past, present, and future.
RANDOM-ASS THEME: Filing taxes
https://thetolkienheads.files.wordpress.com/2019/08/073-19.08.09-many-partings_new.mp3
This chapter abounds in pervasive uncertainty, biblical symbolism, and some creepy (in the opinion of this Head) romantic advances on the part of the eponymous Steward.
Our lectio divina section contemplates the transition from the Third to the Fourth Age, and what that means for Gandalf and the Elves. We ask ourselves whether the Fourth Age isn’t a kind of anthropocene.
RANDOM-ASS THEME: Metal straws
https://thetolkienheads.files.wordpress.com/2019/08/072-19.08.02-the-steward-and-the-king-.mp3
Laudatory, pathetic, elegy, eulogy, panegyric, ethos … the Tolkien Heads appear to have stumbled into an SAT-prep course! We learn a lot about the different kinds of acknowledgements and respects that are being paid to the quartet of Hobbits who, having been plucked from the edge of destruction, are now suddenly the center of more attention than they would probably like.
The lectio passage this week is Sam and Gandalf’s curious exchange on what the Hobbits are supposed to wear as they plan on meeting the King of Gondor and Lord of the Western Lands.
RANDOM-ASS THEME: Cat allergies
https://thetolkienheads.files.wordpress.com/2019/08/071-19.06.14-the-field-of-cormallen_new.mp3
Finally, Mount Doom! You can practically hear the bubbling and frothing of lava out of rocky fissures in the distance as we spend a disproportionate fraction of this episode debating whether Mount Doom is a true volcano—and, if so, what kind of volcano it is.
The lectio divina section looks at Sam’s split-second decision not to kill Gollum … and what this means for Gollum, for the story of the Ring, and for Sam.
You can find more information on Karen Wynn Fonstad’s Atlas of Middle-Earth, referred to in the episode, here.
RANDOM-ASS THEME: Beyond Meat’s “Beyond Burger”
https://thetolkienheads.files.wordpress.com/2019/08/070-19.06.14-mount-doom.mp3
This chapter was not poorly named: it is all description of the landscape of Mordor, with comparably little plot movement. From brambles to ravines to volcanic clouds, these paragraphs pour forth rich descriptions of aspects of the not-quite-barren country.
To help us work through this unforgiving terrain, we are thrilled to welcome as our special guest Asja, who is a researcher in biogeography and ecology in Germany. She selected for the lectio divina section the moment where Sam gazes up in wonder at a star shining through the thick clouds of Mordor.
RANDOM-ASS THEME: Buying CDs
https://thetolkienheads.files.wordpress.com/2019/07/069-19.05.16-the-land-of-shadow.mp3
We start our first Book Six episode with a philosophical discussion on Orcish language and the possibility of an Orcish or Mordorean culture, some shocking implications of the etymology of the word screw, and—naturally—a version of Sam’s song from the chapter sung to the tune of the Gilligan’s Island theme. The lectio divina section takes a closer look at Sam’s moment of temptation.
RANDOM-ASS THEME: Bluetooth technology
https://thetolkienheads.files.wordpress.com/2019/07/068-19.05.03-the-tower-of-cirith-ungol-foreal.mp3
Having finished Book 5, we’ve made it to another Recap Episode, where anything can happen!
Among other matters, we discuss the following topics, either for the first time or otherwise expanding on previous conversations:
- The nature of good stewardship: a comparison of Denethor vs. Gandalf;
- The “faithfulness” of the Woses, and the implied treatment of them as less than;
- Éowyn as a divinely protected warrior, perhaps the Achilles of LOTR;
- The “Last Debate” and the questionable decision to march towards Mordor.
RANDOM-ASS THEME: Tinder
https://thetolkienheads.files.wordpress.com/2019/04/067-19.04.06-book-5-recap.mp3
We finish up Book Five with a discussion of the frankly epic altercation between Gandalf and the ghastly—yet still human!—Messenger. Host Nathan leads a discussion of the “fairy-tale hellscape” in which the action of the book is now set before we dive into our lectio divina analysis.
This week’s lectio passage takes a look at how our outer ego can suddenly be stripped away when taken by surprise, exposing a confused and panicky animalistic essence underneath. This can be quite unpleasant if you’ve ever bitten down on a tortilla chip the wrong way … but are there social situations where you can use this knowledge to your advantage?
RANDOM-ASS THEME: The “awkward door dance”
https://thetolkienheads.files.wordpress.com/2019/04/066-19.03.16-the-black-gate-opens.mp3
This chapter calls us to consider what effect a generation can have on the world, and of what nature that effect ought to be. How can we best prepare the world for future generations? What can we do today to help those who come after us to fight their own battles, which we will know nothing about?
After we revisit some themes from the previous chapter, we get into the lectio, which compares the eternal possibility that goodness will spring up unexpectedly with the ability of evil to do the same. Do you see it as optimism vs. pessimism, or realism vs. living in the realm of fantasy?
RANDOM-ASS THEME: #YOLO
https://thetolkienheads.files.wordpress.com/2019/03/065-19.03.08-the-last-debate.mp3
For this episode we are accompanied by special guest Arwen, the Creator and Executive Director over at Middle-earth News! She tells us about the site, which is exactly what you would expect: a comprehensive source on all things LOTR in real time. Check it out!
With Arwen’s assistance we work through this dense chapter, where we find examples of everything from Messianic imagery to a panoply of linguistic registers and ways in which they are abused. But the main attraction is, of course, athelas. I mean, kingsfoil. I mean … well, you get the picture.
We look past the linguistic properties of kingsfoil—scientific name asëa aranion—and get at how exactly it functions in the poignant healing scenes of this chapter, both symbolically and botanically. Arwen lays out some other plants with healing properties that would have been found in every medieval apothecary and helps us reconstruct what some of the other contents of the pedantic herb-master’s cabinet might be.
Oh, and here’s a link to the Middle-earth News article that questions the lows and the highs of Shire pipe-weed.
RANDOM-ASS THEME: Bad breath
https://thetolkienheads.files.wordpress.com/2019/03/064-19.03.02-house-of-healing.mp3
This tiny chapter is so full of meaning that the Tolkien Heads manage to have an entire conversation about second-person pronouns! Add to this allusions to Greek mythology (the death of King Ægeus—ships with black sails!) and Norse funerary practices (“heathen” ship burials) and we have quite a lot to discuss.
We deem despair to be one of the key themes of this chapter, and spend some time musing about knowledge—omniscience, even—can actually serve to extinguish hope. We also look at Minas Tirith as an example of an urban settlement almost devoid of plant life, and what that means for the Gondorites and Lord Denethor in particular.
The lectio divina section examines Denethor’s irrational but understandable longing for a world that might once have been possible (did someone say “free will”?) but now can no longer be hoped for.
RANDOM-ASS THEME: Reality television
https://thetolkienheads.files.wordpress.com/2019/03/063-19.02.22-pyre-of-denethor.mp3
In a chapter whose epic scope zooms in and out on various participants in this fierce battle, the Tolkien Heads are just trying to keep up. This includes working through some incredibly racist descriptions of the non-white allies of Mordor.
The lectio divina section looks at—what else?—Éowyn’s show-stopping confrontation with the Witch-King, Lord of the Nazgûl, whom we liken to a bully unused to being challenged.
RANDOM-ASS THEME: Podracing
https://thetolkienheads.files.wordpress.com/2019/03/062-19-08-02-the-battle-of-the-pelennor-fields.mp3
For our discussion centered on the character Ghân-buri-Ghân and the “Wild Men”—or Drúedain, or Woses—we are joined by Colin from the Scandinavian branch of our Department of German, Nordic, and Slavic. Our episode delves into the stereotypes of indigenous peoples—but especially of Indigenous Americans—that are manifested in the portrayal of Ghân and his people. Of particular interest is the relationship between the Drúedain and Gondor, which in a brief but telling scene (which becomes our lectio section) is revealed to be a genocidal one.
Colin’s bio: Colin Gioia Connors is a PhD candidate in Scandinavian Studies and Folklore in the Department of German, Nordic, and Slavic at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. His research straddles landscape archaeology, Old Norse studies, North American Indigenous cultural repatriation, and digital storytelling. He has published articles in the Journal of Folklore and Education and the Journal of Sustainability Education and contributed chapters to Viking Archaeology in Iceland. He is a documentary film maker and translator. Currently he produces the Crossing North podcast at the Department of Scandinavian Studies at the University of Washington in Seattle.
More information on the Ojibwe Winter Games can be found at their website.
RANDOM-ASS THEME: #FOMO
https://thetolkienheads.files.wordpress.com/2019/02/061-19-02-02-the-ride-of-the-rohirrim.mp3
What burdens do we place on ourselves? Are they always necessary, or do we sometimes wear the metaphorical chainmail around under our clothes just to impress ourselves? In this chapter we discuss, among other things, Denethor’s paradoxical hypervigilance at home and unwillingness to go to war himself—and what might have inspired him to such a position.
This chapter juxtaposes many characters and realms that we are eager to compare and contrast: Gondor/Denethor vs. Rohan/Théoden, foremost, but also Gondor vs. Mordor, as well as Denethor vs. Gandalf. We reflect in particular on the presence of hope and despair in this chapter, and in our lives.
RANDOM-ASS THEME: Oranges
https://thetolkienheads.files.wordpress.com/2019/02/060-25.01.19-the-siege-of-gondor.mp3
Our discussion in this chapter begins with a deeper analysis of the desires, limitations, and motivations of Éowyn, especially in relation to both Aragorn and her uncle, Théoden. After that, we dive into the topic that occupies most of this episode: the enigmatic Púkel-men.
We are accompanied by Sara, a PhD student in Art History, who puzzles through our lectio divina section on the Púkel-men and Merry’s reaction to them. What was the intended purpose of these humanoid stone monuments? What is the purpose of preserving our own names and stories into posterity?
RANDOM-ASS THEME: Millennials
https://thetolkienheads.files.wordpress.com/2019/01/059-19.01.19-the-muster-of-rohan.mp3
After contemplating the ambiguous chapter title, we analyze Aragorn’s choice (if a true choice it is) to take the “paths of the Dead.”
Other themes are the tension between Éowyn and Aragorn (and the second-person pronouns they use), the oath-breaker’s “worship” of Sauron in days past that led to their curse, and the solemn ritual that the Dúnedain perform before departing on their mission.
RANDOM-ASS THEME: Speed-dating.
https://thetolkienheads.files.wordpress.com/2019/01/058-18.12.16-the-passing-of-the-grey-company.mp3
The Tolkien Heads are back in the swing of things as we follow Pippin on a tour of the breathtaking city of Minas Tirith. We break down the meeting between Gandalf and Denethor and discuss the similarities and differences between lordship and stewardship—and their etymologies, of course.
Special guest Charlotte, a PhD student in History, accompanies us as we look at Denethor’s relationship with his two sons, the problematic notions of blood purity in this chapter, and the history of the word book.
RANDOM-ASS THEME: The Apollonian and Dionysian drives
https://thetolkienheads.files.wordpress.com/2019/01/057-18.12.09-minas-tirith.mp3
In this fascinating special episode we interview Markus Davidsen, whose PhD research is centered on religious traditions based in fictional works such as Star Wars and The Lord of the Rings. We discuss what the practices and origins of Jedi- and Elf-identifying groups are, what aspects of them typically draw in new practitioners, and to what extent practitioners consider these religions or spiritual paths to be integral in their lives. Markus even shares with us his experience on a Skype-facilitated shamanic journey to the Blessed Realm.
Click here to go to Markus’s site where you can find more information on his latest works.
https://thetolkienheads.files.wordpress.com/2018/11/055-18-11-03-fiction-based-religion-markus-davidsen.mp3
We watched Peter Jackson’s Two Towers (2002) … and we have some thoughts!
Our goal with this “review” is not to identify all the differences between the book and the film, which has been done plenty of times already by more diligent note-takers than ourselves. Rather, in this special episode we focus on some particular themes of the Two Towers book and film, including
- Sam’s purported simplicity (as characterized by Tolkien himself), and whether this is fair;
- Gríma and his super-creepy movie scene with Éowyn, and the interesting source of some of his poetic dialogue;
- the age-disparate celebrity couple Ara-wen and the might-have-been celebrity couple Éo-gorn;
- and Rich’s unshakable suspicion that Gandalf the Grey and Gandalf the White are two different people.
RANDOM-ASS THEME: Anti-vaxxers
https://thetolkienheads.files.wordpress.com/2018/10/055-18-10-13-two-towers-extended.mp3
Join us for a great conversation with Luke Shelton, an academic doing his doctoral research on the reception of J. R. R. Tolkien’s works—and also the films and video games they have inspired—among children and young adults. We interview Luke on his findings and he shares some fascinating insights with us.
Of course, we also run through our usual lectio divina method, focusing on a passage concerning some proverbial wisdom in The Lord of the Rings. (“Do not meddle in the affairs of Wizards, for they are subtle and quick to anger.”) We also explore the question of the in-world intended audience for Frodo’s text.
You can catch up with Luke on his website (luke-shelton.com) or follow him on Twitter (@luke_baugher)!
https://thetolkienheads.files.wordpress.com/2018/10/054-18-10-04-special-guest-episode-luke-shelton.mp3
It’s that time again: The Tolkien Heads gather for our Book Four Recap!
Join us for an episode of philosophical discussion and reflection as we explore four passages and themes that the four of us have chosen.
RANDOM-ASS THEME: The Kylo Ren Challenge
https://thetolkienheads.files.wordpress.com/2018/09/053-18-09-26-book-4-wrap-up.mp3
This stunning conclusion to Book Four will reveal whether half-wise (the meaning of Old English Sām-wīs) is wise enough. When Sam recovers from the immediate shock of Frodo’s “death”—tumbling out of a grief-induced blackout—his world is transformed into a Frodo-less nightmare where he is now, for lack of a better phrase, the adult in the room.
As Sam contemplates leaving his companion in favor of the mission, he even thinks it prudent to don the Ring. But is he actually tempted by It at all?
RANDOM-ASS THEME: Boomerang kids
https://thetolkienheads.files.wordpress.com/2018/09/052-18-09-18-the-choices-of-master-samwise.mp3
Parts of this chapter zoom out to what Chris calls the “epic sweep,” and we humble Hosts try to keep up. Frodo and Sam confront what we can only describe as a different, more primordial evil than what we have seen so far: where Orcs, Sauron, and even Melkor/Morgoth represent corruptions or perversions of an original Good, Shelob—unholy spawn of Ungoliant—represents an Evil in the negation, the absence, that is the Void.
The lectio section is somewhat more down-to-earth, and looks at Shelob’s ability to affect the memory and senses of our Hobbits. When all thought of Galadriel’s Phial has been purged from Frodo’s mind, Sam provides some timely inspiration.
RANDOM-ASS THEME: Buying new tires
https://thetolkienheads.files.wordpress.com/2018/09/051-18-09-15-shelobs-lair.mp3
“All the world’s a stage,” but is there any direction in the theater of life, or are we all free to do whatever we want? After the evil city issues forth an infernal army bound eastward and Frodo’s moment of temptation passes, the two Hobbits get a little meta in this chapter. When can we safely say that a tale is over and take pleasure or displeasure in the ending? Or are stories comic or tragic merely in the telling?
Lectio this week is the free-will-iest one yet. The dark forces bending Frodo’s will towards putting on the Ring are obviously some kind of magical influence—but what do they symbolize for readers in a non-magical world?
RANDOM-ASS THEME: Zits
https://thetolkienheads.files.wordpress.com/2018/09/050-18-08-31-the-stairs-of-cirith-ungol.mp3
Frodo, Sam, and Gollum take an elaborate left turn.
In all seriousness, the main character of this episode—as highlighted in this week’s lectio divina section—is probably none other than the silencethat surrounds our wayfarers at this point. The absence of sound plays many roles, both positive and negative, in our lives. What does it foretell for the journey into Mordor?
RANDOM-ASS THEME: Walking in on someone in the bathroom
https://thetolkienheads.files.wordpress.com/2018/09/050-18-08-20-journey-to-the-cross-roads.mp3
Our protagonists are in the Moon country of Ithilien, which becomes clearer in this chapter than ever before. The Moon indeed seems to be playing a vital role, and these paragraphs abound in lunar imagery.
This week we are joined by Rev. Greg Farrand. Greg leads us through his own style of lectio divina as we puzzle through a crucial Gollum passage and let it speak to us. Gollum’s apparently innocent nocturnal fishing expedition reminds us of our own competing hungers, and we find ourselves asking: How do we keep from indulging the wrong hunger and falling to ruin? What happens when we cannot help ourselves?
https://thetolkienheads.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/049-18-08-13-the-forbidden-pool.mp3
This chapter makes up for its shortness in plot with its rich philosophical discussion on military force, its responsible use, and what its inherent good might be. Our lectio section in particular asks what is required for the ends of war—or, more generally, of the flexing of military muscle—to justify its means. What are some reasons that we as Americans hold our armed forces in such high regard?
We are joined by special guest Joshua Calton who directs discussion on this topic, exploring some considerable differences between Faramir and Boromir. We also look at Faramir’s peculiar capacity of perception: it frequently seems as though he can see right through people, like a human lie detector.
RANDOM-ASS THEME: Fake news
https://thetolkienheads.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/048-18-08-12-the-window-on-the-west.mp3
This chapter offers many (too many?) kinds of plants, and Nathan leads an analysis of the role of heather in this landscape. We also spend some time analyzing the curious phrase “dishevelled dryad loveliness.”
We encounter the Southrons again, notably in the lectio divina segment. Sam has some insights upon seeing a fallen warrior that generate further discussion on the in-world races of Men and the problems that their representations can have for a 21st-century readership. Why are we only able to empathize with the Other after they have died?
RANDOM-ASS THEME: Suntan lotion
https://thetolkienheads.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/047-18-08-02-of-herbs-and-stewed-rabbits.mp3
After Frodo, Sam, and Sméagol/Gollum arrive at the gates of Mordor only to find them shut, our lectio section—as though it were inevitable—ropes us back into our on-again, off-again debate on free will.
We also spend a good portion of this episode discussing the Southron men, who are described abundantly in this chapter and have “dark faces” and hail from the sunny South, where oliphaunts roam. We consider these people’s role and (lack of) representation in Tolkien’s world. Where do they and their homeland fall in the scheme of good and evil? Why do we know so little about them—except that they have decided to fight for Mordor—and what does that say about Tolkien and The Lord of the Rings?
RANDOM-ASS THEME: Napoleon
https://thetolkienheads.files.wordpress.com/2018/08/046-18-07-25-the-black-gate-is-closed-7_31_18-11-00-am.mp3
We explore the (un)dead landscape in this memento mori chapter. As the three (or four?) characters traverse this eerie and corrupted world, we find ourselves asking to what extent Sméagol/Gollum’s own system of morality has been corrupted by the Ring over the course of time.
The lectio passage asks what it means for a landscape to be irreversibly damaged and disfigured. What hope is there for full recovery, even after the powers of Mordor should fall?
RANDOM-ASS THEME: A.O.L. 1075 hours free
https://thetolkienheads.files.wordpress.com/2018/07/045-18-07-11-the-passage-of-the-marshes.mp3
The Tolkien Heads make a dramatic return from their summer hiatus by turning what might seem an uneventful chapter into one of the most illuminating and challenging discussions yet! At its center is the question of Sméagol-vs.-Gollum, but we also find ourselves unsure of the difference between ‘lords’ and ‘masters’—and whether this is even important. Etymologies and symbolic analyses abound in this episode.
RANDOM-ASS THEME: Civil disobedience
https://thetolkienheads.files.wordpress.com/2018/07/044-18-07-08-the-taming-of-smeagol-7_8_18-10-25-pm.mp3
In this special episode we talk to Caroline McAlister, professor of English at Guilford College and author of John Ronald’s Dragons: The Story of J. R. R. Tolkien, a children’s book that imagines a young Tolkien exploring his interests in trees, horses, strange-sounding words, “but most of all … dragons.” Caroline explains her thoughts on reading during childhood—both fiction and non-fiction—and her own reasons for writing about a young Tolkien.
Besides her book itself, we also talk discuss what it is like to teach a college-level English course, and how to incorporate Tolkien’s works into the curriculum.
You can learn more about Caroline McAlister and her books at her personal website, carolinemcalisterauthor.com.
https://thetolkienheads.files.wordpress.com/2018/05/042-18-05-02-caroline-mcalister.mp3
It finally happened: The Tolkien Heads traveled all the way to Milwaukee to meet with Bill Fliss, the archivist at Marquette University’s Special Collections whose purview includes the J. R. R. Tolkien Collection, a veritable smial of Tolkien’s original manuscripts, sketches, and other fantastic mathoms.
In our interview, Bill told us all about what sort of things are held in the collection, what advancements are on the horizon for management of the archive, and what the public is able to see. Bill gave us some fascinating insights into the light that the collection sheds on the genesis and evolution of Tolkien’s ideas, and we learned a lot about what changes were made to The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings before and after publication.
Of course, we also talked about Bill’s favorite Tolkien passages, and attempted to answer the question of whether an archive belongs high in a tower or deep in the earth.
https://thetolkienheads.files.wordpress.com/2018/05/041-18-04-13-bill-fliss-interview.mp3
We made it through Book Three! Join us as we recollect and reminisce on what has happened to some (but not all!) of the book’s main characters in the first half of The Two Towers.
We are joined today, though not for the first time, by The Dwarrow Scholar. After going through a quick summary of the chapters of Book Three, we go into a larger discussion of some themes and passages that the five of us have individually selected.
For resources on the Neo-Khuzdûl language or for anything Dwarvish, we enthusiastically refer you to http://www.dwarrowscholar.com.
https://thetolkienheads.files.wordpress.com/2018/04/040-18-04-22-book-3-recap.mp3
We close Book Three with apocalyptic visions through a crystal ball. (Or is it an orb?) We discuss addiction to technology—or perhaps to possessing greater and greater knowledge. Host Nathan tells us more about the hawthorn plant than a palantír ever could.
The Tolkien Heads once again have smartphones on the chopping block, as we examine the close connection between how they work with the palantír we encounter in this chapter—even though the word “palantír” bears a striking etymological resemblance to a different English word …
RANDOM-ASS THEME: Doggy day care
https://thetolkienheads.files.wordpress.com/2018/04/039-18-04-11-the-palantir.mp3
The ultimate Saruman chapter. Perhaps we are just falling victim to the notorious spell of Saruman’s melodious baritone, but we can’t help but feel some pity for the Many-Coloured wizard at this point. Do you feel the same way?
Much of our discussion this week focuses on pride, humility, and being able to accept help when you need it.
RANDOM-ASS THEME: Aging
https://thetolkienheads.files.wordpress.com/2018/04/038-18-04-04-the-voice-of-saruman.mp3
In this chapter we learn what happened—retold by Merry and Pippin—at the Battle of Isengard. We explore the Huorns a bit further: their nature, their origin, and what makes them so damn angry.
Our lectio section focuses on the two very different ways Men and Orcs were dealt with in the aftermath of the battle. Join us as we attempt to read this riddle and, once again, figure out once and for all exactly how human Orcs are.
RANDOM-ASS THEME: Battery-powered appliances
https://thetolkienheads.files.wordpress.com/2018/04/37-18-04-02-flotsam-and-jetsam.mp3
Our discussion for this chapter hinges on the fate of Isengard. What has happened to this once proud center of learning and good counsel? Is it all a metaphor for industrialization? If so, what does the text suggest as a viable alternative to industrialization?
The lectio section asks this question a little differently: What was it that led Saruman to betray his friends and give in to the power of Mordor (even if he saw himself as a rival to Mordor)?
RANDOM-ASS THEME: DIY projects
https://thetolkienheads.files.wordpress.com/2018/03/36-18-03-23-the-road-to-isengard.mp3
One epic battle scene for the Two Towers film, but just another day at the office for the Tolkien Heads. We look at the Battle of the Hornburg from every angle, including the topography of Helm’s Deep and the surrounding area. Host Nathan even attempts to teach us what a coomb is.
Among other topics, we explore this chapter’s bizarre preoccupation with sea imagery. Our lectio section examines the exact moment when the tide of battle turns.
The image referred to in the episode, from Karen Wynn Fonstad’s Atlas of Middle-earth:
RANDOM-ASS THEME: Nose hairs
https://thetolkienheads.files.wordpress.com/2018/03/035-18-03-16-helms-deep.mp3
This chapter is so full of references to the Old English language and Anglo-Saxon culture that we feel we have stepped out of Middle-Earth and into medieval England as it was in the days before the Norman Conquest. Hrothgar, the king in the Beowulf epic, would feel right at home in Théoden’s court, and Aragorn recites a few lines of poetry that seem to be taken straight from The Wanderer, a well-known Old English elegy.
That said, the remaining members of the Fellowship have not escaped a chain of events that is very Middle-Earth indeed. We analyze the character of Théoden before and after his “enlightenment.” What is going on with him? What kind of spell was he even under?
RANDOM-ASS THEME: Netflix and chill
https://thetolkienheads.files.wordpress.com/2018/03/034-18-03-7-the-king-of-the-golden-hall.mp3
This fascinating chapter kicks off a comparison of two apparently different Gandalfs (Gendelf?), the old and the new, the Grey and the White. What exactly has happened to our beloved Pilgrim? Imagery of light and dark pervades this episode as we contemplate Gandalf’s journey and transformation.
The lectio section asks the question: how can you trust people or situations that could pose a threat to you? How can you come to feel comfortable, even at home, among forces that could spell your destruction?
RANDOM-ASS THEME: Helicopter parents
https://thetolkienheads.files.wordpress.com/2018/03/033-18-02-28-the-white-rider.mp3
We discuss the sad history of the Ents and Entwives. But there are also silver linings in this half-chapter, like the notion of having a network of friends in one’s old age. Nathan analyzes the hell out of the name “Quickbeam.”
Courage has been deemed the theme of this chapter. We examine the motives of the Ents in their sudden—hasty?—departure for Isengard.
RANDOM-ASS THEME: Wifi outages
https://thetolkienheads.files.wordpress.com/2018/02/032-18-21-02-treebeard-pt-2.mp3
What is it like to be an Ent? This episode—or half-episode, since we think “Treebeard” has got enough to work with for two full shows—gives us an anthropological overview of a new species, the Ent, just as we learned about Orcs in the previous chapter.
Of course, Ents are anything but new, and have a rich cultural heritage which we are made privy to in this chapter. We discuss the contemplative lens through which Ents see the world.
RANDOM-ASS THEME: Going viral
https://thetolkienheads.files.wordpress.com/2018/02/031-18-14-02-treebeard-pt-1.mp3
Are Orcs inherently evil? This chapter offers a rare insight into Orcish life. With (yet another) Matt as our special guest, we talk in particular about the essentialization of Middle-Earth species.
Much of this week’s discussion is devoted to answering the question: Could an Orc ever be good?
RANDOM-ASS THEME: Plastic bags
https://thetolkienheads.files.wordpress.com/2018/02/030-18-07-02-the-uruk-hai.mp3
In this episode, in the spirit of Éomer’s exchange with Aragorn, we discuss how to make decisions in tough or novel political times. We also examine—carrying on the discussion from last chapter—what may be seen as the absurdity of Aragorn’s hope that Merry and Pippin may yet be alive.
We also see a huge amount of Anglo-Saxon—that is to say, Old English—influence in this chapter, in people- and place-names in the kingdom of Rohan. We will be on the lookout for more such encroachments from Tolkien’s day job as an Old English philologist in future chapters!
RANDOM-ASS THEME: Couches
https://thetolkienheads.files.wordpress.com/2018/02/029-18-01-31-the-riders-of-rohan.mp3
The Tolkien Heads are back in action after our winter hiatus! In this episode we jump right into The Two Towers.
In a slightly reworked format for the chapter review, Nathan declares this chapter’s theme to be decisions, and indeed the chapter is packed with decisions, choices, and minor crises. We focus in particular on Aragorn’s decision-making process, and a few examples that lend themselves to analysis.
RANDOM-ASS THEME: Summer lounging
https://thetolkienheads.files.wordpress.com/2018/01/028-18-01-24-departure-of-boromir.mp3
It finally happened: the Tolkien Heads sat down and watched the extended edition of Peter Jackson’s The Fellowship of the Ring (2001).
In what we hope to be an exciting and engaging final episode before a brief winter hiatus, the Heads delve into every aspect of this transformation from book to big screen. We make some criticisms about the film adaptation, but also manage to deem some changes from the book as improvements.
Do you agree with our reactions? Let us know in the comments!
https://thetolkienheads.files.wordpress.com/2017/12/027-17-12-01-fellowship-movie.mp3
In this special episode we interview Dr. Walter Judd, professor emeritus of botany at the University of Florida and co-author of Flora of Middle-Earth: Plants of J. R. R. Tolkien’s Legendarium. While this book serves as centerpiece to our discussion (after we learn what exactly a flora is), we also talk about the phenomenon of plant blindness and work through our guest’s favorite passage from The Lord of the Rings. Finally, Prof. Judd gives some pointers for those interested in learning more about their own local flora.
You can learn more about the Flora of Middle-Earthat its OUP site.
https://thetolkienheads.files.wordpress.com/2017/11/026-17_11_20-walter-judd-episode.mp3
This special episode features the Dwarrow Scholar, an expert on all things Dwarvish. We discuss Tolkien’s Dwarves—their culture, their history, and their language—as well as the similar creatures of Germanic myth upon which the Middle-Earth race is based.
The Dwarrow Scholar also walks us through some of the innovations and expansions he has made on Tolkien’s Dwarvish language, Khuzdûl. Information on Neo-Khuzdûl and many related matters can be found on his website, www.dwarrowscholar.com.
Further Dwarrow Reading
… on Germanic mythology in general:
- Deutsche Mythologie (Teutonic Mythologie), Jakob Grimm, trans. Stallybrass—a treatise on Germanic mythology.
- The Poetic Edda: The Mythological Poems, trans. Bellows—Völuspá compresses the whole of the Norse vision of the universe’s history and future into its 60-odd short stanzas. It is narrated by a seeress, or völva, who is requested by Odin to share her memories and prophecies with humankind, “Heimdall’s young.”
It is generally thought to have been a minstrel poem that was passed down through the centuries by word of mouth. The catalog of the Dwarves that begins in the 10th stanza is an important source of names for the Dwarf characters in Tolkien’s works.
The Dwarrow Scholar personally recommends the 1908 edition by Olive Bray, as it has extensive notes and a very detailed and valuable introduction (especially for people new to the Edda, well worth the read).
It is worth noting, though, that the 1986 translation by Lee M. Hollander comes closer to conveying the full extent of the grandeur and nuance (both aesthetic and philosophical) of the Old Norse texts. * The Viking Spirit: An Introduction to Norse Mythology and Religion, Daniel McCoy—written to a scholarly audience, but in a simple, clear, and entertaining style. * Gods and Myths of Northern Europe, H. R. Ellis Davidson—she was one of the twentieth century’s foremost scholars of Norse mythology, yet most of her works were written for a general audience rather than her fellow academics. This is her most accessible work, and is ideal for beginners who want a scholarly take on Norse religion.
… on Tolkien’s Dwarves:
- The Hobbit and Tolkien’s Mythology: Essays on Revisions and Influences, ed. Bradford Lee Eden
- “Dwarfs in Germanic Literature: Deutsche Mythologie or Grimm’s Myths?” Paul Battles, in The Shadow Walkers: Jacob Grimm’s Mythology of the Monstrous, ed. Tom Shippey
- “Explorations into the Psyche of Dwarves,” David Funk, in Proceedings from the J. R. R. Tolkien Centenary Conference
- Unfinished Tales of Númenor and Middle-earth, J. R. R. Tolkien, ed. Christopher Tolkien—“The Quest of Erebor” sheds a somewhat new Dwarvish perspective on The Hobbit that should not be missed.
https://thetolkienheads.files.wordpress.com/2017/11/025-17_11_11-the-dwarrow-scholar1.mp3
In this special show, we reflect on everything that went on over the course of the ten chapters that make up Book Two of Fellowship, and attempt to put everything in perspective.
The Heads run through the the main events. Let us know how we did!
RANDOM-ASS THEME: Graduate school
https://thetolkienheads.files.wordpress.com/2017/11/024-book-2-recap-17-11-13.mp3
Not even the Ring can hide Frodo from the all-seeing eye of the reader as we follow him out of a dangerous situation to the top of Amon Hen. The Heads discuss temptation and free will as they pertain both to Middle-Earth and to our own world.
The Fellowship is fractured (inevitably?), and only time will tell what awaits them in Book Three …
RANDOM-ASS THEME: Bees
https://thetolkienheads.files.wordpress.com/2017/11/023-17-11-06-the-breaking-of-the-fellowship-re-edit.mp3
This chapter calls us to vigilance, even—or especially—in the midst of intense monotony. All remaining members of the Fellowship appear to be weary, despite their recent sojourn at Lórien, and their fatigue is made worse their constricted circumstances in the boats as they make their way down the Anduin. And what is going on with Boromir?
RANDOM-ASS THEME: Road rage
https://thetolkienheads.files.wordpress.com/2017/11/22-17-10-30-the-great-river1.mp3
As our Fellowship drifts away from Lothlórien—or is it Lothlórien that drifts away from the Fellowship?—the Heads focus the discussion on mirrors and memory, prompted by a poignant exchange between Legolas and Gimli at the close of the chapter.
RANDOM-ASS THEME: Climate change
https://thetolkienheads.files.wordpress.com/2017/10/021-17-10-23-farewell-to-lorien.mp3
After the Fellowship is tacitly “tempted” by Lady Galadriel, Frodo and Sam peer into her watery mirror. The Heads—with Patricia from Comparative Literature as special guest—ponder how it may be that the fate of Lothlórien is bound up with Frodo’s task. We also discuss why the notion of a forest-city is a tantalizing etymological contradiction.
RANDOM-ASS THEME: Badgers
https://thetolkienheads.files.wordpress.com/2017/10/20-10-16-17-the-mirror-of-galadriel.mp3
With no time to process their loss, the Fellowship makes for Lórien. The Heads discuss themes of xenophobia and language immersion in this fascinating chapter of clashing cultures.
RANDOM-ASS THEME: Wikipedia
https://thetolkienheads.files.wordpress.com/2017/10/019-17-10-09-lothlorien.mp3
Doom, doom! We delve deeper and deeper into Moria after Gandalf and Gimli piece their way through a tattered historical text. We focus in particular on Gandalf’s humanity as he squares off with a foe that may be his match.
As the Fellowship suddenly finds itself safely in daylight again, but without its leader, our lectio section deals with the shocking dissonance we face when we encounter a calm for the first time after tragedy or trauma—the cruelty of normalcy.
RANDOM-ASS THEME: Brunch
https://thetolkienheads.files.wordpress.com/2017/10/18-17-09-25-the-bridge-of-khazad-dum.mp3
In this chapter, the Fellowship—followed closely by the Heads—begins a long march into darkness after solving a riddle at the entrance to Moria.
We focus on a passage where Gandalf leads the Fellowship through dark passages having long since forgotten the way, and yet “did not falter.”
RANDOM-ASS THEME: Public transportation
https://thetolkienheads.files.wordpress.com/2017/09/17-17-09-18-a-journey-in-the-dark1.mp3
After Elrond and Gimli engage in a duel of platitudes at Rivendell, the newly established fellowship sets out.
The Heads explore what exactly is going on with the weather on Caradhras. Can a mountain have ill will?
RANDOM-ASS THEME: The Kleenex/Band-Aid phenomenon
https://thetolkienheads.files.wordpress.com/2017/09/016-17-13-09-the-ring-goes-south.mp3
As the Council of Elrond winds to a close and Frodo Baggins submits himself to a heart-wrenching task, the Heads reflect on the relationship between Evil and Power, taking Saruman and Gandalf as points of study.
How does a good person become swayed to wicked actions? Is it the Ring itself that corrupts, or is it the Ring’s power that corrupts?
RANDOM-ASS THEME: Yoga pants
https://thetolkienheads.files.wordpress.com/2017/09/015-17-25-08-council-of-elrond-pt2.mp3
There is much to talk about in the first half of this chapter. We learn yet another portion of the history of the One Ring, and it remains uncertain how the story will evolve from Rivendell.
Our lectio divina section has two would-be allies pitted against each other in their competing ideas about how to save Middle-earth. Will this disagreement be consequential for the story of the Ring?
RANDOM-ASS THEME: Toilet paper
https://thetolkienheads.files.wordpress.com/2017/09/014-book-2-17-25-08-council-of-elrond-pt-1_new.mp3
Our first episode of Book Two looks at wrath. The Heads wonder whether anger can be directed towards a good end, or if it is inevitably a tool of the Shadow.
We also look into Bilbo’s notion of life as a story and history as a confluence of many personal stories. The story of Frodo as the Ringbearer began where Bilbo’s ended. Will Frodo’s quest find its end at Rivendell?
RANDOM-ASS THEME: Bike paths
https://thetolkienheads.files.wordpress.com/2017/08/013-lotr-many-meetings-17-19-08.mp3
In this special show, we reflect on everything that went on over the course of the twelve chapters that make up Book One of Fellowship, and attempt to put everything in perspective.
The Heads run through the the main events so far. Did we miss anything? We also look more closely at particular passages that we found intriguing, compelling, engaging … or just plain interesting.
RANDOM-ASS THEME: Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
https://thetolkienheads.files.wordpress.com/2017/08/lotr-book-one-17-08-12.mp3
As the Hobbits race towards Rivendell, pursued closely by the Ringwraiths (and encountering some would-be trolls on the way), the Heads reflect on how panicked decision-making can lead to hasty or untrue conclusions.
We also take a shot at decoding how exactly the shadow world of the wraiths works. How is Frodo’s wound transforming him and his experiences? What is “the Shadow,” exactly?
RANDOM-ASS THEME: E-readers
https://thetolkienheads.files.wordpress.com/2017/08/012-lotr-17-08-04-flight-to-the-ford.mp3
The Hobbits make their all-too-public exit from Bree and travel towards Weathertop in this eventful chapter.
The topic of hedges and what they symbolize once again rears its head, but our analysis section focuses more on nostalgia and the longing for what used to be.
RANDOM-ASS THEME: Craft beer
https://thetolkienheads.files.wordpress.com/2017/08/011-lotr-17-07-24-a-knife-in-the-dark.mp3
This week we continue our discussion about hedges, boundaries, and xenophobia in Middle-earth. Some racial issues crop up, as well; we mull over ideas about how people of color are—and aren’t—represented in Tolkien’s world.
The chapter is packed with judgments about newcomers and strangers. Are they justified? See whether you agree with us.
RANDOM-ASS THEME: Student loans
https://thetolkienheads.files.wordpress.com/2017/08/010-lotr-17-07-17-strider-7_17_17.mp3
We follow the Hobbits into Bree and discuss what must be their thoughts and feelings as they encounter this new place and its uncanny (or at least unhobbitlike) architecture.
RANDOM-ASS THEME: Toenail clippers
https://thetolkienheads.files.wordpress.com/2017/07/009-lotr-17-07-07-at-the-sign-of-the-prancing-pony.mp3
As the Hobbits conclude their “short cut”—after some new and dangerous situations—and get back onto the Road, we discuss the feeling of getting back on track after a long hiatus, and not losing sight of the big picture.
We also reflect on the nature of evil in Middle-earth.
RANDOM-ASS THEME: Noise-canceling headphones
https://thetolkienheads.files.wordpress.com/2017/07/008-17-06-23-fog-on-the-barrow-downs.mp3
What’s in a name? This week the Heads puzzle through what it means to know somebody else—or even ourselves. Are we defined by how we think about ourselves? … by how others think about us? … or maybe by the things we do and say?
We join the Hobbits for story time with Tom and Goldberry as we ask some important questions, not the least of which is: who or what is Tom Bombadil?
RANDOM-ASS THEME: Panera Bread
https://thetolkienheads.files.wordpress.com/2017/07/007-lotr-new.mp3
Join us as we follow our adventuring Hobbits into the Old Forest. We talk through their travels and travails as they come face-to-face with Old Man Willow, who seems to be a sort of guardian spirit of the forest.
This week the Heads discuss how it feels to have no idea how to respond to a situation—especially when someone around you is in danger. What kinds of gut reactions do we have to situations we feel unprepared for?
RANDOM-ASS THEME: Colonialism
https://thetolkienheads.files.wordpress.com/2017/07/006-lotr-17-06-15-the-old-forest.mp3
As the Heads begin to hit something of a stride, the Hobbits cross the Brandywine and reach Crickhollow in Buckland, which in many ways represents their last certain contact with known Hobbit civilization.
In addition to having an illuminating conversation on Hobbit bath-time habits, we focus on what it feels like to set off into unknown territory or even a new way of life. How does the journey change you? How does the journey change your vision of home? Join us to hear our thoughts, then offer your own in the comments below.
RANDOM-ASS THEME: Skype
https://thetolkienheads.files.wordpress.com/2017/06/005-lotr-17-08-06-conspiracy-unmasked.mp3
This week, we follow the Hobbits on a shortcut that ends up making for a long delay.
Special guest Angela leads a discussion of Middle-Earth architecture. We look at not only the Hobbit-holes that we have seen this far and Farmer Maggot’s farm as it is described in the chapter, but also the Elvish campsite where the Hobbits wake up at the beginning of the chapter.
The Heads also discuss loyalty and the bittersweet feeling that comes with learning something new.
RANDOM-ASS THEME: Friend requests
https://thetolkienheads.files.wordpress.com/2017/06/004-lotr-mushrooms-17-06-01.m4a
This week we find ourselves amidst many endings and many beginnings. Host Chris is away on a journey of his own, and in his place we have special guest and Art History student Joanna to talk us through the chapter from a material culture perspective. The Heads discuss what it feels like to overstay your welcome in a place and to know when it’s time to say good-bye. We also get our first good look at some Elves.
RANDOM-ASS THEME: Hand sanitizer
https://thetolkienheads.files.wordpress.com/2017/06/003-lotr-three-is-company-17-05-16.m4a
The road goes ever on, and ours is just beginning. No turning back now!
This week, the Heads delve into dark secrets perhaps best kept in shadow. Join us for a discussion about moving forward in the face of adversity, answering a call, and—inevitably—the lore concerning the One Ring.
RANDOM-ASS THEME: Tenure
https://thetolkienheads.files.wordpress.com/2017/06/002-lotr-2017-05-09.m4a
And we’re off!
Join us for a lively discussion of fireworks, pipe-weed, and the social norms of Middle-earth.
Comments are welcome. We are still fine-tuning the format that our discussions will have, so please let us know what you think!
RANDOM-ASS THEME: Star Wars
https://thetolkienheads.files.wordpress.com/2017/05/001-lotr-2017-05-04.m4a
In preparation for our long-expected journey into The Fellowship, we discuss the final chapter of The Hobbit. Hi-jinks and homecomings abound.
https://thetolkienheads.files.wordpress.com/2017/04/001-lotr-podcast.m4a
Get to know the hosts of the new, nerdy podcast The Tolkien Heads. Rich, Matt, Nathan, and Chris introduce themselves. We talk about where we are from and whither we are going.
A special acknowledgement to Harry Potter and the Sacred Text for their innovative podcast and their encouraging words as we embark on our own adventure.
https://thetolkienheads.files.wordpress.com/2017/03/000-lotr-podcast.m4a