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  • The Fellowship of the Ring: Ch 13-15

    The Fellowship of the Ring: Ch 13-15
    2025/01/22
    Chapter 13 - Many Meetings ‘There are many powers in the world, for good or for evil. Some are greater than I am. Against some I have not yet been measured. But my time is coming. The Morgul-lord and his Black Riders have come forth. War is preparing!’Q1 - What is Gandalf talking about?‘I suppose not,’ said Frodo. ‘But so far my only thought has been to get here; and I hope I shan’t have to go any further. It is very pleasant just to rest. I have had a month of exile and adventure, and I find that has been as much as I want.’Caught between fire and water, and seeing an Elf-lord revealed in his wrath, they were dismayed, and their horses were stricken with madness. ‘Who made the flood?’ asked Frodo. ‘Elrond commanded it,’ answered Gandalf. ‘The river of this valley is under his power, and it will rise in anger when he has great need to bar the Ford. As soon as the captain of the Ringwraiths rode into the water the flood was released. If I may say so, I added a few touches of my own: you may not have noticed, but some of the waves took the form of great white horses with shining white riders; and there were many rolling and grinding boulders. For a moment I was afraid that we had let loose too fierce a wrath, and the flood would get out of hand and wash you all away. There is great vigour in the waters that come down from the snows of the Misty Mountains.’‘Hush!’ said Gandalf from the shadows at the back of the porch. ‘Evil things do not come into this valley; but all the same we should not name them. The Lord of the Ring is not Frodo, but the master of the Dark Tower of Mordor, whose power is again stretching out over the world. We are sitting in a fortress. Outside it is getting dark.’ ‘Gandalf has been saying many cheerful things like that,’ said Pippin. ‘He thinks I need keeping in order. But it seems impossible, somehow, to feel gloomy or depressed in this place. I feel I could sing, if I knew the right song for the occasion.’Q2 - Is Gandalf a killjoy?So it was that Frodo saw her whom few mortals had yet seen; Arwen, daughter of Elrond, in whom it was said that the likeness of Lu´thien had come on earth again; and she was called Undo´miel, for she was the Evenstar of her people.Q3 - I don’t know what any of this means, but Tolkien knows how to make a character introduction.Frodo learned that Grimbeorn the Old, son of Beorn, was now the lord of many sturdy men, and to their land between the Mountains and Mirkwood neither orc nor wolf dared to go.Q4 - This guy sounds amazing.Bombur was now so fat that he could not move himself from his couch to his chair at table, and it took six young dwarves to lift him.Glo´in looked at Frodo and smiled. ‘You were very fond of Bilbo were you not?’ he asked. ‘Yes,’ answered Frodo. ‘I would rather see him than all the towers and palaces in the world.’Bilbo put out his hand. But Frodo quickly drew back the Ring. To his distress and amazement he found that he was no longer looking at Bilbo; a shadow seemed to have fallen between them, and through it he found himself eyeing a little wrinkled creature with a hungry face and bony groping hands. He felt a desire to strike him.Q5 - What does the ring actually do? This was terrifying.Q6 - How do Bilbo and Strider know each other?‘But often I must put mirth aside. Elladan and Elrohir have returned out of the Wild unlooked-for, and they had tidings that I wished to hear at once.’Q7 - What is going on here? They spoke together, and then suddenly it seemed to Frodo that Arwen turned towards him, and the light of her eyes fell on him from afar and pierced his heart. He stood still enchanted, while the sweet syllables of the Elvish song fell like clear jewels of blended word and melody.Q8 - Anyone else get all hot and bothered after this scene?Good night, Frodo! Bless me, but it has been good to see you again! There are no folk like hobbits after all for a real good talk. I am getting very old, and I began to wonder if I should live to see your chapters of our story. Q9 - This chapter hooked me.Chapter 14 - The Council of Elrond‘In that dream I thought the eastern sky grew dark and there was a growing thunder, but in the West a pale light lingered, and out of it I heard a voice, remote but clear, crying: Seek for the Sword that was broken: In Imladris it dwells; There shall be counsels taken Stronger than Morgul-spells. There shall be shown a token That Doom is near at hand, For Isildur’s Bane shall waken, And the Halfling forth shall stand.Q1 - What do you think of the Council?Ash nazg durbatuluˆk, ash nazg gimbatul, ash nazg thrakatuluˆk agh burzum-ishi krimpatul.’ The change in the wizard’s voice was astounding. Suddenly it became menacing, powerful, harsh as stone. A shadow seemed to pass over the high sun, and the porch for a moment grew dark. All trembled, and the Elves stopped their ears. ‘Never before has any voice dared to utter words of that ...
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    1 時間 31 分
  • The Fellowship of the Ring: Ch 9-12

    The Fellowship of the Ring: Ch 9-12
    2025/01/01
    Chapter 9 - At the Sign of the Prancing Pony
    • The man stared after the hobbits for a moment, and then he went back to his house. As soon as his back was turned, a dark figure climbed quickly in over the gate and melted into the shadows of the village street.

    Q1 - What is this?

    • ‘Mind yourself! Don’t get lost, and don’t forget that it is safer indoors!’

    Q2 - Are you shocked that Merry and Pippen were the two who stayed behind?

    • Suddenly Frodo noticed that a strange-looking weatherbeaten man, sitting in the shadows near the wall, was also listening intently to the hobbit-talk. He had a tall tankard in front of him, and was smoking a long-stemmed pipe curiously carved. His legs were stretched out before him, showing high boots of supple leather that fitted him well, but had seen much wear and were now caked with mud. A travel-stained cloak of heavy dark-green cloth was drawn close about him, and in spite of the heat of the room he wore a hood that overshadowed his face; but the gleam of his eyes could be seen as he watched the hobbits.
    • He felt the Ring on its chain, and quite unaccountably the desire came over him to slip it on and vanish out of the silly situation. It seemed to him, somehow, as if the suggestion came to him from outside, from someone or something in the room. He resisted the temptation firmly, and clasped the Ring in his hand, as if to keep a hold on it and prevent it from escaping or doing any mischief.

    Q3 - What is happening with Frodo here?

    • ‘Certainly!’ said Frodo; but his heart sank. He wondered how many private talks he would have before he got to bed, and what they would reveal. Were these people all in league against him? He began to suspect even old Butterbur’s fat face of concealing dark designs.

    Q4 - Is this Frodo, or the Ring?

    Chapter 10 - Strider
    • Well, you know your own business, maybe,’ said Mr. Butterbur, looking suspiciously at Strider. ‘But if I was in your plight, I wouldn’t take up with a Ranger.’ ‘Then who would you take up with?’ asked Strider. ‘A fat innkeeper who only remembers his own name because people shout it at him all day?

    Q1 - What do you think of book Strider?

    • All that is gold does not glitter, Not all those who wander are lost; The old that is strong does not wither, Deep roots are not reached by the frost. From the ashes a fire shall be woken, A light from the shadows shall spring; Renewed shall be blade that was broken, The crownless again shall be king.

    Q2 - Amazing way to end a letter.

    Chapter 11 - A Knife in the Dark
    • There was a faint stir in the leaves, and a cock crowed far away. The cold hour before dawn was passing. The figure by the door moved. In the dark without moon or stars a drawn blade gleamed, as if a chill light had been unsheathed. There was a blow, soft but heavy, and the door shuddered. ‘Open, in the name of Mordor!’ said a voice thin and menacing.

    Q1 - Fatty Bolger is a brave hobbit!

    Q2 - How terrifying is this?

    Q3 - What do you think of Sam reciting that poem?

    Q4 - What do you think of the Beren and Tunivial story?

    Chapter 12 - Flight to the Ford

    Q1 - What is happening to Frodo being stabbed?

    Q2 - Do you like the amount of songs in the book?

    Q3 - What do you think of Glorfindel?
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    1 時間 31 分
  • The Fellowship of the Ring: Ch 5-8

    The Fellowship of the Ring: Ch 5-8
    2024/12/23
    Chapter 5 - A Conspiracy Unmasked
    • Sam was the only member of the party who had not been over the river before. He had a strange feeling as the slow gurgling stream slipped by: his old life lay behind in the mists, dark adventure lay in front. He scratched his head, and for a moment had a passing wish that Mr. Frodo could have gone on living quietly at Bag End.

    Q1 - What do you think of the perspective changes?

    • ‘You can trust us to stick to you through thick and thin – to the bitter end. And you can trust us to keep any secret of yours – closer than you keep it yourself. But you cannot trust us to let you face trouble alone, and go off without a word. We are your friends, Frodo.

    Q2 - What do you think of the Hobbits?

    • When at last he had got to bed, Frodo could not sleep for some time. His legs ached. He was glad that he was riding in the morning. Eventually he fell into a vague dream, in which he seemed to be looking out of a high window over a dark sea of tangled trees. Down below among the roots there was the sound of creatures crawling and snuffling. He felt sure they would smell him out sooner or later. Then he heard a noise in the distance. At first he thought it was a great wind coming over the leaves of the forest. Then he knew that it was not leaves, but the sound of the Sea far-off; a sound he had never heard in waking life, though it had often troubled his dreams. Suddenly he found he was out in the open. There were no trees after all. He was on a dark heath, and there was a strange salt smell in the air. Looking up he saw before him a tall white tower, standing alone on a high ridge. A great desire came over him to climb the tower and see the Sea. He started to struggle up the ridge towards the tower: but suddenly a light came in the sky, and there was a noise of thunder.

    Q3 - Do you think this dream has any meaning?

    Chapter 6 - The Old Forest

    Q1 - Do you ever feel unease like the Hobbits did in the forest?

    Q2 - The Forest seems to be forcing them to be in a specific place…do think so?

    Q3 - What do you think of Tom Bombadil and his entrance?

    • Time enough for questions around the supper table. You follow after me as quick as you are able!

    Q4 - Do you appreciate the focus on food in the books?

    Chapter 7 - In the House of Tom Bombadil

    Q1 - Who is this lady with Tom?

    • ‘The trees and the grasses and all things growing or living in the land belong each to themselves. Tom Bombadil is the Master. No one has ever caught old Tom walking in the forest, wading in the water, leaping on the hill-tops under light and shadow. He has no fear. Tom Bombadil is master.’

    Q2 - Who is this guy?

    Q3 - Woud you feel at ease at Toms?

    Q4 - If you didn’t know about Tom, would you trust him?

    Chapter 8 - Fog on the Barrow Downs
    • Out of the east the biting wind was blowing. To his right there loomed against the westward stars a dark black shape. A great barrow stood there. ‘Where are you?’ he cried again, both angry and afraid. ‘Here!’ said a voice, deep and cold, that seemed to come out of the ground. ‘I am waiting for you!’ ‘No!’ said Frodo; but he did not run away. His knees gave, and he fell on the ground. Nothing happened, and there was no sound. Trembling he looked up, in time to see a tall dark figure like a shadow against the stars. It leaned over him. He thought there were two eyes, very cold though lit with a pale light that seemed to come from some remote distance. Then a grip stronger and colder than iron seized him. The icy touch froze his bones, and he remembered no more.

    Q1 - This is some creepy writing…

    • At first Frodo felt as if he had indeed been turned into stone by the incantation. Then a wild thought of escape came to him. He wondered if he put on the Ring, whether the Barrow-wight would miss him, and he might find some way out. He thought of himself running free over the grass, grieving for Merry, and Sam, and Pippin, but free and alive himself. Gandalf would admit that there had been nothing else he could do.

    Q2 - What do you think of Frodo?

    Q3 - What was the creature that took them?
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    1 時間 23 分
  • The Fellowship of the Ring: Ch 1-4

    The Fellowship of the Ring: Ch 1-4
    2024/12/16
    Chapter 1 - A Long Expected PartyQ1 - What do you think of a Hobbits coming of age at 33?Q2 - What do you think of Frodo’s parents death of drowning?Q3 - What do you think about Hobbits?Out flew a red-golden dragon – not life-size, but terribly life-like: fire came from his jaws, his eyes glared down; there was a roar, and he whizzed three times over the heads of the crowd. They all ducked, and many fell flat on their faces. The dragon passed like an express train, turned a somersault, and burst over Bywater with a deafening explosion.I regret to announce that – though, as I said, eleventy-one years is far too short a time to spend among you – this is the END. I am going. I am leaving NOW. GOOD-BYE! He stepped down and vanished. There was a blinding flash of light, and the guests all blinked. When they opened their eyes Bilbo was nowhere to be seen.Q4 - What do you think of Bilbo?Q5 - What do you think of the battle for the ring between Gandalf and Bilbo?He paused, silent for a moment. Then without another word he turned away from the lights and voices in the field and tents, and followed by his three companions went round into his garden, and trotted down the long sloping path. He jumped over a low place in the hedge at the bottom, and took to the meadows, passing into the night like a rustle of wind in the grass. Gandalf remained for a while staring after him into the darkness. ‘Good-bye, my dear Bilbo – until our next meeting!’ he said softly and went back indoors.Q6 - Do you like Bilbo’s Irish exit from life?Q7 - Thoughts on the Sackville Baggins and their gift of spoons?Chapter 2 - The Shadow of the PastQ1 - 17 years have passed…Frodo is now 50 and he hasn’t seen Gandalf…how crazy is that?Q2 - What do you think of Sam?You say the ring is dangerous, far more dangerous than I guess. In what way?’ ‘In many ways,’ answered the wizard. ‘It is far more powerful than I ever dared to think at first, so powerful that in the end it would utterly overcome anyone of mortal race who possessed it. It would possess him.One Ring to rule them all, One Ring to find them, One Ring to bring them all and in the darkness bind them.Q3 - What is this rings actual power?‘I wish it need not have happened in my time,’ said Frodo. ‘So do I,’ said Gandalf, ‘and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.Q4 - Do you like Tolkiens writing so far?Q5 - What do you think of the Deagol and Smeagol story?‘You ought to begin to understand, Frodo, after all you have heard,’ said Gandalf. ‘He hated it and loved it, as he hated and loved himself. He could not get rid of it. He had no will left in the matter.‘I endured him as long as I could, but the truth was desperately important, and in the end I had to be harsh. I put the fear of fire on him, and wrung the true story out of him, bit by bit, together with much snivelling and snarling.Q6 - Did Gandalf torture him?Through Mirkwood and back again it led them, though they never caught him. The wood was full of the rumour of him, dreadful tales even among beasts and birds. The Woodmen said that there was some new terror abroad, a ghost that drank blood. It climbed trees to find nests; it crept into holes to find the young; it slipped through windows to find cradles.And my search would have been in vain, but for the help that I had from a friend: Aragorn, the greatest traveller and huntsman of this age of the world.Q7 - I gotta say, this introduction of Aragorn is even better than the movies.‘Deserves it! I daresay he does. Many that live deserve death. And some that die deserve life. Can you give it to them? Then do not be too eager to deal out death in judgement. For even the very wise cannot see all ends. I have not much hope that Gollum can be cured before he dies, but there is a chance of it. And he is bound up with the fate of the Ring. My heart tells me that he has some part to play yet, for good or ill, before the end; and when that comes, the pity of Bilbo may rule the fate of many – yours not least.Q8 - What do you think about the idea of second chances so far in this story with Gollum?He went to the window and drew aside the curtains and the shutters. Sunlight streamed back again into the room. Sam passed along the path outside whistling. ‘And now,’ said the wizard, turning back to Frodo, ‘the decision lies with you. But I will always help you.’ He laid his hand on Frodo’s shoulder. ‘I will help you bear this burden, as long as it is yours to bear. But we must do something, soon. The Enemy is moving.’Q9 - What do you think of Frodo?Chapter 3 - Three’s Company‘‘It’s a dangerous business, Frodo, going out of your door,’’ he used to say. ‘‘You step into the Road, and if you don’t keep your feet, there is no knowing where you might be swept off to.Q1 - Who is your favorite character so far?Round the ...
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    1 時間 29 分
  • The Fellowship of the First Time Readers: Introduction

    The Fellowship of the First Time Readers: Introduction
    2024/12/09
    Jon, Danny, Jenn, and Lizzy embark on a journey, much like young master Frodo and the Fellowship. In this episode, they talk about the things they know about Lord of the Rings and what they expect from the series as they begin to read.
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    53 分
  • Harry Potter and the First Time Readers: Q&A and Finale

    Harry Potter and the First Time Readers: Q&A and Finale
    2024/12/05
    Jon, Jenn, Danny, and Kristen talk over their last thoughts of the Harry Potter series.
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    1 時間 50 分
  • Harry Potter and the Cursed Child: A Review

    Harry Potter and the Cursed Child: A Review
    2024/12/02
    Jon, Danny, Jenn, and Lizzy all went to see Cursed Child. Here are their thoughts and reviews on all things controversial and emotional.
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    47 分
  • Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Ch 33-Epilogue

    Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Ch 33-Epilogue
    2024/11/25
    Chapter 33 - The Prince’s TaleAs Ginny and Hermione moved closer to the rest of the family, Harry had a clear view of the bodies lying next to Fred: Remus and Tonks, pale and still and peaceful-looking, apparently asleep beneath the dark, enchanted ceiling.Q1 - What do you think about Tonks and Lupin?Q2 - In the beginning of the memory what do you think of Snape, Lily, and Tuneys connection?Q3 - Petunia wrote a letter to Dumbledore asking to be let into the school…do you understand her character more from this?Q4 - According to Snape’s memory, what do you think of James and Sirius?Harry watched again as Snape left the Great Hall after sitting his O.W.L. in Defense Against the Dark Arts, watched as he wandered away from the castle and strayed inadvertently close to the place beneath the beech tree where James, Sirius, Lupin, and Pettigrew sat together. But Harry kept his distance this time, because he knew what happened after James had hoisted Severus into the air and taunted him; he knew what had been done and said, and it gave him no pleasure to hear it again. . . . He watched as Lily joined the group and went to Snape’s defense. Distantly he heard Snape shout at her in his humiliation and his fury, the unforgivable word: “Mudblood.” Q5 - Why is this Snape’s worst memory?“Her boy survives,” said Dumbledore. With a tiny jerk of the head, Snape seemed to flick off an irksome fly. “Her son lives. He has her eyes, precisely her eyes. You remember the shape and color of Lily Evans’s eyes, I am sure?” “DON’T!” bellowed Snape. “Gone . . . dead . . .” “Is this remorse, Severus?” “I wish . . . I wish I were dead. . . .” “And what use would that be to anyone?” said Dumbledore coldly. “If you loved Lily Evans, if you truly loved her, then your way forward is clear.” Snape seemed to peer through a haze of pain, and Dumbledore’s words appeared to take a long time to reach him. “What — what do you mean?” “You know how and why she died. Make sure it was not in vain. Help me protect Lily’s son.” “He does not need protection. The Dark Lord has gone —” “The Dark Lord will return, and Harry Potter will be in terrible danger when he does.” There was a long pause, and slowly Snape regained control of himself, mastered his own breathing. At last he said, “Very well. Very well. But never — never tell, Dumbledore! This must be between us! Swear it! I cannot bear . . . especially Potter’s son . . . I want your word!” “My word, Severus, that I shall never reveal the best of you?” Dumbledore sighed, looking down into Snape’s ferocious, anguished face. “If you insist . . .” Q6 - Do you understand why Snape hated and yet protected Harry?“No,” said Snape, his black eyes on Fleur’s and Roger’s retreating figures. “I am not such a coward.” “No,” agreed Dumbledore. “You are a braver man by far than Igor Karkaroff. You know, I sometimes think we Sort too soon. . . .” Q7 - Do they sort too soon?Snape raised his eyebrows and his tone was sardonic as he asked, “Are you intending to let him kill you?” “Certainly not. You must kill me.” There was a long silence, broken only by an odd clicking noise. Fawkes the phoenix was gnawing a bit of cuttlebone. “Would you like me to do it now?” asked Snape, his voice heavy with irony. “Or would you like a few moments to compose an epitaph?” “Oh, not quite yet,” said Dumbledore, smiling. “I daresay the moment will present itself in due course. Given what has happened tonight,” he indicated his withered hand, “we can be sure that it will happen within a year.” “If you don’t mind dying,” said Snape roughly, “why not let Draco do it?” “That boy’s soul is not yet so damaged,” said Dumbledore. “I would not have it ripped apart on my account.” “And my soul, Dumbledore? Mine?” “You alone know whether it will harm your soul to help an old man avoid pain and humiliation,” said Dumbledore.Q8 - Do you understand why Snape killed Dumbledore now?“Harry must not know, not until the last moment, not until it is necessary, otherwise how could he have the strength to do what must be done?” “Tell him what?” Dumbledore took a deep breath and closed his eyes. “Tell him that on the night Lord Voldemort tried to kill him, when Lily cast her own life between them as a shield, the Killing Curse rebounded upon Lord Voldemort, and a fragment of Voldemort’s soul was blasted apart from the whole, and latched itself onto the only living soul left in that collapsing building. Part of Lord Voldemort lives inside Harry, and it is that which gives him the power of speech with snakes, and a connection with Lord Voldemort’s mind that he has never understood. And while that fragment of soul, unmissed by Voldemort, remains attached to and protected by Harry, Lord Voldemort cannot die.” Q9 - Harry is a Horcrux…“So the boy . . . the boy must die?” ...
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    2 時間 13 分