Attack on Weathertop

Once again the narrative of the early manuscripts matches well with the published version of The Fellowship of the Ring. In fact, the flight from Weathertop to the Ford is nearly identical and I will not be providing any commentary on that section. The attack on Weathertop does have some interesting details that ultimately did not make the final cut; but they are details I rather enjoyed. So I will likely explore ways to integrate them into the text.

One early details hearkens back to The Hobbit. Both in it's content and writing style. At this stage Tolkien was still rather deliberate in tying his new stories of hobbits in with his older one. One of the tell tale features of The Hobbit, whether you love it or hate it, is the narrator. I must admit I was thrown for a loop by the narrator's voice and it took me several attempts to complete The Hobbit (which I read for the first time after reading The Lord of the Rings). We catch a glimpse of the narrator here: "Cram was, you may remember, a word in the language of the men of Dale and the Long-lake - to describe a special food they made for long journeys" (p. 177, The Return of the Shadow).

It's hard to picture what we know as The Lord of the Rings with a narrator popping up from time to time. I'm rather glad that didn't stay. But it gives good insight on Tolkien's mindset as he's writing at this time. Beyond the narrator I particularly enjoy the reference back to The Hobbit. If this is to be an interconnected Middle-earth those little details are appreciated. And it also gives some practicality to the wandering wizard. For it was Gandalf who left some stores at Weathertop: cram, bacon, dried fruit, wood for fires, and (best of all) tobacco. It seems Gandalf purposely left the supplies for Bingo and friends rather than leaving them under duress as he was attacked in The Fellowship of the Ring.

As they built up a fire and waited out the night hoping the Black Riders had not seen them Frodo asked Trotter about Gil-galad whom the ranger had mentioned earlier. Trotter felt that tale not appropriate but decided to tell the hobbits about Tinúviel. Trotter proceeds to recite some verses about fair Lúthien and Beren followed by some narrative tales. It seems altogether longer than what is in Fellowship but I'd have to go back and compare.

As the tale ended Odo, the watchmen, rushed back to the others: "'I don't know what it is,' he said, 'but I feel that something is creeping up the hill. And I thought (I couldn't be sure) that away there, westwards, where the moonlight is falling, there were two or three black shapes. They seemed to be moving this way'" (p. 185,  The Return of the Shadow). I like this description. Tolkien is very good about creating an eery and fear inducing picture with this scene.

From the attack to the flight the rest of the narrative is very close to that in Fellowship. It's nice to see the story taking shape and moving forward. But obviously some major items have not come to be; namely the rise of Frodo the Ring Bearer and Aragorn the Ranger.