Council of Elrond (versions 2-4)

Christopher Tolkien weaved his way through four versions of the Council of Elrond in the next chapter of The Treason of Isengard. Each subsequent version furthering the narrative toward the finished version. Details such as the various speakers when when their various tales entered the council shifted throughout the writings. Details that emerged in this writing process include:

• Elrond's recollection of the Elder Days and his lineage
• Aragorn's tale of the hunt for Gollum
• Gandalf's analogy of he and Bombadil: "'I am a rolling stone, and he is a gatherer of moss'" 9p. 111, The Treason of Isengard). I like that saying. 
• Elrond asserts the Three Rings of the Elves have been taken over the Sea. 
• Elrond decides the Fellowship is to consist of 7 walkers (Merry & Pippin are excluded). Gandalf explains that Pippin's heart is not ready for such adventures and of Merry: "'He is merry in name, and merry in heart, but this quest is not for him...'" (p. 115, The Treason of Isengard). The wise wizard does suspect there will be work for the two young hobbits to do. Perhaps a foreshadow of problems in the Shire? 
• The 7 walkers are: Frodo, Sam, Gandalf, Aragorn, Boromir, Gimli, and Galdor (of Mirkwood)
• As the texts were written the role of the Númenóreans in Middle-earth, Aragorn's lineage, becomes clearer and clearer.
• Minas Ithil, Minas Anor, Elendil, and Isildur and there roles begin to take shape.
• The relation of the Land of Ond and the Númenórans is quite interesting at first conception: "'And the Men of Minas Tirith drove out my fathers,' said Aragorn. 'Is that not remembered Boromir? The men of that town have never ceased to wage war on Sauron, but they have listened not seldom to counsels that came from him'" (p. 120, The Treason of Isengard). I like how the history came to be with the Stewards and Denethor's hesitancy to give up power; but is intriguing to think how the return of the King would have been handled by a rebellious people.
• Much talk about the sword that was broken; Elendil prophesied when it would be reforged and by all accounts at the council it seems the time is at hand. 
• More names enter for the first time: Khazaddûm and Osgiliath for example. 
• Finally Gandalf's tale of his capture emerges: his restlessness, his meeting with Radagast the Brown (who finally makes it into the story!) who tells of the Nine Ringwraiths who are abroad, his going to Saruman the White for help; his betrayal and capture by Saruman. 

Wizards and Hobbits

The next section of The Treason of Isengard shows Tolkien's efforts to expand on the Hamilcar Bolger capture. And while this story would not come to be it did yield some very important developments.

A bit of narrative was to be introduced into the Many Meetings chapter when Frodo wakes up in Rivendell. To his surprise one of the hobbits waiting for him was Hamilcar Bolger who had opted to stay at Crickhollow. Inquiring about his presence the story is told of how the Black Riders raided Crickhollow and captured him but Gandalf came in the nick of time and pursued the Riders saving Hamilcar: "'He did not know whether is was relieved or disgusted when he found out it was only poor old Ham Bolger. I was too crushed to mind at the time: he bowled the Rider that was carrying me clean over; but I feel rather hurt now'" (p. 68-69, The Treason of Isengard).

Afterward realizing the Riders had thought they had caught Baggins Gandalf took Hamilcar and hoped to draw the enemies off of the real Baggins' trail. But news traveled too quickly and the Black Riders quickly were after Frodo. From there the time schemes match-up for both Gandalf and Frodo's travels to Rivendell (and explains the odd boot and hobbit prints Trotter found at Weathertop).

Not long after a sketch of a new plot twist emerged. And this was a major breakthrough. A new Wizard appears: Sarumund. "Sarumund betrays him - having fallen and gone over to Sauron: (either) he tells Gandalf false news of the Black Riders, and they pursue him to the top of a mountain; there he is left standing alone with a guard (wolves, orcs, etc. all about) while they ride off with mocking laugh; (or else) he is handed over to a giant Fangorn (Treebeard) who imprisons him?" (p. 71, The Treason of Isengard).

While the final details are not in place this is an excellent example of how Tolkien's first thoughts provided remarkable direction and clarity for his writing. From the beginning of putting his name on paper Saruman was to be a fallen wizard who betrays Gandalf. Remarkable. We also see that Treebeard has not left Tolkien's imagination - albeit he is still a rather evil character.

At this point there are various revisions concerning the Hamilcar, Gandalf, and Sarumund stories. Alternate versions included Hamilcar's rescue or his slipping out to Crickhollow before the Ringwraiths attacked. The Eagles enter the story now, rescuing Gandalf from his captivity. Radagast has not yet appeared but is close.

More revisions to previous writings happened around this time to. The confusing business of multiple secret letters from Gandalf seems to have been set aside at this time. One letter, now dated from the summer which Butterbur forgot to send on, that is independently and unknowingly confirmed by Trotter when he recites the poem (All that is gold does not glitter) about himself.

Revisions to Early Chapters, Part Two

Picking up from the last blog.

Chapter Nine: At the Sign of the Prancing Pony (The Cow Jumped Over the Moon)

• This was one long chapter but Tolkien finally divided it into two: same title with differing subtitles (in parenthesis)
• Harry Goatleaf's, the gatekeeper of Bree, role is reduced
• Given the restructuring of Bombadil there is no mention of him to Butterbur by the hobbits

Chapter 10: At the Sign of the Prancing Pony (All that is gold does not glitter)

• The Gandalf/Odo adventure has been cut which caused shifts in the narrative (Trotter no longer eavesdrops on Gandalf; Butterbur only has news of Black Riders, etc).
• Frodo's thoughts on Trotter looking foul but feeling fair arise in this time of writing.
• The strongest emergence of Sam Gamgee appears with his inherent distrust of Trotter.
• Tolkien spent considerable writings on the reveal of Trotter. It became very complicated with both Butterbur and Trotter producing separate letters from Gandalf confirming the ranger could be trusted.
• "Afterwords my father abandoned this spider's web of argumentation..." (p. 52, The Treason of Isengard). In the end there is one letter and Strider mentions the famous not all those who wander are lost words rather than two letters that match up the poems. 

Chapter 11: A Knife in the Dark

• Several revisions were made to the attack at Crickhollow: One involved Gandalf arriving first and slipping out the back with Hamilcar Bolger and raising the alarm, the next Gandalf is absent and Hamilcar raises the alarm, and an interesting third version: "The black figures passed swiftly in. In a moment they came out again; one carrying a small bundled figure in an old clock: it did not struggle" (p. 55, The Treason of Isengard). Poor Hamilcar. 
• At Weathertop Trotter is dismayed to find Sam and Pippen trampled the ground. It appears someone in boots (not worn by rangers) and a different hobbit were there but Trotter could not be sure. 

Chapter 12: Flight to the Ford

• References to the specific troll names from The Hobbit were still present but would be cut eventually
• However, Sam's poem about Trolls was introduced for the first time. Christopher Tolkien noted that his father had originally thought to have Bingo (Frodo) sing it at The Prancing Pony.
• Sam's song was based on Tolkien's 1920's era poem The Root of the Boot. Of course, Tolkien had to reframe it removing such images and phrases like: 'churchyard' and 'wore black on a Sunday'

Revisions to Early Chapters, part one

Tolkien began to restructure and rewrite the beginning of his Hobbit sequel. Much of the rewriting was prompted by the shift in ideas of what Gandalf was doing, behind the scenes, in his absence. Other shifts, such as the finalization of Trotter as a man, also influenced what had previously been written. I will highlight some shifts I found interesting as noted in The Treason of Isengard:

Chapter One: A long-expected party

• Christopher Tolkien noted this was now the 6th version of the opening chapter
•  The tense show of wills between Bilbo and Gandalf is not yet present but the Ring's grip on Bilbo is becoming clearer: "He held out the envelope, but just as Gandalf was about to take it,  Bilbo's hand jerked and the envelope fell on the floor" (p. 20, The Treason of Isengard).
• The Dwarf Lofar finally disappears

Chapter Two: An Ancient History

• This chapter was substantially rewritten but parts of the history had not yet appeared (for example: the making of the Rings of Power)
• Overall it moves, in most parts, nearly identical to the published work: "'I can put it no plainer than by saying that Bilbo was meant to find the Ring, and not by its maker. In which case you were also meant to have it, and that may be an encouraging thought, or it may not'" (p. 25, The Treason of Isengard).
• There is still great difficulty resolving Gollum and Bilbo's interaction from The Hobbit

Chapter Three: Three's Company

• This is the 3rd title of this chapter (Delays are Dangerous and Three's Company, Four's More)
• Perhaps the biggest development: "...'Pippin' appears for the first time as the text was written" (p. 30, The Treason of Isengard). Indeed, the lovable Pippin took finally lands on page never to leave.

Chapter Four: A Shortcut to Mushrooms

• The final form of this chapter was already completed; no significant changes or the correcting names.

Chapter Five: A Conspiracy Unmasked with The Dream of the Tower

• Frodo no longer leaves a note for Gandalf at Crickhollow fearing it was too dangerous
• Several texts exist from this time regarding Frodo's dream of Gandalf's imprisonment. Christopher Tolkien noted that his father struggled with where exactly to insert this dream into the text. 
• The dream itself has some eery and unsettling features: "...outside the wall sat silent watchers: black-robed figures on black horses, gazing at the gate of the tower without moving, as if they had sat there forever" (p. 33-34, The Treason of Isengard). Let that sink in and picture it; gives me the creeps!

Chapter Six: The Old Forest

• Most of the changes involved in this revision involved name changes with various characters

Chapter Seven: In the House of Tom Bombadil

• The attack at Crickhollow was originally associated with this chapter; but with the shift in Gandalf's movements this was struck out and would be incorporated around the time Frodo and friends arrived in Bree.

Chapter Eight: Fog on the Barrow-downs

• Little revision to this chapter was made at this time. However it was not yet in the final Fellowship form.
• The idea that Butterbur knew Bombadil was struck out however as Tolkien likely remembered Gandalf's words at Elrond's council that Bombadil did not leave his borders