Plot sketches after Moria

I think my favorite part of Christopher Tolkien's  painstaking historical account of his fathers writing of The Lord of the Rings are the plot sketches. It's really cool to see J.R.R. Tolkien's preliminary thoughts on where the story is heading. Some of those thoughts never come to be, others provide the germ of what will be, and still others are pretty much spot-on from the first time pen/pencil hit the paper. After finishing the Moria chapter and before writing the Lothlórien chapter (Christopher Tolkien argued his father had much of this next chapter in his mind and therefore only included cursory notes in the sketch) Tolkien sat down an began to outline where his story was heading and clearly it was becoming much bigger than the simple Hobbit sequel he was tasked to write years before. I will bullet point what most stands out to me:

• The company (sans Gandalf) reaches Lothlórien and take refuge in the trees
• Frodo decides going to Minis Tirith will not aid him and not all the company would be receptive to that idea: "Boromir is secretly planning to use the Ring, since Gandalf is gone" (p. 207, The Treason of Isengard). 
• Boromir tries to take the Ring; the aftermath is as follows: 
• Frodo puts on the Ring and disappears; it's noted that this use of the Ring reestablished It's power over Frodo
• Sam is lost
• Aragorn is grieved for failing Gandalf
• Merry & Pippin are distracted and wander far away
• Gimli & Legolas perceive the fellowship is broken and go North together
• Sam eventually tracks Gollum who leads him to Frodo
• Sam & Frodo's journey is sketched to Mount Doom
• Capture of Gollum who feigns reform and betrays them
• The Dead Marshes
• Frodo cannot willingly part with it at the end
• "Function for Sam? Is he to die?" (p. 209, The Treason of Isengard). 
• Tolkien quickly decided Frodo should be caught be Orcs and Sam gains the Ring--but how? 
• "A spider charm? or does Gollum get spider's help?"(p. 209. The Treason of Isengard).
• Sam uses the Ring to save Frodo and later it is Sam who wrestles Gollum and throws him into the fire
• Questions of how Frodo & Sam are to be rescued. 
• "Frodo standing on the side of Fire Mountain holds up a sword. He now commands Ringwraiths an bids them be gone" (p. 210, The Treason of Isengard). 
• Ideas for the rest of the company who should be checked in on.
• Merry & Pippin meet Treebeard (who turns out to be a good giant)
• "Legolas and Gimli also get lost and get captured by Saruman?" (p. 210, The Treason of Isengard). This idea was quickly rejected
• Boromir (who has noticeably changed) and Aragorn go to Minis Tirith and save the besieged city though the Lord is slain and the people choose Aragorn.
• "Boromir deserts and sneaks off to Saruman, to get his help in becoming Lord of Minis Tirith" (p. 210, The Treason of Isengard). 
• "How does Gandalf reappear?" (p. 210, The Treason of Isengard). 
• Turns out in Legolas & Gimli's travels (sans capture by Saruman) they encounter the risen Gandalf; interesting piece of the now White Wizards tale: "Clad himself in Mithril-mail and fought his way out slaying many trolls" (p. 211, The Treason of Isengard). 
• Siege of Minis Tirith is now broken by Gimli, Legolas, Gandalf, and Treebeard. Boromir still runs away to Saruman who shuts himself in Isengard. 
• An idle notion that if one hobbit dies it must be Pippin--the cowardly one who dies in a final act of bravery.
• And then some final chapter ideas after the Ring is destroyed:
• After feasting thoughts turn to Boromir: his repentance is rejected and appears that Aragorn was to slay the traitor (in battle? in execution? We don't know). 
• Gandalf dismisses Saruman and Isengard is given to the Dwarves or Radagast perhaps. 
• "Song of the Banished Shadow" (p. 212. The Treason of Isengard).  Something tells me this chapter would have included some cool Tolkien verses
• "Last scene. Sailing away of Elves [added faintly: Bilbo with them]" (p. 212, The Treason of Isengard). 

As you can see: some ideas that never came to be (Sam's death), some that are the genesis of the published story (Merry & Pippin meeting Treebeard), and some pretty close from the start (Gollum betraying Frodo with the help of Spiders). Perhaps most interesting is now the increased presence of Saruman and Isengard. Gandalf revealed at the Council of Elrond he was betrayed by the fellow Wizard and we see Tolkien beginning to flesh out what that means exactly for the denizens of Middle-earth. 

The Bridge of Moria

Christopher Tolkien said it well when he opened the next chapter of The History of Middle-earth series: "We come at last to the point where my father took up the narrative again beside Balin's tomb in Moria" (p. 190. The Treason of Isengard). It took nearly 200 pages of Treason to reach the point of new writings. If nothing is this excellently illustrates the amount of painstaking work Tolkien took when writing his masterpiece. Fine tuning the details, ironing out the plot, eradicating inconsistencies to get it just so. A testament to hard work.

It was still written on examination paper dated August 1940 so, real life chronology, it's the early Forties as this is being written (still a dozen or so years off from publication!). We finally meet up alongside the Fellowship as they read the Book of Mazarbul and learn the tragic fate of Balin's sortie to retake Moria. They linger to long and drums in the deep start. Soon goblins and orcs (with the name Orcs set to overtake goblins in this chapter) are upon them and they have a cave troll. (Several, but that's just a great line from Boromir in the movie).

It's fun to see Frodo's wrath aroused and his sword drives deep into the trolls foot whereas Boromir's blade made no impact. "'One for the Shire!' cried Trotter delightedly. 'You have a good blade, Frodo son of Drogo'" (p. 193, The Treason of Isengard). A desperate fight ensues culminating with a great Orc-chief spearing Frodo. Aragorn kills the Orc-chief and picks up Frodo only to be astonished the hobbit is still alive. The company flees with Gandalf staying at the door conjuring a spell. There is a great dazzling light, loud boom, and Gandalf is thrown down the stairs into the company.

The wizard reports that he has destroyed the chamber of Mazarbul burying Balin forever but keeping their pursuers at bay stating: "'I have lost my staff, part of my beard, and an inch of my eyebrows'" (p. 195, The Treason of Isengard). Interesting the text stops shortly after this and Tolkien began an immediate rewrite. It's close to the first writing but this time Gandalf does not lose his staff and calls for Gimli to aid him in leading the retreat. It also extends to the point where they are able to rest and ask Frodo what happened.

Finally the fellowship nears the bridge of Khazad-dûm. The pursuing Orcs are cut off by fire and a Balrog appears. Gandalf ushers the company across the bridge and stops to hold it against this ancient enemy. This history and depth of the Balrog is hinted at in a line written (and immediately struck out): "'You cannot pass,' he said. 'Go back...into the fiery depths. It is forbidden for any Balrog to come beneath the sky since Fionwë son of Manwë overthrew Thangorodrim'" (p. 198, The Treason of Isengard). I love this line. It takes me back to the first time I read The Lord of the Rings--it all felt so real, so historical, a depth to this world that made one feel it had actually existed. It's also interesting to see that the reconceptualization of the First Age was not complete--clearly the Valar still had offspring at this point.

Of interest as well is a rapidly written line concerning Legolas: "Legolas [?raised] his bow, and [an] arrow pierced his shoulder" (p. 198, The Treason of Isengard). This note would be lost altogether as nowhere in the published story does Legolas suffer wound; and if one's picture of Legolas is Peter Jackson's image this a jarring line to read. I rather like it and could advocate for it's remaining in the story; for his wounds could be healed during their stay in Lothlórien. Gandalf falls and the company made it out of Moria and at that point the original chapter writing ends.

Christopher Tolkien noted that immediately after the first manuscript was completed his father went back and made a fair manuscript of the chapter (and with it some emendations to the text) rather than moving on with the story. The changes, of course, brought the story more in line with the published version and I make only two final notes.

The aforementioned Legolas bit becomes a bit more startling: "he turned to fly and an arrow struck him in the shoulder. He stumbled and began to crawl on all fours along the bridge" (p. 203, The Treason of Isengard). Now we see the brave Elf shot in the back while running and reduced to crawling away in fear and hurt. In Fellowship he simply cries out in terror and runs--I'm not sure which of these looks fits him best. Lastly, a little more glimpse of the company after they escape Moria and are filled with grief at the loss of Gandalf. Aragorn offers the encouraging words: "'But now we must do as we can without our friend and our guide. At least we may yet avenge him. Let us gird ourselves. It is better for us to strike hard than to mourn long'" (p. 204, The Treason of Isengard).

The Lord of Moria

In my last post I noted some highlights as the story of Frodo's journey continues to take shape in details that strike ever closer to the published works of Tolkien. The same will happen as I highlight the next chapter of The Treason of Isengard where we find the fellowship on the brink of Moria. Christopher Tolkien stated that, at this writing, the text of Fellowship was, by and large, effectively completed.

There are some variations though. Aragorn shifts between being named Trotter and Elfstone throughout the chapter. We see some firsts in the text: the river Isen, Barad-dúr and Sauron's strongholds: "'I alone of you have ever been in the dungeons of the Dark Lord; and only in his older and lesser dwelling at Dol-Dúgol in Southern Mirkwood. Those who pass the gates of Barad-dûr, the Dark Tower in the Land of Shadow, do not return'" (p. 177-178, The Treason of Isengard). Pretty cool to see those two names show up!

At this point there are still two distinct doors to enter Moria by: A Dwarven door and an Elven door--at no point did the fellowship attempt the Dwarven door. Christopher Tolkien goes in to some detail about the moon-phases; essentially most references to the moon were removed at this point as it become rather muddled. I do admire Tolkien's determination to get the moons and chronologies correct. I for one am very inept when it comes to lunar cycles.

Mithril is called ithildin at the beginning of the writings but found it's name and significance as the chapter proceeded. One key item missing at this point was the phrase: Durin's Bane. Nothing too definitive but Christopher Tolkien said: "...I think it probable that at this stage it was not the Balrog that had caused the flight of the Dwarves from the great Dwarrowdelf long before" (p. 186, The Treason of Isengard). The chapter ends of course with the company finding the tomb of the Lord of Moria: Balin son of Fundin.

The Ring Sets Out

After the many revisions of the Council of Elrond Tolkien once again turned his attention to the journey of the Fellowship. Once and for all the number of walkers is determined: "Nine should be the number to set against the Nine Evil servants" (p. 161, The Treason of Isengard). Although who the company was composed of was still not finalized. A new potential member cropped up: Erestor representing the Half-Elven. But eventually the nine we have come to know and love in Fellowship was settled upon. I must admit I too would struggle with making half my company hobbits to pit against the Ringwraiths just as Elrond and Tolkien did.

The chronology of the story was also in flux at this time. At this moment of writing the company was to embark in late November about a month earlier than in the published account. Names (mountains, rivers, characters, etc) are still being tinkered with while the course of the company reaches fairly comparable details as in Fellowship. It is interesting to see at this point that Tolkien was still determining what call Aragorn (who was determined to go to Minis Tirith only) often exchanging Aaragorn for Elfstone.

"The reforging of the sword of Elendil now enters..." (p. 165, The Treason of Isengard). Also making it's first appearance in the story is the name Lothlórien where Gandalf had a mind to take the company too. During the snowstorm that stranded the company the banter between Gandalf and Boromir is changed. The light-hearted exchange is now between the Wizard and Legolas and is not nearly as light-hearted. And as Christopher Tolkien noted all but disappears in the final version. There were some fun moments in the early writings that would be fun to weave back into the story. Legolas does run light-footed across the snow yet.

Council of Elrond, 5th Version

Well, September certainly flew by. Lots to do with school starting up, taking advantage of the last bits of nice weather before it turns, football season starting, and of course birthdays to celebrate (mine, Bilbo, and Frodo!). But I did make my way through the next chapter of The Treason of Isengard which pushed the story very close to it's finality. I struggled for a while thinking about how I might articulate the various intricacies that moved the story along when last night I began the next chapter and found the Christopher Tolkien summarized things quite well (as should be expected):

"The intractable problems that had beset The Lord of the Rings thus far were now at last resolved. The identity of Trotter had been decisively established, and with the work done in successive versions of 'The Council of Elrond' his place and significance in the history of Middle-earth was already made firm--meagre though that history still was by comparison with the great structure that would afterwords be raised on these foundations. The hobbits were equally secure in number and in name, and the only Bolger who ever roamed far afield would rove no more. Bombadil is to play no further part in the history of the Ring. Most intractable of all, the question of what had happened to Gandalf was now conclusively answered; and with that answer had arisen (as it would turn out) a new focal point in the history of the War of the Ring: the Treason of Isengard" (p. 161, The Treason of Isengard).

It's fascinating to watch the twists and turns of how The Lord of the Rings came to be.