I actually did find the two pages of history at the beginning of this chapter interesting, but that was because it was obviously tied with what was happening in this chapter. Why couldn't Tolkien have done the same with the rest of the historystuff in the Prologue? Ok, I'll stop harping on about that now.
Love the botanical names that the Men of Bree all have...Goatleaf, Heathertoes, Ferny, Thistlewool. I wonder where Tolkien got inspiration for all his names?
Oo, Strider sounds like quite a guy. I bet -he- doesn't have hairy feet.
Replies: 7 comments
Interesting you should say that -- in one of the earliest drafts of this chapter, Strider was a hobbit named Trotter!
Posted by Janet Croft @ 2001 May 16 10:06 AM EST
Really? I'm so glad Tolkien decided to change Trotter to Strider and make him a human instead of a hobbit.
Posted by Debbie @ 2001 May 24 09:38 AM EST
I think Janet made that up.
Posted by Arthur @ 2001 Jun 01 03:45 AM EST
Hi, I just found this and I'm enjoying reading the report (I first read LOTR 10-odd years ago). I should point out that the story about Trotter really is true, it's in some of the 'History of Middle-Earth' books, which are basically collections of notes from the making of LOTR. Keep up the good work there!
Posted by Keith Fraser @ 2001 Jun 01 05:31 AM EST
Actually it is true Strider was originally a hobbit named Trotter who wore wooden shoes. I am currently reading "A Shadow from the Past" which is a transciption by Christopher Tolkien of his fathers earlier drafts of the LOTR. It is interseting to see from this earlier work how the characters evolved to thier final form.
Posted by Dave @ 2001 Jun 01 11:36 AM EST
Yes, Strider was a hobbit named Trotter originally. Heh, I have just finished "A shadow in the past" and am reading the next book in that series. Apparently, it took Tolkien a VERY long time to get off of the "Trotter" name, as it is sustained for quiet a while afterwards, even when he begins to mold Trotter into a man.
Posted by Glen @ 2001 Jun 01 01:12 PM EST
i don't know about u guys, but i really don't like strider. 4 some very weird reason that is a mystery even 2 me, i just don't like strider anyone know why?
Posted by vikki @ 2001 Jun 13 04:19 PM EST
