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PaperclipPerfector  1d ago (text post)   1464 thread views

Small-Scale Question Sunday for September 20, 2026

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I've been rereading The Lord Of The Rings. I grabbed the first volume when I went on a trip, just to have something to read, and it has been nice. It's been several years (maybe a decade?) since I last read it, so I've been enjoying reading it again. Stuff always hits you differently when you reread books. This time, I've noticed (for the first time) just how much elvish devotion to Elbereth seems inspired by Marian devotion among Catholics, and also just how old some of the characters are. Frodo is 50! I know it was right there in the text, but it never stood out to me before, and it's interesting given how young many fantasy heroes tend to be nowadays.

and also just how old some of the characters are. Frodo is 50!

The time between Frodo finding the Ring and the quest beginning is another thing where Jackson's view of it dominates in my mind. Intellectually I know it, but the movie seems so much smoother that that's what sticks in my head.

50 ain't old! Cirdan is pushing 11,000!

Incidentally, this is the source of most of my nerd rage toward Amazon's Rings of Power. It bugs me that Galadriel is written as a petulant teenager when she is literally older than the sun

True, but what I meant is that Frodo is somewhat old by our reckoning (as hobbits seem to live not much longer than humans do), at least relative to the ages one sees in fantasy protagonists. There are of course creatures much older than Frodo (Gandalf, Sauron and Sarumam being probably the oldest, since they were around before the world itself was created).

I'm currently reading LOTR (after having read The Hobbit) for the first time.

It's hard to give it an objective view because a) I saw the films first, and so I know the major parts of the story, b) I'm long past the age where reading it might make a big impression, and c) I've never been into fantasy.

Interestingly in the films it was Legolas I couldn't stand while in the books it's Gimli. It also feels like a lot of scenes are weirdly underworked for such a long story. Like when they release Theoden from Wormtongue's influence after what feels like five minutes of just pointing at him and going "Mate, his name is Wormtongue. Worm Tongue! Mate, come on!" and Theoden is all like "Yes, you make a persuasive argument. Wormtongue, you have been revealed as an enemy agent and a traitor to our kingdom, and for that there can only be one punishment: Sending to Coventry".

It’s not about revealing Wormtongue (which is a nickname anyway), it’s about giving Theoden the courage to do what he already knows needs to be done. Wormtongue is providing a plausible excuse to do nothing, that’s all.

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