Crickhollow: Difference between revisions

From Tolkien Gateway
mNo edit summary
No edit summary
(29 intermediate revisions by 13 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
A village in the northern parts of [[Buckland]]; it was here that [[Frodo Baggins]] claimed to be his destination when he left [[Hobbiton]].
[[File:Matěj Čadil - Crickhollow.jpg|thumb|[[Matěj Čadil]] - ''Crickhollow'']]
'''Crickhollow''' was a location, perhaps a small settlement in [[Buckland]], located a short way to the northeast of [[Brandy Hall]].<ref>{{FR|Part}}</ref>


Its most notable spot was an isolated house standing back from the lane in the middle of a wide lawn. It was surrounded by low trees inside an outer hedge, and there were no other dwellings nearby. This house was occasionally occupied with [[Brandybuck]] [[Hobbits]] who grew tired of the often crowded [[Brandy Hall]].<ref name="Conspiracy">{{FR|I5}}</ref>
==History==
[[Frodo Baggins]] was instructed by [[Gandalf]] to find a reason why he should leave [[Hobbiton]] (and [[Shire]]) and meet him in [[Bree]]. In the summer of {{TA|3018}}, [[Frodo Baggins]] bought this house, as an excuse for leaving [[Hobbiton]] to the east.<ref>{{FR|I3}}</ref>
[[File:Ted Nasmith - Bathing at Crickhollow.jpg|thumb|left|[[Ted Nasmith]] - Bathing at Crickhollow]]
While Frodo, [[Samwise Gamgee|Sam]], and [[Peregrin Took|Pippin]] moved out, [[Meriadoc Brandybuck|Merry]] and [[Fredegar Bolger|Fatty Bolger]] were already in that house, making preparations for their arrival. They were the only Hobbits who knew that Frodo would begin a journey to the east, so they made preparation for their departure as well.
On [[25 September]], Frodo and his company arrived at the lodgings, and met Merry and Fatty. The next day Frodo and his party departed for the [[Old Forest]]. It was decided that Fatty would stay at Crickhollow to maintain the pretense that Frodo was still in residence to hide his departure.<ref name="Conspiracy"/> Frodo spent only one night; at [[26 September|dawn]] they picked up the ponies from a nearby stable and rode to the [[High Hay]].
In the early hours of [[30 September]] three [[Nazgûl|Black Riders]] came to the house in Crickhollow,<ref>{{App|Great}}</ref> but Fatty Bolger had already escaped.  He had run to the nearest house and from there he spread news of an invasion, which traveled swiftly to [[Brandy Hall]], and resulted in the rousing of the hobbits of [[Buckland]].<ref>{{FR|I11}}</ref>
After the [[War of the Ring]], Merry and Pippin lived together for some time at Crickhollow.<ref>{{RK|VI9}}</ref>
==Etymology==
[[File:Karen Wynn Fonstad - Crickhollow.png|thumb|The layout of Frodo's house by Karen Fonstad]]
[[J.R.R. Tolkien|Tolkien]] noted that the first element is obsolete and of obscure meaning. A ''hollow'' is a small depression in the ground.<ref name="Nomen">{{HM|N}}, p. 768</ref>
Based on this, [[David Salo]] has suggested a speculative [[Old English|Old Hobbitish]] form *''Crycholh'' from which Crickhollow derives. The obscure element ''cryc'' could represent, as can be expected in [[Stoorish]], a [[Celtic]] ([[Wikipedia:British language|Old Brythonic]]) word for "hill". The placename would therefore mean "low place by the hill".<ref>{{webcite|author=[[David Salo]]|articleurl=http://groups.yahoo.com/group/elfling/message/121|articlename=Hobbitish Place-names|dated=23 November 1998|website=[[Elfling]]}}</ref>
It is not clear in the ''Lord of the Rings'' whether Crickhollow was a village or a region occupied by a solitary house. The [[Encyclopedia of Arda]] mentions Crickhollow as a village<ref>{{webcite|articleurl=http://www.glyphweb.com/arda/c/crickhollow.html|articlename=Crickhollow|website=[[Encyclopedia of Arda]]|author=Mark Fisher}}</ref>. [[Robert Foster]] describes Crickhollow as a "place in Buckland"<ref>[[Robert Foster]], ''[[The Complete Guide to Middle-earth]]'', p. 75, entry "Crickhollow"</ref> whereas [[Karen Fonstad]] believes that Crickhollow is just the name of Frodo's house.<ref>[[Karen Wynn Fonstad]], ''[[The Atlas of Middle-earth]]'', p. 120</ref>
== Portrayals in Adaptations ==
'''2007: ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]'':'''
:Crickhollow is visted by the player during ''[[Stirrings in the Darkness]]''.
{{references}}
[[Category:Buckland]]
[[Category:Buckland]]
[[Category:Cities, towns and villages of the Shire]]
[[de:Krickloch]]
[[fi:Krikkolo]]

Revision as of 01:57, 29 April 2014

Matěj Čadil - Crickhollow

Crickhollow was a location, perhaps a small settlement in Buckland, located a short way to the northeast of Brandy Hall.[1]

Its most notable spot was an isolated house standing back from the lane in the middle of a wide lawn. It was surrounded by low trees inside an outer hedge, and there were no other dwellings nearby. This house was occasionally occupied with Brandybuck Hobbits who grew tired of the often crowded Brandy Hall.[2]

History

Frodo Baggins was instructed by Gandalf to find a reason why he should leave Hobbiton (and Shire) and meet him in Bree. In the summer of T.A. 3018, Frodo Baggins bought this house, as an excuse for leaving Hobbiton to the east.[3]

Ted Nasmith - Bathing at Crickhollow

While Frodo, Sam, and Pippin moved out, Merry and Fatty Bolger were already in that house, making preparations for their arrival. They were the only Hobbits who knew that Frodo would begin a journey to the east, so they made preparation for their departure as well.

On 25 September, Frodo and his company arrived at the lodgings, and met Merry and Fatty. The next day Frodo and his party departed for the Old Forest. It was decided that Fatty would stay at Crickhollow to maintain the pretense that Frodo was still in residence to hide his departure.[2] Frodo spent only one night; at dawn they picked up the ponies from a nearby stable and rode to the High Hay.

In the early hours of 30 September three Black Riders came to the house in Crickhollow,[4] but Fatty Bolger had already escaped. He had run to the nearest house and from there he spread news of an invasion, which traveled swiftly to Brandy Hall, and resulted in the rousing of the hobbits of Buckland.[5]

After the War of the Ring, Merry and Pippin lived together for some time at Crickhollow.[6]

Etymology

File:Karen Wynn Fonstad - Crickhollow.png
The layout of Frodo's house by Karen Fonstad

Tolkien noted that the first element is obsolete and of obscure meaning. A hollow is a small depression in the ground.[7]

Based on this, David Salo has suggested a speculative Old Hobbitish form *Crycholh from which Crickhollow derives. The obscure element cryc could represent, as can be expected in Stoorish, a Celtic (Old Brythonic) word for "hill". The placename would therefore mean "low place by the hill".[8]

It is not clear in the Lord of the Rings whether Crickhollow was a village or a region occupied by a solitary house. The Encyclopedia of Arda mentions Crickhollow as a village[9]. Robert Foster describes Crickhollow as a "place in Buckland"[10] whereas Karen Fonstad believes that Crickhollow is just the name of Frodo's house.[11]

Portrayals in Adaptations

2007: The Lord of the Rings Online:

Crickhollow is visted by the player during Stirrings in the Darkness.

References