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Of Herbs and Stewed Rabbit

2008-12-09T14:51:59Z

122.106.125.179:

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'''Of Herbs and Stewed Rabbit''' is the fourth chapter of the fourth book in [[The Two Towers]].

===Summary===
[[Sam]], [[Frodo Baggins|Frodo]], and [[Gollum]] proceed through the desolate landscape of [[Mordor]]. Gradually, they notice that the land is becoming greener, more fragrant, and less barren, and they welcome the change. As always, they travel by night and rest by day. They do not travel on the open road, but near it. They worry about their dwindling food supply. After several days, they arrive in a country full of woods and streams once known as [[Ithilien]]. Gollum coughs and sputters in the verdant setting, but the Hobbits rejoice in the reappearance of greenery and water. They stop at a stream to drink and bathe. Again, they are troubled by hunger. Sam sends Gollum off to hunt some food for them all, reminding him that Hobbit food is different from the food the creature is accustomed to eating. Sam watches the sleeping Frodo, observing the fine lines visible on Frodo’s face. Sam acknowledges that he feels deep love for Frodo.

Gollum returns with rabbits, which he does not want to cook, preferring to devour them raw. Sam proceeds to make a nice dinner for himself and Frodo, calling upon Gollum again to gather wild herbs for his rabbit stew. Frodo awakens and sees the cooking fire burning. Sam informs Frodo of the nice dinner being prepared, but Frodo warns Sam about the dangers of fire in the open field.

Suddenly Frodo and Sam hear voices nearby, and they see four tall [[Men]] wielding spears. The warriors wonder whether the Hobbits are [[Elves]] or perhaps [[Orcs]]. One of the Men identifies himself as [[Faramir]], [[Captain of Gondor]]. The Hobbits identify themselves as [[Halflings]]. Faramir says that the hobbits cannot be travelers, as uninvited travelers are not allowed in his land. Frodo explains the Hobbits’ separation from [[Aragorn]] and [[Boromir]]. At the mention of the name of Boromir, Faramir is startled and becomes stern.

Two men named [[Mablung]] and [[Damrod the Ranger|Damrod]] guard Frodo and Sam, telling the Hobbits of their enemies, the [[Southrons]], who threaten to attack. Sam wonders where Gollum is. Suddenly, they hear noises of battle and the name of [[Gondor]] called out. Damrod announces that the Southrons are attacking and that Faramir’s men are setting out to meet them. The Hobbits climb into a position where they can see what is going on, and they witness their first battle among Men.

Suddenly, Damrod calls out for help from a large elephant-like creature called the [[Mûmak]], which arrives from the forest and crushes the enemy. Sam is pleased that he has seen his first Oliphaunt, as the creature is called. Damrod tells the Hobbits to sleep, as the Gondor captain will soon return and they will have to flee the enemy. Sam replies that the troops of Gondor will not disturb him when they leave. Damrod answers that it is not likely that the captain will allow Sam to stay, but will instead force him to travel with the troops.

The Choices of Master Samwise

2008-10-21T13:46:20Z

122.106.125.179: /* Summary */

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'''The Choices of Master Samwise''' is the tenth chapter of the fourth book in [[The Two Towers]].

===Summary===
In the midst of the struggle with the spider-monster [[Shelob]], [[Sam]] discovers [[Frodo Baggins|Frodo]] lying face up, paralyzed by the spider’s poison. The sight of his master in such an awful state fills Sam with courage and rage, and he charges Shelob. He manages to stab her in one eye, which goes dark. Heaving her belly up over Sam, Shelob prepares to crush the [[Hobbits|Hobbit]], but instead impales herself on his sword. Shelob shudders in pain and withdraws. Sam rushes to Frodo, and then charges Shelob again. The defeated spider flees. Sam calls out to Frodo, whom he at first believes to be asleep, but panics when he checks Frodo for a heartbeat and finds nothing.

When Sam suddenly realizes that Frodo may be dead, he is stricken by the thought that he himself must now carry out the mission of destroying [[the Ring]]. He is upset by the idea of taking the Ring from Frodo’s body and carrying it himself, remembering that it was originally entrusted only to Frodo. But Sam decides that, as Frodo’s companion, he may legitimately inherit the mission. Sam takes the Ring. He attempts to flee, but hears [[Orcs|Orc]] voices surrounding him. Without reflecting on his actions, Sam puts on the Ring, and feels as though the world has changed. As a result of wearing the Ring, Sam can understand the Orc language perfectly. The Orcs take up Frodo’s paralyzed body and carry it away.

Sam follows behind, listening to the guards’ conversation. One Orc, named [[Shagrat]], is telling the other, [[Gorbag]], that Shelob has been wounded. Gorbag is impressed that any creature was able to hurt Shelob and cut through the cords of her cobwebs. He imagines that the creature must be very powerful indeed. Shagrat announces that the orders given from above are to retrieve Frodo safe and sound, with a careful examination of all his possessions. Gorbag wonders whether Frodo is even alive at all, but Shagrat affirms that Shelob only eats living flesh, so that Frodo must still be living, although stunned. Sam is amazed to hear that Frodo is alive. The Orc guards carrying Frodo slam the doors behind them. Sam still has the Ring, but is separated from his friend.

The Window on the West

2008-10-08T11:13:55Z

122.106.125.179: /* Summary */

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'''The Window of the West''' is the fifth chapter of the fourth book in [[The Two Towers]].

===Summary===
[[Sam]] falls asleep and awakens to find [[Faramir]] interrogating [[Frodo Baggins|Frodo]]. Faramir wants to know why the [[Hobbits]] originally set out from [[Rivendell]], and under what circumstances they parted with [[Boromir]]. Faramir knows of a prophecy that states that a Halfling will arrive bearing something of great value, and he asks Frodo what this object is. Frodo answers only that he is on an errand to deliver the object elsewhere. Frodo makes a great effort not to speak ill of Boromir, even though Boromir tried to seize [[the Ring]] for himself. Faramir, knowing that Boromir is dead and attempting to trick Frodo, announces that Boromir will clear up everything when he arrives. Frodo, however, is unaware of Boromir’s death. Faramir hints that he suspects Frodo of betraying Boromir.

Faramir reveals to Frodo that Boromir is his brother. He asks Frodo whether he recalls any particular object Boromir possessed, and Frodo remembers Boromir’s horn. Faramir recounts how once he was staring at the sea, and either in a dream or in real life he saw Boromir floating by on a boat, his horn broken. Faramir says he knew that Boromir was sailing to the land of the dead, and that he had been killed. Frodo says that it must have been a mere vision, as Boromir had undertaken to go home across the fields of [[Rohan]], far from water. Faramir addresses the dead Boromir in deep grief, asking for answers to his questions about what happened to Boromir before death. Faramir knows that there has been some wrongdoing, but he no longer suspects Frodo.

Faramir announces to the Hobbits that he must take them back to [[Minas Tirith]], the great city of [[Gondor]]. On the way, Faramir commends Frodo’s truthfulness, though fully aware that Frodo has withheld the fact that the hobbits did not like Boromir. Faramir tries again to extract information about the valuable object—which he knows only as Isildur’s Bane—that he knows Frodo is carrying. Faramir suspects that Isildur’s Bane killed Boromir, perhaps because it caused contention among the men. Frodo answers that there was no fighting in the ranks, and Faramir understands that the cause of the problem was Boromir alone.

When the woodlands begin to grow thinner, Faramir orders his men to blindfold Frodo and Sam so that they will not know the location of the hideout where they are headed. When the blindfolds are removed, the Hobbits see the splendid [[Window of the Sunset]], as Faramir calls the waterfall-covered window of the cave in which they are hiding.

Faramir offers Frodo and Sam food and drink. While they eat, Faramir recounts the former glory of the kingdom of Gondor and its later slide into weakness as the kingdom offered land to the Rohirrim in exchange for military defense. As they talk, Sam accidentally blurts out the fact that Boromir had sought to get the Ring. Faramir is shocked that his brother was guilty, but he appreciates Sam’s honesty, and affirms that he has no interest in getting the Ring for himself. Frodo tells Faramir of his own mission to throw the Ring into the Crack of Doom to destroy it. Faramir is astonished. Frodo, suddenly overcome with exhaustion, collapses at the table. Faramir and Sam take Frodo to bed, where Sam expresses his new-found trust of Faramir.

The Window on the West

2008-10-04T13:49:53Z

122.106.125.179: /* Summary */

{{ttchapters}}
'''The Window of the West''' is the fifth chapter of the fourth book in [[The Two Towers]].

===Summary===
[[Sam]] falls asleep and awakens to find [[Faramir]] interrogating [[Frodo Baggins|Frodo]]. Faramir wants to know why the [[Hobbits]] originally set out from [[Rivendell]], and under what circumstances they parted with [[Boromir]]. Faramir knows of a prophecy that states that a Halfling will arrive bearing something of great value, and he asks Frodo what this object is. Frodo answers only that he is on an errand to deliver the object elsewhere. Frodo makes a great effort not to speak ill of Boromir, even though Boromir tried to seize [[the Ring]] for himself. Faramir, knowing that Boromir is dead and attempting to trick Frodo, announces that Boromir will clear up everything when he arrives. Frodo, however, is unaware of Boromir’s death. Faramir hints that he suspects Frodo of betraying Boromir.

Faramir reveals to Frodo that Boromir is his brother. He asks Frodo whether he recalls any particular object Boromir possessed, and Frodo remembers Boromir’s horn. Faramir recounts how once he was staring at the sea, and either in a dream or in real life he saw Boromir floating by on a boat, his horn broken. Faramir says he knew that Boromir was sailing to the land of the dead, and that he had been killed. Frodo says that it must have been a mere vision, as Boromir had undertaken to go home across the fields of [[Rohan]], far from water. Faramir addresses the dead Boromir in deep grief, asking for answers to his questions about what happened to Boromir before death. Faramir knows that there has been some wrongdoing, but he no longer suspects Frodo.

Faramir announces to the Hobbits that he must take them back to [[Minas Tirith]], the great city of [[Gondor]]. On the way, Faramir commends Frodo’s truthfulness, though fully aware that Frodo has withheld the fact that the hobbits did not like Boromir. Faramir tries again to extract information about the valuable object—which he knows only as Isildur’s Bane—that he knows Frodo is carrying. Faramir suspects that Isildur’s Bane killed Boromir, perhaps because it caused contention among the men. Frodo answers that there was no fighting in the ranks, and Faramir understands that the cause of the problem was Boromir alone.

When the woodlands begin to grow thinner, Faramir orders his men to blindfold Frodo and Sam so that they will not know the location of the hideout where they are headed. When the blindfolds are removed, the Hobbits see the splendid [[Window of the Sunset]], as Faramir calls the waterfall-covered window of the cave in which they are hiding.

Faramir offers Frodo and Sam food and drink. While they eat, Faramir recounts the former glory of the kingdom of Gondor and its later slide into weakness as the kingdom offered land to the Rohirrim in exchange for military defense. As they talk, Sam accidentally blurts out the fact that Boromir had sought to get the Ring. Faramir is shocked that his brother was guilty, but he appreciates Sam’s honesty, and affirms that he has no interest in getting the Ring for himself. Frodo tells Faramir of his own mission to throw the Ring into the Crack of Doom to destroy it. Faramir is astonished. Frodo, suddenly overcome with weariness, collapses at the table. Faramir and Sam take Frodo to bed, where Sam expresses his new-found trust of Faramir.