No Long Journey Save One - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Kalimac · 03-09-2003, 01:47 AM

One minor point I was wondering about; near the end of ROTK, Elrond tells Frodo that Bilbo is old and tired and so forth, and that he will not again "make any long journey, save one."

When I saw that, I was sure that Elrond was referring to death. After all, Tolkien describes death elsewhere as the means by which men and hobbits will pass out beyond the confines of this world, unlike Elves who stay within it (sorry if I'm botching the terminology, I've now read the Silmarillion several times but am still not a native speaker).

But then, of course, Bilbo ends up going to the Undying Lands with Frodo and the rest - a pretty long journey, I'd say. So while it's easy enough to decide that this is what Elrond meant, it still seems like a rather odd way to phrase it, since death is often referred to as "the final journey" or something close to it, and of course we all know Hamlet's remark about "the undiscovered country."

So did anyone else think that when they first read Elrond's remark, or is it just my freak of fancy? [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img]. Also, do you suppose Elrond could be using the phrase specifically for its double meaning, so it could be interpreted to mean both things which turn out to be true?

03-09-2003, 01:47 AM	#1
Kalimac Candle of the Marshes Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Flyover Country Posts: 780	No Long Journey Save One One minor point I was wondering about; near the end of ROTK, Elrond tells Frodo that Bilbo is old and tired and so forth, and that he will not again "make any long journey, save one." When I saw that, I was sure that Elrond was referring to death. After all, Tolkien describes death elsewhere as the means by which men and hobbits will pass out beyond the confines of this world, unlike Elves who stay within it (sorry if I'm botching the terminology, I've now read the Silmarillion several times but am still not a native speaker). But then, of course, Bilbo ends up going to the Undying Lands with Frodo and the rest - a pretty long journey, I'd say. So while it's easy enough to decide that this is what Elrond meant, it still seems like a rather odd way to phrase it, since death is often referred to as "the final journey" or something close to it, and of course we all know Hamlet's remark about "the undiscovered country." So did anyone else think that when they first read Elrond's remark, or is it just my freak of fancy? [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img]. Also, do you suppose Elrond could be using the phrase specifically for its double meaning, so it could be interpreted to mean both things which turn out to be true? __________________ Father, dear Father, if you see fit, We'll send my love to college for one year yet Tie blue ribbons all about his head, To let the ladies know that he's married.