LotR -- Book 5 - Chapter 05 - The Ride of the Rohirrim

[Estelyn Telcontar]

Isn't it interesting that even the title of this chapter, which concerns the Rohirrim, with their alliterative poetry, is alliterative?! We readers are taken back to Merry's point of view again, which is quite hopeless for much of the account. His feeling of smallness and uselessness is clearly shown to us, and we can identify with that sense of being a very small frog in a gigantic pond. He does not yet realize that he will be making waves that will have a decisive part in the outcome of the battle!

The separation of Merry and Pippin shows us how important communication is to Hobbits - Merry wishes to be able to talk to Pippin and has no one who will speak or listen to him.

We are introduced to the Woses - and by name to their leader, Ghân-buri-Ghân. They are another example of how Tolkien did not always make the good characters good-looking - like Strider, they look foul and feel fair. At first, Merry was apprehensive, especially of their drums. However, aside from minor misunderstandings at the beginning of their speech with the Rohirrim, they are soon trusted and play an important role in getting the horsemen to Gondor quickly and secretly. Did you share Merry's apprehension when you first read this chapter? How do you feel about the Woses now?

Wídfara is one of those very minor characters who is probably forgotten by all but ardent fan readers - why do you think he is introduced by name and with dialogue? (In a movie, that would have cost extra!)

The change of wind in this chapter seems to parallel the change in the tides of battle - there is more hope in the final few paragraphs than there has been in most previous chapters. Théoden shows his bravery, not only with stirring lines that must touch the readers' hearts, but also by his actions. What kind of strength must it take to blow a horn so that it breaks?! He leads at the head of his troops, and is compared to one of the gods, Oromë.

His bravery inspires his troops and puts fear into the hearts of their enemies. Now we remember the last sentence of the previous chapter - the horns of Rohan that stopped the advance of the Witch King into the city of Minas Tirith. Is this a eucatastrophe?

Do the descriptions of "joy of battle" and singing that was "fair and terrible" strike you as paradox? Can you feel a connection between battling and singing, or does that seem irreconcilable to you?