Tolkien's best fight - Page 2 - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Oddwen · 10-07-2003, 09:32 PM

Any battle Sam did in Mordor, especially with Shelob. Very heartrending, and that's what makes LotR for me.

The Scouring of the Shire. Merry's bravery in that was breathtaking.

Gandalf's little "eye battle" with Denethor. I'd rather see that than any old wizard fight.

Frodo standing up to the Nazgul at Weathertop and the ford of Bruinen. Now that's good storytelling. It always gives me chills.

Pellenor fields. Grand, epic, and again breathtaking.
"Red fell the dew in Rammas Echor."

I like all of them, but those are the ones that stand out for me. *sigh*

Lyta_Underhill · 10-08-2003, 12:24 AM

I must say you beat me to the punch with the Ford of Bruinen, Oddwen! One of my absolute favorite scenes in Tolkien as a whole; this scene does more to illustrate the exceptional struggle that Frodo must wage in order to avoid losing the will to resist the Nazgul and the Ring at the same time. It really showed directed good standing against evil beyond physical endurance. One of the reasons Frodo is at the top of my list!

Another scene that intrigues me for its mysterious nature is when Frodo dons the Ring on Amon Hen: he is drawn into a struggle in which he a balanced as on a sharp edge, barely avoiding the Eye of Sauron but balanced between the Dark Lord and the influence of Gandalf via Narya (at least this is how I understand it). It illustrates the powers of the Great Rings, a whiff of the omniscient point of view as seen by Frodo (all the armies of Middle Earth gathering--I think the campaigns from Dol Guldur are hinted at here), and a quiet, yet raging battle in the unseen realm.

On a different note, I always am amazed at what I like to call "Mad Dog Felagund's Last Stand" in the Dungeons of Morgoth. He fought the werewolf sent to kill Beren as if he were another wolf: tooth and claw. I would really love to see this depicted in a pictorial representation. I've seen a "just after" pic that was beautiful but depressing; Finrod goes above and beyond here, entering IMO a realm of pure savage energy. It is quite a mental picture!

As for horrifying, I can barely stand to read about Fingon's demise. It seems emblematic of the futility of the Elves' struggle against Morgoth--valiant, yet doomed. Poor Fingon! (I imagine they were extra angry with him because his father Fingolfin had gotten some really good shots in before!)

Well, there are more, but that's all I can think of right now!

Cheers,
Lyta

10-09-2003, 08:54 PM

The running battle in Moria.
I went in as a Dwarf with a party of adventures in an RPG once. I was the only one who made it out. I had carried our wounded cleric the last 1/2 kilometer. We were the only two left by that time. I still have this character and I'm 52.

10-07-2003, 09:32 PM	#41
Oddwen Drummer in the Deep Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Next Sunday A.D. Posts: 2,145	Any battle Sam did in Mordor, especially with Shelob. Very heartrending, and that's what makes LotR for me. The Scouring of the Shire. Merry's bravery in that was breathtaking. Gandalf's little "eye battle" with Denethor. I'd rather see that than any old wizard fight. Frodo standing up to the Nazgul at Weathertop and the ford of Bruinen. Now that's good storytelling. It always gives me chills. Pellenor fields. Grand, epic, and again breathtaking. "Red fell the dew in Rammas Echor." I like all of them, but those are the ones that stand out for me. sigh __________________ But all the while I sit and think of times there were before I listen for returning feet and voices at the door

10-08-2003, 12:24 AM	#42
Lyta_Underhill Haunted Halfling Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: an uncounted length of steps--floating between air molecules Posts: 841	I must say you beat me to the punch with the Ford of Bruinen, Oddwen! One of my absolute favorite scenes in Tolkien as a whole; this scene does more to illustrate the exceptional struggle that Frodo must wage in order to avoid losing the will to resist the Nazgul and the Ring at the same time. It really showed directed good standing against evil beyond physical endurance. One of the reasons Frodo is at the top of my list! Another scene that intrigues me for its mysterious nature is when Frodo dons the Ring on Amon Hen: he is drawn into a struggle in which he a balanced as on a sharp edge, barely avoiding the Eye of Sauron but balanced between the Dark Lord and the influence of Gandalf via Narya (at least this is how I understand it). It illustrates the powers of the Great Rings, a whiff of the omniscient point of view as seen by Frodo (all the armies of Middle Earth gathering--I think the campaigns from Dol Guldur are hinted at here), and a quiet, yet raging battle in the unseen realm. On a different note, I always am amazed at what I like to call "Mad Dog Felagund's Last Stand" in the Dungeons of Morgoth. He fought the werewolf sent to kill Beren as if he were another wolf: tooth and claw. I would really love to see this depicted in a pictorial representation. I've seen a "just after" pic that was beautiful but depressing; Finrod goes above and beyond here, entering IMO a realm of pure savage energy. It is quite a mental picture! As for horrifying, I can barely stand to read about Fingon's demise. It seems emblematic of the futility of the Elves' struggle against Morgoth--valiant, yet doomed. Poor Fingon! (I imagine they were extra angry with him because his father Fingolfin had gotten some really good shots in before!) Well, there are more, but that's all I can think of right now! Cheers, Lyta __________________ “…she laid herself to rest upon Cerin Amroth; and there is her green grave, until the world is changed, and all the days of her life are utterly forgotten by men that come after, and elanor and niphredil bloom no more east of the Sea.”

10-09-2003, 08:54 PM	#43
Shochet Guest Posts: n/a	The running battle in Moria. I went in as a Dwarf with a party of adventures in an RPG once. I was the only one who made it out. I had carried our wounded cleric the last 1/2 kilometer. We were the only two left by that time. I still have this character and I'm 52.