1 En Medias Res

2 The War of the Ring J.R.R. Tolkien

3 Ordinary World “In a hole in the ground, there lived a hobbit”

4 Ordinary World What are the elements that make this world unique?

5 Ordinary World Visitations from an old friend. And “Official Disturber of the Peace.”

6 Ordinary World What is the occasion of this gathering? Is Hobbiton a Special World for Gandalf? Might a Hobbit think it a visitation of the gods?

7 Ordinary World Bilbo‘s stories: How does history become legend... become myth?

8 Ordinary World Who is this Frodo? What makes him special?

9 Ordinary World How would you characterize Merry and Pippin? What about Sam? Is Sam able to confront his fears? What is the nature of this fear?

10 Ordinary World “I don’t know half of you half as well as I should like. And I like less than half of you half as well as you deserve!”

11 Ordinary World What is it with this ring?

12 Ordinary World What is the nature of Bilbo’s adventure?

13 Ordinary World “My Precious.” “It is Precious to me.” “A secret that only fire can tell.”

14 Ordinary World Why does Gandalf make haste on his own adventure? Gandalf returns... but wearing what mask?

15 Call to Adventure Ash nazg durbatulûk, ash nazg gimbatûl, ash nazh thrakatulûk, agh burzum-ishi krimpatûl.

16 Call to Adventure One ring to rule them all, one ring to find them, One ring to bring them all, And in the darkness bind them.

17 Ordinary World “The ring has awoken. It’s heard its master’s Call.” What happens when we consider the ring as a character?

18 Ordinary World What is Frodo’s Call to Adventure?

19 Ordinary World Does Frodo refuse to accept the Call to Adventure? To whom does he try to give the ring?

20 Ordinary World What is this task as far as we know it? “Get out of the Shire, make for the village of Bree!”

21 Ordinary World Where is the Crossing of the First Threshold? Is this Sam’s? When does Frodo’s Crossing occur?

22 Special World Does seeing the wood elves tell us we are on the verge or have been transported into the Special World?

23 Ordinary World Wringraiths in the Shire?

24 Special World To what archetypal character does Gandalf ride?

25 Special World Gandalf meets his mentor? What does he discover? How does this parallel Luke’s resistance to Darth Vader? Gandalf is defeated?

26 Special World Merry and Pippin as Allies? Providence or tomfoolery?

27 Special World The ringwraith: What archetypal role will this character play?

28 Special World Is Frodo’s Crossing the First Threshold Buckleberry Ferry? Why do you think geography so often serves as a threshold?

29 Special World The Gatekeeper at Bree? Who is Strider, this dark stranger? Pursued by wraiths, how do the hobbits evade these menacing guardians?

30 Special World What are the Marshes? The Lay of Luthien: Why does Stryder sing this song? What sorrow?

31 Special World Gandalf as Prisoner What role does the moth play? Isengard’s Army Arming the Heroes The Shadow Grows: The Six!

32 Special World Frodo faces a test Is there a meeting of the Goddess? Is there a Magic Flight?

33 Special World How does the river act as a threshold guardian and an ally? Again, Geography plays an important role as a threshold.

34 Special World Frodo’s death? Arwen’s Grace? What is this heavenly place? The journey is completed?

35 Special World of Rivendell Gandalf has been rescued Gwahir as ally Two paths cross: Frodo & Bilbo Elrond as Mentor and Guardian

36 Rivendell Strider’s love, his burden, and news of an heir Strider’s Mentor and love: Arwen

37 Rivendell The Council of Elrond Will the world unite? A new journey but who will carry the ring? Strider transforms into Aragorn: What is the significance of this new name?

38 A New Journey to the Fires of Mt. Doom A new Fellowship—of nine The Ring’s journey: Sauron to Isildur to Gollom to Bilbo to Frodo to ____ The arming of the hero

39 Frodo: The Ringbearer Frodo is ready... “though [he] does not know the way.” Who will guide this fellowship? The Mentor—of course!

40 Road of Trials Spies from Sarumon: Crebain from Dubland “We must take the pass of Caradhras.” What are the three thresholds the fellowship can choose to cross?

41 Road of Trials Charadrhas as a threshold: remember the importance of geography Sarumon is still master over Gandalf What sleeps in Moria? The Ringbearer must choose the way!

42 The Mines of Moria: A New Threshold “Speak friend (mellon) and enter.” Does every threshold have its guardian? More than one?

43 The Mines of Moria Who is this Gollum? What is this about pity? How can pity be a weapon? When you lose your way, “follow your nose.”

44 Balin’s Tomb: The Belly of the Whale The Great city of Dwarrowdelf Herald: Balin’s Book? Or the drums from the deep? Oceans of Orcs and cave trolls but a greater guardian awaits Frodo dies again... but not for the trusty mithril shirt!

45 Gandalf as threshold guardian to another threshold guardian Shadow and flame: a balrog of Morgoth A new task for Aragorn Gandalf at Khazad-Dum: “You shall not pass!”

46 The Ordeal & Approach to the Inmost Cave Gandalf falls into shadow and flame— Can the fellowship continue without our guide and mentor?

47 Lothlorian The elves as Threshold Guardians Boromir as Mentor: “Don’t carry the weight of the dead.”

48 Lothlorian Meeting the Goddess: Herald “Stray but a little.... hope remains while the Company is true.”

49 Frodo & Galadriel’s Test Visions of possibilities from the pool of Galadriel “You offer it to me freely? What makes Frodo the one? “Even the smallest person can change the course of the future.”

50 A New Enemy & Gifts from the Goddess Why does Sam feel shortchanged? What does Aragorn’s new name signify? What does the Light of Galadriel signify?

51 The Argonaths: Threshold Guardians to Gondor What is the symbolism of these giant statues? They inspire awe for our fellowship, but their posture suggests a closed path. To what story does their names allude?

52 While Company is true What is Boromir’s madness? Why does this make him a shadow? Will Boromir prove true in the end? Notice Boromir’s new faith in Aragorn? why?

53 Uruk-Hai Why must all heroes go alone in the end? Is Lurtz a formidable Threshold Guardian?

54 Sam’s sacrifice Does Sam’s oath make him a true ally? A hero? Did the fellowship fail? What does Aragorn say to this? “Not if we hold true to each other.” To rescue the hobbits, they will “travel light.”

55 The Journey Continues Sam is ever-hopeful Frodo is glad for a companion.

56 Signs of the Hero Loyalty Fellowship Love Friendship Hope Perseverance Sacrifice

57 The Two Towers The Journey Continues Anew (1) Gandalf has now been tested!

58 Gandalf the White (15) “Gandalf? Yes, that was what they used to call me.... I am Gandalf the White.”

59 Tricksters (17) “Sauron fears you, Aragorn.” One advantage: “... that we should seek to destroy it has not yet entered their darkest dreams.”

60 Daughter of Kings: A new hero (26) Eowyn: Horse + wind What are the dragons she must slay?

61 Gollum: Shadow and sorrow (29) Is Gollum able to defeat his shadow? Talk about MPD and Doppleganger!

62 Cowardly Lion Finds His Courage (54) When fools become wise, the Ents will wake up!

63 The Definition of Courage (58) “Where now the horse and the rider?” (p. 497). “Ride out to meet them!”

64 Heroes of Old (60) The tales that really matter...

65 “It’s like in the great stories, Mr. Frodo. The ones that really mattered. Full of darkness and danger they were. And sometimes you didn’t want to know the end because how could the end be happy? How could the world go back to the way it was when so much bad happened.

66 Sam’s Wisdom But in the end it’s only a passing thing, this shadow. Even darkness must pass. A new day will come. And when the sun shines, it will shine out the clearer. Those were stories that stayed with you that meant something. Even if you were too small to understand why. I think, Mr. Frodo, I do understand. I know now.

67 Sam’s Wisdom (60) Folk in those stories had lots of chances of turning back, only they didn’t. They kept going. Because they were holding on to something.

68 Sam’s Wisdom (60) What are we holding onto Sam? That there’s some good in this world, Mr. Frodo. And it’s worth fighting for.

69 Gollum’s Fishing Song (42) The rock and pool Is nice and cool So juicy sweet Our only wish To catch a fish So juicy sweet

70 The Hero with a Thousand Faces How many heroic stories are their in Middle Earth? What traits do they all have in common? Remember Sam’s soliloquy!