For Tuesday: Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring, Chapters 2 & 3

NOTE: See the updated chronology of the book I posted in the post below this one (unlike the handout I gave you on Thursday, this covers the entire book). Might come in handy!

ALSO, try to read through Chapter 3 (of Book 2) if you can, but be sure to especially read Chapter 2, "The Council of Elrond," since it's one of the most important chapters in the book. The ideas below pertain mostly to that chapter, since it's what I most want to discuss!

* What do we learn about Sauron through the histories of the various characters of the Council, such as Gloin and Gandalf? And how do these characters fill in some of the blanks from hints and omissions in The Hobbit?

* Why wasn't the Ring destroyed in the great battle against Sauron long ago? And according to Elrond, why does Sauron still pose a threat? ALSO: how might Isildur echo Bilbo's own decision to take the Ring, and to take the Arkenstone? 

* Related to this, what role did Saurman play in the Council's dealing with the Necromancer (from The Hobbit), and Sauron's subsequent rise to power?

* Why might much of the history of Middle Earth and Sauron suspiciously echo events prior and during the Second World War? How might Saurman, in particular, remind us of politicians who were willing to work with Hitler, while publically condemning his actions? (or those even today, who continue to work with Putin?) 

* Bilbo has a much larger role in Chapter 1 and 2 than he's had since Chapter 1 of Book 1. How does he come across in Rivendell? What is his role as the resident hobbit? Has he been cured of the Ring-curse yet? 

* Why doesn't Boromir trust or fully believe Aragorn is who he says he is? And why might it be significant that the dream of the prophecy wasn't given first to him, but to his brother? (we won't meet his brother, Faramir, until The Two Towers, which you'll have to read on your own!) 

* Also, why is Boromir reluctant to destroy the Ring? What arguments does he advance to preserve it, and why might he think the entire Council is overlooking the sacrifices of Gondor?

* Why does Frodo agree to take the Ring, when he clearly wants to be absolved of his duty as Ring-Bearer (or does he)?