The Impact of Weather on the Battle of Helm’s Deep in Lord of the Rings

Summary

In this article, we explore the impact of weather on the Battle of Helm’s Deep in Lord of the Rings. The speaker suggests that the rain would have inconvenienced the orcs more than the defenders. This is because the orcs were not used to fighting in the rain and their weapons would have been less effective. On the other hand, the defenders of Helm’s Deep were more accustomed to the weather and would have been better prepared to fight in the rain.

Bilbo’s Discovery of the Ring in The Hobbit

The speaker answers a question about how Bilbo found the ring in the 1937 version of The Hobbit. They explain that in the original version, Gollum willingly bet the ring as a prize for a riddle contest with Bilbo. However, in the later editions, Tolkien revised the story to make it seem like Bilbo stole the ring from Gollum.

Tom Bombadil’s Identity in Lord of the Rings

The speaker sheds light on the identity of Tom Bombadil in Lord of the Rings. They explain that Tom Bombadil is a spiritual being, not an elf or mortal creature, but not God/Louvatar as some have theorized. Tolkien explicitly addressed this theory and pointed out the difference between “he is” and “I am that I am” in the context of Goldberry’s response to Frodo’s question about Tom Bombadil’s identity. The conversation between Goldberry and Tom Bombadil in “The Lord of the Rings” revolves around the importance of names and labels in identifying oneself. Tom Bombadil, who has been around since the creation of the world, refuses to identify himself as anything specific, leaving it up to others to draw their own conclusions.

Balrogs and Their Wings in Lord of the Rings

The speaker discusses the debate surrounding whether or not Balrogs have wings in Lord of the Rings. The primary reason people believe Balrogs have wings is due to a simile Tolkien used to describe the shadow around the Balrog at the bridge of Khazad-dûm. However, the speaker argues that this was simply a comparison to convey the intimidating power of the Balrog. Additionally, a line in Appendix A stating that Balrogs flew from Thangorodrim is often used as evidence for their wings, but the speaker believes this simply means they ran away quickly. Despite the lack of textual evidence, visual artists often depict Balrogs with wings as it makes them look cooler and scarier.

Conclusion

In conclusion, we have explored various aspects of Tolkien’s world, including the impact of weather on the Battle of Helm’s Deep, Bilbo’s discovery of the ring in The Hobbit, Tom Bombadil’s identity in Lord of the Rings, and the debate surrounding Balrogs and their wings. We hope that this article has provided some new insights and sparked further interest in the rich and complex world of J.R.R. Tolkien.