0260 » The Fool’s Hope » Gandalf and Pippin in Minas Tirith

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In episode 260, we discuss Gandalf’s famous characterization of Frodo’s quest: “a fool’s hope”. Why did he say that? Why is it significant he was saying that to Pippin? What is the broader significance of that line for the work and for Middle-earth (and our reality) in general?

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EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS

Andrew T
John R
Ms. Anonymous
Redhawk

The Passage » 4:22
“The starless blackness” and the Shadow » 9:35
“Fool of a Took!” » 10:30
Cirith Ungol: Why would he go THAT way? » St. Paul and the Fool’s Hope » 16:05
The role of hobbits in Gandalf’s life and mission » 21:12
Is Nature of Middle-earth good for someone who hasn’t read The History of Middle-earth? » 24:40
Understanding Catholicism Through Tolkien & Conversion » 26:30
Shakespeare & Tolkien » 27:28
The Ride of the Rohirrim and Speeding » 30:00
Eru’s Will? » 33:20
Gandalf’s Appearance and Tolkien’s Care Factor » 42:50

SHOUT-oUTS

Special thanks to the following patrons:

Andrew T
John R
Ms. Anonymous
Redhawk
Kaitlyn of Tea with Tolkien
Shannon S
Brian O
Emilio P
Zeke F
James A
James L
Chris L
Chuck F
Asya V
Ish of the Hammer
Teresa C
David of Pints with Jack
Jonathan D
Eric S
Joey S
Eric B
Johanna T
Mike M
Robert H
Paul D
Julia
Werty

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Lord of the Rings & Christmas – An Unexpected Connection

A few years ago, my family watched the entire Lord of the Rings film trilogy over Christmas break (extended editions, OF COURSE).

It was great, and to my delight, it left a deep impression on my kids.

It just felt like perfect Christmas viewing.

Which is odd, because The Lord of the Rings has nothing to do with Christmas…

OR DOES IT?

While The Lord of the Rings is certainly NOT a Christmas story in any straightforward sense (Legolas ain’t one of Santa’s Elves), a deep dive into the writings of Tolkien yields a profound and surprising connection between Lord of the Rings and Christmas.

Lore of the Rings Interview » Why and How The Lord of the Rings is a “Religious and Catholic Work”

Hey there, fellow travellers!
Merry Christmas! I was recently a guest on the Lore of the Rings podcast – that’s L-O-R-E – where I joined host Aaron to discuss the ways in which Lord of the Rings is a “fundamentally religous work”.
We uncovered:
– The grace Faramir says before sharing a meal with Frodo and Sam.
– The liturgical significance of March 25 — the day the One Ring was destroyed.
– The mysterious Three Prayers of Númenor, preserved in Unfinished Tales.
– Why Tolkien preferred absorbed symbolism over overt allegory.
I wanted to share a portion of this interview on The Tolkien Road’s podcast feed, but you really need to go check out the whole thing over on Aaron’s feed.
Enjoy!

The Tolkien Road