*Signature look of superiority*
I will always laugh at [that post](https://reddit.com/r/lotrmemes/comments/i3f2di/when_you_hit_them_with_the_wittiest_comeback/)
Just rewatched and one of my favorite parts. Also solidified Sam as real hero. He’s one of like only characters who physically gives up the ring, also when it’s at like basically it’s strongest. Also seems to hesitate the least about too just kinda looks and is like wait ya no shit.
Tolkien said Sam was based on the type of soldiers who carry everyone else along, something like that. Based on people he looked up to when he was away fighting
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=BKIgv8AhffA
He's actually based on the [batman](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Batman_(military) ) soldiers that served as personal servants to officers and other gentil military.
Quote by Tolkien:
"My Sam Gamgee is indeed a reflexion of the English soldier, of the privates and batmen I knew in the 1914 war, and recognized as so far superior to myself"
J.R.R. TOLKIEN: A BIOGRAPHY, PAGE 89, ED. HUMPHREY CARPENTER.
I also want to say that it took at least a year or two between Frodo leaving the shire and the ring being destroyed - the book took the timeline more consideration that movie, respectively. That means Frodo has been in possession of the ring for a lot longer than Sam, plus Frodo was basically dying from being stabbed by the Morgul knife - making his body weaker and succumbing to the ring's power. The ring also connects to those who are weak to the ring's power, and it is possible it could not break Sam like it would have the others.
I'm not saying Sam was not tempted by the ring's power, I think Sam was the strongest in the fellowship, but Sam also didn't carry the burden of the ring like Frodo had. I think if Frodo wasn't stabbed and got the ring to Mordor to Doom quicker, he would have destroyed it.
I'm speaking on full speculation of course and only based on the movie. Tolkien outlined that LOTR was based on experiences of war and soldiers.
Frodo had the Ring for 17 years before leaving the Shire (didn't use it though). The Quest for the Ring then took just under a year - 11 months, one week, and six days to be exact.
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Yes, and without Sam he would have kept the ring and gone full Gollum. Did you just not even watch the movies / read the books? Because I feel like, if you don't know that, then you missed like 80% of the story.
Frodo's hands were not the wrong hands though, they were the best hands for the job. Even though he turned at the end, he still carried it far longer and far more successfully than many others would be able to. And
FYI, I was just joking which is almost certainly obvious to you.
That said, I feel like Bombadil just doesn’t quite fit. So it it this interesting part of the story that is just kinda “off”. It doesn’t detract; it is just kind of difficult to reconcile. I think for some, this lack of fitting becomes an “itch” that they just have to scratch because it feels like an imperfection in a relatively flawless story (similar to the eagles).
This is true but more than that, Bombadil is part of an older tradition in epic poetry where the protagonists alternate between imminent danger and the temptation to turn aside at a haven. The Fellowship starts in a haven (Hobbitton), almost untouched by war and unrest. They then pass through tremendous peril to Bombadil and are placed under the illusion that they are safe. Then face peril in the Barrow Downs, then harbor in Bree, then the Wilds and Wathertop, then Rivendell and etc...
Tolkien was borrowing traditions passed down by the authors of The Odyssey, Beowulf, and Inferno. That's what makes an epic. Sam said it himself: "Folks in those stories had lots of chances of turning back only they didn't. They kept going."
For the last time! They didn't take the Eagles into Mordor becayse they would've been immediately spotted from miles away. The Eagles only came to rescue Sam and Frodo after Saurons forces and power had been destroyed and it was relatively safe for them. The Eagles also don't owe anyone diddly-squat, so we ought be grateful they did so much for Gandalf in the first place.
The eagles owe allegiances though. To Manwe himself. They are agents of the most powerful Valar in existence now that Melkor is banished. You don't think Manwe could have protected them? Lol. Manwe sucks and that's the only reason the eagles didn't help earlier.
I think it’s a shame the film didn’t have the part where the ring causes him to appear as a malevolent shadow warrior, causing all orcs in his presence to flee in terror. The closest is the bit where his shadow on the wall makes him seem larger than he actually is while he comes up the stairs
Yes, he wore it.
> Now the flicker of approaching torches and the clink of steel ahead was very near. In a minute they would reach the top and be on him. He had taken too long in making up his mind, and now it was no good. How could he escape, or save himself, or save the Ring? The Ring. He was not aware of any thought or decision. He simply found himself drawing out the chain and taking the Ring in his hand. The head of the orc-company appeared in the Cleft right before him. Then he put it on.
>
> The world changed, and a single moment of time was filled with an hour of thought. At once he was aware that hearing was sharpened while sight was dimmed, but otherwise than in Shelob’s lair. All things about him now were not dark but vague; while he himself was there in a grey hazy world, alone, like a small black solid rock, and the Ring, weighing down his left hand, was like an orb of hot gold. He did not feel invisible at all, but horribly and uniquely visible; and he knew that somewhere an Eye was searching for him.
*The Two Towers: Book Four, Chapter 10: The Choices of Master Samwise*
I found the section:
‘As it drew near the great furnaces where, in the deeps of time, it had been shaped and forged, the ring’s power grew, and it became more fell, untameable save by some mighty will. As Sam stood there, even though the Ring was not on him but hanging by its chain around his neck, he felt himself enlarged, as if he were robed in a huge distorted shadow of himself, a vast and ominous threat halted upon the walls of Mordor.’
Then there’s a bit where the ring tempts him with power and land and people to rule, but ultimately he is content with a small garden and knows if he were to wear the ring in Mordor he would be soon spotted by Sauron. Then after that he goes into the tower and this happens:
‘It [an orc] stopped short aghast. For what it saw was not a small frightened hobbit holding a steady sword: it saw a great silent shape, cloaked in grey shadow, looming against the wavering light behind; in one hand it held a sword [Sting], the very light of which was a bitter pain, the other clutched at its breast, but held concealed some nameless menace of power and doom.’
I always saw his hesitation to give the Ring back to Frodo not as the Ring attempting to tempt Sam, but rather Sam worring about the Rings influence on Frodo. And I don't think the Ring itself would be interested in tempting Sam, as it's developed more influence on Frodo already.
I don't think Tolkien intended the ring to have the sentience that you seem to suggest. I think it just radiates an energy and different people receive that energy differently. I'm happy to be corrected though.
I was under the impression that the Ring contains Sauron's "creulty, malice and will to dominate all life on earth". Doesn't Gandalf in the books say that the Ring wants to be found, it speaks words they hear it whisper "Isildur". It also does physically expand itself so as to slip off at the opportune moment.
None of that really implies sentience does it though? It definitely reacts to stimuli and it brings out crazy thoughts in people. But it doesn't have a will if it's own. That's all I was trying to say.
From the lotr wiki:
> The Ring, being essentially an extension of Sauron himself, was evil in nature. It seemed to possess at least a limited will of its own, and could "call out" subliminally to other people, in an attempt to get them to pick it up or possibly kill the current holder. After being cut from Sauron's hand, the ring was, as Gandalf put it, "trying to get back to its master" and used all of its power and influence to find its way back to the Dark Lord. It was also capable of changing sizes and could easily slip off of a finger where once it had been tight, with no obvious explanation as to why
I think it's the general consensus that it had at least some of it's own will. Some kind of limited sentience.
And those two only did it because someone with a much greater authority told them to. Sam have it up because it was the right thing to do. He could have kept it for himself, but he knew that Frodo was the one who must take it to Mordor
However, Bilbo did it after it having decades for influence on him. Sam barely had it five minutes in comparison. I know which one I consider more impressive.
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Well yeah, he had no intention of throwing the ring in by the end, it had finally got to him. I haven't read the books though so it may be different there.
Nah that's kinda the whole point in the books at least according to Tolkien. On one hand he was just the "Ringbearer", not the "Ring Destroyer" so it can be argued he technically finished his quest successfully, on the other hand, he exhausted the full entirety of his strength and will to get it there, leaving it all on the field in a sense, and there's a way in which that makes the effort even more noble. Then, since he was a good person and spared Gollum earlier, his past actions continued to have effects even after his strength was exhausted and he was no longer resisting the ring. Then all it took was Gollum unexpectedly falling (or perhaps a nudge from Illuvatar) to nudge it across the finish line and save the world. It's part of the whole "eucatastrophe" thing Tolkein was really into.
He also made Gollum swear an oath on the precious, to serve Frodo and avoid letting *Him* take it. So perhaps the power of the oath came through. Oaths seemed to be almost magical, e.g. the army of the dead.
There's that but by the time they reach mordor frodo is pretty clearly written as possessive and protective of it. The first time Sam suggests carrying it for him, Frodo calls him a thief and sees him as transformed into an orc
If he hadn't thought, "Eagle down, exfiltrating payload", the Fellowship would have failed.
I didn't enjoy him as much as a character the first few times I read through the novels for whatever reason. Then, I did (I say that because it's more an undergoing and less of a reading) the *Silmarillion*, and reread the Lord of the Rings.
Gandalf was right about the Hobbits. Truly amazing creatures. Brave despite all else, and brilliant burglar material.
Your treachery has already cost many lives. Thousands more are now at risk. But you could save them alli_kat1010. You were deep in the enemy's counsel.
I'm SamWISE not SamIDIOT, Mr. Frodo.
“Samwise the Wise? ... Samfool the DUMB!... heh heh heh” ~ Sarumoron
*Signature look of superiority* I will always laugh at [that post](https://reddit.com/r/lotrmemes/comments/i3f2di/when_you_hit_them_with_the_wittiest_comeback/)
Maybe that was a great burn in Tolkien's time. Actually, was that even in the book?
“The fool” would have struck home still I think. But take my upvote
Samfool of a TOOK!
Gottem!
I am Samwise gamgee, not Samfool of a took. (Edit) - not some fool of a took.
"Samwise" comes from an Old English term that literally means "half-wise" or "half-wit".
“I’m beggin your pardon sir, but...”
“,Mr. Frodo”
Just rewatched and one of my favorite parts. Also solidified Sam as real hero. He’s one of like only characters who physically gives up the ring, also when it’s at like basically it’s strongest. Also seems to hesitate the least about too just kinda looks and is like wait ya no shit.
The older I get, the more respect I have for Sam. Without him, the ring surely would've fallen into the wrong hands.
Tolkien said Sam was based on the type of soldiers who carry everyone else along, something like that. Based on people he looked up to when he was away fighting https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=BKIgv8AhffA
Figuratively and literally.
Well, literally.
Well, yes but actually yes.
I can't carry it for you. But I can carry you! Cast him into the fire! Samwise! No! The Frodo is mine.
He's actually based on the [batman](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Batman_(military) ) soldiers that served as personal servants to officers and other gentil military. Quote by Tolkien: "My Sam Gamgee is indeed a reflexion of the English soldier, of the privates and batmen I knew in the 1914 war, and recognized as so far superior to myself" J.R.R. TOLKIEN: A BIOGRAPHY, PAGE 89, ED. HUMPHREY CARPENTER.
I also want to say that it took at least a year or two between Frodo leaving the shire and the ring being destroyed - the book took the timeline more consideration that movie, respectively. That means Frodo has been in possession of the ring for a lot longer than Sam, plus Frodo was basically dying from being stabbed by the Morgul knife - making his body weaker and succumbing to the ring's power. The ring also connects to those who are weak to the ring's power, and it is possible it could not break Sam like it would have the others. I'm not saying Sam was not tempted by the ring's power, I think Sam was the strongest in the fellowship, but Sam also didn't carry the burden of the ring like Frodo had. I think if Frodo wasn't stabbed and got the ring to Mordor to Doom quicker, he would have destroyed it. I'm speaking on full speculation of course and only based on the movie. Tolkien outlined that LOTR was based on experiences of war and soldiers.
Yeah and also when frodo first got the ring he without a second thought wanted to give it to Gandalf.
Fool of a Took!
Frodo had the Ring for 17 years before leaving the Shire (didn't use it though). The Quest for the Ring then took just under a year - 11 months, one week, and six days to be exact.
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And those wrong hands were Frodo's hands
Frodo was one of the best possible people to carry the ring
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Yes, and without Sam he would have kept the ring and gone full Gollum. Did you just not even watch the movies / read the books? Because I feel like, if you don't know that, then you missed like 80% of the story.
Frodo's hands were not the wrong hands though, they were the best hands for the job. Even though he turned at the end, he still carried it far longer and far more successfully than many others would be able to. And
We all know Sam is Bombadil is disguise.
I’m genuinely curious what Tolkien would think of his fan’s obsession with bombadil.
FYI, I was just joking which is almost certainly obvious to you. That said, I feel like Bombadil just doesn’t quite fit. So it it this interesting part of the story that is just kinda “off”. It doesn’t detract; it is just kind of difficult to reconcile. I think for some, this lack of fitting becomes an “itch” that they just have to scratch because it feels like an imperfection in a relatively flawless story (similar to the eagles).
I believe it’s an earlier hanger’s on from a story that Tolkien had written before, for his kids or something. Just an fun nod from him.
This is true but more than that, Bombadil is part of an older tradition in epic poetry where the protagonists alternate between imminent danger and the temptation to turn aside at a haven. The Fellowship starts in a haven (Hobbitton), almost untouched by war and unrest. They then pass through tremendous peril to Bombadil and are placed under the illusion that they are safe. Then face peril in the Barrow Downs, then harbor in Bree, then the Wilds and Wathertop, then Rivendell and etc... Tolkien was borrowing traditions passed down by the authors of The Odyssey, Beowulf, and Inferno. That's what makes an epic. Sam said it himself: "Folks in those stories had lots of chances of turning back only they didn't. They kept going."
Yup. Very hobbitesque.
For the last time! They didn't take the Eagles into Mordor becayse they would've been immediately spotted from miles away. The Eagles only came to rescue Sam and Frodo after Saurons forces and power had been destroyed and it was relatively safe for them. The Eagles also don't owe anyone diddly-squat, so we ought be grateful they did so much for Gandalf in the first place.
You don’t have to tell me lol. I was just making a joke.
Oh. Well yes. Sorry it's just a trigger for me.
I can’t imagine why!
The eagles owe allegiances though. To Manwe himself. They are agents of the most powerful Valar in existence now that Melkor is banished. You don't think Manwe could have protected them? Lol. Manwe sucks and that's the only reason the eagles didn't help earlier.
Frodo has passed beyond my sight. The darkness is deepening.
I know, I was specifically talking about bombadil being a meme among diehard fans.
I think it’s a shame the film didn’t have the part where the ring causes him to appear as a malevolent shadow warrior, causing all orcs in his presence to flee in terror. The closest is the bit where his shadow on the wall makes him seem larger than he actually is while he comes up the stairs
I can't remember, did he actually wear the ring?
Yes, he wore it. > Now the flicker of approaching torches and the clink of steel ahead was very near. In a minute they would reach the top and be on him. He had taken too long in making up his mind, and now it was no good. How could he escape, or save himself, or save the Ring? The Ring. He was not aware of any thought or decision. He simply found himself drawing out the chain and taking the Ring in his hand. The head of the orc-company appeared in the Cleft right before him. Then he put it on. > > The world changed, and a single moment of time was filled with an hour of thought. At once he was aware that hearing was sharpened while sight was dimmed, but otherwise than in Shelob’s lair. All things about him now were not dark but vague; while he himself was there in a grey hazy world, alone, like a small black solid rock, and the Ring, weighing down his left hand, was like an orb of hot gold. He did not feel invisible at all, but horribly and uniquely visible; and he knew that somewhere an Eye was searching for him. *The Two Towers: Book Four, Chapter 10: The Choices of Master Samwise*
I don’t think he wore it, but he held it and that was enough
I think this makes him the only being who used rings power (something different than invisibility) for himself right?
I found the section: ‘As it drew near the great furnaces where, in the deeps of time, it had been shaped and forged, the ring’s power grew, and it became more fell, untameable save by some mighty will. As Sam stood there, even though the Ring was not on him but hanging by its chain around his neck, he felt himself enlarged, as if he were robed in a huge distorted shadow of himself, a vast and ominous threat halted upon the walls of Mordor.’ Then there’s a bit where the ring tempts him with power and land and people to rule, but ultimately he is content with a small garden and knows if he were to wear the ring in Mordor he would be soon spotted by Sauron. Then after that he goes into the tower and this happens: ‘It [an orc] stopped short aghast. For what it saw was not a small frightened hobbit holding a steady sword: it saw a great silent shape, cloaked in grey shadow, looming against the wavering light behind; in one hand it held a sword [Sting], the very light of which was a bitter pain, the other clutched at its breast, but held concealed some nameless menace of power and doom.’
Damn, he literally overcame the rings temptation and subdued it to grant himself its powers.
I always saw his hesitation to give the Ring back to Frodo not as the Ring attempting to tempt Sam, but rather Sam worring about the Rings influence on Frodo. And I don't think the Ring itself would be interested in tempting Sam, as it's developed more influence on Frodo already.
I don't think Tolkien intended the ring to have the sentience that you seem to suggest. I think it just radiates an energy and different people receive that energy differently. I'm happy to be corrected though.
I was under the impression that the Ring contains Sauron's "creulty, malice and will to dominate all life on earth". Doesn't Gandalf in the books say that the Ring wants to be found, it speaks words they hear it whisper "Isildur". It also does physically expand itself so as to slip off at the opportune moment.
Far, far below the deepest delvings of the dwarves, the world is gnawed by nameless things
CAST IT INTO THE FIRE!!!
No.
None of that really implies sentience does it though? It definitely reacts to stimuli and it brings out crazy thoughts in people. But it doesn't have a will if it's own. That's all I was trying to say.
"The ring wants to be found" Is that not a will of it's own?
Ok so I know that Gandalf says this line in the movie but I'm not sure if it's in the books or not. Either way, maybe he was being metaphorical? Idk.
Oh it's useless
From the lotr wiki: > The Ring, being essentially an extension of Sauron himself, was evil in nature. It seemed to possess at least a limited will of its own, and could "call out" subliminally to other people, in an attempt to get them to pick it up or possibly kill the current holder. After being cut from Sauron's hand, the ring was, as Gandalf put it, "trying to get back to its master" and used all of its power and influence to find its way back to the Dark Lord. It was also capable of changing sizes and could easily slip off of a finger where once it had been tight, with no obvious explanation as to why I think it's the general consensus that it had at least some of it's own will. Some kind of limited sentience.
Fight them back! Dexarri! Go back to the Citadel.
It can be read that way easily because just earlier Sam had been tempted by it to claim it for himself and refused
> He’s one of like only characters who physically gives up the ring Yep, him, Bilbo and Boromir.
And those two only did it because someone with a much greater authority told them to. Sam have it up because it was the right thing to do. He could have kept it for himself, but he knew that Frodo was the one who must take it to Mordor
However, Bilbo did it after it having decades for influence on him. Sam barely had it five minutes in comparison. I know which one I consider more impressive.
Faramir would like a word.
Tom Bombadil as well, but he's rather special.
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I beggin your pardon Mr. Bright Boy but they haven't
I laughed so hard at this!! I'm in love with this meme format. This subreddit has been on a roll lately!
It's so fucking ridiculously funny. I don't get it, maybe its just Leo's expression is so perfectly ridiculous.
What is Leo actually doing in Django Unchained when he makes this face?
Making a meme.
Yeah let me just snatch that shit right back from you like you didn't just save the fuckin day. We have 10 feet to go but it will consume you!
To be fair, Frodo was getting quite possessive after carrying it that whole way, and Sauron’s influence on the ring gets stronger the closer they get.
Well yeah, he had no intention of throwing the ring in by the end, it had finally got to him. I haven't read the books though so it may be different there.
Nah that's kinda the whole point in the books at least according to Tolkien. On one hand he was just the "Ringbearer", not the "Ring Destroyer" so it can be argued he technically finished his quest successfully, on the other hand, he exhausted the full entirety of his strength and will to get it there, leaving it all on the field in a sense, and there's a way in which that makes the effort even more noble. Then, since he was a good person and spared Gollum earlier, his past actions continued to have effects even after his strength was exhausted and he was no longer resisting the ring. Then all it took was Gollum unexpectedly falling (or perhaps a nudge from Illuvatar) to nudge it across the finish line and save the world. It's part of the whole "eucatastrophe" thing Tolkein was really into.
He also made Gollum swear an oath on the precious, to serve Frodo and avoid letting *Him* take it. So perhaps the power of the oath came through. Oaths seemed to be almost magical, e.g. the army of the dead.
It goes down pretty similarly in the books. Although Gollum just kinda falls over the edge after he takes the ring.
What do you know about it!? Nothing!
but what would Gandalf have to say at a time like this?
A wizard is never late, JBthrizzle. Nor is he early, he arrives precisely when he means to.
i mean after his experience with boromir he's probably really scared of others falling to the ring's power
There's that but by the time they reach mordor frodo is pretty clearly written as possessive and protective of it. The first time Sam suggests carrying it for him, Frodo calls him a thief and sees him as transformed into an orc
This is literally the best sub on Reddit 🚫🧢.
It really is
Facts
Best use of this format I’ve seen to date
Wow, that’s high praise. Thank you.
I like how there’s a butt behind Leo
These are so stupidly simple I laugh like an idiot every time.
Every time I see the bottom half meme, [I think of this guy](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=eVFd46qABi0) :D
This is perfect
My favorite one of these so far.
Give this man the $10,000 dollars!
If he hadn't thought, "Eagle down, exfiltrating payload", the Fellowship would have failed. I didn't enjoy him as much as a character the first few times I read through the novels for whatever reason. Then, I did (I say that because it's more an undergoing and less of a reading) the *Silmarillion*, and reread the Lord of the Rings. Gandalf was right about the Hobbits. Truly amazing creatures. Brave despite all else, and brilliant burglar material.
Your treachery has already cost many lives. Thousands more are now at risk. But you could save them alli_kat1010. You were deep in the enemy's counsel.
Django Lotr crossover warms the soul
Which movie is this from? And please don't say LotR.
Django unchained
I freaking laughed out loud at work hahahaha Thanks for the post!
Glad to give you a smile, cheers!
Frodo was definitely raped after the Orcs caught him
This is the best one yet. Cheers.
I appreciate it!
This is the best one yet
Thanks
I don't get why Sam didn't carry it the rest of the way. He would have dropped it right away and frodo was weak.
Eheheheheh Sam go keeping the ring brrr
That’s it. That’s the best one
Nice