Claim OwnershipSongs and Tales: A Literary Guide to Middle Earth
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© Songs and Tales Podcast
Description
Clara and Aaron revisit the works of J.R.R. Tolkien with a focus on the literary merits, historical contexts, and biographical influences in the trilogy, the Simarillion, and many of his other writings.
52 Episodes
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It’s the end of our journey. Before we diminish into the
West, however, we’ve got the final three chapters of Return of the King to discuss. Clara and Aaron talk about how the book’s closing chapters do some interesting things to take the narrative out of the world of high fantasy and back into the realm of the more mundane world, the way Saruman’s final encounter with the Hobbits wraps up a number of long-standing thematic concerns of Tolkien’s work, and Clara confesses that sometimes the readings felt like homework.
Your hosts have reached a point where they're ready for these books to wrap up and they get the sense that Tolkien feels the same way too. Despite perhaps feeling a little rushed to a happy ending (for now - dun dun dunnnn), Clara and Aaron do find some interesting things to talk about, especially the start of the Fourth Age and where they would vacation in Middle Earth. Plus, Clara does a really good Enya impression.
Gollum gets his fill of ring finger food and immediately falls into the Cracks of Doom for his efforts. At least he died doing what he loved, screeching about his Precious. And it's lucky for everyone in this book that he did because the One Ring is finally destroyed! Everyone sings a dumb song about it and Clara and Aaron discuss Doom, eucatastrophe, and how things take a sort of Bibley turn in these chapters.
Frodo and Sam have finally made it to Mordor and all we have to say about it is that these orcs are catty! They gossip! They steal! They lie! They cheat! They may not like each other, but at the end of the day, if you step to their head Mean Girl, they'll collectively make your life hell. Oh, and also, they'll steal your beautiful clothing and even though we know they spend every weekend cruising the Mordor Mall.
If by debate you mean Gandalf calmly and eloquently lays out a plan for what the gang's next move should be then, sure, this episode is about a debate. But, it's probably more about how Aragorn is a good king because he actually has a gang to even talk about these things with. And how Sauron is bad because he doesn't. Ironic since he has a servant named The Mouth of Sauron (whom we meet in this episode) and you kind of have to assume that guy never stops talking. Much like your beloved co-hosts.
It's a big milestone – episode 50! In honor of the occasion, Denethor decides he's going to burn this city, burn this city rather than cede control. All this dramatic self-immolation leads Clara and Aaron to pose some questions about being a king in this mixed-up world of Middle Earth. Can we say that there is a political philosophy lurking beneath the surface of the book and just how prescriptive is it? What does it mean that Tolkien refers to Denethor as a "political" leader? And why, after hundreds of pages, is it that Aragorn's finally allowed to be funny?
We are moving right along with this second-to-last book of the trilogy and stuff is happening! The Riders of Rohan meet a noble savage and pretty much save Minas Tirith's bacon (good news for any hungry Hobbit). Eowyn stabs a really bad guy (but Aaron won't judge you if you're into him *sexually*). And Theoden turns into a god, even though Aragorn arrives on the scene after three days of disappearance which sounds like an oddly familiar plot line. Huh. Wonder why.
Clara and Aaron play Denethor’s advocates in this episode, rightfully appreciating, if not defending, one of Tolkien’s most interesting characters since Turin. Being complicated is fascinating, what can we say? This episode’s other fascination, the Púkel Men, is far less complicated, but your hosts love them all the same. Plus, Grond is back! And did you know “grond” means “ground” in Dutch? What incredible things we learn.
The king is returning and so are Clara and Aaron with another juicy episode (almost as juicy as that infamous tomato Denethor eats in the movie version of this part of the book). Your hosts cover a lot of ground in this episode, discussing the arrival of Pippin in Minas Tirith, hobbit ages, ghost kisses, and how thirsty Eowyn is for Aragorn. We also find out what Merry would have sounded like if he were played by Jimmy Stewart. Plus, Clara and Aaron learn the meaning of the word “wain” and are surprised to find out it has nothing to do with Wayne Newton or Damon Wayans, Jr.
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We've spoiled this episode at least a dozen times in the run up, but she's finally here, folks. Shelob is ready to make her grand, noisy entrance. She creaks, she belches, she squelches right into our hearts. Just kidding, she's pretty disgusting and if you want to know what's interesting about her, just listen to our Ungoliant episode because they're honestly the same thing. We're not phoning it in, we're just telling the truth. And on that note, Aaron and Clara are finished with The Two Towers.
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What do Hip-Hop legends Bone Thugs-N-Harmony have in common with Frodo Baggins and Samwise Gamgee? That's right, they've both journeyed to the crossroads. This week's episode is extra chaotic courtesy of recording during a thunderstorm that knocked out the power three times and the fact that your co-hosts were slap-happy from scotch and diuretic biscuits. Despite these obstacles, Clara and Aaron manage to have a cogent conversation about the environment of Mordor, Christian symbolism in Frodo and Sam's relationship, and what both agree is the most moving scene of the trilogy.
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Faramir is not a big jewelry guy. And that’s really the best reason Clara and Aaron can give for him not wanting to take the One Ring when it’s revealed that Frodo has it. Why else would you say no to such unlimited power literally at your fingertips? Okay, it could also be because Faramir is wise and honorable and just and like a million other great qualities. Plus, he’s also hot! Seriously, someone get this awesome guy on a dating app.
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This episode has Bowie, it has the California Raisins, it has Shakespeare, it has Timothy Olyphant … wait *checks notes* sorry just Oliphants. But Sam is just about as excited to see them as a 45-year-old divorcee probably would be to see Timothy Olyphant. Basically, Aaron and Clara cover a lot of ground in this episode which takes us from the Black Gates of Mordor to the Roman-esque gardens of Ithilien.
Bless us and splash us, Precious, we've made it to the second half of The Two Towers. Join your hosts as they catch back up with Frodo and Sam who are all sorts of lost in the Emyn Muil (a name Clara struggles to pronounce several times) and tame the insatiable, the inimitable, the unforgettable GOLLUMMMM … or is it Smeagol. Honestly, it's tough to keep the two straight. In this episode, Clara and Aaron also discover that Sauron is moonlighting as a storm front. Not everyone needs a side hustle, Sauron!
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Look out below! Palantir incoming! The powers of this mysterious orb are rivaled in mystery and power only by the voice of Saruman. Both are hard to resist because, really, who doesn't love an orb to ponder and a melodious voice? We know we do! Unfortunately, we also learn that melodious voices aren't all they're cracked up to be and not all glowing orbs are friendly. Plus, Clara has a saucy theory as to why Wormtongue hucked the Palantir out a window in the first place.
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Honey, you're a sapling
Small thing
Walking in the woods
Gonna be a big Ent someday
You've got leaves on your face
Oldest race
Herding your Huorns all over the place
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If you met a guy named Wormtongue you'd probably trust him implicitly too, right? So no one can really blame Theoden for being taken in by someone who seems like an all around wholesome chap. Except, I don't know, the fact that his actual name is Wormtongue is maybe a bit of a tip off that not all that glitters, and whatnot. Plus, Aragorn and Eowyn touch hands and sparks fly.
Email us! songsandtalespod@gmail.com
Instagram: @songsandtalespod
Let’s not beat around the bush, the Ents are pretty much all Clara and Aaron discuss in this episode. If you have a problem with that, you’re welcome to leaf anytime. Your hosts actually make very few tree puns in this episode (why do you think we’re cramming them all into the description), but they do discuss Ent language, Ent wife loss, and Ent culture. Plus Clara asks the question she’s sure you’ve all been thinking: Just how do Ents procreate?
We’re back, baby! Yes, that is a direct quote from the first three chapters of The Two Towers, into which Clara and Aaron are finally delving. Things start off on a depressing note, as Boromir dies right away. Luckily, Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli recover quickly from their grief with a brisk run (endorphins do make you happy) and we meet the Riders of Rohan, everyone’s favorite horse boys. Plus, we learn that orcs have personalities and they want meat back on the menu, boys!
“Galadriel’s mirror on the wall, will the One Ring prevent Gondor’s fall?” The answer is no, Boromir, so stop asking. And quit bullying Frodo! In this episode your hosts re-visit their discussion of elven time, debunk the theories of some internet idiots, and chat about what Frodo sees from atop his big-boy chair. Also, in case you forgot, Aragorn is the Messiah. Plus, Aaron shares a depressing theory about Ents.
Email us! songsandtalespod@gmail.com
Twitter: @songsntalespod
Instagram: @songsandtalespod
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