Good, Better, Best

lfsaldenbirch , , ,

As Mother used to say, “Never let it rest ’til all the good is better and all the better best.”

• 01.002 The best rooms were all on the left-hand side (going in),
• 01.008 Good Morning!’ said Bilbo,
• 01.009 Do you wish me a good morning,
• 01.009 or mean that it is a good morning whether I want it or not;
• 01.009 or that you feel good this morning;
• 01.009 “or that it is a morning to be good on?’
• 01.013 Good morning!’ he said at last.
• 01.014 you do use Good morning for!’
• 01.014 and that it won’t be good till I move off.’
• 01.017 Gandalf, Gandalf! Good gracious me!
• 01.020 very good for you –
• 01.021 Good morning!
• 01.021 Good bye!’
• 01.022 would do him good after his fright.
• 01.035 A little beer would suit me better,
• 01.035 my good sir,’
• 01.051 the best detachable party hoods –
• 01.057 there’s a good fellow!’ Gandalf called after him,
• 01.093 but he is one of the best,
• 01.093 one of the best –
• 01.097 that you think I am no good.
• 01.098 Burglar wants a good job,
• 01.099 For very good reasons.
• 01.114 This news alters them much for the better.
• 01.117 That would be no good,’
• 01.121 and doing his best to appear wise
• 01.122 and in addition I believe they found a good deal of gold
• 01.122 Altogether those were good days for us,
• 01.123 Indeed they hardly know a good bit of work from a bad,
• 01.123 though they usually have a good notion of the current market value;
• 01.123 from a good way off
• 01.124 as best we could up
• 01.124 when I will allow we have a good bit laid by
• 01.140 I will give you a good breakfast before you go.’
• 01.143 in the best bedroom next to him:
• 02.025 and a good many other things,
• 02.028 with good roads,
• 02.028 Mostly it had been as good as May can be,
• 02.034 who were specially good at it.
• 02.037 and anything was better than little supper,
• 02.039 (and a good deal of grumbling
• 02.043 Also there was a barrel of good drink at hand,
• 02.047 a bit of good quick burgling.
• 02.048 He had read of a good many things he had never seen or done.
• 02.063 I am a good cook myself,
• 02.063 and cook better than I cook,
• 02.074 “and we’d best get out of the light.”
• 02.079 Bilbo did his best.
• 02.082 “No good roasting ’em now,
• 02.087 “No good boiling ’em!
• 02.094 “Better sit on the last fellow first,” said Bert,
• 02.112 “Would this be any good?” asked Bilbo,
• 02.113 but there was a good deal of food
• 02.114 but it was as good as a short sword for the hobbit.
• 02.115 “These look like good blades,”
• 03.024 but you had best get on foot,
• 03.026 till they were brought to a good path
• 03.029 “Hush, hush! Good People!
• 03.029 and good night!”
• 03.029 Good night!”
• 03.031 but things that are good to have
• 03.031 and days that are good to spend
• 03.031 may make a good tale,
• 03.031 in that good house,
• 03.033 and thinking best,
• 03.034 Their plans were improved with the best advice.
• 03.050 and good speed,
• 04.003 Even the good plans of wise wizards like Gandalf
• 04.003 and of good friends like Elrond go astray sometimes
• 04.007 “Well, if you know of anywhere better,
• 04.008 and Kili to look for a better shelter.
• 04.012 and Kili’s news seemed good enough.
• 04.012 it was good to hear the wind
• 04.014 It turned out a good thing that night
• 04.016 Bilbo’s yell had done that much good.
• 04.028 “Up to no good, I’ll warrant!
• 04.030 Not that it will do you much good, Thorin Oakenshield,
• 04.040 as best he could with his tied hands,
• 04.042 and then again it might be a good deal better.
• 04.042 and then again it might be a good deal better.
• 04.044 and these goblins knew the way better
• 05.002 and crawled along for a good way,
• 05.007 No good at all!
• 05.012 Goblin he thought good,
• 05.022 whether he was good to eat,
• 05.047 But he could not remember anything better at the moment,
• 05.049 I gave you a good long chance just now.’
• 05.065 and having nothing better to ask stuck to his question,
• 05.094 could hardly be something good.
• 05.108 It was no good crawling back
• 05.113 It’s no good going back there to search, no.
• 06.002 Good heavens!’ he exclaimed.
• 06.009 to get out of the mess as best you can yourselves.
• 06.012 Good heavens!
• 06.028 and worked up the best magic he could
• 06.032 After all they had lost a good deal,
• 06.032 so they might be said to have had the best of it so far.
• 06.039 but it was not much good.
• 06.049 and a good deal nearer to them;
• 06.052 Gandalf, who was a good deal taller than the others,
• 06.070 A very good thing too!
• 06.086 At the best of times heights made Bilbo giddy.
• 06.099 he was not much good at skinning rabbits
• 06.100 better than bits of meat toasted on sticks.
• 07.004 but he thought it better to say nothing at all,
• 07.005 After a good while
• 07.011 and now by good management
• 07.011 and good luck I have done it.
• 07.011 Indeed we are now a good deal further east
• 07.012 and it is no good waiting for him.
• 07.019 Hadn’t you better explain it all a bit clearer?’ –
• 07.022 Good gracious heavens,
• 07.027 a good deal,
• 07.030 You had better wait here,’
• 07.030 he had better come alone
• 07.039 a hobbit of good family
• 07.039 but perhaps you have heard of my good cousin Radagast
• 07.044 Then you had better come inside
• 07.069 but they did their best to be frightfully polite,
• 07.074 Good!’ growled Beorn.
• 07.074 It is some good being a wizard,
• 07.084 to see that his tale was making a good impression,
• 07.084 I did the best I could.
• 07.085 Good heavens!’
• 07.088 and they lived a good way away;
• 07.090 A very good tale!’
• 07.090 The best I have heard for a long while.
• 07.090 If all beggars could tell such a good one,
• 07.119 You had better go to bed,
• 07.122 in a splendidly good humour
• 07.123 It was a good story,
• 07.123 but I like it still better now I am sure it is true.
• 07.123 as well as your brother or better.
• 07.126 and twice-baked cakes that would keep good a long time,
• 07.126 and they were good to eat,
• 07.129 through his gate at a good pace.
• 07.136 and you had better keep your promises anyway,
• 07.151 hope for the best,
• 07.152 you had better get off without any more talk!’
• 07.153 Be good,
• 08.012 Still twelve yards is as good as a mile.
• 08.014 What’s the good of that?
• 08.016 and still has the best sight,’
• 08.022 That was a good pull,
• 08.022 and a good job that our rope was the stronger.’
• 08.036 which they had to carry along with them as best they could,
• 08.041 and up he had to go as best he could.
• 08.043 It was no good.
• 08.049 you had better be silent.
• 08.054 but a good way off their track.
• 08.056 A feast would be no good,
• 08.057 all the good things that were being eaten,
• 08.058 After a good deal of creeping
• 08.063 It was no good.
• 08.067 Good heavens!
• 08.067 Dream-dinners aren’t any good,
• 08.068 They are the best I am likely to get
• 08.074 that it was no good trying to do anything
• 08.080 as good a guess as he could
• 08.080 (he was born with a good share of it)
• 08.082 but I’ll wager there is good juice inside.’
• 08.093 but they could make a good guess at the direction
• 08.098 Not very good perhaps,
• 08.105 a good way below.
• 08.107 and then he did his best to help the hobbit,
• 08.107 None of them were better off than Fili,
• 08.119 better than the rest,
• 08.120 and they could not go much better than a hobble
• 08.124 But it seemed that some good magic lingered
• 08.127 Good old Bilbo –
• 08.131 but loved best the stars;
• 08.131 and that is Good People.
• 09.011 he did no good.
• 09.017 but it was not much good among fourteen.
• 09.018 for a good deal of traffic went out
• 09.024 Very good,’
• 09.028 there’s a good fellow!’
• 09.034 and think of a better plan –
• 09.035 and it was no good grumbling
• 09.038 though Bilbo did his best
• 09.048 and his best wine
• 09.056 Then he saw that it would have been no good
• 09.059 and lay on the top spread out to keep the balance as best he could.
• 09.059 The breeze was cold but better than the water,
• 09.060 and the barrel was a good big one
• 09.064 and for a mercy he did not sneeze again for a good while.
• 10.004 in the end by the only road that was any good.
• 10.011 that he had had at least one good meal
• 10.011 you had better slap your arms
• 10.013 and it was no good asking them to help.
• 10.031 that could not give any good account of themselves,
• 10.039 the dwarves’ good feeling towards the little hobbit
• 11.009 We can do no good here!
• 11.016 but each of them took a good coil of rope
• 11.019 was no good against the magic
• 11.027 and ‘Good Gracious!’
• 12.002 who has proved himself a good companion on our long road,
• 12.002 and if I may say so possessed of good luck
• 12.003 though he went on a good deal longer than this.
• 12.006 but they would all have done their best
• 12.008 After a while Balin bade Bilbo ‘Good luck!’
• 12.023 It’s no good here.’
• 12.033 and that it was no good giving up their quest yet.
• 12.035 I made the best beginning I could.
• 12.037 but I will do my best to think about it.
• 12.057 That’s better!’
• 12.06 I will give you one piece of advice for your good:
• 12.062 no one better.
• 12.079 but his mistake at the end shook him into better sense.
• 12.081 In the meanwhile his friends did their best to cheer him up;
• 12.084 The thrushes are good
• 12.091 and if we are smashed with it the better he will like it.’
• 12.103 in this way he felt better
• 13.005 And I think this time you had better all come with me.’
• 13.039 I would give a good many of these precious goblets,’
• 13.04 but what good has any armour ever been
• 13.059 I would give a good breakfast to know.
• 13.064 keeps good indefinitely,
• 14.027 He may have a good head for business –
• 14.027 but he is no good when anything serious happens!’
• 14.041 He would have done better to have remained my guest.
• 14.041 that blows no one any good.’
• 14.042 for he was the lord of a good
• 14.042 Their welcome was good,
• 15.014 and some you will not think so good.
• 15.022 I will not say if this counsel be good or bad,’
• 15.027 Better still,
• 15.028 but cram is much better than nothing –
• 16.005 I do not call this counsel good.
• 16.011 I would give a good deal for the feel of grass at my toes.’
• 16.012 I would give a good deal for the feel
• 16.012 and for a soft bed after a good supper!’
• 16.014 You are a good fellow,
• 16.024 my good elves.
• 16.026 in his best business manner,
• 16.031 a good many of them have had experience
• 16.045 All in good time!’ said Gandalf.
• 16.045 Good night!’
• 17.028 and is too good for you.
• 17.036 Dwarf-mail may be good,
• 18.017 Farewell, good thief,’
• 18.019 in you of good than you know,
• 18.031 May it bring good fortune to all his folk that dwell here after!’
• 18.036 I am sure it is better
• 18.039 and good luck,
• 18.045 in my halls the better shall I be pleased!’
• 19.006 and good magic;
• 19.017 A second good night,
• 19.025 You had better take this, Gandalf.
• 19.037 The people who had got specially good bargains

Still

lfsaldenbirch , ,

I am moving through paragraph 08.016, and here’s a common word used 185 times in the work. It has meanings to do with distillery (not used in The Hobbit); to do with lack of commotion (as in still water or the still, small voice) and with this meaning can be adjective, adverb, or noun; and from lack of commotion we get to the exclusively adverbial meaning.

So, OED, bless it, tells me that this meaning is obsolete and poetic:

With reference to action or condition: Without change, interruption, or cessation; continually, constantly; on every occasion, invariably; always. Obsolete exc. poetic.

But tells me that meaning 4 is different from that obsolete one:

4. Indicating the continuance of a previous action or condition.

Very well. I bow to the magisters of hair-splitting.

• 01.004 but certainly there was still something
• 01.005 Still it is probable that Bilbo,
• 01.006 and the hobbits were still numerous
• 01.017 but I had no idea you were still
• 01.023 was still standing outside the door,
• 01.068 Bilbo stood still
• 01.071 and still they played on,
• 01.072 and still they played on.
• 01.119 but so far still Tookishly determined to go on with things.
• 01.124 we still mean to get it back,
• 01.143 he could hear Thorin still humming to himself
• 02.027 but still he began to feel that adventures were not so bad after all.
• 02.030 Still the dwarves jogged on,
• 02.116 also one barrel of ale which was still full.
• 03.032 there were still some people
• 03.037 I have heard that there are still forgotten treasures of old
• 03.047 We still call it Durin’s Day
• 04.002 they were still going up
• 04.004 More terrible still are thunder
• 04.012 and the thunder still growling,
• 04.012 Still it was not very far to go,
• 04.044 Still goblins go faster than dwarves,
• 04.048 The ones behind yelled still more,
• 05.004 Still at the moment he felt very crushed.
• 05.008 still they are more used to tunnelling than we are,
• 05.009 All he knew was that it was still going down pretty steadily
• 05.009 and still he heard no sound of anything
• 05.011 Still he did not dare to wade out into the darkness.
• 05.011 and the original owners are still there
• 05.030 Then they stand still.
• 05.034 who was still thinking uncomfortably about eating.
• 05.041 and still he did not answer;
• 05.060 still he could not think of anything.
• 05.073 but still he did not dare to waste his last guess.
• 05.078 He sat still,
• 05.087 when such rings were still at large
• 05.087 And still sometimes he put it on,
• 05.087 He still had a bone or two left to gnaw,
• 05.089 Still he waited a while;
• 05.110 who was still going quickly,
• 05.119 still cautiously,
• 05.119 Still there it was:
• 05.130 but still he held on.
• 05.138 And there was the ring still,
• 05.146 It was still ajar,
• 05.148 while bewildered goblins were still picking up
• 06.002 they are not still back there
• 06.003 He still wandered on,
• 06.005 He crept still nearer,
• 06.005 He had still got the ring on,
• 06.014 If they had still doubted that he was really a first-class burglar,
• 06.031 where they still come
• 06.034 And we are still pretty high up.
• 06.039 but the blackberries were still only
• 06.040 They still went on
• 06.045 they could still see the evening lights on the plains beyond.
• 06.058 Still Dori did not let Bilbo down.
• 06.061 for whom they were probably still hunting.
• 06.084 A few eagles were still circling
• 07.002 The sun was still close to the eastern edge of things.
• 07.012 You are still some miles north of the path
• 07.014 if still sore
• 07.018 Still I warn you he gets angry easily.’
• 07.024 They still had a long way to walk before them.
• 07.045 and was still warm
• 07.076 Or have you still got some more jacks
• 07.096 and still they sat
• 07.120 and while the dwarves were still singing songs he dropped asleep,
• 07.120 still puzzling his little head about Beorn,
• 07.121 So here you all are still!’
• 07.122 the goblin patrols were still hunting
• 07.123 but I like it still better now I am sure it is true.
• 07.130 if they had still had their ponies,
• 07.130 and would have left them still with a long
• 07.131 Still you are safer going north,
• 07.133 Still the next morning dawned bright
• 07.133 and while the shadows were still long they were off again.
• 07.133 that they rode still forward after dusk
• 07.143 he still said the same.
• 08.002 and still more luck
• 08.004 and it was everlastingly still
• 08.006 Worse still it brought thousands of dark-grey
• 08.007 and still the forest seemed just the same,
• 08.012 Still twelve yards is as good as a mile.
• 08.016 and still has the best sight,’
• 08.022 looking at the snapped painter that was still dangling from it.
• 08.029 (still grumbling)
• 08.029 and then go still.
• 08.031 They could still see his hood
• 08.032 They were still standing over him,
• 08.035 and the gloom gathered still deeper on them
• 08.038 Still Bombur slept
• 08.044 Still he did not see this,
• 08.046 that they were still gnawingly hungry,
• 08.089 in Bombur still.
• 08.092 and even grown-up he had still spent a deal of his time at quoits, dart-throwing,
• 08.100 “but still they cannot find me!”
• 08.108 But there were still five dwarves hanging at the end of the branch
• 08.125 though he would have felt a lot bolder still,
• 08.131 Still elves they were
• 09.016 and the still unconquered dragon)
• 09.019 It seemed a town of Men still throve there,
• 09.035 still happily snoring with smiles upon their faces.
• 09.044 and still less at being laughed at.
• 09.055 he could hear the elves still singing
• 09.069 but whether alive or dead still remains to be seen.
• 10.002 but still a strong water flowed on steadily through the midst.
• 10.003 still,
• 10.006 In the still evening air
• 10.007 who still dared to dwell here
• 10.007 They still throve on the trade
• 10.007 The rotting piles of a greater town could still be seen
• 10.008 though some still sang old songs
• 10.011 Are you still
• 10.016 Still –
• 10.040 Still, I daresay, more was guessed than was known,
• 10.042 While the enthusiasm still lasted
• 11.010 The dragon is still alive
• 11.011 and still I expect smokes
• 11.014 and brought them at last to a still narrower ledge,
• 11.014 grassy-floored, still and quiet.
• 11.032 but still Bilbo stood almost without moving.
• 11.036 Try it now while there is still time!’
• 12.008 and stopped where he could still see
• 12.010 but went still on
• 12.017 but still he clutched the cup,
• 12.019 The dwarves were still passing the cup
• 12.020 Smaug was still to be reckoned with.
• 12.027 and still all was safe.
• 12.027 and still all was safe.
• 12.033 to last them still for some time.
• 12.095 and we know that still;
• 12.095 and I still think that when we have won it will be time enough
• 12.096 if they were still lying there
• 12.101 What would have happened if the door had still been open
• 12.101 glad to be still alive,
• 13.001 they woke still to darkness
• 13.017 Mr. Baggins was still officially their expert burglar
• 13.018 while he was still near enough,
• 13.018 and still went on.
• 13.023 And still there was no sight nor sound of Smaug.
• 13.029 and still there were no dragon-noises,
• 13.034 and finding still hanging there many golden harps
• 13.034 they were still
• 13.038 Still I wish there was a looking-glass handy!’
• 13.048 still showing the fragments of old carven work within,
• 13.055 even if the old steps are still there.’
• 13.067 Still,
• 14.011 Still they had a little time.
• 14.015 and still no arrow hindered Smaug or hurt him
• 14.018 But there was still a company of archers
• 14.026 while some were still willing to defend it.
• 14.036 I serve you still –
• 14.042 Still elves are lightfooted,
• 14.044 who were still able,
• 15.001 and the crows that still lived about the Mountain
• 15.014 but we remember still the king that was of old.
• 15.021 If you would earn our thanks still more,
• 15.021 if any of you are still young
• 15.026 you will see that the dwarves still had some days before them.
• 15.026 and at such work the dwarves were still very skilled.
• 15.027 and they still had a breathing space.
• 15.027 Better still,
• 15.031 The morning was still pale
• 15.052 And still my other claims remain unanswered.’
• 15.060 The whole place still stinks of dragon,’
• 16.026 (which he still wore over his mail)
• 16.046 it was still where he had left it.
• 17.004 Are you still of the same mind?’
• 17.005 Still the elf-host has not departed as I bade!
• 17.031 The morning was still early
• 17.037 Let us hope still for something
• 17.040 Still more suddenly a darkness came on
• 17.054 while still the great bats swirled
• 18.002 but I suppose there is still time enough for that!’
• 18.003 Surely there was a camp still
• 18.003 But all was deadly still.
• 18.022 they were still outnumbered.
• 18.023 The dwarves were making a stand still
• 18.025 but the pursuit was still on foot,
• 18.051 The Wild was still the Wild,
• 19.001 Bilbo heard the elves still singing
• 19.002 Here grass is still growing,
• 19.025 still hidden
• 19.036 they were more surprised still.

“still, adv.” OED Online, Oxford University Press, June 2019, http://www.oed.com/view/Entry/190289. Accessed 31 July 2019.

Young

lfsaldenbirch , ,

• 01.091 and perhaps to one or two of the younger dwarves
• 01.109 not even when he was a young dragon,
• 02.079 it was thick as a young tree-trunk –
• 03.021 a tall young fellow,
• 04.008 and being the youngest of the dwarves by some fifty years
• 04.008 (or so Thorin said to the young dwarves)
• 05.111 when we twisted that nassty young squeaker.
• 08.016 but Fili is the youngest
• 10.013 Fili and Kili, however, who were young
• 10.018 and some of the younger people
• 10.018 in their young days.
• 12.067 that in his young days had been called Esgaroth.
• 12.072 Then I was but young
• 13.037 wrought for some young elf-prince long ago.
• 15.021 if any of you are still young
• 15.034 Some of the younger dwarves were moved
• 18.044 while the world is yet young!

Strength

lfsaldenbirch ,

Friends, you know that I have a wee obsession about chapter eight – the sudden nadir of uncommon words in the work. My theory is that Mirkwood is just so far out of Bilbo’s depth that he has no specialized words to describe it. Paragraph 08.016 – “Dori is the strongest” – is the bottommost point, so let’s do a little run of the words in that paragraph.

Dori is referred to 22 times by himself and not in combination with other dwarf names out of the 37 times he is named in the book – interesting –

I may be a coward, but I wish to leave “is” and “the” as an exercise for the student.

Strength, strength’s, strengths, strengths’, strong, stronger, strongest – here they are! And, my goodness! There are eleven uses of “strength” in Chapter eight – more than double any other chapter, even chapter twelve in describing Smaug!

• 01.123 strong and wicked worm called Smaug.
• 03.033 as strong as a warrior,
• 03.034 and strong
• 03.034 but strong to bring them over the mountain passes.
• 05.128 while he had any strength left.
• 05.128 as if lifted by a new strength
• 06.068 and strong
• 06.085 in strong sweeping circles.
• 06.092 He had just strength to wonder
• 07.014 which was now strong
• 07.020 He is very strong,
• 07.022 sometimes he is a great strong black-haired man with huge arms
• 07.117 and strong beyond the rock for me to cross.
• 07.126 black and strong
• 08.008 and strong but not very wide right across the way,
• 08.016 Dori is the strongest,
• 08.018 I don’t suppose the magic is strong enough to hurt you,
• 08.019 This time he threw it with great strength.
• 08.022 and a good job that our rope was the stronger.’
• 08.038 from those parts with what strength they had left.
• 08.074 Something like a strong sticky string was against his left hand,
• 08.106 most of the strong sticky threads
• 08.131 Though their magic was strong,
• 08.132 and the strong place of his treasure,
• 08.144 in one of the inmost caves with strong wooden doors,
• 09.003 and strong beneath;
• 09.036 They will think we had a very strong magic
• 10.002 but still a strong water flowed on steadily through the midst.
• 10.038 and strong again.
• 10.039 grew stronger every day.
• 11.001 The stream was strong
• 12.032 and to gather new strength.
• 12.072 and strong, strong, strong,
• 12.072 and strong, strong, strong,
• 12.072 and strong, strong, strong,
• 12.096 and strength of triple steel.
• 15.021 and strong of wing,
• 15.037 The arrow swift, the Gate is strong;
• 16.012 of a strong drink
• 17.003 bore a strong casket of iron-bound wood.
• 17.025 so strong was the bewilderment of the treasure upon him,
• 17.031 The dwarves are exceedingly strong for their height,
• 17.031 but most of these were strong even for dwarves.
• 18.037 such as one strong pony could carry.
• 18.051 and strength.
• 18.054 and the Baggins was daily getting stronger.
• 19.002 With strength that men trusted

Walk

lfsaldenbirch

How delightful to do, how exhausting, how treacherous, how integral.

• 01.096 you walked right in
• 01.097 if I have to walk from here
• 01.109 and three may walk abreast” say the runes
• 01.110 of the Country Round with all his favourite walks
• 02.002 when in walked Gandalf.
• 02.042 As for Bilbo walking primly towards the red light,
• 02.047 and walked off without their noticing him.
• 03.008 but a pony that walked there
• 03.026 as narrow as a pony could well walk on;
• 03.040 and three may walk abreast.'”
• 06.014 of a look-out man who let people walk right into them
• 07.008 and the moon walks,’
• 07.024 They still had a long way to walk before them.
• 07.113 Just before sunset he walked into the hall,
• 07.117 I had to walk miles before I found a place
• 08.001 They walked in single file.
• 08.048 I dreamed I was walking
• 10.038 and walked
• 12.050 I am he that walks unseen.’
• 12.060 You may walk unseen,
• 12.060 but you did not walk all the way.
• 13.042 and one by one they walked behind Thorin,
• 13.056 More walking
• 14.002 but a few were walking on the quays,
• 19.027 for most of the time they walked.

Wise

lfsaldenbirch

“Your own wisdom must decide your course.” I think I’m just going to hold on to that one this morning. The closely related word “Wizard” can be found here.

• 01.121 and doing his best to appear wise
• 03.033 as wise as a wizard,
• 04.001 helped by the wise advice of Elrond
• 04.003 Even the good plans of wise wizards like Gandalf
• 04.003 and Gandalf was a wise enough wizard to know it.
• 05.008 and they have a fund of wisdom
• 05.008 and wise sayings
• 07.125 and Gandalf thought it wise to tell him their whole story
• 08.131 and less wise.
• 10.041 which shows he was a wise elf
• 12.058 (which is wise)
• 12.058 (which is also very wise)
• 14.031 and wise,
• 14.031 The wise will stay here
• 15.010 and they hand on their wisdom to their children.
• 15.010 because there was a wise
• 15.020 Your own wisdom must decide your course;
• 15.054 Gather your wisdom ere we return!’
• 18.019 Some courage and some wisdom,

Fool

lfsaldenbirch

In honor of Peter Larson, a word much-loved by Gandalf. I have included all forms of “fool” including “foolish” and “folly”. For the fun of it, I am including who said it and of whom.

• 01.096 you were a fool; – Bilbo, of himself
• 02.002 “Don’t be a fool, – Bilbo, of himself
• 02.067 “You’re a fat fool, – Bert, of William
• 03.017 To fly would be folly, – The Tra-la-la-lally elves of the whole party
• 03.018 and his friends think them foolish – Dwarves of elves
• 03.018 (which is a very foolish thing to think), – the narrator of Dwarves
• 07.022 Don’t be a fool Mr. Baggins if you can help it; – Gandalf of Bilbo
• 07.136 but the wizard told them they were fools. – Gandalf of the dwarves
• 10.021 Some of the more foolish ran out of the hut – the narrator of the people of Laketown
• 12.009 what a fool I was – Bilbo of himself
• 12.077 Old fool! – Bilbo of Smaug!!
• 12.080 Bilbo you fool!’ – Bilbo of himself
• 14.009 The dragon is coming or I am a fool!’ – Bard of himself
• 14.011 and not the most foolish doubted – the narrator of the people of Laketown
• 14.035 Fools!’ said Bard. – Bard of the people of Laketown
• 16.028 Such a fool deserves to starve.’ – Bard of Thorin
• 17.036 Fools!’ laughed Bard, – Bard of dwarves
• 18.020 You are a fool, – Bilbo of himself

Well, then! Bilbo uses it most in this story and 5/6th of the time he is speaking to himself. Bard uses it next, and seems willing to spread the word widely, and the narrator next, who seems to have a low opinion of the people of Laketown. If we recall that it was Bilbo who wrote this book, we can pump up his total to nine uses of the word, and examine the Laketoen scenes through his mature book-writing eyes as well as through his perspective as the tale unfolded.

Choice

lfsaldenbirch ,

Always interested in Fate vs Free Will!

01.099 and I chose Mr. Baggins.
01.099 Just let any one say I chose the wrong man or the wrong house,
01.100 I have chosen Mr. Baggins
01.117 the chosen and selected burglar.
01.130 and if I have chosen my own time
04.049 and they chose out their very quickest runners
05.015 I guess it’s a choice feast;
06.008 and why the wizard had not chosen someone with more sense.
08.040 is to choose the tallest tree
08.041 They chose him,
11.006 For this purpose he chose Balin and Fili and Kili,
12.039 Perhaps before long one or two could be chosen
12.052 I was chosen for the lucky number.’
12.095 and you shall choose your own fourteenth,
13.021 and choose my own share;
13.021 and I think I would choose this,
13.021 and choosing had not really been meant
17.015 Curse him for his choice of you!
17.018 that I might choose my own fourteenth share?
17.049 and it prevents your head from being specially chosen

What’s Going On in Chapter Eight?

lfsaldenbirch ,

I’m beginning to dive into Mirkwood, Word Fans. We all know that something special is going on in Chapter 8, but what? Yes, it’s true, I awakened at 4am because I am excited to get going! Ready for some spicy numbers?

Chapter 8 has

  • 10,301 words
  • 1,789 distinct words
  • 954 of which are used only once. My goodness. 53%. Now, that’s actually not statistically different from the 42% unique-to-total ratio of the whole work, it’s only one comparison, and we don’t know how widely the other chapters vary. But it is absolutely mathematically accurate to say “My goodness.”

Introducing a new tag this morning: “eight”, meaning “let’s talk about Chapter XIII, shall we? I’ll put the kettle on.”

Some Numbers to Warm Us on an Early Mud Season Evening

lfsaldenbirch ,

While I promise that I’m not beginning big project on apostrophes, I thought that my Word Fans would like to know that there are 3006 of them in The Hobbit.

I find 96,134 words in the work, 6320 distinct words, and 2707 of these occur only once. I am ready to bet that a 42% distinct word count is … unusual.

For examples of words used only once which are not already in our concordance – therefore are common – here’s the challenge I shall accept for the letter A. (AROUND!!! Wow!)

  • accomplished
  • active
  • advantage
  • affect
  • affection
  • afford
  • aground
  • alliances
  • amount
  • ample
  • anyhow
  • apologetically
  • appealed
  • appointed
  • appreciatively
  • around
  • array
  • arts
  • assembled
  • attend
  • aye