The Forbidden Pool

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The name Forbidden Pool refers to more than one character, item or concept. For a list of other meanings, see Forbidden Pool (disambiguation).
The Lord of the Rings - The Two Towers - Gollum at the Forbidden Pool.jpg
The Forbidden Pool
Chapter of The Two Towers
Number17
Synopsis
EventThe Rangers of Ithilien capture Gollum
DateDawn of 8 March T.A. 3019
LocationHenneth Annûn
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The Forbidden Pool is the sixth chapter of the fourth book in The Two Towers.

Summary[edit | edit source]

Frodo was awakened late in the night, as Faramir sought advice on a certain matter. Frodo asked whether it was morning already, and Faramir told him the dawn was just breaking, but that they must leave right away. Faramir took the Hobbit to a cliff by the river, and Sam joined them. For a while, Frodo wondered why he had been roused from sleep to come watch the river. Sam, too, was curious. He remarked on the beauty of the landscape, but suggested it was not enough to justify getting up so early in the morning. Faramir said that the landscape was not the reason they had come. He told Frodo to look down and identify a small, dark creature moving in the Forbidden Pool. Frodo gazed down and recognized Gollum, who had followed them, unseen by Faramir’s men until then. Faramir asked what kind of a creature it was. His men inquired as to whether they should try to kill it or not. Frodo begged them not to do so.

Faramir asked whether Gollum knew about the treasure Frodo was carrying. Frodo replied that Gollum did know about it, and indeed had carried it himself for some time. Then, Frodo explained, Gollum just wanted fish to eat. Faramir’s guard reminded his lord that the punishment for anyone trespassing in their kingdom was death. Frodo offered to speak to Gollum instead. Frodo went down to the water and addressed the creature, who pouted about having been abandoned and refused to come. Finally, Frodo persuaded Gollum to leave the water, leading him toward the area where Faramir’s men were waiting for him. The men apprehended Gollum, who felt betrayed by Frodo and spat on him as he was led away.

Faramir demanded to interrogate Gollum, who initially refused to cooperate. Frodo tried to persuade the creature to trust him. Faramir asked whether Gollum had ever been in this area before. Gollum claimed he had not. Faramir did not believe Gollum, but he ultimately accepted the truthfulness of the creature's statement. Frodo stayed with his assertion that Gollum should not be harmed, begging Faramir's men not to hurt Gollum. Faramir agreed, on the condition that Gollum be considered Frodo’s servant.

However, Faramir privately warned Frodo to be wary of Gollum, whom he still did not trust. Faramir said that there was evil growing in Gollum, and that he was curious about how this "creeping thing" had come into the possession of the Ring prior. Faramir said that one day, when he and Frodo were old and chair-bound, Frodo could tell him the story. Faramir also warned against Frodo's passing over the mountains, saying that there was great danger there. Frodo replied that this was the only way he could go, as he must avoid the gates of Mordor that they had passed earlier. Faramir said it was a hopeless task.

Composition[edit | edit source]

J.R.R. Tolkien wanted that night to have a full moon (seen by Frodo, Pippin, and the muster of Rohan). In the first drafts, the chapter took place on the night of 6 February. Much later Tolkien changed his mind about the passage of Time in Lothlórien, and also invented the Shire Reckoning. To accommodate the full moons, and the new calendar, he pushed the chapter a month later, and Fellowship's departure from Lothlórien on 16 February.[1]

References