136. The Lowest IQ Elves of Middle-earth? – The Hobbit #23

In this very special episode, we reveal the exact barrel music sung in Thranduil’s halls as the dwarves were tossed into the river! 😉 Then, we get into the details of barrel physics, the river, and why there might be “raft-elves”.

Make sure to become a member to listen to the full versions of the barrel song!

We also look at:

• Is Thranduil a direct stand-in for Thingol?
• Lots of elves live in caves…
• Tolkien’s beautiful watercolor paintings inspired by this chapter.
• The parallels between the Dwarves song and the Barrel song.
• Why being saved by giant eagles is more believable than surviving a barrel rapid-ride from The Hobbit films.

In our extended episode (available for our members) we talk about:

• Peter Jackson’s slapstick barrels out of bond scene in The Hobbit film.
• Why suspense matters–and Tolkien’s was wonderful in The Hobbit.
• Do we have any confidence in someone building a Lord of the Rings attraction?
• Lord of the Rings online portrays Thranduil’s halls wonderfully.
• 3 full versions of the elves barrel song!

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🔍 If You Like Tolkien
The History of The Hobbit
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (audiobook)
The Expanded Letters of JRR Tolkien (book)
The Silmarillion
The Children of Hurin
The Atlas of Middle-earth
Make Tolkien Great Again – Tengwar Hat