051 - "The Battle of the Pelennor Fields" is Peak Tolkien

This week we discuss book 5, chapter 6: The Battle of the Pelennor Fields from "The Return of the King".

After a five-month hiatus (and one new baby later), the Fellowship of Fools returns to tackle one of Tolkien’s greatest chapters. The Battle of the Pelennor Fields delivers everything: Théoden’s heroic charge, Éowyn’s unforgettable stand against the Witch-king, Merry’s unlikely heroics, Aragorn’s dramatic arrival, and enough battlefield twists to keep everyone guessing. The crew also debates Tolkien’s writing choices, uncovers hidden callbacks dating back to Tom Bombadil, and wrestles with one very controversial ending.

Conversation Topics

Returning after five months and welcoming the newest member of the Fellowship

Théoden’s legendary charge and the Rohirrim’s arrival

Éowyn and Merry fulfill the Witch-king’s prophecy

Théoden’s final moments and Éomer’s rise as King

Aragorn’s arrival and the turning of the battle

Tolkien’s long-term storytelling pays off with Merry’s Barrow-blade

Timestamps

00:00 Welcome back after a five-month break

02:10 Recapping The Ride of the Rohirrim

04:25 The Witch-king faces the Riders of Rohan

06:05 Théoden’s charge changes the battle

12:00 Théoden falls beneath Snowmane15:20 Éowyn reveals her identity

20:15 Merry strikes the Witch-king

22:05 Éowyn defeats the Lord of the Nazgûl

24:15 Théoden’s final words

31:00 Éomer becomes King of Rohan

38:05 Aragorn arrives with the Black Fleet

43:45 Tolkien’s hidden payoff with Merry’s Barrow-blade

58:30 Discussing Tolkien’s historical influences and language

01:03:30 Arwen’s banner and the return of hope

01:07:20 Food for Thought

01:14:35 Birthday cake

Today's "Food for Thought": The Cake of the Pelennor FieldsIn honor of Chris’s birthday and his inability to read a map, I made a Minas Tirith and Pelennor Fields cake. Use any dense cake and frosting recipe that is sturdy enough to cut and stack. I used buttermilk chocolate cake, chocolate filling, and vanilla buttercream.

Bake two 8-inch round cakes and let them cool. Slice one cake in half, fill it, add a thin crumb coat, and chill for 30 minutes.

From the second cake, cut six circles in gradually smaller sizes using cutters, cups, or whatever you have. Stack them with frosting between each layer, secure with a skewer, and chill again.

Tint buttercream green, gray, blue, and black. Decorate the bottom cake as the Pelennor Fields with grass, roads, the Anduin River, the Rammas Echor, and small Corsair ships. Place the stacked Minas Tirith tower at the edge, decorate it with stonework, and use a silver candle for the highest point.

Finish by placing candles across the fields to represent the fires of Mordor.

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