Read it Again - Chronologically!

[Urambo Tauro]

The Tale of Days: The Great Days
The Third Age 3018: From Hobbiton (and Orthanc) to Rivendell

This is a project I've been slowly working on, little bit by little bit, over a long period of time. Someone else has probably done it before, but i couldn't find it.

The idea has two purposes; first, to read The Lord of the Rings in story order (books III and IV at the same time, V and VI likewise), and secondly, to read what happened on "September 22nd" on September 22nd... Well, you'll get the idea.

I've provided a chart to help with the dates. This is necessary becaue of the Middle-earth calendar that Tolkien invented. Much information can be learned from Appendix D, but I've tried to keep it simple.

M-E date, 3018 / our date
Halimath 18 / September 19
Halimath 29 / September 30
Halimath 30 / October 01
Winterfilth 01 / October 02
Winterfilth 30 / October 31
Blotmath / November
Foreyule / December
Yule / December 31

Here's how it works:
22 One-III
066 Thursday, his birthday morning, dawned as
067 over, and Gandalf had not come.
22 (date)
One-III (book & chapter, as in "Book One, chapter III - Three is Company")
066 (starting page number, I use the hardcover one-volume edition, ISBN 0-618-12901-4)
Thursday, his birthday morning, dawned as (first six words of passage to be read)
067 (finishing page number)
over, and Gandalf had not come. (last six words of passage to be read)

[Urambo Tauro]

Week one:
Sunday, Halimath 18 through Friday, Halimath 23
(or September 19 through September 24)


18 Two-II
255 'So it was that when summer
255 the land of Rohan ere dawn;

19 Two-II
255 In Rohan I found evil already
255 at work: the lies of Saruman;

20 One-III
066 On September 20th two covered carts
066 by way of the Brandywine Bridge.

20 Two-II
255 and the king of the land
255 take a horse and be gone;

21 One-III
066 The next day Frodo became really
066 kept a constant look-out for Gandalf.

21 Two-II
255 and I chose one much to
255 never seen the like of him.'

22 One-III
066 Thursday, his birthday morning, dawned as
067 over, and Gandalf had not come.

22 Two-II
256 Never before had any man mounted
256 took him and I tamed him,

23 One-III
067 The next morning they were busy
071 found out any more about it.


You will find that some of this is Gandalf's report in The Council of Elrond, but rest assured that it happens simultaneously as Frodo begins his journey. Some excerpts are particularly small, and are included per my interpretation of Appendix B. Please be sure to point out any errors I may have made!

[Urambo Tauro]

Week Two:
Saturday, Halimath 24 through Friday, Halimath 30
(or September 25 through October 01)


24 One-III
071 The morning came, pale and clammy.
083 at once into a dreamless slumber.

25 One-IV/V
084 In the morning Frodo woke refreshed.
106 there was a noise of thunder.

26 One-VI/VII
107 Frodo woke suddenly. It was still
126 deep content, if logs are contented.

27 One-VII/VIII
126 They woke up, all four at
132 before him under a swift sunrise.

28 One-VIII
132 The vision melted into waking; and
137 bones, and he remembered no more.

28 Two-II
256 and so speedily he bore me
256 invaded the Shire from the south.

29 One-VIII/IX/X/XI
137 When he came to himself again,
173 of wind and of galloping hoofs.

29 Two-II
256 I came to Hobbiton and Frodo
256 Then I rode on in fear.

30 One-XI
173 The wind seemed to be curling
178 one fox and a few squirrels.

30 Two-II
256 I came to Buckland and found
257 along the Road in great wrath.


This was a tricky week to put together. There are a couple of Frodo's dreams that transition into his waking up. Also, you'll notice that Halimath 29(September 30) has about four chapters- that's no mistake! Frodo certainly has quite a long night in Bree.

[Urambo Tauro]

Week Three:
Saturday, Winterfilth 01 through Friday, Winterfilth 07
(or October 02 through October 08)


01 One-XI
178 The next day they began to
178 still all was quiet and peaceful.

01 Two-II
257 I galloped to Weathertop like a
257 galloped to Weathertop like a gale,

02 One-XI
178 On the third day out from
178 until the hobbits were nearly frantic.

02 Two-II
257 I galloped to Weathertop like a
257 galloped to Weathertop like a gale,

03 One-XI
178 The next day, the fourth, was
179 last he passed into uneasy sleep.

03 Two-II
257 I galloped to Weathertop like a
257 Weathertop since the war-beacons of old.

04 One-XI
179 They had not gone far on
180 grey light lay on the land.

04 Two-II
257 At sunrise I escaped and fled
258 made for the Ford, it seems.

05 One-XI
180 Next morning they set out again
180 were six days out from Bree

06 One-XI/XII
180 In the morning they found, for
193 The night passed slowly and wearily.

07 One-XII
193 Dawn was growing in the sky,
195 of it for a long time.

This week contains one of the reasons that inspired me to put all this together. Namely, Frodo seeing "flashing and fading light", which is really from Gandalf's struggle with the Riders. Strider mentions that the light is like "lightning that leaps up from the hill-tops." Up? This will happen later as the Morgul-host sets forth from Minas Morgul. It goes up- from the tower. Hmmm...
Small EDIT: Shadowfax departs from Gandalf sometime after Weathertop (Winterfilth 03). Add the following:

Two-II
258 for I could not ride among the
258 sent hiim back to his master;

[Lhunithiliel]

Good work, Urambo Tauro !
And a very interesting idea!

I don't have the time to check all these dates, so I hope you have checked and re-checked them all before posting. :cool:

I am a bit confused with your system of introducing all these facts and dates ... but that may just mean that I need another coffee. :D

[Urambo Tauro]

Have another cup of coffee! :D I'll try to make this a short post.

Appendix D in The Lord of the Rings contains a wealth of information on the calendars he used.

The Shire Calendar is the prominent one used in the text, and is slightly different from our own. The twelve months each have thirty days, and there are an additional five days that belong to no month, but exist as special holidays. These special holidays are: 2 Yule, 1 Lithe, Mid-year's Day, 2 Lithe, and 1 Yule.

Going through the information in Appendix D, I found that "2 Yule" in the Shire Calendar corresponds to our New Year's Day, or January 1st. This means that Afteryule 1st had to be January 2nd, and so on. Sometimes the dates fall in place. For example- Blotmath aligns perfectly with November, as Foreyule does with December. But each month in the Shire Calendar has only thirty days, so December 31st becomes "1 Yule".

Tolkien writes:
I have used our modern names for both months and weekdays, though of course neither the Eldar nor the Dúnedain nor the Hobbits actually did so. Translation of the Westron names seemed to be essential to avoid confusion...
Remember, Tolkien writes The Lord of the Rings as if it is translated from the "Red Book of Westmarch". Pretending to be an editor/translator rather than an author, he "takes the liberty" of changing the names for the reader's understanding. That way, we don't read "Afteryule" and get confused. Instead, we read "January" and think, "January, that's wintertime."

I suddenly realize that this post is getting long, so I'll end it here. Tolkien worked very hard at creating his calendars and there is much more information that has the potential to be very confusing. That's why I kept it fairly simple. I'll go ahead and post the full chart that I put together:
2 Yule = January 01

Afteryule 01 = January 02
Afteryule 30 = January 31
Solmath 01-28 = February 01-28
Solmath 29-30 = March 01-02
Rethe 01-29 = March 03-31
Rethe 30 = April 01
Astron 01-29 = April 02-30
Astron 30 = May 01
Thrimidge 01-30 = May 02-31
Forelithe 01-30 = June 01-30

1 Lithe = July 01

Mid-year's Day = July 02

2 Lithe = July 03

Afterlithe 01-28 = July 04-31
Afterlithe 29-30 = August 01-02
Wedmath 01-29 = August 03-31
Wedmath 30 = September 01
Halimath 01-29 = September 02-30
Halimath 30 = October 01
Winterfilth 01 = October 02
Winterfilth 30 = October 31
Blotmath 01-30 = November 01-30
Foreyule 01-30 = December 01-30

1 Yule = December 31

[Lhunithiliel]

It looks neat!

[Urambo Tauro]

Week Four:
Saturday, Winterfilth 08 through Friday, Winterfilth 14
(or October 09 through October 15)


08 One-XII
195 Four days passed, without the ground
195 some ambush in a narrow place?

09 One-XII
195 Four days passed, without the ground
195 some ambush in a narrow place?

09 One-XII
204 'Elrond received news that troubled him.
205 my lot to take the Road,

10 One-XII
195 Four days passed, without the ground
195 some ambush in a narrow place?

11 One-XII
195 Four days passed, without the ground
195 now turned their course again north-eastwards,

11 One-XII
205 'It was my lot to take
205 I have searched for your trail.

12 One-XII
195 Strider now turned their course again
195 the Last Bridge held against us.'

12 One-XII
205 Since then I have searched for
205 I have searched for your trail.

13 One-XII
195 Next day, early in the morning,
197 up out of the narrow dales.

13 One-XII
205 Since then I have searched for
205 I have searched for your trail.

14 One-XII
197 The hobbits grew very weary. They
197 up out of the narrow dales.

14 One-XII
205 Since then I have searched for
205 I have searched for your trail.


A simple statement like "four days passed" sure makes for some quick reading! You will notice that since Weathertop, we don't have more information on Gandalf's journey to Rivendell, but we do start tracking Glorfindel's search for the hobbits.

[Urambo Tauro]

Week Five:
Saturday, Winterfilth 15 through Friday, Winterfilth 21
(or October 16 through October 22)

15 One-XII
197 They had been two days in
197 not get any fire to burn.

15 One-XII
205 Since then I have searched for
205 I have searched for your trail.

16 One-XII
197 The next day the hills rose
197 that stood looking over the hedge.

16 One-XII
205 Since then I have searched for
205 and followed it over the Bridge;

17 One-XII
197 In the morning he woke to
199 all the hollows of the hills.

18 One-XII
205 and today I marked where you
205 you descended from the hills again.

18 One-XII
199 The morning dawned bright and fair;
206 the road-side, and fell asleep immediately.

18 Two-II
258 'I reached here at last by
258 brought here - which proved well indeed.

19 One-XII
206 They seemed hardly to have closed
207 world seemed less pale and empty.

20 One-XII
207 The hobbits were still weary, when
209 He heard and saw no more.

20 Two-I
217 The Riders made straight for you
218 my friends and enemies and all.

20 Two-I
215 The Elves brought you from the
215 blade still in the closed wound.

21 Two-I
215 We have been terribly anxious, and
215 blade still in the closed wound.

21 Two-I
224 'Because you were asleep. I have
224 your side with Sam each day.


As I put this week together, I found an addition to Gandalf's journey that belongs somewhere in week three. Gandalf recalls that Sadowfax departed, sometime after Weathertop (Winterfilth 03). I will add it (as a note) in the appropriate post.

[Urambo Tauro]

Week Six:
Saturday, Winterfilth 22 through Wednesday, Winterfilth 26
(or October 23 through October 27)

22 Two-I
215 We have been terribly anxious, and
215 blade still in the closed wound.

22 Two-I
224 'Because you were asleep. I have
224 your side with Sam each day.

23 Two-I
215 We have been terribly anxious, and
215 buried, and it was working inwards.'

23 Two-I
224 'Because you were asleep. I have
224 your side with Sam each day.

24 Two-I
213 Frodo woke and found himself lying
232 Elbereth in the garden. Sleep well!'

25 Two-II/III
233 Next day Frodo woke early, feeling
267 have any power over the present.

26 Two-III
265 Elrond is sending Elves, and they
266 maybe with Thranduil's folk in Mirkwood.

26 Two-III
267 For a while the hobbits continued
267 each evening followed cool and clear.


Yeah, this is a big one. Almost twenty pages one day, then over thirty pages the next! Feel free to skim over recollections (mostly from Gandalf) from the past few weeks. Besides, the story fades and doesn't pick up again for a couple of months.

[Urambo Tauro]

That "couple of months" is almost up! The story picks up again in mid- December(Foreyule). During that time, scouts will be returning from the wild. On December 18, Elrond will summon the Hobbits to him, and they will prepare to leave Rivendell. I'll post a more formal "schedule" in a couple of weeks or so. Once again, it will be in a weekly format. Stay tuned!

[Urambo Tauro]

Saturday, Foreyule 18 through Friday, Foreyule 24
(or December 18 through December 24)


18 Two-III
267 The sons of Elrond, Elladan and Elrohir,
269 seven days the Company must depart.'

? Two-III
269 The Sword of Elendil was forged
270 would take notes of Frodo's adventures.

The Silmarillion - Of Beren and Lúthien
190 Among the tales of sorrow and
191 known to the servants of Morgoth.

191 On a time of autumn he
192 were dismayed, and their arrows wild.

192 Thereafter for four years more Beren
192 of them came even into Doriath.

192 At length Morgoth set a price
193 a great doom lay upon him.

193 It is told in the Lay
194 a chain was upon his limbs.

194 There came a time near dawn
195 great, though the time was brief.

195 But Daeron the minstrel also loved
200 smiled and went from the halls.

200 On an evening of autumn Felagund
216 Tinúviel. And it was spring again.

216 Thereafter Beren was named Erchamion, which
221 a while unwithered on the grass.

221 Then a winter, as it were
222 the beloved, whom they have lost.


This is the week of preparation. I am not sure when exactly Narsil was re-forged, so I left it open to be read at any time during the week.
During this last week, the hobbits hear the full lay of Beren and Lúthien, so I have included a selection of break-points to divide the account in the Silmarillion. I have not assigned any of these sections to a particular day, so use your own judgement. The hobbits will have the tale fresh in their minds as they begin their journey, and Sam will refer to it later. I am using a paperback copy of the Silmarillion, ISBN 0-345-32581-8, so the page numbers may or may not match yours.

[Urambo Tauro]

Saturday, Foreyule 25 through Friday, 1 Yule
(or December 25 through December 31)


25 Two-III
270 On the morning of the last
274 eyes were keen was the rearguard.

Two-III
274 Their purpose was to hold this
275 fall, or down into treacherous swamps.


On the 25th they depart from Rivendell. Nothing really happens for about two weeks, so the second passage applies to just about every day inbetween. The two sections I put in this week overlap each-other a little, but not much. It makes for some very light reading... Happy holidays!

[Urambo Tauro]

Saturday, 2 Yule through Friday, Afteryule 06
(or January 01 through January 07)


Two-III
274 Their purpose was to hold this
275 fall, or down into treacherous swamps.


This short passage also applies to this entire week. Okay, so it's boring.... Don't worry, the real action begins next week!

[Urambo Tauro]

Saturday, Afteryule 07 through Friday, Afteryule 13
(or January 08 through January 14)


07 Two-III
274 Their purpose was to hold this
275 fall, or down into treacherous swamps.

08 Two-III
275 They had been a fortnight on
279 wind.' Nothing further happened that night.

09 Two-III
279 The next morning dawned even brighter
279 mountains towered up, nearer and nearer.

10 Two-III
279 For two more nights they marched
279 mountains towered up, nearer and nearer.

11 Two-III
279 On the third morning Caradhras rose
284 At last the snow stopped altogether.

12 Two-III/IV
284 As the light grew stronger it
291 singed the hair off my head!'

13 Two-IV
291 When the full light of the
306 nose, and the puff of smoke.


There are some parts which made putting this together a little confusing. In the text, Frodo imagines Bilbo saying something about "snowstorms on January the twelfth". This happens on our January the twelfth, which is Afteryule the eleventh, and is marked appropriately in this post.
Way in the back in Appendix B, it's a little different. Although it says January in "The Tale of Years", it should read "Afteryule", because the day numbers apply to the Shire calendar months, not our months.

Is this format working okay, this "13 Two-IV", etc. stuff? I tried to explain it in post #1, but I understand if it looks a little confusing. If so, please let me know, and I'll try to clarify it as best I can.

[Urambo Tauro]

Saturday, Afteryule 14 through Friday, Afteryule 20
(or January 15 through January 21)


14 Two-IV
306 It was Gandalf who roused them
310 pale points of light approaching, slowly.

15 Two-IV/V/VI
310 He woke and found that the
337 soon as it is fully light.'

16 Two-VI
337 Day came pale from the East.
340 eyes, and they could not climb.

17 Two-VI/VII
340 In the morning they went on
349 sound or dream disturbed their slumber.

18 Two-VII
349 When they woke they found that
350 tears and not yet for song.

19,20 Two-VII
349 They remained some days in Lothlórien,
350 tears and not yet for song.

15,16,17,18,19,20 Three-V
490 'Long time I fell,' he said
490 unbroken spiral in many thousand steps,

? Two-VII
350 It was Frodo who first put
351 of bringing the news to him.'


The Fellowship takes a nice long break here, but only for about a month this time. I can't be sure of when exactly Frodo creates his rhyme.

Gandalf's account from The White Rider only narrates the events, not the days. So, I don't know how long he fell, how long he was in the water, how long he was in the tunnels, or how long it took to climb the Stair. I just applied the passage to multiple days.

[Urambo Tauro]

Saturday, Afteryule 21 through Friday, Afteryule 27
(or January 22 through January 28)


21,22,23,24,25,26,27 Two-VII
349 They remained some days in Lothlórien,
350 tears and not yet for song.

21,22 Three-V
490 'Long time I fell,' he said
490 unbroken spiral in many thousand steps,

23 Three-V
490 'From the lowest dungeon to the
491 and steam. Ice fell like rain.

24 Three-V
490 'There upon Celebdil was a lonely
491 and steam. Ice fell like rain.

25 Three-V
490 'There upon Celebdil was a lonely
491 roads that I will not tell.


I hope the overlapping doesn't cause a problem. These are very short sections per day.
....It's break-time again! The story starts back up in about four weeks.

[Urambo Tauro]

Monday, Solmath 14 through Friday, Solmath 18
(or February 14 through February 18)


14 Two-VII/VIII
351 One evening Frodo and Sam were
360 nodding. The night was growing old.

14 Three-V
491 'Naked I was sent back - for a
491 slow everlasting groan of overburdened stone.

15 Two-VIII
360 In the morning, as they were
370 he fell into an uneasy sleep.

15 Three-V
491 And naked I lay upon the
491 slow everlasting groan of overburdened stone.

16 Two-IX
371 Frodo was roused by Sam. He
371 dull grey hours passed without event.

16 Three-V
491 And naked I lay upon the
491 slow everlasting groan of overburdened stone.

17 Two-IX
371 But he insisted that at least
371 dull grey hours passed without event.

17 Three-V
491 And naked I lay upon the
491 Counsel I gave and counsel took.

18 Two-IX
371 The dull grey hours passed without
372 that was the frontier of war.

18 Three-V
491 I tarried there in the ageless
491 Counsel I gave and counsel took.


I know I'm putting this week in at the last minute, but that's okay. This thread doesn't seem to be getting many views. :( But, I'll still finish it! :D
As a matter of fact, I'll post the next week ahead of time to make up for my lateness!

I had a hard time with this week as you can see in this thread (http://www.thetolkienforum.com/showthread.php?t=18385). I think I did actually look over a day in the text, which led me to think that Tolkien meant 15th when he wrote 14th. Upon further reading, I think that the typo is elsewhere....
In the Tale of Years, Tolkien writes that the 16th is the Farewell to Lórien, but I now think he meant the 15th.
The first few paragraphs of The Great River were confusing, and I ended up attributing the "third day" of their voyage to be on the 18th. Therefore, they leave on the 15th, the 16th is the first day, the 17 is the second day, etc.

I hope I got that right.

[Urambo Tauro]

Saturday, Solmath 19 through Friday, Solmath 25
(or February 19 through February 25)


19 Two-IX
372 In the next day or two,
375 so much as a shadow again.

20 Two-IX
375 After that the Company kept a
375 without event until the seventh day.

21 Two-IX
375 After that the Company kept a
375 without event until the seventh day.

22 Two-IX
375 After that the Company kept a
375 at it and puckered his brows.

23 Two-IX
375 The next day the country on
380 trees above them began to drip.

24 Two-IX
380 When the day came the mood
383 of rain an hour before dawn.

25 Two-IX/X
383 As soon as it was fully
386 Anduin. We must go warily tomorrow.'


....and they better "go warily tomorrow"! Because, the next day is The Breaking of the Fellowship.

The first few pages of The Great River are still a little vague, but I'm trying. I left Gandalf out of this week, since I don't have any info on when he leaves Lothlórien, or anything until he meets the Three Hunters.

[Urambo Tauro]

Saturday, Solmath 26 through Friday, Rethe 02
(or February 26 through March 04)


26 Two-X/Three-I/II
386 The day came like fire and
412 they sprang from stone to stone.

26 Three-III
434 Pippin lay in a dark and
440 seized and dragged for some distance.

26 Four-V
651 'Five days ere I set out
651 our borders had seen him pass.

26 Five-I
738 I heard it blowing dim upon
739 the northern marches thirteen days ago,

27 Three-II
412 Swiftly now the pursuers turned and
416 had swooned or fallen asleep again.

27 Three-II
426 But scouts warned me of the
427 éored, men of my own household;

27 Three-III
440 The warmth of the orc-draught had
440 fell, till black dreams took him.

28 Three-II
416 Dawn came glimmering, and slowly a
418 down and fen when day returns.'

28 Three-II
427 and we overtook the Orcs at
427 we put an end to them.

28 Three-III
440 But he did not long escape
448 blowing and swaying in the breeze.

28 Four-I
589 'Well, master, we're in a fix
590 were sheltered from the easterly wind.

29 Three-II
418 As before Legolas was first afoot,
419 vault above. So the night passed.

29 Three-III/IV
448 Out of the shadows the hobbits
467 the drops the hobbits fell asleep.

29 Four-I/II
590 'Did you see them again, Mr.
609 and sat down by his master.

29 Four-V
651 And on the third night after
651 down the River to the Sea.'

30 Three-II
419 Together they watched the dawn grow
433 and the horses did not return.

30 Three-IV
467 They woke to find a cool
472 of trees that he had loved.

30 Four-II
609 When he woke up the sky
611 spreading of the thin grey light.

01 Three-IV
472 The next day they spent also
473 under hurrying clouds and fitful stars.

01 Three-V/VI
477 'My very bones are chilled,' said
495 moon sank into the cloudy West.

01 Four-II
611 In a chill hour they came
617 to encourage him with clumsy words.

01
(Faramir leaves Minas Tirith on an errand to Ithilien.)

02 Three-IV
473 The third day broke, bleak and
476 'Night lies over Isengard,' said Treebeard.

02 Three-VI/VII
495 A bitter chill came into the
514 night passed without tidings or alarm.

02 Three-VII
515 We were driven back yesterday over
515 Helm's Deep. The rest are scattered.

02 Three-IX
551 'We came down over the last
554 in his old head long before.

02 Four-II
617 When day came at last the
617 their breath and parched their mouths.


Again, the week ends before a big event. The next day will begin the battle at Helm's Deep. Isengard is broken. But Frodo has only just cleared the Dead Marshes. See how different the film's timeline is?

I've included Faramir's discovery of Boromir's funeral-boat. At some point I may edit this post to include more information of the Battle of Fords of Isen from Unfinished Tales.

[Urambo Tauro]

Saturday, Rethe 03 through Friday, Rethe 09
(or March 05 through March 11)


03 Three-VII
514 At dawn the horns sounded, and
527 again the defenders cast them down.

03 Three-IX
554 Then they just faded silently away
557 flat saucepan, all steaming and bubbling.'

03 Four-II
617 The remainder of that journey was
617 their breath and parched their mouths.

04 Three-VII/VIII
527 At last Aragorn stood above the
540 again, as it had ever done.

04 Three-IX
557 By the morning, yesterday morning, the
558 gone to now, I don't know.

04 Four-II/III
617 At last, on the fifth morning
623 fire smouldered in the hill beneath.

05 Three-VIII/IX/X/XI
540 At dawn they made ready to
586 with a great noise of wind.

05 Four-III/IV
623 Day came, and the fallow sun
634 soon they struggled on once more,

05 Five-I
731 There had been the first ride
731 at terrible speed without a halt,

05 Five-II
756 Gandalf was gone, and the thudding
758 a brief while and take counsel.

06 Four-IV
634 until the dawn began to spread
636 too, and did not relish it.

06 Five-I
731 and then in the dawn he
731 again riding, riding in the night.

06 Five-II
758 Merry slept until he was roused
765 Company passed swiftly over the plain,

06 Five-III
774 He was very tired, for though
775 not know what it was about.

07 Four-IV/V/VI/VII
636 At the first signs of day
679 the business of the day began.

07 Five-II
765 and on the next day in
767 turned and vanished into the night.

07 Five-III
774 He was very tired, for though
775 not know what it was about.

08 Four-VII
679 After a while water was brought
681 the night, he did not say;

08 Five-I
731 Pippin looked out from the shelter
732 ere the coming of the day.

08 Five-II
767 When the light of day was
772 the Shadows that hedged them round.

08 Five-III
774 He was very tired, for though
775 not know what it was about.

09 Four-VII
681 but he returned with the first
683 for the slow growth of day.

09 Five-I
732 Pippin woke to the sound of
755 begun. There will be no dawn.'

09 Five-II
772 But when the dawn came, cold
773 of the King of the Dead.

09 Five-III
774 Now all roads were running together
783 asleep at last in his tent.

09 Five-IV
794 It began yestereve, and all Ithilien
794 garrison at the fords of Osgilliath.


The end of this week finds Frodo on his way to Cirith Ungol. Gandalf and Pippin have arrived at Minas Tirith. Aragorn has begun leading the Army of the Dead from the Stone of Erech. Théoden agrees to ride to Gondor's aid. Next week starts with the Dawnless Day.

[Urambo Tauro]

Saturday, Rethe 10 through Friday, Rethe 16
(or March 12 through March 18)


10 Four-VII/VIII
683 But no day came, only a
695 gnawed and carved the sunless stone.

10 Five-II
773 But the next day there came
773 sight; but the Dead followed them.

10 Five-III
783 He was wakened by a man
787 of Edoras, they camped that night.

10 Five-IV
788 Pippin was roused by Gandalf. Candles
797 can be so, sometimes. Good night!'

10 Five-IX
857 and then came the day without
857 and Ciril and Ringló we crossed;

11 Four-VIII
695 And now the red light in
699 Lay your head in my lap.'

11 Five-III
787 And then on again through the
787 and hope waned in every heart.

11 Five-IV
797 The next day came with a
799 could hold the fords for long.

11 Five-IX
857 and on the third day we
857 wastes in the blackness before us.

12 Four-VIII/IX/X
699 And so Gollum found them hours
714 heart, and he knew no more.

12 Five-III
787 And so King Théoden departed from
787 and hope waned in every heart.

12 Five-IV
799 The next day, though the darkness
799 upon the wall and gazed eastward.

12 Five-IX
857 And over the wide land, trampling
857 sea-birds innumerable cried on its shores.

13 Four-X
714 When at last the blackness passed,
725 alive but taken by the enemy.

13 Five-III
787 And so King Théoden departed from
787 and hope waned in every heart.

13 Five-IV
799 The bells of day had scarcely
803 not be guessed in the darkness,

13 Five-V
812 It was dark and Merry could
813 before it disappeared among the trees.

13 Five-IX
857 'for we came then at last
859 ships were made ready and manned;

14 Five-IV
803 but when morning, or its dim
811 and flames ran down the blade.

14 Five-V
813 Presently he came to an open
819 away to hide in the hills.

14 Five-IX
859 and in the morning the fleet
859 whitened the foam at our prows.

14 Six-I/II
877 Sam roused himself painfully from the
896 as soon as evr we can.'

15 Five-IV
811 Gandalf did not move. And in
811 blowing. Rohan had come at last.

15 Five-V
819 Then suddenly Merry felt it at
820 terrible came even to the City.

15 Five-VI
821 But it was no orc-chieftan or
831 fell the dew in Rammas Echor.

15 Five-VII/VIII
832 When the dark shadow at the
853 King had been but a dream.

15 Six-II
896 Day was coming again in the
901 himself into a deep untroubled sleep.

16 Five-IX
854 The morning came after the day
864 last battle is fought,' he said.

16 Six-II
901 They woke together, hand in hand
905 eastern edge of the stony valley.


By the end of this week, Minas Tirith is saved (for the time being), and the Last Debate has been held. Frodo and Sam have escaped from Cirith Ungol and are on their way to the Mountain.

The part that gave me the most trouble this week, is Théoden's jorney eastward. I do not know what beacons he passes on which day, so I included the same passage on the 11th, the 12th, and the 13th. But figuring out the 10th was very easy, as everyone notices the Dawnless Day.

[Urambo Tauro]

Saturday, Rethe 17 through Friday, Rethe 23
(or March 19 through March 25)


17 Six-II
905 When a grey light crept back
906 trudge with a few brief halts.

18 Five-X
865 Two days later the army of
866 draw the Eye of Mordor thither.

18 Six-II/III
906 At the first hint of grey
912 the ground a thin cold air.

19 Five-X
866 So the next day when the
867 in the noisome fields and departed.

19 Six-III
912 In the morning a grey light
914 the deadly fields of Imlad Morgul.

19 Six-V
937 Over the city of Gondor doubt
937 was passing in the brooding East.

20 Five-X
867 The day after, being the third
867 of evil grew heavier on them.

20 Six-III
914 So the desperate journey went on,
914 the last end of the world.

20 Six-V
937 When the captains were but two
940 garden, but she did not come.

21 Five-X
867 They went openly but heedfully, with
868 them could not be shaken off.

21 Six-III
914 So the desperate journey went on,
914 the last end of the world.

22 Six-V
940 But in the morning, as Faramir
940 prospered and grew daily in strength.

22 Five-X
868 And from that evening onward the
868 and the hopeless journey wore away.

22 Six-III
914 There came at last a dreadful
915 hateful night passed slowly and reluctantly.

22 Six-V
940 and they walked on the grass
940 prospered and grew daily in strength.

23 Five-X
868 Upon the fourth day from the
868 small parties from the main host.

23 Six-III
915 Such daylight as followed was dim;
918 away. The Mountain too slept uneasily.

23 Six-V
940 and they walked on the grass
940 prospered and grew daily in strength.


Almost there! The Host of the West has passed Ithilen, on their way to the Morannon. Frodo and Sam are very close to the Mountain, and the patients in the Houses of Healing are regaining their strength.

[Urambo Tauro]

Saturday, Rethe 24 through Sunday, Rethe 25
(or March 26 through March 27)


24 Five-X
868 They advanced now slowly, expecting at
869 mists of Mordor. It grew cold.

24 Six-III
918 The last stage of their journey
919 and body. Then sleep took him,

24 Six-V
940 and they walked on the grass
940 prospered and grew daily in strength.

25 Five-X
869 As morning came the wind began
874 and his eyes saw no more.

25 Six-III/IV
919 and the dim light of the
930 out of the darkness and the fire.

25 Six-V
940 And so the fifth day came
942 all the ways of the City.

[Urambo Tauro]

...and that's it.

The events after today (today being the destruction of the Ring, the 25th in the Shire calendar) are spaced out quite a bit, and not really worth putting into this kind of "reading-plan".

I hope this has been eye-opening, or at least a little interesting. There is a definite contrast between the flow of time presented in the film. For example, it took a week for the Host of the West to reach the Black Gate from Minas Tirith.

Questions? Comments?
This thread feels like a one-sided phone call....

[YayGollum]

I enjoyed it and thank you muchly for it. Very cool. Now, do all of the other Tolkien writings. :rolleyes: Also, it inspired me for the grand idea of creating my own thread, which will be called Read It Again - YayGollum Logically! As soon as I get through this one series that I am in, at the moment. Nobody should steal my idea, though. It might show a few people the correct way to interpret certain plot points. :rolleyes:

[Urambo Tauro]

Well, I better take the "advertisement" for this thread out of my signature. Maybe I'll bring it back come September. I admit I didn't read every part on it's appropriate day, but it does put the general idea of the passage of time into perspective. (Some days, instead of reading, I just watched that scene(s) of the film - much faster!)

Is there any interest in the Battle of Fords of Isen from Unfinished Tales? (week of Solmath 26 - Rethe 02) It's a bit long-winded, but if anyone's interested, I'll put it together and include it in the appropriate post.

...."Read It Again - YayGollum Logically"...? :eek: :confused: :p ;)

[YayGollum]

Well, yes, there is interest in you doing the same thing for that story. It was included in one of my earlier comments. This sort of thing is cool, at least in my opinion. Also, a Read It Again - YayGollum Logically! thread would be great. Very educational for some of the more closed-minded or literal types. *hides* :rolleyes:

[Starbrow]

Thanks for putting this list together. It's a cool idea.

[Ermundo]

A very original idea. I couldn't think of it my self

Morgoththe1

[Urambo Tauro]

It's almost that time, if anyone's interested.... September 19th, officially.

I don't think I'll be reading it through this year, but I'll keep an eye on this thread if anyone has questions. Please let me know of another format that might be easier to understand. I tried to be somewhat organized, and I know that not all page numbers will work. The best I can come up with right now is the first six and last six words of each passage to read. I'm trying to keep it simple - honest! (Help!)

I'll also add the account of the Battle of the Fords of Isen from Unfinished Tales at some point. (....but I've till February to have that ready! ;) Don't worry, I'll get around to it.)

[Firawyn]

My god, this is impressive. I dare say I'd like to try it this way, though I'll have to wait a few years till my time isn't quite so taken...and Tolkien will of course always be there!:cool:

[Urambo Tauro]

Well, I must say I haven't kept up with the reading this year around (I wonder if Christopher Lee still does this?), but....
I discovered something!

Tolkien tells us that Frodo begins his journey on his birthday: Thursday, Halimath 22, 3018 TA.
(Halimath 22 is our September 23.)
The next time this date falls on a Thursday is in 2010!
So, it looks like the next ideal "reading season" is September 2010 through March 2011.
I'm looking forward to it! :D

BTW, after the 2010/2011 season, this won't line up again until 2021/2022 (the next time September 23 falls on a Thursday.)
Reference chart:

Halimath 01-29 = September 02-30
Halimath 30 = October 01 (Friday)
Winterfilth 01 = October 02 (Saturday)
Winterfilth 30 = October 31 (Sunday)
Blotmath 01-30 = November 01-30
Foreyule 01-30 = December 01-30

1 Yule = December 31 (Friday)

2 Yule = January 01 (Saturday)

Afteryule 01 = January 02 (Sunday)
Afteryule 30 = January 31 (Monday)
Solmath 01-28 = February 01-28
Solmath 29-30 = March 01-02
Rethe 01-29 = March 03-31