Fellowship of the ring

He walked forward to the wall. Right between the shadow of the trees there was a smooth space, and over this he passed his hands to and fro, muttering words under his breath. Then he stepped back.

"Look!" he said. "Can you see anything now?"

The Moon now shone upon the grey face of the rock;but they could see nothing else for a while. Then slowly on the surface - where the wizard's hands had passed, faint lines appeared, like slender veins of silver running in the stone. At first they were no more than pale gossamer-threads, so fine that they only twinkled fitfully where the Moon caught them, but steadily they grew broader and clearer, until their design could be guessed.

At the top, as high as Gandalf could reach, was an arch of interlacing letters in an Elvish character. Below, though the threads were in places blurred or broken, the outline could be seen of an anvil and a hammer surmounted by a crown with seven stars. Beneath these again were two trees, each bearing crescent moons. More clearly than all else there shone forth in the middle of the door a single star with many rays.

"What does the writing say?" asked Frodo, who was trying to decipher the inscription on the arch. "I thought I knew the elf-letters, but I cannot read these."

"The words are in the elven-tongue of the West of Middle-Earth in the Elder Days," answered Gandalf. "But they do not say anything of importance to us. They say only: The Doors of Durin, Lord of Moria, Speak friend, and enter. And underneath small and faint is written: I, Narvi, made them, Celembribor of Hollin drew these signs."

"What does it mean by speak, friend, and enter?"asked Merry. "That is plain enough," said Gimli. "If you are a friend, speak the password. and the doors will open, and you can enter. " "Yes," said Gandalf. "These doors are probably governed by words. Some dwarf-gates will open only at special times, or for particular persons; and some have locks and keys that are still needed when all necessary times and words are known. These doors have no key. In the days of Durin they were not secret. They usually stood open and doorwards sat here. But if they were shut, any who know the opening word could speak it and pass in. At least so it is recorded, is it not, Gimli?"

"It is," said the dwarf. "But what the word was is not remembered. Narvi and his craft and all his kindred have vanished from the earth."

"But do not you know the word. Gandalf?" asked Boromir in surprise.

"No!" said the wizard.

The others looked dismayed; only Aragorn, who knew Gandalf well, remained silent and unmoved. "Then what was the use of bringing us to this accursed spot?" cried Boromir, glancing back with a shudder at the dark water. "You told us that you had once passed through the Mines. How could that be, if you did not know how to enter?"

"The answer to your first question, Boromir," said the wizard, "is that I do not know the word - yet. But we shall soon see. And," he added, with a glint in his eyes un­der their bristling brows, "you may ask what is the use of my deeds when they are proved useless. As for your other question: do you doubt my tale? Or have you no wits left? I did not enter this way. I came from the East."

"If you wish to know, I will tell you that these doors open outwards. From the inside you may thrust them open with your hands. From the outside nothing will move them save the spell of command. They cannot be forced inwards. "

"What are you going to do then?" asked Pippin, undaunted by the wizard's bristling brows.

"Knock on the doors with your head, Peregrin Took," said Gandalf. "But if that does not shatter them, and I am allowed a little peace from foolish questions, I will seek for the opening words."

"I once knew every spell in all the tongues of Elves or Men or Ores, that was ever used for such a purpose. I can still remember ten score of them without 5earching in my mind. But only a few trials, I think, will be needed; I'd 1 shall not have to call on Gimli for words of the secret dwarf-tongue that they teach to none. The opening words were Elvish, like the writing on the arch: that seems certain."

He stepped up to the rock again, and lightly touched with his staff the silver star in the middle beneath the sign of the anvil,

Annon edhellen, edro hi ammen!

Fennas nogothrim, Lasto beth Lommen!

he said in a commanding voice. The silver lines faded, but the blank grey stone did not stir.

Many times he repeated these words in different order, or varied them. Then he tried other spells, one after another, speaking now faster and louder, now soft and slow. The cliff towered into the night, the countless stars were kindled, the wind blew cold, and the doors stood fast.

Again Gandall approached the wall, and lifting up his arms he' spoke in tones of command and rising wrath. Edro, eoro! he cried, and struck the rock with his staff. Open, open! he shouted, and followed it with the same command in every language that had ever been spoken in the West of Middle-Earth. Then he threw his staff to the ground, and sat down in silence.

At that moment from far off the wind bore to their listening ears the howling of wolves. Bill the pony started in fear, and Sam sprang to his side and whispered softly to him.

"Do not let him run away!" said Boromir. "It seems that we shall need him still, if the wolves do not find us. How I hate this foul pool!" He stooped and picking op a large stone he cast it far into the dark water.

The stone vanished with a soft slap; but at the same instant there was a swish and a bubble. Great rippling rings formed on the surface out beyond where the stone had fallen, and they moved slowly towards the foot of the cliff.

"Why did you do that, Boromir?" said Frocto.

"I hate this place, too, and I am afraid. 1 don't know of what: not of wolves, or the dark behind the doors, but of something else, I am afraid of the pool. Don't disturb it!"

"I wish we could get away!" said Merry.

"Why doesn't Gandalf do something quick?" said Pippin. . Gandalf took no notice of them. He sat with his head bowed, either in despair or in anxious thought. The mournful howling of the wolves was heard again. The ripples on the water grew and came closer; some were already lapping on the shore.

With a suddenness that startled them all the wizard sprang to his feet. He was laughing! "I have it!" he cried. "Of course, of course! Absurdly simple, like most riddles when you see the answer."

Picking up his staff he stood before the rock and said in a clear voice: Mellon!

The star shone out briefly and faded again. Then silently a great doorway was outlined, though not a crack or joint had been visible before. Slowly it divided in the middle and swung outwards inch by inch, until both doors lay back against the wall. Through the opening a shadowy stir could be seen climbing steeply up; but beyond the lower steps the darkness was deeper than the night. The Company stared in wonder.

"I was wrong after all," said Gandalf, "and Gimli too. Merry, of all people, was on the right track. The opening word was inscribed on the archway all the time! The translation would have been: Say "Friend" and enter. I had only to speak the Elvish word for friend and the doors opened. Quite simple. Too simple for a learned loremaster in those $uspicious days. Those were happier times. Now let us go!"

Questions and tasks

1. Comment on the basic unit of the plot - two interpretation of an inscription in the elven language.

2. Pick out rare words and archaisms in the text, give their synonyms or interpretation.

3. What stylistic function do phrases in the elven language perform, in your opinion,? Is it only an ornamental meaningless succession of sounds, or certain words can be singled out?

4. What elements of the text reveal the intensity of expectation and the difficulty of the task which Gandalf faces? (Pay attention, in particular, to the contents of dialogues and the description of the lake.)

5. What is the general mood of the episode?

6. The belief in the magic of words characterizes the early period of the development of mankind. Why do motives of literary texts revealing the magic force of words, still attract attention ?

4-5.Типологические особенности драмы (на примере произведений Б.Шоу "Дом,где разбиваются сердца" и "Пигмалион").Б.Шоу как продолжатель традиций А.П.Чехова.

6-7.Сказовый стиль повествования и его особенности. Национальная специфика сказок "nonsense tales"(на примере сказок Л.Кэролла"Алиса в стране чудес" и Р.Киплинга "Вот так сказки")