Stories of Arda Home Page
About Us News Resources Login Become a member Help Search
swiss replica watches replica watches uk Replica Rolex DateJust Watches

Dreamflower's Mathoms I  by Dreamflower 9 Review(s)
Queen GaladrielReviewed Chapter: 32 on 4/23/2006
Ah, clever Bilbo! I wish I could learn under him; it's not often you find such a compassionate teacher.
God bless,
Galadriel

Author Reply: I think Bilbo was a natural teacher, and one of the things that he must have missed a good deal after his Adventure.

Fortunately hobbits are a lot more sensible than Men about education, and would know that a fine spring day should not be wasted!

PIppinfan1988Reviewed Chapter: 32 on 3/1/2006
This was brilliant! Brought back some nice memories from my elementary school days at recess. "Red rover, red rover, let Dreamflower come over!" Like Pippin, I was a bit of a pipsqueak, so I often became line-fodder for the opposite team, lol. I really enjoyed this--love those warm, spring days, too!

Pippinfan

Author Reply: Thank you! I'm so glad you recognized the game. It seems as though it would be a hobbity sort of game, doesn't it?

And thanks for reviewing it; Bilbo and Drogo don't get a lot of attention.

GryffinjackReviewed Chapter: 32 on 10/11/2005
What a delightful story! That seems very much like Bilbo, full of fun and understanding, especially for his young charges. I can hardly blame Drogo for wanting to be out there with the other lads playing. I'm glad there is a history of the Bagginses feeling that the working class hobbits are there equals. Very enjoyable story.

Author Reply: I like to think that even though it needed an adventure to bring out the Tookishness in him, that it was always under the surfacee making him understanding of certain things.

In rural settings like the Shire, playtime between children of different classes would not be too unusual--it's the continuation of that early comraderie into adulthood that would be. And with the exception of certain types of hobbits (the S.-B.s come to mind) most of the objection comes from below.

I'm so glad you enjoyed it. Stories about the older generations really appeal to me.

Hai TookReviewed Chapter: 32 on 4/21/2005
I always wonder at the relationship between Drogo and Bilbo, and this seems to be a very nice way they might have become so close. I like that we see a bit of Bilbo's wandering side here at the end with him leaving, remembering his jacket and pocket handkerchief as well. Shows just how precise he normally is on that point ;)

Author Reply: I have this theory about education in the Shire. In families where the parents can read and write, they teach the oldest child, who then teaches his or her brothers and sisters. But it in some of the great families such as Bagginses, Tooks and Brandybucks there is an uncle or a cousin who takes the children on as they grow older, and continues their education at a more advanced level, rather like a tutor, except it is always kept in the family. My idea is that up until he went on his Adventure, Bilbo filled that function for most of the Bagginses; afterward, he had lost his respectability, and so was no longer sought out for that.

But my idea is that Drogo was one of his pupils, and a favorite with him at that. It would explain why they were so close that Bilbo would adopt Frodo.

LarnerReviewed Chapter: 32 on 3/30/2005
Also quite cute.

Author Reply: Thanks. I'm edging my way around some fic involving Frodo's parents in their youths.

SaoirseReviewed Chapter: 32 on 3/28/2005
What a wonderful (thoughtful) teacher Bilbo is! And I'm sure a very fair and understanding one at that. I know how poor Drodo feels wanting to go outside in the sunshine, I'm glad Bilbo let him in the end.

It is fascinating to think that Bilbo had watched a generation grow up and then start a new one in which he was also a loved and active part as well.

Author Reply: I have this theory about education in the Shire, that it is handled in the family. Among the middle and lower classes, literate parents would teach their children to read, write and cipher if they could. Older brothers and sisters would take on the task for the youngest. This would also work the same among the gentry, but as the children grew older, there might be an older uncle or cousin more learned and scholarly, who would handle any "higher" education a child of the family needed. My idea was this was Bilbo's role for the Bagginses until he lost his reputation by having his Adventure. He certainly seemed to have no problem teaching and tutoring Frodo. So it seemed a logical leap that he might have also taught Frodo's father.

I do enjoy speculating on the role Bilbo might have played in the lives of the parents of the hobbits we get to know.

BodkinReviewed Chapter: 32 on 3/28/2005
What a sensible hobbit. It's good to see young Drogo - and Primula. A whole family portrait.

Author Reply: I think I've decided recently to do a little exploring in the older branches of the family tree.

ViresseReviewed Chapter: 32 on 3/26/2005
I think this is the first "young Drogo" story I've seen. Interesting to think of Bilbo teaching Frodo's father, emphasizes how the ring had kept him young for so long.

And a big thank you for the Chronology. I've been trying to keep track based story clues and the summaries giving ages of our Hobbits. But some I did have trouble fitting in properly. I did most of them in the correct order.


Author Reply: I've long been fascinated by the idea that Bilbo had seen the previous generation grow up as well. Frodo, Merry, Pippin and Sam grew up listening to the same stories told to their fathers, mothers, aunts and uncles, by the same beloved person. By the time Bilbo left, he had outlived the majority of his contemporaries already, and to those who were left behind it must have seemed like losing a well-loved *fixture*--perhaps the way many of us who grew up with them felt on the passing of icons such as Capt. Kangaroo or Mr. Rogers.

I'm so glad to hear the Chronology was actually useful! I'd been toying with the idea for a while, but I wasn't sure anyone would really be interested. Thanks for the feedback on that as well!

Grey WondererReviewed Chapter: 32 on 3/26/2005
I think that Bilbo would have been a very understanding teacher. I love his assignment for Drogo and I liked the mention of Bilbo's handkerchief.

Author Reply: I think he would have been a very good teacher. We know he taught Frodo, and I believe that it would not have been his first experience teaching his younger cousins.
Everybody seems to like Bilbo and handkerchiefs, LOL!

Return to Chapter List