'The Lord of the Rings' - Théoden King, Book and Film Comparison Part II: 'The Return of the King'
Back with the second part of my book and film comparison of Théoden King in ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King’.
After the Battle at Helm’s Deep, the company go to Isengard where the Ents are ‘keeping an eye’ on Saruman, and my comparisons begin after that scene…
Book:
Théoden invites Merry to sit with him when they’re back at the Hornburg after going to Isengard. He also wants the hobbit to ride with him when they return to Edoras by way of Dunharrow.
Merry draws his sword… ‘Filled suddenly with love for this old man, he knelt on one knee, and took his hand and kissed it. “May I lay the sword of Meriadoc of the Shire on your lap, Théoden King?” he cried. “Receive my service, if you will!”’
The king gladly takes it and blesses Merry by laying his hand on his hair. ‘“Rise now, Meriadoc, esquire of Rohan of the household of Meduseld!” he said…
“As a father you shall be to me,” said Merry.’
As they near Dunharrow, Éomer would rather Théoden stay in Edoras after the ‘gathering of the Mark’… ‘“until the war is over, lost or won.”’
Refusing, Théoden says, ‘“… never will I lean on a staff again. If the war is lost, what good will be my hiding in the hills?”’
At Dunharrow, where Éowyn meets them, she tells them Aragorn, along with Legolas and Gimli, and the Dúnedain who had joined Aragorn after Helm’s Deep, have already left for the Paths of the Dead.
Later that evening, an errand-rider of Gondor arrives and hands a red arrow to Théoden, ‘… black-feathered and barbed with steel, but the point was painted red.’
Red Arrow of Gondor (LotR Wki)
He relays his message, ‘“Gondor is in great need. Often the Rohirrim have aided us, but now the Lord Denethor asks for all your strength and all your speed, lest Gondor fall at last.”’
Holding the arrow, Théoden says, ‘“The Red Arrow has not been seen in the Mark in all my years! Has it indeed come to that?”’
Although he hoped to have ‘“… ten thousand spears… It will be less now… Yet six thousands at the least shall ride behind me…”’, Théoden tells the rider, ‘“Say to Denethor that in this hour the King of the Mark himself will come down to the land of Gondor, though maybe he will not ride back…”’
Yet, it will most likely be at least a week before they reach Gondor, and the rider believes they will only find ruins and ‘“… the Orcs and Swarthy Men… feasting in the White Tower.”’
With the unexpected help of the Wild Men of the Woods, who despise the Orcs with a passion, the Rohirrim are taken via faster, safer paths to Gondor, without being detected by the enemy.
Film:
When the company leave Isengard, they return to Edoras, and it is there that Pippin looks into the palantír.
After Gandalf saves Pippin and questions him, Gandalf tells Aragorn, Théoden, and the others that “Sauron moves to strike the city of Minas Tirith… he knows the heir of Elendil has come forth. Men are not as weak as he supposed…”
Gandalf tells Théoden, “Rohan must be ready for war.”
To which Théoden replies, “… why should we ride to the aid of those who did not come to ours? What do we owe Gondor?”
Théoden (Bernard Hill) questioning why Rohan should ride to the aid of Gondor
Again, film-Théoden does a disservice to the character.
By asking that question, he’s dishonouring the Oath of Eorl the Young, which represents the eternal bond of friendship between Rohan and Gondor.
But, when the beacons are lit and Aragorn tells Théoden, “Gondor calls for aid”, he replies, “And Rohan will answer.”
It’s as if, at that moment, he remembers who he truly is.
Before they leave Edoras, Merry offers Théoden his sword and his service, and the king gladly accepts it.
At Dunharrow, its only after Elrond delivers the reforged sword, Anduril, to Aragorn that he, along with Legolas and Gimli, leave for the Paths of the Dead.
When the Rohirrim see Aragorn leave, they believe their situation is hopeless, that they cannot defeat the armies of Mordor.
Théoden agrees, they can’t defeat them but they “will meet them in battle nonetheless.”
There is a lovely, poignant scene with Éowyn when Théoden tells her to rule in his stead, and defend Edoras if the battle goes ill… “I would have you smile again, not grieve for those whose time has come. You shall live to see these days renewed and no more despair.”
Théoden (Bernard Hill) and Éowyn (Miranda Otto)
The Rohirrim, numbering six thousand, leave the next day to battle, “… a three-day gallop to Minas Tirith.”
Book:
As Théoden and the Rohirrim approach Minas Tirith, those who had ridden out report back that ‘“The City is all set about with flame, and the field is full of foes.”’
Théoden tells his men, ‘“Now is the hour come, Riders of the Mark… Foes and fire are before you, and your homes far behind… Oaths ye have taken: now fulfil them all, to lord and land and league of friendship!”’
As the host of Rohan moves silently onto the field of Gondor, Théoden gives no signal. He ‘… sat upon Snowmane, motionless, gazing upon the agony of Minas Tirith, as if stricken suddenly by anguish, or by dread. He seemed to shrink down, cowed by age… Perhaps Théoden would quail, bow his head, turn, slink away to hide in the hills.’
Then they feel a change, wind in their faces, and far away, morning can be seen beyond the distant clouds.
‘… the bent shape of the king sprang suddenly erect. Tall and proud he seemed again; and rising in his stirrups he cried…
“Arise, arise, Riders of Théoden!
Feel deeds awake: fire and slaughter!
spear shall be shaken, shield be splintered,
a sword-day, a red day, ere the sun rises!
Ride now, ride now! Ride to Gondor!”
… the king cried to Snowmane and the horse sprang away… After him thundered the knights of his house, but he was ever before them… Fey he seemed… and he was borne up on Snowmane like a god of old, even as Oromé the Great in the battle of the Valar when the world was young… For morning came, morning and a wind from the sea; and the darkness was removed, and the hosts of Mordor wailed, and terror took them, and they fled, and died, and the hoofs of wrath rode over them…’
Théoden cuts down the chieftain of the Southrons…
Then ‘dark fell about him’ and Théoden cries, ‘“To me! To me! Fear no darkness!”’
But Snowmane, overcome with terror, rears up then falls, ‘a black dart had pierced him. The king fell beneath him.’
A winged creature descends and riding it is the Lord of the Nazgûl.
But Théoden is not alone, for, unknown to him, both Éowyn and Merry are there to defend him, even though the hobbit is paralyzed with fear.
Éowyn decapitates the winged beast and faces the Black Rider, who is stabbed from behind by Merry.
She deals the killing blow after which she falls unconscious.
It is Merry who goes to the fallen king’s side, believing him dead, and kisses his hand.
‘Théoden opened his eyes, and they were clear, and he spoke in a quiet voice… “Farewell… My body is broken. I go to my fathers. And even in their mighty company I shall not now be ashamed…”’
He asks for Éomer and wants to send word to Éowyn ‘“… dearer than daughter…”’
He manages to hang on until Éomer comes to his side, and indicates that his banner be given to his nephew…
‘“Hail, King of the Mark!” he said. “Ride now to victory! Bid Éowyn farewell!” And so he died, and knew not that Éowyn lay near him.’
Film:
When the Rohirrim arrive at the Pelennor Fields and Théoden sees what they’re up against, there’ s a moment of despair in his expression.
The Rohirrim arrive at the Pelennor Fields
Then he turns to his men, gives orders and cries, “Arise, arise, Riders of Théoden! Spears shall be shaken, shields shall be splintered, a sword-day, a red day, ere the sun rises!”
Théoden (Bernard Hill) before the Rohirrim ride to battle
As his men present their spears, Théoden rides past them, holding his sword aloft and striking their spears, shouting, “Ride now! Ride! Ride for ruin and the world’s ending! Death!”
And the Rohirrim take up the chant of, “Death!”
At the call of “Forth Eorlingas!” they start at a walk and gradually build up to a charge, sweeping over the panicking enemy.
Fierce fighters, led by their king, the Rohirrim appear to be winning until the Haradrim enter the field on their Mûmakil.
Théoden (Bernard Hill) in the midst of battle
With the odds stacked against them, still Théoden orders the Rohirrim to re-form the line and charge the giant beasts.
As the fighting continues, the Witch-king swoops down on his screeching fellbeast.
Théoden turns to see it coming straight at him and all hope leaves him.
The Witch-king on his fellbeast flies towards Théoden
The fellbeast grabs Snowmane and flings the horse down, trapping Théoden under it.
Éowyn rushes to defend Théoden, and with Merry’s help, kills the Witch-king.
She drags herself to Théoden’s side…
He manages a smile. “I know your face. Éowyn. My eyes darken.”
But she won’t let him go, saying she’s going to save him, and he tells her she already has.
“My body is broken,” he says, “you have to let me go. I go to my fathers in whose mighty company I shall not now feel ashamed.”
He says her name one more time and dies, and she weeps over his body.
Éowyn (Miranda Otto) weeps over Théoden’s body
Book:
Théoden’s men carry his body to Minas Tirith where he is laid in the Hallows or the Houses of the Dead until Sauron’s defeat, and Aragorn is crowned King.
After ‘the days of rejoicing are over…’, Éomer and his men come from Rohan to take their king home.
King Théoden is borne on ‘a golden bier, and passed through the City in silence. Then they laid the bier upon a great wain with Riders of Rohan all about it and his banner borne before; and Merry being Théoden’s esquire rode upon the wain…’
In the company rode Aragorn and Queen Arwen with Frodo and Samwise, Gandalf, Pippin ‘with the knights of Gondor’, and Legolas and Gimli, Celeborn and Galadriel, Elrond and his sons, ‘… and many captains and knights. Never had any king of the Mark such company upon the road as went with Théoden Thengel’s son to the land of his home.’
As I said last week, I prefer book-Théoden, who is full of honour and, even in moments of doubt, never backs down once he’s been released from Wormtongue’s malign influence.
But I also like the layers that Bernard Hill brings to his portrayal of film-Théoden.
While I mind that film-Théoden is sometimes shown as less-than-honourable, the overall character is still very likable, someone his men will clearly follow to whatever end.
I’ll end with a song ‘that Gléowine [Théoden’s] minstrel made, and he made no other song after.’
‘Out of doubt, out of dark, to the day’s rising
he rode singing in the sun, sword unsheathing.
Hope he rekindled, and in hope ended;
over death, over dread, over doom lifted
out of loss, out of life, unto long glory.’
