I Have a Little Shadow
Story Type: Poetry : Length: N/A (Non-Fiction or Poetry)
Rating: General -- Reason for Rating: N/A
Summary: June 30, 2003. Elijah Wood, as Frodo Baggins, completes the Red Book, thereby finishing his work in "The Lord of the Rings". After four incredible years, what might have been his thoughts as the final scene was shot?
(note: this poem is a companion piece to Mechtild's screen-caps for "Frodo Finishes the Red Book", an entry meant specifically to illuminate Wood's last take for LOTR)
Reviewed by: Mechtild -- Score: 10
If it were not for the behind-the-scenes extras that came with the extended edition DVD 's of the LOTR films, I would not have given much consideration to the thoughts and feelings of the people who played the characters I already loved so well. That would include the actor who played my favourite character, Elijah Wood. But watching those extras brought me into their experiences in a way that truly engaged me. This poem brings me into their experience even more, at least as it pertains to the actor for Frodo, even though it is only speculation -- if well-founded speculation. When I sit and read this piece, more than ever am I aware of the length of time -- years! -- over which Frodo was portrayed by the actor. It occurred to me that even actors in long-running hit Broadway plays seldom play a role for this amount of time. How could this experience, playing such a role, in such a hit, and for so long, and especially at the time of life the young actor played it, not leave an indelible mark? Beyond that, it is not just the content of the poem that engages, it's the telling. Perhaps my favourite touch is the way the author, in describing the writing of Frodo's name in the Red Book for the last time, lets the mere look of the letters, even their accent marks, be acute if subtle agents for the revelation of character.
Reviewed by: Larner -- Score: 7
We often speculate on the thoughts of those we read about in Tolkien’s works—of course, where would fanfiction without those speculations, after all? But in this Jan-u-wine speculates on the actual thoughts of Elijah Woods as he completed his last scene from the movies, inspired by the footage shot and Woods’s own comments on how he might come to be always identified with this as perhaps his most remembered role. How poignant these lines are, and how most likely true! A perfect image of the actor grieving perhaps that he is now divorced from the role, wishing he might always truly be what he has portrayed over the past two years or better! The writer’s writing is always evocative, and how perfectly it captures my own feelings as I consider how my own relationship with Frodo Baggins has evolved since I began writing fanfiction. Definitely a poem I recommend!
Reviewed by: Antane -- Score: 2
Sweet poem of how Elijah viewed being Frodo. Bravo both of you, poetess and the one who became Frodo for this age.