How Peter Jackson Subtly Showed the Passage of Time in LOTR Fans Completely Missed

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The narrative of J.R.R. Tolkien’s ‘The Lord of the Rings‘ spans a considerable duration. Approximately six months elapsed between Frodo Baggins’ departure from the Shire and the destruction of the One Ring in Mount Doom’s flames, following which he spent several years back in the Shire before deciding to embark on a voyage to the Undying Lands. It is worth noting that in the novel version, Frodo’s journey didn’t commence until 17 years after Bilbo’s 111th birthday celebration. In the book, Tolkien skillfully conveyed the passage of time through his narrative. For example, in ‘The Fellowship of the Ring’, he wrote in the chapter titled “The Shadow of the Past”, “At this very moment, Gandalf had returned after his prolonged absence.” Furthermore, he provided a timeline at the end of the book for readers to follow if they lost track of Frodo’s itinerary.

Instead of a straightforward portrayal, it proved challenging for Peter Jackson’s trilogy of film adaptations to depict the passage of time. Avoiding cluttered text or forced dialogue about the journey’s duration, he sought a visual method that was understated yet impactful. He accomplished this by employing different seasons as a means to suggest the progression of time. In the first installment, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, the set design and cinematography collaborated to present Middle-earth’s landscapes transitioning through the seasons. Apart from its practical advantages, the shifting seasons served thematic and aesthetic purposes, making each installment stand out visually and tonally from one another.

The Beginning of Frodo Baggins’ Adventure Was Peaceful

The adventure known as “The Fellowship of the Ring” commenced within the peaceful realm of the Shire. Since Bilbo’s birthday was on September 22, it marked the beginning of autumn, but the Shire retained an appearance reminiscent of summer – a clear sky, lush hills, and an abundance of crops and flowers flourishing. The Shire was vibrant yet not ostentatious; the hobbits donned pants that stopped at their shins and rolled up their sleeves, suggesting warmth, but Gandalf wore a thick cloak, hinting at a moderate temperature. The summer-like atmosphere lent to the tranquil, carefree ambiance of the Shire where the hobbits didn’t have to fret over the weather or stockpile food for winter. Instead, they could unwind and enjoy themselves. This was consistent with Tolkien’s portrayal in the novel, as he described the Shire’s climate as being relatively constant throughout the year. Therefore, it wasn’t surprising that September still felt like summer to the hobbits, but just as summers don’t last forever, Frodo could not spend all of “The Fellowship of the Ring” in his beloved homeland.

By the time Frodo arrived at the Elven sanctuary of Rivendell, it was deep into October, and unlike the Shire, Rivendell bore an autumnal aspect. Although some green leaves still clung to the trees, most had transformed into hues of yellow or orange, and they would continuously fall to the ground as the Council of Elrond convened. Rivendell’s autumnal ambiance aligned with the narrative timeline of “The Fellowship of the Ring,” but it also held a profound symbolic meaning. During the Third Age, when both “The Hobbit” and “The Lord of the Rings” unfolded, Elven realms such as Rivendell and Lothlórien were in decline. They would have ceased to exist earlier if not for the Rings of Power worn by Elrond and Galadriel. Although Elves were immortal, they grew weaker and tired of the world. This was why many Elves chose to leave Middle-earth. Metaphorically speaking, the Elven race found itself in a perpetual autumn, with leaves falling from trees mirroring the Elves’ departure from Middle-earth, and Rivendell would soon be bereft of both. In the series “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power,” this metaphor was portrayed more literally; the Great Tree of Lindon shed its leaves as the Elves waned, marking their dwindling time in Middle-earth.

The Environment Became Harsher After the Fellowship Left Rivendell

Following the Council of Elrond, the newly formed Fellowship spent around two months readying themselves in Rivendell, making it winter by the time they departed. The Fellowship aimed to traverse the Misty Mountains via Caradhras Pass. Due to the season and its elevation, this treacherous route was painfully cold and blanketed with heavy snow, forcing our heroes to struggle through it. In the film adaptation, the biting cold was intensified by Saruman, who conjured a blizzard and triggered an avalanche to impede the Fellowship’s journey. The sequences on Caradhras Pass showcased the most brutal weather in the entire The Lord of the Rings trilogy, foreshadowing the perils ahead. As they could no longer count on the protection of an Elven sanctuary or a benevolent lord like Elrond, the Fellowship had to confront whatever Middle-earth chose to inflict upon them. It was during the harsh winter that the Fellowship suffered its first significant setback: in the Mines of Moria.

After the ordeals at Caradhras Pass and Moria Mines, the heroes sought solace in the verdant and misty haven of Lothlórien. The Fellowship arrived on January 15 and stayed for roughly a month. This elven kingdom bore a striking resemblance to springtime, symbolizing a fresh start. Galadriel and her fellow elves bestowed valuable gifts upon the Fellowship; these included lembas bread and finely crafted elf-made weapons. These provisions granted Frodo and his companions renewed vigor in the face of hardship. Yet, Lothlórien was not merely a reflection of spring. It was home to golden trees with leaves that were yellow even when it wasn’t autumn. This brought to mind the aspect of Rivendell, forging a link between The Lord of the Rings’ two main elven realms. Indeed, Lothlórien seemed to defy the natural cycle of seasons in a way, as mortals within Galadriel’s realm often felt an unusual sense of timelessness.

The Pace of The Lord of the Rings Quickened After the First Film

As I traversed beyond Lothlórien’s boundaries in the heart of spring, brown leaves carpeting the ground like patchwork quilts, I couldn’t help but notice the wilderness wasn’t as welcoming as it once was back home in the Shire. The verdant scenery was stunning, yet it concealed a dangerous truth – the Uruk-hai lurked within, doggedly pursuing our Fellowship along the river Anduin.

In the epic tales of The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers and The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King, seasons seemed to stand still, for these films unfolded over a surprisingly brief timespan. The story picked up where it left off in The Fellowship of the Ring, which concluded with the Breaking of the Fellowship on February 26th. The One Ring was finally destroyed just a few weeks later on March 25th, and from that point on, early spring graced almost every scene in the sequels.

In a similar vein to Peter Jackson, J.R.R. Tolkien gave great importance not just to depicting the progression of time but also to using seasonal imagery to stir emotions. For instance, during the chapter “A Short Rest” in The Hobbit, Elrond was described as “gentle as summer.” Contrastingly, in the chapter “Many Meetings” from The Fellowship of the Ring, he was referred to as “a king bedecked with many winters.” Details such as the seasons may seem trivial to viewers, but for Jackson and his crew, every aspect from the weather to the hue of the foliage was a deliberate choice that significantly impacted the final outcome.

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2025-05-19 16:09