Enneagram and Encaustic – Page 8 – Screenwriting, Lyrics, Art, and Investigation

SAMWISE GAMGEE, TWO

As I was reviewing the second part of the “Adar” episode of The Rings of Power I inadvertently referenced Enneagram numbers for some beloved Tolkien characters. Let me explain my thinking.

One of the hallmarks of a Man Two is his collection. For Sam, he collects . . . condiments! Haha. He carries his Shire salt all through Mordor. When he’s home, he’s a gardener. His flowers, all the things that make life beautiful and delicious, are his collection.

His devotion to Frodo is another Two indicator. In the brief moment when he carries Sting and the Ring, fighting Shelob and rescuing Frodo, he’s the hero. He immediately relinquishes this role as soon as Frodo is himself, though. Sam is a follower. The glory is not about him.

It would be easy to see Sam as a Nine. He doesn’t seek conflict and, with Frodo a Six, they would share an intriguing strength/weakness relationship. Sam is not a squire, though. He’s not a knight in training, he’s a servant. As a Heart Type Sam should exhibit some form of Envy. It’s not toward Frodo and his quest to carry the Ring, though; it’s toward Gollum. Sam is eaten alive by Frodo’s friendship with Smeagol. Sam made a promise, Mr. Frodo, a promise. He’s to take care of Frodo. Gollum tries to replace him, but he’s a false servant. This drives Sam crazy, partly because it’s unfair and dangerous, but also because he’s been superseded. That Envy makes it painful for him to lose Frodo’s favor.

I’ve never particularly liked Jackson’s decision to have Sam abandon Frodo and descend the staircase of Cirith Ungol. It’s a storyteller’s manipulation to build tension for Gollum’s betrayal and Frodo’s seeming death to Shelob. However, looking at Sam as a Two, I don’t hate this plot twist so much. His Envy tricks him into an emotional breakdown, into leaving his master and friend. I can see the justification for it in his Enneagram. And because he’s Sam, he quickly recovers and returns to Frodo’s side in time to save the day. Sam changes after that moment, becoming more confident, and leads Frodo through Mordor. It’s — gulp, I’m forced to admit — a good character choice!

FRODO BAGGINS, SIX

As I was reviewing the second part of the “Adar” episode of The Rings of Power I inadvertently referenced Enneagram numbers for some beloved Tolkien characters. I was comparing Frodo and Sam to Nori and Poppy, a juxtaposition I believe the showrunners want us to make. Nori, especially, has the wide-eyed, trustful face that Frodo has before he’s given the Ring. They’re very different, though, and the comparison muddies Nori’s character. Nori is possibly a Three, or any of the other take-charge Enneagram numbers.

Frodo, on the other hand, is not your typical hero. He’s quiet and unathletic. He prefers a simple hobbit life and isn’t looking for adventures. Unlike Bilbo, who unexpectedly thrives after Gandalf knocks at his door, Frodo never changes. Who we see at the beginning of “Fellowship” is who we have at the end, with layers of suffering added on. Merry and Pippin step into the roles of soldiers; when they return to the Shire, those abilities and the desire to wield them continue. They’ve changed and arced. Frodo hasn’t. Frodo has diminished.

This is why I immediately jumped to Six in my “Adar” breakdown. Only the Trooper, a non-hero number, can take the torture Frodo sustains and continue onward. He will do his duty, even with the Wheel of Fire spinning in his mind and the Ring dragging him to the ground. He doesn’t just persevere because he’s a hobbit; it’s his Enneagram.

Adar (Part Two)

Continuing the third episode of The RIngs of Power . . .

FIVE

We’re back with Arondir. The prisoners, at the bottom of a trench surrounded by a smoking ruin, are digging through the roots of a large tree. Because the sun is out, the orcs hide in their tented tunnel system while the elves toil. Morgoth has a successor, this orc leader with the elvish name, Adar. He seems to be searching for something, possibly a weapon.

Orc torture commences. Arondir, under duress, chops down the tree.

Galadriel, in a proper gown, wanders down to the city’s waterfront. Elendil, charged with watching her, assumes (correctly) that she’s choosing a ship to steal. She threatens him, and he speaks to her in elvish. He mentions their Hall of Lore, a day’s ride away, and Galadriel brightens.

Cut to the two of them cantering across an open field. In slow motion they ride along a beach. As the music swells, we see Galadriel’s face, alight with joy.

(It’s an overly precious shot, but then we get the pay-off. This is an expression we’ve never seen from her. We realize how sour she’s been before this. Is it the power and speed of horseback riding? Is it the sense of freedom? Finally Galadriel shows us more dimension.)

Adar (Part One)

Episode 3 of The Rings of Power . . .

LEFTOVER NINE

Arondir, woozy, is dragged by orcs in skull helmets. It’s nightmarish. We hear orcs arguing about who has to stay in the sun — “sun duty” — and the mention of Adar, who’s their leader.

Chained in a pit, Arondir digs with other elves. Whipped prisoners scream in the shade.

ONE

Cut to Galadriel waking. She’s on a bed in a ship’s hold. Halbrand brings her food. The ship is crewed by men in uniform.

TWO

The captain, who recognizes her as “one of the Eldar”, wears her dagger.

THREE

They approach a magnificent port reminiscent of the Argonath with its gargantuan rock statues carved from the hillsides. Galadriel recognizes the Kingdom of Númenor. (It’s an astonishing location that is given a number of expansive establishing shots.)

Doomchar Aquarium 3

Here’s the last in the series I began as part of my gaming guild’s art contest. The winners have been declared, and I tied for third place. First place went to someone who created a fabulous, fully functional siege ballista (not to scale, lol). My piece was Elder Scroll-adjacent, at best, and I feel the judging was completely fair. And I really enjoyed creating the Aquariums.

Bubbly water tap pull

On the left is the encaustic I made as a tap pull for the carbonated water line. On the right is the piece coated in epoxy and mounted on the spigot. It was a great first experiment, but I’m already working on an improved version.

Adrift (Part Two)

Episode Two of The Rings of Power continues at the Harfoot encampment.

FOUR (CONT.)

The Harfoots notice that Nori is missing.

Cut back to her and The Giant. When she asks about “his kind” he takes a stick and draws in the dirt.

SWITCH

(Here it is! I just needed a little patience.)

Back to the Harfoots straining to raise a tent. Nori’s father (Largo) pushes on a beam held by a rope that finally snaps, as does Largo’s ankle. Poppy runs up to get Nori. The Giant screams in frustration that they can’t understand his meaning.

Adrift (Part One)

Episode Two of The Rings of Power . . .

ONE

Galadriel, abandoned in the sea, still treads water. With nothing in sight on the horizon, she starts to swim.

Nori stands at the edge of the fiery crater. A man with grizzled hair and beard, naked but for a loincloth, lies in the blaze. Poppy, rushing up to chastise Nori, accidentally pushes her over the slope. The flames are not hot, and Nori approaches “the giant”. She boops his cheek. With a horror-startle, he quickly grabs her hand and rises from the ash. Magical winds and a soul-long look between Nori and The Giant stop when he collapses. She insists that Poppy help her carry the stranger somewhere safe.

TWO

Sadoc, holding a lantern, comes to see what fell to earth. He anticipates a bad omen. He misses Nori and Poppy pushing The Giant over the hill behind him in a wheelbarrow. As the girls argue over what this man is — not human, not elf — they let go of the cart and it starts to roll backward. (The image of an oversized man in a rustic wagon rolling down a hill is played for humor.) Cut to him settled, asleep, under a tree. Nori explains that The Giant, who could’ve fallen to earth anywhere, seems like her responsibility. She was meant to find him. Poppy agrees to keep him a secret.

THREE

Dissolve to Bronwyn and Arondir in the burnt village. They find no bodies. Under a ruined house is a dug passage. Arondir will follow it. Bronwyn will go home to warn her people. Before parting, they share a longing glance.

Doomchar Aquarium 2

This is the version I entered into my gaming guild’s contest. I can’t say it’s my favorite of the series, but the original screenshot was the clearest and most representative of ESO. We can sort of see the Medusa-like monster outside the glass, which is what I wanted.

A Shadow of the Past (Part Three)

Finishing Episode One of The Rings of Power . . .

SWITCH

While looking at a statue of her brother, Galadriel sheathes her dagger. Elrond approaches her with gentle congratulations of the honor to return home.

(The grove has heroic statues carved in the trunk of every living tree.)

Galadriel expected to become one of these statues, but instead she’s to be sent away. She decides she will refuse this “reward”.

(“You have not seen what I have seen,” Galadriel says to Elrond as explanation why she can’t stop hunting Sauron. Well, we haven’t seen it, either. We desperately need more show and less tell.)

FIVE

Putting up a convincing argument, Elrond asks if another dead orc will bring her peace? Will she lead more elves to die and become statues? Turning down the call to Valinor means it will never come again and she’ll be an outcast, left behind.