Sauron's eye (?) in tower of Cirith Ungol

Lord of the Rings Trilogy Forum

Heres a stumper from my latest (14th) reading. Sauron's eye in Tower of Cirith Ungol?

From Choices of master samwise, ttt, pp.342-3

"Now the orc-tower was right above him, frowning black, and in it the red eye glowed . Now he was hidden in the dark shadow under it. He was coming to the top of the steps and was in the Cleft at last...."

"And then suddenly he heard cries and voices. He stood still as stone. Orc-voices. They were behind him and before him. A noise of tramping feet and harsh shouts: Orcs were coming up to the Cleft from the far side, from some entry to the tower, perhaps. Tramping feet and shouts behind. He wheeled round. He saw small red lights, torches, winking away below there as they issued from the tunnel. At last the hunt was up. The red eye of the tower had not been blind . He was caught."

Hmmmm....weird....i dunno...

How queer... Not least because Cirith Ungol is miles away from Barad Dur. Perhaps this is a metaphorical suggestion of Sauron's unceasing vigilance, or just a c*ck up on Tolkien's account

That was a lamp in the tower. the story is being told from the hobbits frame of mind, and he thought that might have been Barad-Dur (obviously he didn't know the layout of Mordor) that was why it was refered to as the eye, to keep the reader as uncertain about the tower as Sam was.

Wow I didnt know that...When I was reading the book I just thought the two were somewhat close....Good to know Thanks Shadow for the info and welcome to InReview mercifuln!

You learn something new every day! And welcome to InReview Mercy!

Why didn't Tolkien clear that up though? I mean in the book, obviously he must've done somewhere, unless Shadow has been using his telepathy again...

when sam finds frodo in the uppermost secret room of the tower, he sees the red lamp and realizes that was what he had seen. it says that in the book.

Oh yeah!!!

That vaguely rings a bell, very vaguely...