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Symbolic and Mythic Expression in the Works of J.R.R. Tolkien
The Lord of the Rings
A Sound like Song and Laughter
12/11/2K6
"at that moment there came a sound like mingled song and laughter"
-- Elves, coming along as Frodo was about to be discovered by a Black Rider (Fellowship, p. 88)
Bilbo's finding of the Ring in The Hobbit becomes an expression of supernatural providence in The Lord of the Rings. That is to say, it wasn't an accident, but was brought about by an intelligence of some kind.
However, the finding of the Ring took place long ago, before the main story of The Lord of the Rings starts. The finding of the Ring is therefore rather part of the background of the story.
The first expression of supernatural providence in the main story itself occurs when the Hobbits, still in the Shire, are trying to make their way to Buckland and are overtaken by a Black Rider. High-Elves then come along, deterring the Rider from recovering the Ring.
This is in fact the first in a series of pivotal events along which the story of The Lord of the Rings winds and turns, like the bends in a great river.
The Rider had dismounted and was sniffing his way towards Frodo: "at that moment there came a sound like mingled song and laughter" (Fellowship, p. 88).