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<blockquote data-quote="Celebrim" data-source="post: 9785026" data-attributes="member: 4937">This is actually a major subtheme of Tolkien's work, showing up in both the Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings.&nbsp; It's most humorous (and tragic) when Sam does this trope, advancing to stand between Faramir and Frodo and saying, &quot;I'm not one to put myself forward, but...&quot;.&nbsp; Tolkien very much wants to see the irony and see Sam is lying to himself in that moment, and of course that Sam is in over his head at that moment - speaking when he should be quiet.&nbsp; Frodo has been speaking carefully and elegantly, and Sam comes in and unknowingly plays the buffoon.&nbsp; It works out for Sam, but only because Faramir is who he is - perhaps the most noble character in the whole story with the most self-awareness and self-control.&nbsp; (This is perhaps another of those moments of providence, where folly undeservedly becomes good.) Sam's proud, rough, unlearned speech convinces Faramir that Frodo is as honest as he is clever, and he decides that the matters being discussed are too sensitive for continued public debate.&nbsp; But Sam is being his normal &quot;half-wise&quot; self at that moment, and it is one of the times we see Sam &quot;sinning&quot;.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Celebrim, post: 9785026, member: 4937"] This is actually a major subtheme of Tolkien's work, showing up in both the Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. It's most humorous (and tragic) when Sam does this trope, advancing to stand between Faramir and Frodo and saying, "I'm not one to put myself forward, but...". Tolkien very much wants to see the irony and see Sam is lying to himself in that moment, and of course that Sam is in over his head at that moment - speaking when he should be quiet. Frodo has been speaking carefully and elegantly, and Sam comes in and unknowingly plays the buffoon. It works out for Sam, but only because Faramir is who he is - perhaps the most noble character in the whole story with the most self-awareness and self-control. (This is perhaps another of those moments of providence, where folly undeservedly becomes good.) Sam's proud, rough, unlearned speech convinces Faramir that Frodo is as honest as he is clever, and he decides that the matters being discussed are too sensitive for continued public debate. But Sam is being his normal "half-wise" self at that moment, and it is one of the times we see Sam "sinning". [/QUOTE]

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