Azaelia's Tolkien Trivia Thread

[azaelia]

Yep, I did it.

Inspired by the Stump Cam thread, and by the sudden surge of Tolkien related paraphernalia appearing here and everywhere, I think it's about time I showcase my complete nerdiness in the area of Tolkien and Lord of the Rings related trivia and information.

So if you have any questions regarding the movies of books, ask them here!

:

[inDEED]

I love nerds.

[ardillacid]

Where do you believe Sauron derives his ability to sort of spy all around in Middle Earth? It is clear in the Silmarilion that he has no such ability.

[azaelia]

[quote name='ardillacid' date='Nov 15 2005, 12:13 PM']Where do you believe Sauron derives his ability to sort of spy all around in Middle Earth? It is clear in the Silmarilion that he has no such ability. 
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He could have done so before, I think, but he didn't need to because he had a body in the Silmarillion. In the Third Age he was reduced to a motionless eyeball, so being able to see everywhere would be quite conventient considering he can't move...

[jezic]

that has something to do with some underlying concepts of the books. I don't have the time to write it out now, but i might get a chance later tonight.

[Lil Red]

so how do you find out what your [b]real[/b] elvish and hobbit name is?

[azaelia]

[quote name='Lil Red' date='Nov 15 2005, 07:03 PM']so how do you find out what your [b]real[/b] elvish and hobbit name is?
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Well your hobbit name isn't really contingent upon the meaning of your real name (it might as well be random) but in order to find your Elvish name you can check out [url="http://www.elvish.org/elm/names.html"]this site[/url]. If it isn't there, go to [url="http://www.behindthename.com/"]Behind the Name[/url], find out the meaning of your name, and I can maybe come up with something

[Lil Red]

okay, so it's either Cenire or Almie or Almatári - depending on which meaning of my name you go with

[Socrates]

What sport did Tolkien play in high school?

[annie]

What is Tom Bombadil? (oooh, if you can answer that one, you ARE a geek...)

[azaelia]

[quote name='Socrates' date='Nov 15 2005, 08:25 PM']What sport did Tolkien play in high school?
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He was raised in England, so he technically didn't go to "highschool." There isn't any record of him playing sports while at King Edward's School.

[annie]

Oh! Where in the world is THE DESK on which Tolkien wrote the Hobbit ???

[Socrates]

[quote name='azaelia' date='Nov 15 2005, 07:30 PM']He was raised in England, so he technically didn't go to "highschool." There isn't any record of him playing sports while at King Edward's School.
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I forget the school, but he did play rugby! (Perhaps it was college - I forget).

[Socrates]

What was Tolkien's first job in the army?

[azaelia]

[quote name='annie' date='Nov 15 2005, 08:30 PM']What is Tom Bombadil?  (oooh, if you can answer that one, you ARE a geek...)
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[i]What[/i] he was was never revealed. The Elves called him Old and Fatherless, and he is rumored to be either a Maia or a Valar, but both these claims are inconclusive and unlikely. Basically Tom Bombadil himself is a riddle.

[annie]

My personal theory--He was Ilvuatar hanging out in His creation....

[azaelia]

[quote name='annie' date='Nov 15 2005, 08:44 PM']My personal theory--He was Ilvuatar hanging out in His creation....
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That is a thoery, but it can be debunked by referring to Tolkien's letters:

"There is no embodiment of the One, of God, who indeed remains remote, outside the World, and only directly accessible to the Valar or Rulers."
The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien No 181, dated 1956

So obviously Tom can't be an embodiment of Iluvatar.

[azaelia]

[quote name='Socrates' date='Nov 15 2005, 08:37 PM']What was Tolkien's first job in the army?
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Um, he was a second leuitenant stationed in Staffordshire?

[annie]

Hint: The desk is in the Midwest, USA

[azaelia]

Tokien's writing desk is in Illinois :

When I said Tolkien related trivia, I was more leaning towards his [b]works[/b] than random factoids.