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29 votes
2 answers
7k views

Did Tolkien give his son explicit permission to publish all that unfinished material?

As I've been reading the books/stories published by his son after his death, which are very much unfinished, I can't help but think of how embarrassing I would find it if somebody managed to dig up ...
Iyan's user avatar
  • 315
9 votes
1 answer
4k views

Is the term "Hobbit Village" ever used canonically by Tolkien?

In November 6th, 2023's New York Times Crossword Puzzle, there was a theme answer of "HOBBIT VILLAGE" for the clue "Home for Tolkien's Bilbo and Frodo". (Spoiler for the full ...
TheAsh's user avatar
  • 25.4k
9 votes
3 answers
8k views

Were Bilbo, Frodo, or Samwise Tolkien's self-inserts?

Were Bilbo, Frodo, or Samwise Tolkien's self-inserts? Which one(s) and why? I would accept an answer based either on Word of God or on a reasonable analysis by a third-party. (The question arose out ...
DVK-on-Ahch-To's user avatar
21 votes
1 answer
4k views

Tolkien's art - Lake Mithrim

Scratching my head here trying to work out what object or event is represented by the bright golden triangle in the background. Any ideas? Please don't tell me it is Thangorodrim! Perhaps it is the ...
m4r35n357's user avatar
  • 288
12 votes
1 answer
1k views

What Old English works did Tolkien write?

In addition to being a fantasy author, Tolkien worked professionally as a linguist. His background in Old English found its way into many different aspects of the main books in the Lord of the Rings, ...
Laurel's user avatar
  • 23k
11 votes
1 answer
3k views

Did Tolkien use Mont Saint-Michel as the inspiration for Minas Tirith

I am aware that Peter Jackson used Mont Saint-Michel as the inspiration of Minas Tirith, within the Return of the King movie. If there any evidence that Tolkien used the same place as inspiration for ...
A.Steer's user avatar
  • 5,907
0 votes
0 answers
133 views

As of now, who determines what is canon in the Tolkien universe? [duplicate]

With the debut of “Rings of Power,” I want to know whether the idea of “canon” exists in the Tolkien universe, and if so, who determines canon at this point in time?
Todd D's user avatar
  • 741
7 votes
1 answer
966 views

Where has Tolkien's Second Age material been published?

A new Tolkien collection, The Fall of Númenor, is due to be published in a few months. It will contain all of the second age material. I believe this will all be reprints. Aside from The Silmarillion ...
CWallach's user avatar
  • 451
9 votes
2 answers
2k views

Did Sam really plan to attack the orcs in Shelob's lair in the very end of The Two Towers?

‘He’s going out of harm’s way, I tell you,’ answered Shagrat. ‘See? He’s precious. I don’t trust all my lads, and none of yours; nor you neither, when you’re mad for fun. He’s going where I want him, ...
D. Bergan's user avatar
6 votes
3 answers
4k views

Is there a longer audio clip than this where Tolkien discusses the Eagles?

I was linked to this today: At first, I assumed that it was faked/cut together, but now I think it's real, and that he really did say this while alive. I never knew ...
Rhonin Markell's user avatar
-3 votes
1 answer
297 views

What exactly did Galadriel fear/know/assume would happen if she had accepted the Ring? [duplicate]

A frustrating part is where Frodo actually (sort of) offers the Ring to Galadriel. She appears to laugh and find it almost funny, and fight some internal battle against herself, until her "good ...
Heyden's user avatar
  • 15
7 votes
1 answer
2k views

Did Bag End have a second door?

This is a map of Bag End from The Atlas of Middle-earth (found here.) There's a door at the end of the tunnel. Is it mentioned in the books? Or is the map not accurate?
Eugene's user avatar
  • 2,201
25 votes
3 answers
4k views

How can the bear-man refer to a "Jack-in-the-box" in The Hobbit?

The Hobbit is supposedly set waaay back in our world. Yet, Beorn refers to "jack-in-the-box" as in the toy, when the dwarves show up in pairs. How can this be? How can anyone in that world/...
Gloin's user avatar
  • 277
41 votes
1 answer
7k views

Looking for a picture of the doll that inspired J.R.R. Tolkien to invent Tom Bombadil

English Literature Professor Jane Beal, in her article "Who is Tom Bombadil?: Interpreting the Light in Frodo Baggins and Tom Bombadil's Role in the Healing of Traumatic Memory in J.R.R. Tolkien'...
Bingo's user avatar
  • 7,288
13 votes
3 answers
978 views

Did Tolkien actually use asterisms in the Lord of the Rings?

I own a version of The Fellowship of the Ring that I'm enjoying a lot, and now that I'm nearing the end I thought I might as well buy an ebook on Amazon containing all three books so I can go on with ...
Labba's user avatar
  • 231

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