All Questions
36
questions
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, ...
- 91
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 ...
- 231
19
votes
8
answers
14k
views
Why is the number of orcs thousands instead of millions in "The Lord of the Rings"?
I know that Tolkien served in World War I, in which more than 20 million died. And he also witnessed World War II, in which more than 70 million people died.
So why did Tolkien limit the number on ...
- 413
22
votes
1
answer
6k
views
Are Hobbits related (distant or no) to Elves?
I have read the LOTR trilogy more than once. I feel (from many nuances and some plain text of Tolkien's) that halflings are distantly related to Elves, perhaps descending from common lineage. Whether ...
- 347
6
votes
1
answer
935
views
Did Tolkien ever discuss why rings were chosen? [duplicate]
With years of reading the books and watching movies, especially with the success of the Peter Jackson movies, the fact the main magical items of The Lord of the Rings are the rings seems ...
- 14.5k
36
votes
2
answers
12k
views
Why are Hobbits so fond of mushrooms?
In both the book and the movie it would seem that Hobbits are especially fond of mushrooms, sometimes braving dangers to harvest them.
I have seen somewhere an interview in which Tolkien claimed he ...
15
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Where does Tolkien discuss his bafflement at fans wearing One Ring replicas?
I'm certain that I read a passage from Tolkien somewhere expressing how disturbed/confused he was that anyone would want to make or possess a replica of the One Ring, being as it is a symbol of evil. ...
- 329
8
votes
3
answers
3k
views
Are there any specific examples in Lord of the Rings that are influenced by WWII?
I know that Tolkien is greatly influenced by folklore of many cultures and WWI directly. However, I wonder if there are any specific examples that show influence from WWII?
The best conjecture so far ...
user65648
-5
votes
1
answer
525
views
Why does Tolkien not give Aragorn a duel? [closed]
This is kinda more fan service than what makes sense from a literary perspective. Aragorn's position is confirmed as a leader and not necessarily a hero or a slayer, that is true. Yet that doesn't ...
- 13
16
votes
1
answer
2k
views
What did Faramir and Tolkien have in common?
It was mentioned in Faramir's wiki that (emphasis mine):
Long after completing The Lord of the Rings, Tolkien would write that of all characters Faramir resembles the author most, and that he had ...
- 11.3k
20
votes
1
answer
5k
views
Tolkien's reaction and knowledge of Led Zeppelin using references to LOTR
The songs "The Battle Of Evermore" and "Ramble On" by Led Zeppelin have references to Lord Of the Rings.
The Battle Of Evermore
The pain of war cannot exceed the woe of aftermath,
The drums will ...
- 17.2k
9
votes
1
answer
453
views
Did Tolkien ever change the meanings of his words? [closed]
Inventing a language is no easy undertaking. I can't imagine Tolkien just plucking words from the air and going with them, so I opine that he must have meticulously chosen and changed his made-up ...
- 3,611
3
votes
1
answer
588
views
Has Tolkien ever commented on the relative leadership skills of prominent Middle-earth figures?
If we look at some of the prominent figures in Middle-earth at the time of the War of the Ring:
Théoden
Denethor
Aragorn
Elrond
Gandalf
All of these are 'leaders' of one form or another, but some ...
- 135k
39
votes
1
answer
12k
views
Did Tolkien have Pippin die originally?
According to the movie mistakes website for Return of the King, it is mentioned that Tolkien had Pippin originally killed off at the Battle of the Black Gates. He was persuaded by his dear friend C.S. ...
- 11.3k
31
votes
2
answers
7k
views
Did Tolkien create Gandalf the White out of regret for killing off Gandalf the Grey?
Are there any notes from Tolkien hinting at the possibility that Gandalf the Grey being killed was in fact the end of Gandalf, but was brought back out of regret (or even necessity)? I'm particularly ...
- 1,575