Questions tagged [tolkiens-legendarium]
For questions about any works in J.R.R. Tolkien's Legendarium - The Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, The Silmarillion, and other works set in the same universe - or about that universe as a whole. Questions about movies, games, or other media set in the same universe should also use this tag. Questions about Tolkien himself or works by him which are not part of the Middle-earth universe should NOT use this tag use [j-r-r-tolkien] instead.
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What are Gandalf's powers?
Gandalf is a wizard. He is also the Tolkien equivalent of a mortal angel (if I understand what the Maiar are correctly.) What are his powers though? Specifically what magics does he use in The Hobbit ...
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The use of the word "guns" in The Hobbit
In Chapter XVIII - The Return Journey of the book 'The Hobbit', Tolkien uses the word "guns".
'The roar of his voice was like drums and guns; and he tossed
wolves and goblins from his path ...
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How does Gandalf (or anyone) know how to destroy the Ring?
The only way to destroy the Ring is by throwing it into the fire of Orodruin. This fact doesn't seem to be common knowledge and many people in the story (like Gimli) only learn about it at the council ...
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Why aren't there any sieges in Lord of The Rings?
In the few cases a fortification is attacked (Helm's Deep, Minas Tirith), the attackers don't besiege them, they start an assault as soon as they arrive.
In real life, assaults were only done when, ...
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Are orcs and goblins really the same thing?
Are orcs and goblins really the same in The Hobbit and LotR, and where does it say that? Are they variant sub-races or something, explaining the different physical attributes? Or is my assumption they ...
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What was Sauron's plan for a Middle-earth conquered and ruled by him?
I have watched only the movies, but this question is about Sauron in the books.
Sauron is said to be an aggressor who wants to conquer Middle-Earth and bring all the people living in it under his ...
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What does Gandalf intend to chat with Tom Bombadil about?
Close to the end of The Return of the King, Gandalf tells one of the Hobbits that it's time for him to go and have a long talk with Tom Bombadil. Was there anything significant to this talk? Does ...
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How is Gandalf the White a "significantly more powerful figure" than Gandalf the Gray?
After his fight with the Balrog of Moria, Gandalf changed:
Gandalf was sent back as a significantly more powerful figure; Gandalf the White.
- "Gandalf - Gandalf the White", Wikipedia
What are ...
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Why would Shelob own Sauron?
In Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers, in the chapter Shelob’s Lair, there is a rather lengthy description of Shelob, the last remaining child of Ungoliant in Middle-Earth. In this, there is also a ...
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In what order should Tolkien's writings on Middle-earth be read?
I've already read The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, which I assume would be the best start in any case. I also got about halfway through The Silmarillion several years ago and am quite familiar ...
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Which are the Two Towers in The Lord of the Rings?
I always wondered which are the two towers that are referred to in The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers. My memory is a bit hazy right now but there are at least 5 Towers that are mentioned in the ...
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Is there a hidden significance behind the fact Galadriel gave 3 hairs to Gimli instead of one?
I just saw an interesting interpretation of Galadriel's gift to Gimli on Reddit today, I retraced the source of the image to this tumblr post:
If you’ve read the Silmarillion, you know who Fëanor was....
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Why didn't Sauron guard Mount Doom?
This fact had always bugged me. When Frodo finally goes to the Cracks of Doom he is met with practically no resistance. This seems uncharacteristic of Sauron which in my humble opinion makes it a tiny ...
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What is the true origin of the Orcs?
There are a bunch of theories about the true origin of the Orcs. Tolkien tried out a few different origins for his Orcs throughout his life but died before he could fully revise The Silmarillion with ...
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Why did the Fellowship not choose to pass the Misty Mountains further north or south?
At the Council of Elrond, it is known that:
Saruman is a traitor, thus it’s not possible for the Ring to pass through the gap of Rohan
Nobody has heard any news of Balin and Moria for a long time; ...
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