# Ask the guy who's just read Lord of the Rings **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 12, 2005, 1:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-whos-just-read-lord-of-the-rings/321171 "2005-09-12T01:24:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![SkipMagic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skipmagic/32/20706_2.png) [@SkipMagic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SkipMagic)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2005, 5:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-whos-just-read-lord-of-the-rings/321171/61 "2005-09-14T05:39:11Z")
By the Power of Grayskull, I have to move this thread to **Cafe Society**. Wait… which fantasy world are we in? ---
**Author:** ![roger\_thornhill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d9b06d/32.png) [@roger\_thornhill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/roger_thornhill)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2005, 6:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-whos-just-read-lord-of-the-rings/321171/62 "2005-09-14T06:02:25Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > My guess would be that earth-bread was native to Europe and no longer recognized by mortals as edible. No. That would be my prep school’s tapioca. ---
**Author:** ![roger\_thornhill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d9b06d/32.png) [@roger\_thornhill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/roger_thornhill)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2005, 6:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-whos-just-read-lord-of-the-rings/321171/63 "2005-09-14T06:04:04Z")
> [@SkipMagic](#): > > I have to move this thread to **Cafe Society**. Yes, sadly it’s degenerated into another serious LOTR thread in spite of my best efforts to keep it pointless! ---
**Author:** ![athelas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5e9695/32.png) [@athelas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/athelas)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2005, 2:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-whos-just-read-lord-of-the-rings/321171/64 "2005-09-14T14:48:10Z")
> [@Qadgop the Mercotan](#): > > Next question! Mana tárë antuva nin Ilúvatar enyárë i metta pella, írë Anarinya queluva? …ar ilyë tier undulávë lumbulë ar sindanóriello caita mornië i falmalinnar imbë met, Namárië! You do realize that there’s no answer in Firiel’s song, ne? ---
**Author:** ![athelas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5e9695/32.png) [@athelas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/athelas)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2005, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-whos-just-read-lord-of-the-rings/321171/65 "2005-09-14T14:51:01Z")
Oh, and of course…does the Balrog have wings? (bah, someone looked up the elvish before me) ---
**Author:** ![Orual](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/779978/32.png) [@Orual](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Orual)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2005, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-whos-just-read-lord-of-the-rings/321171/66 "2005-09-14T14:51:38Z")
> [@roger thornhill](#): > > Yes, sadly it’s degenerated into another serious LOTR thread in spite of my best efforts to keep it pointless! Were you really expecting anything different? ---
**Author:** ![Lissla\_Lissar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8491ac/32.png) [@Lissla\_Lissar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissla_Lissar)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2005, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-whos-just-read-lord-of-the-rings/321171/67 "2005-09-14T15:06:23Z")
Okay. If cats break their own body weight in glasses, to they get to fly? ---
**Author:** ![flight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bbce88/32.png) [@flight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flight)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2005, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-whos-just-read-lord-of-the-rings/321171/68 "2005-09-14T15:52:29Z")
> [@Lissla Lissar](#): > > Well, he _did_ have ‘Luthien’ and ‘Beren’ carved on their gravestones, so he obviously felt there was something immortal-beautiful-elf-maiden about her. I still don’t get the impression that he had any female friends whom he regarded as equal to his male friends. Not that that’s uncommon for the time period, but I know Lewis had several intelligent female pen friends. > > Am I dithering? Does anyone know anything about Tolkien’s opinion of women? > > Oh yeah. **roger** , in the Battle at the Black Gates (in the movie) what the hell do they do with their horses? They’re on horses when they challenge the Gate, and then when they attack, the horses are gone. Where did they go? Extended version or regular? I have heard much of this is better in extended. ---
**Author:** ![ComeToTheDarkSideWeHaveCookies](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9bcb4/32.png) [@ComeToTheDarkSideWeHaveCookies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ComeToTheDarkSideWeHaveCookies)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2005, 4:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-whos-just-read-lord-of-the-rings/321171/69 "2005-09-14T16:03:15Z")
> [@honeydewgrrl](#): > > Why are the terms “men/man” often used (by the elves, in prophecy, etc) as broad representations of the human race…except in the case of who/what is capable of killing the Witch King? I guess my question doesn’t pass specs with the cool kids…_sniff_…That’s ok…_chin quivering_ ---
**Author:** ![Knorf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/58956e/32.png) [@Knorf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knorf)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2005, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-whos-just-read-lord-of-the-rings/321171/70 "2005-09-14T16:26:53Z")
The great Eagles are an ancient and noble race, descended from the mightiest servants of Manwe. One does lightly not ask favors of them, not even Gandalf. They do favors in their own time, at their own discretion. Examples of their direct interference in the affairs of Middle-Earth are very few and far between. Hence, no calling on them to ferry anything to Mt. Doom. Sauron undoubtedly would have noticed a host of eagles flying into his domain. Once the ring was already destroyed, Sauron’s defenses were toast and the eagles could fly into Mordor at will. One doubts whether this would have been comparably feasible before the ring was destroyed. It took something small and pitiful to sneak the ring into Mordor. Also, what if the eagles, being proud and mighty themselves, could not resist the temptation to snatch the ring for themselves? That’s the long answer, and the one I prefer. ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2005, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-whos-just-read-lord-of-the-rings/321171/71 "2005-09-14T16:36:50Z")
> [@honeydewgrrl](#): > > I guess my question doesn’t pass specs with the cool kids…_sniff_…That’s ok…_chin quivering_ There there, hdg. I posted a _hilarious_ commentary on this very question last year, and got crickets chirping for my pains. ---
**Author:** ![well\_he\_s\_back](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/3ab097/32.png) [@well\_he\_s\_back](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/well_he_s_back)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2005, 5:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-whos-just-read-lord-of-the-rings/321171/72 "2005-09-14T17:15:09Z")
So, having just reread the book, what are you doing to celebrate Bilbo & Frodo’s birthday this upcoming Sept. 22nd? ---
**Author:** ![Ponder\_Stibbons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponder_stibbons/32/343_2.png) [@Ponder\_Stibbons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponder_Stibbons)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2005, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-whos-just-read-lord-of-the-rings/321171/73 "2005-09-14T18:31:07Z")
> [@Orual](#): > > Were you really expecting anything different? _I_ was expecting the Spanish Inquisition. ---
**Author:** ![Inigo\_Montoya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/inigo_montoya/32/124_2.png) [@Inigo\_Montoya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Inigo_Montoya)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2005, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-whos-just-read-lord-of-the-rings/321171/74 "2005-09-14T18:49:07Z")
> [@honeydewgrrl](#): > > Why are the terms “men/man” often used (by the elves, in prophecy, etc) as broad representations of the human race…except in the case of who/what is capable of killing the Witch King? Along those lines, is there a linguistic distinction between boy elves and girl elves as there is between boy humans and girl humans (Men/Women)? ---
**Author:** ![Lissla\_Lissar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8491ac/32.png) [@Lissla\_Lissar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lissla_Lissar)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2005, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-whos-just-read-lord-of-the-rings/321171/75 "2005-09-14T18:59:45Z")
They lose the bloody horses in both versions. I was really hoping that there’d be some kind of explanation in the extended ROTK, but no dice. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2005, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-whos-just-read-lord-of-the-rings/321171/76 "2005-09-14T19:07:08Z")
> [@SkipMagic](#): > > By the Power of Grayskull, I have to move this thread to **Cafe Society**. > > Wait… which fantasy world are we in? Grayskull and Middle-Earth are on the same world, merely different continents. what? ---
**Author:** ![Scissorjack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c67d28/32.png) [@Scissorjack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scissorjack)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2005, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-whos-just-read-lord-of-the-rings/321171/77 "2005-09-14T21:57:26Z")
> [@Knorf](#): > > Also, what if the eagles, being proud and mighty themselves, could not resist the temptation to snatch the ring for themselves? “Look! Up in the sky! Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No! It’s an invisible eagle!” “Well, _I_ can’t see it.” Be pretty funny when it shat on someone. ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [September 14, 2005, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-whos-just-read-lord-of-the-rings/321171/78 "2005-09-14T22:53:59Z")
> [@roger thornhill](#): > > The locals needed them for the trotting races, I heard. Best decision Jackson made was to write Bombadil and that awful Goldberry out of the film. Actually, he got rid of almost all the unbearably twee “songs”. Sam’s allowed a bit of a grunt at one point, as I recall. Nonsense. There’s an Easter egg in the Extended edition DVD that shows Ghan-Buri-Ghan running a valet parking service on the eaves of the Drúadan Forest. ---
**Author:** ![NoCoolUserName](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5fc32e/32.png) [@NoCoolUserName](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NoCoolUserName)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2005, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-whos-just-read-lord-of-the-rings/321171/79 "2005-09-15T05:15:17Z")
> [@honeydewgrrl](#): > > Why are the terms “men/man” often used (by the elves, in prophecy, etc) as broad representations of the human race…except in the case of who/what is capable of killing the Witch King? Uh, “no man can hinder me”–see, it’s a joke. Everyone interprets it as “no person can hinder me” but that’s WRONG, don’t ya see. Man != person in LotR, even tho’ that’s the way “everyone” uses the word. I trust I make myself obscure.\* A big 10 bonus points if you can name that quote…and provide the proper reply. ---
**Author:** ![Hypno-Toad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b2d939/32.png) [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)\ **Post date:** [September 15, 2005, 11:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-whos-just-read-lord-of-the-rings/321171/80 "2005-09-15T11:48:51Z")
> [@NoCoolUserName](#): > > Uh, “no man can hinder me”–see, it’s a joke. Everyone interprets it as “no person can hinder me” but that’s WRONG, don’t ya see. Man != person in LotR, even tho’ that’s the way “everyone” uses the word. JRRT stole that joke from Macbeth. When facing his enemy, Macbeth clings to the prophecy that “No man of woman born can harm me!” To which his enemy replies, “Know ye not that I from my mothers womb was untimely ripped?” Meaning that he was delivered by c-section rather than being “Born” in the all-natural sense. He then kills Macbeth. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-whos-just-read-lord-of-the-rings/321171.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ask-the-guy-whos-just-read-lord-of-the-rings/321171.md?page=5)