# Some Fellowship of the Ring questions from someone who is more familiar with the movies **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 5, 2011, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-fellowship-of-the-ring-questions-from-someone-who-is-more-familiar-with-the-movies/577272 "2011-04-05T15:18:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**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:** [April 5, 2011, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-fellowship-of-the-ring-questions-from-someone-who-is-more-familiar-with-the-movies/577272/21 "2011-04-05T21:02:07Z")
Coming quite late into the thread… > [@Daddypants](#): > > I was watching Fellowship for the gazillionth time over the weekend and was reminded of a couple of questions I had. Since I’ve only read LotR once, I wasn’t sure if if there are answers to my questions in the books. > > 1. It seems Gandalf knows about what happened in Moria. When Frodo believes it is the safer route and decides the Fellowship should go that way, why doesn’t Gandalf warn everyone? Gandalf didn’t know what had happened in Moria. He was afraid of what _might_ have happened. I know what Saruman says that Gandalf knew what the Dwarves had awakened (the Balrog), but I’d say that’s bullshit. Rather, it’s that he, Gandalf, knew that the Balrog **might** be awake. Then again, it might not. And certainly he didn’t know about the Watcher (the horrific octopus thing that tried to eat Frodo). > [@](#): > > 1. Gimli wants to go through Moria and says his cousin (Balin?) will welcome them as honored guests. Why was Gimli not aware of what happened in Moria? Had it been a while since he’d last seen his cousin or the dwarf mail service doesn’t work so well? Try not thinking in modern terms. The story’s set in a time of medieval technology, at best, for most people. There was no email, text messages, newspapers, etc; there isn’t even what we’d consider much mail service. It’s not going to be uncommon for people to be out of contact with friends & relatives for long periods of time if they move away. > [@](#): > > 1. This is a more general questions about the wizards in Middle Earth. In any of his writings on the wizards, does Tolkien give them any of the powers we now associate with wizards in fantasy settings: tossing fireballs, teleporting, summoning elementals, etc.? I’m sure others have already touched on this, but there’s no teleporting in Tolkien at all. I can’t recall any summoning of elementals either. And Gandalf and Saruman were required to cast off much of their native power & knowledge to come to Middle-earth. In their proper forms, they’d have been much more powerful, though I still doubt they could have teleported the Fellowship anywhere. Teleporting’s a horrible storytelling device anyway. It introduces more plot problems than it solves unless it is very tightly restricted. ---
**Author:** ![Astroboy14](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/df705f/32.png) [@Astroboy14](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Astroboy14)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2011, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-fellowship-of-the-ring-questions-from-someone-who-is-more-familiar-with-the-movies/577272/22 "2011-04-05T21:11:55Z")
> [@Quercus](#): > > Wireless reception is crappy in Moria, and the Moria Free Delivery mail service has not been running since the long-ago abandonment of Moria. There may have been a messenger or two saying ‘Hey, we made it inside, starting to look around’ but by the end, Balin’s crew were trapped, so couldn’t send a final ‘Help!’ message. **HEAVY SIGH** This has been explained many times before… of course if you hold your staff in the middle, as if it were a regular old walking stick, you’re gonna block out the signal! You need to grip it at the top and bottom; then you’ll see your signal improve quite a bit.:smack: ---
**Author:** ![Scissorjack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c67d28/32.png) [@Scissorjack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scissorjack)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2011, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-fellowship-of-the-ring-questions-from-someone-who-is-more-familiar-with-the-movies/577272/23 "2011-04-05T21:27:51Z")
> [@Stormcrow](#): > > Not so much a ridle as a prophetic dream he had - can’t remember how much of this was in the movie: > > "In that dream I thought the eastern sky grew dark and there was a growing thunder, but in the West a pale light lingered, and out of it I heard a voice, remote but clear, crying: > > Seek for the Sword that was broken: > In Imladris it dwells; > There shall be counsels taken > Stronger than Morgul-spells. > There shall be shown a token > That Doom is near at hand, > For Isildur’s Bane shall waken, > And the Halfling forth shall stand." Which you can sing to the tune of The Yellow Rose Of Texas. ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2011, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-fellowship-of-the-ring-questions-from-someone-who-is-more-familiar-with-the-movies/577272/24 "2011-04-05T21:30:52Z")
> [@Scissorjack](#): > > Which you can sing to the tune of The Yellow Rose Of Texas. Now I will be unable to read it any other way. I hate you. ---
**Author:** ![Scissorjack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c67d28/32.png) [@Scissorjack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scissorjack)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2011, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-fellowship-of-the-ring-questions-from-someone-who-is-more-familiar-with-the-movies/577272/25 "2011-04-05T21:47:52Z")
> [@Skammer](#): > > Now I will be unable to read it any other way. I hate you. Wait till you start hearing “Gil-Galad was an Elven king” to Camptown Races. ---
**Author:** ![shantih](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f6c823/32.png) [@shantih](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shantih)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2011, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-fellowship-of-the-ring-questions-from-someone-who-is-more-familiar-with-the-movies/577272/26 "2011-04-05T21:58:48Z")
> [@Scissorjack](#): > > Wait till you start hearing “Gil-Galad was an Elven king” to Camptown Races. Do-dah! Do-dah! _Gaaaah!_ ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2011, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-fellowship-of-the-ring-questions-from-someone-who-is-more-familiar-with-the-movies/577272/27 "2011-04-05T22:20:58Z")
> [@Scissorjack](#): > > Which you can sing to the tune of The Yellow Rose Of Texas. arghhhh! you swine! That is seared into my brain now. Actually, much as I loved the films and books I reckon there is mileage in redoing it as a musical. Or…bloody hell, how about a blaxploitation version? “The Brotherhood of the Bling” Morgan Freeman as Gandalf? Samuel L. Jackson as Saruman? Prince as Gollum? “I’m gonna git 2nd age on your ass” “I would have followed you, my brother, my captain, my pimp” come on! this thing writes itself. My god I’m a genius. Where’s Michael Bay’s number? ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2011, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-fellowship-of-the-ring-questions-from-someone-who-is-more-familiar-with-the-movies/577272/28 "2011-04-05T22:22:29Z")
> [@Daddypants](#): > > 1. Gimli wants to go through Moria and says his cousin (Balin?) will welcome them as honored guests. Why was Gimli not aware of what happened in Moria? Had it been a while since he’d last seen his cousin or the dwarf mail service doesn’t work so well? It’s worse than you think. According to scholars more obsessive than I, the dwarves of Balin’s expedition had actually been out of touch (because they were all dead) for _more than twenty years_ at the time of the Council of Elrond. Some relevant dates in the Third Age of Middle-earth: 1. Dwarven mithril-mining operations awaken the Balrog which slays King Durin VI (hence “Durin’s Bane”) and others. 2. Following further battles with the Balrog and the slaying of another king, the remaining dwarves flee. Later Moria becomes populated by orcs and trolls who worship and follow the Balrog. 3. Battle between dwarves and orcs in the Dimrill Dale outside the East-gate, but the Balrog is seen at the gate and the dwarves do not attempt to enter. 4. Events of _The Hobbit_. 5. Balin’s expedition enters Moria (a thousand years after the abandonment!) and takes control of some areas. 6. Balin and his followers are wiped out. 7. Beginning of the central events of _The Lord of the Rings_ (“The Shadow of the Past”). The Council of Elrond. 8. The Fellowship passes through Moria. Gandalf battles the Balrog. End of the central events of _The Lord of the Rings_ (“The Scouring of the Shire”). Tolkien’s timelines are _long_. ---
**Author:** ![Scissorjack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c67d28/32.png) [@Scissorjack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scissorjack)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2011, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-fellowship-of-the-ring-questions-from-someone-who-is-more-familiar-with-the-movies/577272/29 "2011-04-05T22:23:14Z")
> [@shantih](#): > > Do-dah! Do-dah! > _Gaaaah!_ Of him the harpers sadly sing, O dee doo dah day! ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2011, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-fellowship-of-the-ring-questions-from-someone-who-is-more-familiar-with-the-movies/577272/30 "2011-04-05T22:40:17Z")
The one that gets me is “O Elbereth Gilthoniel” to “O come o come Emmanuel”. > [@](#): > > I’m sure others have already touched on this, but there’s no teleporting in Tolkien at all. I can’t recall any summoning of elementals either. Well, you might argue that the water-horses in the flood at the Ford were elementals, I suppose. And the Maia associated with particular elements (the Balrogs for fire, for instance) might also be called elementals, though you wouldn’t summon those. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2011, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-fellowship-of-the-ring-questions-from-someone-who-is-more-familiar-with-the-movies/577272/31 "2011-04-05T22:40:33Z")
> [@Scissorjack](#): > > Which you can sing to the tune of The Yellow Rose Of Texas. The Lord of the Rings was ghost written by _Emily Dickinson_? ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2011, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-fellowship-of-the-ring-questions-from-someone-who-is-more-familiar-with-the-movies/577272/32 "2011-04-05T22:41:30Z")
1 ring 2 rule them all, damn [does a little jittery James Brownrog foot work thang] ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2011, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-fellowship-of-the-ring-questions-from-someone-who-is-more-familiar-with-the-movies/577272/33 "2011-04-05T22:48:09Z")
Why does Gandalf fight the Balrog while standing on the precarious stone bridge? ---
**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:** [April 5, 2011, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-fellowship-of-the-ring-questions-from-someone-who-is-more-familiar-with-the-movies/577272/34 "2011-04-05T22:54:39Z")
> [@Gangster\_Octopus](#): > > Why does Gandalf fight the Balrog while standing on the precarious stone bridge? Seriously? The entire goal of Gandalf’s actions were to keep the Balrog from advancing, and his strategy was to lure the Balrog to a point where he could use gravity as a weapon. ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2011, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-fellowship-of-the-ring-questions-from-someone-who-is-more-familiar-with-the-movies/577272/35 "2011-04-05T23:00:06Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > Seriously? The entire goal of Gandalf’s actions were to keep the Balrog from advancing, and his strategy was to lure the Balrog to a point where he could use gravity as a weapon. But why did Gandalf stop on the bridge? Couldn’t he lure the Balrog onto the bridge from the other side? ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2011, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-fellowship-of-the-ring-questions-from-someone-who-is-more-familiar-with-the-movies/577272/36 "2011-04-05T23:03:54Z")
> [@Novelty\_Bobble](#): > > arghhhh! you swine! That is seared into my brain now. > > Actually, much as I loved the films and books I reckon there is mileage in redoing it as a musical. > > Or…bloody hell, how about a blaxploitation version? “The Brotherhood of the Bling” > Morgan Freeman as Gandalf? Samuel L. Jackson as Saruman? Prince as Gollum? > > “I’m gonna git 2nd age on your ass” > “I would have followed you, my brother, my captain, my pimp” > > come on! this thing writes itself. > > My god I’m a genius. Where’s Michael Bay’s number? Were you around for the “If LOTR had been written by somebody else” thread? About 80 pages of literary parody, much of it brilliant. Worth a search. ---
**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:** [April 5, 2011, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-fellowship-of-the-ring-questions-from-someone-who-is-more-familiar-with-the-movies/577272/37 "2011-04-05T23:05:19Z")
> [@Gangster\_Octopus](#): > > But why did Gandalf stop on the bridge? Couldn’t he lure the Balrog onto the bridge from the other side? You’re acting like he had planned this out in advance. He hadn’t. He wasn’t Batman, than Zeus. ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2011, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-fellowship-of-the-ring-questions-from-someone-who-is-more-familiar-with-the-movies/577272/38 "2011-04-05T23:29:17Z")
> [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](#): > > You’re acting like he had planned this out in advance. He hadn’t. He wasn’t Batman, than Zeus. Better question, why was the bridge a narrow piece of rock? You’d think in the untold thousands of years in which the dwarves held Moria, they would have built a bigger, more sturdier bridge ---
**Author:** ![Jenaroph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e8c25b/32.png) [@Jenaroph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jenaroph)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2011, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-fellowship-of-the-ring-questions-from-someone-who-is-more-familiar-with-the-movies/577272/39 "2011-04-05T23:40:47Z")
> [@YogSosoth](#): > > Better question, why was the bridge a narrow piece of rock? You’d think in the untold thousands of years in which the dwarves held Moria, they would have built a bigger, more sturdier bridge IIRC, the narrowness and fragility was the point. It was a defensive tactic at the entrance to the caves; an invading army would have had to cross one by one. ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2011, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-fellowship-of-the-ring-questions-from-someone-who-is-more-familiar-with-the-movies/577272/40 "2011-04-05T23:43:06Z")
> [@jsc1953](#): > > Were you around for the “If LOTR had been written by somebody else” thread? About 80 pages of literary parody, much of it brilliant. Worth a search. excellent, that’s 3 hours of my life soon to disappear. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-fellowship-of-the-ring-questions-from-someone-who-is-more-familiar-with-the-movies/577272.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/some-fellowship-of-the-ring-questions-from-someone-who-is-more-familiar-with-the-movies/577272.md?page=3)