# Stump my friend with Tolkien.... **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 20, 2001, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stump-my-friend-with-tolkien/69501 "2001-06-20T18:02:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Kaotic\_Newtral](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/71e660/32.png) [@Kaotic\_Newtral](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kaotic_Newtral)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2001, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stump-my-friend-with-tolkien/69501/1 "2001-06-20T18:02:21Z")
All, I have a co-hort here at work that knows everything there is to know about Tolkien’s work. I’m wondering if he’s un-stumpable… Post any questions you have about any of the works of JRR Tolkien. I’ll forward them, He’ll answer(I think). Anyone wanna try? ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2001, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stump-my-friend-with-tolkien/69501/2 "2001-06-20T19:07:08Z")
Everybody knows what happened to the Nine, the Three, and the One. What happened to the Seven? ---
**Author:** ![Kaotic\_Newtral](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/71e660/32.png) [@Kaotic\_Newtral](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kaotic_Newtral)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2001, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stump-my-friend-with-tolkien/69501/3 "2001-06-20T19:30:03Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Ethilrist \* > \*\*Everybody knows what happened to the Nine, the Three, and the One. What happened to the Seven? > > \*\* Tolkien Guru Says: Four were consumed by Dragons, and Sauron Had control of the other three. He offered them to the Dwarves in Fellowship of the ring in exchange for information in regards to a halfling named Baggins. ---
**Author:** ![Kaotic\_Newtral](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/71e660/32.png) [@Kaotic\_Newtral](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kaotic_Newtral)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2001, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stump-my-friend-with-tolkien/69501/4 "2001-06-20T20:53:55Z")
Tolkien Guru Says: That’s all you’ve got? Jeez, I thought this would be interesting… Oh well. ---
**Author:** ![jmonster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/dbc845/32.png) [@jmonster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jmonster)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2001, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stump-my-friend-with-tolkien/69501/5 "2001-06-20T20:54:41Z")
What has it got in its **other** pocket? ---
**Author:** ![Alatariel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Alatariel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alatariel)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2001, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stump-my-friend-with-tolkien/69501/6 "2001-06-20T21:04:29Z")
What was Morwen’s nickname as a young woman? ---
**Author:** ![Saltire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saltire/32/553_2.png) [@Saltire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saltire)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2001, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stump-my-friend-with-tolkien/69501/7 "2001-06-20T21:15:29Z")
Who killed the original Gothmog? What is Mandos’ real name? Who forged Anduril? What was the name of Anduril’s sister-sword? ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2001, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stump-my-friend-with-tolkien/69501/8 "2001-06-20T22:49:45Z")
What is a gnome? What was Merry’s name, really? Who was Ulmo? ---
**Author:** ![Katisha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bcef8e/32.png) [@Katisha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Katisha)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2001, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stump-my-friend-with-tolkien/69501/9 "2001-06-20T23:23:22Z")
Ooh, I know lots of these! But I’ll save them for the Guru. And now, the hardest question of all… **Do Balrogs have wings?** _laughs evilly_ ---
**Author:** ![Alatariel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8e8cbc/32.png) [@Alatariel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alatariel)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2001, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stump-my-friend-with-tolkien/69501/10 "2001-06-21T00:08:41Z")
Depends…do you think they went with **winged speed** to Hithlum literally or figuratively? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Narile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/71c47a/32.png) [@Narile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Narile)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2001, 1:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stump-my-friend-with-tolkien/69501/11 "2001-06-21T01:59:16Z")
A simple one, but still fun…Who was the only character featured in the trilogy whom went to the halls of the dead, and returned? ---
**Author:** ![Smeghead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f1d935/32.png) [@Smeghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Smeghead)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2001, 2:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stump-my-friend-with-tolkien/69501/12 "2001-06-21T02:29:55Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Katisha \* > \*\*Ooh, I know lots of these! But I’ll save them for the Guru. > > And now, the hardest question of all… > > **Do Balrogs have wings?** > > _laughs evilly_ \*\* African or European Balrogs? ---
**Author:** ![Tenar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/35a633/32.png) [@Tenar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tenar)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2001, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stump-my-friend-with-tolkien/69501/13 "2001-06-21T03:11:02Z")
What was Niggle’s neighbor’s name? What was the name of Farmer Giles’ dog? Where did “Smith” live? ---
**Author:** ![Triskadecamus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b19c9b/32.png) [@Triskadecamus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Triskadecamus)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2001, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stump-my-friend-with-tolkien/69501/14 "2001-06-21T04:07:06Z")
Who was Elu Thingol, and what did his name mean? What was the Girdle of Melian? Who is speaking? Quoting whom? to whom? “Olorin, I was called, in my youth, in the west, which is forgotten.” What was Nimloth? What was Angrist? What did Beren do with it? Where did the light of the Silmarills originate? How many Istari were there? Name three. ## Tris “Criticism comes easier than craftsmanship.” ~ Zeuxis ~ ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2001, 5:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stump-my-friend-with-tolkien/69501/15 "2001-06-21T05:52:49Z")
Ask him to translate the following phrases and identify the language: Utúlie’n aurë! Aiya Eldalië ar Atanatári, utúlie’n aurë! Et Eãrello endorenna utúlien. Sinome maruvan ar hildinyar 'tenn ambar-metta! Aurë entúluva! Elen silé lumenn oméntielvo Also: Name the other two wizards! Who was Trotter? Who said: “Master of doom, by doom mastered”? ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2001, 5:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stump-my-friend-with-tolkien/69501/16 "2001-06-21T05:56:30Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Saltire \* > \*\* > Who forged Anduril? \*\* you don’t mean angrist, do you? It was a bit more knifey! I can’t bring to mind any other swords forged by Telchar, altho I’m sure some must have been mentioned. Please enlighten me! Qadgop ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2001, 5:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stump-my-friend-with-tolkien/69501/17 "2001-06-21T05:59:26Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Saltire \* > \*\* What was the name of Anduril’s sister-sword? \*\* you don’t mean angrist, do you? It was a bit more knifey! I can’t bring to mind any other swords forged by Telchar, altho I’m sure some must have been mentioned. Please enlighten me! Sorry, Qadgop ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2001, 6:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stump-my-friend-with-tolkien/69501/18 "2001-06-21T06:17:35Z")
Tom Bombadil refers to himself as “eldest”. Other than this, the LOTR trilogy never states exactly who or what Tom Bombadil is. However, Tolkien states that he intended Tom partially as a symbol for something. What? ---
**Author:** ![RalfCoder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f1d935/32.png) [@RalfCoder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RalfCoder)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2001, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stump-my-friend-with-tolkien/69501/19 "2001-06-21T13:38:05Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by foolsguinea \* > \*\*Who was Ulmo? \*\* Ulmo is a little red furry guy, about 3 years old. He loves to play, and teach little kids about letters and numbers, using a high, squeaky voice. A couple of years ago, you could buy a toy “Tickle Me Ulm…” _WHANG_ OW!!! Alright, who threw this brick??? ---
**Author:** ![PolishSausage](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a9a28c/32.png) [@PolishSausage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PolishSausage)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2001, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stump-my-friend-with-tolkien/69501/20 "2001-06-21T13:38:52Z")
Where is this Tolken expert? I’d love to hear the answer to some of these questions! Let’s give the expert a little more time then let’s give the answers. What do you think? ~t [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stump-my-friend-with-tolkien/69501.md?page=2)