# Tolkien trivia contest **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 9, 2006, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tolkien-trivia-contest/351963 "2006-04-09T15:31:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 16
**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 14, 2006, 5:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tolkien-trivia-contest/351963/301 "2006-04-14T17:59:10Z")
> [@](#): > > 1. When the Goblins assaulted Father Christmas’ house who crushed and squeezed the goblins? I have actually read that book (_The Father Christmas Letters_)… it was one of the ones the library had on display at Christmas time many years ago, with the note “These books are available to be checked out; ask a librarian”, and of course I saw Tolkien’s name, and did ask the librarian, and checked it out. But that said, I can’t remember any substantive details from it. Since you’ve opened up the field for non-Middle Earth Tolkiana, though… 1. Who spoke very poor English, and not even dog-Latin? ---
**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:** [April 14, 2006, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tolkien-trivia-contest/351963/302 "2006-04-14T18:11:46Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > 1. Who spoke very poor English, and not even dog-Latin? Roverandom? ---
**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:** [April 14, 2006, 6:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tolkien-trivia-contest/351963/303 "2006-04-14T18:19:33Z")
1. What first name did JRRT originally give to Turin’s father? ---
**Author:** ![Ivorybill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/ee59a6/32.png) [@Ivorybill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ivorybill)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2006, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tolkien-trivia-contest/351963/304 "2006-04-14T19:14:48Z")
> [@Qadgop the Mercotan](#): > > 1. What first name did JRRT originally give to Turin’s father? Shroud of? Sorry… much busy at work. Roac, as has been pointed out previously, was the correct answer to my Q112. And, doing this by memory, as also has been pointed out is hard - - Wingfoot, Lightfoot. Of course, now I’ll never confuse the two. Probably another easy one: 1. What was the High Hay, and why was it handy? ---
**Author:** ![5\_time\_champ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/5/278dde/32.png) [@5\_time\_champ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/5_time_champ)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2006, 7:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tolkien-trivia-contest/351963/305 "2006-04-14T19:24:59Z")
[QUOTE=Ivorybill Probably another easy one: 1. What was the High Hay, and why was it handy?[/QUOTE] A certain variety of pipe-weed used by Hobbit tweeners. Alternatively, thick hedge protecting the Shire from the Old Forest. ---
**Author:** ![Ivorybill](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/ee59a6/32.png) [@Ivorybill](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ivorybill)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2006, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tolkien-trivia-contest/351963/306 "2006-04-14T19:30:18Z")
> [@5 time champ](#): > > A certain variety of pipe-weed used by Hobbit tweeners. Very good! 1. What names did Tom B. give to Frodo, Merry, Pippin, and Sam’s ponies? ---
**Author:** ![5\_time\_champ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/5/278dde/32.png) [@5\_time\_champ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/5_time_champ)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2006, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tolkien-trivia-contest/351963/307 "2006-04-14T19:41:17Z")
Swish-tail, white socks, wise nose and bumpkin. ---
**Author:** ![5\_time\_champ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/5/278dde/32.png) [@5\_time\_champ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/5_time_champ)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2006, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tolkien-trivia-contest/351963/308 "2006-04-14T19:56:54Z")
1. What did young Isildur steal? 2. Who was afraid he was going to be sent away with the maidens? ---
**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:** [April 14, 2006, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tolkien-trivia-contest/351963/309 "2006-04-14T20:01:08Z")
> [@5 time champ](#): > > 1. What did young Isildur steal? > > 2. Who was afraid he was going to be sent away with the maidens? 1. A seedling or fruit of the white tree 2. Bergil, son of Beregond. Or something. ---
**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:** [April 14, 2006, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tolkien-trivia-contest/351963/310 "2006-04-14T20:02:38Z")
1. In early drafts of LOTR, what did Aragorn find at the Stone of Erech? ---
**Author:** ![5\_time\_champ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/5/278dde/32.png) [@5\_time\_champ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/5_time_champ)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2006, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tolkien-trivia-contest/351963/311 "2006-04-14T20:28:12Z")
> [@Qadgop the Mercotan](#): > > 1. In early drafts of LOTR, what did Aragorn find at the Stone of Erech? An old pair of Isildur’s socks? Arwen’s training bra? Let’s see, the Sword-that-was-Broken wasn’t broken yet. How about the ring of Barahir? or a Palantir? Although Aragorn would have needed the Palantir before he set out from Dunharrow. ---
**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 14, 2006, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tolkien-trivia-contest/351963/312 "2006-04-14T21:05:26Z")
> [@](#): > > Roverandom? Did I mangle another question, or did I just legitimately stump the **Mercotan**? ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2006, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tolkien-trivia-contest/351963/313 "2006-04-14T21:12:54Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Did I mangle another question, or did I just legitimately stump the **Mercotan**? I assume you are speaking of the dog from Farmer Giles of Ham. I don’t remember the Pup’s name. When I saw QtM’s answer I thought that sounds right. Jim ---
**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:** [April 14, 2006, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tolkien-trivia-contest/351963/314 "2006-04-14T23:20:46Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Did I mangle another question, or did I just legitimately stump the **Mercotan**? Yeah, I’m really weak on JRRT’s non-middle earth stuff. ---
**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:** [April 14, 2006, 11:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tolkien-trivia-contest/351963/315 "2006-04-14T23:22:09Z")
> [@5 time champ](#): > > An old pair of Isildur’s socks? > > Arwen’s training bra? > > Let’s see, the Sword-that-was-Broken wasn’t broken yet. > > How about the ring of Barahir? or a Palantir? Although Aragorn would have needed the Palantir before he set out from Dunharrow. Well, your shotgun approach got you the right answer. It was a palantir, buried by the Stone of Erech. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2006, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tolkien-trivia-contest/351963/316 "2006-04-15T03:49:57Z")
Wow! This is far and away the longest thread I’ve ever started. Glad everyone’s having so much fun with it. Some new questions (remember, per the OP: no more than five at a time): 1. The semi-mythical Queen \_\_\_\_\_\_\_ of Gondor had magical \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_s as pets. 2. How did the Woses signify that they accepted King Elessar’s bestowal of lands upon them? 3. What Middle-earth names appear on the tombstones of JRRT and his wife Edith? 4. What did JRRT consider the only actual religious reference in all of LOTR? 5. On what day, noteworthy for another reason in modern times, did the Fellowship leave Rivendell? ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2006, 4:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tolkien-trivia-contest/351963/317 "2006-04-15T04:12:22Z")
> [@Elendil's Heir](#): > > 1. The semi-mythical Queen \_\_\_\_\_\_\_ of Gondor had magical \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_s as pets. > > 2. What Middle-earth names appear on the tombstones of JRRT and his wife Edith? 1. Bethenial (?) and cats 2. Beren and Luthien ---
**Author:** ![5\_time\_champ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/5/278dde/32.png) [@5\_time\_champ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/5_time_champ)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2006, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tolkien-trivia-contest/351963/318 "2006-04-15T04:26:06Z")
1. How did the Woses signify that they accepted King Elessar’s bestowal of lands upon them? Their drumming stopped. 2. What did JRRT consider the only actual religious reference in all of LOTR? The Standing Silence in Gondor? 3. On what day, noteworthy for another reason in modern times, did the Fellowship leave Rivendell? November 22? ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2006, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tolkien-trivia-contest/351963/319 "2006-04-15T04:41:01Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > 1. Bethenial (?) and cats I have this nagging urge to change that to Beruthiel. ---
**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 15, 2006, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tolkien-trivia-contest/351963/320 "2006-04-15T04:46:06Z")
> [@](#): > > 1. Bethenial (?) and cats Close; it’s Beruthiel. The religious reference is a toughie, since I can think of quite a few contenders. a) Gandalf says that Bilbo was meant to find the Ring, and not by its master. b) The Elves sing about Elbereth, who is (by the standards of Men, at least) a goddess. c) Gandalf identifies himself to the Balrog as “a servant of the Secret Fire”, which is a Middle-Earth term for the Holy Spirit. d) After that battle, Gandalf was “sent back”, but none of the Valar had the authority to send him back. e) One of the songs of the Rohirrim mentions Orome, another god (by the same standards as Elbereth). f) Men of Gondor look to the West before meals. Even though there’s no divinity mentioned in the practice, this seems rather religious. g) In the Appendix on Aragorn and Arwen, Arwen refers to death as “the gift of the One to men”, the One being of course God. The last of these is, I think, the most obvious, but being in the Appendices, I’m not sure it counts. Of the rest, Gandalf’s mention of the Secret Fire is the only direct reference to God. And looking to the West is the only practice on that list, and Tolkien might have been making a distinction between theology and religion. So I’m going to guess that it’s one of those three. Oh, and > [@](#): > > 1. On what day, noteworthy for another reason in modern times, did the Fellowship leave Rivendell? December 25. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tolkien-trivia-contest/351963.md?page=15) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tolkien-trivia-contest/351963.md?page=17)