# 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:** 2
**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 9, 2006, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tolkien-trivia-contest/351963/21 "2006-04-09T20:06:22Z")
> [@Qadgop the Mercotan](#): > > 1. Which two Vala were most sympathetic to Melko? Ulmo and Nienna ---
**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 9, 2006, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tolkien-trivia-contest/351963/22 "2006-04-09T20:08:09Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > Ulmo and Nienna Scratch Ulmo…I was mixing him up with Osse. ---
**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 9, 2006, 8:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tolkien-trivia-contest/351963/23 "2006-04-09T20:09:43Z")
Isn’t Cirdan the only elf, along with his crew one supposes, that visits and then returns from the Undying Lands? ---
**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 9, 2006, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tolkien-trivia-contest/351963/24 "2006-04-09T20:15:00Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > Scratch Ulmo…I was mixing him up with Osse. Sorry, no. Think HOMES volume I as the place for the answer. Not that you should rush there, that would be cheating. But let your mind wander back to that volume. 😃 ---
**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 9, 2006, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tolkien-trivia-contest/351963/25 "2006-04-09T20:17:35Z")
> [@5 time champ](#): > > Isn’t Cirdan the only elf, along with his crew one supposes, that visits and then returns from the Undying Lands? There are many other exceptions, Glorifindel being the most notable. But Thingol visited and returned to lead his people and then was lost on the way back. I am surprised by Aule being wrong. In the Beginning Aule and Melkor were most alike in mind. I await the porper answer and the reasons later in the thread. As far as Trotter losing his feet, I have a vague memory of it being Wolf related. 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 9, 2006, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tolkien-trivia-contest/351963/26 "2006-04-09T20:25:39Z")
> [@5 time champ](#): > > Isn’t Cirdan the only elf, along with his crew one supposes, that visits and then returns from the Undying Lands? I think you’re thinking of Elwë (Elu Thingol). He got taken to the undying lands along with Ingwë and Finwë, by Oromë. All 3 returned to ME, to tell their people of what awaited them if they followed Oromë. And that’s why Elwë was considered to be one of the Calaquendi, as he had seen the light of the Two Trees with his own eyes. Otherwise, Glorfindel is the only other candidate I can think of, who returned. Even Earendil was not allowed to set foot in Middle-Earth (he had to stay on his flying boat while he battled Ancalagon the Black). ---
**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 9, 2006, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tolkien-trivia-contest/351963/27 "2006-04-09T20:29:07Z")
> [@Qadgop the Mercotan](#): > > Otherwise, Glorfindel is the only other candidate I can think of, who returned. Even Earendil was not allowed to set foot in Middle-Earth (he had to stay on his flying boat while he battled Ancalagon the Black). Excluding the rebellious Noldor, of course. I think Elwë was the only elf who was born in ME, went to the Undying Lands, then went back and eventually had his body perish in ME. Except maybe for Glorfindel, if he was one of the first-awakened. Or not. It gets confusing. ---
**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 9, 2006, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tolkien-trivia-contest/351963/28 "2006-04-09T20:38:56Z")
Sheesh, I’m the only person here who knows that Makar and Measse were sympathetic to Melko? And Gwerlum was, of course, the Spider of Darkness, later known and Ungoliant. ---
**Author:** ![glee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b5a626/32.png) [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2006, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tolkien-trivia-contest/351963/29 "2006-04-09T22:01:20Z")
While it is always fun to renew acquaintance with fellow Tolkien enthusiasts, I think your questions should be a wee bit less ambigous. For example, Cirdan was the only Elf to give away his Ring of Power! ---
**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 9, 2006, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tolkien-trivia-contest/351963/30 "2006-04-09T22:05:51Z")
Oh, right, I guess I have to post some, now… 1. What are the only two sports mentioned in _The Hobbit_? 2. What does “Baruk” mean, and in what language? 3. What did Bilbo give to Lobelia Sackville-Baggins on the occasion of his eleventy-first birthday? ---
**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 9, 2006, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tolkien-trivia-contest/351963/31 "2006-04-09T22:27:13Z")
> [@glee](#): > > For example, Cirdan was the only Elf to give away his Ring of Power! No. Celebrimbor gave all his up. ---
**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 9, 2006, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tolkien-trivia-contest/351963/32 "2006-04-09T22:31:09Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Sheesh, I’m the only person here who knows that Makar and Measse were sympathetic to Melko? And Gwerlum was, of course, the Spider of Darkness, later known and Ungoliant. Ding ding din! We’ve got a winner! ---
**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 9, 2006, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tolkien-trivia-contest/351963/33 "2006-04-09T22:39:24Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Oh, right, I guess I have to post some, now… > > 1. What are the only two sports mentioned in _The Hobbit_? > 2. What does “Baruk” mean, and in what language? > 3. What did Bilbo give to Lobelia Sackville-Baggins on the occasion of his eleventy-first birthday? 1. golf is one. Archery is also mentioned. 2. Axes. Dwarvish 3. An invitation to his party. He also gave her offense, as she left in a huff. ---
**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 9, 2006, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tolkien-trivia-contest/351963/34 "2006-04-09T23:18:01Z")
Tut tut. **Ludovic** (post #9) and **smiling bandit** (post #15), read the OP again. No checking in books (or looking at movies) for answers! Rely on your memory alone, please. ---
**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 10, 2006, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tolkien-trivia-contest/351963/35 "2006-04-10T00:04:25Z")
> [@Qadgop the Mercotan](#): > > 1. golf is one. Archery is also mentioned. > 2. Axes. Dwarvish > 3. An invitation to his party. He also gave her offense, as she left in a huff. I thought he also gave Lobelia the rest of the silver spoons she had partially removed all those years before when Bilbo was presumed dead. Golf was of course invented by accident by Bullroarer took when he lopped off the head of a Goblin and in rolled down a whole. Jim ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Clam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3bc359/32.png) [@Happy\_Clam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Clam)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2006, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tolkien-trivia-contest/351963/36 "2006-04-10T00:10:51Z")
1. Why the hell did the dwarves allow the Elves to carve the word “Moria”- black pit- on the doors to their beautiful stronghold of Khazad-Dum, some 300 years before the Balrog and orcs drove them out and caused that name to be commonly ascribed to what had, up until then, been known also as the Dwarrodelf and the Glittering Hall? ---
**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 10, 2006, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tolkien-trivia-contest/351963/37 "2006-04-10T00:17:12Z")
Was archery actually mentioned as a sport, though? If so, then there’s at least three. I was thinking of another. But yes, Bandobras Took’s invention of golf was one. And he gave her the spoons. I wanted to ask about whom he gave the umbrellas, but I can’t remember that myself. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Clam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3bc359/32.png) [@Happy\_Clam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Clam)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2006, 12:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tolkien-trivia-contest/351963/38 "2006-04-10T00:22:52Z")
Oops, sorry, should have answered a question. Surely Tolkein mentions stone-throwing as being something specialised in by hobbits? Doesn’t that count as a sport, since they use it both for entertainment and to ward off hostile beasts? ---
**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 10, 2006, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tolkien-trivia-contest/351963/39 "2006-04-10T00:31:27Z")
> [@Happy Clam](#): > > 1. Why the hell did the dwarves allow the Elves to carve the word “Moria”- black pit- on the doors to their beautiful stronghold of Khazad-Dum, some 300 years before the Balrog and orcs drove them out and caused that name to be commonly ascribed to what had, up until then, been known also as the Dwarrodelf and the Glittering Hall? It was a little Elven Humor. Those Elves were quite the sly jokers. The Dwarves never caught onto the meaning of Moria back then. They were convinced it was meant something good. Jim {I’ve got to defend the Professor, alternate answer was a simple error in translating the ancient copy of the Red Book} ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Clam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3bc359/32.png) [@Happy\_Clam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Clam)\ **Post date:** [April 10, 2006, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tolkien-trivia-contest/351963/40 "2006-04-10T00:36:39Z")
> [@](#): > > It was a little Elven Humor. Those Elves were quite the sly jokers. The Dwarves never caught onto the meaning of Moria back then. They were convinced it was meant something good. So despite years of friendly trading with the Elves, **NOT ONE** dwarf picked up the basics of their most common language (not to mention one that should be familiar to the most half-arsed Middle Earth scholar)? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tolkien-trivia-contest/351963.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tolkien-trivia-contest/351963.md?page=3)