# \#middle-earth **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/tag/middle-earth/12.md [Latest](https://boards.straightdope.com/latest.md) · [Categories](https://boards.straightdope.com/categories.md) · [Tags](https://boards.straightdope.com/tags.md) --- ## [The Malvinas/Falklands in Argentine culture and politics](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-malvinas-falklands-in-argentine-culture-and-politics/1031774)
**Author:** [@Frodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frodo)\ **Replies:** 50\ **Last updated:** [August 14, 2026, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-malvinas-falklands-in-argentine-culture-and-politics/1031774 "2026-08-14T01:47:49Z")
In this post FIFA World Cup 2026 - discussion etc - #4653 by Frodo I said I would like to explain how the Malvinas/Falklands claim works in Argentine culture and politics, I’m no longer so sure that I will like it (it’s … --- ## [Adapting a classic Lord of the Rings quote to the present political situation](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adapting-a-classic-lord-of-the-rings-quote-to-the-present-political-situation/1031730)
**Author:** [@glee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glee)\ **Replies:** 5\ **Last updated:** [July 17, 2026, 9:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/adapting-a-classic-lord-of-the-rings-quote-to-the-present-political-situation/1031730 "2026-07-17T09:54:23Z")
I wish Trump need not have happened in my time." “So do I,” comes the reply, “and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given… --- ## [BMalion has died](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bmalion-has-died/1030815)
**Author:** [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [June 12, 2026, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bmalion-has-died/1030815 "2026-06-12T22:39:55Z")
I’m very sorry to report that my friend Brian, a longtime Doper, died at 10:10pm EST yesterday in a nursing home just west of Cleveland, Ohio. His MS hit him hard in recent years, and he had various health problems whic… --- ## [Stephen Colbert's Tolkien Movie](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stephen-colberts-tolkien-movie/1028748)
**Author:** [@N9IWP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/N9IWP)\ **Replies:** 48\ **Last updated:** [April 17, 2026, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stephen-colberts-tolkien-movie/1028748 "2026-04-17T20:29:56Z")
It covers some of the Fellowship - specifically chapters “Three is Company” through “Fog on the Barrow Downs” Guess we will finally see Tom Bombadil, Old Man Willow, and Goldberry – which was skipped even in the Radio D… --- ## [You remember the Apollo moon landings, someone tells you he envies you for that. What you do answer?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-remember-the-apollo-moon-landings-someone-tells-you-he-envies-you-for-that-what-you-do-answer/1028965)
**Author:** [@Pardel-Lux](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pardel-Lux)\ **Replies:** 71\ **Last updated:** [April 4, 2026, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/you-remember-the-apollo-moon-landings-someone-tells-you-he-envies-you-for-that-what-you-do-answer/1028965 "2026-04-04T01:10:09Z")
Continuing the discussion from Back to the Moon! Artemis program follow along (it's going to be a long long time): Spoons suggests a new thread. It started like this: You might ask those of us who saw the first moon … --- ## [Who is our "Opposite Sean Bean", someone who has a lot of film appearances and never dies? (spoilers)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-our-opposite-sean-bean-someone-who-has-a-lot-of-film-appearances-and-never-dies-spoilers/1028855)
**Author:** [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Replies:** 99\ **Last updated:** [April 1, 2026, 11:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-is-our-opposite-sean-bean-someone-who-has-a-lot-of-film-appearances-and-never-dies-spoilers/1028855 "2026-04-01T11:28:34Z")
Sean Bean is pretty famous for dying in a ton of movies, including many very interesting deaths, like his satellite death in James Bond and his Boromir death in Lord of the Rings. What actor has a lot of appearances, bu… --- ## [Post-LOTR depression: All will love them and despair](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-lotr-depression-all-will-love-them-and-despair/258403)
**Author:** [@ComeToTheDarkSideWeHaveCookies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ComeToTheDarkSideWeHaveCookies)\ **Replies:** 42\ **Last updated:** [February 28, 2026, 5:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-lotr-depression-all-will-love-them-and-despair/258403 "2026-02-28T17:07:29Z")
Not really worthy of the Cafe. And no, I’m not really depressed. :stuck\_out\_tongue: But I need someone to convince me that fantasy cinema has not peaked. It’s like I’ve gorged and eaten an entire cheesecake…and I’ve… --- ## [Did ancient warriors run headlong into battle shouting “For \[their cause\]!”](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-ancient-warriors-run-headlong-into-battle-shouting-for-their-cause/1027067)
**Author:** [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Replies:** 47\ **Last updated:** [February 26, 2026, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-ancient-warriors-run-headlong-into-battle-shouting-for-their-cause/1027067 "2026-02-26T21:00:24Z")
You know how, at various points in The Return of the King, Merry and/or Pippin will shout “for the Shire!” or “for Frodo!” before running to battle and certain death? Did ancient warriors really do this or is it artistic… --- ## [Looking for some new reading material](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-some-new-reading-material/1025043)
**Author:** [@DreamsOfACheetah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DreamsOfACheetah)\ **Replies:** 72\ **Last updated:** [February 20, 2026, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/looking-for-some-new-reading-material/1025043 "2026-02-20T18:41:11Z")
I have been reading since I was about 3-4 years old, and it’s my favorite hobby. I’m looking for suggestions for new material to read. I have hundreds of books, and I took some pics of my shelves, but wasn’t allowed to p… --- ## [What was the point of Saruman in LotR?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-point-of-saruman-in-lotr/1026418)
**Author:** [@Lumpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lumpy)\ **Replies:** 25\ **Last updated:** [January 8, 2026, 12:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-was-the-point-of-saruman-in-lotr/1026418 "2026-01-08T00:25:27Z")
It occurs to me that with a minimum of rewriting you could tell almost the same story without the character of Saruman at all. It would have been easy enough to have some other trouble delay Gandalf, have Sauron be the e… --- ## [Podcasts you both love and hate](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/podcasts-you-both-love-and-hate/1025153)
**Author:** [@Love\_Rhombus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Love_Rhombus)\ **Replies:** 22\ **Last updated:** [December 8, 2025, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/podcasts-you-both-love-and-hate/1025153 "2025-12-08T23:15:50Z")
I’ve been listening to the Prancing Pony podcast, which is what got me started on this thought. They do a deep dive on Tolkien’s work: The Hobbit, LOTR, the Simarillion. Really excellent word-nerdery and detailed analysi… --- ## [LOTR question(s)](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lotr-question-s/424287)
**Author:** [@eleanorigby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eleanorigby)\ **Replies:** 399\ **Last updated:** [November 3, 2025, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lotr-question-s/424287 "2025-11-03T16:46:37Z")
I did do a search, but didn’t find this particular question. I am sitting here, imbibing sambuca and re-watching the EE of the Fellowship of the Ring. This occurred to me: Why is it that Frodo gets to go to the Grey Ha… --- ## [Could Shelob have made use of the One Ring?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-shelob-have-made-use-of-the-one-ring/1023320)
**Author:** [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Replies:** 37\ **Last updated:** [September 30, 2025, 8:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/could-shelob-have-made-use-of-the-one-ring/1023320 "2025-09-30T08:00:08Z")
I remember Gollum thinking in the books that, after the giant spider ate Frodo and Sam, he could sneakily go through their discarded clothes and gear and get the Ring again for himself. In the movies, the Ring was big e… --- ## [Elrond the Useless](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elrond-the-useless/1023340)
**Author:** [@Coriolanus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coriolanus)\ **Replies:** 15\ **Last updated:** [September 24, 2025, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/elrond-the-useless/1023340 "2025-09-24T18:25:24Z")
Apologies for thread-jacking the Shelob thread (and length of this OP). Just to give some more thought to Shelob: However it may be “known” by anyone besides The Professor that she’s the undying offspring of Ungoliant, s… --- ## [Sean Astin, the ring bearer, elected SAG-AFTRA president](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sean-astin-the-ring-bearer-elected-sag-aftra-president/1023018)
**Author:** [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Replies:** 16\ **Last updated:** [September 15, 2025, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sean-astin-the-ring-bearer-elected-sag-aftra-president/1023018 "2025-09-15T22:27:45Z")
Well, congratulations for becoming mayor of the shire President of the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists. Sam: It’s all wrong. By rights we shouldn’t even be here. But we are. I… --- ## [AI for online novelists](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ai-for-online-novelists/1022369)
**Author:** [@Coriolanus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Coriolanus)\ **Replies:** 21\ **Last updated:** [August 30, 2025, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ai-for-online-novelists/1022369 "2025-08-30T02:38:26Z")
My wife wrote an online novel about a woman somehow transported to Wuxia era China, in the persona of a man. Last year I did a website that was kind of intro to the book, it’s premise and characters and a link to Wattpa… --- ## [Fake things you wish were real](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fake-things-you-wish-were-real/1020199)
**Author:** [@furryman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furryman)\ **Replies:** 82\ **Last updated:** [June 29, 2025, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fake-things-you-wish-were-real/1020199 "2025-06-29T22:27:30Z")
Many years ago they published a April fools joke promo for a new racing video game featuring famous fictional characters. The picture was Gandalf riding a weird medieval looking vehicle with fireworks strapped to it. I w… --- ## [Tolkien's orcs = British soldiers?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tolkiens-orcs-british-soldiers/1019946)
**Author:** [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [June 22, 2025, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tolkiens-orcs-british-soldiers/1019946 "2025-06-22T18:04:03Z")
I’m re-reading LOTR (I think for the 3rd time…definitely the first time in 25 years or so). I’ve always thought that the best scenes are the ones where the bad guys take the stage and get some dialog. But what strikes … --- ## [Feminine form of Radagast?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/feminine-form-of-radagast/1019859)
**Author:** [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [June 20, 2025, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/feminine-form-of-radagast/1019859 "2025-06-20T21:33:20Z")
Using the language rules Tolkein would have used, for example the plural a dwarf being dwarrow. I’m assuming it is not like Latin and simply adding an a but more complex. --- ## [The Paradox of ancient, crumbling abandoned cities in stories set in the ancient world](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-paradox-of-ancient-crumbling-abandoned-cities-in-stories-set-in-the-ancient-world/1016029)
**Author:** [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Replies:** 82\ **Last updated:** [March 26, 2025, 11:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-paradox-of-ancient-crumbling-abandoned-cities-in-stories-set-in-the-ancient-world/1016029 "2025-03-26T23:07:36Z")
There are plenty of “Lost Race” stories starting in the late 19th century, such as Edward Bulwer-Lytton’s The Coming Race, in which someone encounters an unknown group or long-forgotten group still inhabiting a city. Abr… --- ## [Odd rhyme in Tolkien's Troll Song](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-rhyme-in-tolkiens-troll-song/1014601)
**Author:** [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [February 21, 2025, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/odd-rhyme-in-tolkiens-troll-song/1014601 "2025-02-21T02:32:17Z")
The Troll Song sung by Sam Gamgee (“Troll sat alone on a seat of stone…”) has a distinctive metrical structure and rhyme scheme: it consists of 7-line stanzas, with the fifth line consisting of 4 syllables, where the fir… --- ## [Amazon Lord of the Rings series; The Rings of Power](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-lord-of-the-rings-series-the-rings-of-power/830497)
**Author:** [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Replies:** 1717\ **Last updated:** [November 14, 2024, 11:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/amazon-lord-of-the-rings-series-the-rings-of-power/830497 "2024-11-14T11:29:45Z")
What’s up with this? I searched for and couldn’t find a thread about it. I first heard of it recently when I saw a couple of videos on Youtube about some maps that Amazon has been releasing, giving clues about the series… --- ## [What do you think about the two Beowulfs?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-about-the-two-beowulfs/1006928)
**Author:** [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)\ **Replies:** 23\ **Last updated:** [September 10, 2024, 11:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-do-you-think-about-the-two-beowulfs/1006928 "2024-09-10T11:28:24Z")
There’s an interesting problem at the beginning of the Old English poem Beowulf. The poem is of course about the Geatish hero named Beowulf who comes to the aid of the Danish king Hrothgar, whose court is being terrorize… --- ## [LOTR: by what sorts of processes did Sauron reconstitute himself and his power after losing the Ring?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lotr-by-what-sorts-of-processes-did-sauron-reconstitute-himself-and-his-power-after-losing-the-ring/1006493)
**Author:** [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Replies:** 31\ **Last updated:** [September 8, 2024, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lotr-by-what-sorts-of-processes-did-sauron-reconstitute-himself-and-his-power-after-losing-the-ring/1006493 "2024-09-08T15:22:41Z")
We all know the story, from the beginning of the films: at the end of the 2nd Age, the Last Alliance of Elves and Men succeeds in defeating Sauron and his forces, when Isildur cuts the One Ring from his hand. In the film… --- ## [Tolkien and the Art of the Manuscript: My visit to view JRRT's original notes and drawings](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tolkien-and-the-art-of-the-manuscript-my-visit-to-view-jrrts-original-notes-and-drawings/975616)
**Author:** [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Replies:** 39\ **Last updated:** [September 4, 2024, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tolkien-and-the-art-of-the-manuscript-my-visit-to-view-jrrts-original-notes-and-drawings/975616 "2024-09-04T15:50:38Z")
I spent two hours yesterday wandering around the JRRT display at Marquette U’s Haggerty Museum in Milwaukee. There, I enjoyed examining the original pages of manuscripts from the hand of the good professor himself. The… --- ## [British use of the word "gaffer"](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-use-of-the-word-gaffer/1002472)
**Author:** [@HeyHomie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HeyHomie)\ **Replies:** 74\ **Last updated:** [August 23, 2024, 9:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/british-use-of-the-word-gaffer/1002472 "2024-08-23T09:10:54Z")
I had heard the word “gaffer” used in the context of film (lighting technician) before I read Tolkien and saw it used in the context of people (well, hobbits, but let’s not quibble). He speaks of hobbit “gaffers and gamm… --- ## [LOTR: Frodo never had a chance to destroy the One Ring. He is shown from the very start he cannot do it](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lotr-frodo-never-had-a-chance-to-destroy-the-one-ring-he-is-shown-from-the-very-start-he-cannot-do-it/1004487)
**Author:** [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Replies:** 238\ **Last updated:** [August 18, 2024, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/lotr-frodo-never-had-a-chance-to-destroy-the-one-ring-he-is-shown-from-the-very-start-he-cannot-do-it/1004487 "2024-08-18T04:16:44Z")
I was watching the recent YouTube video, “Why didn’t Elrond push Isildur into the Cracks of Doom?” by In Deep Geek. While the video is not about the question of this post there is this bit in the video which prompted me… --- ## [New LotR film, with Jackson, Boyens and Walsh involved, "The Hunt for Gollum" slated for 2026](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-lotr-film-with-jackson-boyens-and-walsh-involved-the-hunt-for-gollum-slated-for-2026/1002247)
**Author:** [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Replies:** 17\ **Last updated:** [May 30, 2024, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-lotr-film-with-jackson-boyens-and-walsh-involved-the-hunt-for-gollum-slated-for-2026/1002247 "2024-05-30T22:22:21Z")
The title contains the bare bones of what I have seen about this. Note that there was a 38-minute fan-made film in 2009, with different cast, writers, and everything, of which I have seen a couple of minutes before I sto… --- ## [Did Feanor go to the Halls of Mandos?](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-feanor-go-to-the-halls-of-mandos/1001879)
**Author:** [@FloatyGimpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FloatyGimpy)\ **Replies:** 8\ **Last updated:** [May 21, 2024, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-feanor-go-to-the-halls-of-mandos/1001879 "2024-05-21T19:15:38Z")
Feanor, even as he lay dying, made his sons keep their oath re the Silmarils. So he learned nothing. Did he still get to go to the Halls of Mandos? Did every elf get to go? Even the “bad” ones like Feanor and Eol? --- ## [Surely The Lord of the Rings is one of the best stories ever written](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surely-the-lord-of-the-rings-is-one-of-the-best-stories-ever-written/1001504)
**Author:** [@FloatyGimpy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FloatyGimpy)\ **Replies:** 214\ **Last updated:** [May 17, 2024, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/surely-the-lord-of-the-rings-is-one-of-the-best-stories-ever-written/1001504 "2024-05-17T23:32:08Z")
I don’t think I’ll find much disagreement here. I’ve read the books more times that I can count. At least once a year for the last 20 years and many times before that. I’ve memorized so many parts that, when I listen to … [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/tag/middle-earth/12.md?match_all_tags=true&page=1&tags%5B%5D=middle-earth)