The Revived Tolkien Trivia

That's right, Py.
An oriflamme bell to you.

'swot I fort!
Grim and I enjoy these chain questions, but questions that take weeks to solve just spoils it for those that don't.
Maybe one every now and then,eh. :)
 
Off hand I would guess the goblins, I seem to remember something about the way they are described in The Hobbit that would warrant a sign like that before one of their cave entrances.
(I am sorry to put this out quoteless, the box I packed my books in this last time is now part of a wall.)
 
This is the factory sign for keep your hands out of the machinery or they might get crushed or hammered.

So I suspect you're looking at the new improved Sandyman mill in the Scouring of the Shire.
They're always a-hammering and a-letting out a smoke and a stench and there isn't no peace even at night in Hobbiton
Although, at least in the films, underneath Orthanc would qualify too.
 
I'm afraid it's a wee bit more obscure...

The name of the sign is important, rather than what it warns against - and read the question very carefully, because those eight words should be taken literally.
 
ok, I've found it called the HAND DAMAGE DANGER sign.

So could you stick it on Treebeard (and the other ents and Huorns) as the biggest danger to the White hand?
 
Err - that's a bit specific - it's got a more general name...
 
‘He is plotting to become a Power. He has a mind of metal and wheels; and he does not care for growing things, as far as they serve him for the moment.’
~ Treebeard J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord Of the Rings Book 3.V. Treebeard


To Sauruman himself then? "Beware metal wheels, o white hand" kind of thing?

​
 
The trouble is, Py, that the sign is called different things depending on where you find it (or which supplier you buy it off.)

Danger Moving Parts.
Rotating parts.
Keep hands away from machinery
Do not operate if guard removed
etc.

If it's Rotating Parts, how about the eye of Barad Dur.
(Although personally I found Jackson's interpretation of that to be his best invention and you couldn't stick this sign on that.)
 
This is purely for fun because it's a bit of a reach, but I say the sign would be engraved on the hilt of Narsil (and kept when it became Anduril), as it's a danger to Dark Lord fingers everywhere. :D

...but Sauron himself was overthrown, and Isildur cut the Ring from his hand with the hilt-shard of his father's sword, and took it for his own.
Click to expand...
The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring, Book Two, Chapter II, The Council of Elrond

Either that, or Gollum's teeth! :D

If I must read carefully, Gollum is the who, and Narsil/Anduril is the what.
 
farntfar said:
The trouble is, Py, that the sign is called different things depending on where you find it (or which supplier you buy it off.)
Click to expand...

Good point - I googled the term I wanted and this came up, so I used it, should have checked further.

Some of the interpretations have been brilliant - but the term I wanted was Dangerous Machine.

So go to, go to. What would JRRT apply it to?
 
Last edited:
Well I think we're back to Hope's idea of Saruman and Orthanc then, but maybe specifically the bit:
When Saruman was back in Orthanc, it was not long before he set some of his precious machinery to work......Suddenly up came fires and foul fumes......Beechbone ... got caught in a spray of some liquid fire and burned like a torch...

Also the reciprocal danger to Saruman that it really set of the ents.
 
Last edited:
Well done Cor!

Ah these letters!
I have the book, but I've only read 8 or a dozen of 'em.
He wrote lovely letters, in the old way, but I could never study it, or remember special references.
I haven't the patience.
So letter questions someone else can get.:D
 
Thanks, Mr Pyan, sir.

Let's continue with some eagle questions...

Where can we find "Eaglehome"?
 
I think, Corbier, that this is something of a trick question, as Eaglehome will ne'er be found in Middle Earth.

You might try, were you living in the south of England, to hop over to the Netherlands, to a place called Arnhem. Roughly translated, Arnhem means "Eaglehome". Also the seen of the bridge that was too far, in A Bridge Too Far, a.k.a. "Monty's Folly".

Quote to be found in Letters, 190, where Tolkien appears quite miffed about a Dutch translator seeking to changed the place names of the Shire.

Good on JRRT, I say.
 
Well done, Clansman! That's what I was looking for :D

Ting-ting and the floor is yours.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Thread starter Similar threads Forum Replies Date
Extollager Tolkien's opposition to illustrating fairy-tales JRR Tolkien 24
B What Would Peoples of Earlier Eras have Thought Of Tolkien's Works ? JRR Tolkien 29
Extollager Malvern Hills -- Tolkien angle -- Country Life magazine 20 March 2024 JRR Tolkien 3
M Traditional grain planting method being revived - a move away from monocultures. Science & Nature 18
Whitestar Farscape Revived On SCIFI.COM!!! Farscape 2

Similar threads


Back
Top