The Revived Tolkien Trivia

[Grimward]

Leap years? In the Steward's Reckoning? Tut tut, HB...

I can't believe you haven't read and are intimate with Appendix D!...

And here, of course, we get REALLY murky, as the "...Revised Calendar developed by Mardil was called Steward's Reckoning and was adopted eventually by most of the users of the Westron language, except the Hobbits. The months were all 30 days, and 2 days outside the months were introduced: 1 between the third and four months [an actual Tolkien typo here, unless it was customary to not say "fourth"!], and 1 between the ninth and tenth (September, October [or Halimath and Winterfilth as known in The Shire])."

[Bracketed comments inserted by me!]


Bilbo, therefore, would have needed the wisdom of Manwe to succeed in arriving at the same day/date, as the Hobbits were still on King's Reckoning, with Lithedays, Overlithe, the day that belonged to no week and other such complications. Reconciling this date in either Reckoning should have been no problem for you, HB; you have a computer!

And, before I forget, a very Happy Easter to all my Tolkien Trivia brethren (sistren?); may the Easter Bunny leave you all Beorning Honey Eggs.

 

[Pyan]

And here, of course, we get REALLY murky, as the "...Revised Calendar developed by Mardil was called Steward's Reckoning and was adopted eventually by most of the users of the Westron language, except the Hobbits.

The Tale of Years, though, is based on Steward's Reckoning, not Shire Reckoning...

*Arghh! I'm turning into a Tolkienerd...*

Thirty arrows make a rope, more or less. Explain.

Well, the rope that Sam gets given in Lorien is about 30 ells long...

"(Frodo)..How long is your rope, I wonder?"

Sam paid it out slowly, measuring it with his arms. "Five, ten, twenty, thirty ells, more or less,' he said.

TT, Book IV, Chapter 1, The Taming of Sméagol


Now: I know what second quote is intended, ("black-feathered arrows a full ell long from point to notch" perchance?) but that's from a source not covered in this thread (because it's considered part of the HoMe)...so I hope you'll accept one quote and a reference (Unfinished Tales), HB.

 

[HareBrain]

Accepted with something close to awe, Pyan. Here's a b-ell (though I couldn't stretch to thirty of them) for you. Sorry about the illegal book - not an attempt to make it harder, I assure you!

 

[Pyan]

Just to clarify things, a list of the allowed books...

The Hobbit
The Lord of the Rings
The Silmarillion
The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien
The Children of Hurin
​

The History of Middle-earth edited by CJR Tolkien is not at present allowed - partly because of the nature of the series itself, and partly because it was felt that it would restrict the number of participants, being a much more specialised interest than the five books above.


Don't worry about it, HB - Unfinished Tales does read more like the canon than the rest of HoMe, but is officially classified there rather than a "proper" JRRT story.

 

[Pyan]

Thanks for the b-ell, HB! (and I see you're half-way to joining the 1000 Club!..)


Who broke the law twice by marrying his first cousin?

 

[HareBrain]

Thanks Pyan, I'm getting the bunting ready in anticipation.

I know this one (if I'm right) because I came across it while looking for the "Under the shadow" answer

And it came to pass that Tar-Palantir grew weary of grief and died. He had no son, but a daughter only [...] But Pharazon took her to wife against her will, doing evil in this and evil also in that the laws of Numenor did not permit the marriage, even in the royal house, of those more nearly akin than cousins in the second degree.

Akallabeth

(I presume the two "evils" are the law-breaking episodes, though that quote doesn't actually state that the first is breaking the law)

 

[Pyan]

Spot-on, HB - and a magnificent and golden bell for you, for obvious reasons...

Your go...

 

[HareBrain]

Thank you - and oops, I forgot to give the answer as well as the supporting quote!


Who changed his/her name to signify servitude?

 

[HareBrain]

A little clue?

One might say the name-change nearly unbalanced the person.

 

[Grimward]

A three parter, maybe?

This then is the one choice before you, before us. We may join with that Power. It would be wise, Gandalf. There is hope that way. Its victory is at hand; and there will be rich reward for those that aided it.

and

"White!" he sneered. "Its serves as a beginning. White cloth may be dyed. The white page can be overwritten; and the white light can be broken."

and

"For I am Saruman the Wise, Saruman Ring-maker, Saruman of Many Colours!"

Saruman, who is no longer the White, having changed his name to Saruman of Many Colours when he allied himself with Sauron?

The Fellowship of the Ring, Book II, Chapter II, The Council of Elrond, relative pages 252,3

 

[HareBrain]

Sorry to say no after all that effort, Grim, but ... no. The servitude of the person in question was reflected by the choice of new name, not just the fact that it had been changed.

The clue in my previous post is cryptic, by the way ...

 

[HareBrain]

Still nothing? Any longer and Pyan would have to step in, having worked out the answer about 3 seconds after I posted the question. For the rest of you, I shall repeat the clue, with extra clueness.

One might say the name-change nearly un-balanced the person.

 

[Stylus]

Ah! This took me a while, couldn't find the umlauts on my keyboard

But when after a year had passed Felagund wished to return to his own country, Bëor begged leave to come with him; and he remained in the service of the King of Nargothrond while his life lasted. In this way he got his name, Bëor, whereas his name before had been Balan; for Bëor signified 'Vassal' in the tongue of his people.

The Silmarillion, Quenta Silmarillion, Chapter 17 'Of the coming of Men into the West'

The answer is: Bëor the Old

 

[HareBrain]

You perfectionist, Stylus! That is the right answer, and the servants' bell is yours.

(BTW you're supposed to state where the quote comes from, but I'll let you off, just this once mind you)

 

[Pyan]

Quick hint, Stylus - rather than mess about with alt codes, Google the name and cut and paste it, complete with JRRT's accents...

 

[Stylus]

No attribution! I do apologise. I blame the perfect martini (lubricated the grey matter into getting the answer, but had me concentrating so much to type the quote out, I forgot my scholastic habits). Error now corrected, and I thank you for your indulgence (great question, by the way).

I have now eaten both olives, so with a meal inside me, I am collected enough to pose my question:

What name would a hobbit give to a Great Bear?

 

[Pyan]

They'd call it the Sickle:

Peering out, Frodo saw that the night was still clear. The Sickle * was swinging bright above the shoulders of Bree-hill.

(Footnote) * The Hobbit's name for the Plough or Great Bear.

FotR, Book I, Chapter X, Strider

 

[Stylus]

Correct answer, Pyan. A twinkly bell to you.

 

[Pyan]

Ooh! Twinkly!

Careful, now: What colours were the robes of the Black Riders?

 

[HareBrain]

They were grey

He was able to see beneath their black wrappings. [...] under their mantles were long grey robes

LOTR, Book 1, Ch11: "A Knife in the Dark"