The Revived Tolkien Trivia

[Grimward]

'Tis, you wascally wabbit, you.

*A bell with a red eye-shaped blotch on one side and "Lord of the Flies" engraven on the other appears in HB's hands.*

Besides, one could argue that the grinning face was still doing Sauron's work by mocking the original statue....

The floor is yours, good sir. Fire away!

 

[HareBrain]

Thanks Grim. I'd like also to thank having seen a drawing in David Day's "Tolkien Bestiary" in my youth, for enabling me to remember those little critters.

My question is:

Who remembers dying in battle?

 

[The Judge]

Is it Merry when he wakes after being taken by the Barrow-wights?

" 'What in the name of wonder?' began Merry... 'Of course, I remember!' he said. 'The men of Carn Dum came on us at night, and we were worsted. Ah! the spear in my heart!' "

The LotR; The Fellowship of the Ring, Book One, Chapter VIII - Fog on the Barrow-Downs.

 

[HareBrain]

Yes indeed Judge, well done. A bell made of worsted for you (might not work very well, I'm afraid) and the terrifying responsibility of setting the next question.

 

[The Judge]

Well, a worsted bell isn't the worst I could have won, since I must have worsted you to win it. [Sorry...]

And we move quickly to the next question, which is:

Where precisely were stones piled like the heaped skulls of a conqueror?

J

 

[Grimward]

Hmmm, I don't know how precise I can be here beyond saying

.....on the lawns under the plum-trees....

in the Shire during the marvelous (did you note the typo here? first time I've noticed, but the book has marvelous with 2 'l's...) summer of 1420...it doesn't specify which farthing, for example....anyway, here's the full quote:

The fruit was so plentiful that young hobbits very nearly bathed in strawberries and cream; and later they sat on the lawns under the plum-trees and ate, until they had made piles of stones like small pyramids or the heaped skulls of a conquieror, and then they moved on.

The Return of the King, Book VI, Chapter IX, The Grey Havens (std. Markyian page comment inserted here)

You, I guess, will have to perform your office and judge whether I've been specific enough, your honor!

 

[Pyan]

There's also an anachronism in the next line, Grim - IIRC it ends

...except for those that had to mow the grass

or very similar.

Did Hobbitkind invent the lawnmower, then? I can't see any problem with scything the grass with plumstones on it, and it would only be a lawnmower that would have a problem with them...

Sorry to digress, but I thought it would be Quite Interesting...along with potatoes and umbrellas...

 

[HareBrain]

No anachronism Pyan, "mow" can mean to cut grass with a scythe.

And Grim, "marvellous" is the traditional spelling in British English, "marvelous" is American.

 

[The Judge]

Precisely correct, Master Grimward. And to you I hand a bell of surpassing beauty and elegance together with the awesome task of setting the next question.

J

 

[Pyan]

No anachronism Pyan, "mow" can mean to cut grass with a scythe.

Oh yes, I know, HB - but somehow the image of a hobbit pushing a lawnmower a little too big for him is rather appealing...

 

[HareBrain]

As someone who was forced to cut my dad's lawn with a seven-ton cast iron Webb from the age of five*, I fail to see the amusement ...

*disclaimer: memory might differ from actual events

 

[Pyan]

As someone who was forced to cut my dad's lawn with a seven-ton cast iron Webb from the age of five*, I fail to see the amusement ...

*disclaimer: memory might differ from actual events

Possibly...as I recall, that was the one designed to be pulled by a large horse...

Anyway, I don't want to get into trouble for thread hi-jacking....so over to the Judge...

 

[The Judge]

Anyway, I don't want to get into trouble for thread hi-jacking....so over to the Judge...

So over to the Judge what? If you think I'm going to mow anybody's lawn, you've another think coming - I don't even do my own!

J

PS I think I've fulfilled my bell-transferring duties, but if I've done something wrong, please pipe up. (Or should that be ring out?)

 

[Marky Lazer]

You don't need to do nothing, Judge. It's just Pyan not paying attention because him being old and edging closer every day to senility obviously. It's that grim fellow we're waiting for.

 

[Pyan]

Marky "Mr Pedantic Jnr" Lazer is absolutely correct, as of course, it is Grimmy to set the question...

Sorry...

 

[Grimward]

Sorry folks, started to do this yesterday but got interrupted and, well, it's difficult to ask (or answer) half a question....

What did Gondor copy from hobbits?

P.S. Good previous question, your honor.

 

[The Judge]

Might it be smoking pipe-weed/sweet galenas?

'The Men of Gondor call it sweet galenas, and esteem it only for the fragrance of its flowers... But even the Dunedain of Gondor allow us this credit: Hobbits first put it into pipes. Not even the Wizards first thought of that before we did.'

The LotR, The Fellowship of the Ring; Prologue; 2 'Concerning Pipe-weed'.

 

[Grimward]

Not what I have in mind, I'm afraid.

As a case (pun NOT intended this time!) can be made for this one, I will take it under consideration if no one comes up with my quote...

 

[Pyan]

Hmm... what about the name of the Ruling House of Gondor, post Aragorn...?

(Pippin)'Strider! How splendid! Do you know, I guessed it was you in the black ships. But they were all shouting corsairs and wouldn't listen to me. How did you do it?'
Aragorn laughed, and took the hobbit by the hand. 'Well met indeed!' he said. 'But there is not time yet for travellers' tales.'
But Imrahil said to Éomer: 'Is it thus that we speak to our kings? Yet maybe he will wear his crown in some other name!'
And Aragorn hearing him, turned and said: 'Verily, for in the high tongue of old I am Elessar, the Elfstone, and Envinyatar, the Renewer': and he lifted from his breast the green stone that lay there. 'But Strider shall be the name of my house, if that be ever established. In the high tongue it will not sound so ill, and Telcontar I will be and all the heirs of my body.'

RotK, Book V, Chapter 8, The Houses of Healing.

 

[Grimward]

No sir, I'm afraid not.

Hobbits originated that which was copied, if that helps....