Questions tagged [the-lord-of-the-rings]
For questions about the trilogy of movies or books, 'The Fellowship of the Ring', 'The Two Towers' and 'The Return of the King'. Always use in conjunction with the [tolkiens-legendarium] tag and, for movie questions, the relevant movie tag, e.g. [fellowship-of-the-ring].
2,100
questions
12
votes
2
answers
4k
views
Are the fires of Mt Doom lava, magma, or something else?
My son is learning about geology while reading LoTR. He wants to know if the fires of Mt Doom where the One Ring was forged were lava, magma, or something else. Are the fires described anywhere in the ...
- 565
4
votes
2
answers
441
views
About orcs, elves, ents and trolls
I was discussing The Lord of the Rings with my son tonight, and we were puzzled by something—Treebeard tells Pippin and Merry that trolls are "mighty strong" but are merely weaker imitations ...
- 151
11
votes
1
answer
7k
views
When were Frodo and Sam first conceptualized as gay?
In my journey through the internet I came across this Reddit post which links a Cameo from Sean Astin (Sam in the LotR movies). If I understand correctly, he is responding to a question or paid for ...
- 59.4k
-6
votes
1
answer
224
views
In what ways does the One Ring affect the wearer?
The key quote from Tolkien that answers this is contained in Letter 246, with my added emphasis:
It was part of the essential deceit of the Ring to fill minds with imaginations of supreme power.
...
- 6,944
5
votes
1
answer
213
views
At what point in the writing of The Lord of the Rings did Bilbo's "Translations from the Elvish" appear?
The original framing story for Tolkien's Book of Lost Tales, which later developed into The Silmarillion, was a sailor named Eriol/Ælfwine who chanced upon Tol Eressëa and was told the stories by his ...
- 14k
12
votes
2
answers
2k
views
What happened to Frodo's house at Crickhollow?
In The Lord of the Rings, Frodo buys a house at Crickhollow after selling Bag End to Lobelia Sackville-Baggins. He goes there on the way to Rivendell, where it is revealed that Merry and Pippin both ...
- 186
15
votes
2
answers
4k
views
Compass/magnetic directions in Middle-earth
Maps in The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit have North/South/East/West marked on them, and I am wondering if anyone can tell me what these directions mean and how they are determined in-universe.
The ...
- 2,769
40
votes
2
answers
8k
views
How was Aragorn's legitimacy as king verified?
Similar to the question "How did Faramir know that Aragorn was the King in the Houses of Healing?". How was it verified that Aragorn was indeed the rightful king of Gondor and not an ...
- 15.7k
5
votes
1
answer
501
views
In the Return of The King movie, why does Gandalf cough while smoking?
So this is a minor nitpick, but it's been bugging me for a little while now.
In The Fellowship of the Ring, we can see that Gandalf is a casual pipe smoker; he seems quite adept at it, even able to ...
- 3,179
45
votes
1
answer
8k
views
How did Bill the Pony survive in "The Lord of the Rings?"
On the road to Moria, the Fellowship released Bill the Pony, who in my opinion is the true hero of The Fellowship of the Ring. At the end of the series, Sam is reunited with Bill who made his way back ...
- 455
2
votes
0
answers
266
views
What exactly was the plan that drove the bulk of the Southlands subplot?
By the end of the first season of The Rings of Power, we learn that
So...whose plan was this, and what exactly was the plan? For example...
Or,
And given that
- 167
17
votes
1
answer
5k
views
Was Gandalf on Middle-earth in the Second Age?
Amazon's Rings of Power shows someone who may be Gandalf operating in the second age. When does Gandalf first arrive to Middle-earth in Tolkien's writings?
- 82.9k
25
votes
4
answers
7k
views
Do we ever see a hobbit use their natural ability to “disappear”?
The Fellowship of the Ring prologue contains the following information about hobbits:
They possessed from the first the art of disappearing swiftly and
silently, when large folk whom they do not wish ...
- 6,780
5
votes
2
answers
471
views
Could the Witch-king be killed without a Barrow-blade?
It seems to be widely assumed (see, e.g., https://middle-earth.xenite.org/could-earnur-have-slain-the-lord-of-the-nazgul/) that the Witch-king would have been somehow invulnerable to Éowyn's sword had ...
- 1,047
9
votes
3
answers
2k
views
In "The Rings of Power," what is Halbrand referring to when he says "The One?"
In the last episode of the show The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, during the scene between Halbrand and Galadriel, Halbrand makes a reference to "The One", but I don't understand ...
- 101
4
votes
0
answers
141
views
Was there a Baggins at Bag End after Frodo left for the Undying Lands? [duplicate]
In the beginning of the first LOTR movie, Bilbo narrates
"....There has always been a Baggins at Bag End and there always will
be."
But after Frodo leaves for the Undying Lands, who was ...
- 141
5
votes
0
answers
417
views
What kind of beings are the three women that hunt down the istar [closed]
In the Amazon Prime Series, there are three magical beings clad in grey that hunt down one of the main characters and have several interactions with what are to become hobbits.
As shown in the last ...
- 827
20
votes
2
answers
5k
views
How well known is the effect of death in Middle-earth?
Out of universe, it is well established that when Elves die, they don’t “really” die, instead they go to the Halls of Mandos where they will probably reincarnate after some time.
Men go to another ...
- 14.7k
7
votes
1
answer
589
views
How are Orcs so prolific in Tolkien?
The question as to how Orcs reproduce is one that has come up many times, and the answer is basically, as they are just corrupted Elves they do it in the traditional fashion.
For the Orcs had life ...
- 334
8
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Did Gandalf and Sméagol ever meet before Sméagol got the One Ring?
I am thinking that since Gandalf enjoyed being with Hobbits and liked to visit them, I am wondering if there is anything in LotR canon that mentions whether he had visited the Stoor Hobbits during his ...
- 3,271
22
votes
2
answers
4k
views
Besides Galadriel and Glorfindel, were any of the elves living in Middle-earth at the end of the Third Age born in Aman?
Both Galadriel and Glorfindel were Noldor born in Aman who followed Fëanor to Middle-earth, and are still there at the end of the Third Age (though yes, technically Glorfindel died, was reembodied, ...
- 331
-3
votes
1
answer
309
views
How did Uglúk escape Éomer's assault?
After Lurtz's death, Uglúk became the leader of the Uruk-hai who captured Merry and Pippin. Later on, Grishnákh's troops joined them.
When Éomer's riders attacked the troops, Grishnákh escaped ...
- 287
21
votes
1
answer
5k
views
How did Gollum follow the Fellowship through Lothlórien without being caught?
Lothlórien was guarded well. How did Gollum follow the Fellowship through Lórien without being caught by the Elves as the Fellowship was?
The Dwarf breathes so loud, we could have shot him in the ...
- 287
3
votes
1
answer
393
views
Did Tolkien ever discuss the inconsistent number of recorded Human and Elven relationships
In Tolkien's legendarium he was very clear that there were three unions of elves and men. Which were those of:
Beren and Lúthien
Tuor and Idril
Aragorn and Arwen
Tolkien also describes at least two ...
- 3,015
16
votes
1
answer
3k
views
Did the ringwraiths develop a better sense of smell and if so, why?
In my understanding, ringwraiths were once humans. The books portray them as sniffing a lot and trying to pick up a scent. This is especially true in the first part where Frodo departs from Bag End.
...
- 2,312
11
votes
1
answer
695
views
Who made the ring of Barahir
In JRR Tolkien's work the Ring of Barahir (RoB) was one of the key heirlooms of the Heirs of Elendil.
There is a relevant passage I recall, (I think it is from "Appendix A" of LotR, but my ...
- 2,612
28
votes
1
answer
6k
views
Who were the two large hobbits?
In the Lord of the Rings chapter "The Scouring of the Shire", there is this passage:
The hobbits at the gate still seemed ill at ease, evidently some rule or other was being broken; but ...
- 471
8
votes
0
answers
467
views
What has appeared in Rings of Power S1 that is outside Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit, but still in Tolkien's writings?
While people are quite, and even singularly, focused on things that appear in The Lord of the Rings: Rings of Power that aren't in Tolkien's writings anywhere, what I find interesting are things that ...
- 2,654
16
votes
2
answers
4k
views
How close is Amazon's 'The Rings of Power' to anything that existed in prior Tolkien works?
I was interested in watching 'The Rings of Power' as I enjoy most of what has been produced on Tolkien's works (minus 'The Hobbit'). I am hearing some horrible reviews, however, that make me question ...
- 1,988
0
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Did the Istari arrive in Middle Earth simultaneously? [duplicate]
From the wiki it is said that Saruman and one of the blue wizards came first, followed by Gandalf. Later Radagast and the other Blue wizard was sent.
Was this arrival practically simultaneous ("...
- 673
21
votes
3
answers
11k
views
Why couldn't the Ring be taken to Gondor by sea?
I'm currently listening to the Lord of the Rings on audiobook. In the Council of Elrond, they discuss a number of possible options for dealing with the Ring, including sending it to Valinor by ship, ...
- 411
-7
votes
1
answer
346
views
Did Tolkien ever write about his elves being hairless on certain parts of their bodies in any of his works, or if elves grew pubic hair
Any information from Tolkien's works that showed this would be acceptable.
- 87
6
votes
3
answers
995
views
Why didn't Gandalf have spies just like Saruman?
In The Fellowship of the Ring we see the Gap of Rohan being constantly watched by Dunland's Crebains (crows) which Saruman used as spies. So, when Gandalf was reborn as Gandalf the White, or even ...
- 689
13
votes
2
answers
533
views
How did the Witch-king take and hold Minas Ithil so easily?
One of the longer conflicts in the Legendarium is the Fall of Arnor, where the Witch-king spends a century building up Angmar to rival the diminished and disunited petty kingdoms of the Dúnedain, ...
- 2,922
18
votes
2
answers
8k
views
Why can't Merry drink the Ent-draught?
In the extended edition, after Merry and Pippin wake up deep in the forest and Merry realizes it's the drink making Pippin taller, he goes to get some for himself and you can hear Pippin plainly say:
...
- 205
13
votes
2
answers
3k
views
Did a dragon ever attack the lands of Rohan or Gondor?
I would like to know if there is anything mentioned in LOTR canon that mentions that a dragon had once attacked the lands of Rohan and/or Gondor, either during the 1st, 2nd, or 3rd Age.
Did a dragon ...
- 3,271
4
votes
1
answer
309
views
Can Gandalf magically manipulate smoke rings?
In the Lord of the Rings movie, Gandalf is shown manipulating smoke rings in a clearly magical way.
Is there any evidence in the books that he can do this?
I recall he blew smoke rings in LOTR but don’...
- 19.6k
20
votes
3
answers
5k
views
Why does Éowyn shieldmaiden of Rohan "not desire the speech of living men"?
Faramir smiled, though his heart was filled with pity. ‘Your window does not look eastward?’ he said. ‘That can be amended.
In this I will command the Warden. If you will stay in this house in our ...
- 225
10
votes
3
answers
1k
views
"Regions where pain and delight flow together and tears are the very wine of blessedness"?
From The Return of the King, either in the middle or toward the end:
And all the host laughed and wept, and in the midst of their merriment and tears the clear voice of the minstrel rose like silver ...
- 109
26
votes
1
answer
6k
views
Why would Sam NOT note the date when his own daughter was born?
In the end of The Return of the King:
Time went on, and 1421 came in. Frodo was ill again in March, but with a great effort he concealed it, for Sam had other things to think about. The first of Sam ...
- 319
-6
votes
1
answer
323
views
Are there meaningful anagrams in Lord of the Rings character names?
Motivation
I just observed that "Denethor", the human steward who thought himself king has all the same letters as the word "dethrone" which is what he intended to do to Aragorn, ...
- 2,456
1
vote
0
answers
230
views
Was it not inexcusably foolish of Sauron to not guard the Ring-destroying lava pit? [duplicate]
I know that he did not think that anyone would want to destroy it, but rather that somebody would instead claim it and try to fight Him with it, but if there is only one place on the planet where the ...
- 27
15
votes
2
answers
3k
views
How did Frodo's and Sam's non-Orc clothes get back from Mount Doom?
When Frodo and Sam wake up after being rescued by the Eagles, Gandalf mentions that the clothes that they wore to Mordor have been "rescued", and that they shall wear them in a ceremony.
He ...
- 167
-2
votes
3
answers
397
views
Why does Frodo act as if the world is coming to an end when they have fulfilled the Quest?
At the moment when they should be overflowing with joy, when they have just saved Middle-earth by finally managing to drop The One into the uniquely Ring-destroying lava pit, Frodo is talking about ...
- 41
10
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Are there any battle speeches given by Elven commanders in Tolkien's legendarium?
I am looking for battle speeches like the one Théoden gave prior to the Battle of the Pelennor Fields in The Return of the King:
Arise! Arise, riders of Théoden! Spears shall be shaken, shields shall ...
- 101
1
vote
1
answer
286
views
What is the Tengwar transliteration of this Gandalf quote fom the Lord of the Rings
I searched the web for someone to trust to make a transliteration in Tengwar and no one that I have asked has gotten back to me, so here I am.
I want to make a tattoo in Tengwar (preferably the italic/...
- 19
29
votes
1
answer
6k
views
Is Sam exclusively Frodo's gardener, or his general servant?
Sam felt that he could sit like that in endless happiness; but it was not allowed. It was not enough for him to find his master, he had still to try and save him. He kissed Frodo’s forehead. ‘Come! ...
- 291
2
votes
0
answers
76
views
What happened to The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings as the text that existed in Middle-Earth? [duplicate]
Excuse me for not having read the books, I just rewatched the movies while beginning The Silmarillion, with The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings to follow.
At the end of Return of the King as he ...
- 121
21
votes
2
answers
6k
views
Why did the gate before Minas Tirith break so very easily?
Unless I got something wrong, it took only three (3) bashes with the huge door-breaker for the "mighty" gate before Minas Tirith to burst open.
Isn't it strange? Is that really how a real ...
- 245
24
votes
4
answers
6k
views
Did Sauron suspect that the Ring would be destroyed?
In The Lord of the Rings, the strategy is to infiltrate the One Ring into Mordor undetected and destroy it in Mount Doom.
However in "The Choices of Master Samwise", Shagrat and Gorbag have ...
- 19.6k