Middle-Earth Quiz!!

[edwinunger]

Mim the petty-Dwarf, who was killed by ____________?

Hurin. Mim's son was?

[Womdon]

He had two, Ibun and Khun.

Who drew their sword and faced down the Nazgul from across the ford of Bruinen?

<books, not movie>

[edwinunger]

He had two, Ibun and Khun.

Who drew their sword and faced down the Nazgul from across the ford of Bruinen?

<books, not movie>

Ah, got me on that one, I forgot about the other brother.

Glorfindel is the answer to yours.

Game to books reference question: What story does Book 7.8 give a nod to in the books?

[Womdon]

I don't know the answer to your question off the top of my head - I'll check it out - but Glorfindel isn't the answer to mine. He was there, but he remained on the other side of the river to summon the waters.

[edwinunger]

I don't know the answer to your question off the top of my head - I'll check it out - but Glorfindel isn't the answer to mine. He was there, but he remained on the other side of the river to summon the waters.

Ah, was it Frodo? He gave his "defiant stand" there, and his sword broke. But Elrond and Gandalf summoned the waters, not Glorfindel.

[Womdon]

Aye, Frodo. That was one of the scenes that really disappointed me in the theatre. I could understand cutting Glorfindel out, but turning Frodo into a complete pansy ticked me off. While watching the scene where Arwen was crying over top of Frodo, I just wanted to sock Liv Tyler right in the chops.

As for the water... well maybe it's time I reread the books again, heheh.

[edwinunger]

Okay have to be fair, Elrond wasn't actually AT the ford when it happened. Glorfindel just "feels" the power of Elrond's protection for his lands, mixed with another passionate power, that of Gandalf's. Elrond brought the water, Gandalf put the little horsey images into it. Still waiting on my question everyone... What story does Book 7.8 in LOTRO reference? Hint: Don't think J.R.R.

[RathanTyr-Valen]

I don't know the answer to your question off the top of my head - I'll check it out - but Glorfindel isn't the answer to mine. He was there, but he remained on the other side of the river to summon the waters.

Glorfindel revealed his true form as an Elf Lord who had seen the light of Aman. This alone put fear into the Nazgul at the ford. Additionally, Glorfindel and Aragorn wielded torches. Natural elements can damage the wraiths and thus they suffered additional terror from the fire and the water of the fords. Being caught between an Elf lord of long lineage (not to mention one that had fought Balrogs toe to toe, died, and had been resurrected of sorts), the Heir of Isildur (though not yet revealed), and fire on one side and a running river on the other became a difficult choice for the Nazgul to be sure.

And once Elrond sprang the trap and the torrent caught the horses of the Nazgul (with added touched by Gandalf in the form of white horses on the foam), terror and fear gave way to concession and surrendur to the elements and the powers....

[gradivus]

Aye, Frodo. That was one of the scenes that really disappointed me in the theatre. I could understand cutting Glorfindel out, but turning Frodo into a complete pansy ticked me off.

And at first I didn't like the way they completely changed Faramir's reaction to the Ring and his initial decision to take it or not.

But the way I think about it now is to reflect that the same myth is often told in different ways, and from a perspective of the underlying myth both versions can be "true" even when the details differ. That way I can enjoy and appreciate both versions. And I think that's consistent with Tolkien's desire to create a mythology for the English: that the "facts" may differ in different tellings means he has more closely acheived his objective, and I think he would be happy with that.

Game to books reference question: What story does Book 7.8 give a nod to in the books?

What do you mean by "in the books"? The LotR books or the LotRO books? Or anyone's books?

As I recall in 7.8 you're accompanying a young woman to try to rescue her father from an evil place (in this case, Carn Dum). That's a familiar motif, e.g., the computer fantasy game Heavenly Sword, and in fiction Sabriel by Garth Nix in which she's trying to rescue her father from some "land of the dead." In fact it echoes back to the ancient Greek myth of Orpheus going to Hades to bring back his dead wife, and I think in another story Hercules is actually sucessful at it.

And then there's Beauty and the Beast, where a daughter essentually trades places with her father to save his life.

But if this is a quiz about Middle Earth how can we "not think J.R.R."?

[edwinunger]

Okay Grad, you've forced my hand. All of your ideas were really good, ones I hadn't even thought of, which is why I have to get rid of the confusion. I was actually referring to something middle earth, just not specifically J.R.R. My question comes from a work by Christopher, his son (notes were by J.R.R, but actual writing was done by Chris). In Children of Hurin, Hurin is held captive by Morgoth for the entire life of his wife, son, and two daughters. During his capture, Morgoth forces him to watch his children and wife, watch their life threads separate and remeet, watch their doom come to fruition through their own follies of pride and ignorance. At the end of it all, Hurin is released to be with his wife again, but he has lost all hope.

In 7.8 of LOTRO, we learn that Golodir has been held captive by Mordirith and made to look into the Palantir. He watches as his friends and loved ones are crushed under the might of Angmar. After his spirit has been crushed, he is released.

I understand that my question probably wasn't specific enough, I was just trying to point out the comparison I saw in these two events. I truly think Turbine did this on purpose, and it was definitely a good reference IMO.

Someone else ask the next one.

[gradivus]

In Children of Hurin, Hurin is held captive by Morgoth for the entire life of his wife, son, and two daughters. During his capture, Morgoth forces him to watch his children and wife, watch their life threads separate and remeet, watch their doom come to fruition through their own follies of pride and ignorance. At the end of it all, Hurin is released to be with his wife again, but he has lost all hope.

That story was in The Silmarillion too. Perhaps Children of Hurin (I never read it) was an elaboration by Chris T. of that story?

In 7.8 of LOTRO, we learn that Golodir has been held captive by Mordirith and made to look into the Palantir. He watches as his friends and loved ones are crushed under the might of Angmar. After his spirit has been crushed, he is released. ... I was just trying to point out the comparison I saw in these two events.

Ah yes, I see what you mean!

[FlyFearless]

I'll add one:

How was Rose related to Sam besides her being his wife?

[edwinunger]

Well, Rosie's brother is Sam's brother-in-law, not sure what that would make Rosie though...

Hamfast (Gaffer, Sam's Father) is the brother of Cotman. Cotman is the grandfather of Tom Cotton, who was the Father of Rosie. This is the official relationship, but I don't know what it would be called.

Also, after much research, I learned that "Gamgee" is a surname that stands for "cotton-wool," named for a guy named Gamgee who invented a surgical tissue. This was meant to show the relationship between the Cottons and Gamgees. Fun stuff.



Why is Gandalf given the honor of riding on the back of Eagles, rather than being carried in their talons?

[Thehunter]

Because he had saved their leader countless years ealier from something which I cannot recall.

Umm... Easy question but who is gloins son. :P

[edwinunger]

Gimli, but bonus points for telling me what Gandalf saved one of the eagles from, and also the name of the Eagle.

[gradivus]

He had a thorn in his paw... no wait, that was Androcles and the lion.

[LOTRFan101]

Gimli, but bonus points for telling me what Gandalf saved one of the eagles from, and also the name of the Eagle.

An arrow-wound. Though not specifically named in the Hobbit, I always assumed it was Gwaihir...

[edwinunger]

Yes, arrow wound and Gwaihir, Lord of the Eagles it was! I'm also not sure his name was mentioned, been a while since I read the Hobbit, but I do remember it mentioned that Gandalf saved the Lord of all Eagles, so I assume that since we learn Gwaihir is the King, he was King back then as well.

[LOTRFan101]

OK, name one of Gwaihir's brothers.

[Womdon]

Meneldor (my server of choice)

Name the other!

[FlyFearless]

Landroval!

[gradivus]

The phrase "Middle Earth" did not originate with J.R.R. Tolkien; he read it somewhere else first. Where (in what work) did he read it, who wrote it, and to what place(s) did it refer?

[Big_H]

The phrase "Middle Earth" did not originate with J.R.R. Tolkien; he read it somewhere else first. Where (in what work) did he read it, who wrote it, and to what place(s) did it refer?

While I don't have all those answers but I'm assuming you're referring to Midgrad, Norse mythology for the land of man, between the land of the gods and... whatever was below.
And is where he got it The Ring of The Neblung (sp, and obviously not in German) by Wagner?

...actually that might answer all your questions..


Edit:
While looking up the correct spelling (it's Nibelung) I saw this, which is probably what you were looking for. Posed the question back in high school, I would have been all over it, but sadly my Norse knowledge has decreased in later years

[gradivus]

Midgrad, Norse mythology for the land of man, between the land of the gods and... whatever was below.

That part is correct; Middle Earth is an ancient phrase for the world in which we live, lying between heaven and earth. But according to Tolkien, he read it in a specific work, an ancient poem in fact, and it was not Norse, but English (Anglo-Saxon, in fact).

It would be easy enough to find in Google, now that you know that, but give a little time for someone who might actually know, and then I'll give the answer.

Extra points if you can give me the original Middle-English passage from the poem, and/or tell me what LOTR character name he also obtained from that passage.

[Linwen]

The poem is named Crist, and the lines were:

Eala éarendel engla beorhtast
Ofer middangeard monnum sended

In translation,
Hail Earendel, brightest of angels,
Sent over Middle-earth to men.

Hence the inspiration for Eärendil.

Who were Eärendil's sons, and where were they born?