Q: Are There Female Orcs in Middle-earth? ANSWER: Yes, there are female Orcs in Middle-earth. For years readers had to employ logic to show that there must be female Orcs by citing passages such as where Tolkien said “for the…
Month: January 2013
Do Wizards Need Their Staffs in Middle-earth?
Q: Do Wizards Need Their Staffs in Middle-earth? ANSWER: It is clear from a few scenes in the story that Gandalf used his staff (such as to light fires, create a light by which to see in Moria, etc.) for…
Why Did Peter Jackson Change The Hobbit?
Q: Why Did Peter Jackson Change The Hobbit? ANSWER: I think many people have been too harsh on Peter Jackson for expanding “The Hobbit” to three films. To cover each of the episodes in the book would in fact take…
The Men Who Would Be Steward
Guardianship is the mark of the Stewards of Gondor. They are guardians, wardens, keeping an ancient trust placed in their hands by a family of kings which, at the end of the Third Age, no longer exists. Gondor’s Ruling Stewards…
All Subscriptions Are Now Confirmable
It was brought to our attention that some people were being prevented from confirming their Subscribe2 submissions to this blog by an anti-spam tool. We have made an adjustment to the settings and you should now be able to confirm…
Do Any Maps Accurately Show Beleriand and Eriador Together?
Q: Do Any Maps Accurately Show Beleriand and Eriador Together? ANSWER: I am not aware of any such maps, although I have reviewed many attempts to join them. Unfortunately I cannot find the reference as I write this article (hence,…
What Are the Ages of the Children of Iluvatar?
Q: What Are the Ages of the Children of Iluvatar? ANSWER: The “Ages of the Children of Iluvatar” is a fannish convention modeled on an expression that J.R.R. Tolkien used in an early version (B) of his tale of years…
And Now … for the Rest of the Poem
It could be said that, but for an obscure thirteenth century manuscript, The Lord of the Rings might never have seen publication. Most people who have expressed something more than a passing fancy sooner or later hear that Tolkien actually…
How Did Elrond’s People Know Bilbo’s Name in The Hobbit?
Q: How Did Elrond’s People Know Bilbo’s Name in The Hobbit? ANSWER: In The Hobbit the Elves of Rivendell greet Bilbo Baggins by name before he has introduced himself properly. The narrative says that he wondered how they should know…
Did Elrond Hate Dwarves?
Q: Did Elrond Hate Dwarves? ANSWER: So far as J.R.R. Tolkien’s published stories reveal, Elrond never expressed any dislike or distrust toward Dwarves at any time in his documented career. Tolkien may have assumed that Elrond — as Gil-galad’s herald…
How Did Aragorn’s People Seal the Ringwraiths in Tombs?
Q: How Did Aragorn’s People Seal the Ringwraiths in Tombs? ANSWER: In the J.R.R. Tolkien books the Ringwraiths (Nazgul) are never sealed in tombs. Not only did the Dunedain lack the power to accomplish something like that, it would not…
Are the Dragons Immortal Creatures?
Q: Are the Dragons Immortal Creatures? ANSWER: Although dragons are long-lived creatures (both Glaurung and Smaug appear in stories that are about two centuries apart within their respective lifetimes) there is no indication in any of J.R.R. Tolkien’s published texts…