Visit The *EVEN NEWER* Barrow-Downs Photo Page |
12-28-2002, 05:28 PM | #1 |
Animated Skeleton
|
If you could ask J.R.R. Tolkien One (1) Question, what would it be?
If J.R.R. Tolkien came abck form the dead, and you met him face to face, and you could ask him one question, what would you ask him about?
Would you ask if Balrogs ahd wings? Who was Tom Bombadil? If Sam was nicer to Gollum, would he not turned evil again? Was Saruman's ring powerful? What did Hobbits eat? Is your son correct about ******? etc. etc. etc.... I would have to ask him what he thought of the movies...because I think that would be best.. But what would you ask him about? -willkill
__________________
Gil-galad was an Elven-king. Of him the harpers sadly sing... |
12-28-2002, 05:40 PM | #2 |
Animated Skeleton
|
Yeah, I would ask him about the movies too.
Where are the other Palentirs(sp)? Can the other Rings of Power corrupt? Is Gollum to be pitied or loathed?
__________________
Frodo: Go back, Sam! I'm going to Mordor alone. Sam: Of course you are, and I'm comming with you! |
12-28-2002, 05:42 PM | #3 |
Wight
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: In the house of Tom Bombariffic
Posts: 196
|
I would ask him "What was every known creature in the old forest". That way Id find out what bombadil was, what goldberry was, what willow was, and whether the entwives were really there.
Was that cheating? bombariffic
__________________
The 'hum' generated by an electric car is not in fact the noise of the engine, but that of the driver's self-righteousness oscillating at a high frequency. |
12-28-2002, 05:44 PM | #4 |
Wight
|
i would ask him if he could ask the Ainur to produce a magical portal to where i could step through into ME, hopefully i would land in the Shire or Rivendel.
if he couldnt do that, i would just ask for a simple hand shake, Fore arm to Fore arm ME style.
__________________
"You cant always get what you want.... But if you try sometimes you just my find.... you get what you need." Glen Sight |
12-28-2002, 05:47 PM | #5 |
Summoner of Lost Souls
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: At home, with my Strongbow
Posts: 521
|
Do Balrogs have wings? [img]smilies/tongue.gif[/img]
__________________
-"Death borders upon our birth, and our cradle stands in the grave. Our birth is nothing but our death begun." |
12-28-2002, 05:57 PM | #6 |
Haunting Spirit
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: The woods of Orome.
Posts: 58
|
I would ask him about Tom Bombadil, so as to stop the debate finally.
I would also like to know about the precise number of elves, men and dwarves there when they all first awoke.
__________________
Well, I'm back. |
12-28-2002, 06:53 PM | #7 |
Cryptic Aura
Join Date: May 2002
Posts: 5,996
|
Hmm. All of you are ignoring one of the primary traits of authors.
They never answer any question straight; they never provide closure; they only stir up the mucky bottoms of Withywindles, obscuring the water lilies, in fervent hopes of stimulating further discussion. Carpenter's edition of the Letters demonstrates in abundance this characteristic of Tolkien, always deferring. All the fun's in how you debate a thing. Bethberry
__________________
I’ll sing his roots off. I’ll sing a wind up and blow leaf and branch away. |
12-28-2002, 07:20 PM | #8 |
World's Tallest Hobbit
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Where the view is long
Posts: 2,117
|
Did you have fun?
__________________
'They say that the One will himself enter into Arda, and heal Men and all the Marring from the beginning to the end." |
12-28-2002, 07:33 PM | #9 | |
Cornus Caliga
|
Quote:
1) Ask for two more questions 2) Ask him to be clear and concise and not beat around the bush 3)Ask him your question Voila! [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img] That aside, I personally would like to ask Tolkien for a detailed explanation on the three themes of the Ainulindalë and their place in the timeline of Arda. That would help me out a lot. Of course if I read the chapter again, so might that... [ December 28, 2002: Message edited by: Ithaeliel ]
__________________
That best portion of a good man's life, His little, nameless, unremembered acts of kindness and of love. .................William Wordsworth |
|
12-28-2002, 07:42 PM | #10 |
Cryptic Aura
Join Date: May 2002
Posts: 5,996
|
Hope springs eternal in the youthful breast.
I bow to you, Ithaliel. [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img] Bethberry
__________________
I’ll sing his roots off. I’ll sing a wind up and blow leaf and branch away. |
12-28-2002, 09:02 PM | #11 |
Guest
Posts: n/a
|
just one question....
Me: "Whats up....?" |
12-28-2002, 09:12 PM | #12 |
Night In Wight Satin
Join Date: May 2000
Posts: 4,043
|
This topic doesn't fit into the books, and almost could live well in Mayhem, but I am moving it to Novices. Look for it there if you intend to continue it.
__________________
The Barrow-Wight |
12-29-2002, 02:39 AM | #13 |
Shade of Carn Dûm
|
I would ask him why he didn't write much about the second age, specifically of the Noldor in Middle-earth and their struggles against Sauron.
__________________
"Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities. " ~Voltaire
|
12-29-2002, 02:48 AM | #14 |
Shade of Carn Dûm
|
Easy.
"What time is your class?" [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img] This is silly, since I am, of course, erroneously assuming that our dear author, having escaped the fell clutches of death, has nothing better to do with his time than return to his former profession. But then again, perhaps he liked it. [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img] In any case, this topic has indeed been discussed before, although that thread got rather touchy and it will probably be easier to continue the discussion here. --Belin Ibaimendi
__________________
"I hate dignity," cried Scraps, kicking a pebble high in the air and then trying to catch it as it fell. "Half the fools and all the wise folks are dignified, and I'm neither the one nor the other." --L. Frank Baum |
12-29-2002, 07:27 AM | #15 |
Haunting Spirit
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: somewhere in the tropics
Posts: 69
|
"Where in the world did you get those ideas from?"
and "Who and what is Tom Bombadil?" and "Can you teach me how to smoke with a pipe?" [img]smilies/wink.gif[/img]
__________________
"The night has a thousand eyes, And the day but one; Yet the light of a bright world dies when day is done. The mind has a thousand eyes, And the heart but one; Yet the light of a whole life dies when love is done."-- F.W. Bourdillon |
12-29-2002, 09:07 AM | #16 |
Haunting Spirit
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Cottage Cheese near the Gap
Posts: 95
|
I would ask him which character he liked best and if he likes PJ's Aragorn. [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img]
Oh, and if Saruman really used bombs.
__________________
Why do we let the monkey slide for popping the weasel? Just because he thought it was fun? Guys, we're dealing with a psycho. |
12-29-2002, 01:23 PM | #17 |
Pugnaciously Primordial Paradox
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Birnham Wood
Posts: 800
|
I would ask him where all the Entwives went, and if Sam's cousin had really seen one in Ch. 1...
waiting, pondering, Tom
__________________
"And what are oaths but words we say to God?" |
12-29-2002, 02:26 PM | #18 |
Denethor's True Love
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Mirkwood. With Thranduil... *swoon*
Posts: 2,049
|
anyone gonna ask the obvious question? [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img]
How old was legolas? who was his mother? brothers or sisters? background?
__________________
'The Hobbit' 1st impressions: 1. Thorin is hot... Oh god, I fancy a dwarf. 2. Thranduil is hotter. 3. Is that... Figwit! 4. Does Elijah Wood never age? 2nd: It's all about Fili & Kili, really. 3rd: BARD! OMG, Bard. |
12-29-2002, 03:15 PM | #19 |
Beholder of the Mists
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Somewhere in the Northwest... for now
Posts: 1,419
|
I would ask him what he thought about the films
Because from what I heard about what kind of person he was, I do not think he would like the movies, no matter how well they were done.
__________________
Wanted - Wonderfully witty quote that consists of pure brilliance |
12-29-2002, 03:24 PM | #20 |
Guest
Posts: n/a
|
I would probably ask him about his view on the apparent conflict between creationism and evolutionism... That, or the Quenya word for "also". [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img]
|
12-29-2002, 03:36 PM | #21 | |
Ghost Prince of Cardolan
|
I would ask him if he would please make his OWN movies. That would be soooo cool! [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img] [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img]
And, actually, I think Saruman did use explosives. Note the following: Quote:
[ December 29, 2002: Message edited by: TolkienGurl ]
__________________
Hopes fail. An end comes. We have only a little time to wait now. We are lost in ruin and downfall and there is no escape. -Frodo My Livejournal |
|
12-29-2002, 04:23 PM | #22 |
Wight
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: The Shire
Posts: 221
|
I could stick with one question to ask him, but I wouldn't like it. From the one letter of his that I've read, it seems like he was a fascinating person that I'd be able to talk with for hours and not get bored. Anyway, here's the question I'd ask him:
At any point in the course of writing the novels, did you ever just feel like giving up, and if so, what helped you continue? Because Lord of the Rings is pretty lengthy. I think most people would be daunted by the idea of writing a work like that, but that could just be me . . . Oh, and I'd ask him, once and for all, whether he meant for Lord of the Rings to be anything more than an adventure story. [ December 29, 2002: Message edited by: Merri ]
__________________
Knowledge is just opinion that you trust enough to act upon. -Children of the Mind, by Orson Scott Card. |
12-29-2002, 06:21 PM | #23 |
Haunting Spirit
|
I would tell him how incredably widespread and famous his work has become and then show him this site.
Then I would ask him: "What do you think of what has become of your lifes work?" Then in a tiny, small voice: "sir...may i have your autograph? *blushes*"
__________________
"Don't Panic." |
12-29-2002, 10:48 PM | #24 |
Ghost Prince of Cardolan
|
Well, if I had one question it would be:
Do you want your creations to be left alone or not? And if not, then to what extent? I mean like having movies made out of them, action figures, etc. But, if I wanted to risk it, then I'd ask him: Can you let me ask you more than one question? If he says no, then I'm screwed... But here are some questions that I'd like to ask him anyways (ones with * are more important) 1. What are your veiws on war? * 2. How small did this start off, and how did it get so big? 3. Did you intend for it to be this big? 4. Are you satisfied with your works? * 5. If there is one important thing that you learned in life, what is it? * 6. What do you regret, if anything?* 7. Did you mean to finish the whole thing, or intend to leave loose ends and certain things unexplained? * 8. What was your intention of creating gollum? * 10. Could I have your autograph on first editions of all your works? [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img]
__________________
Do Not Touch -Willie |
12-31-2002, 08:11 PM | #25 |
Wight
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: The Shire
Posts: 221
|
I thought of more questions to ask him:
Where did you think of the names for your characters? Where did you get the personalities for your characters from? Were they based on real people?
__________________
Knowledge is just opinion that you trust enough to act upon. -Children of the Mind, by Orson Scott Card. |
12-31-2002, 08:54 PM | #26 |
Haunting Spirit
|
y'know, I'd probably ask him to teach me all the languages of middle earth. then I'd get his autograph, and a picture to prove it.
__________________
"My Legions of Terror will be an equal-opportunity employer. Conversely, when it is prophesied that no man can defeat me, I will keep in mind the increasing number of non-traditional gender roles." ~The Evil Overlord List |
01-01-2003, 06:05 PM | #27 |
Etheral Enchantress
|
Ummm...I'd ask him to tell me everything about Middle Earth, then I'd write it all down! "Everything" includes language, history, former plans, mapping, physical appearances of everyone...in other words, literally everything!
__________________
"I think we dream so we don't have to be apart so long. If we're in each others dreams, we can be together all the time." - Hobbes of Calvin and Hobbes |
01-01-2003, 06:14 PM | #28 |
Regenerating Ringkeeper
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Holland
Posts: 757
|
I'd rahter not ask him, but discuss some loose ends with. hmm... I could always ask him to discuss these things with me. [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img]
__________________
'You?' cried Frodo. 'Yes, I, Gandalf the Grey,' said the wizard solemnly. 'There are many powers in the world, for good or for evil. Some are greater than I am. Against some I have not yet been measured. But my time is coming.' |
01-01-2003, 07:08 PM | #29 |
Tears of Simbelmynë
|
I want nothing more than to have a conversation with JRR Tolkien. It is the ideal dream of any Tolkien Fan. My questions would be similar to all of yours... 'Who was Tom Bombadil?' 'Where did the Entwives go?' And (taken from another forum) 'Was Legolas really in love with Arwen?' Also I'd beg for him to teach me all the languages. But I think the main question I would ask is:
"Is Middle Earth real?" Crazy...but it would be wonerful(!) to get his answer on that. Also I agree with Nianna Telmnar, I'd aske meekly for his autograph on the books, picutres etc... The thought of meeting him is overwhelming. He is more than an author ... he created a whole world ... languages ... wow
__________________
"They call this war a cloud over the land. But they made the weather and then they stand in the rain and say, 'Sh*t, it's raining!'" -- Ruby, Cold Mountain |
01-01-2003, 07:10 PM | #30 |
Wight
|
If I could ask him one thing I'd ask, "How in the name of the world did you come back from the dead?" And then I'd tell him he looked great for a dead guy. [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img]
But if the question had to be related to his works, I'd ask one of two questions: 1)Was the original intent to entertain? 2)What was in the house where you stopped writing the Return of the Shadow? If it had to be a serious question not involving his miraculous return to life, I'd ask him one of three questions: 1)How do you feel about how the world has become in the relatively short time since your death? 2)How do you feel about what the fantasy genre has become since you wrote the Lord of the Rings? 3)What drove you to write so much in such a detailed way? (Mainly because I want to compare and contrast my own driving force to his- if he had one, which I'm sure he did.) [ January 01, 2003: Message edited by: Cúdae ]
__________________
"And if you listen very hard/ The tune will come to you at last/ When all are one and one is all/ To be a rock and not to roll." --Led Zeppelin "Stairway to Heaven" |
01-01-2003, 07:29 PM | #31 |
Shade of Carn Dûm
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Canada
Posts: 297
|
I'd ask him to take me to the Grey Havens with him. If he couldn't, I'd ask him for an autograph, or maybe even a dedication in one of his books.
__________________
Tout ce qui est or ne brille pas, Tous ceux qui errent ne sont pas perdus. Mobilis in Mobile |
01-02-2003, 02:51 PM | #32 |
Ghost Prince of Cardolan
|
Here's another:
"Since you're back from the dead, will you finish your work on the languages (Rohan, Gondorian, Orkish etc.) so we can all speak them?" I have a "complete guide" to all his languages, but there are so many loopholes because he didn't get to finish them.
__________________
Hopes fail. An end comes. We have only a little time to wait now. We are lost in ruin and downfall and there is no escape. -Frodo My Livejournal |
01-02-2003, 03:29 PM | #33 |
Wight
|
Who?
How? What? When? Do? ALL THE TIME.... COME ON The man would be ready to ring your neck, First and foremost Tolkien for the most part wrote the books for himself, and i would think it frustraited him greatly to be bombarded questions, about factual questions about his world, that he probably meant never to be known. If i had to ask him a question, it would be something like. Have you planed to write another Book? or How the idea orginaly spawned in your mind? But most certainly i would tell him, thank you. [ January 02, 2003: Message edited by: Guildo ]
__________________
"You cant always get what you want.... But if you try sometimes you just my find.... you get what you need." Glen Sight |
01-03-2003, 04:25 AM | #34 |
Deadnight Chanter
|
Do Balrogs Have Wings? [img]smilies/rolleyes.gif[/img]
__________________
Egroeg Ihkhsal - Would you believe in the love at first sight? - Yes I'm certain that it happens all the time! |
01-03-2003, 08:15 AM | #35 |
Guest
Posts: n/a
|
If I had to ask it would be:
What was the inspiration for this grand creation and did you know that it would become as deep and awesome as it became? [img]smilies/tongue.gif[/img] |
01-03-2003, 03:54 PM | #36 |
Pile O'Bones
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Lothlorien
Posts: 20
|
Mr. Tolkien, sir, would you mind if you and I had a little chat?
Buy for time, and I would probably ask in so far as to which of the great epics inspired you to create your own. |
01-03-2003, 03:57 PM | #37 |
Pile O'Bones
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Lothlorien
Posts: 20
|
I thought of another...
"will you tell me a story" |
|
|