Monday, September 22, 2014

A Tolkien Blog Party of Special Magnificence

http://theedgeoftheprecipice.blogspot.com/2014/09/a-tolkien-blog-party-of-special.html
Hamlette is hosting a Tolkien party! 

1.  Who introduced you to Tolkien's stories?

Okay, so I jumped the gun, and wrote half a post about this yesterday. My first best friend, Elizabeth, introduced me to Tolkien about 11 years ago.


[see? I am best friends with the Lady of Light. ;-) ]

2.  How old were you when you first ventured into Middle Earth?

I think I was about 13. 


3.  Did you read the books first, or see movie versions first?

Movies first. My brothers and I were spoiled, because we had friends who owned the extended versions, so we watched those several times before settling for the theatrical cuts. Then a small riot ensued because, of course, HOW could you leave out the lembas scene?!?



4.  A dragon or a balrog -- which would you rather fight?

Hah! Neither. I agree with Bilbo that people should just stay in their holes. If I had to choose, I'd go with a dragon. Having just finished Silmarillion, balrogs scare the ever-living snot out of me.


 [nopenopenope. SO. MUCH. NOPE.]

5.  Who are three of your favorite characters?  (Feel free to elaborate on why.)

Eowyn: I feel bad for her, and she reminds me of myself a little bit. The poor thing is so sad most of the story.
She's so strong, and she's a good leader, and she's beautiful, and brave, and noble, and she took down the Witch-King...but she pines because she can't go to battle.


Faramir: because he's gentle and humble. Not a weak, limp kind of gentle, but a strong, able-bodied man with a gentle spirit. (kind of like my main man Thor; no, seriously, he can be gentle.) Miss Jane explains it much better than I can.

Huan: No, don't laugh. I loved him. He's the hound of the Valinor, and he helps Berien and Luthien retrieve one Silmaril. I promise, the next dog I get will be a medium-sized male, and he will be named Huan.


 [I asked this question to some of my coworkers, just for kicks, and Jeff said Gomer Pyle. Jeff is disqualified from this conversation.]

6.  Have you ever dressed up like a Tolkien character?

Nope. I have a flowery headband that I wear across my head if I'm at home and I start to feel Eowyn-ish. And then--wow, this is embarrassing--I used to have a long, pale-green silk nightgown that I referred to as my Arwen dress. AANNDD that's where we'll end that.

7.  If someone asks you to go on adventure, how do you respond?

What day are you going? Because I have to ask off work.



8.  Have you read any of the "history of Middle Earth" books?

I tried. I tried to be clever and start with book 3, The Lays of Beleriand. I made it through about 4 poems and gave up. I was more lost than geese in a hailstorm.

9.  Would you rather drink a bowl of Ent Draught or a glass of Old Winyards?

Entdraught. It sounds wonderful.

10.  List up to ten of your favorite lines/quotes from the books or movies.
 


'And Eowyn looked at Faramir long and steadily; and Faramir said: "Do not scorn pity that is the gift of a gentle heart, Eowyn! But I do not offer you my pity. For you are a lady high and valiant and have yourself won renown that shall not be forgotten; and you are a lady beautiful, I deem, beyond even the words of the Elven-tongue to tell. And I love you. Once I pitied your sorrow. But now, were you sorrowless, without fear or any lack, were you the blissful Queen of Gondor, still I would love you. Eowyn, do you not love me?" '
[excuse me while I pick my puddled self up off the floor]

' "You thought I remained in Meduseld bent like an old tree under winter snow. So it was when you rode to war. But a west wind has shaken the boughs," said Theoden.'
[the first time I read this, I got chill bumps down my spine, and had to read it again.]

 
[c'mon, Legolas, you know you're beat.] 

"A sister they had, Galadriel, most beautiful of all the house of Finwe; her hair was lit with gold as though it had caught in a mesh the radiance of Laurelin."
 [hello, yes, boys? I am blonde, and this is an acceptable pickup line.]

[sorrynotsorry. I couldn't resist.]

I think I'll go back to crying over my LOTR board now. 
It's therapy, people, therapy, I tell you.

10 comments:

  1. It IS therapy! Anything that brings you joy and teaches you things is the best therapy ever.

    Okay, now I don't feel so alone in the "I saw the movies first" group. In fact, I purposely held off on reading TTT and ROTK until their respective movie versions had come out even though I already owned the whole trilogy. In my world, that made complete sense.

    And love your quotes :-) Thanks for joining the party!

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    1. I agree. Even though all it taught me was "Boromir died, and Sam nearly died helping Frodo, and Faramir and Eowyn are beautiful, and Thorin died, etc." I get emotional over characters. :-)

      I kind of feel like a less "authentic" Tolkien fan because I watched the movies first. I guess it's because I like to get a feel for the character through reading before I see him/her acted out, and so I miss having that experience with all the wonderful Tolkien peoples.

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    2. Oh, but Tolkien has so many good lessons about loyalty, courage, facing fears, overcoming personal limitations!

      I get emotional over characters too. And very attached to them. In fact, if I don't love the characters, I won't love the story.

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    3. Ah, yes. Very true. I tend to get distracted by all the wonderful people dying.

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  2. Totally saw the movies first as well. :)

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    1. What can we say; the movies are pretty amazing. :-)

      (Not like Percy Jackson. I thought the movies were cool, until I read the books. Those scriptwriters need some help in the area of character development.)

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  3. Now with your mention of Huan, I want to read The Silmarillion all over again. :) Still one of my favs of Tolkien!

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    1. Wasn't that dog awesome?! I cried over him just a little, because my own puppy that I owned for 10 years got stolen recently, but he was a seriously cool dog. I'm never gonna look at Beren and Luthien's story the same from now on.

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  4. Thought I would comment to say I also saw the movies first; in fact I only just saw them this summer and while I have the books I haven't gotten to them yet. Great answers to the tag!

    ~Jamie

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    1. The movies are wonderful, but the books bring a whole new perspective to the movies. You get a bigger feel for the characters, I think.

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