The Lord of the Rings Expert Answers More Tolkien Questions From Twitter | Tech Support | WIRED

The Tolkien Professor, Cory Olsen, once again uses the power of Twitter to answer the internet's burning questions about J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, and all the associated lore. Why can't Frodo ride an eagle all the way to Mount Doom? Would the battle at Helm's Deep gone differently if it hadn't rained? How much time passes between "The Fellowship of the Ring" and "The Return of the King"? Cory answers all these questions and much more.


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The Lord of the Rings Expert Answers More Tolkien Questions From Twitter | Tech Support | WIRED

[dredhead]

"Lord of the Rings Expert"

wow, my middle school dream job is actually a real thing

[Tia-Marie]

"Sauron has his own Air Force" is my new favourite response to the Eagle debate.

[sluggmom]

I love that JRRT was so thorough about fleshing out the world that no one can ever 'its not that deep' you.

[mephostopheles]

In regard to Tom Bombadil, I always interpreted it very simply. When Goldberry is asked who Tom is, her response is “He is.” When I read that, I read it very literally. “Who is Tom Bombadil?” “HE is. That guy, right there. HE is Tom Bombadil.”

Fits the vibe when Frodo asks Tom himself who he is. “Eh? Don’t you know who I am yet? I’m just Tom Bombadil, why does it need to be more complicated than that?”

[owenb]

This guy's excitement for talking about middle-earth is a joy to behold

[gatfatf]

"What I really need for my form is decorative non functional wings"
*nervous laughter of over a million MMO players*

[Bolpat]

If this is correctly shown in the movie, the One Ring not only will adapt to its owner’s finger, but can also widen so that its owner loses it. Happened to Isildur.

[thegamingpigeon]

That's what I think people overlook with the "just take the eagles to Mordor" argument: say they do that. As you said, Sauron would see them coming, he has amazing sight. So what do they do when they arrive, ascend Mt. Doom and enter the mountain only to see Sauron just standing there. Congrats, you just went deep into enemy territory impossibly outnumbered and gave the enemy his most devastating weapon on a silver platter.

[wadud]

In The Hobbit a man shot a DRAGON out of the sky.

Can we stop asking why the Eagles didn't want to fly over the lands of men and orcs?

[cjkrocks]

Casual reminder that this man has a bachelor's degree in Astrophysics in addition to his B.A. in English, Masters in Philosophy, and PhD in Medieval literature.

[uprisingsun]

Here's my theory about Tom Bombadil. I read somewhere that he was essentially Tolkein's self-insert character, much like how Treebeard is C.S. Lewis, but I'm taking it a step further and saying Bombadil is literally Tolkein. Like he is present in the world as the author. Not the God, but as the author of the world who needs no mortal or immortal identity. For example when he can see Frodo with the Ring on, etc, it feels like 4th wall breaks often feel, because he is so nonchalant about casually seeing into the wraith-world. Bombadil, in the same way, feels like a 4th wall break to me, like he's Tolkein as he exists within that world.

[MachaMongRuad]

Just wanted to add a couple thoughts re: Sauron being so close to the ring for so long, but unable to track it. Peter Jackson's films heavily implied (I don't remember if it was stated outright) that Sauron was only able to track the ring while it was in use. Having sat in a river for a couple millennia would thwart that tracking sense pretty soundly, I would imagine. Second part is just my own little connection, but running water has historically been used by many cultures to negate or cleanse magical properties of items, as well as blocking negative spirits and energies (eg vampires who can't cross running water). Perhaps this widespread folk tradition influenced Tolkien in some way regarding the Ring lying dormant for so long?

[chandlerfrantz]

Frodo: Who are you?

Tom Bombadil: Yes.

[magaolizard]

Sauron: "uses ring detection"
- Hmmm, must be broken. It says it's right here.

[Soulessblur]

In terms of the vestigial argument, I've always enjoyed the idea that Tolkien's simile is actually literal. The shadows surrounding the Balrog are in fact, shaped like wings. They are not wings, and therefore Balrogs cannot fly, but the smokey black darkness kind of vaguely look like spiritual wings. Like evil seeping out of their backs or whatever.

[Masuba]

Please bring Cory back for more Twitter questions! He's amazing

[Telechontar]

“Tolkien thinks that Gandalf is probably right about that.”

Whole series, basically ^

[DraphEnjoyer]

While its usually said as a joke, “why didn’t the eagles fly them there” is on par with saying “why didn’t Harry just shoot Voldemort with a gun”. What a fun imaginative tale

[numerobis]

The fact that Tom Bombadil says he was there before Melkor (who was the first of the Ainur to enter Arda) makes me think more and more that this theory is the right one: Bombadil is the/an incarnation of the Music, just like Ungolianth in an incarnation of the Discord. Because, as Tom says, he saw the first raindrop, the first acorn. To be able to see that, he would have to be in Arda since literally the creation of the world. It would also fit with what Gandalf says: he could withstand Sauron for a time, but not indefinitely, which makes perfect sense if he is the Music, and Sauron represent the Discord

[emilywagner]

I appreciate that he gives actual evidence of why Balrogs do not have wings. People usually just get sniffy and look down their noses at you for asking such a "stupid" question.