The Tolkien Less Frequently Asked Questions List

The Tolkien Less Frequently Asked Questions List (LessFAQ) is the second of two informational files on J.R.R. Tolkien and his writings, the other being the Frequently Asked Questions List (FAQ). The division of questions follows several general criteria. The FAQ leans towards questions of interest to people who have read only The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit, together with most questions on Tolkien himself and on topics which seem fundamental to his worldview (his linguistic games in particular). The LessFAQ contains questions of a more obscure nature, most questions arising from posthumous works, and in general aspects of the nature and history of Middle-earth which are important but tangential to The Lord of the Rings. There is also an element of personal arbitrariness. All available sources have been used for both lists. Criticisms, corrections, and suggestions are of course welcome.

William D.B. Loos
loos@hudce.harvard.edu

Table of Contents

Sections/questions marked as follows:
* have been revised since the last release
** are new since the last release

1. Changes Since the Last Release *

2. Acknowledgements *

3. Note on References and Conversion Table *

   1. Note on References

   2. Conversion Table

4. Commonly Used Abbreviations *

5. Less Frequently Asked Questions

   1. Tolkien And His Work

      1. ] Was there a change of tone between Book I and the rest of The Lord of the Rings?
      2. ] Why did Tolkien fail to publish The Silmarillion during the eighteen years which followed the publication of The Lord of the Rings?

   2. General History of Middle-earth

      1. ] What exactly happened at the end of the First Age?
      2. ] In terms of the larger worldview, what exactly took place at the Fall of Numenor?

   3. Hobbits

      1. ] Did Frodo and the others (Bilbo, Sam, and Gimli) who passed over the Sea eventually die, or had they become immortal?
      2. ) In The Hobbit, Bilbo called the spiders Attercop, Lazy Lob, Crazy Cob, and Old Tomnoddy. What do the words mean?

   4. Elves

      1. ] Were Elves reincarnated after they were slain?
      2. ) Was Glorfindel of Rivendell (whom Frodo met) the same as Glorfindel of Gondolin, who was slain fighting a Balrog?
      3. ) How were Eldar in Valinor named?

   5. Humans

      1. ] What brought on the sinking of Numenor?
      2. ] How could Ar-Pharazon of Numenor defeat Sauron while Sauron wielded the One Ring?
      3. ] What happened to the Ring when Numenor was destroyed?
      4. ] Where did the Southrons come from? Were they part of the Atani?

   6. Dwarves

      1. ] What were the origins of the Dwarves?
      2. ] If, as has been told, only Seven Fathers of the Dwarves were created, how did the race procreate?

   7. Enemies

      1. ] What was the origin of the Orcs?
      2. ] What was the origin of the Trolls?

   8. Miscellaneous

      1. ] Who was Queen Beruthiel (who was mentioned by Aragorn during the journey through Moria)?

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