The Tolkien Meta-FAQ

by Steuard Jensen

The Tolkien Meta-FAQ is a unified index to several major lists of Frequently Asked Questions about J.R.R. Tolkien and his "subcreated" world of Middle-earth. Please see the Guide to the Meta-FAQ below the table of contents for more details.

Other Resources at this Site
The Custom Tolkien Book List
The Tolkien Newsgroups FAQ (S. Jensen)      Essays (S. Jensen, C. Dunkerson)
The Tolkien FAQ (W.D.B. Loos)      The Tolkien LessFAQ (Loos)
(For a complete, annotated list, see my Tolkien FAQs and Information page.)

An introduction to the Newsgroups and Netiquette from the Tolkien Newsgroups FAQ.

Table of Contents
Guide to the Tolkien Meta-FAQ
Very Frequently Asked Questions
Story External Questions      Story Internal Questions
Who was J.R.R. Tolkien?   Specific Characters
Finding the Right Book for You   Natures and Origins of the Races
The Setting of the Books   Eventual Fates of Races and Characters
The Writing of the Books   Creatures' Characteristics
Adaptations of Tolkien's Stories   LotR Events and History
Tolkien's Languages   Earlier Events and History
Miscellaneous Story External Questions   Objects of Interest

Tolkien Newsgroups and Netiquette
Recent Changes to the FAQs

Guide to the Tolkien Meta-FAQ

What is the Tolkien Meta-FAQ?      Sources of the Tolkien Meta-FAQ

Each of the questions below is discussed in one or more of the source documents.
Questions discussed in multiple FAQs have answers listed in recommended reading order.
Questions in bold are more "important" than others.
Answers in [square brackets] link to other websites.
Answers in (parentheses) have been entirely superseded.

Newcomers to the Tolkien Newsgroups
Feel free to skip questions not in bold on your first reading.
Make sure to read the introduction to Newsgroups and Netiquette.

Very Frequently Asked Questions

What book should I read first? What overall order is best? BookList; NFAQ III.A.1
What was Tom Bombadil? NFAQ III.B.3; Essay:SJ; TFAQ V.G.1; [LtFAQ XII]
Did Balrogs have wings? Could they fly? NFAQ III.B.1; NFAQ III.B.2; Essay:CD
Did Elves have pointed ears? TFAQ V.C.1; NFAQ III.B.4; Essay:CD

Story External Questions

Who was J.R.R. Tolkien?

Who was J.R.R. Tolkien anyway? TFAQ V.A.1
Was Tolkien racist? Were his works? NFAQ III.A.7; [LtFAQ XII]
Why did Tolkien fail to publish The Silmarillion during the eighteen years which followed the publication of The Lord of the Rings? LFAQ V.A.2
Why is Tolkien's work, The Lord of the Rings in particular, so difficult to translate (into other languages of our world)? TFAQ V.A.5

Finding the Right Book for You

What books about Middle-earth are considered "canonical"? NFAQ III.A.2; Essay:SJ; BookList
What is the best order in which to read the books? BookList; NFAQ III.A.1
What editions of Tolkien's books in the US are best? NFAQ IV.C.1
Which books about Tolkien are good, and which aren't? NFAQ III.A.5
What audio recordings or dramatizations of Tolkien's works are available? NFAQ IV.C.1
Are there electronic versions of Tolkien's books? NFAQ III.A.8
Where can I report copyright violations that I observe? NFAQ III.A.9

The Setting of the Books

Is Middle-earth Medieval? NFAQ III.A.6
Did the events in The Lord of the Rings take place on another planet or what? TFAQ V.A.6
Was the northwest of Middle-earth, where the story takes place, meant to actually be Europe? TFAQ V.A.7
Was the Shire meant to be England? TFAQ V.A.8

The Writing of the Books

What were the changes made to The Hobbit after The Lord of the Rings was written, and what motivated them? TFAQ V.A.9
Was there a change of tone between Book I and the rest of The Lord of the Rings? LFAQ V.A.1
What does it mean when people (or Tolkien himself) speak of him as having been the "editor" of The Lord of the Rings? TFAQ V.A.3
How thoroughly realized was Tolkien's fiction that he was the "translator" of The Lord of the Rings? TFAQ V.A.4
Why is Tolkien's work, The Lord of the Rings in particular, so difficult to translate (into other languages of our world)? TFAQ V.A.5
Why did Tolkien fail to publish The Silmarillion during the eighteen years which followed the publication of The Lord of the Rings? LFAQ V.A.2
How does The Silmarillion as published differ from what Tolkien intended? NFAQ III.A.3
[Many questions about getting the books published.] [LtFAQ I]
[Story external questions about The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings.] [LtFAQ II]; [LtFAQ III]; [LtFAQ IV]
[Story external questions about the greater Legendarium.] [LtFAQ X]

Adaptations of Tolkien's Stories

What is known about the current Lord of the Rings movies? NFAQ IV.C.2
What audio recordings or dramatizations of Tolkien's works are available? NFAQ IV.C.1
Where can I find out about music related to Middle-earth? NFAQ IV.C.3
Why is Tolkien's work, The Lord of the Rings in particular, so difficult to translate (into other languages of our world)? TFAQ V.A.5
[Several questions about Tolkien's thoughts on interpretations of his work.] [LtFAQ XVII]

Tolkien's Languages

Where can I learn more about Tolkien's languages? NFAQ IV.B
Where can I find fonts for Tolkien's writing systems? NFAQ IV.B
Were the languages presented in The Lord of the Rings real languages? TFAQ V.A.2
[Several questions on Tolkien's languages and invented names.] [LtFAQ XV]; [LtFAQ XVI]

Miscellaneous Story External Questions

Which are "The Two Towers"? NFAQ III.A.4; [LtFAQ IV]
Are there electronic versions of Tolkien's books? NFAQ III.A.8
Where can I report copyright violations that I observe? NFAQ III.A.9
In The Hobbit, Bilbo called the spiders Attercop, Lazy Lob, Crazy Cob, and Old Tomnoddy. What do the words mean? LFAQ V.C.2
How was the One Ring like Wagner's Ring of the Nibelung? [RFAQ E.20]
When was Bilbo and Frodo's Birthday? To what date on our own calendar does it correspond? TFAQ V.B.3

Story Internal Questions

Specific Characters

See also the section on Eventual Fates of Races and Characters

What was Tom Bombadil? NFAQ III.B.3; Essay:SJ; TFAQ V.G.1; [LtFAQ XII]
Was Glorfindel of Rivendell the same as Glorfindel of Gondolin? NFAQ III.B.7; (LFAQ V.D.2)
Who was Gil-galad's father? NFAQ III.B.8
Gandalf bore the Ring of Fire. Is that how he made his fireworks? [RFAQ D.6]
What happened to Radagast? TFAQ V.E.3
What is known about the Blue Wizards? TFAQ V.E.2; NFAQ III.C.7
When was Bilbo and Frodo's Birthday? To what date on our own calendar does it correspond? TFAQ V.B.3
Was Gollum a hobbit? TFAQ V.B.4
Who was Queen Beruthiel (who was mentioned by Aragorn during the journey through Moria)? LFAQ V.H.1
Did Sauron have a physical form during LotR? NFAQ III.B.11; [LtFAQ VII]
Was Sauron visible when wearing the Ring? [RFAQ E.9]
In the Third Age, having lost the Ring, why wasn't Sauron weaker than before he had made it? [RFAQ E.10]; [LtFAQ VII]
Who killed the Witch-king, Merry or Eowyn? NFAQ III.C.4
What were the names of the Nazgul? NFAQ III.B.12
What was Gothmog (the lieutenant of Morgul)? NFAQ III.B.13
What are the names of the Balrogs? Essay:CD
[Several questions about characters in Middle-earth] [LtFAQ XII]

Natures and Origins of the Races

Were Hobbits a sub-group of Humans? TFAQ V.B.1
Where did the Southrons come from? Were they part of the Atani? LFAQ V.E.4
What were the origins of the Dwarves? LFAQ V.F.1
If, as has been told, only Seven Fathers of the Dwarves were created, how did the race procreate? LFAQ V.F.2
Who were the Istari (Wizards)? TFAQ V.E.1; [LtFAQ XII]
What was the origin of Orcs? NFAQ III.B.14; (LFAQ V.G.1); [LtFAQ XIII]
How did Orcs reproduce? Were there female Orcs? NFAQ III.B.14; (LFAQ V.G.1)
What was the relationship between Orcs and Goblins? NFAQ III.B.16; TFAQ V.F.1; [LtFAQ XIII]
What was the origin of Saruman's Uruk-hai? NFAQ III.B.17
What was the origin of Trolls? NFAQ III.B.18; (LFAQ V.G.2)
What were the giants (seen by Bilbo in The Hobbit)? NFAQ III.B.19
What IS a Balrog? Essay:CD
How many Balrogs were there? Essay:CD
[Several questions on the nature of races in Middle-earth] [LtFAQ XII]; [LtFAQ XIII]

Eventual Fates of Races and Characters

What happened to Elves after they died? NFAQ III.B.6; (LFAQ V.D.1); [LtFAQ XI]; [LtFAQ XII]
What became of the Entwives? TFAQ V.G.2; [LtFAQ XIII]
Did Sam follow Frodo into the West? NFAQ III.C.6
Did Frodo and the other mortals who passed over the Sea eventually die, or had they become immortal? NFAQ III.C.5; (LFAQ V.C.1)
What happened to Radagast? TFAQ V.E.3
What is known about the Blue Wizards? TFAQ V.E.2; NFAQ III.C.7
Were Orcs immortal, and what happened to them after death? NFAQ III.B.15
[Several questions about the nature of beings in the mythology] [LtFAQ XI]

Creatures' Characteristics

Did Elves have pointed ears? TFAQ V.C.1; NFAQ III.B.4; Essay:CD
Did Elves have beards? NFAQ III.B.5
Did Hobbits have pointed ears? TFAQ V.B.2; [LtFAQ XII]
Did Dwarf women have beards? NFAQ III.B.9; (TFAQ V.D.1)
Was there "telepathy" in Middle-earth? NFAQ III.B.10
Did Sauron have a physical form during LotR? NFAQ III.B.11; [LtFAQ VII]
Did Balrogs have wings? NFAQ III.B.1; Essay:CD
Could Balrogs fly? NFAQ III.B.2; Essay:CD
Can Balrogs change their shapes? Essay:CD
Could Balrogs speak? And why would we even ask such a question? Essay:CD

LotR Events and History

(roughly chronological)
[Many questions about LotR story elements] [LtFAQ V]
Did Elves and Dwarves generally get along? NFAQ III.C.9
Who was aware that a Balrog lived in Moria? NFAQ III.C.8
Was the Balrog of Moria under Sauron's command? Essay:CD
When was Bilbo and Frodo's Birthday? To what date on our own calendar does it correspond? TFAQ V.B.3
Were the Nazgul wearing their Rings at the time of The Lord of the Rings? [RFAQ C.6]; [LtFAQ VI]
How could Sauron trust the Nazgul not to claim the Ring? [RFAQ E.13]
When he sent the Nazgul after Frodo, wasn't Sauron afraid someone would use the Ring against them? [RFAQ E.14]
Why didn't the Nazgul take the Ring at Weathertop? NFAQ III.C.3
Why didn't Saruman take Gandalf's Ring from him? [RFAQ D.7]
In Rivendell, who put Frodo's Ring on a chain? [RFAQ E.15]
Why didn't they just have an Eagle fly the Ring to Mt. Doom? NFAQ III.C.1; [LtFAQ V]
Who killed the Witch-king, Merry or Eowyn? NFAQ III.C.4
When Frodo put on the Ring at the Cracks of Doom, could Gollum see him? [RFAQ E.17]
What would have happened when Frodo claimed the Ring if Gollum hadn't interfered? [RFAQ E.18]; [LtFAQ V]
Who could have beat Sauron by using the Ring? [RFAQ E.19]; [LtFAQ VII]
Why didn't Gollum and Bilbo die when they lost the Ring? [RFAQ E.12]
What ultimately happened to the Seven and the Nine? [RFAQ C.8]
What ultimately happened to the Three Rings? [RFAQ D.8]
Did Sam follow Frodo into the West? NFAQ III.C.6
Did Frodo and the other mortals who passed over the Sea eventually die, or had they become immortal? NFAQ III.C.5; (LFAQ V.C.1)

Earlier Events and History

(roughly chronological)
Who was the oldest inhabitant of Middle-earth? NFAQ III.C.11; [LtFAQ XII]
How were Eldar in Valinor named? LFAQ V.D.3
What is the etymology of 'balrog'? What is its plural form? Essay:CD
Did Elves and Dwarves generally get along? NFAQ III.C.9
Who was Gil-galad's father? NFAQ III.B.8
Where did the Southrons come from? Were they part of the Atani? LFAQ V.E.4
What exactly happened at the end of the First Age? LFAQ V.B.1
Who made the Rings, and when? [RFAQ A.5]
Were the Rings originally intended for Dwarves and Men? [RFAQ A.8]
When did the Nazgul arise? [RFAQ C.5]
How could Ar-Pharazon of Numenor defeat Sauron while Sauron wielded the One Ring? LFAQ V.E.2; [LtFAQ VII]
Where was the Ring when Numenor was destroyed? What happened to it? NFAQ III.C.10; [RFAQ E.6]; [RFAQ E.8]; LFAQ V.E.3; [LtFAQ VII]
So why didn't Ar-Pharazon take the Ring away from Sauron? [RFAQ E.7]
What brought on the sinking of Numenor? LFAQ V.E.1
In terms of the larger worldview, what exactly took place at the Fall of Numenor? LFAQ V.B.2
What became of the Entwives? TFAQ V.G.2
What is known about the Blue Wizards? TFAQ V.E.2; NFAQ III.C.7
Why hadn't Gollum turned into a wraith long ago? [RFAQ E.11]

Objects of Interest

[Note that the FAQ of the Rings sorts questions by Ring rather than by topic, which may be more convenient for some searches.]
Were the barrow blades magical? In what way? NFAQ III.C.2
Who made the Rings, and when? [RFAQ A.5]
How many Rings were there? [RFAQ A.6]
Why would Sauron make himself vulnerable by transferring his power to the One Ring? [RFAQ E.4]; [LtFAQ VII]
Why wasn't Sauron much weaker in the Third Age, since he didn't have the Ring? [RFAQ E.10]; [LtFAQ VII]
Who inscribed the verse in the One Ring? [RFAQ E.5]
What were the names of the Three Rings, and what were they made of? [RFAQ D.1]
The Elves were good so the Three Rings were good, right? [RFAQ D.4]; [LtFAQ VI]
Why didn't Sauron make more Rings? [RFAQ A.7]
Were the Rings originally intended for Dwarves and Men? [RFAQ A.8]
What was Saruman's ring? [RFAQ A.9]
Could the One Ring think, feel, and make choices? [RFAQ E.3]
Did the One Ring speak on Mount Doom? [RFAQ E.16]
What were the powers of the Rings? [RFAQ A.1]; [LtFAQ VI]
What were the special powers of the One Ring? [RFAQ E.1]
How did Sauron's Ring control Rings that were created earlier? [RFAQ E.2]
What special powers did the Three Rings have? [RFAQ D.3]; [LtFAQ VI]
How did the Seven and the Nine differ? [RFAQ C.1]
What if an Elf or Wizard had put on one of the Seven or the Nine? [RFAQ C.9]
Did the Dwarves' Rings make them wealthy? [RFAQ C.4]
[A full list of RingFAQ questions about invisibility.] [RFAQ B]
Why did the Rings make their wearers invisible? [RFAQ A.2]; [LtFAQ VI]
Why were Frodo's and Bilbo's clothes invisible while they wore the Ring? [RFAQ A.3]
Well then, why were the Black Riders' clothes visible? [RFAQ A.4]
Did the Dwarves' Rings make them invisible? [RFAQ C.2]
Would the Dwarves' Rings make a Man invisible? [RFAQ C.3]
Why isn't Galadriel invisible, since she wears a Great Ring? [RFAQ D.5]
Was Sauron visible when wearing the Ring? [RFAQ E.9]
Who bore the Three Rings? [RFAQ D.2]
Were the Nazgul wearing their Rings at the time of The Lord of the Rings? [RFAQ C.6]; [LtFAQ VI]
Why didn't Sauron use the same Nine Rings to make more Nazgul? [RFAQ C.7]
Why hadn't Gollum turned into a wraith long ago? [RFAQ E.11]
Then why didn't Gollum and Bilbo die when they lost the Ring? [RFAQ E.12]
Gandalf bore the Ring of Fire. Is that how he made his fireworks? [RFAQ D.6]

If you have not found what you are looking for here, consider reading over the full list of questions in The Letters FAQ by Mike Brinza: it has not been possible to include all of its questions or even all of its general sections in this list. You might also consider looking at the links on my Tolkien FAQs and Information page. If none of those are helpful, then feel free to visit the Tolkien newsgroups on Usenet: rec.arts.books.tolkien and alt.fan.tolkien and ask us! (Or, just search through our old discussions using the Google Groups archive.)

Return to Steuard's Nifty Homepage.
Any questions or comments? Write to me!