A Tolkien Blog Party

Greetings all!

My wonderful sister gave me a heads-up about a party to which we are all invited, and if you do not receive any invitation, just show up anyway! ;)

Hamlette at The Edge of the Precipice is hosting a blog party!

The rules are quite simple.  Answer the questions on your blog or website, and one of the wonderful buttons she has supplied, put the link in the link thingy, and enjoy the fun!  As well as enter The Hobbit GIVEAWAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So without further ado, here are my answers.

1.  What draws you to Tolkien's stories?  (The characters, the quests, the themes, the worlds, etc.)

I love the fact that they were written by a Catholic and have Catholic themes and undertones.  It also gives me a feeling that not all hope is lost against a very great evil, because in the end good will triumph!  I also like the different characters and their qualities.

2.  What was the first Middle Earth book you read and/or movie you saw?  What did you think of it?

The first Middle Earth book I read was the Hobbit.  My friends had to read it for school and thought that I might like it.  Though I figured it was more of that worldly rubbish, I gave it a try and saw it was quite the opposite.  I very much enjoyed the Hobbit, and decided to read The Lord of The Rings, liking it even more.

3.  Name three of your favorite characters and tell us why you like them.

My three favorite characters are Legolas, Thranduil, and Galadriel.  (These are from the books, mind you!)  I like Legolas just for who he is, and him being and elve.  Of course I think it's awesome he can just walk in his memory and be completely rested!  I like Thranduil because of his concern and awe of Bilbo.  He recognizes the unselfish and simpleness of the Hobbit, who just wants peace and a good breakfast in his armchair without the bother of gold, thank you very much!  I like Galadriel because of who she represents, and though power is thrown at her feet, she resists temptation.  She brings light into the world, a world that is slowly falling, where not many of her kind are left.

4.  Are there any secondary characters you think deserve more attention?

I think Tom Bombadil deserves a bit of attention.  I'm still puzzled as to what his meaning is, and who he really is that the ring has no power over him.  Hopefully I will be able to find that out soon!

5.  What Middle Earth character do you relate to the most?

Well, in the movies (keep in mind I've only seen The Hobbit and the FotR) I think I relate most to Tauriel. In a world full of darkness, sadness, and fading light, I look for that which is good, true, and beautiful. (*Philippians 4:18*)  I will not hide while the world falls into corruption, but instead defend the truth and the light, no matter what!

6.  If you could ask Professor Tolkien one Middle Earth-related question, what would you like to ask him?

I would love to ask him what the symbol in Tengwar is for the letter Q!  I have tried to learn the language and it's symbols, but with the few resources that I have, it's slightly difficult.  I hope to soon find some books that will help me! 

7.  Are there any pieces of Middle Earth merchandise you would particularly like to own, but don't?

I would love to own Tauriel's bow and arrows, or a Middle Earth throw blanket, but I would really love to have a Legolas phone case!!  Though, I'm not sure what I would do with it since I don't have an iPhone yet.

8.  What battle would you absolutely not want to be part of?

What battle would I not want to be part of?  Hmm...  I would have to say the battle on the fields of Gondor.  Why?  Well, I wouldn't exactly like to be there when heads were being flung over the walls, much less be one of those heads. XP

9.  Would you rather eat a meal at Rivendell or Bag End?

I would rather eat a meal in Rivendell, with the sweet music playing, and the water and mountains in the background.  Breathing the fresh air, conversing with the elves.

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

"It is our fight.  With every victory this evil will grow.  If your father has his way we will do nothing. We will hide within our halls away from the light and let the darkness descend.  Are we not part of this world?  Tell me, Melon, when did we let evil become stronger than us?"

~Tauriel

"Everythin' tastes like chicken."

"Except the chicken, which tastes like fish."

~The trolls

"If more of us valued food and song and cheer above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world."

~Thorin

"Misery me!"

~Bilbo

"We Hobbits ought to stick together, and we will.  I shall go, unless they chain me up.  There must be someone with intelligence in the party."

~Pippin

"The finest rockets ever seen

they burst in stars of blue and green

or after thunder golden shower

came falling like a rain of flowers."

~Sam

"I'm coming too, or neither of us isn't going.  I'll knock holes in all the boats first."

~Sam

"The night grew ever colder.  Aragorn and Gimli slept fitfully, and whenever they awoke they saw Legolas standing beside them, or walking to and fro, singing softly to himself in his own tongue, and as he sang the white stars opened in the hard black vault above."

~narrative, The Two Towers

"If you have walked all these days with closed ears and mind asleep, wake up now!"

~Gandalf

"And Frodo when he saw her (Arwen) coming glimmering in the evening, with stars on her brow and a sweet fragrance about her, was moved with great wonder, and he said to Gandalf, 'At last I understand why we have waited!  This is the ending.  Now not day only shall be beloved, but night too shall be beautiful and blessed and all its fear pass away!'"

~narrative, The Return of the King; Frodo

And I know I'm only supposed to do ten, but logically this isn't a quote from the story, so I just have to add it!

"The world is indeed full of peril and in it there are many dark places.  But still there is much that is fair.  And though in all lands, love is now mingled with grief, it still grows, perhaps, the greater."

~J. R. R. Tolkien

Now, if you have not already seen the awesomeness, go check out the party and the giveaway!!!

The Party: Under the white pavilion under the party tree

The Giveaway: The white gate, with presents for all and sundry. =D