Tyler's Corner

Have a question about Middle Earth? We can answer it.

Hobbit Central's resident Tolkien genius, Tyler, will answer any questions you can throw at him.

Question
When did Tolkien first publish The Hobbit?
-Samantha from Santa Barbara
Answer:
Well, Samantha, the first edition of the book was published in 1937. After publishing his Lord of the Rings trilogy, Tolkien revised The Hobbit for consistency. This second edition was published in 1951. A third edition was published in 1966 for copyright reasons. -Tyler

Question
is there more to know about the signal flares the different cities use to call for help? Do the books talk about them at all?
-Ryan from Grand Rapids
Answer:
Only select maps in the books show the beacons locations. An interesting note is that the largest of the beacon hills, Halifirien, has a secret clearing where the tomb of Elendil is located. This is also where in ancient days, Cirion, Steward of Gondor, and Eorl the Young made a pact in which the land of Rohan was rewarded to the Rohirrim for their valor in battle. This is the pact that is so often referred to in the movies and books. In the RotK, Gandalf and Pippin see the beacons lighting upon the mountains and errand riders moving swiftly over the plains as they ride towards Gondor. It seems that the errand riders reached Theoden first, bringing with them the Red Arrow (a symbol of Gondor's most urgent need). The beacons were likely smothered by the great smoke of Mordor before they ever reached Theoden (end of Chapter III RotK). -Tyler

Question
What is the name of that talking dog in the Silmarillion?
-Andrew from Indiana
Answer:
His name is Huan

Question
What adventures is Gandalf on during the Hobbit. He is always running off and the book vaguely speaks of what he is doing. Do we ever find out?
-Antsey from West Virginia
Answer:
Yes we do! 91 years before the adventures of Bilbo Baggins and Thorin and his company took place, Gandalf was investigating the "Black Power" in Dol Guldur. Here Gandalf found a prisoner, Thrain, father of Thorin and the bearer of the last of the seven rings given to the dwarves. Thrain was mad and died soon after Gandalf found him, but before he died he gave Gandalf the map and key to the Lonely Mountain. This proved to be one of the things that convinced Gandalf to help Thorin on his quest. While in Dol Guldur, Gandalf discovered that Sauron the Necromancer was indeed the "Black Power" that he feared. Gandalf tried to get the White Council to drive him out immediately but Saruman wished to wait (secretly hoping that the ring would show itself while trying to find its master). Gandalf undertook "The Quest of Erebor" (i.e. The Hobbit) with the chief hope of builing up the defenses in the North and ridding Sauron of the potentially very dangerous weapon, Smaug. When Gandalf leaves Thorin's company at the edge of Mirkwood, he is driving out Sauron from his fortress in Dol Guldur with the White Council (who could no longer avoid the obvious).

Question
Are there in the 3 age any sons of Finwe alive or are there any grandchildren of him still alive?
-Rob from the Netherlands
Answer:
Of Finwe's sons, none are alive in Middle Earth during the Third Age, but of his grandchildren, Gladriel and possibly Maglor (the text is unclear whether or not he is alive) survived through the Third Age. Galadriel was descended from the line of Finarfin while Maglor was of the line of Feanor. Maglor was the only surviving son of Feanor, and because he tried to fulfill the oath he swore, he was banished from ever returning to Valinor. Further down the family tree there are (presumably) thousands descended from Finwe including Elrond, Arwen (and brothers),and Aragorn (and probably many of the Dunedain).

Question
how many times do the hobbits eat in a day, in the movie, they are always hungry!?
-Sineena from Syria
Answer:
Well, between the Hobbit and The LOTR, the meals mentioned are breakfast, 2nd breakfast, lunch, tea, supper, 2nd supper, and after dinner morsels. This amounts to a lot of food, and the amount that meals are mentioned by the hobbits indicates that they are rarely satisfied in there hunger unless they are at there own homes or guests at a hospitable refuge (i.e. The Prancing Pony, Farmer Maggots, Tom Bombadils, Rivendell, Lothlorien, Beorns home)

Question
Was Gollum ever a hobbit? Frodo says that he was something like a hobbit once and in the movie he resembles one. Does Tolkien ever say what Gollum was before he got corupted by the ring?
-Skie from Navasota,TX
Answer:
Gandalf suggests to Frodo in the Fellowship of the Ring that Gollum was "hobbit kind...akin to the fathers of the fathers of the Stoors". They were a people fond of rivers whereas most hobbit folk were not.

Question
Do Hobbits have sex like humans? Are their penal girths proportionate to their size?
-Ben Fisher from Taylor U
Answer:
It is a mystery even unto me.

Question
I read that Viggo has been asked if he would reprise his role as Aragon in the Hobbit movie. Was the character of Aragon even in the Hobbit book?
-Kay from Lynden
Answer:
No, Aragorn was not in the Hobbit, however, depending on how the film makers decide to split the story into two movies, he could possibly play a part. Perhaps hunting for Gollum on Gandalf's orders, or maybe we will see him and the other Rangers doing their work to protect the countryside.

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