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SirDennisC
Half-elven
Mar 25 2010, 9:35am
Views: 10052
Shortcut
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I first encountered Tolkien’s essay Beowulf: the Monsters and the Critics in a severely shortened form in A Norton Critical Edition, Beowulf: The Donaldson Translation, Backgrounds and Sources, Criticism. (Edited by Joseph F. Tuso. W. W. Norton & Company: New York. 1975.) However, by a strange twist of fate, I happened to find the full text of the essay in a book by the same name (well almost*) at my favourite used book store the very day I signed up for this topic. My observations here, as well as all quotes are from the full text. The essay, really the text of a lecture to the British Academy, “was read on 25 November 1936,” that is, almost a year before the first publication of The Hobbit. While clearly a critique of the state of Beowulf criticism up to that day, it appeared to me Tolkien’s essay might also have functioned as a rationale for the story he was about to unleash on a generation of British readers seemingly starved of good myth (or at least starved of appreciation for the literary heritage they already possessed). This may not be a startling observation to those familiar with Carpenter’s biography of Tolkien (which I claim only a cursory knowledge of) since he points to Beowulf as being Tolkien’s most profound influence when crafting The Hobbit. Regardless, one need only read “The Monster’s” part of the Beowulf lecture if they have ever asked themselves, “just what is a dragon doing in The Hobbit anyway?” (For that matter, the same can be gleaned of Beowulf’s Grendel and Bilbo’s Trolls.) As for “The Critics” part of the paper? Well, again owing to Carpenter, the notion that Tolkien despised allegory is widely accepted. Despite a statement to this effect by Tolkien himself (something about “allegory smelling bad” or some such thing) this may have been a bit of an overstatement on Carpenter’s part. I think instead that Tolkien hated when some of his works were described as allegorical (for instance, The Lord of the Rings). Since he was willing to indulge in the form when it suited his purposes – namely at least twice when delivering his Beowulf lecture – it is unlikely that he despised allegory entirely. The first allegorical illustration (so called by Tolkien in the text) describes how “The Beowulf” as a subject had been received and treated by scholars up to that point. By personifying the various fields of study with a stake in Beowulf, Tolkien makes the argument that its importance as a work of poetry had all but been ignored. In the second (by far the more beautiful but also more scalding) allegory, the Professor likens Beowulf to a tower built of stones, where the stones are the material the poet drew upon from his own time and place and its history. Critics and academics come along and are so interested in the stones that they think the tower has no value… I’ll let Tolkien finish: “‘Imagine him using these old stones just to build a nonsensical tower… he had no sense of proportion.’ But from the top of that tower, the man had been able to look out upon the sea.” This, for me, is the essence of Tolkien -- how he can use relatively simple language to express such powerful ideas. The image perfectly captures his central thesis that “Beowulf has been used as a quarry of fact and fancy far more assiduously that it has been studied as a work of art.” Actually, the above statement (found at the end of the second paragraph of the paper) really grabbed my attention and kept me reading. It reminded me too, of the sort of comment one might read here at TORn. Not that I am trying to bring Tolkien down to our level, or vice versa. Rather, it seems to me, that either: his way of thinking has rubbed off on many of us; or the things that mattered to him almost 75 years ago, are still important, relevant and current. In the context of studying his work, as well as works derived from them (and sometimes things tangential to the derivatives ;-)) it is striking how many of the things he said in Beowulf: The Monsters and The Critics can be applied to his work as well. This perhaps is the proof that he managed to create a mythology that, like Beowulf, “is worthy of study.” In closing I offer the following quotes in the hope that you may unravel what I am trying to say: “The illusion of historical truth and perspective, that has made Beowulf seem such an attractive quarry, is largely a product of art.” “Slowly with the rolling of years the obvious (so often the last revelation of analytic study) has been discovered: that we have to deal with a poem by an Englishman using afresh ancient and largely traditional material.” “The dwarf on the spot sometimes sees things missed by the travelling giant ranging many countries.” “Yet this poetic talent, we are to understand, has all been squandered on an unprofitable theme: as if Milton had recounted the story of Jack and the Beanstalk in noble verse.” “Where then resides the special virtue of Beowulf, if the common element (which belongs largely to the language, and to a literary tradition) is deducted? It resides, one might guess, in the theme, and the spirit this has infused into the whole. For, in fact, if there were a real discrepancy between theme and style, that style would not be felt as beautiful but as incongruous or false.” (emphasis added) “The significance of a myth is not easily to be pinned on paper by analytical reasoning.” “A dragon is no idle fancy. Whatever may be his origins, in fact or invention, the dragon in legend is a potent creation of men’s imagination, richer in significance than his barrow is in gold.” “[Beowulf] is a man, and that for him and many is sufficient tragedy.” *Tolkien, J.R.R. The Monsters and the Critics and Other Essays. Edited by Christopher Tolkien. HaperCollins Publishers: London. 2006.
(This post was edited by SirDennisC on Mar 25 2010, 9:39am)
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Subject
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User
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Time
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It's Tolkien Reading Day! Post your ABCs of Tolkien here.
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N.E. Brigand
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Mar 25 2010, 3:48am
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C is for Cerin Amroth...
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GAndyalf
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Mar 25 2010, 3:57am
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Wow - nicely done!
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NottaSackville
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Mar 25 2010, 11:57am
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<Bows low>
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GAndyalf
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Mar 25 2010, 1:24pm
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GREAT ELEPHANTS!
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GAndyalf
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Mar 25 2010, 3:27pm
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No problem - it's a common mistake
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NottaSackville
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Mar 25 2010, 3:53pm
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But you did so...
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GAndyalf
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Mar 25 2010, 4:56pm
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A question
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Kangi Ska
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Mar 27 2010, 1:42am
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Yep.//
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Elizabeth
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Mar 27 2010, 3:01am
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As Lady Elizabeth says...
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GAndyalf
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Mar 27 2010, 3:18am
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It *raises* the question...
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Elizabeth
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Mar 27 2010, 4:09am
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<chuckle>
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GAndyalf
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Mar 27 2010, 5:57am
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A good poet is aware of all levels of meaning in his work.
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Kangi Ska
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Mar 27 2010, 2:32pm
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But he never tells us...
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GAndyalf
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Mar 27 2010, 3:56pm
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A guess...
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Elizabeth
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Mar 27 2010, 6:20pm
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A good poet offers the poem not its meaning
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Kangi Ska
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Mar 27 2010, 6:26pm
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(smile)
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GAndyalf
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Mar 27 2010, 7:07pm
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Simbelmyne or Evermind in ths common tongue
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Kangi Ska
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Mar 27 2010, 7:16pm
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Thank you!
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GAndyalf
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Mar 27 2010, 7:21pm
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Yes it is about time I reread the Silmarillion. It has been a couple years.//
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Kangi Ska
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Mar 27 2010, 8:09pm
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The Heart of Elvendom on earth
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Kangi Ska
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Mar 27 2010, 8:03pm
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Am I to understand then...
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GAndyalf
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Mar 27 2010, 8:21pm
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A bit more difficult to explain
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Kangi Ska
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Mar 27 2010, 8:41pm
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Cool!
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GAndyalf
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Mar 28 2010, 1:44am
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The perilous realm
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FarFromHome
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Mar 31 2010, 4:22am
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Nicely said! //
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Voronwë_the_Faithful
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Mar 31 2010, 2:33pm
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No.
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Night Wolf
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Apr 1 2010, 4:58pm
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Perhaps the place chose them. //
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Kangi Ska
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Mar 27 2010, 2:22pm
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T is for Tolkien
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Magpie
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Mar 25 2010, 4:10am
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Very "British"...
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GAndyalf
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Mar 25 2010, 3:25pm
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British wit
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Magpie
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Mar 26 2010, 1:16am
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"Frank-ness"
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GAndyalf
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Mar 26 2010, 1:32am
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well...
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batik
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Mar 26 2010, 1:11am
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re: coffee
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Magpie
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Mar 26 2010, 1:14am
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X is for X-Ray vision ...
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NottaSackville
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Mar 25 2010, 4:12am
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LOL at #5 :-) //
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Magpie
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Mar 25 2010, 4:16am
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Interesting question!
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FarFromHome
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Mar 25 2010, 7:21am
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E is for Emission Theory
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Darkstone
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Mar 25 2010, 3:46pm
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Interesting - good to know I wasn't alone...
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NottaSackville
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Mar 25 2010, 3:54pm
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I think....
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GAndyalf
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Mar 25 2010, 4:54pm
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Light of eyes
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White Gull
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Mar 26 2010, 2:00pm
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The answer to Smaug's powers...
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Kangi Ska
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Mar 27 2010, 2:05am
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P is for Peregrin Took!
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fairelvenlady
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Mar 25 2010, 4:46am
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Give or Took...
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GAndyalf
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Mar 25 2010, 5:20pm
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K is for Kirith Ungol
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Modtheow
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Mar 25 2010, 5:32am
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corrected link
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Modtheow
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Mar 25 2010, 12:33pm
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Tolkien - word pictures.
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Istari68
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Mar 25 2010, 4:16pm
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"Ha, hmm, my friends, let us go for a walk!"...
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batik
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Mar 25 2010, 5:54am
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sidestepping the quiz for a comment on the word Quickbeam
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Magpie
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Mar 25 2010, 1:57pm
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Wow!
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GAndyalf
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Mar 25 2010, 5:32pm
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My son is Rowan
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Kangi Ska
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Mar 27 2010, 3:15pm
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Hmmmm....
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Darkstone
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Mar 25 2010, 7:38pm
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T is for Thursday!
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sador
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Mar 25 2010, 6:10am
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How subversive, satirical and sharp of you
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SirDennisC
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Mar 25 2010, 7:49pm
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E(ä) is for Eärendil
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Night Wolf
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Mar 25 2010, 7:15am
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Interesting
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SirDennisC
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Mar 25 2010, 9:13pm
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B is for Beowulf
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SirDennisC
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Mar 25 2010, 9:35am
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worthy of study
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Modtheow
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Mar 25 2010, 5:56pm
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I'm glad we agree!
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SirDennisC
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Mar 25 2010, 9:18pm
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Scholarly...
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GAndyalf
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Mar 25 2010, 6:01pm
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Thank you
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SirDennisC
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Mar 25 2010, 10:33pm
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Yes but don't forget...
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FarFromHome
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Mar 26 2010, 4:52am
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(laughs)
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GAndyalf
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Mar 26 2010, 1:30pm
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I have to agree
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FarFromHome
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Mar 26 2010, 2:05pm
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Cool stuff!
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GAndyalf
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Mar 26 2010, 4:14pm
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Would that be a stoat?
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N.E. Brigand
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Mar 26 2010, 5:51pm
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Whoops!
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FarFromHome
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Mar 27 2010, 1:13am
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Regardless of the typo
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SirDennisC
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Mar 27 2010, 3:38am
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F is for Fëanor
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Elizabeth
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Mar 25 2010, 10:03am
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In pity for Feanor...
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GAndyalf
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Mar 25 2010, 6:39pm
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Thank you!
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Elizabeth
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Mar 25 2010, 8:05pm
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I is for Ioreth
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dernwyn
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Mar 25 2010, 10:15am
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I think it says a lot...
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Magpie
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Mar 25 2010, 2:07pm
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Yes, a favourite
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SirDennisC
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Mar 26 2010, 3:42am
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Intriguing idea indeed!
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GAndyalf
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Mar 26 2010, 1:33pm
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Concurring with GAndy
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dernwyn
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Mar 26 2010, 3:43pm
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Ioreth is a fun character.
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fairelvenlady
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Mar 27 2010, 8:26pm
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A little learning...
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FarFromHome
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Mar 28 2010, 1:01am
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From a medieval history syllabus...
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GAndyalf
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Mar 28 2010, 1:51am
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my own favorite quote
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sevilodorf
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Mar 28 2010, 5:43pm
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L is for Lothórien
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drogo
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Mar 25 2010, 10:19am
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through a high window
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Modtheow
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Mar 25 2010, 5:49pm
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I'd never thought about it that way
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Oiotári
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Mar 25 2010, 9:36pm
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Nasmith, for me.
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Elizabeth
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Mar 25 2010, 10:46pm
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Thanks for those links!
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Aunt Dora Baggins
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Mar 26 2010, 1:00am
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Middle-earth in HD...
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batik
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Mar 26 2010, 9:16pm
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I guess it depends
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FarFromHome
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Mar 29 2010, 1:09pm
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J is for Josef Stalin
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Pryderi
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Mar 25 2010, 11:36am
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It seems,
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SirDennisC
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Mar 25 2010, 9:32pm
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He does seem to dislike "globalisation" doesn't he?...
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Pryderi
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Mar 25 2010, 11:01pm
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'D' is for Denethor
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Hamfast Gamgee
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Mar 25 2010, 11:38am
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Denethor, son of Ecthelion
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GAndyalf
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Mar 25 2010, 6:57pm
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W is for Woses!
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Tweezers of Thu
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Mar 25 2010, 12:22pm
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always something new
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Modtheow
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Mar 26 2010, 12:20am
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Oh, yes! Even after 44 years (gasp!)...
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Tweezers of Thu
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Mar 26 2010, 4:58pm
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Ack - they're everywhere!
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NottaSackville
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Mar 26 2010, 12:24pm
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Another example! Flame-eyed Elves!
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Tweezers of Thu
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Mar 26 2010, 5:36pm
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"L" is also for "Letters"
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Elwen
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Mar 25 2010, 1:37pm
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(Soft, benevolent smile for Frodo)
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GAndyalf
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Mar 25 2010, 7:17pm
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O is for Olórë Mallë
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Oiotári
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Mar 25 2010, 2:33pm
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Roverandom?
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GAndyalf
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Mar 25 2010, 7:23pm
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R is for Rosie
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Rosie-with-the-ribbons
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Mar 25 2010, 3:27pm
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(laughs) Getting two in at once?
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GAndyalf
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Mar 25 2010, 7:29pm
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Yep
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Rosie-with-the-ribbons
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Mar 26 2010, 9:23am
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Wish I had your impishness!
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GAndyalf
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Mar 26 2010, 4:50pm
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Muchos gracias
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Rosie-with-the-ribbons
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Mar 26 2010, 6:59pm
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It's not too far off...
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GAndyalf
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Mar 26 2010, 7:14pm
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Close enough...
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GAndyalf
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Mar 26 2010, 7:21pm
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Marido Oscuro, lol...
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Evernight
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Mar 26 2010, 7:03pm
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<Takes his lumps>
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GAndyalf
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Mar 26 2010, 7:16pm
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G is for Gandalf
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Nerdanel
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Mar 25 2010, 6:01pm
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At a guess...
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GAndyalf
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Mar 25 2010, 7:35pm
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laughter
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Modtheow
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Mar 26 2010, 2:33am
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S is for Smith of Wootton Major.
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Evernight
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Mar 25 2010, 6:08pm
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(Daubs tears)
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GAndyalf
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Mar 25 2010, 7:44pm
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"Why is Faery important? How important is it to you?"
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SirDennisC
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Mar 26 2010, 4:12am
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A is for Arkenstone!
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entmaiden
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Mar 25 2010, 6:53pm
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Because you asked...
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GAndyalf
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Mar 25 2010, 7:51pm
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It just so happens
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Oiotári
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Mar 25 2010, 8:57pm
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Z is for Zirakzigil
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weaver
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Mar 25 2010, 8:29pm
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"I need no map," said Gimli...
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N.E. Brigand
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Mar 25 2010, 9:20pm
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Aha! More Z's!
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weaver
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Mar 25 2010, 9:46pm
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On living rock.
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Pryderi
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Mar 25 2010, 11:34pm
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Zis monument, carved into ze hillside - it is zuspicious, no?
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squire
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Mar 26 2010, 1:53am
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U is for Uolë Kúvion, the Man in the Moon
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Dân o’Nandor-on-Anduin
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Mar 25 2010, 10:43pm
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How charming...
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SirDennisC
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Mar 26 2010, 2:48am
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E is for Erendis
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acheron
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Mar 26 2010, 12:39am
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I really like this story
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Modtheow
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Mar 27 2010, 1:49pm
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V is for Voronwë
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Voronwë_the_Faithful
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Mar 26 2010, 2:12am
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One of the amazing things about the depth of Tolkien's writing -
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NottaSackville
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Mar 26 2010, 12:48pm
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I remembered...
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GAndyalf
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Mar 26 2010, 4:55pm
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H is for Halfling!
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aranelthehobbit22
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Mar 26 2010, 2:21am
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No worries
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SirDennisC
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Mar 26 2010, 2:30am
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Thank you
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GAndyalf
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Mar 26 2010, 2:40am
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M is for Morwen
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Saelind
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Mar 26 2010, 2:54am
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The saddest...
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GAndyalf
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Mar 26 2010, 3:18am
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M is for Morwen
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Saelind
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Mar 26 2010, 3:48am
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'H' is for, hip, hip, hooray, everyone!
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Altaira
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Mar 26 2010, 3:33am
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N is for Niggle
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Finding Frodo
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Mar 26 2010, 4:11am
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Whoops!
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Finding Frodo
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Mar 26 2010, 2:33pm
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Niggle and Tasks...
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GAndyalf
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Mar 26 2010, 4:33pm
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Y is for Yggdrasil.
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N.E. Brigand
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Mar 26 2010, 6:42am
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How did drasils turn into wargs?
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NottaSackville
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Mar 26 2010, 3:47pm
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A is for N.E. Brigand -
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NottaSackville
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Mar 26 2010, 12:28pm
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Seconded!
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sador
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Mar 26 2010, 12:31pm
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Thirded!
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entmaiden
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Mar 27 2010, 12:09am
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All in favour
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Modtheow
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Mar 27 2010, 1:57pm
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And a big thank-you from me, too
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Lily Fairbairn
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Mar 28 2010, 6:03pm
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Wow! This is great!
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Compa_Mighty
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Apr 4 2010, 7:52pm
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