K. Why does Eowyn take her helmet off: is it necessary in order for her to proclaim her virgin power?

C. Why is Theoden unaffected by the shadow, when his men and horses are groveling and screaming in terror?

Theoden is no longer afraid. He has accepted that he will not be returning from the field of battle this time; he is holding nothing in reserve. He does not fear either the Witch King or the seemingly endless hordes of Mordor.

E. What exactly is the ‘Fell Beast’ (as they have come to be known) and why is its kind “apt to evil”? (Here is one exploration I did a few years ago)

Growing up I always assumed it was a pterodactyl. Recently, my son asked the same question and I was flabbergasted to realize that any one else thought any different (small dragon, etc.)

Dernhelm draws sword and the wraith mocks him: “Thou fool. No living man may hinder me!”

I. In refuting Dernhelm’s threat, is the Witch-king knowledgably citing Glorfindel’s and Gandalf’s prophecies (“not by the hand of man shall he fall”), or simply stating his own arrogant belief about his invulnerability due to his wraithlike nature?

Consider the phrasing the WK uses. He doesn't say "No mortal may harm me!" or "I cannot be destroyed!". I think that he did indeed know of the prophecy, even if he didn't really give it much credit. Or maybe he did, we don't know. But the way he says that indicates to me that he was at least aware of it. Eowyn herself, on the other hand, most likely was not. Also, her response causes him to pause in doubt, as below:

Dernhelm laughs aloud and proclaims she is no man, but a woman: Eowyn, daughter of Eomund. She tells the Witch-king to begone or “living or dark undead, I will smite you.” Merry opens his eyes as the wraith pauses in doubt; the hobbit sees Eowyn, her hair shining as she weeps, wielding her sword and raising her shield to fend off her enemy’s deadly gaze. Merry’s loyal heart drives him to crawl towards her in aid, despite his terror of being noticed by the fiend.
J. Is Eowyn’s unveiling one of the great surprises in the book, so that the count of eucatastrophes in this battle is three, not two – or do most readers figure Dernhelm out before this?

It surprised me, but I was only nine or ten at the time. I have no clue as to whether I would still be stumped. :)

N. How easy or hard is it to decapitate a giant winged lizard in one sword-stroke?

Sinew and muscle and bone. Quite difficult, I would imagine.

P. How did Merry avoid getting crushed by the falling beast, so that he could position himself behind the wraith who had just stepped down from his saddle to attack Eowyn?

Plain dumb hobbit luck, I think. "If chance you call it..."


Extra Credit. Who killed the Witch-King: Eowyn (not a Man)? Merry (also not a Man)? Eowyn and her sword, plus Merry’s curse-laden sword, rather than Merry himself?

But the helm of her secrecy had fallen from her, and her bright hair, released from its bonds, gleamed with pale gold upon her shoulders.

A swift stroke she dealt, skilled and deadly. The outstretched neck she clove asunder, and the hewn head fell like a stone. Backward she sprang as the huge shape crashed to ruin, vast wings outspread, crumpled on the earth; and with its fall the shadow passed away. A light fell about her, and her hair shone in the sunrise.”

(my bolds)

C. Why is Théoden unaffected by the shadow, when his men and horses are groveling and screaming in terror?

Then Sauron sprang upon Luthien; and she swooned before the menace of the fell spirit in his eyes and the foul vapour of his breath. But even as he came, falling she cast a fold of her dark cloak before his eyes; and he stumbled, for a fleeting drowsiness came upon him. Then Huan sprang. There befell the battle of Huan and Wolf-Sauron, and howls and baying echoed in the hills, and the watchers on the walls of Ered Wethrin across the valley heard it afar and were dismayed.

But no wizardry nor spell, neither fang nor venom, nor devil's art nor beast-strength, could overthrow Huan of Valinor; and he took his foe by the throat and pinned him down. Then Sauron shifted shape, from wolf to serpent, and from monster to his own accustomed form; but he could not elude the grip of Huan without forsaking his body utterly. Ere his foul spirit left its dark house, Lúthien came to him, and said that he should be stripped of his raiment of flesh, and his ghost be sent quaking back to Morgoth; and she said: ‘There everlastingly thy naked self shall endure the torment of his scorn, pierced by his eyes, unless thou yield to me the mastery of thy tower.’

It radiates darkness (and its burned corpse contaminates the soil, forever) while Eowyn radiates light that is beyond what appears in the regular dawn, as if she is Varda or another higher power.