Tolkien Trivia

[serinde]

Beren -- you are, of course, correct

But where did you find all that information?

[Beren]

The appendices... and my head... For most people the appendices are a bit too much to read, but if you digg through them you can learn a lot!

A new question (level 1):
How many times Huan was allowed to speak?

[Merry]

Three times? I'm a little rusty on this, but here are my vague memories: the first time was to Luthien and the last time was to Beren as he, Huan, was dying. I recall the description of his voice was like the ringing of bells!

I'm sure you can tell us more, Beren.

[Merry]

Yoo hoo, Beren! Are you out there?

Until Beren returns, here's something to keep us busy:

Tolkien fed the hobbits with some of his favorite foods at Bree. What did Barliman serve them? (Level 1, and this should be done from memory if at all possible!)

[Beren]

Sorry guys... am in the middle of moving to my new house and have no internet connection. Three times is indeed correct. Will throw in some about it here:

The headlines of the story of Huan, the hound of Valinor, are told in the Silmarillion, but quite a few enriching details are to be found in the "Lay of Leithian" (HME III).
Huan was born in Valinor as the hound of Oromë, and then given to Celegorm:

In Tavros’ friths and pastures green
Had Huan once a young welp been.
He grew the swiftest of the swift,
And Oromë gave him as a gift
To Celegorm, who loved to follow
The great God’s horn o’er hill and hollow

-- Lays of Beleriand: 236

Huan followed Celegorm into exile to Middle-Earth and thus became part of the doom of the Noldor. But his was a special fate, that was “known to all”:

No wizardry, nor spell, nor dart,
No fang, nor venom devil’s art
Could brew had harmed him; for his weird
Was woven. Yet he little feared
That fate decreed and known to all:
Before the mightiest he should fall, before the mightiest wolf alone
That ever was whelped in cave or stone.

-- Lays of Beleriand: 236-237

Nothing could escape the sight and scent of Huan, nor could any enchantment stay him, and he slept not, neither by night or by day.

-- SIL: 203
Thus it came that Luthien, escaping unseen by all her father's prison in Hirilorn, was yet spotted by Huan and brought to Celegorm. When it became clear that Celegorm was corrupted and meant to betray Luthien, Huan devised a plan for the aid of Luthien:

Thus Huan spoke, who never before had uttered words, and but twice more hid speak in elven tongue again: “Lady beloved, whom all Men, whom Elfinesse, and whom all things with fur and fell and feathered wings should serve and love- arise! Away! Put on thy cloak! Before the day comes over Nargothrond we fly to Northern perils, thou and I.” And ere he ceased he counsel wrought for achievement of the thing he sought. There Luthien listened in amaze, and softly on Huan did she gaze. Her arms about his neck she cast – in friendship that to death should last.

-- Lays of Beleriand: 243

Huan and Luthien then set out for the rescue of Beren and Felagund from Tol-in-Gaurhoth. And when Beren sang his song in praise of the Valacirca, Luthien answered with a song of power.

“The wolves howled, and the isle trembled”

-- SIL: 205
And Sauron knew Luthien was there. Then he sent wolves to captivate her. But one by one the wolves were slain by Huan. Then Sauron sent Draugluin, sire of the werewolves of Angband. After a fierce battle with Huan, Draugluin escaped to die at the feet of Sauron, whispering: “Huan is there!”.
Now Sauron knew quite well the fate decreed on Huan, and set out to fulfill the prophecy himself. Thus he came to Luthien and Huan as the mightiest werewolf that had yet walked the earth. But Luthien cast a spell on him, and Huan sprang, and Huan took his foe by the throat and pinned him down. And Sauron was forced to yield the mastery of the tower to Luthien.
Thus Beren and Luthien became free, and after burying Felagund, they walked the woods. But Huan returned to Celegorm to fulfill duty and doom. For in the forest of Brethil, Celegorm and Curufin came upon Beren and Luthien and assailed them. Then Huan forsook the service of Celegorm and rescued Beren from Celegorm's spear. Celegorm cursed him “but Huan was unmoved”. The evil brothers, pursued by Huan, then fled in fear. But Beren once more departed to fulfill his quest, leaving Luthien in the care of Huan.

But when Luthien heard Beren's great Song of Parting, she went after him. Then Huan clad himself in the wolf-hame of Draugluin, and for Luthien he got the bat-fell of Thuringwethil, and “all things fled before them”. Thus they overtook Beren, but Beren himself was tormented by doubt. For he would not bring Luthien with him to the dangers of Thangorodrim, but neither would he forsake his oath to Thingol.
Then Huan spoke for a second time, explaining the paths of fate and doom: of Beren, of Luthien and also of himself. And:

His voice was like the deeptoned bells that ring in Valmars citadels

-- Lays of Beleriand: 279

Freed from doubt, Beren and Luthien then set out to fulfill the quest for the Silmaril. Meanwhile Morgoth had heard all about the actions of the hound of the Valar and, knowing the fate of Huan, nurtured in secret the terrible wolf Carcharoth, the Red Maw, who is Anfauglir, the Jaws of Thirst. And at that time Carcharoth guarded the gates of Angband.
And when Beren and Luthien – clad as Draugluin and Thuringwethil - approached Angband, Carcharoth met them with irony: for well he knew that Draugluin was dead.
We then witness Luthien in her finest hour, laying a spell upon Carcharoth, speaking the unforgettable words:

O woe-begotten spirit, fall now into dark oblivion, and forget for a while the dreadful doom of life

-- SIL 212
Beren and Luthien then fulfilled their quest, and succeeded in cutting a Silmaril from Morgoth's crown. But Carcharoth was then awakened and bit off the hand of Beren, holding the Silmaril, and swallowed it. Then Carcharoth, mad with rage and pain, ravaged the land. And by the power of the Silmaril inside him, the terror of the onslaught of Carcharoth was the greatest that ever came to Beleriand.
A fine host then set out for the Hunting of the Wolf.

To that chase went Huan the hound of Valinor, and Mablung of the Heavy Hand, and Beleg Strongbow, and Beren Erchamion, and Thingol King of Doriath

”
-- SIL 218

When this host came at last upon Carcharoth in the dark vale of Esgalduin, Carcharoth avoided Huan and assailed Thingol. Beren cast himself before Thingol, but is felled by the wolf. At that moment Huan leaps…
What happens next is described so beautifully by Tolkien that an excerpt is uncalled for.

[...] and no battle of wolf and hound has been like it, for in the baying of Huan was heard the horns of Oromë and the wrath of the Valar, but in the howls of Carcharoth was the hate of Morgoth and malice crueller than teeth of steel; and the rocks were rent by their clamour and fell from on high and choked the falls of Esgalduin. There they fought to the death; but Thingol gave no heed, for he knelt by Beren, seeing that he was sorely hurt.
Huan in that hour slew Carcharoth; but there in the woven woods of Doriath his own doom long spoken was fulfilled, and he was wounded mortally, and the venom of Morgoth entered into him. Then he came, and falling beside Beren spoke for the third time with words; and he bade Beren farewell before he died. Beren spoke not, but laid his hand upon the head of the hound, and so they parted.

[Beren]

Tolkien fed the hobbits with some of his favorite foods at Bree. What did Barliman serve them? (Level 1, and this should be done from memory if at all possible!)

Haha, well you got me there; Level 1, haha... I really did have to take my book to see what was being served. I remembered the excellent beer and the hot soup, but had all forgotten about the cold meats, blackberry tart, new loaves, slaps of butter and the cheese. I think you are looking for "good plain food"!

Nice question!!

[Merry]

Thanks! I like food. And I like descriptions of food in books.

Your turn--

[Beren]

OK, let us do an easy one (level 1):

One of the three throlls has a surname, which one and what is the surname...

[Airwin]

Would that be William Huggins?

[Beren]

correct.... got the inspiration for this questions from the latest Beyond Bree that has arrived, it contains a nice article by Mark T. Hooker about the word Huggins.

your turn!

[Airwin]

Here's a level 2:

What is the Glingal, who made it, and where is it located?

[Philipa]

Glingal is a golden tree (representing Laurelin) made by Turgon which stood in Gondolin.

[Airwin]

That's right Philipa! Your turn!

[Philipa]

Thanks Airwin

Level 3

Who was Dirhavel, what was his occupation and what was his demise?

[Beren]

Dírhavel was a Man who lived among the exiles and refugees at the Havens of Sirion during the closing century of the First Age, at the time of Eärendil. He was a poet, though he only produced a single poem, the longest of all the lays to come out of Beleriand. It was written in Sindarin, and drew on the knowledge and memories of the people of Doriath, Dor-lómin, and many other lands that were gathered at the Mouths of Sirion. Its name was Narn i Hîn Húrin ("Tale of the Children of Húrin") and it told the story of Morgoth's curse on Húrin's children Túrin and Nienor, and the heroic tragedy that emerged from that curse.

Dírhavel would perhaps have written other poems or lays, but he was to suffer a tragedy of his own. The Silmaril captured by Beren and Lúthien was also at the Havens at that time, in the keeping of Eärendil's wife Elwing, and the Sons of Fëanor launched an attack on the exiles to claim the Jewel. Elwing was able to escape with the Silmaril, but Dírhavel was not so lucky; he was one of those who fell in the attack.