The Tolkien Quoting Trivia

[Marky Lazer]

Ain't got Letters here. But tomorrow will post the correct answer. IF Pyan don't beat me to it...

[Grimward]

Or, it's supposed, others with Letters handy....

Very Good, sir. I will check before and after work tomorrow (too crazy during the work day for this type of thing).

[pyan]

Well...Letters, 25, refutes the idea that Hobbits are based on "furry African Pigmies", mentioned as being so by a letter-writer to the Observer signing himself "Habit".?
But...JRRT also repeats the "nassty little rabbit" calumny spoken by Bert the Troll in The Hobbit, Ch.2, Roast Mutton in the same letter, refuting that derivation as well, so I guess it's one of those two - and as Grim said "creature (singular) of habit", I'm torn.

Sod it, I'll go for the Furry African Pigmy....

[Grimward]

Was already logged off, but thought to check one more time. Lo and behold, Pyan has indeed chosen the correct reference.

I have no waking recollection of furry pigmies (in book or moonlight); nor of any Hobbit bogey in print by 1904. I suspect that the two hobbits are accidental homophones, and are content that they are not (it would seem) synonyms.

Was looking for hobbits, but the reference was the real trick.

A furry pygmy bell is awarded to the ancient one.

[pyan]

*Dull fuzzy clang*

Well, let's try this one...

Bilbo uses something that seems to have been no longer used by Frodo and his companions 77 years later....Any ideas what they are? (Two quotes, identifying two things, please)

[Grimward]

I think, if one looked hard enough, there might be a few things, but here are my two.

1. Engagement Tablets

He did not remember things very well, unless he put them down on his Engagement Tablet: like this: Gandalf Tea Wednesday.

The Hobbit, Ch.1 An Unexpected Party

2. Doorbells (at least at Bag End)

He had hardly sat down, when there came a soft knock at the front door. 'Lobelia again most likely,' he thought. The knock was repeated, much louder, but he took no notice. Suddenly the wizard's head appeared at the window.

'If you don't let me in, Frodo, I shall blow your door right down your hole and out through the hill,' he said.

The Fellowship of the Ring, Ch. 1 A Long Expected Party

EDIT: Perhaps some doubt on the second, for while there definitely was a doorbell there in the Hobbit ("ding-dong-a-ling-dang") that doesn't appear to be available to Gandalf, there's no evidence that Bilbo actually ever used it himself.....

[pyan]

Yet again, I expressed myself poorly...

I intended the two quotes to relate to two things that have the same use, but seem to have taken a backward step in development between 2941 T.A. and 3018 T.A....

If you're not happy about that, Grim, I'll take your answer - but you might want to try again, because the answer I'm looking for is quite noticably odd....

[Grimward]

Not at all, Py. Would rather answer to the intent. 4:00 in the morning your time, however, it was hard to come by!!! Will cogitate....

[Marky Lazer]

And did we find some new interesting questions!

[Grimward]

Alas, nothing in the way of findings yet, ancient one. Am continuing the search, however.....

[Marky Lazer]

It's getting embarrassing, I know, but I could do with a hint again.

[pyan]

Is no-one even getting warm? No spark of inspiration out there?

[Marky Lazer]

At the moment I'm reading Amazon.com: The Book of Lost Tales 1(The History of Middle-Earth, Vol. 1): J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien: Books and I'm pretty sure it's not in there

[Grimward]

1. So, we've added Lost Tales, vol. 1, correct?

2. I need another day or two to finish what I'm researching for your question, ancient one (although it's not going well so far....). Obviously, there's no need to wait for me....

[pyan]

Well, looks like everyone's struck out with this...

You've had three clues...here's another (less of a clue than a plain statement of fact)...the two books are the Hobbit and TFotR...

Does this produce a glimmer of an idea?