The study of the evolution of languages; a love of languages
What is philology?
100
Whenever Bilbo gets sad, lonely, scared, or hungry, he thinks of this.
What is his hobbit hole (or The Shire, Bag-end, etc)?
100
With this question--not even technically a riddle--Bilbo beats Gollum in the game of riddles.
What have I got in my pocket?
100
Bilbo has to beat down this half of his inner self to allow the "tookishness" to take over.
What is the Baggins side of himself?
100
Thorin values this piece of treasure above all else; he is enraged when Bilbo gives it to Bard for negotiations.
What is the Arkenstone?
200
Tolkien found inspiration for Smaug from the monster in this epic tale.
What is Beowulf?
200
Similar to The Hobbit's "there and back again" motif, this mythical epic tells the stories of a man on his ten-year-long journey home.
What is the Odyssey?
200
A descriptive word or phrase added to a person’s name
What is an epithet?
200
Bilbo, feeling more like a Baggins than a Took, would love to stay here after the great feasts, beautiful music, and excellent company--though the dwarfs would certainly NOT agree!
What is Rivendale? (Or Elrond's)
200
Bilbo names his sword this after helping defeat the spiders.
What is Sting?
300
Tolkien found inspiration for the dwarf names from this epic.
What is Volupso?
300
Bilbo forgets this--and wants to return home for it--when he starts on the journey.
What is his handkerchief?
300
Bilbo uses this a bit too often, for what we may call the "crutch of invisibility."
What is the ring?
300
Though he does not remember Gandalf when he first sees him at the Shire, Bilbo does remember this creation of his from his childhood.
What are fireworks?
300
Foes of the Wargs and Goblins, they help Thorin and company escape the "frying pan"
What are the Eagles?
400
The inspiration for Beorn came from this hero.
Who is Beowulf?
400
Thorin and company are chased into trees by these creatures.
What are wargs?
400
My Precious!
Who is Gollum?
400
This is the epithet Bilbo gives himself when describing his escape from the Wood Elves and down the river.
What is "Barrel-Rider?"
400
Thorin and company cannot deny the lure of this in their "dwarfish hearts"
What is GOLD?
500
Since Tolkien had not yet created his own languages, he used these type of characters on Thorin's map.
What are Anglo-Saxon Runes?
500
One of the 6 elements of W.H. Auden's necessary elements for a quest, these characters are often magical; without their aide, the hero would probably not achieve their quest.
What are Helpers?
500
Thorin's map of the mountain can only be seen in this light.
What is moonlight?
500
When Bilbo sees one of these creatures beating snails against rock, he figures out the secret of the hidden door.
What is a Trush?
500
Descendant of Girion, his name literally translates to "poet."