A Tolkien Blog Party 2020 – Tag Answers

Greetings Hobbitses!  It is I, Alli – coming at you with yet another Unexpected Party. Or rather, blog post.

 

I don’t know what it is about Rachel’s tags . I am utterly INCAPABLE of resisting them.  One look and I’m a goner.

 

 

Consequently, I end up throwing something together extemporaneously and tumbling into your inbox at the last minute –

 

 

– at a time when I should be working on ANYTHING but this blog post.
I am really having trouble prioritizing lately. Is it just me?  Please tell me it’s not only me and that this is just a phase we’re going through!

 

 

*sigh* ANYWAY, now that the prerequisite excuses are out of the way, it’s time to announce the party rules.  LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, MAY I HAVE YOUR ATTENTION PLEASE.

 

 

“A Tolkien Blog Party” is a six-day long blog party hosted by the magnificent Rachel Kovaciny . You can contribute any Tolkien-related post to the party or you can answer the tag questions, like I did.
And be sure to enter the GIVEAWAY to nab some treasures that Smaug himself would love to hoard. Actually, don’t enter; I want to win. *greedy dragon grin*

 

And now, with that final bit of housekeeping out of the way – on to the party!

 

 

 

1. What Tolkien character do you think you’re the most like?

 

AWKWARD QUESTION RIGHT OUT OF THE GATE.
Ah, these sorts of questions make me ramble uncomfortably. . .  It always feels so narcissistic to examine my own character under a microscope.
It doesn’t seem like there’s a way do this and not sound like you’re tooting your own horn or being overly self-deprecating.
I shall make an attempt, hobbitses.

 

 

I would say that I’m kind of a combination of Kili, Gandalf, and Boromir. Especially Kili and Gandalf.

 

Kili:  Rambunctious, charming, extroverted, willing to love people and take chances on others.  Makes friends easily and quickly.  Feels things deeply.  Not afraid to put himself out there. A blend of fiery passion and easy-going high-jinks.
He’s also too eager, too easily distracted, and overestimates what he’s capable of doing.
And he’s NAUGHTY.

 

 

Boromir: A bit of a mother hen. Constantly worrying about others and always leaping to someone’s defense. Believes in swift and hard action. Conservative, but others think of him as an extremist. A combination of grizzly and teddy bear.  Quick to call people out when he thinks they need it, but just as swiftly comforts those around him.
And, I have to confess, I would have probably also been tempted to use the ring to obliterate the enemy.

 

 

Gandalf: Appears to be extroverted and open, but is really very private and is basically a Mystery to everyone around them. Has a tendency to very nicely push, pull, and “orchestrate” people.  Swings between titanic confrontations and charm and wit. Often low-key frustrated because few people appreciate his opinions and advice.

 

Very spiritual and wiser than many people might give him credit for. Might be more widely recognized as wise if he wasn’t so stubbornly weird. Not very in touch with his own state of being because he’s so busy helping others.

 

 

Actually, I feel like these three guys have a lot in common.
All three of them have a very strong moral code.
All of them are vehemently opposed to evil (or complacency) and ready for a fight.  They are quick to leap to the rescue . . . sometimes too quickly.

 

 

They consider the big picture, but don’t forget the little guys. They’re all willing to make tough decisions for the sake of the greater good. They’re a combination of soft tough-guy and steady wild man.
Also, all three kind of have a tendency to fall on their face. They get too excited, too involved, and too pushy.  Sometimes they just plain make donkeys out of themselves.

 

In a nutshell – what the three of these guys most share is tendency to be too hasty and to take on too much at once.

 

 

Ah, one more thing that is fundamentally like me. All three of them like parties.

 

 

2. What Tolkien character do you wish you were more like?
I wish I was like Thorin, so I could scare more people – possibly even beat them up.

 

 

JOKING. Ahem, sort of. It would be nice to be more intimidating, though. AND THAT MAJESTY.  I could always use a dose of that majesty.

 

In all seriousness. I would like to be more like Elrond – calmer, wiser, more immovable. More noble-minded and pure. More fully in the spiritual realm than the physical. More gracious and more patient. More willing to serve.
And yet still one awesome fighter that makes evil minions scream and beg for mercy.

 

3. What would your dream home in Middle-earth be like?

 

*wiggles down into chair to prepare for an epic day dream*
Okay, let’s assume I’m rich.

 

 

Since I largely identify as a dwarf, it’s a given that I got some of that loot from Erebor (it’s also a given that I was assisting Gloin in burying some of that lovely troll trove).

 

 

Now that you have been assured that I can cover taxes and afford a full staff – onto the details.
My MAIN home will be in the Laketown / Dale region. I really love the wild Northern feel of this region of Middle Earth and I ADORE the fact that it’s on a lake and in the center of the action, with plenty of foreigners and trade traveling through its streets.

 

I love the ancient color and rich palette of this area and it appeals to my artistic sensibilities.  It’s also right on the doorstep of the dwarvish kingdom.  My claustrophobia would prevent me from living in Erebor full time, but this way I can at least be close to it and visit my darling dwarves regularly.

 

 

I would have a second home in Rivendell – I think it would be a very relaxing and peaceful place to go there during winter time.  I can definitely see myself finishing the deadline on a book in Elrond’s library . . . and tormenting some Elves by throwing snowballs at them.

 

 

So, two thirds of the year in Laketown/Dale and a third in Rivendell, with occasional vacations to Erebor or the Shire.
I know. You’re probably thinking: “You don’t want to live in the Shire??? EVERYBODY wants to live in the Shire.”
Well, I don’t.
I’m half wizard. The Shire is nice, but it’s too tame for me to live there all the time.
More importantly. some of the people there are kind of IRRITATING. And dull. And they steal your spoons. And consider your home ripe for the picking when you’re not even dead.  Not very nice neighbors, no indeed.
In short, I like the holes, but not all of the hobbits.
Hence my alternative to Shire dwelling.
4. You get to make a movie of the story of Beren and Luthien!  Who do you cast as the leads?

 

 

Uh . . . no one? I haven’t read the book, so I don’t really have an opinion on this.

 

 

*Googles the story of Beren and Luthien*
Hmmm . . . well . . .  *silence*
I’m not really up on modern actors; I watch a lot of old films.  It’s basically like a version of Aragorn and Arwen’s love story, right? *isn’t a Tolkien aficionado*
Okay, I’m going to go with Sean Bean and Liv Tyler. They were the two I really shipped in Lord of the Rings, and this is their chance to finally be together!
Aragorn wasn’t good enough for Arwen, but Boromir was.
COME ON, YOU KNOW IT’S TRUE. I CAN SEE YOU ACCEPTING IT AT THIS VERY MOMENT.  BOROMIR SHOULD HAVE GOTTEN THE GIRL AND THE THRONE. DON’T RESIST THE RIGHTNESS OF IT.

 

 

I got off topic there, but that head cannon just slipped out.