Netilardo - Tolkien Trinkets
Netilardo, 'Trinkets of Arda' in Quenya, is devoted to drawing out facts about J.R.R. Tolkien's writings that may not be obvious at first glance.
Not-So-Crackpot Theories
The Tolkien Not-So-Crackpot Theories List
Filthy Liars
A list of theories that are just sane enough to be plausible.
What if... various characters in the tales were filthy liars?
[NEW] The Witch-Queen of Numenor
Naming the Lord - or Lady - of the Nazgul.
Naming the Lord - or Lady - of the Nazgul.
The Palantir of Bombadil
Tom Bombadil - nature spirit, Master of the Old Forest... and owner of a Palantir?
Tom Bombadil - nature spirit, Master of the Old Forest... and owner of a Palantir?
Misery in Mirkwood
A look at 'The Hobbit' movies' treatment of some characters from the Woodland Realm.
A look at 'The Hobbit' movies' treatment of some characters from the Woodland Realm.
Strong Female Characters
They say there are no strong women in Tolkien. I say they're wrong.
They say there are no strong women in Tolkien. I say they're wrong.
Classical Artwork
Why, among all Tolkien's clothed characters, is there one naked woman, Nienor?
Why, among all Tolkien's clothed characters, is there one naked woman, Nienor?
Pair Bonding
Answering the question of what exactly Tolkien considered a happy ending.
Answering the question of what exactly Tolkien considered a happy ending.
If Of Ships I Now Should Sing
How are the ships of Middle-earth named?
How are the ships of Middle-earth named?
The Witch-King of Numenor
Showcasing some theories about the Lord of the Nazgul.
Showcasing some theories about the Lord of the Nazgul.
In Mockery Of...
If Orcs are fake Elves, and Trolls are fake Ents, what else did Morgoth imitate?
If Orcs are fake Elves, and Trolls are fake Ents, what else did Morgoth imitate?
The Rings of Power
So, magic rings. And... what is it they do, exactly?
So, magic rings. And... what is it they do, exactly?
There's a [UNKNOWN] in my pond!
What, exactly, is the Watcher in the Water?
What, exactly, is the Watcher in the Water?
What shape were Elven ears?
An in-universe answer.
An in-universe answer.
The Lion, the Witch, and Hildorien
Considering the place of Narnia in Middle-earth.
Considering the place of Narnia in Middle-earth.
The Shape of the World
What shape was Middle-earth?
What shape was Middle-earth?
The War in the Air
What manner of air forces existed in Middle-earth?
What manner of air forces existed in Middle-earth?
The Fate of the Entwives
The political allegiance of the Brown Lands.
The political allegiance of the Brown Lands.
A New Perspective on Middle-earth
What if Tolkien didn't have a map?
What if Tolkien didn't have a map?
The Swords of Middle-earth
A collection of odd theories.
A collection of odd theories.
Femslash Hooks
Hooks to hang your 'shippy hat on.
Hooks to hang your 'shippy hat on.
False King
What if... Thorin lied about his name?
What if... Thorin lied about his name?
One Ring for the Elvenking
What if... Legolas lied about Gollum?
What if... Legolas lied about Gollum?
The Line that was Broken
What if... Gilraen lied about Aragorn?
What if... Gilraen lied about Aragorn?
The Fire of the One Ring
What if... Gandalf lied about the Ring?
What if... Gandalf lied about the Ring?
The Wars of the Jewels Continue
What if... Maglor lied about the Silmarils?
What if... Maglor lied about the Silmarils?
The Deep Places of the World
I have often said that, for every character in Tolkien, there is more detail than a casual glance can reveal. The Deep Places will uncover that background.
People
Times, Places, Languages
Homework Questions
Celebrimbor, Gil-Galad, Eaendil, Elwing
A look at four of the survivors of the First Age.
A look at four of the survivors of the First Age.
Luthien Tinuviel
Is Luthien the Nightingale a Mary-Sue?
Is Luthien the Nightingale a Mary-Sue?
Celebrian
Elrond's wife, Galadriel's daughter - but who exactly was Celebrian?
Elrond's wife, Galadriel's daughter - but who exactly was Celebrian?
The Children of Elrond
Elladan, Elrohir, and Arwen - what do we know about the Half-Elven?
Elladan, Elrohir, and Arwen - what do we know about the Half-Elven?
Grishnakh and Ugluk
Taking a look at two servants of the Enemy.
Taking a look at two servants of the Enemy.
Theodred
The heir to the throne of Rohan, and Second Marshal of the Mark.
The heir to the throne of Rohan, and Second Marshal of the Mark.
Grimbold, Elfhelm, Elfhild
Studying two Captains of the Mark, and Theoden's tragic queen.
Studying two Captains of the Mark, and Theoden's tragic queen.
The Avari
Examining the role of the Avari, the 'Unwilling'.
Examining the role of the Avari, the 'Unwilling'.
Tinfang Gelion
Revealing the origin of the third great Elvish minstrel.
Revealing the origin of the third great Elvish minstrel.
Dis
Sister of Thorin, mother of Fili and Kili - and the only representative of the unnamed mass of dwarven women.
Sister of Thorin, mother of Fili and Kili - and the only representative of the unnamed mass of dwarven women.
Finduilas of Dol Amroth
The tragic mother of Boromir and Faramir.
The tragic mother of Boromir and Faramir.
Lady Haleth
Looking at the famous (and scary) Lady Haleth of Brethil.
Looking at the famous (and scary) Lady Haleth of Brethil.
The Sword That Was Broken
Narsil, the sword of Elendil, and how it got to him.
Narsil, the sword of Elendil, and how it got to him.
Man of Darkness
Crafting a character from the Men of Second Age Middle-earth.
Crafting a character from the Men of Second Age Middle-earth.
Prince of the White Swan
The early life of Imrahil of Dol Amroth.
The early life of Imrahil of Dol Amroth.
The Horses of Maglor
What might Feanor's second son have named his horses?
What might Feanor's second son have named his horses?
The Dark Lord
How does Sauron achieve his aims?
How does Sauron achieve his aims?
[NEW] The Interactive Tolkien Timeline
A (re)constructed First Age timeline based on Tolkien's last writings on the subject.
A (re)constructed First Age timeline based on Tolkien's last writings on the subject.
[NEW] The Nature of Middle-earth
Sequence of composition of the "Time and Aging" texts.
Sequence of composition of the "Time and Aging" texts.
The Lost Isles
Exploring what remains of ruined Beleriand and Numenor.
Exploring what remains of ruined Beleriand and Numenor.
Naming the Dwarves
What would the dwarves of Erebor actually have been called?
What would the dwarves of Erebor actually have been called?
Naming the Dunlendings
Despised by the Rohirrim, marginalised by society - the swarthy folk of Dunland.
Despised by the Rohirrim, marginalised by society - the swarthy folk of Dunland.
Middle-earth Test
Completing an 'un-doable' exam, just for kicks.
Completing an 'un-doable' exam, just for kicks.
Homework from OFUM
Essay assignments to encourage Learning Through Pain.
Essay assignments to encourage Learning Through Pain.
Finding the Entwives
Taking up a challenge laid down in 2003.
Taking up a challenge laid down in 2003.
Quenya Measurement System
It's not like Elves would use SI units, right?
It's not like Elves would use SI units, right?
Beyond Tolkien
Inspirations & Allegations
AU (alternate universe) takes on Tolkien's world. Some stories, some timelines.
I don't just pull these things right out of my head, you know.
Darkness Falling
(story) My take on what could have happened if the Eagles had, indeed, taken the Ring to Mount Doom.
(story) My take on what could have happened if the Eagles had, indeed, taken the Ring to Mount Doom.
Tenth Walkers
(story) An exploration of what a Tenth Walker might have brought to the Fellowship of the Ring.
(story) An exploration of what a Tenth Walker might have brought to the Fellowship of the Ring.
The Ring of Gondor
(timeline) What if Boromir succeeded in taking the One Ring from Frodo?
(timeline) What if Boromir succeeded in taking the One Ring from Frodo?
The Alternate Fellowship of the Ring
(outline) An alternate Fellowship, with an outlined story.
(outline) An alternate Fellowship, with an outlined story.
The Even Alternater Fellowship of the Ring
(outline) A more alternate Fellowship, with a briefly discussed story.
(outline) A more alternate Fellowship, with a briefly discussed story.
The Fellowship of the Silly
(outline) A thoroughly ridiculous Fellowship.
(outline) A thoroughly ridiculous Fellowship.
Lucy from the Sky with Knowledge
(outline) A realistic girl-falls-into-Middle-earth Tenth Walker.
(outline) A realistic girl-falls-into-Middle-earth Tenth Walker.
The Fellowship of the Ring: The Inopportune Storm
(art/outline) Constructing a plausible all-female Fellowship.
(art/outline) Constructing a plausible all-female Fellowship.
The PPC Posting Board
Where many of the details on this site were first articulated, and the best place to try if you have questions or comments about them.
Where many of the details on this site were first articulated, and the best place to try if you have questions or comments about them.
The Barrow-Downs
A forum entirely devoted to Tolkien trivia.
A forum entirely devoted to Tolkien trivia.
The Tolkien Sarcasm Page
The inspiration for this site, and home of the original Tolkien Crackpot Theories.
The inspiration for this site, and home of the original Tolkien Crackpot Theories.
Tolkien Gateway
My primary source for fact-checking.
My primary source for fact-checking.
The Encyclopedia of Arda
My secondary source for fact-checking.
My secondary source for fact-checking.
The Leithian Script
A deep dive into First Age relationships and characters, through the medium of Beren and Luthien.
A deep dive into First Age relationships and characters, through the medium of Beren and Luthien.
Ardalambion
The internet's best source for Tolkien linguistics.
The internet's best source for Tolkien linguistics.