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 TheoriesThe Deep Places of the World
The list of theories that are just sane enough to be plausible. 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.
The Palantir of Bombadil
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.
Strong Female Characters
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?
Pair Bonding
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?
The Witch-King of Numenor
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?
The Original Elves
Who awoke at Cuivienen? And who exactly was Eöl?
The Rings of Power
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 shape were Elven ears?
An in-universe answer.
The Lion, the Witch, and Hildorien
Considering the place of Narnia in Middle-earth.
The Shape of the World
What shape was Middle-earth?
The War in the Air
What manner of air forces existed in Middle-earth?
The Fate of the Entwives
The political allegiance of the Brown Lands.
A New Perspective on Middle-earth
What if Tolkien didn't have a map?
The Swords of Middle-earth
A collection of odd theories.
Femslash Hooks
Hooks to hang your 'shippy hat on.
Celebrimbor, Gil-Galad, Eärendil, and Elwing
A look at four of the survivors of the First Age.
Luthien Tinuviel
Is Luthien the Nightingale a Mary-Sue?
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?
Grishnakh and Ugluk
Taking a look at two servants of the Enemy.
Theodred
The heir to the throne of Rohan, and Second Marshal of the Mark.
Grimbold, Elfhelm, and Elfhild
Studying two Captains of the Mark, and Theoden's tragic queen.
Nerdanel
The relationship between Nerdanel and Feanor.
The Avari
Examining the role of the Avari, the 'Unwilling'.
Tinfang Gelion
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.
Finduilas of Dol Amroth
The tragic mother of Boromir and Faramir.
Lady Haleth
Looking at the famous (and scary) Lady Haleth of Brethil.
The Lost Isles
Exploring what remains of ruined Beleriand and Numenor.
The Sword That Was Broken
Narsil, the sword of Elendil, and how it got to him.
Naming the Dwarves
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.
Man of Darkness
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 Horses of Maglor
What might Feanor's second son have named his horses?
The Dark Lord
How does Sauron achieve his aims?
Gnomic Script
One of Tolkien's least-known writing systems.
Filthy LiarsFor Twelve Points
What if... various characters in the tales were filthy liars? Answering various ridiculous homework questions.
False King
What if... Thorin lied about his name?
One Ring for the Elvenking
What if... Legolas lied about Gollum?
The Line that was Broken
What if... Gilraen lied about Aragorn?
The Fire of the One Ring
What if... Gandalf lied about the Ring?
The Wars of the Jewels Continue
What if... Maglor lied about the Silmarils?
Middle-earth Test
Completing an 'un-doable' exam, just for kicks.
Homework from OFUM
Essay assignments to encourage Learning Through Pain.
Finding the Entwives
Taking up a challenge laid down in 2003.
Quenya Measurement System
It's not like Elves would use SI units, right?
Beyond TolkienInspirations & Sources
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.
Tenth Walkers
(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?
The Alternate Fellowship of the Ring
(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.
The Fellowship of the Silly
(outline) A thoroughly ridiculous Fellowship.
Lucy from the Sky with Knowledge
(outline) A realistic girl-falls-into-Middle-earth Tenth Walker.
The Detranslation Project
(project) Reconstructing Westron names.
The Fellowship of the Ring: The Inopportune Storm
(art/outline) Constructing a plausible all-female Fellowship.
Gandalf's Letter
(outline) What if Gandalf's letter to Frodo had been sent, and Frodo had left the Shire in July, not September?
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.
The Barrow-Downs
A forum entirely devoted to Tolkien trivia.
The Tolkien Sarcasm Page
The inspiration for this site, and home of the original Tolkien Crackpot Theories.
Tolkien Gateway
My primary source for fact-checking.
The Encyclopedia of Arda
My secondary source for fact-checking.
Lalaith's Middle-earth Science Pages
Some very intense research into aspects of Arda's history and geography (Wayback Machine link).
The Leithian Script
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.

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