Thursday Trivia
"He was a philologist specializing in the history of the English language, and Professor of Anglo-Saxon at Oxford University. By the time he was twelve years old, in 1904, he was making up languages for fun. Later in life, he began to invent a world for those languages to fit into, and adventure stories about things that happened in that world.
Three books were crucial in developing his linguistic imagination: Joseph Wright's Primer of the Gothic Language; C.N.E Eliot's Finnish Grammar; and John Morris-Jones' Welsh Grammar."
Ok...off to the comment section and hint at this week´s special guest. Now there should be clues available to each and everyone of us. If not, I might -with polite incomprehension- inquire as to what century you live in ;)
Labels: Thursday Brain Teaser
34 Comments:
You don't need a treasure to rob it.
Nor even a sad song to sob it.
But there are certain things,
Like magical rings
That need millions of readers to mob it.
Ugh - Doug?
Oh only supposed to hint! I have to think about this and I'm really thinking of trying to write a post, so I'll be back with the freshness of morning to guide me.
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
He identified with the little people of his creation, their plain food and their plain talk. Especially, I reckon, he identified with the peasant father who admonished his son:
"Elves and Dragons! Cabbages and potatoes are better for the likes of me and you."
Doug, nicely done. You are first and, too! And you left a mighty clue. I am rhyming on a Friday morning, this can´t be good!
G, I´ll expect yoru answers by Moday 12 o´clock...frostbite time!
Snay, I had to delete your comment, becuase you big, fat blurtet out the answer when we are trying to hint at it ;)
OC, I am not familiar with the last quote nor can I find a reference to it anywhere, but your first proclamation sounds about right! :)
"What's in my pocket?" Is it something precious?
I know it without Snay's comment, even. *grins*
some folks say the longest story he has ever written is a parabola for the WWII but that is stupid.
I thought that was the whole point!!!
MY FAVORITE!!! well, one of 'em, at any rate.
i'm also a fan of the parody based on his fabulous books... which features the line: "Hot puppies, grub!"
heh heh. that never got old... even if i did! ; ) xox
Ok what am I missing here? I have no clue who this is. Help!
So a poem I can't write
because I am way too hungover
and it is Friday
and work is a fright
and if my cogs try to turn
I may slip, fall, or get runover.
my guess is you're featuring this person because A) you did a post on the Snark just last week which included a picture of a home that might have been inhabited by one of this man's charming characters and/or B) you somehow knew today's word on WA as "gold", and figured it would make for a ringing endorsement and/or tie-in! ; ) xox
I don't want to lord over everyone the fact that I have not read any of his stories. Actually I should just keep mum. Life is young, there's plenty of time for my children to read them to me in my old age.
Theresa, why am I in there? precious is good!
ariel, I heard rumors about that too. I definately can see some influences to be sure...I haven´t made up my mind yet, of what initiated this spark of brilliane. I love this author becuase of his dedication to language, his sheer imagination and linguistic competence.
snay, HINT!!!! it says in the instruction...the point is to figure out who I am talking baout and than hint right back at me, letting me know you got it and provide others with additional clues to solve the puzzle!!!
neva, I am glad you like him, too.
Old mule...precious, movies, ring...really shoudl give it away...I am not certain you are not kidding :)
neva, hobitsesssssssssssssss! Good guessing, although I had no idea about WA gold today. I mean he is pretty solid any given day...but this morning I just looked to my left saw a certain book and went from there ;)
G, I seriously think that few have read the books actually. Almost all have seen the movies, though. He is cult now, but before those films came out he had quite a fellowship (*giggles*) of dedicated readers ;)
Anybody wanna have a guess at the picture??? I put it there for a reason you know!
happy to report i've read his trilogy at least 4 times. not kidding -- i spent many a summer break digesting this fabulous epic story -- as matter of fact, i once read a good part of it to my sister over a Thanksgiving break -- she'd had her wisdom teeth pulled and couldn't eat, so i read to her, in order to pass the time! i also made sure both my sons read them all, at least once!
as for that picture?? haven't a clue. don't suppose one of those cute kids is you carrying one of your "mystery man's" books in your bag, is it? ; ) xox
The three initials that serve as his "first name" roll off the tongue nicely.
Neva, have you read the pre-book, too? The one where the greatets wizard of them all, tricks a tiny little cretaure into a journey far beyond the reaches- of that little area they live in? Dragons, treasures, running down teh stream in boxes...I loved that book...I think even more than the trilogy.
Joel, yes they do...I was ashamed befor eI put up this trivia that I only knew his first name...the second and third were new to me.
This one is too easy. He was a member of a group called the Inklings with another writer who went by his initials.
Diesel, Tuesday nights at the Eagle and Child pub in Oxford. yes! Loved the hint!
if by his "pre-book" you mean the one in which the main character (a "burglar") literally dashes out of his "hole" without so much as an umbrella and/or hat, then yes... i've read it MANY MANY MANY times. lovelovelove it. we lovelovelovesss them all, precioussss!!
speaking of the Inklings -- it should be noted that the aforementioned member who also goes by his initials -- was responsible for Chronicling all things Narnia. together these two prolific writers shared many an hour discussing "religion". in fact, your mystery man is the reason his friend became a Christian.
fascinating! xox
I am not familiar with the last quote
Moviegoer. :P Gaffer Gamgee dressing down son Sam. In volume I of The Book.
And in the Preface to that same Book, its Author himself skewers the WWII connection. I cordially dislike allegory in all its manifestations, and always have done since I grew old and wary enough to detect its presence, he wrote - an unsubtle stab at former friend and Inkster C. S. Lewis. He continued: Many confuse 'applicability' with 'allegory'; but the one resides in the freedom of the reader, and the other in the purposed domination of the author. He also reminded readers that there were other wars besides WWII that influenced The Book: By 1918, all but one of my friends were dead.
That pic wouldn't be from Sarehole, now would it?
neva, My precioussssssssssss! You have done well today...treat yoruself to Starbucks, its on Joel!
OC, wow...that is a lot of information to get in 30 seconds. BUt wow...nope, not Sarehole...thank goodness...I almost started to think you know everything!
Did I fool you? OC...you get two thumbs up. Sarehole in Birmingham. The house depicted is the house our writer lived in!
man alive, are you good!
ok, preciouses, now I feel dumb. I get it.
Though he never met them, he did wonders for the careers of Orlando Bloom and Viggo Mortensen.
And -- completely off topic -- TAG. Stop by my place to see what's up. I should have told you this morning but I was WaaaaaY busy.
Is that house in Finland?
My precious.
I figured the photo was most likely his home.
I suppose it can be toured for a fee.
One of my greatest fears is to wake up at the age of 70 and have feet that look like a Hobbit's feet.
May be spared this awful fate!!
Happy weekend, Minka.
JD, it's not so bad, really.
Finally: I read it and I saw it and the language had an icelandic influence. Mom
Actually I should just keep mum. Life is young, there's plenty of time for my children to read them to me in my old age.
Colla @ internet web site design
Thursday trivia? Isn't this Monday or am I mistaken? Wild weekend? ;-)
J.D...I am told you can avoid that if you eat onions. Your feet smell, but it kills all hair growth.
Doug, for those who live amongst creatures with paws,I guess it is alright. For teh rest of us...with other than canine society surrounding us...well, people point!
Mom, I did not know that. It looks weird and curly...it certainlt could be influenced by Icelandic :)
micky, I still have to figure out if you are human or spam. In case the former, welcome...in case the latter...devil get thee out!
Joel, I am playing Cinderella in the countryside. It would hep if you could swing by...there are clothes that need to be moved around :) And yes, I had that one coming!
You guys did a wonderful job with the story!
When the author starts an epic poem in dwarvish, does any one else read all 15 pages or just skip to the end like I do?
Post a Comment
Bow Before Your Queen and be Transported HOME!