Tolkien Blog Party Tag

Thanks to the lovely Hamlette, each year we geeks have a chance to kick back, pour a cup of tea, and remember that The Lord of the Rings still exists and it is awesome. Even if we publish the tag late because we forgot about it until now.

1. How long have you been a Tolkien fan?

Ever since I read The Hobbit at the age of eight or so. 

2. Has your love of Middle-earth affected your life?

*goes to type, then pauses and frowns* 

Well, it's definitely influenced my reading life. As soon as I read The Hobbit I developed an appetite for sci-fi/fantasy, and books in this genre have greatly influenced the way I think about the world. These include Carl Sagan's Contact, Antoine St. Expert's The Little Prince, Brandon Sanderson's Mistborn, and many others. Also, if I hadn't been introduced to this genre I would never have gotten into Brandon Sanderson's online writing lessons and I would have never met my friend Meredith, who got me into blogging, and I would be quite a different person than I was before and I wouldn't be here answering these questions. 

So yes.

3. If you had to take the One Ring to Mordor, which character would you choose for your sole companion?

Sam. Because he is adorable and he would carry me the whole way.

4. Which is scarier, Shelob or the Balrog?

Definitely Shelob, at least in the way they are presented in the books/movies. I've never thought big monsters were that scary; it's the little, petty, crawly, claustrophobic ones like Shelob that give me the creeps.

5. Which two towers do you think Tolkien was referring to in the title The Two Towers?  (i.e. Orthanc, Barad-dûr, Cirith Ungol, Minas Morgul, or Minas Tirith)

No idea. My head hurts.


6. Whose wardrobe would you like to have?

Eowyn. Her gowns are so soft and flowy, especially this one:

I also want whatever this warm, fuzzy thing is:

I love that she is a fierce, driven warrior who is also not above cuddling with a blanket on a duvet.

7. What do you think an Ent Draught would taste like?

Strong, leafy tea with a beer-like aftertaste.

8. Where in Middle-earth would you like to live?

The Shire, because anywhere else would be way too stressful. I am Sam at heart. xD

9. Do you have any Tolkien-related opinions that surprise other people?

I can't stand The Silmarillion and I enjoy the movies more than the books because the books are just so dang hard to read. Also I think the songs from the books are really annoying and unnecessary. And Tolkien needs to work on his pacing. 

*whispers* Sorry, everyone.


10. List up to ten of your favorite lines/quotations from the books or movies.

I've got way more than ten, but for the sake of time I'll just refer you to my reply from last year. This is my idea of time management. 

*pauses to reconsider my life decisions*

Let's go deep in this comments section, comrade: Has your love for Middle-Earth affected your life?

7 Favorite Songs Tag

MJ Watson (who has elected to make her blog private now) has tagged me to describe seven of my favorite songs, specifically my feelings and thoughts while listening to them, and why I like them.

So without further ado...cue the depressing lyrics!

1. My Shot (Clean Edit), Hamilton Original Broadway Cast

This one pumps me up whenever I'm feeling purposeless or lazy or just tired. It's also perfect because the runtime is exactly how long it takes for me to drive from my house to my church. #noregretsincludingcheesyhashtags

It talks about fighting against seemingly impossible odds:

"Rise up. When you're living on your knees, you rise up."

It then ends with Hamilton's decision to not view life as an experience, but as an opportunity:

"Ask anybody why we livin' fast and we laugh, reach for a flask--
We have to make this moment last, that's plenty...
Scratch that. This is not a moment, it's a movement
Where all the hungriest brothers with something to prove went"

The fast raps are super satisfying to sing along with now that I have the lyrics memorized. And the song reminds me of the real-life Alexander Hamilton, whom I feel like I know personally since reading the enormous biography that the play is based on. Seriously, guys, I got really emotional at the part when he died.

2. Drown, Tyler Joseph

You knew I couldn't go long without mentioning twenty one pilots in any form. This is from Tyler's album No Phun Intended, which he made when he was 17. The recordings aren't that great, but considering his age and his limited equipment it's an impressive album. It can only be found on YouTube, by the way.

But now for this song in particular. In dark moments it makes me feel less alone, and the lyrics are addressed to God so they help me to pray when I can't form the words myself.

"I wanna be a lot of things, so much pent up inside of me
I wanna be stronger, too long I've sat here undecidedly...
...And I'm back in front of you, Lord, with blood on the floor
Is the blood mine or yours? Don't wanna do this anymore,
Back and forth between being me and who you call me to be..."

3. Where the Light Shines Through, Switchfoot

Somehow Switchfoot reaches me more than a lot of other Christian bands. They have the same Christian genre formula that I usually dislike--talk about a problem in verse 1 and then resolve the problem by the chorus--but the way they do it feels more genuine than the other artists I've heard try this.

Unlike Tyler's music, which is usually just about the negative aspects of life, this song starts with the negative and goes to the positive--yes, there is a wound, but that's "where the light shines through."

"Yeah the only tattoos I have are scars,
I've got your name written on my heart"

4. Everything, Passenger

Passenger's music feels like running through a faraway forest and then jumping in the ocean on a deserted beach. For some reason it feels nostalgic to me, even though I only discovered his stuff recently.

This song is no exception, and the lyrics are a poignant and oft-needed reminder that it's impossible to be fulfilled in life without loving without counting the cost, and letting your heart be broken.

"They'll take your spark, they'll take everything
But nothing's ever something until you lose everything"

5. You Will Be Found, Dear Evan Hansen Original Broadway Cast

I love listening to Ben Platt's voice, and the gorgeous harmonies when the entire casts comes in on the chorus. It's pretty self-explanatory that this is another song for dark moments.

"Maybe there's a reason to believe you'll be ok."

6. Sailboat, Ben Rector

Another song for getting frustration out. Ben Rector's voice is beautiful too (what is it with Bens in the music industry??) and the lyrics are about loneliness and loss of direction, but they're also infused with hope and a feeling of freedom.

"I feel just like a sailboat
I don't know where I'm headed
But you can't make the wind blow
From a sailboat"

7. Little Wonders, Rob Thomas

This is the song that plays through the ending montage of Meet the Robinsons, which for many reasons is my favorite Disney movie and has influenced me deeply. Rob Thomas' raw vocals, mixed with the thoughtful lyrics, are the perfect combination and they encourage me to keep moving and enjoy little moments in life.

"Let it go, let it roll right off your shoulders
Don't you know, the hardest part is over...
...All falls away, but these small hours,
These little wonders
Still remain"

I'll be lazy and tag whoever feels like taking this tag. There are no rules--put in as many Jack Sparrow gifs as you want for all I care...

...but if you don't feel like doing the whole thing, what is your #1 favorite song, and why?

The Four Fictional Characters Tag

I have been tagged by the lovely Olivia to fill out the Four Fictional Characters Tag! (Thank you so much, by the way--this totally made my day.  :D)

Rules

1. Link back to the person who tagged you
2. List four fictional characters (use pictures if you want! They can be from movies or books) and, if you like, describe what they're like and why you believe they relate to you
3. Tag a few other blog people! Three, or four, or even twenty. :) Share the fun!
Be sure to let them know you've tagged them! 

Characters

1. Eowyn (The Lord of the Rings)

Wow, I didn't realize how close I felt to this character until I started looking up quotes and pictures. 

Eowyn isn't the character I look up to the most from LotR (that would be Sam of course <3), but she's the one I relate to most closely. Her quote about a cage is exactly the way I feel after watching The Return of the King or any other deeply inspirational movie. As an INFP (the "idealist" type) I want to do something epic, like shield-surfing down stairs while shooting orcs and/or saving the galaxy. I have trouble seeing the mundanity of life as beautiful, and I can't stand schedules, so Eowyn's anger at being kept on the sidelines is very relatable for me.

She can also be cheerful and adorable when she feels like it, and I relate to her love for the hobbits. If I was around Merry and Pippin I would be constantly sobbing and/or laughing.  xD

2. Jim Hawkins (Treasure Planet)

Seriously, who doesn't like a rebellious teenage kid who rides a hoverboard through explosions? 

Also he cares a lot about Silver's adorable shapeshifter named Morph, and I am a huge dog person and to me Morph is like a tiny labrador retriever, so that is basically the fulfillment of all my cuteness dreams.

And finally, father figure stories tear me apart every time. The part that always gets me is the montage of Silver training Jim mixed with Jim's memories of his father abandoning him, all with John Rzeznik's ballad "I'm Still Here" playing in the background. It perfectly explains Jim's bitterness against authority, combined with his emerging hope that Silver won't leave him like his dad did. 

me while watching that part, every time

3. Marvin (The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy)

Marvin the Paranoid Android walks through this story poking holes in arguments and depressing everyone around him with his despondent attitude. He's a humorous depiction of me on a bad day, who believes that everyone hates me and life is pointless and the only sensible thing left to do is lie down and cry. 

Also he is voiced by Alan Rickman, who is fantabulous.

4. Sebastian (La La Land)

Sebastian is awkward and quiet until Mia touches on the topic that he is really enthusiastic about--jazz music. Then he gets almost frighteningly worked up. I can relate to that because I'm relatively quiet until someone mentions something that I care about, like music or books or movies or writing or religion. Then I often scare people with my enthusiasm.

Also Sebastian feels limited by having to worry about money. 

...which of course brings us to a twenty one pilots lyric.

Instead of playing real jazz piano he's forced to play boring Christmas music to an equally bored audience, something I've done a couple times for Christmas parties. It's lucrative, but not fulfilling at all. So as a fellow pianist I related to him instantly.

And finally, his past failures have left him with misgivings about the future, expressed beautifully in "City of Stars":

And as an incoming college freshman I could not be more concerned about the future.  xD

***

That was a lot of fun! Hopefully it didn't get to depressing there, hehe. 

Thanks again to Olivia for tagging me, and I would now like to tag Meredith, Jenny/Nimrodel, Fawnabelle Baggins, M.J. Watson, and Mary Horton. If y'all happen to be reading this, of course.  :)

Robin Hood Week Tag

Thanks to Olivia at Meanwhile, In Rivendell..., I've gotten back from a two-week trip (and consequent internet break) just in time to catch the second half of Robin Hood Week. Time to wax nostalgic about good-looking men beating each other up. Here goes the tag:

What was your first exposure to Robin Hood?

The animated Disney movie, one of those movies that I don't remember watching for the first time because it was so long ago and I watched it so many times. On VHS, of course.

On a scale of 1 to 10, how big a fan are you?

5? I'm into it more than the average person, and I love the swashbuckling idea of a bunch of guys partying and sneaking around and stealing from the rich and giving to the poor. But I haven't seen every version, and I read the book so long ago that I don't remember it very well. So I'm not a die-hard fan, just like I'm not a die-hard fan of Tolkien because I could never make it through The Silmarillion. *hides*

How many versions and spin-offs of the legend have you experienced?

Five. The Disney version, Prince of Thieves, and the BBC version *blissful nostalgic sigh*. Ah yes, and the original book. I read it when I was eight or so and I loved the ending. It was depressing but epic and very, very fitting.

And Leverage, if that counts...? I've only watched the first few episodes but it's growing on me.

What is your favorite version of Robin Hood (can be book, movie, TV series, anything)?

The BBC show, if you haven't guessed. It's cheesy and my parents claim that the acting is "worse than Merlin," which to them means a lot. But it's nostalgic for me because I watched it a couple years ago, and the visuals are gorgeous, and the cheesiness is the over-the-top kind  that I love in Pirates of the Caribbean and Merlin.

Prince of Thieves gets second place, if only for Alan Rickman:

Are you one of the lads? (Meaning, have you watched/are you a fan of the BBC show?)

Are Twinkies delicious?

Who is your favorite Merry Man?

Allan in the BBC version. His character arc is painful but rich, and he is rather good-looking. Not that that matters, of course. Hehe.

And the fact that he fits my conflicted-Flynn Rider-type crush complex doesn't hurt.

"I'm not being funny, but..."

Do you have a favorite portrayal of Lady Marian?

Lucy Griffith in, of course, the BBC version. She's not my favorite actress but she's pretty and has beautiful costumes, and Robin cares about her which makes me care. And she's more of a get-up-and-go character than the other Lady Marians I have seen portrayed.

Do you have any interest in or aptitude at archery?

Interest, yes--if I can play with Hawkeye's exploding arrows. *evil grin* As for aptitude, I'd rather not talk about that, thank you very much.

Fact or fiction -- which do you think? 

Huh, this question is the first time I've ever thought about Robin Hood being real--it was always just a legend to me. I think it's better that way because I'm sure the real-life version would have been a lot more grimy and frightening and sweaty and slow-moving and morally conflicting than the story version.

Do you think Robin Hood has been "done to death," or are there still new twists that can be found?

A sci-fi Robin Hood would be cool, like what Marissa Meyer did with fairy tales in the Lunar Chronicles.

Something this awesome can never be done to death.

Beauty and the Beast Tag

Hellooo everyone, I've been hankering to do a tag and since I've just finished a productive day of schoolwork I feel obliged to relax in some way. Tonight this way happens to be typing frantically on the keyboard and listening to Owl City.  ❤️  His music gives me novel nostalgia because I got into it for the first time during NaNoWriMo.

Anyway, thanks to Meredith's Beauty and the Beast week back in May, I have an excellent opportunity for a tag! I wouldn't say I'm "into" Beauty and the Beast but I have grown to appreciate it more.

1.When did you first experience Beauty and the Beast?

Whenever I first watched the Disney cartoon. I was probably five...?

2. In what forms(book, movie, retelling) have you experienced Beauty and the Beast?

Three. The animated Disney movie, Beauty by Robin McKinley, and a few episodes of Once Upon a Time, a couple of which had Belle in them. 

3. Who is your favorite character in Beauty and the  Beast?

The Beast. He's courageous and caring and everything I want in a guy, and he's also fluffy.  :D

4. What is your favorite song from the cartoon Beauty and the Beast?

"Gaston," hands down. Pure genius.

I was looking for something else, but this is too perfect.

5. If you were turned into a piece of furniture what would you want it to be?

A candlestick, like Lumiere. There are so many uses for flaming hands...

6. What would your dream cast for Beauty and the Beast be? (This can be as elaborate or simple as you desire.)

Honestly it's harder to come up with something that's better than the cast of the live movie. *shrug*

7. If your school were performing BatB which character would you want to play?

Belle, because she has the coolest songs. Even though singing is not my forte.

8. Like Belle, do you enjoy reading books multiple times?

Only certain books. Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, for example, I've read twice and it still makes me laugh out loud. And anything by Chesterton needs a reread in order to actually understand it.  xP

9. If you were to write a retelling, what would you change?

I'd make it science fiction, and have Marissa Meyer write it. 

#copout   ^_^

10. Are roses your favorite flowers? 

Nope. Probably dahlias.

Or tulips.

Or yellow snapdragons, because they look like buttered popcorn.

Thanks, Meredith! Happy belated Beauty and the Beast week to you all.  :D

BBC Robin Hood Tag

A click will teleport you to Ruth's wonderful blog.  :)

Hi, everyone! I just discovered Ruth's blog, "Amongst Spring Blossoms," and she has a BBC Robin Hood tag going, which is super exciting because there are very few fans of that show. In fact, I've only actually met one person who is super into it, and that was at youth group and he doesn't go very often. So it's refreshing (and encouraging) to meet other Robin Hood lovers!

Honestly it's a cheesy show, but that's part of the lovableness of it. Everyone I've tried to watch it with has despised it, so let's just say it's not for everyone. xD

All right, I haven't watched the show in about a year, so please forgive me if I'm not as specific as I was in the Tolkien tag:

*****SPOILERS RUN RAMPANT*****

1. Who is your favourite character?

Guy of Gisborne. I know he's supposed to be the villain, but I tend to go for the lonely and conflicted types, and Richard Armitage portrays Guy's indecision excellently. 

Gotta love that Tangled reference  :D

2. Who did you dislike the most?

Kate. The one true love for Robin is Marian, end of story.

3. Which couple did you like the most?

It's a close tie between Robin and Marian and Guy and Marian. Robin obviously is more noble than Guy, but it seemed that Guy actually paid more attention to Marian and was a good fit for her. Her lighter personality fit well with his dark and brooding persona and dry wit. But obviously it couldn't work out.

Guy and Marian's relationship in one gif

4. Who would you rather have as a couple together with Kate?

No idea. Sorry, I don't remember Kate's character that well, I just remember that she was rather irritating so I wouldn't wish that suffering upon any of the main characters. 

Hey, and I just discovered that Wikipedia agrees with me on this issue! 

Kate was generally disliked by fans of the series, who considered her a poor substitute for Marian and Djaq. Reasons cited include her unlikeable personality, her unconvincing relationship with Robin, her particularly high tendency to get captured or injured, and her inability to live up to the praise and compliments regularly given to her by the other outlaws. 

You tell 'em, Wikipedia! 

5. Which death was the saddest?

Definitely Robin's. He had time to prepare for it, which made it worse; one image that I vividly recall from the show is him running his hands through the grass for the last time. 

6. Who deserved more than he/she had in the series?

Guy of Gisbourne. With enough counseling and a person who genuinely cared about him but also resisted his aggressive tendencies, he could've been a hero.

7. Which of the characters who you didn't see much in the series (only three or less episodes) would you want to see more?

Prince John. I think I remember him being entertainingly pouty...


8. What do you think of Allan's betrayal and Robin's reaction on it?

My heart broke. I kept waiting for Allan to realize that he didn't have to betray Robin and that they could be reconciled, but that never happened. 

As for Robin, I think I remember what he did...so if I remember right, Robin's reaction to Allan was justified but he should've been more merciful. That seems to be one of Robin's main character flaws in this series: he thinks of himself as the main administrator of justice and forgets about forgiveness. 

9. Who do you think is funniest?

Much, in his dreadfully cheesy way.

He has the best expressions!

10. Which character bored you most?

Huh, I can't think of one. Probably one of the side characters that just shows up in one episode. They're usually pretty flat.

11. Who changed to someone less nice in season three, do you think?

Robin. He started becoming more self-righteous and negative, which I guess I should've seen coming, but it still hurt.  :(

*****END SPOILERS*****

Thanks, Ruth! It was fun to reminisce. And to all you fellow BBC Robin Hood fans scattered throughout the world:

Is there a particularly cheesy tv show that you enjoy? Have you seen any other adaptations of Robin Hood? And on the slim chance that you've seen the BBC show, who's your favorite character? 

A Tolkien Blog Partaaaaay

Happy Bilbo and Frodo's birthday, everyone! I should be doing schoolwork right now but it is very important to get this post out on the actual date, right? Riiiiight.

Anyway, thanks to Hamlette at The Edge of the Precipice, I'm participating in my second-ever blog tag...and it's Tolkien-themed and features a little green hobbit door, which is fantastic.

1.  How many books by J.R.R. Tolkien have you read?

Well, if you count The Lord of the Rings as one book, as it was originally intended, I've read three. The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, and The Children of Hurin. I'm obviously not the greatest Tolkien fan because I started The Silmarillion and could not for the life of me forge my way through it. What got me through LotR were the vivid descriptions and amazing character moments, which aren't in  The Silmarillion, although I'm sure some argue otherwise.

Also, if you haven't read it, do yourself a favor and scratch The Children of Hurin off your list. It's super depressing.  :P

2.  Have you seen any movies based on them?

Yep. Peter Jackson rules. The original LotR film trilogy is ridiculously amazing, and The Return of the King is my favorite movie of all time. I am convinced that George Lucas secretly made the Hobbit prequels and advertised them as Peter Jackson's films as a twisted act of vengeance for his rise to popularity. 

Haha, just kidding! You prequel fans can put those axes down now. The Hobbit movies were ok, just not as good as LotR. In fact, I am not going to tell you how many times I went and saw An Unexpected Journey. (Hint: approximately as often as my age at the time.  xP ) 

3.  Are there any scenes/moments that make you cry?

Every. Blasted. Moment.

4.  Are there any scenes/moments that make you laugh?

Yes! Mostly involving Mary and Pippin.

...Pippin: "It comes in pints?"
And Merry's face.  xD

"I don't think he knows about Second Breakfast..."

When Gandalf goes in to talk to Denethor and tells Pippin it would be better if he didn't speak at all.

"Wait, where are we going?"

The Ent-draught scene.

Merry and Pippin running into Frodo and Sam when they're being chased by Farmer Maggot.

"That still only counts as one!" 

"We dwarves are natural sprinters, very dangerous over short distances!"

...And many more.  :)

5.  Have you ever chosen a Middle Earth name for yourself?  If so, what is it?

"Glorfindel the Awesome" was my screenname for a lot of things at one point. If you've read the trilogy, you'll know Glorfindel is the elf who gave Frodo his horse in TFotR. But I also found a part in The Silmarillion about an elf also named Glorfindel who killed a Balrog BY HIMSELF. He died with the Balrog like Gandalf did, but he still did it without magic which is ridiculously cool. My theory is that this Glorfindel is the same one in TFotR, and he was reincarnated in the halls of Mandos, lord of the dead. And he is awesome.

6.  Who would you want to party with/marry/fight to the death? (pick three characters)

Party with: Pippin
Marry: Sam Gamgee
Fight to the death: the Witch-king

7.  When was the last time you visited Middle Earth, via books or movies?

Wow, it's been a long time. At least a year, mostly because I have trouble getting into the books and because I'm taking a break from the movies so they don't become too familiar. (Also the emotional ups and downs while watching them are too much.  xP  )

8.  Do you consider Gollum to be a villain?  Why or why not?

No. Gollum was originally good as Smeagol, but then the Ring turned him bad. Sure, Gollum probably made some sort of decision to obey the Ring's influence, but he was definitely under the Ring's duress for every one of his evil actions. 

I think Gollum is basically who Frodo would have become if he had kept the Ring for an extended period of time; you can see traces of evil in Frodo coming out the longer he keeps the Ring. Frodo managed to resist its influence at the beginning, whereas Gollum jumped right in and murdered his friend for the Ring at the beginning, but I think there still is a parallel. 
 9.  How would you sum up what Tolkien's stories mean to you in one word?

numinous

(If you don't know what that means, please look it up. I just discovered it recently too, and it's a beautiful word.)

10. List up to ten of your favorite lines/quotes from the books or movies.

“Many that die deserve death. And some that die deserve life. Can you give it to them? Then do not be too eager to deal out death in judgement. For even the very wise cannot see all ends.”

“You cannot pass,” he said. The orcs stood still, and a dead silence fell. “I am a servant of the Secret Fire, wielder of the flame of Anor. You cannot pass. The dark fire will not avail you, flame of Udûn. Go back to the Shadow! You cannot pass.”

“What do you fear, lady?” he asked. 

“A cage,” she said. “To stay behind bars, until use and old age accept them, and all chance of doing great deeds is gone beyond recall or desire.”

“And yet you counselled me not to adventure on the road that I had chosen, because it is perilous?”

“So may one counsel another,” she said. “Yet I do not bid you flee from peril, but to ride to battle where your sword may win renown and victory. I would not see a thing that is high and excellent cast away needlessly.”

“Nor would I,” he said. “Therefore I say to you, lady: Stay! For you have no errand to the South.”

“Neither have those others who go with thee. They go only because they would not be parted from thee-because they love thee.” Then she turned and vanished into the night.

"Frodo wouldn't have got far without Sam."

Pippin: I didn't think it would end this way. 
Gandalf: End? No, the journey doesn't end here. Death is just another path... One that we all must take. The grey rain-curtain of this world rolls back, and all turns to silver glass... And then you see it. 
Pippin: What? Gandalf?... See what? 
Gandalf: White shores... and beyond, a far green country under a swift sunrise. 
Pippin: Well, that isn't so bad. 
Gandalf: [softly] No... No it isn't. 

SO BEAUTIFUL!!! 

Thanks, Hamlette, for the fangirling opportunity, and y'all have a wonderful last few hours of Bilbo's and Frodo's birthday/the first day of fall!