Christmas Riddle 2009

This topic has 256 replies, 12 voices, and was last updated 15 years, 8 months ago by Theobald.

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November 29, 2009 at 3:59 pm #8100
Gildor
MMP Elder
the third picture is the Tree of Amalion… (picture by JRRTolkien too) but I won’t answer about its origin because I think it unfair to grasp all the points on this one so I’ll leave other members some time at least for this one
November 29, 2009 at 6:19 pm #8103
erchamion
Participant
I continue where Master Gildor ended

The upper tree on the left bears in the original the title ‘The Tree of Amalion’, as also does the tree done in crayon on grey paper below it. In these pictures the placing of the flowers and most of the flowers themselves are obviously similar and related; but I believe the lower tree to be much later than the upper, which dates from 1927-8.

On this page is reproduced a third drawing of such a tree, bearing leaves (not flowers) of many different forms, which was done by J. R. R. Tolkien as a cover design for the paperback edition of Tree and Leaf published in 1964; and while I cannot cast any light on the name Amalion itself, it is noteworthy that an earlier version of this design was entitled ‘The Tree of Amalion. First draft for the cover of Tree and Leaf.’

This page of trees was published in The J. R. R. Tolkien Calendar 1979.

By the way, nice pictures you have chosen for the riddle, Master Theobald!
November 29, 2009 at 7:11 pm #8104
Gildor
MMP Elder
there is a link with Leaf by Niggle… which is part of Tree and Leaf as you correctly said master erchamion.
he image itself is “supposed to illustrate the tension in fantasy art between the familiarity of mimetic landscape art images of this world and the estrangement of faerie” (analysis by John R. Holmes)

These riddles were very very nice and inventive. Congratulations on such good ideas for riddles master Ent!
November 29, 2009 at 7:16 pm #8105
Theobald
Participant
Huoommm … and answers to riddles were passed on swiftly … rhuoommm … respect, chapeau or whatever you say … though maybe this second riddle wasn’t that difficult to solve … just leave me some time to sort out whether all answers here are the right ones … huoommm … I will have to re-read that pointy-things I announced before again … rhuuoommm …
not to forgetting your compliment, Master Erchamion. Thank you. But unfortunately there’s no point for compliments.
So up to now some of the questions still are not answered correctly or not being answered at all.
I will sort that out tomorrow, when those living elsewhere might see the dim light of the sun in the morning.
I hope it’s alright that I take some rest now, as the answers kept me busy.
November 30, 2009 at 12:34 pm #8117
Theobald
Participant
So let’s see. Fact is that Master Gildor answered the question of the 1st riddle correctly ( 2 P). As for the 2nd riddle Master Gildor also was right saying it was Treebeard talking in Quenya ( 1 P ).
For the third answer to this riddle I could grant him only half a point as he just explained the meaning of the first line and did not explain the meaning of the second line. So there still is half a point that could be given.
Master Gildor also answered the 1st question of the third riddle correctly ( 1 P ). So that leads to a total of 5.5 points for Master Gildor.
I would like to give Master Erchamion half a point for explaining many details about the Tree of Amalion. (I know that this exceeds my first idea of giving 6 points for these riddles by half a point; but I think this should be granted and I hope that all of you can accept this. That means a total of 2 points for Master Erchamion. So here’s the chart:
Gildor 5.5
regalrick 2 1/2
erchamion 2
Protozeus 1
So still there are 2 more points which could not be given away so far.

? riddle 2: What is the meaning of the second line in the quotation? (1/2)
? riddle 3: Where does the name Amalion come from and what does it mean? (1/2)
? riddle 3: What is the other name of that tree? (1)

I hope this is correct so far. If not, please let me know.
November 30, 2009 at 2:00 pm #8121
Turambar
Participant
May I have a try: The Tree is an expression of an abstraction. The variety in the blossoms on “the Tree of Amalion” similary points to the literary works of Middle Earth.
“The Tree bears besides various shapes of leaves, many flowers, small and large signifying poems and mayor legends” told Tolkien.
Amalion might be a fit emblem for all of Tolkien´s work, literaly and visual, and of the interrelation between the two.
. . . that is all I can tell about shrimps . . .
November 30, 2009 at 2:31 pm #8122
Theobald
Participant
Huoommm … a very nice description, Master Rita.de … Master Tolkien’s ultimate tree, however, really was the “Tree of Amalion”. He drew it regularly at those times when he was driven to pattern-designing. So the tree bears besides various shapes of leaves many flowers small and large signifying poems and major legends. That’s what we know and you seem to be very close to one of the answers.
But the question clearly is about where the tree’s name comes from and what his name could mean, isn’t it? – Well, Master Rita.de, you’re digging deep in the right sources. In case you keep on digging even deeper you might come across the answer to the last question.
Well, so far there can be no further point given, I’m sorry, but let me thank you very much for your interest, Master Rita.de … huoommmm … just keep on
November 30, 2009 at 3:00 pm #8125
Theobald
Participant
Sorry, but I cannot hold back … it’s not part of these riddles, but I just enjoyed reading it again. So I would like to share this with those reading here. Let me quote, please

“There was one picture which bothered him. It had begun with a leaf caught in the wind, and it became a tree; and the tree grew, sending out innumerable branches, and thrusting out the most fantastic roots. Strange birds came and settled on the twigs and had to be attended to. Then all around the Tree, and behind it, through the gaps in the leaves and boughs, a country began to open out; and there were glimpses of a forest marching over the land, and of mountains tipped with snow.”

I like that very much.
November 30, 2009 at 3:23 pm #8127
Turambar
Participant
Yes, I´m sorry too and, Master Tree, you know what happens to those who digg too deep . . .
November 30, 2009 at 3:28 pm #8128
Turambar
Participant
Well reading the lines you share above I agree to you. It is, Master Theobald, it is: a wonderful text.
November 30, 2009 at 3:45 pm #8130
Gildor
MMP Elder
well as I said in some posts above…. Leaf by Niggle, a wonderful text indeed
November 30, 2009 at 3:47 pm #8132
Theobald
Participant
I know what it means to dig too deep, Master Rita.de … anyway. Considering and re-considering certain riddly-matters I just had an idea. Why not have some more in-between-riddles as we had last week. That might give those a chance who seem to be behind in scoring. I also thought that 5.5 points is quite a bit. That might keep others from taking part in this, saying, “No, 5.5 points I will never score, so let them keep on.” That’s not the idea behind all this. So what can be done? I’ll hastily put one more riddle here immediately. That’s a simple one for just one point. But maybe it helps to score. And on the other hand … to be honest … this year there’s no limit for points being given.
Just a moment … rhuoommm …. and don’t tell our Elf about this, as he is leading the score already at the moment … rhuoommm … and present he also is this moment on this site …
November 30, 2009 at 3:49 pm #8134
Theobald
Participant
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh … there’s the Elf! … He went in here while I was still typing … alas… I just tried to cheat a bit, Master Gildor, sorry … [exit Ent]
November 30, 2009 at 3:57 pm #8136
Theobald
Participant
So I’m back again with that extra-riddle … Yes, Master Gildor that quotation is from “Leaf by Niggle” and I do know that you referred to that before … though that were not correct answers to the question … please re-read the questions again.

Well, now here it is … the question I mean. What’s his name?

[imgz url=http://mmp.faerylands.eu/uploads/9_owlamoo.jpg]http://mmp.faerylands.eu/uploads/thumbs/9_owlamoo.jpg[/imgz]

Just to give you some help: it’s not an Ent and it’s not an Elf. Got it?
November 30, 2009 at 4:03 pm #8138
Gildor
MMP Elder
you know that I try to be fair master Ent, I will now let other answer I’ll keep back even if I know or think to know some answers, in order to let others participate… I like to compete but I like fairness too
November 30, 2009 at 4:09 pm #8140
erchamion
Participant
Could it be is a profound and powerful story about death, life, purgatory and eternity? Is the tree of “life”? :rolleyes:
November 30, 2009 at 4:22 pm #8142
Theobald
Participant
No, it isn’t, Master Erchamion. Though “Tree of …” is correct but that does not reveil a clear answer. Maybe some alliteration with that could be useful. To be honest I found the answer somewhere between many footnotes, but I think I still can prove it.
November 30, 2009 at 4:29 pm #8143
Turambar
Participant
This is an alternative cover for the book: “The Christmas Owl” by Judy West.
November 30, 2009 at 4:34 pm #8144
Theobald
Participant
As for you, Master Gildor, your fairness is well received and I value that very much. Last year it was Master Ken who acted in the same way. You remember those chariot-questions? He owns one, so he could have answered nearly all of the questions – but he did not. I couldn’t know then that there’s a second person having the same piece, but he informed me about that privately and then restricted from answering my questions. So this year it seems to be you, Master Gildor playing more than fair. Respect.
But why not have a try on the name of that birdy-feathery-clumpsy-angry-looking-trees-inhabiting-swift-but-noisilessly-flying-in the night-mouse catching-animals?
November 30, 2009 at 4:34 pm #8145
erchamion
Participant
Owlamoo, a picture of Tolkien´s postcard.
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