Spoilers What do people get wrong about Tolkien?

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

There are Tolkien fans, and then there are Tolkien fans who know that those other fans don't actually understand the texts. The professor would probably approve of the scholarly debates over LotR and its associated works.

So, Tolkien superfans (this means you, Stephen Colbert), what things do you see the general public or even more casual fans regularly getting wrong about his works that you'd like to set the record straight on?

 

[Hriston]

Pointy-eared elves

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Pointy-eared elves

How many points do their ears actually have?

 

[Wolfram stout]

While I haven't confronted anyone over the point, I'm pretty sure a lot of people totally misunderstand "Not all who wander are lost".

 

[Hriston]

While I haven't confronted anyone over the point, I'm pretty sure a lot of people totally misunderstand "Not all who wander are lost".

I don't think those people know they're paraphrasing Tolkien.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

I don't think those people know they're paraphrasing Tolkien.

They figure the quote is from a Patagonia catalog or maybe one of those "van life" conversion companies.

 

[Mercurius]

That Galadriel ever uttered the words, "I have a tempest in me."