
The opening narration of how the rings of power are secretly under the control of the One Ring is a popular format for various other applicable items that essentially had a good run that was suddenly ground to a halt by a bad instalment.Consequently, many jokes center on the idea that the debate can instantly cause people to start fighting, the relative unimportance of it compared to the Flame Wars it's started, and the mere fact that Tolkien's language could be so unclear when describing such an iconic monster while details like the branch layout of mallorn trees get whole paragraphs focused on them. This is not helped by the fact that most adaptations do portray them as winged, meaning that wingless balrog advocates see their position as the Truer to the Text one. Because of this, the question of whether balrogs do or don't have wings is one of the classic examples of a pointless nerd argument, where the ultimate answer comes down to personal taste. However, they're ambiguous enough that it could simply be metaphorical for its spreading shadow and presence, and it (along with several other balrogs) ultimately falls with no signs of being able to fly. The Balrog Wing Debate Explanation The text of Fellowship during the balrog's brief appearance has a few passages that seem to be describing it as winged (at one point outright referring to "its wings").This image of Saruman contemplating the palantir of Orthanc (dating all the way from 1993) became better known as the "wizard contemplating orb" meme.though it took a while for it to actually be identified as an image of Saruman.Do not meddle in the affairs of bards, for they aren't subtle at all and your name scans to "Greensleeves".Do not meddle in the affairs of fangirls, for you are hot and would go well with other men.They aren't all that subtle." Explanation From Lords and Ladies, describing what happens if you call the Librarian a monkey instead of an ape. Discworld also has "Do not meddle in the affairs of wizards, especially simian ones.


Do not meddle in the affairs of X for (they/you) are A and B."The yellow face, it burns us, precious!".Ironically, Tolkien intended it to be published as one work and hated that he had to split it up. note Re-popularized it, in fact, since the three-volume novel had been insanely popular in the Victorian era.

Frodo meme secrets series#
It was this series that popularized the entire concept of telling a story in three parts."Another piece of Mordor," often seen scrawled on ugly building projects under construction.

Strangely influential, perhaps because many poli-sci geeks see the Ring as an allegory for nuclear weapons or the corruption of tyranny.
