Guild of Tolkienology - Application Instructions!

[Grond]

In order for you to be assigned a rank within our guild, any potential candidate will need to pm me with their age, gender, which books by Tolkien they've read, how many times they've read them, how long they've been reading them, etc.

[Mrs. Maggott]

This is a new thread so that although I think I've done this before, there have been so many comments about rankings etc., I shall do it again.

I am 61 and female (naturally).

I have read all of Tolkien's directly written works including non-Middle earth stories and many if not most of the ones that have been published after his death by his son Christopher containing notes and speculations of and about his writings. Much of this, however, I find quite confusing as the names are not always exactly the same and Tolkien was known to change his mind about plot threads etc. (which is why one may debate on an issue in Tolkien and both debaters may be correct!

Of course, I frequently have trouble remembering who goes where since Tolkien is about as easy to memorize in his entirety as The Bible - which, of course, is what most of his works are: the Bible of Middle Earth. I know that his creation myth is based upon Finnish legend (the "music" of creation) and that Lewis (I think) borrowed it in his Narnia books when Aslan "sings" the world which includes Narnia (Narnia is not the whole world, only one country within it) into existence.

I am better with overall meaning than minutiea (names, places etc.) so therefore I frequently do much better on essay questions than identification of this person or that thing or the other event, especially as I am only just returning to Tolkien after many years absence - or, more properly, less attention than had previously been given.

Nonetheless, even if I rank no higher than the lowest rank, I will deem it an honor and privilege to be associated with those who have chosen this Guild as their own! :D

[Lhunithiliel]

This announcement has been posted in the "Happenings"-thread, but all of you, who come to this place to read the Application instructions,
please read this:
Announcement
ATTENTION
From behalf of the Deputy Masters of the Guild, I announce the beginning of the PROBATION PERIOD. It will last a month (until the end of January).
During this probation period every guild member shall prove his/her willingness to seriously and productively contribute for the Guild's work. Replying to this post isn’t necessary. What is necessary is the participation in some of the activities of the guild. After the end of it, the members that didn’t show such a willingness will unfortunately lose their membership.
The reason for the probation period is to free some spots for new members who will be more eager to contribute. Besides, the inactive members probably won’t care about their removal. Most members are known to us and they won’t have any problem at all to show their active involvement. To the few that have not been heard for months, this is their chance to return.
This probation period (but much shorter) will be also used for every new applicant in the future.
Thank you for your attention.

[Grond]

We again have reached our pre-set limit of 50 active members. I have moved some to the inactive list and others have transferred to the reorganized Scholars Guild under Maedhros' leadership.

I encourage new forum members to look into the Scholars guild as it is up and coming and need of new members to help it grow. As we have more inactive members, we will again place them inactive and have space for more members. If you are set on joining our guild, please post in the apply here thread and I will place your name on our membership waiting list.

Thanks to all and it's good to be back.

[gate7ole]

New Rules for the applicants
The process to join the guild is the following:
-You post at this thread your interest in joining.
-For one week, you are considered an unofficial member of the guild, and you can participate in all the activities of the guild.
-After the end of the week, you will contact FoolOfATook, to have the appropriate test that will determine your rank.
-Then, you are an official member of the Tolkienologists.

[Bethelarien]

I would like to join.

I'm a 16 year old female.

I've read the LOTR series many times (sorry, I lost count after about 10), the Hobbit 2x, and the Sil once, though I'm re-reading it currently. I haven't gotten around to the Unfinished Tales as of yet, since I can't seem to find them in any local library (grrrr).

Ummm...anything else?

[Lhunithiliel]

Hello :)

Glad that you wish to join us!
You'd better "report" yourself to FoolOfaTook. He'll explain to you how to become a guild member and how to get a guild-rank ;)

Good luck and WELCOME!

[samjor]

Hello
I am a 25 year old male.

I have read the Hobbit twice and the lotr 1.
I have only started to read them.
But I am hooked.
I have purchased a number of other titles to read:

The Simarllion
The unfinished Tales


I am very interested in joining your guild as I hope to take up Tolkienology as a hobby.

Thank - You

[Lhunithiliel]

WELCOME to you, too, samjor! :)
Please, read my post just above yours and follow the "line" ;)

ALL NEW APPLICANTS, PLEASE FIND YOURSELF FREE TO LOOK AROUND AND MAKE YOURSELVES AT HOME IN OUR GUILD! :) :D

[samjor]

Where can I find fool of a took?

[samjor]

hi

Can someone help me I e-mail foolofatook about joining your guild
and I havent had any response yet? Is there anyone else who can help me?

Thank-You

[Lhunithiliel]

Click here (http://www.thetolkienforum.com/member.php?s=&action=getinfo&userid=3674) and you'll go to the profile of Master Took.
There, you have the option "PM" - use it

Hope that helped:)

[samjor]

Hello,

I have been trying with no luck to contact FoolofaTook, I have e-mail and a have send pm but still no reply. Please is there another guild official that can help me, as I would very much like to be part of your community.

Thank-You

[Lhunithiliel]

Don't worry!
Master Took must be very busy with some school-project . I haven't heard of him too for a while!

Now, as I said, make yourself at home and be sure you can participate in ANY and EVERY thread in the Guild!

You will be most welcome!

You are now as a .... "Guest-member"... or sth. like that :)

So, you ARE in our community.
Just show to the community what you could do for it !

Good luck!

[samjor]

Thank you friend.

As I have said before I am new to the world of Tolkien, so if it not to much trouble to ask, were are the best places to learn within the guild?

thank you

[Lhunithiliel]

Originally posted by samjor
Thank you friend.

As I have said before I am new to the world of Tolkien, so if it not to much trouble to ask, were are the best places to learn within the guild?

thank you
You are welcome!:)
Why don't you post this question in the "Round Table thread"?
The present thread should be clear only for application :)

[Thingol]

I would like to apply for this guild.

[Lhunithiliel]

Welcome aboard! :D

Applying for the Guild is simple and in fact your application is accepted.

From this point on, here are some things you should do:

>> PM me or FoolOfATook about your Tolkien experience - what books have you read, what your primary interests are... etc.

>> Contact FoolOfATook and talk to him about possible time for you to pass a ranking test and thus you'll soon have your rank as a member of the Guild

>> post in some .....why not all ;) :D threads of the Guild, so that we could get to know you better!

>> show us your knowledge in Tolkien and your willingness to participate in some of the Guild's projects
But most of all - HAVE FUN! :D

Any questions you might have - PM me or FoolOfATook !

[FoolOfATook]

Contact FoolOfATook and talk to him about possible time for you to pass a ranking test and thus you'll soon have your rank as a member of the Guild

You know Lhun, this applies to existing members, even Deputy Guild Masters as much as new members- we all want you to go ahead and earn the high rank that we all know you will! ;) :D

[Gil-Galad]

Originally posted by FoolOfATook
You know Lhun, this applies to existing members, even Deputy Guild Masters as much as new members- we all want you to go ahead and earn the high rank that we all know you will! ;) :D
Lhun,I'm sure you can become expert Tolkienologist!Just pass the test.
Someday(probably after a month)and I'll pass the tets.Now I'm reading and preparing about it!

[Lhunithiliel]

Ah, you two.... !
What now... ?
Challenging me?! :p :D

Oh... but I'm so much afraid !

Hey, Master Took, what were the requirements for becoming a Senior Journeyman? Because... I would not feel comfortable to call myself an "Expert Tolkienologist" having in mind the little knowledge I have... And I'm not being falsely modest or anything... It's the truth! Tolkien's phylosophical views interwoven in the characters and the events in his writings - this is what I still have to study.... in order to call myself an "Expert"! :D

But for a "Senior" I might attempt...

[Gil-Galad]

Originally posted by Lhunithiliel
Ah, you two.... !
What now... ?
Challenging me?! :p :D

Oh... but I'm so much afraid !

Hey, Master Took, what were the requirements for becoming a Senior Journeyman? Because... I would not feel comfortable to call myself an "Expert Tolkienologist" having in mind the little knowledge I have... And I'm not being falsely modest or anything... It's the truth! Tolkien's phylosophical views interwoven in the characters and the events in his writings - this is what I still have to study.... in order to call myself an "Expert"! :D

But for a "Senior" I might attempt...
bla,bla,bla,bla,bla........even I took without any difficulty the test for Sr.Journeyman.To pass it you should have read The Hobbit,LOTR,The Sil,UT,,it's easy,isn't it?
But I don't remember the requirements for the expert level.What were they?

[FoolOfATook]

The Expert test will include questions from the H.o.M.e.

[Gil-Galad]

Originally posted by FoolOfATook
The Expert test will include questions from the H.o.M.e.
I have BOLT 1 BOLT2 so far.Soon I'll have and the Letters.What else exactly should I buy and read?

[Luthien Tunivel]

I saw the guild of Tolkienology, and I practially fell over in shock. The guild looks like it was made for me. I have been dying for a something that would be like this. So this is the required information to join:

Age: 13
Gender: Female
Times read the books: I've read the LOTR series about five times, and I've read my favorite parts more. I'm not sure how many times I read The Hobbit, but at least six. I'm in the middle of the Sil. right now, and I haven't read any others since our library has nothing! I've been reading the books since I was ten, and if you want to know, I was a fan before the movies.

[Lhunithiliel]

Welcome fair Luthien! :D
I am glad that you wish to join our Guild!
I have been dying for a something that would be like this.
Oh! Common... Don't ya die on me now! :p:D You are IN!!!!

Well, feel free to look around and as soon as you feel ready, PM FoolofATook to discuss with him the test you'd like to pass - the rank you'd respectively get as a member of the proud Guild of Tolkienology.

[Luthien Tunivel]

Am I allowed to post things before I get a PM back from FoolofATook?

[Beleg]

I have BOLT 1 BOLT2 so far.Soon I'll have and the Letters.What else exactly should I buy and read?

You need to read HOME#10,11,12,5 inorder to get some knowledge of HOME. Becuase most of the stories/articals in these books are not included in Tolkien's work and are a wonder themselves. For examples The Grey Annals, The Wanderings of Húrin, The Athrabeth, The Shibelloth.

[Lhunithiliel]

Originally posted by Luthien Tunivel
Am I allowed to post things before I get a PM back from FoolofATook?
You are most welcome! :D