Riddles in the Downs

[Huinesoron]

Okay, August has been a royal pain, but I'm back with this. I really wanted to do one around Dante's Inferno, just listing someone who would be in each Circle, but that... turns out to be really hard, so this riddle is no relation to that one.

A flower and a colour grown, roasted, or tanned,
A bloom and a plant we can use for ourselves,
A blossom and one who toils hard on the land,
A princess and family with grace of the elves.

hS

[Galadriel55]

I've been giving this a ponder but can't say I've had much luck, though I feel like the riddle is already brilliant with the structure or the four pairs. What I can't figure out is if they are different things or all one and the same. There also seems to be a botanical theme in the descriptions which vaguely puts me in mind of hobbit names. The most specific guess I can offer is ROSE for the first line - both a flower and a colour.

[Huinesoron]

Originally Posted by Galadriel55

I've been giving this a ponder but can't say I've had much luck, though I feel like the riddle is already brilliant with the structure or the four pairs. What I can't figure out is if they are different things or all one and the same. There also seems to be a botanical theme in the descriptions which vaguely puts me in mind of hobbit names. The most specific guess I can offer is ROSE for the first line - both a flower and a colour.

Hobbit names is a good line of thinking, but the first line is not Rose. Hmm... I will also say that the four pairs are four pairs, not multiple clues for the same words.

hS

[Pitchwife]

I'm guessing it's the names of four female hobbits, and the botanical or 'princess' part is the first name and the rest the last name, right?


Verse 2 could be Rose Cotton, a bloom and a plant we use to clothe ourselves.
one who toils hard on the land could be Gardner, or possibly Burrows?
family with grace of the elves could be Gamgee or Gardner again (Galadriel's gift)


Is verse 1 Gilly Brownlock? Gillyflower + roasting or tanning tend to produce brown colours.

[Huinesoron]

Originally Posted by Pitchwife

I'm guessing it's the names of four female hobbits, and the botanical or 'princess' part is the first name and the rest the last name, right?

Correct in all respects.

Originally Posted by Pitchwife

Verse 2 could be Rose Cotton, a bloom and a plant we use to clothe ourselves.

Line 2 is Rose Cotton.

Originally Posted by Pitchwife

one who toils hard on the land could be Gardner, or possibly Burrows?

Line 3 is a Gardner.

Originally Posted by Pitchwife

family with grace of the elves could be Gamgee or Gardner again (Galadriel's gift)

Is verse 1 Gilly Brownlock? Gillyflower + roasting or tanning tend to produce brown colours.

None of these are correct, but you're right about what colour those things lead to.

hS

[Pitchwife]

So line 3 could be any of Elanor, Rose, Daisy or Primrose. But which?


Family with grace of the elves could be Baggins, as both Frodo and Bilbo were elf-friends, but I can't think of any who might be considered a princess.

[Huinesoron]

Originally Posted by Pitchwife

So line 3 could be any of Elanor, Rose, Daisy or Primrose. But which?

It is indeed one of those.

Originally Posted by Pitchwife

Family with grace of the elves could be Baggins, as both Frodo and Bilbo were elf-friends, but I can't think of any who might be considered a princess.

"Of the Elves" is mostly for the rhyme; 'family' is probably more relevant. You are looking for the meaning of the name.

hS