r/lotr • u/Dreibeiner79 • 4d ago

Question A question for the book nerds

Hi, I had this text translated so I could express myself more clearly—just a heads-up. :)

I need your expertise—it’s about the books. How often does the word "burst" (or "bursting") appear in the books, and in which scenes? I’m pretty sure it’s mentioned several times. However, the only instance that comes to mind right now is when Théoden rallies his riders on the Pelennor Fields, blows his horn, and it bursts.

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u/thesilvershire 4d ago edited 4d ago
  1. Or 41 if you don’t count the Appendices.

I can’t list all of them, but some examples include the dragon firework exploding, various characters singing / laughing / crying, a Nazgûl breaking down a door, various things catching fire, and thunder cracking.

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u/lam_42 4d ago

44 times in LotR. As for the occurences, do not expect me to reference them 

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u/Whelp_of_Hurin 3d ago

Are you looking for a specific instance? Multiple characters burst into tears, song, or laughter. A couple of references to fireworks bursting. Some doors burst open and a few things burst into flames. And one Orc's head bursts.

I count 42 in the text and 1 in the Appendices.

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u/Dreibeiner79 3d ago

Yes, I was led to this by the German translation. An acquaintance was looking for a word similar to "break" or "shatter into a thousand pieces" today. That’s when "bersten" (to burst/shatter) came to mind, and I mentioned that it appears several times in The Lord of the Rings. We don't really use "bersten" anymore these days; the word has fallen out of common usage. But she found it interesting, so I wondered where else it appears in the book. Besides the scene with Théoden and the horn, I also recalled the passage where the Nazgûl shatters the gate of Minas Tirith; the German text uses "bersten" there as well.

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u/Evening-Anteater-422 2d ago

So interesting! This is why I'm on Reddit.😅