Make 'em Laugh
Challenge Details
There are many humorous stories floating around the LOTR fandom. Some are metafics (OFUM, PPC); others are more in the grand tradition of creating humorous situations for the characters who aren't necessarily trying to be funny ("Out of the Frying Pan, Into the Fire," or "In the Hall of the Wood Elf King," for example); then there are all those little moments in otherwise serious fics that we love. But I haven't seen any fics whose sole purpose was to explore a character's sense of humor through the stories she or he tells, and how he or she tells them.
That is the challenge set before you. Pick a character, any character, and write the story that she or he would tell to get a laugh out of his/her audience. The story can be long or short, told in first-person or third; it can even have songs and/or poetry in it if you think that the character's sense of humor would manifest in that manner. The only restrictions are: 1) the funny part cannot arise *solely* from the situation that the character is presently in--it has to come from the story s/he tells, and 2) the character should be identifiable (ok, this is a rather more loose and subjective criterion; the point being that the character in question is not doing this under duress or under the undue influence of any chemical substances).
So, if you've ever wanted to hear, for example, Aragorn tell that story about the girl, the boy, her watchful father, and the hazards of large pet dogs, this would be your chance.
Entries with Stories
The following authors have entered a story in the Challenge.
- Arwen Imladviel - Brandywine
- General Audience
- Last Updated: 03 Apr 03
- Faramir has heard all Merry has to tell of Eowyn. Now he is about to hear a completely different story - his scholarly mind wants to know how the name of river Baranduin became 'Brandywine' in the Shire. As it happens, Merry has an intriguing explanation. Written for the 'Make 'em laugh' -challenge.
- Arwen Imladviel - Tale of a King, The
- General Audience
- Last Updated: 02 Jan 03
- A Silmarillion story: a King we all know reminiscing about a loss of his. Now entered in the Make 'em laugh - challenge: I hope I understood the rules correctly.
- Dwimordene - Mering Market
- General Audience
- Last Updated: 06 May 04
- Denethor telling funny stories? Of course not. He doesn't tell funny stories, he tells humorous anecdotes (Why? Because it sounds more serious). Beware! Here lies humor... Denethor's humor. Features Denethor, Aragorn, and Theoden. Written for the "Make 'Em Laugh" challenge and dedicated to the cheerful blackmailers who inspired me to attempt this fic. You know who you are. Have fun!
- Katharine the Great - Three Guys, Some Wine, and a Really Funny Joke
- General Audience
- Last Updated: 10 Jan 03
- Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli chill out. Gimli tells a joke. So, how exactly *does* a Dwarf effectively crack on an Elf? *snicker* Written for the Make 'em Laugh Challenge.
- lindelea - Courtship of Samwise Gamgee, The
- General Audience
- Last Updated: 10 Mar 03
- A rollicking tune reputed to be composed for Samwise and Rosie's wedding by Meriadoc Brandybuck and Peregrin Took.
- Meg Thornton - Campfire Story
- General Audience
- Last Updated: 15 Mar 04
- A response to the "Telling Funny Stories" challenge, this one involves the fellowship walking into Hollin, and needing something to cheer themselves up.
Characters include Boromir, Aragorn, Frodo, Sam, Merry, Pippin, Gimli, Legolas and Gandalf, and I think I manage to mention Bill the Pony as well. In addition, there's a bit of a mention of Bree (hey, without the mention of Bree, how would you know it was one of my stories?)
Mithril Awards 2003 - Finalist - Best Fellowship Story - Meg Thornton - Bride's Party
- Adult Audience
- Last Updated: 03 Apr 03
- Of Éowyn's hen's night, and the stories told there.
Featuring Eowyn, with a cameo appearance from Arwen Undomiel.
- Meg Thornton - Bad Jokes
- General Audience
- Last Updated: 26 Jan 03
- Well, the Fellowship are still on their way to Hollin, and this time it's Merry and Boromir keeping up everyone's spirits.
Written as a response to the "Make 'em Laugh" challenge. Dwim, this is all for you!
