Cursed Ring and Tolkien's Legacy

The transcript discusses the discovery of a gold ring by a farmer in 1785 near Silchester, England, and a lead tablet found in 1805 with a curse inscribed on it. The curse was directed at a thief named Sinus, wishing him ill health until the ring was returned. In 1928, archaeologist Sir Mortimer Wheeler connected these two discoveries, with help from J.R.R. Tolkien, who later wrote about a cursed ring in his famous works. The transcript explores whether Tolkien's stories were inspired by these historical events.

What did the farmer find while plowing his field in 1785?

• A large gold ring

• An ancient sword

• A mysterious map

• A silver coin

What was discovered during the garden renovation in 1805?

• A buried statue

• A lead tablet with a curse

• An old manuscript

• A hidden treasure chest

What did the lead tablet's curse request?

• To find the lost treasure

• To return the stolen ring

• To reveal the thief's identity

• To protect the farmer's land

Who helped Sir Mortimer Wheeler connect the discoveries of the ring and the tablet?

• A local historian

• An Oxford scholar named J.R.R. Tolkien

• A fellow archaeologist

• A renowned detective

What is J.R.R. Tolkien famous for writing?

• The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings

• Harry Potter series

• The Chronicles of Narnia

• The Great Gatsby

What is speculated about the connection between the cursed ring and Tolkien's works?

• The ring inspired Tolkien's stories

• The ring was a gift to Tolkien

• Tolkien found the ring himself

• The ring was used in a movie

What remains uncertain about the connection between the cursed ring and Tolkien's stories?

• Whether the ring was valuable

• Whether the ring inspired Tolkien

• Whether the ring was real

• Whether the ring was ever found