riddle of steel

[okay19]

hi i have a problem about the usage of the definite article why we use "the" in structures like "the lord of the rings" and dont in "riddle of steel" both seems same what is the differance between them that one takes "the" and other dont?
thanks,
okay19

[Anglika]

Titles of books/films, do not necessarily follow strict grammatical rules.

[okay19]

ok but as i know at the begining of noun groups we must use "the" so "riddle of steel" should be "the riddle of steel" shouldnt it? besides in these structures that r being linked with "of" is there any gramatical rule or we just use "the" randomly?might it be "the riddle of the steel" i am really confused with this.
thanks,
okay19

[David L.]

What does "Riddle of Steel" mean? Is it referring to a riddle about a piece of steel?
or does the title mean, this was a riddle so hard to solve that it was as hard as steel?!

If the title had been, "Riddle of the Steel", then the riddle would have been about some lump of steel, that there is some puzzle about this piece of steel.

With "The Lord of the Rings", the title makes it clear that this is about a very particular 'Lord' and some very particular 'Rings'.

[baqarah131]

Learning to use articles is difficult. Trying to apply rules didn't work for my students. I think you need to pay careful attention to what Anglos are saying, how they're using articles, and in time you'll develop the instinct to use them correctly most of the time.

As Anglika has said, you shouldn't expect titles to follow the rules as strictly. The same goes for newspaper headlines.

Keep at it!
edward

Originally Posted by okay19

ok but as i know at the begining of noun groups we must use "the" so "riddle of steel" should be "the riddle of steel" shouldnt it? besides in these structures that r being linked with "of" is there any gramatical rule or we just use "the" randomly?might it be "the riddle of the steel" i am really confused with this.
thanks,
okay19

[okay19]

what about "riders of doom" here can u make such an explanation?
in fact i take these thing from the movie conan the barbarian.it may be about the film.

[vil]

Hi okay19,

The riddle of steel

The riddle of steel is a role-playing game.The title "The riddle of steel" is inspired by several references in the movie "Conan the Barbarian", including a line of dialogue in which the villain Thulsa Doom ask the captured Conan "What is the riddle of steel?" Doom answered this question by explaining to Conan that the true strength of steel is in the hand that wields it - in other words, it is the resolve and commitment we bring to a task, not the quality or quantity of tools we use in performing it. That is most important factor in determining success.

Regards.

V.

[okay19]

thanks for this broad explanation about movie:)
can we say that here "the" is omitted at the beginning of the noun group i mean it must be like "the riders of doom" and "the riddle of steel" yes or no?

[baqarah131]

No, omitting the article doesn't follow a rule. We just drop it for the sake of brevity if the meaning is clear.
Check an English newspaper and you'll see examples of this.

regards
edward

Originally Posted by okay19

thanks for this broad explanation about movie:)
can we say that here "the" is omitted at the beginning of the noun group i mean it must be like "the riders of doom" and "the riddle of steel" yes or no?