Image: Youtube
About This Quiz
One quiz to rule them all... Are you a master of Middle-earth lore?
What shattered relic of Isildur’s victory over Sauron eventually came to Rivendell?
The iron crown of the Witch-king of Angmar
A Númenórean steel bow
Isildur’s breastplate, emblazoned with the White Tree
Narsil, the sword that cut the Ring from Sauron’s hand
The sword Narsil originally belonged to Isildur’s father, Elendil. In Rivendell, the elves forged Narsil’s swords into Andúril, the sword Aragon wields during the Battle of the Black Gate.
Advertisement
With what opponent does Gandalf do battle on the Bridge of Khazad-dûm?
A great wolf
A Balrog
Gandalf battles, and apparently falls to, a Balrog (or a “demon of might”). As his comrades later learn, however, Gandalf actually defeats it.
A were-worm
A dragon
Advertisement
Why does Gollum call the Ring his birthday present?
He demanded his friend Déagol give it to him as a birthday gift
How Gollum, when he was still called Smeagol, demanded the Ring from Deagol, and ultimately killed him for it, was depicted onscreen at the beginning of "The Return of the King."
His friend Déagol willingly gave it to him as a birthday gift
His grandmother gave it to him on his birthday
He wished for a magic ring on his birthday, then found it later
Advertisement
Who declares, when Frodo offers her the Ring, “All shall love me and despair!”?
Arwen
Galadriel
Galadriel is tempted by Frodo’s offer of the Ring, but resists. “I pass the test,” she says in the book. “I will diminish, and go into the West and remain Galadriel.”
Goldberry
Lúthien Tinúviel
Advertisement
Why is Gandalf unable to meet the hobbits at the Prancing Pony?
Elrond and Galadriel summon him to the White Council
The Necromancer captures him
Saruman captures and holds him captive atop Orthanc
Saruman imprisons Gandalf atop his tower, Orthanc. In both the book and Peter Jackson’s film adaption, a mighty eagle carries Gandalf away; in the book, however, Gandalf does not actively summon the eagle.
He is delayed by his search for Gollum
Advertisement
In Peter Jackson’s film of "The Fellowship of the Ring," who rescues Frodo at the ford?
Arwen
Arwen, Elrond’s daughter and Aragorn’s beloved, defends and rescues Frodo at the ford in the film. In the book, Glorfindel, a male Elf-lord, leads Strider and the other hobbits in driving the Ringwraiths into the water. which Elrond and Gandalf make look like horses).
Galadriel
Glorfindel
Goldberry
Advertisement
What name does Aragorn use when traveling as a Ranger?
Longshanks
Strider
Aragorn travels as Strider. Sam, however, does call Aragorn “Longshanks.”
Proudfoot
Biter
Advertisement
Which of these characters kills the Lord of the Nazgûl, whom prophecy says no man can kill?
Gimli
Pippin
Arwen
Éowyn
Éowyn kills the Witch-king, declaring as she reveals herself, “I am no man!”
Advertisement
At the Council of Elrond, what does Boromir suggest be done with the Ring?
Cast it into the Cracks of Doom
Use it to defend the land of Gondor
Not appreciating the Ring’s corrupting influence, Boromir suggests using it to save Gondor and the West from Sauron, calling it “a gift to the foes of Mordor.”
Hide it in Rivendell to avoid its discovery
Send it with Elrond to the Gray Havens
Advertisement
What creature has Sam always longed to see, that he finally sees in battle?
The Lord of the Eagles
A wood-elf maiden
A wild horse of Rohan
An oliphaunt
Oliphaunts are larger than the beasts we know as elephants, "as big as a house, "according to Sam. Tolkien derived the name from an archaic word for the pachyderms we know.
Advertisement
What sight to the hobbits and Gollum see as they pass through the Dead Marshes?
Multiple visions of the Eye of Sauron
A vision of the Shire's destruction
Dead bodies and mysterious flames
They see the fallen dead from a long-ago battle and what Gollum, in Tolkien’s text, calls “candles of corpses.” Tolkien suggested the scene came from his memory of seeing army comrades in World War I dead where they lay after the Battle of the Somme.
A vision of Ringwraiths pursuing them
Advertisement
Why does Elrond oppose Arwen’s relationship with Aragorn?
He does not believe Aragorn is the true king of Gondor
He fears Aragorn will abandon Arwen for Éowyn
He hates all Men because of Isildur’s weakness
He does not want Arwen to live sad and alone once Aragorn dies
“Whether by the sword or the slow decay of time,” Elrond warns Arwen, “Aragorn will die. And there will be no comfort for you. No comfort to ease the pain of his passing.”
Advertisement
Whom does Boromir die defending?
Gandalf and Gimli
Frodo and Legolas
Aragorn and Arwen
Merry and Pippin
Boromir dies trying to defend Merry and Pippin from the orcs who capture them. As Boromir dies, Aragorn tells him he has kept his honor.
Advertisement
Who breaks Wormtongue’s influence over King Théoden?
Saruman the White
Gandalf the Grey
Gandalf the White
After he returns as Gandalf the White, the wizard breaks the apathy and despair in which Wormtongue, through his deceptive counsel, has snared Rohan’s king.
Radagast the Brown
Advertisement
How are Faramir and Boromir related?
Father and son
Cousins
Brothers
Boromir and Faramir are the sons of Denethor, steward of Gondor. In the films, Faramir is very concerned to prove his worth to his father, who clearly favors Boromir.
Uncle and nephew
Advertisement
Where do the people of Rohan make a stand against the forces of evil in the film of "The Two Towers"?
Minas Tirith
The Golden Hall of Edoras
Helm's Deep
The people defend Helm’s Deep against Saruman’s orcs. In the movie, but not in Tolkien’s text, elves join the men of Rohan in defending the fortress.
Isengard
Advertisement
In the film of "The Return of the King," how does Gollum make Frodo think Sam is untrustworthy?
Gollum plants crumbs of lembas bread on Sam and accuses him of eating it
Gollum makes it appear as though Sam has eaten the remaining lembas bread. While not in Tolkien’s text, the incident effectively dramatizes the enmity between Gollum and Sam.
Gollum reminds Frodo that Sam eavesdropped on him in the Shire
Gollum pretends that Sam offered to let him go free
Gollum places the Ring around Sam’s neck while Frodo sleeps
Advertisement
What is the most important part Gollum unwittingly plays in fulfilling the quest?
He shows Frodo and Sam a secret way into Mordor
He leads the hobbits to Shelob's lair
He convinces Frodo to the throw away the Ring
He bites Frodo’s finger, falling with it and the Ring into Mount Doom
During his struggle with Frodo, Gollum bites off the hobbit’s finger. He then falls into the fiery Cracks of Doom, taking the finger, the Ring still on it, with him. It was important to Tolkien that readers understood Frodo failed in the quest, and that victory came in this unlikely way.
Advertisement
How old is Bilbo at the beginning of "The Fellowship of the Ring"?
99 years
120 years
111 years
Bilbo is celebrating his “eleventy-first” birthday. In Tolkien’s novel, readers learn that Bilbo and Frodo share the same birthdate, September 22.
77 years (and seven months)
Advertisement
What oath does Gollum make to assure Frodo and Sam of his loyalty when they capture him?
He swears by the Ring
When Gollum swears on the Ring, Frodo warns him the Ring is treacherous, and will hold him to his oath, thus foreshadowing the part Gollum will play in the achievement of the quest to destroy the Ring.
He swears on his honor
He swears by his grandmother's grave
He swears by his old name, Sméagol
Advertisement
To whom is Gandalf referring: “My heart tells me that ____ has some part to play yet, for good or ill..."?
Sam
Pippin
Gollum
Gandalf refers to Gollum. "It was pity that stayed Bilbo’s hand," he tells Frodo. "The pity of Bilbo may rule the fate of many."
Wormtongue
Advertisement
What are Gandalf’s final words to the Fellowship before he falls from the bridge in Moria?
"Avenge me, brothers!"
"Fly, you fools!"
“Fly, you fools!” Earlier in their confrontation on the bridge, Gandalf tells the Balrog, “You shall not pass!”
"Away, my friends!"
"It must not pass!"
Advertisement
From whom does Gandalf learn of Sauron’s plan to attack Minas Tirith?
From Wormtongue, who boasts of Sauron’s might
From Pippin, who glimpsed it while connected to Sauron
Gandalf calls Pippin’s peek into the palantir “strangely fortunate. Pippin saw… a glimpse of the enemy's plan. Sauron moves to strike the city of Minas Tirith.”
From Aragorn, who was keeping the knowledge secret
From Elrond, who claims Sauron is fulfilling ancient prophecy
Advertisement
Who claims, “A day may come when the courage of men fails, but it is not this day”?
Aragorn
Aragorn uses these words to rally his forces before battle outside the Black Gate of Mordor.
Faramir
Elrond
Gandalf
Advertisement
Who is the “she” to whom Gollum refers at the end of the film of "The Two Towers"?
Galadriel
Arwen
Shelob
When Gollum says “she could do it” (that is, kill the hobbits), he is referring to the giant spider, Shelob. Tolkien said the name “Shelob” was simply derived from an archaic word for spider, “lob,” joined to the singular female pronoun.
Belladonna Took
Advertisement
Which actor provided the voice of Treebeard the Ent in the film of "The Two Towers"?
John Rhys-Davies
John Rhys-Davies' other famous roles include Sallah in "Raiders of the Lost Ark" and Maximillian in the series "Sliders."
Christopher Lee
Karl Urban
Ian McKellen
Advertisement
The Fellowship sees the tomb of which dwarf or dwarves in Moria?
Thorin Oakenshield
Fili and Kili
Balin
The company finds Balin’s tomb. They also find a written record of how goblins attacked and destroyed the dwarf colony in Moria.
Thráin
Advertisement
To whom does the title, "The Lord of the Rings," refer?
Frodo
Sauron
Sauron is the title character. In Tolkien’s text, Frodo entitles his account of events "The Downfall of the Lord of the Rings and the Return of the King."
Aragorn
Gandalf
Advertisement
What word or phrase must one speak to enter the Doors of Durin?
"Mellon"
One must speak "mellon," the Sindarin word meaning “friend,” as the Doors’ riddling inscription instructs: “Pedo mellon a minno” (“Speak friend and enter”).
“Edro, edro!”
“Lasto bath lammen”
“Namárië”
Advertisement
When Bilbo leaves the Shire, what is his destination?
Lothlórien
Rivendell
In Tolkien’s books, Rivendell, the home of Elrond, is known also as Imladris and The Last Homely House East of the Sea. Bilbo first visited Rivendell during the events of "The Hobbit."
Laketown
Mirkwood
Advertisement
How does Faramir learn of Boromir’s death?
He sees the boat that bears Boromir’s corpse
In Tolkien’s book, Faramir hears Boromir’s horn blow (when Boromir is fighting orcs); days later, Faramir says he “saw, or it seemed that [he] saw,” the boat in which his dead brother lay. Cut from the initial release of "The Two Towers" movie, a scene of Faramir and the boat was restored for the extended edition.
He failed to hear Boromir’s horn when he expected to hear it
Gandalf tells him the news
Frodo and Sam tell him Boromir is dead
Advertisement
Why is Denethor convinced Gondor is doomed in the war against Sauron?
He has read ancient prophecies that Isildur’s heir will not return
He is frightened by the death of the White Tree
He is frightened by what he sees in the palantir
Having seen, through the palantir (or seeing stone), Sauron’s forces massing in Mordor, Denethor despairs of Gondor’s fate.
He has been listening to Wormtongue's false counsel
Advertisement
J.R.R. Tolkien referred to himself and his wife as what legendary lovers from Middle-earth?
Aragorn and Arwen
Celeborn and Galadriel
Beren and Lúthien
The headstone of the couple’s grave refers to the author as Beren and his wife, Edith, as Lúthien. In both the book and the extended version of "The Fellowship of the Rings" film, Aragorn sings a song about Beren and Lúthien. Their tale parallels his romance with Arwen, for Lúthien. Like Arwen, Lúthien gave up immortality to be with her mortal love.
Éowyn and Faramir
Advertisement
Which of these plot elements was inspired by Tolkien’s fascination with "Macbeth"?
Denethor’s attempt to immolate Faramir and himself
The Ents’ march on Isengard
Tolkien always felt disappointed Shakespeare did not provide a literal fulfillment of the line in "Macbeth,""until Great Birnam Wood to high Dunsinane Hill shall come," so he had great trees literally march on their enemy in his story.
Pippin’s ill-advised look into the palantir
The orcs’ capture of Frodo
Advertisement
In the book "The Fellowship of the Ring," Gandalf quotes a poem in reference to Aragorn. Which of these is that poem’s first line?
“Not all those who wander are lost”
“All that is gold does not glitter”
The poem begins, “All that is gold does not glitter.” In Peter Jackson’s films, it is not heard until "The Return of the King," when Arwen recites its second stanza. In Tolkien’s text, Bilbo tells Frodo he wrote the poem.
“From the ashes a fire shall be woken”
“The crownless again shall be king”
Advertisement
You Got:
/35
Youtube