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J.R.R.Tolkien Life and Literature Quiz

This quiz has questions based on the many novels written by J.R.R. Tolkien. The answers mostly come from 'The Hobbit' and 'Lord of the Rings', but some questions are from his other works. Also, there are a few questions relating to the author himself.

A multiple-choice quiz by Vanyar. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
Vanyar

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
36,093

Updated
Aug 03 23

# Qns
25

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
18 / 25

Plays
4701

Awards
Top 35% Quiz

Last 3 plays: dreamweave4 (15/25), Guest 162 (24/25), screwlogins (25/25).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 25

1. What Middle Earth race is Gollum most closely related to? Hint

Men

Orcs

Dwarves

Hobbits

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Question 2 of 25

2. How many people were in the party that went to Lonely Mountain (excluding Gandalf)? Hint

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Question 3 of 25

3. What other name was Gandalf known as? Hint

Olorin

Mithrandir

the Grey Fool

all of these

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Question 4 of 25

4. What famous author did Tolkien often share his ideas with when writing his novels? Hint

Lewis Carrol

E.B. White

C.S. Lewis

Beatrix Potter

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Question 5 of 25

5. What do the initials J.R.R stand for? Hint

nothing

James Ronald Raul

John Ronald Reuel

Jonathan Richard Raif

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Question 6 of 25

6. What is the name of the dog that goes to the moon in a story Tolkien told to his son? Hint

Roverandom

Paws

Tinuviel

Fluffy

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Question 7 of 25

7. Who created the One Ring? Hint

Sauron

Gandalf

Saruman

the Dwarves

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Question 8 of 25

8. What was in Bilbo's pocket? Hint

the One Ring

his hand

gold

lint

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Question 9 of 25

9. What is Gollum's real name? Hint

Gollum

Smeagol

Sam Baggins

Pippin

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Question 10 of 25

10. Name the human members of the fellowship of the ring. Hint

Aragorn, Boromir, Gandalf

Aragorn, Boromir

Aragorn, Legolas

Boromir, Gimli, Aragorn

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Question 11 of 25

11. Who killed Smaug? Hint

Bard

Thorin

Bilbo

Gandalf

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Question 12 of 25

12. How do you enter the Mines of Moria? Hint

say 'Friend'

kill the watcher at the Gates

find the key

you must be an elf

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Question 13 of 25

13. Which is not a Hobbit characteristic? Hint

furry feet

loves adventure

smokes pipeweed

below five feet

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Question 14 of 25

14. Who cast the One Ring into the fires of Mount Doom? Hint

Frodo

Gollum

Samwise

Gandalf

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Question 15 of 25

15. A black banner with a white tree, seven stars and a high crown represents whom? Hint

Sauron

Aragorn

Saruman

Denethor

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Question 16 of 25

16. How many armies battled at the foot of lonely mountain in 'The Hobbit'? Hint

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Question 17 of 25

17. What type of Orcs were used as elite troops in 'The Lord of the Rings' due to their ability to withstand sunlight? Hint

Huan

Tulkas

Uruk-Hai

Angmar

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Question 18 of 25

18. What were the Nazgul originally? Hint

Orcs

Elves

Men

Demons

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Question 19 of 25

19. Who saved the hobbits from Old Man Willow? Hint

Gandalf

Tom Bombadil

Treebeard

Aragorn

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Question 20 of 25

20. Who was the first king of the Vanyar? Hint

Ingwe

Sauron

Valinor

Aragorn

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Question 21 of 25

21. What famous cartoonist created a film adaptation of 'Lord of the Rings'? Hint

Walt Disney

Roy Disney

Jim Lee

Ralph Bakshi

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Question 22 of 25

22. When did Tolkien die? Hint

1973

1974

1981

1978

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Question 23 of 25

23. The majority of Tolkien's books were atypically published in which manner? Hint

In paperback first

In French

Serially (in a newspaper)

Posthumously

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Question 24 of 25

24. What famous medieval text was Tolkien famous for translating? Hint

Beowulf

Tristan and Iseult

The Bible

The Dead Sea Scrolls

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Question 25 of 25

25. At what prestigous university did Tolkien hold a seat? Hint

Cambridge

York

Leeds

Oxford

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. What Middle Earth race is Gollum most closely related to?

Answer: Hobbits

He is apparently most closely related to Hobbits, particularly those of the Stoor strain.

2. How many people were in the party that went to Lonely Mountain (excluding Gandalf)?

Answer: 14

There were 13 Dwarves plus one hobbit. Bilbo was hired to be the burglar and to change the unlucky number. Gandalf did not take part on the entire journey so really shouldn't be included in the numbers.

3. What other name was Gandalf known as?

Answer: all of these

Gandalf was known by many different names. His original name was Olorin, Denethor II called him the Grey Fool because he didn't like him, and the elves called him Mithrandir.

4. What famous author did Tolkien often share his ideas with when writing his novels?

Answer: C.S. Lewis

Lewis and Tolkien often shared their ideas about Middle Earth and Narnia at a local pub.

5. What do the initials J.R.R stand for?

Answer: John Ronald Reuel

Yep, his full name is John Ronald Reuel, but if you had such a long name you would use J.R.R too.

6. What is the name of the dog that goes to the moon in a story Tolkien told to his son?

Answer: Roverandom

Tolkien's short story Roverandom is based on a tale he told his son when on holiday. He told it to cheer his son up when he lost his favourite toy, a steel dog.

7. Who created the One Ring?

Answer: Sauron

Sauron created the One Ring in order to control all other rings of power.

8. What was in Bilbo's pocket?

Answer: the One Ring

He found the One Ring after Gollum dropped it. He used the ring to help him win the riddle contest and escape from the Goblin Caves.

9. What is Gollum's real name?

Answer: Smeagol

Before he was altered by the One Ring Gollum was known as Smeagol. Constantly using the One Ring and living underground altered his appearance.

10. Name the human members of the fellowship of the ring.

Answer: Aragorn, Boromir

Only Aragorn and Boromir were human. Gandalf, while he might appear to be human, is actually an Istar.

11. Who killed Smaug?

Answer: Bard

Bard the Bowman killed Smaug with a shot from his black bow. It found the only weakness in Smaug's thick armour.

12. How do you enter the Mines of Moria?

Answer: say 'Friend'

Once the mines were sealed by magic, the only way to enter them was to 'speak friend and enter.'

13. Which is not a Hobbit characteristic?

Answer: loves adventure

While we are always hearing of these adventures of Bilbo and Frodo, they are the strange hobbits. In fact, many hobbits shunned Bilbo when he came back from his adventures.

14. Who cast the One Ring into the fires of Mount Doom?

Answer: Gollum

While Frodo was supposed to throw it in the temptation became too great. Gollum inadvertently put it into the fire when tried taking the ring from Frodo, and subsequently fell in with it.

15. A black banner with a white tree, seven stars and a high crown represents whom?

Answer: Aragorn

Just think of the ships from the Battle of Pelennor Fields.

16. How many armies battled at the foot of lonely mountain in 'The Hobbit'?

Answer: 5

There were: 1) Humans 2) Dwarves 3) Elves 4) Goblins 5) Eagles

17. What type of Orcs were used as elite troops in 'The Lord of the Rings' due to their ability to withstand sunlight?

Answer: Uruk-Hai

These nasty orcs captured Merry and Pippin.

18. What were the Nazgul originally?

Answer: Men

The men that owned rings of power were the only ones corrupted by the power of the One Ring when it was created by Sauron.

19. Who saved the hobbits from Old Man Willow?

Answer: Tom Bombadil

Yep, it was good old Tom that saved them from being, uh, eaten by a tree I guess.

20. Who was the first king of the Vanyar?

Answer: Ingwe

Hey, I had to throw this one in, after all Vanyar is my callsign. Ingwe was the first, and youngest king of the Vanyar (from the Silmarillion).

21. What famous cartoonist created a film adaptation of 'Lord of the Rings'?

Answer: Ralph Bakshi

Ralph Bakshi's film was supposed to be in two parts, but due to underfunding it was never finished. It's really too bad because it could have been quite good if completed.

22. When did Tolkien die?

Answer: 1973

He died at the age of 81.

23. The majority of Tolkien's books were atypically published in which manner?

Answer: Posthumously

Some of the most noteworthy texts are 'The Silmarillion' and 'The Father Christmas Letters'.

24. What famous medieval text was Tolkien famous for translating?

Answer: Beowulf

Tolkien translated 'Beowulf' and did a lecture tour based on the text.

25. At what prestigous university did Tolkien hold a seat?

Answer: Oxford

The professor that held Tolkien's former seat in 2001 was an advisor for the motion pictures based on 'The Lord of the Rings', directed by Peter Jackson.

Source: Author Vanyar

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