Last Battle of Arda Trivia Quiz

Answer: Battle of Battles

This is what Tolkien describes as the culminating battle of all Arda, where eventually all will be unmade, and good will fight against evil. This was to be Tolkien's epic story, but he never got around to writing it. He passed away when it was still in notes. His son, Christopher, has published many of these notes.

Answer: it doesn't say

The actual wording goes: "when the world is old and the Powers grow weary"
But it does not give a specific time. It could be at any given time, as the Ainur have their own way of reckoning time.

Answer: the Second Prophecy of Mandos

It is mentioned in bits and pieces by others, but only Mandos speaks of it in full. The First Prophecy of Mandos concerned the followers of the Oath of Fëanor, more commonly known as the Doom of Mandos. The Second Prophecy of Mandos concerns the age of the Last Battle, and that will take place when it is fought.

Answer: Menelvagor (Orion)

Menelvagor (or Telumehtar in Quenya) is considered a picture of the Hero to bring about the downfall of Melkor. In Sindarin, Menelvagor means 'heavenly warrior', and was put in the sky by Varda Elbereth as a warning, when Melkor still lived in Utumno. Menelvagor came to be Túrin Turambar, and the constellation forebodes the Last Battle.

Answer: Manwë and Melkor

The two Ainur brothers will face one another, and although Manwë doesn't specifically fight against Melkor, all people that are considered 'Good' flock to his banner. The 'evil' ones will fight on the side of Melkor, specifically named are his drakes [meaning dragons] that are left alive.

Answer: the fields of Valinor

"the last battle be gathered on the fields of Valinor"
This is what says Mandos, concerning the Last Battle. Other references specifically point to the fact that it will take place in Valinor, like the reference to Ar-Pharazôn and his warriors, that are imprisoned in Aman until the time of the battle.

Answer: the Sun and the Moon

Sources differ, but either Melkor will trick Arien to set her course through the Doors of the Night, and Tilion to guide the Moon after Arien, and then seal off the doors forever. Or perhaps Melkor will, upon exiting the Doors of the Night, see the Sun and the Moon in the sky and destroy them both.

Answer: Eärendil

Eärendil in his hallowed white ship Vingilot will drive Melkor out of the skies "as a white flame". As Eärendil wields the Silmaril, he draws on the only power that can truly harm Melkor, and is a symbol of Melkor's hate and of the purity of good, and Melkor goes down to the field of battle.

Answer: Eönwë

Eönwë and Melkor have a violent history, remember the War of Wrath? Eönwë will stand to Tulkas' right, and to his left will be Túrin Turambar. These three are the champions of the Gods, and they have to defeat Melkor. Tulkas has a long history with Melkor too, as Tulkas put Melkor in chains before the world was made. Túrin's score to settle with Melkor is no less, as his entire family was cursed by Melkor, and all of them went through uncountable sufferring.

Answer: Turin

"...Túrin Turambar, son of Húrin, Conqueror of Fate; and it shall be the black sword of Túrin that deals unto Melko his death and final end; and so shall the Children of Húrin and all men be avenged".

Túrin avenges his father and overturns the curse placed on the children of Húrin. He is considered to be the mightiest of all the Edain, and bears the blood of all three Houses: Hador, Haleth and Bëor.

Answer: the men of Ar-Pharazôn

The men of Ar-Pharazôn were trapped in the Caves of the Forgotten "until the Last Battle and the Day of Doom", and have a chance of redeeming themselves, or they may choose to fight on the side of Melkor. This will not have any effect on Melkor's doom, but rather on the doom of the Elves.

The Elves that chose to remain in the Middle-earth have almost faded away, but the Elves of Valinor attempt to rescue them during the Last Battle (they go "Faring Forth"). If the Edain chose to aid the Eldar, then the fate of the Elves will be fortunate, and the fate of the Men will be to be permitted to come to Valinor also. But if the Men hinder the Elves, then Men and Elves will definitely all die, and maybe [some of] the Valar too.

Answer: will become a God

Of Túrin Turambar is said: "him it names among the Gods".

Túrin is both considered cursed and a sinner, but Tolkien strives to solve this: After they died, the Gods wouldn't let the souls of neither Túrin nor Nienor enter the afterlife, and they were in limbo for ages until the Gods took mercy on them. Túrin is purified of the sins he committed with Nienor Níniel, his sister, by entering into Fôs'Almir, a purifying fire. Túrin waits in the Halls of Mandos [this is DEFINITELY NOT canon, as it is pencilled into the manuscript] until the Last Battle.

After the battle he will be among the Gods in his new status.

Answer: False

In "The Silmarillion" it stated that the Children of Aulë have yet a role to play "in the remaking of Arda after the Last Battle". Although it is not stated whether the Dwarves fight (and I'm assuming that they do), they are essential in the remaking of the Utopian world.

Answer: the Two Trees

As the only one who has the skill to open up the Silmarils, Fëanor releases the light inside them, and with this light, he rekindles the Two Trees of Valinor. Fëanor has been reborn into Aman, as all the Elves are, and has repented from his oath, so he is able to wield the Silmarils.

He gives up the light that he once coveted so greatly, and forges it into the Two Trees. The Valar, basking in this light, grow young once again, and set about [this is where the text differs] either remaking the old Arda or making a new Great Music.

Answer: Pelóri Mountains

There is no need any more for the Wall of Defence raised by the Valar against Melkor's evils. Taniquetil, on which Manwë dwelled, is brought to the ground, and the light of the renewed Two Trees will flood the world.



Unfortunately for us, the story of the Last Battle was never finalized by J.R.R. Tolkien, and all the information we get is from assorted stories. For further reading, look in the "History of the Middle-earth" Vols. 1, 2, 12, "The Silmarillion" (especially older versions of it) and "The Shaping of Middle Earth".