Origins of Tolkien's Middle-earth For Dummies Quiz

Answer: Aman, Beleriand, Numenor

Numenor sunk beneath the seas after the attempt to sail to Aman. This attempt is why Aman was removed from the circles of the world, except for the elves. Beleriand sunk beneath the seas after the War of Wrath at the end of the First Age.

Answer: Rohan

Yes, Rohan has many words that translate into Anglo-Saxon. Edoras, the capital of Rohan, is the word for "dwellings." Harvey says that Theoden means "prince, chief, or lord". I have also been told, by diamond1127, that Theo means "belonging to the people" and denn means "cave".

He is called Theoden King, so his name means "the cave-people's king." Theoden Meduseld, Theoden's hall, was the name for a mead-hall in Tolkien's favorite Anglo-Saxon poem, "Beowulf."

Answer: a god who delights in love

Norse mythology has Freya as the goddess of love, just like Venus/Aphrodite in Greco-Roman mythology. Middle-earth already has a god of water-Ulmo, and the other two don't feature in many other mythologies.

Answer: their lack of faith in Illuvatar

Harvey classifies this as one of Tolkien's examples of lack of faith leading to a fatal mistake. It also shows the Valar didn't fully understand Elves or their purpose in the grand scheme. They were also concerned about the Elves' safty from Melkor, but that's not the reason Harvey gave. I've never heard of the Valar being lonely either, but I remember that they greatly anticipated the awakening of Illuvatar's firstborn.

They didn't seem too concerned about Men, but they did have a lot of other things to worry about at the time. Ulmo was the only one who really watched out for them and the Noldor. Later the Valar gave the Edain the island of Numenor, though.

Answer: Numenor

Numenor was the island given to the Edain, the Men who helped the Elves against Morgoth. The island of Numenor was also known as Elenna, the Land of the Star, because of its shape. After most of the Numenoreans attempted to sail to Aman, provoked by Sauron, the Valar sunk it beneath the sea in punishment.

After this incident, it has been called Atalante, The Downfallen. You can see the conection between this name and Atlantis.

Answer: True

The title Dalai Lama, meaning "Ocean of Wisdom Guru" (in Mongolian), was given to the monk Sonam Gyasto in 1579 by the Mongol ruler, Altan-khan. Several later Tibetan leaders have been thought to be the original, reincarnated.

Answer: Ents

According to the Ents, the Elves began speaking to them and "waking them up." The Ents also bring out most clearly Tolkien's ecological concerns. They are also the children of Yavanna, just as the dwarves are children of Aule and the elves and men are children of Illuvatar.

Answer: Melkor

Melkor, later called Morgoth, was, in the beginning, the most powerful of the Ainur ("Holy Ones"). He did not trust Illuvatar(like the Christian God), and in doing so spread discord in the Music of the Ainur. This Music was the basic design of the world.

Answer: the death of Feanor

The revolt of the Noldor, and Feanor and his sons landing in Middle-earth both take place before the death of Feanor, the last event in the Valarian Ages. The first time the sun rises is the first event of the First Age, which succeeds the Valarian Ages.

Answer: Finrod

Finrod is also called Felagund when he becomes friends with Beor. He also founds the underground fortress of Nargothrond. Turgon later becomes friends with Huor and Hurin, and later on, Tuor.

Answer: Nirnaeth Arnoediad

Nirnaeth Arnoediad is the The Battle of Unnumbered Tears. Maedhros, the eldest son of Feanor, organizes an attack on Thangorodrim, where Morgoth's lair is. Armies of both Elves and Men join together and almost win, but a treachery of a group of men known as the Easterlings turns the tide.

Answer: The Elves found Lindon and Grey Havens

The Elves founded Lindon and Grey Havens during year one of the Second Age. The Edain, Men who helped the Elves against Morgoth in the Firtst Age, reach Numenor in the year 32. Sauron, having survived the Great Battle, doesn't reappear in Middle-earth until the year 500.

The Elven smiths, under leadership of Celebrimbor (grandson of Feanor), begin forging the Rings of Power in the year 1500.

Answer: Anarion is killed

This question should have been one of the easier ones. Anarion was son of Elendil, and was killed during the siege of Barad-dur. The hobbits don't migrate west of the Brandywine until 1601 of the Third Age. The Witch-king conquers Fornost in 1975, Third Age. Sauron goes to Dol Guldur in 1100 of the Third Age.

Answer: Viking and Anglo-Saxon

Harvey also mentions that although the Cirith system is similar to the Vikings and Anglo-Saxons, it is much more complex, (of course, Tolkien likes to make everything complex) containing 60 symbols.

Answer: the death of Luthien

The author uses the death of Miriel Serinde as an example of an Elven death caused by world-weariness. The deaths of Feanor and Finrod are both used as examples of an Elf's death by slaying. Many Elves in the works of Tolkien died by slaying, but these two are more interesting.

When Feanor died, his spirit was so fiery that it burned his body to ash as it sped west to Mandos. When Finrod died, he did not remain in the Halls of Awaiting, where most elves did. Instead, he returned to Aman to dwell with his father, Finarfin.

Answer: Aragorn

The author looks at Aragorn's heroic characteristics through his roles as Strider, Estel, and as Isildur's heir. He also looks at his actions of treading the Paths of the Dead and his return as the rightful king.

Answer: False

All of these are mentioned except Gil-galad. Gil-galad did bear an Elven Ring, but gave it to Elrond. Harvey doesn't mention him because he didn't journey to the Undying Lands as the rest of them did.

Answer: the story of Turin Turambar

The story of Turin Turambar is truly depressing. His father Hurin is captured in the Battle of Unnumbered Tears and Morgoth puts a curse on all his kin. After that, everything went wrong for Turin. He killed a couple of people he didn't want to by accident, and killed others on purpose.

The end results in him commiting suicide. The other choices in the question are all sad stories, except Boromir because it ends happily (well, sort of). Feanor and Turin are both very gifted individuals who end up with tragic deaths.

The Battle of Unnumbered Tears was lost against Morgoth, and ended in many deaths of both Men and Elves.

Answer: Gandalf

Denethor is used as an example of despair, which led to suicide. Boromir is featured for his redemption, by his attempt to save Merry and Pippin. Gollum is also given as an example for redemption.

Answer: in the order that they happened

I think that this chapter would have been more interesting if Harvey would have put it in order from his favorite battle to his least favorite, instead of from the first battle to the last.