25 Question Literature Quiz: The Fellowship of the Ring | J. R. R. Tolkien

Answer: 111 (Bilbo) & 33 (Frodo)

Bilbo will be turning 'eleventy-one', a considerable age for a Hobbit. He hasn't aged like normal Hobbits due to the influence of the Ring. Frodo would be turning 33, and reaching adulthood. This all happened in III, 3001. (For future reference: III notes the Age and 3001 the year. III, 3001 thus translates to the year 3001 of the III age in Gondorian Reckoning. Shire Reckoning is noted with "S.R." III, 3001 corresponds with S.R. 1401.) 130 was the age of the Old Took and Bilbo's age when Frodo set out to destroy the ring. Frodo was 50 when he left Bag End.

Answer: Proudfoot family

Bilbo is greeting, among others, the Burrowses (plural for the Burrow family), the Sackville-Bagginses, the Tooks and the Proudfoots. A Proudfoot familymember corrects him that the proper plural should be 'Proudfeet'. Bilbo repeats 'Proudfoots' and continues. Proudfeet were known for their exceptionally large and furry feet, one of the characteristic features of Hobbits.

Answer: Bilbo used the One Ring and Gandalf used some magic

Bilbo ends his speech with the message that he will be leaving. He steps down from and puts the ring on, while his hands are on his back. Right after that Gandalf creates a flash that leaves everyone blinded for a few seconds. This came even to the surprise of Bilbo but he isn't discouraged. He heads for Bag End, where Gandalf waits, to pack his gear and leave.

Answer: Rivendell

Bilbo will come to Rivendell where he will be when Frodo comes there with the Ring, 17 years later. He will stay there until the end of the War of the Ring, before he sets out on his final journey to the Undying Lands. In Rivendell, age finally catches up with Bilbo since he no longer possesses the Ring and he uses the time to finish his book "There and Back again, a Hobbit's Tale". Erebor, the Lonely Mountain, is the ancient Dwarven keep where Smaug lived and to where Bilbo had set out with Thorin Oakenshield in "The Hobbit". Dale was an ancient city of Men, once destroyed by Smaug but rebuilt by Bard the Bowman after the destruction of Smaug.

Answer: 17 years

After Bilbo's Party (III, 3001), Gandalf left. He would visit Frodo sporadically during the few years before he disappears for a long time. He spents time researching in Minas Tirith and was hunting Gollum with Aragorn. In III, 3017 he finally reads the scroll of Isildur and in April III, 3018 he finally returns to Hobbiton, after an absence of 9 years. Almost 17 years have passed since the Party (September III, 3001) and Frodo has reached the age Bilbo had when he set out for his Quest with the Dwarves.

The movie adaption makes it look like only a few months have passed.

Answer: Merry

With Merry's help, Frodo acquired a new hole in Crickhollow. Frodo then sets out from Bad End with Pippin and Sam to reach Crickhollow. Merry will wait at the Ferry of Buckland for them. From Crickhollow they will continue to Bree to meet Gandalf.

Answer: Sam and Pippin

Frodo is accompanied by Sam and Pippin (in the movie adaption Frodo leaves with Gandalf and Sam but Gandalf leaves them shortly after that). On their road they encounter Black Riders and Gildor Inglorion with a host of Noldorin Elves, heading for the Havens.

Answer: The House of Finrod

Gildor introduces himself as 'Gildor Inglorion of the House of Finrod'. Finrod Felagund was the son of Finarfin, the brother of Fingolfin. Finrod's sister was Galadriel. Finrod was the King of Nargothrond in the First Age but put down his kingship to aid Beren in his quest for the Silmaril.

He died at the hands of Sauron. This is told in "The Silmarillion". The House of Fingolfin was the House of the High Kings of the Noldorin in Exile in Middle-Earth. Fingolfin, his son Fingon the Valiant, Turgon (brother of Fingon) and Fingon's son Gil-galad belonged to this house.

The House of Elrond can be traced back to this house through Turgon of Gondolin. Fëanor was the half-brother of Fingolfin and Finarfin and King after the death of Finwë, their father.

He died when the Noldor returned to Middle-Earth and assaulted Morgoth. His son Maedhros rejected the Kingship because of the Kinslaying at Alqualondë (The Haven of the Swans) and it passed to the House of Fingolfin. This is told in "The Silmarillion".

The House of Fëanor is not known to exist during the end of the Third Age. But it cannot be said for certain. All sons of Fëanor, except Maglor, died before the start of the Second Age. The only recorded offspring of the sons of Fëanor is Celebrimbor, son of Curufin. Celebrimbor forged the three Elven Rings of Power and was slain by Sauron. The final fate of Maglor is not known. He and his brother Maedhros stole the last two Silmarils from the victorious Army of the West after Morgoth's defeat. But it burned in their hands. Maedhros cast himself into a fissure, unwilling to part from it. But Maglor threw his jewel into the sea and then vanished. He was never seen among the Elves again. It's possible he survived since Elves don't die of age or disease. But since he was never seen again it's impossible to tell whether he was slain or not.

Answer: They were assailed by Old Man Willow

They are assailed by an ancient malicient tree, Old Man Willow. It's Tom Bombadil who comes to the rescue of the Hobbits. Tom takes the Hobbits to his home where they spend the night. He then sets them onto their journey again only to save them again in the Barrow-Downs. Tom's an enigma.

He has a great power in his own realm, which seems very limited. But within this realm his power is probably greater than that of Sauron and the Ring has no effect on him. Some say Tom's a Vala in disguise, others say he's one of the Maia (the order to which Sauron and Gandalf belong to), some say he is an Elf and others think it's Eru Ilúvatar himself. Only the last can be denied totally as Tolkien states in his letters that Eru doesn't dwell on Middle-Earth, in any form.

The statements that he might be a Vala, Maia or Elf can also plausibly be denied. My guess is that Tom is a spirit of nature that came into being when Arda (the world) was created, even before the Vala descended unto it. The same goes for his wife Goldberry.

Answer: Merry

Merry names his name and said that the gatekeepers used to be friendlier. The gatekeeper gives up and lets them enter. They proceed to the inn the Prancing Pony, run by Barliman Butterbur. They encounter a sinister looking man named Strider who soon turns out to be a friend of Gandalf and offers them to bring them to Rivendell.

Answer: Butterbur had forgotten to mail it to Frodo

Gandalf had written the letter after he had left Frodo and gave it to Butterbur to send it to Frodo right away, urging Frodo to leave. But Butterbur's memory was not the best - he forgot, only remembering it when the Hobbits arrived in Bree. The letter explains that Strider knows of their cause and will help them to Rivendell. Of course this Strider is none less than Aragorn, son of Arathorn, Isildur's Heir and now Chieftain of the Dúnedain from the North.

Answer: The coming of Gil-galad with his army from the west

Amon Sűl held an ancient stronghold of the Dunédain of Arnor, built by Elendil. It held one of the three palantíri of the North Kingdom. It was later destroyed by the Witchking of Angmar and the stone of Amon Sűl was lost or destroyed. According to Aragorn, Elendil stood there waiting for Gil-galad's coming from the West to join him in his march against the Barad-dűr.

This prompted questions from the Hobbits as of who Gil-galad was and Sam sang the first part of a lay called 'The Fall of Gil-galad' one of my favourite lays from Tolkien. Sam had learned it from Bilbo who had translated the first part from Elvish to the Common Speech. Unfortunately the rest of the lay is lost.

Answer: Yes

Yes, Frodo puts on the Ring. But the Nazgűl are only drawn closer to it when it is used. Frodo struck at the feet of the Lord of the Nazgűl but he was stabbed into his shoulder by a Morgul Blade. Strider then drove the Nazgűl off with fire before they could do more harm.

Answer: Glorfindel of Rivendell

Glorfindel of Rivendell, a mighty and herioc Elf-lord of the House of Elrond, comes to their aid. Glorfindel finally takes Frodo and rides to Rivendell, outrunning the Black Riders. In the movie adaption of this book we see Arwen coming to the rescue which is somehow ridiculous since she never had any warrior feats ascribed to her by Tolkien.

It remains doubtful whether this Glorfindel was a reincarnation of Glorfindel of Gondolin who was famous for his battle with the Balrog in which both he and the Balrog fell. See one of my others quizzes about Glorfindel of Gondolin: http://www.funtrivia.com/quizdetails.cfm?id=86358

Answer: Riding on the Horse of the Elf

Glorfindel puts Frodo on his white horse and travels with the others who are on foot. Glorfindel also travels on foot and when the Black Riders finally catch up he commands his horse to take Frodo at great speed to the Ford. He himself stays behind with Aragorn to protect the Hobbits (in the movie adaption, Arwen rides the Horse and carries Frodo).

The horse and Frodo make it safely over the Ford and Elrond asks the River to aid them and it crashes down with a great tidal wave onto the Riders. They have finally reached Elrond's House which Men call Rivendell. Elrond's refuge is known as Imladris to the Elves.

The riddle of Boromir told him to go to Imladris to seek the Sword-that-was-broken. Karningul is the actual Westron (The Common Speech in Middle-Earth) name of which Rivendell is the anglicised version.

It means the same thing henceforth. Elrond himself had been the herald of Gil-galad in the Last Alliance. Gil-galad perished with Elendil when they overthrew Sauron. Being of royal descent (of Gil-galad's Uncle, Turgon of Gondolin, who was his great-grandfather) Elrond could have claimed the kingship over the Noldor but preferred to be called Master of Rivendell.

Answer: Brand

Brand is the King of Dale at this point. He is the grandson of Bard the Bowman, who slew Smaug over Esgaroth. His father was Bain, son of Bard. Brand would fall in the Battle of Dale (on 17th March III, 3019, 2 days after the great Battle on the Pelennor Fields). Dáin II Ironfoot wielded his axe mighty at the age of 250 years and stood over the body of Brand before being slain himself.

Their people fled into the Lonely Mountain and would be besieged. On March 27 of that year (2 days after the destruction of Sauron and the One Ring) Bard II, son of Brand and Thorin III Stonehelm, son of Dáin II, break the siege and drove the Enemy from the Gates of Erebor.

Answer: Gimli

Gimli, son of Glóin accompanies the Fellowship. During the Fellowship he became a close friend to Legolas, who represented the Elves. Such a friendship between Dwarf and Elf and was never heard of before and Gimli became known as Elf-friend. The four Hobbits were Frodo, Sam, Peregrin Took (Pippin), Meriadoc Brandybuck (Merry), the Wizard was Gandalf and the Men were Boromir from Gondor and Aragorn (Strider). Sam had been eaves-dropping on the Council and insisted on going with Frodo. Merry and Pippin were angry when they learned about that and wanted to come along as well.

But Elrond did not intended on letting Merry and Pippin go along and pondered choosing from people from his household (such as Glorfindel). In the end Gandalf persuaded him in doing so as well, making a crucial move. Merry would help in defeat of the Witch-King of Angmar on the Pelennor Fields and he wondered how that day would have ended if he had not been able to persuade Elrond. Glóin himself had been one of Bilbo's companions many years ago. Óin was Glóin's brother and also had been one of Bilbo's Companions.

He followed Balin, son of Fundin (Balin had been on the expedition to Erebor as well. Fundin was a brother of Óin's and Glóin's father Gróin) on his expedition to Moria to reclaim the lost Dwarven colony there. Also with them went Ori, another of Bilbo's companions and a more remote kinsman of them. Nothing was heard from the expedition for many years and later it would turn out that they all perished in III, 2994 when they were attacked by Orcs who once again dwelled in Moria after having been driven out in 2799 by the Dwarves in the Battle of Nanduhirion.

Answer: Boromir

Gimli is delighted, hoping to find his long lost cousin Balin in Moria. Gandalf mentions that Aragorn was against Moria, not until they tried the Pass of Caradhras. But Boromir is firmly against it, instead suggesting they travel to the Gap of Rohan. Legolas says he does not wish to go into Moria when Boromir asks what he thinks but does not speak against the plan. Finally Frodo thinks they should attempt it and Boromir yields.

In the movie it is Gandalf who strongly opposes and Boromir supports him in saying that they should make for the Gap of Rohan.

In the movie it is Gandalf who puts the weight of the choice onto Frodo and not Boromir.

Answer: Wargs

The Fellowship can hear the howling of Wolves. Soon some Wolves approach the campsite and they realize that Wargs are on the hunt for them. They fend off the attack. The following day no bodies of the Wargs can be found and all trace of the battle is gone. They now hasten to reach Moria.

Answer: Boromir

Boromir throws a rock into the water. Frodo asks Boromir why he did that. The ripples created by the rock don't fade and they realise that something is coming up. Tentacles attack Frodo and the Fellowship barely manages to flee inside. The doors close and they are safe...from the Watcher.

In the movie adaption it is Merry and Pippin throwing rocks into the water and they are stopped by Aragorn. In the movie that Watcher eventually destroys the Doors of Durin which did not happen in the book.

Answer: Mithril

Moria was the only place in Middle-Earth where mithril, or Moria-Silver, was found. It was also called Truesilver. It is thought that mithril could also be found in Númenor and in Aman. But Moria was the only place in Middle-Earth to hold this metal. It was supple and easy to work, and could be polished to shimmer like silver that never tarnished, and it was as strong as steel and Elves loved it.

The Dwarves got greedy and dug deeper and deeper to win mithril and by doing so they awoke Durin's Bane, a Balrog of Morgoth that had fled into the deep realms of the earth after the Valar overthrew Morgoth. Thorin had once given Bilbo a mithril coat in Erebor which Frodo now wore.

It saved his life when the Fellowship was attacked by Orcs inside Moria after finding Balin's tomb where they learned that all Dwarves had perished at the hands of Orcs.

The Fellowship would then be pursued by the Balrog. The Balrog fell when Gandalf broke the Bridge of Khazad-dűm but Gandalf was dragged down as well.

The rest of the Fellowship would exit Moria safely.

Answer: Sam

Legolas was climbing up a tree when the Elves made themselves known. Legolas spoke with their leader, Haldir. The Elves claim they could have shot Sam in the dark, so loud was his breathing. In the movie adaption this line is adressed to Gimli and it is Aragorn who speaks with Haldir. In the book Legolas speaks with Haldir and Frodo joins them and Haldir changes to the Common Speech.

Haldir allows the Fellowship to pass but Gimli must be blindfolded. Gimli is reluctant but Aragorn has them all blindfolded, much to the dismay of Legolas. They move swiftly since Orcs from Moria have crossed into Lórien. Haldir says that none shall ever leave it as his brothers are already off warning the rest of the Galadhrim.

Answer: A golden belt

The whole Fellowship receives the grey cloaks of the Galadhrim that can shield the wearer from unfriendly eyes. To Boromir she gives a golden belt, silver belts are given to Pippin and Merry, a Galadhrim bow to Legolas, a box of earth and seeds to Sam, the Phial of Galadriel, containing the light of Eärendil to Frodo and a sheath for Andúril to Aragorn, who also receives the brooch of Arwen, which Galadriel handed down to her daughter Celebrían who handed it to her daughter, Arwen Evenstar.

She asked Gimli what the Lady of the Galadhrim could give to a Dwarf and Gimli only desired one single strain of her hair to set in crystal and make it an heirloom to his house in remembrance of the fair Galadriel and the new friendship between Elves and Dwarves.

She gave him three. It is said that Fëanor once asked the same of Galadriel but she refused.

Answer: Isildur and Anárion

The Argonath were carved in the likenesses of Isildur and Anárion, sons of Elendil and kings of Anor and Gondor (while Elendil was held as High King of Anor and Gondor). In the movie adaption the Argonath looked really stunning and the scene was one of my favourites next to great Halls of Dwarrowdelf (Khazad-dűm).

Answer: No one saw Frodo anymore until Sam reached him

Boromir's desire grows too great and when he's alone with Frodo he tries to take the Ring. Frodo escapes and Boromir's mind becomes clear and he repents but Frodo is too far away already. Boromir returns to the camp and then Aragorn decides to look for Frodo, suspecting some foul play on Boromir's behalf. Boromir is sent after Merry and Pippin to protect them and Aragorn goes after Sam, while Legolas and Gimli search on their own. Sam can't keep up with Aragorn and runs back to the boats, perceiving that Frodo might try to reach Mordor alone.

He finds him and together they head for Emyn Muil. In the movie adaption we see Frodo encountering Aragorn and offering the Ring to him, Aragorn resists. Merry and Pippin see him the last and distract advancing Uruk-Hai so Frodo can escape.

In truth (in the book) this did not happen and no one besides Sam saw Frodo after his encounter with Boromir.