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Tolkien Gallery #1: Gandalf Trivia Quiz

One of the most intriguing and beloved characters of Tolkien's world is Gandalf the Grey, later White. This quiz, which draws material from the entire body of the author's work, is all about him. Enjoy!

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

Author
DeepHistory

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
376,200

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
7 / 10

Plays
415

Last 3 plays: Guest 78 (10/10), BenBuckley (10/10), TrishStar2023 (9/10).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. Although he is commonly referred to as Gandalf, this is not his real name. Which one was? Hint

Morinehtar

Romestamo

Aiwendil

Olorin

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Question 2 of 10

2. We know that Gandalf was one of the Maiar. To which Vala was he a servant? Hint

Manwe

Ulmo

Aule

Orome

3. Approximately at the year 1000 of the Third Age of Middle-earth, the five Istari (or Wizards) arrived from the Uttermost West. However, as told in "Unfinished Tales", Gandalf was hesitant. Why? Hint

He did not want to leave the gardens of Irmo.

He was afraid of Sauron.

He was in love with a female Maia and didn't want to forsake her.

In fact, he wanted to go.

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Question 4 of 10

4. When Gandalf arrived in Middle-earth, Cirdan the Shipwright welcomed him, as we learn from "The Silmarillion". Because he considered Gandalf the wisest of the Five Istari, he gave him one of the three Elven Rings, the one that was given to him. What was the Ring's name? Hint

Narya

Vilya

Nenya

We are not told.

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Question 5 of 10

5. Since Gandalf had many tasks to perform and little time to abide in one place, he came to be known to the Elves with which of the following names? Hint

Mithrandir

Pallando

Curunir

Alatar

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Question 6 of 10

6. Gandalf was the first among the Wise to suspect that the shadow abiding in the fortress of Dol Guldur was none other than Sauron himself. Under what name did Sauron manifest during his stay at Dol Guldur, as we are informed in both "Lord of the Rings" and "Unfinished Tales"? Hint

The Shadow of the East

The Undead

The Lord of Gifts

The Necromancer

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Question 7 of 10

7. In 2463, after Sauron had returned at Dol Guldur in disguise, the Wise formed the White Council. One member wanted Gandalf to be the President of it, but the title went to Saruman. Who was the member that wanted Gandalf to be the leader, as told in "Unfinished Tales"? Hint

Galadriel

Celeborn

Elrond

Thranduil

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Question 8 of 10

8. One of Gandalf's most well-known accomplishments was his contribution to the Quest of Erebor. Why was Gandalf so interested in the success of that Quest, as per "Unfinished Tales"? Hint

He owed a large amount of money to the Dwarves and offered his help in order to clear his debt.

He wanted to make Galadriel pay attention to his efforts.

He thought of it as a chance to impress the other members of the White Council, hoping to be appointed as its leader.

He saw it as essential in order to protect the North.

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Question 9 of 10

9. During the Quest of Erebor, Gandalf acquired his most known weapon, the sword Glamdring. Who was the sword's previous owner, as we learn from "The Hobbit"? Hint

Thingol, the King of Doriath.

Turgon, the King of Gondolin.

Orodreth, the King of Nargothrond.

Fingolfin, the High King of the Noldor.

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Question 10 of 10

10. Gandalf's role in the events leading to the destruction of the Ring of Power and the downfall of Sauron is well-documented in "The Lord of the Rings". After his task was completed, he left Middle-earth and went back to the Undying Lands. Which of the following people was NOT at the same ship with him when he departed? Hint

Radagast

Galadriel

Elrond

Bilbo

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Nov 13 2024 : Guest 78: 10/10
Oct 22 2024 : BenBuckley: 10/10
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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Although he is commonly referred to as Gandalf, this is not his real name. Which one was?

Answer: Olorin

Olorin was a Maia, one of the lesser Ainur who followed and served the Valar. We do not know who gave him the name Olorin, or what it means. Since the name is an Elvish one, we can speculate that it derives from the Quenya root "Olos", meaning "dream".

In "The Silmarilion", we are informed that Olorin was the wisest of his order and that he often walked among the Elves assuming forms similar to theirs. Morinehtar and Romestamo were alternative names for the Blue Wizards, Alatar and Pallando, who journeyed to the East of Middle-earth and are absent from the tales. Aiwendil was the real name of Radagast the Brown.

2. We know that Gandalf was one of the Maiar. To which Vala was he a servant?

Answer: Manwe

Olorin was a servant of Manwe and his wife, Varda. During his time at Valinor he often dwelled in the gardens of the Vala Irmo, also known as Lorien. He often went to the house of Nienna and from her he learned pity and patience, which helped him in his tasks. One of the reasons he cared for the Shire during his mission as one of the Istari was the fact that it reminded him of the gardens of Irmo.

Answer: He was afraid of Sauron.

He told Manwe that he was afraid of Sauron, but his master replied that this was one more reason for him to go. He did as he was bidden, but he was the last of the five Istari to arrive in Middle-earth.

Answer: Narya

Narya previously belonged to Gil-galad, the last High King of the Noldor. At some point before his stand against Sauron and death at the slopes of Orodruin (which happened at the 3441th and last year of the Second Age), Gil-galad entrusted Narya to Cirdan.
Nenya was wielded by Lady Galadriel of Lothlorien, while Vilya belonged to Elrond the Half-Elven, Lord of Imladris.

5. Since Gandalf had many tasks to perform and little time to abide in one place, he came to be known to the Elves with which of the following names?

Answer: Mithrandir

Mithrandir means "Grey Pilgrim" in the Sindarin language. It is known that, at the opening phase of his stay in Middle-earth, he walked among the elves as a stranger and exchanged knowledge and lore with them.
Curunir was what the Elves called Saruman. It means "Man of Skill".
Alatar and Pallando were the names of the Blue Wizards.

Answer: The Necromancer

Initially the Wise suspected that the Necromancer was either a human sorcerer who studied the Dark Arts or one of the Nazgul. Gandalf went into Dol Guldur in the year 2063 of the Third Age and the Necromancer fled before him.
"The Shadow of the East" was the epithet of Khamul, the Second Chief of the Nazgul.
"The Lord of Gifts" was a name Sauron had fashioned for himself during the Second Age, when he had tried to corrupt the Elves via the forging of the Great Rings.
"The Undead" is a category of beings, such as the Nazgul and the Barrow-wights.

Answer: Galadriel

Gandalf had Galadriel's support, but Saruman came to be the leader. Although Saruman was initially more knowledgeable, at least in matters pertaining to the Great Rings, and more powerful than Gandalf, he later grew jealous of him and this was one of the reasons for his betrayal.

8. One of Gandalf's most well-known accomplishments was his contribution to the Quest of Erebor. Why was Gandalf so interested in the success of that Quest, as per "Unfinished Tales"?

Answer: He saw it as essential in order to protect the North.

Gandalf saw that Sauron's only obstacle against domination in the North and revival of the evil kingdom of Angmar were the Dwarves of the Iron Hills and that, in the abandoned Dwarvish realm of Erebor now stood the fearful dragon Smaug, whom Sauron could use in order to achieve the end he desired.

He saw in Thorin Oakenshield's quest to reoccupy Erebor his chance to eliminate the potential threat of Smaug.

9. During the Quest of Erebor, Gandalf acquired his most known weapon, the sword Glamdring. Who was the sword's previous owner, as we learn from "The Hobbit"?

Answer: Turgon, the King of Gondolin.

Turgon was the second son of the High King Fingolfin and lived during the First Age. Turgon was the King of Gondolin, a hidden Elvish stronghold feared even by the Dark Lord Morgoth. Its end came after Turgon's nephew, Maeglin, betrayed the location of the realm to Morgoth under fear of torment and because of unrequited love.
Gandalf found the sword in a troll hoard alongside Orcrist, which was given to Thorin Oakenshield and the knife which became known as Sting and was wielded by Bilbo and later Frodo Baggins.

Answer: Radagast

It is stated that Radagast the Brown was enamored by the flora and fauna of Middle-earth and thus he strayed from his mission and played little to no role in the downfall of the Lord of the Rings. It is not known what happened to him after the War of the Ring and whether he journeyed back to the Undying Lands.

Source: Author DeepHistory

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor looney_tunes before going online.
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