Tolkien's "M" Characters Trivia Quiz

Answer: He dropped Beren's severed hand

Mablung was a valiant soldier of the forces of King Thingol of Doriath, who took a part in "the Hunting of the Wolf". When Carcharoth was slain and Beren lay mortally wounded, it was Mablung who cut open Carcharoth's belly to retrieve the Silmaril. The Silmaril had preserved Beren's severed hand, and the hand was still holding the radiant jewel tightly. Mablung picked up the hand, but was so surprised by its heavy weight that he dropped it.

He picked it up again and set it in Beren's good hand to ease his passing.

Answer: Morgoth

Originally called Melkor, meaning "he who rises in might", he was the most powerful of all the Ainur, and wound dischord into the theme of the Great Music sung at the beginning of time. He was brother (in mind) to Manwë Súlimo, and was constantly in conflict with him.

Melkor was renamed Morgoth by Fëanor of the Noldor, which means "Black Enemy", probably in reference to the fact that Morgoth had ruined every source of light that Arda ever had: first the Lamps of the Valar, then the Two Trees, then the theft of the Silmarils. Even at the End of Time, Morgoth is fated to destroy the Moon and the Sun. Morgoth was given the surname Bauglir, meaning "Constrainer", given to him upon his return to Angband before the First Age.

Morgoth had always been the focus of all evil in Arda, he created all that was evil, ensnared Elves became Orcs, he created Trolls, Dragons, swayed the Balrogs to his side, and many races of Men too. The Free Peoples waged war against him, mostly futile efforts, and finally Morgoth was put away at the War of Wrath. He is now in the Voids of Time, awaiting an opportunity to escape.

When (and if) he does escape, there will be one final battle, the Dagor Dagorath, where the fate of Arda will be decided...

Answer: Rómendacil

Minalcar was nephew of the King of Gondor, Narmacil. Narmacil was not suitable to rule, and he appointed Minalcar as Regent in his stead. Minalcar proceeded to uproot the Easterling forces between Rhovanion and the Sea of Rhûn, and fortify the Great River.

He took the title Rómendacil, meaning 'East-victor'. Narmacil passed away without an heir, and Minalcar's father Calmacil took the throne, but made Minalcar the Regent as well. When Calmacil passed away, Minalcar took the throne and became Rómendacil II, after being Regent for the past sixty-four years.

Answer: Isildur

Anárion had perished along with Elendil in the siege of Barad-dûr, and Melendil was Anárion's eldest and most eligible son. Isildur found himself with the new duties of ruling a kingdom and entrusted Melendil with the Southern Throne. The South-Kingdom was not to be a seperate entity from the North-Kingdom, but a vassal, and so Isildur came to Gondor and coached Melendil in the duties of Kingship.

Isildur was in Gondor, accompanied by his three eldest sons, for nearly a year when he set out for the north. Along the way, the Disaster of the Gladden Fields occurred. Isildur and his sons perished, leaving the throne of Arnor to Valandil, Isildur's youngest son, who was only eleven years old.

Taking advantage of this, and the fact that Valandil couldn't ascend the throne for the next seven years, until he would be eighteen, Melendil broke off the Kingdom of Gondor from the realm of Arnor, and when Valandil took up duties, the two kingdoms were already vastly separated.

Answer: True

Considered to be the leader of the sons of Fëanor when Fëanor was slain at the Dagor-nuin-Giliath, Maedhros was caught by Morgoth, and was hung by his wrist on a peak of Thangorodrim. He was rescued by Fingon, but lost his hand. He guarded the eastern parts of Beleriand, and succeeded until the Nirnaeth Arnoediad in maintaining the Union of Maedhros.

After the War of Wrath, the two last Silmarils were wrested from the Iron Crown, so Maedhros and his brother Maglor stole them from the camp of the Valar.

But since they had committed so many sinful deeds, the Silmarils scorched their hands. Maedhros had succeeded in fulfilling the Oath, but was filled with regret and remorse. He cast his Silmaril in a fissure in the Earth, and himself into the fissure after the Silmaril.

Answer: Tar-Minyatur

This literally means: King and first lord. Elros was the half-elven son of Eärendil and Elwing, and younger brother to Elrond. He and Elrond were given a choice of which race to belong to, Eldar or Edain. Elrond chose Eldar, but Elros chose to remain mortal.

After the downfall of Morgoth, the men faithful to the Ainur were given the island of Númenor as a present. Elros Tar-Minyatur became their leader, King of the island and the longest living Man.

Answer: Thengel

Not to be confused with Morwen Elfsheen, wife of Húrin Thalion and mother to Túrin Turambar. Morwen Steelsheen was also known as Morwen of Lossarnach, as that is where she was from. King Fengel's son Thengel had lived in Gondor and met Morwen there, but when he inherited the Kingship of Rohan, he moved back. All of Thengel's and Morwen's five children were born in Gondor.

Answer: Maeglin

Maeglin was the son of Aredhel Ar-Feiniel and Eöl the Dark Elf. Eöl had taken Aredhel through trickery, and when she and Maeglin escaped from Eöl to Godolin, Eöl followed. Eöl was accepted into the city, but one day attempted to kill Maeglin by throwing a poisoned dart at him. Aredhel threw herself in the dart's path, and Maeglin was saved, and Aredhel died in his arms.

Maeglin grew up in the house of Turgon, and fell madly in love with Idril, Turgon's daughter. He was hurt and felt betrayed when she chose to wed a mortal man, Tuor, and Maeglin fell into a dark mood. He agreed to betray the city of Gondolin to Morgoth, in exchange for Idril, but in the sack of Gondolin, Maeglin was slain by Tour himself.

Answer: survived the First Age

Maglor was a poet and a bard, as he was the gentlest child of Fëanor, probably taking after his mother Nerdanel more than any of his six brothers. Nevertheless, he took the Oath, and its doom fell also upon him. He came close to repenting the Oath, but never actually did it.

In the First Age, Maglor settled in upper Beleriand, between the Little and Greater Gelion rivers, a place that came to be known as Maglor's Gap. He guarded this place until it was overcome in the Dagor Bragollach, and Maglor moved in with his elder brother Maedhros. He took a part in the Nirnaeth Arnoediad, and also in the assault on Doriath, where Dior was slain at the hands of Maglor and Maedhros.

Maglor eventually came across a Silmaril, but it scorched him, and in his woe, he cast it into the deep sea. He survives to this very day walking up and down the shores lamenting his grief and regretting his deeds, the only son of Fëanor to survive the First Age.

Answer: Maia

Melian was a Maia, and she was Queen of Doriath, married to King Elu Thingol. She dwelled in the gardens of Lórien, but travelled often to the Middle-earth. It was on one of these trips that she met Thingol, in the woods of Nan Elmoth in Valinor, and they were wed and founded Doriath. With Melian's powers, the city of Menegroth was hidden, and the Girdle of Melian was strong enough to keep out any who Melian did not permit to enter.

When Thingol was slain by Dwarves, Melian departed Doriath and crossed the Western Sea back to Valinor.

Answer: Minardil

Minardil was the son of King Hyarmendacil II (Vinyarion), who inherited the Kingship and a strife with the Corsairs of Umbar. These Corsairs plagued his reign constantly, and thirteen years after he took the throne he was attacked at the port of Pelargir, and slain.

He had two sons, Telemnar and Minastan. Telemnar lived to rule only two years, as Gondor was crippled by the Dark Plague, and Telemnar and his entire family perished.

Answer: Varda

Manwë is the Lord of the Breath of Arda, which is the meaning of his surname Súlimo. He is considered the High King of the Aratar, and the King of Arda, and is brother to Melkor. His spouse is Varda Elentári, Queen of the Stars. His halls are on the peak of Taniquetil.

Answer: Mandos

Mandos is gifted with foresight, and a knack for telling the future. He has had two prophecies, the first concerning the Noldor, and the followers of the Oath of Fëanor. The second prophecy concerns the Dagor Dagorath and the Doom of Arda. He dwells in the halls from which his common name is taken, as his true name is Námo.

He is the spouse of Vairë, who weaves tales of history into tapestries.

Answer: False

Mardil Voronwë might have been the first Ruling Steward, but he definitely wasn't the first Steward. The line of Stewards goes back to Húrin of Emyn Arnen, who was the first recorded Steward, and his House was the House of Stewards. From the time of Steward Pelendur, the line became hereditary, and when King Eärnur was lost fighting the Witch-King, Steward Mardil became the first Ruling Steward.

Answer: Mallor

Mallor was the third King of Arthedain, and in his rule, Sauron came to Greenwood Forest and it was renamed Mirkwood, as evil things began to happen in Dol Guldur, although nobody suspected it was really Sauron at the time. To counter Sauron's rise, the Istari were sent to the Middle-earth, the most powerful of these being Olórin and Curumo.

Answer: Noegyth Nibin

Noegyth Nibin are also known as the Petty Dwarves, a now extinct race of Dwarves. Mîm and his two sons were the last of the Petty Dwarves, whom Túrin and his band of outlaws came acrosswhile in Amon Rûdh. One of Mîm's sons was slain by Túrin's band, and the other passed away between stories. Mîm claims: "I'm the last of my kind", but he is killed because he betrayed Túrin to the Orcs.

Answer: Nimrodel

Mithrellas was a companion of Nimrodel on Nimrodel's journey south to find her lost love - Amroth. Along the way, Mithrellas got separated from Nimrodel and was found by Imrazôr the Númenórean in the woods of Belfalas. Imrazôr wed her and their son Galador was the first of the line of the Princes of Dol Amroth.

Answer: Fallohides

In 1601 Third Age, Marcho and Blancho Fallohide obtained permission from the King of Athedain, at the time, Argeleb II, and set out across the Baranduin River with many of their clan, and founded the Shire.

Answer: Malvegil

Marach was one of the original leaders of the Third House of the Edain, and his son was Malach. Malach received the surname Aradan, meaning 'noble man', because he spoke Quenya and was often with the Elves of the area. Magor was Malach's son, and he took his people south, to the Ered Wethrin, before returning with them to the North. Magor's grandson was Hador, from whom the House gets its name.

Answer: Merry

Meriadoc Brandybuck was a member of the Fellowship of the Ring, and journeyed to Amon Lhaw where he was captured by Orcs. After he escaped, he journeyed to Fangorn Forest, assisted in rousing the Ents and supervised the cleansing of Isengard. He greeted King Théoden's entourage and was made a squire of the King. Although Merry was ordered to stay behind, he secretly rode with Dernhelm to the Battle of the Pelennor with the Rohirrim, and won great renown for helping slay the Lord of the Nazgûl.

After the War of the Ring, Master Meriadoc returned to the Shire and assisted in scouring out all of Sharkey's men. He was a Captain in the Battle of Bywater, along with Peregrin Took, and performed valiantly. He later became known as Meriadoc the Magnificent, and became Master of Buckland. He married Estella Bolger.