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Tolkien's Towers Trivia Quiz

Tolkien's works include many towers, not just the two towers mentioned in the title of the second part of "The Lord of the Rings". See how much you know.

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

Author
Elanor

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
109,299

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
3043

Awards
Top 35% Quiz

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. The second installment of "The Lord of the Rings" is called "The Two Towers", but what were the names of the two towers in question? Hint

Orthanc and Barad Dur

Minas Morgul and Minas Tirith

Orthanc and Minas Tirith

Tolkien did not intend it to mean any of these combinations

NEXT>

Question 2 of 10

2. Which word means 'tower' in Sindarin (Elvish)? Hint

neither 'barad' nor 'minas'

'minas'

both 'barad' and 'minas'

'barad'

NEXT>

Question 3 of 10

3. Which tower was the chief city of Gondor during the time of the War of the Ring (the end of the Third Age)? Hint

Orthanc

Minas Anor

Minas Tirith

Minas Morgul

4. Minas Morgul, the 'Tower of Sorcery' was an evil and ugly place by the time that Frodo and Sam visited it during the War of the Ring. However, it had once been beautiful and lovely, the seat of Isildur, the son of Elendil. What was its original name? Hint

Minas Isil

Minas Ithilien

Minas Isildur

Minas Ithil

NEXT>

Question 5 of 10

5. What is the name of Saruman's tower? Hint

Angrenost

Isengard

Orthanc

Osgiliath

NEXT>

Question 6 of 10

6. According to its alternative name (nearly everything and everyone in Tolkien's works has an alternative name!) what colour was the Tower of Ecthelion? Hint

gold

black

white

silver

NEXT>

Question 7 of 10

7. The Black Gate, the main entrance to Mordor, was guarded by two towers, known as the 'Towers of the Teeth'. What were they called officially? Hint

Nothing - they had no other name

The Morannon

Narchost and Carchost

Minas Morgul and Cirith Ungol

NEXT>

Question 8 of 10

8. Following the events of The Lord of the Rings, the westernmost boundary of the Shire was marked by three tall towers.

True

False

NEXT>

Question 9 of 10

9. When was Sauron's fortress of Barad-Dur first constructed? Hint

early in the First Age

unknown, as Sauron constructed it in secret

early in the Third Age

early in the Second Age

NEXT>

Question 10 of 10

10. This tower was a military fortress of Rohan, and the site of a major battle during the War of the Ring. The tower was renowned as never having fallen to the enemy, and was topped with a large trumpet to call armies to battle. What was the name of this tower? Hint

Helm's Deep

The Hornburg

Deeping Wall

Dunharrow

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. The second installment of "The Lord of the Rings" is called "The Two Towers", but what were the names of the two towers in question?

Answer: Tolkien did not intend it to mean any of these combinations

At the end of "The Fellowship of the Ring", Tolkien explains that the next book is called "The Two Towers" and is so called because the action mainly takes place in Orthanc and Minas Morgul. However, in other writings (letters, notes, interviews) he later stated that the nature of the title was ambiguous, as it could have covered any combination of the four main towers he described.

2. Which word means 'tower' in Sindarin (Elvish)?

Answer: both 'barad' and 'minas'

'Minas' appears in many names: Minas Tirith, Minas Morgul, Minas Ithil and Minas Anor. Barad-Dur was the fortress of Sauron, in Mordor.

3. Which tower was the chief city of Gondor during the time of the War of the Ring (the end of the Third Age)?

Answer: Minas Tirith

Minas Tirith had been built at the end of the Second Age, and was initially called Minas Anor ('Tower of the Setting Sun' in Sindarin). It was the High Seat of King Anarion, the younger son of Elendil. However it was later renamed Minas Tirith ('Tower of Guard') as Sauron's strength grew. Minas Tirith was not one single tower, but a system of concentric circles and fortifications built on a steep hillside, and reaching several hundred feet above the plain.

Answer: Minas Ithil

Minas Ithil translates as 'Tower of the Moon'. Here it was that Isildur was enthroned. He and his brother ruled jointly as Kings of Gondor. It was captured by Sauron in 2002, Third Age, and became the home of the Nazgul.

5. What is the name of Saruman's tower?

Answer: Orthanc

The Tower of Orthanc was situated in the centre of a vast circular defended wall, roughly a mile in diameter. The tower itself was built of glossy, black stone, and was made up of four pinnacles, welded into a single tower, reaching 500 feet above the surrouding land. Angrenost was the original name for Isengard.

6. According to its alternative name (nearly everything and everyone in Tolkien's works has an alternative name!) what colour was the Tower of Ecthelion?

Answer: white

The White Tower of Ecthelion was built by King Calimehtar, and then strengthened by a Steward of Gondor, Ecthelion I. It was 300 feet tall, and housed the Palantir of Minas Tirith.

7. The Black Gate, the main entrance to Mordor, was guarded by two towers, known as the 'Towers of the Teeth'. What were they called officially?

Answer: Narchost and Carchost

The Morannon was the defended wall between the two towers. Minas Morgul and Cirith Ungol were two different towers that guarded other entrances to Mordor. Narchost ('Fire-fort') and Carchost ('Fang-fort') were originally built by Gondor to prevent Sauron's servants from leaving Mordor, but had been recaptured by the Dark Lord during the Third Age.

8. Following the events of The Lord of the Rings, the westernmost boundary of the Shire was marked by three tall towers.

Answer: True

These were three ancient Elf-towers. The tallest contained a Palantir set there during the Second Age by Elendil the Tall. This Palantir was special, as it looked only over the sea towards Eressea. The towers were built in the Tower Hills, which were unoccupied at the time of the War of the Ring, but which were later inhabited by the daughter of Sam Gamgee, Elanor the Fair, and her family.

They were added to the official boundaries of the Shire by King Elessar in 1452.

9. When was Sauron's fortress of Barad-Dur first constructed?

Answer: early in the Second Age

The power of the One Ring rendered the foundations of Barad-Dur indestructable. The tower was destroyed at the end of the Second Age, after the great battles of the Last Alliance. However, as the Ring was still in existence, Sauron was able to rebuild his stronghold, and returned there in 2951 Third Age.

Answer: The Hornburg

The Hornburg was the main keep at Helm's Deep. During the mighty battle between the forces of King Theoden and the orcs of Saruman, the nearby Deeping Wall was taken, but the Hornburg was successfully defended.

Source: Author Elanor

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