Tolkien's "U-V" Characters Trivia Quiz

Answer: Varda

The Queen of the Valar was Varda, the lady of the stars. She was so beautiful, it was said of her, that words could not even begin to describe it. She was also keen and wise, so much so that she immediately was able to identify what Melkor's intentions were when he created the discord in the Music of Eru.

Varda was married to Manwë, the leader of the Ainur, though Varda was a leader in her own right as well. SHe was the one who placed the stars in the heavens, and the one who helped Frodo and Sam with the Phial of Galadriel by making it shine with the light of the Star of Eärendil, which, in turn, was a Silmaril on his brow.

Answer: the Black

Ulfang was an Easterling who will ever be known as "the Black" for his treachery. He lived in the First Age and swore himself to Caranthir, son of Fëanor, as they marched out to face the forces of Morgoth in what would be known as the Nírnaeth Arnoediad, the Battle of Unnumbered Tears. What Caranthir did not know was that Ulfang was secretly allied with Morgot, and, at a critical point in the battle, he turned his men against Caranthir's and turned the tide of the battle against the Elves and Men.

He was slain for his treachery, however, and did not get to enjoy Morgoth's victory.

Answer: Tuor

Voronwë was a Ñoldorin who likely came from Gondolin, the hidden city, or lived there for most of his life. Chronologically, he is first mentioned when he is sent by King Turgon to get help from the West in the war against Melkor; however, because of the Doom of Mandos, this was a futile task and none survived save Voronwë himself. Afterwards, he was saved by Ulmo and washed up on the shores of the Belegaer and was tasked with leading the great hero Tuor to Gondolin.

Tuor and Voronwë journeyed together during the Fell Winter of the First Age, and eventually made it to the city. Once inside, Tuor and Voronwë became friends, so much so that Voronwë was tasked with the protection of Idril, Tuor's wife, when the forces of Melkor attacked the city and it was about to be sacked.

Answer: Éomer

Uglúk was the leader of the Uruk-hai band that was sent by Saruman to capture the Hobbits of the Fellowship and to bring them back to Isengard, hopefully bearing the One Ring. When his band of Orcs ambushed the Fellowship on Amon Hen, they were able to kill Boromir and capture Merry and Pippin. Believing that these were the Hobbits that he was sent to capture, he set out to Isengard at a relentless pace. Though most Orcs did not like to travel by day, Uglúk's Uruk-hai did not fear the Sun and the band of Orcs travelled night and day.

Uglúk's troop did not just contain Uruk-hai, it also had a contingent of Sauron's Orcs, led by Grishnákh, and a group of 'northern' Orcs from Moria. This created some discord in the group which, in the end, led to them being slowed down and in disarray when the Riders of Rohan caught them. Éomer himself killed Uglúk when he tried to break through the wall of horsemen with a wedge attack.

Answer: Elendil

Valandil of Andúnië was the son of Elatan of Andúnië and Silmariën, the daughter of Tar-Elendil, the fourth King of Númenor. Because the laws of succession for the island had not changed yet, the kingship went to Tar-Elendil's third child who became Tar-Meneldur. The line of kings (and queens) remained unbroken until the Fall of Númenor, but they became corrupt, greedy, and disdainful of the limitations set out for them by the Lords of the West.

On the other hand, the descendants of Valandil of Andúnië were Elf-friends and grateful for the long life that they were given as well as the island they were inhabiting. Of this line came Elendil the tall, son of Amandil of Andúnië. When Amandil realized that something calamitous was going to occur, he told Elendil to set sail to the east while he set sail to the west to plead with the Valar for forgiveness. Though Amandil never returned from his voyage, a huge wave carried Elendil's ship to safety, so we may safely assume that his pleas were heard.

Answer: Corsairs

Umbar was originally a settlement of Númenor. Fiercely opposed to the Valar, they descended into piracy and raiding after the Fall of Númenor. Known for their skill with ships, the black sails of their Corsairs were feared up and down the coast. Because they were descendants of Castamir the Usurper, they were originally gifted with a longer lifespan than normal men, similar to the Dúnedain, however, by the Third Age, their lives were on par with regular men.

Telumehtar was the 28th King of Gondor in the Third Age. The Corsairs of Umbar were very active in his father's time and in his reign as well. As the king, he decided to deal with the problem and led a large force in the year TA 1810 and retook the city of Umbar. Eventually, the city would be taken over by the men of Harad, but there was a time of peace for Gondor.

Answer: Crickhollow

Vigo Boffin was the head of the Boffin family in Bilbo Baggins' time, and the father of Folco Boffin, one of Frodo's friends. He was the son of Jago Boffin, and can trace his lineage back to Ivy Goodenough and Buffo Boffin, the first named Boffin.

Folco Boffin and his cousin, Fatty Bolger, were two of Frodo's close friends who were willing to help him move his significant belongings to Crickhollow, in Buckland, when Frodo was actually planning to take a trip to Rivendell.

Answer: The Two Trees of Valinor

Ungoliant came into existence when the world came into existence. She was allied with Melkor from the beginning and took the form of a giant spider. When Melkor sought revenge against the Valar for his Chaining, he sought the help of Ungoliant to drain the light of the Two Trees of Valinor, Laurelin and Telperion.

She was able to create Unlight, a cloud of darkness that would suck the light into it, and this masked the approach to the Two Trees and the escape once Ungoliant drained them and poisoned them.

Afterwards, Ungoliant asked for Melkor to fulfill his promise and demanded the Silmarils to drain their light as well, but Melkor refused. This caused Ungoliant to turn on Melkor.

Answer: Uinen

While Ossë was all strength and might, in the form of waves and storms, his spouse Uinen was all about calm and gentle currents, which is probably why they had a good relationship. It is said that Uinen's hair spread throughout the seas along the surface and she was able to sense everything that happens. When Ossë went over to Melkor's side in the beginning, it was Uinen who was able to bring him back to the rest of the Ainur.

Uinen was particularly revered by the Teleri Elves, those who made their homes on the coasts and rivers. Mariners would call out to her to make their voyage calm and uneventful, and doubly so when Ossë made the seas stormy and dangerous.

Answer: Water

Ulmo was the Ainu that was Lord of the Waters. Second in might to Manwë, and perhaps to Melkor, he was at home in the sea. In fact, he rarely stepped foot on land, and his home, Ulmonan, was at the bottom of the great sea of the world, Ekkaia. Even though he resided in the sea, all waters were his domain and several of the Maiar were his vassals, like Uinen and Ossë, for example.

Interestingly, he is the only one of the Valar to not have taken a spouse.