Tolkien's Words Trivia Quiz

Answer: Scotland

The spelling is a bit different, but it's still more or less the same thing. A Thane is Scotland was a Lord in England, and a Count in France. You see this in 'Macbeth'.

Answer: All of these

The name can be translated as either 'Half-wise' or 'Foolish, stupid'. 'Sam' means 'half' in Anglo-Saxon, and 'wise' means just as it does today. I personally incline more towards the 'half-wise' translation, because in 'The Shaping of Middle-Earth' (I think) Aragorn says, "And Samwise, (who should be called Full-wise)..."

Answer: Giant

Not particularly creative, maybe, but certainly to the point.

Answer: Macbeth

If you don't remember the part where Birnam Wood seems to march on Dunsinane, then you must have been sleeping in your junior English class. I am not certain that the two are connected, but they certainly are similar. Also 'Macbeth' is supposed to have been the only Shakespeare play Tolkien liked.

Answer: Secret defense

I always wondered why she picked such an ugly name for herself. When I started learning Anglo-Saxon, it made sense.

Answer: Anglo-Saxon and Norwegian

Another one that I'm not entirely sure of, but it seems likely. 'Beorn' is Anglo-Saxon for 'man' (very creative), and the Norwegian word 'bjorn' (meaning 'bear') is pronounced very much like 'Beorn'. One thing we can be sure of, however: the name Beorn is a pun on 'beo', which means 'bee'. Beorn raises those huge honeybees.

Answer: Demon

It also means 'cup, vessel' but I have a feeling that 'demon' is the meaning Tolkien meant to be implied.

Answer: Mechanical art

'Iron fortress' is actually closer to what 'Isengard' means. I believe that a different definition is given in the book, so that's why I specified 'in Anglo-Saxon'.

Answer: Mask

I like this one because 'Grima' isn't literally what Wormtongue is. So many of the words Tolkien employs as names are simply literal translations of what that character is or does (for example, 'Theoden' simply means 'king'). Grima has a nice double meaning.

Answer: Company of soldiers

They use this one as a basic vocabulary word. It means pretty much exactly in Rohan what it meant to the Saxons, except to the Rohirrim it seems to signify a company of mounted soldiers. In Anglo-Saxon the meaning is not so specific.

Answer: Hole-builders

No, the Saxons didn't have a word for little people who live in holes (So, Tolkien, you said you made those hobbits up....) It's a combination of two words: 'hol', meaning 'hole' (see, Anglo-Saxon isn't so obscure), and 'bylta', 'builder(s)'.

Answer: Loyal friend

'Hold' can be translated into 'loyal, kind, gracious, or true' so it doesn't have to be exactly 'Loyal friend'. 'Wine', however, has one meaning: friend.

Answer: Shadow-hair

Actually, 'feax' means hair, but it's close enough so one can assume that is the intended meaning. Also his coat is described as making him difficult to see, which supports the 'Shadow-hair' meaning.

Answer: "Be Theoden whole!"

Eomer says it. One thing I've been wondering, however: a bit later in the same chapter, Eowyn says "Ferthu Theoden hal!". I can't find a translation for 'ferthu'. Maybe it means the same thing, but I don't know. If you happen to know the translation, please send me a note.

Answer: Mead-hall

Kind of suprising, isn't it? It's hard to believe that Tolkien's noble Rohirrim are based on the notoriously drunk, bloodthirsty, and arrogant Saxons. At least the Rohirrim don't go hanging up monster's severed limbs over their doors like some people we know.