# Tolkien trivia contest **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 9, 2006, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tolkien-trivia-contest/351963 "2006-04-09T15:31:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2006, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tolkien-trivia-contest/351963/1 "2006-04-09T15:31:58Z")
The Rules: You must rely on your memory - you can’t consult any book or ask someone else. Number your question(s) (no more than five at a time, please), in sequence after those that came before. You can’t post questions of your own unless you’ve correctly answered an earlier question. I’ll start the ball rolling: 1. How was Cirdan the Shipwright unique among Elves? 2. What was Aragorn’s sword called before its reforging? 3. What was it called after it was reforged? 4. The wine over-enjoyed by the Elves in “The Hobbit” was from where? 5. Whose giant statues did the Fellowship pass between on the river? ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2006, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tolkien-trivia-contest/351963/2 "2006-04-09T15:35:45Z")
1.) Don’t remember but know it once 2.) Narsil 3.) Anduril 4.) Dorwinion 5.) Don’t remember the exact names of the ones represented by the Argonath. 6.) Name at least 3 names for the place where Saruman lived. 7.) Name at least 3 names for the Wizard who is part of the Fellowship. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2006, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tolkien-trivia-contest/351963/3 "2006-04-09T15:58:45Z")
> [@Elendil's Heir](#): > > 1. How was Cirdan the Shipwright unique among Elves? > 2. What was Aragorn’s sword called before its reforging? > 3. What was it called after it was reforged? > 4. The wine over-enjoyed by the Elves in “The Hobbit” was from where? > 5. Whose giant statues did the Fellowship pass between on the river? [/quote] 1. I’ll say the beard. 2. Narsil. 3. Anduril. 4. I’m not sure…the lakemen? 5. Isildur & Anarion, I think. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2006, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tolkien-trivia-contest/351963/4 "2006-04-09T16:06:43Z")
1. What geographical region is also a geographical region in Star Wars? ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2006, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tolkien-trivia-contest/351963/5 "2006-04-09T16:13:20Z")
Cirdan had a number of unique qualities. 1. He was the only elf in LOTR whose origins went back to the orginal awakening at Cuivienen. 2. He’s the only elf mentioned to have a beard. 3. He’s the wisest elf in middle earth, per JRRT 4. He regularly used the Palantir to communicate with his distant kinsmen in the Undying Lands. There are other unique features about him. Which did you mean? Now for some questions. 1. Which two Vala were most sympathetic to Melko? 2. Who was Gwerlum? 3. Why did Trotter wear wooden shoes? ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2006, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tolkien-trivia-contest/351963/6 "2006-04-09T16:13:55Z")
Answers: 1. Yes, he’s the only bearded Elf. 2. Yes, Narsil 3. Yes, Anduril 4. Yes, Dorwinion 5. Yes, Isildur and Anarion My guesses: 6. Isengard, Nan Curinir, the Wizard’s Vale 7. Gandalf, Mithrandir, Olorin, Tharkun, Stormcrow, the Grey Pilgrim… I’m sure there are others. 8. Dunno. That’s a good one. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2006, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tolkien-trivia-contest/351963/7 "2006-04-09T16:14:58Z")
Oops, I see I’ve screwed up the numbering system already. Sorry! 1. Which two Vala were most sympathetic to Melko? 2. Who was Gwerlum? 3. Why did Trotter wear wooden shoes? ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2006, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tolkien-trivia-contest/351963/8 "2006-04-09T16:24:59Z")
1. How was Cirdan the Shipwright unique among Elves? He still used wood instead of fiberglass 1. What was Aragorn’s sword called before its reforging? The Broken Sword 1. What was it called after it was reforged? The Fixed Sword 1. The wine over-enjoyed by the Elves in “The Hobbit” was from where? Vineyards of the Bird of Thunder 1. Whose giant statues did the Fellowship pass between on the river? Tom Bombadil and Apache Chief ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2006, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tolkien-trivia-contest/351963/9 "2006-04-09T16:30:51Z")
> [@Qadgop the Mercotan](#): > > 1. Which two Vala were most sympathetic to Melko? I couldn’t remember the names of the Valar, so I had to look up one of them. That one was easy. Even after looking them up, I don’t know the name of the second one. ---
**Author:** ![Kythereia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e8c25b/32.png) [@Kythereia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kythereia)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2006, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tolkien-trivia-contest/351963/10 "2006-04-09T16:46:10Z")
1. Name all five wizards (Maia) sent to Middle-Earth. ---
**Author:** ![smiling\_bandit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@smiling\_bandit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smiling_bandit)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2006, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tolkien-trivia-contest/351963/11 "2006-04-09T16:56:13Z")
> [@Kythereia](#): > > 1. Name all five wizards (Maia) sent to Middle-Earth. Which name? The common names we have are: Gandalf the Grey/White, Saruman the White/of Many Colors/of Bupkiss, Radagast the Brown, and Alatar and Pallando the Red Wizards. I’m not getting into all their _other_ names. 1. Outside of Cirdan, who was the oldest elf known to have appeared in the _Lord of the Rings_ trilogy. 2. In a war against what country/region did Denethor and Aragorn meet? ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2006, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tolkien-trivia-contest/351963/12 "2006-04-09T17:00:43Z")
> [@Ludovic](#): > > 1. What geographical region is also a geographical region in Star Wars? Endor! 1. Which Vala sponsored which Istar? ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2006, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tolkien-trivia-contest/351963/13 "2006-04-09T17:02:17Z")
> [@Kythereia](#): > > 1. Name all five wizards (Maia) sent to Middle-Earth. Saruman, Radagast, Gandalf, Pellandro, and Alatar. Consider my Q in my previous post No. 13. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2006, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tolkien-trivia-contest/351963/14 "2006-04-09T17:10:42Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > Endor! > > 1. Which Vala sponsored which Istar? Sauraman was sponsored by Aule Gandalf by Manwe himself Radagast by Yavanna I don’t remember who sponsored the Blue wizards. 1. Outside of Cirdan, who was the oldest elf known to have appeared in the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Galadriel was the oldest elf in the Lord of the Rings after Cirdan 2. In a war against what country/region did Denethor and Aragorn meet? In was in Umbar fighting Black numenoreans while Ecthalion was still the Ruling Steward. 3. Who were the leaders of the company of 500 archers from the Blackroot Vale went to the aid of Minas Tirith during the War of the Ring? 4. what was another name for Blackroot Vale ? ---
**Author:** ![smiling\_bandit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@smiling\_bandit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smiling_bandit)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2006, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tolkien-trivia-contest/351963/15 "2006-04-09T19:03:01Z")
> [@](#): > > 1. Outside of Cirdan, who was the oldest elf known to have appeared in the Lord of the Rings trilogy. > Galadriel was the oldest elf in the Lord of the Rings after Cirdan I strike my own question. I double-checked and it’s not actually clear. Celeborn may actually have been older. > [@](#): > > 1. In a war against what country/region did Denethor and Aragorn meet? > In was in Umbar fighting Black numenoreans while Ecthalion was still the Ruling Steward. Yep. ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2006, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tolkien-trivia-contest/351963/16 "2006-04-09T19:30:47Z")
> [@smiling bandit](#): > > I strike my own question. I double-checked and it’s not actually clear. Celeborn may actually have been older… Galadriel was the youngest daughter of Finarfin & Eärwen Finarfin was the youngest son of Finwë & Indis Finwë of course was one of the originals elves. > [@](#): > > > [@Christopher Tolkien](#): > > > > “There is no part of the history of Middle-earth more full of problems than the story of Galadriel and Celeborn, and it must be admitted that there are severe inconsistencies ‘embedded in the traditions’; or, to look at the matter from another point of view, that the role and importance of Galadriel only emerged slowly, and that her story underwent continual refashionings.” (UT, p. 228) This biography attempts to consolidate the various versions of their story and to point out the major differences among them. > > For the full versions, see “The History of Galadriel and Celeborn” in Unfinished Tales. There are differing accounts of Celeborn’s origins. In an early version, Celeborn was already the Lord of Lothlorien when Galadriel came there near the end of the First Age. In another story, Celeborn lived in the Undying Lands in Alqualonde, where he joined Galadriel to oppose the Kinslaying and then sailed with her to Middle-earth. But these stories do not fit in well with the rest of the history of Galadriel and Celeborn. The most commonly accepted story is that Celeborn was a Prince of Doriath and a kinsman of Thingol, the King of Doriath. Celeborn was said to be the grandson of Thingol’s brother Elmo. Celeborn’s father was Galadhon and he had a brother named Galathil. Celeborn was tall and he had silver hair. So we don’t know which is older and we actually do not know the age of Thranduil or Glorfindel for that matter. Even Gildor is an ancient elf of unknown age. At least with Glorfindel we know he was an elf of the light and dwelled in Valinor when the Two Trees still shown. As Galadriel was the ruling Queen, I having always assumed that she was older than her chosen companion. But I cannot prove it. Jim ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2006, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tolkien-trivia-contest/351963/17 "2006-04-09T19:43:22Z")
1. Duilin. I think. Maybe. 2. Morthond. **what exit** , why are you ignoring my questions? \ Well? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![What\_Exit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/what_exit/32/10652_2.png) [@What\_Exit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/What_Exit)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2006, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tolkien-trivia-contest/351963/18 "2006-04-09T19:54:31Z")
> [@Qadgop the Mercotan](#): > > 1. Duilin. I think. Maybe. > 2. Morthond. > > **what exit** , why are you ignoring my questions? > \ > > Well? > On 15 you have one of the 3 leaders > 16) is correct and obscure, very well done. > > 😉 Honestly I missed them: > [@Qadgop the Mercotan](#): > > Now for some questions. > > 1. Which two Vala were most sympathetic to Melko? > 2. Who was Gwerlum? > 3. Why did Trotter wear wooden shoes? 1: I am strickly guessing but I would think Aule the maker and Tulkas the Brawler. 2: ??? 3: He lost his real \*\*Hobbit \*\* feet of course. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2006, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tolkien-trivia-contest/351963/19 "2006-04-09T20:02:00Z")
> [@What Exit?](#): > > On 15 you have one of the 3 leaders > > 1: I am strickly guessing but I would think Aule the maker and Tulkas the Brawler. > 2: ??? > 3: He lost his real \*\*Hobbit \*\* feet of course. I got one of the three leaders? I’m amazed I was right at all. The name just floated into my mind. As for you, I am afraid Aulë and Tulkas are incorrect. ☹ But you’re right about Trotter. Now how’d he lose his feet? ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [April 9, 2006, 8:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tolkien-trivia-contest/351963/20 "2006-04-09T20:03:18Z")
> [@What Exit?](#): > > As Galadriel was the ruling Queen, I having always assumed that she was older than her chosen companion. But I cannot prove it. That may not have been on account of age, but because she was Calaquendi and Celeborn was not. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tolkien-trivia-contest/351963.md?page=2)