# 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:** 18
**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 16, 2006, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tolkien-trivia-contest/351963/341 "2006-04-16T14:31:08Z")
> [@Malacandra](#): > > “No, white robes for white flag!” 😃 Meh. I got the concept, if not the verbiage. If we’re going BOTR, who can complete this one without looking it up? “An elven maid there was of old, A stenographer by day. Her hair was fake, her teeth were gold Her scent of cheap sachet.” ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2006, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tolkien-trivia-contest/351963/342 "2006-04-16T20:08:49Z")
> [@Malacandra](#): > > “No, white robes for white flag!” 😃 We have a winnah! ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2006, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tolkien-trivia-contest/351963/343 "2006-04-17T03:33:05Z")
> [@](#): > > 1. What was the name of Farmer Giles’ dog? The answer is the same as to my question 138 (as I think anyone who would have a chance at answering either would know). Since it’s also my question, I won’t spoil it, but I will mention that he’s one of my three favorite Tolkien characters (oddly, two of those three are dogs). Incidental question, not really fair to call it trivia: Can anyone guess another of my favorite characters? And as a real trivia question, 155. What was Artanis noted for doing? (anyone who knows this, feel free to answer in an obscure manner to keep the question going) ---
**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 17, 2006, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tolkien-trivia-contest/351963/344 "2006-04-17T03:48:02Z")
The answers, just to confirm: 145. The semi-mythical Queen Beruthiel of Gondor had magical cats. Aragorn referred to her in Moria; no “royal pussy” jokes, please. 😛 146. How did the Woses signify that they accepted King Elessar’s bestowal of lands upon them? They rolled their drums and then stopped. 147. What Middle-earth names appear on the tombstones of JRRT and his wife Edith? Beren and Luthien. 148. What did JRRT consider the only actual religious reference in all of LOTR? He wrote in a letter (I’ll find the cite, if anyone really wants it) that he considered the standing silence while looking to the West, practiced by Faramir and the other Rangers in their cave, to be the only such reference. 149. On what day, noteworthy for another reason in modern times, did the Fellowship leave Rivendell? Christmas Day, Dec. 25. ---
**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 17, 2006, 11:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tolkien-trivia-contest/351963/345 "2006-04-17T11:03:01Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > but I will mention that he’s one of my three favorite Tolkien characters (oddly, two of those three are dogs). > > Incidental question, not really fair to call it trivia: Can anyone guess another of my favorite characters? Huan ---
**Author:** ![Arien](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Arien](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arien)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2006, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tolkien-trivia-contest/351963/346 "2006-04-17T14:21:25Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > 1. What was Artanis noted for doing? (anyone who knows this, feel free to answer in an obscure manner to keep the question going) For having super special shiny hair and being athletic. ---
**Author:** ![Crowbar\_of\_Irony\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f08c70/32.png) [@Crowbar\_of\_Irony\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crowbar_of_Irony_3)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2006, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tolkien-trivia-contest/351963/347 "2006-04-17T16:23:29Z")
These shall be simple… 1. How many spears did Theoden lead to the South Kingdom? 2. How many kingdoms were Arnor split into? 3. Which palantir is Sauron believed to have? 4. What are some of the racial slur the Dunlendings have for the Rohorrim? 5. When Gandalf found the Book of Records in Balin’s tomb, who wrote the last few pages? 6. What are the street names mentioned in Gondor? 7. What was the name of the new smials dedicated to the battle in Hobbiton? ---
**Author:** ![Crowbar\_of\_Irony\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f08c70/32.png) [@Crowbar\_of\_Irony\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crowbar_of_Irony_3)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2006, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tolkien-trivia-contest/351963/348 "2006-04-17T16:24:50Z")
And crap… as a follow-up for Q.157 What are the names of those kingdoms? ---
**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 17, 2006, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tolkien-trivia-contest/351963/349 "2006-04-17T16:34:39Z")
1. Three: Arthedain, Rhudaur and Cardolan 2. The stone of Minas Ithil 3. I can only think of “strawheads” ---
**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 17, 2006, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tolkien-trivia-contest/351963/350 "2006-04-17T16:43:44Z")
1. I can only remember the Street of Lamplighters. ---
**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 17, 2006, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tolkien-trivia-contest/351963/351 "2006-04-17T19:54:06Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > 1. I can only think of “strawheads” AKA Forgoils, in the Dunlendish. Or something similar. BTW, 162) according to HOMES, from whom are the Dunlendings descended? ---
**Author:** ![Arien](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Arien](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arien)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2006, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tolkien-trivia-contest/351963/352 "2006-04-17T21:37:31Z")
> [@ExtraKun](#): > > These shall be simple… > > 1. How many spears did Theoden lead to the South Kingdom? > 2. How many kingdoms were Arnor split into? > 3. Which palantir is Sauron believed to have? > 4. What are some of the racial slur the Dunlendings have for the Rohorrim? > 5. When Gandalf found the Book of Records in Balin’s tomb, who wrote the last few pages? > 6. What are the street names mentioned in Gondor? > 7. What was the name of the new smials dedicated to the battle in Hobbiton? 1. The Street of the Lampwrights. That sounds not quite right but the lampwrights part is correct. > [@](#): > > 1. according to HOMES, from whom are the Dunlendings descended? The people who eventually because the People of Haleth who didn’t enter Beleriand? 163. What was the first battle fought in the Shire? 164. Who’s Oropher and what happened to him? 165. Who is Imrahil’s elven ancestor? 166. The Paths of the Dead lead under what mountain? By the way, no one has answered this yet so I’ll just do it: Tar-Ancalime was the first ruling Queen of Numenor. ---
**Author:** ![NoCoolUserName](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5fc32e/32.png) [@NoCoolUserName](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NoCoolUserName)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2006, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tolkien-trivia-contest/351963/353 "2006-04-17T21:39:02Z")
Answered (unnumbered) How’d he [Trotter] lose his feet? He was tortured by Sauron. (Arien) 1. Name the character referred to? a. Wingfoot Aragorn (Arien) b. Master Bag Merry Brandybuck, as called by Elfhelm the Marshall of Rohan (Laughing Lagomorph) c. his cat Shelob (Arien) d. cursed peaching sneakthief An otherwise unnamed Uruk in Mordor, so called by the orc “Snaga”. (Laughing Lagomorph) e. Thengling Mighty Theoden (Arien) 1. Who was the first Ruling Steward of Gondor? Mardil (Qadgop the Mercotan) 2. Carc’ son’s name? Roac (Qadgop the Mercotan) 3. Who Fostered Tuor? A Sindarin elf named Annael (Arien) 4. How did Aragorn’s father die? Arathorn was killed by orcs. (Elendil’s Heir) 5. What was Merry’s real name, that Meriadoc Brandybuck is a translation of? Kalimac (What Exit?) Kalimac Brandagamba! (Qadgop the Mercotan) 6. Who was the first Ship King of Numenor? Tar-Minastur? (Qadgop the Mercotan) (What Exit? declares it a bad question…had Tar-Ciryatan in mind) 7. Where did Radagast live? Under the eaves of Mirkwood. (jayjay) Rhosgobel (Malacandra) 8. Who found Isildur’s remains? Saruman did, in his search for the One ring. (Qadgop the Mercotan) 9. What Vala were Sauron and Saruman associated with, before they became all evil? Aule (jayjay) 10. What was the name of the mother of the first Lord of Andunië? Silmarien (Arien) 11. Who was the looked for that came at unawares, the longed for that came beyond hope? Earendil (Arien) 12. Which two members of Thorin and Co. were particularly good at starting fires with flint and tinder? Oin and Gloin! (bmoak) 123b. What heirlooms did Silmarien’s father give her that were eventually handed down to Aragorn? Scepter of Annuminas and Ring of Barahir (Qadgop the Mercotan) 1. Who was Gloin’s father and thus Gimli’s grandfather? Hint: This is another one of Tolkien’s hilarious names. Groin of course (What Exit?) 2. What’s tengwar? one of the two Elven alphabets (What Exit?) 3. Who created the Tengwar? Feanor (jayjay) 4. What were Frodo and Bilbo’s actual first names? Bilba (jayjay) Maura and Bilba (Arien) 5. What people sheltered the last king of Arnor after that realm fell? The Ice-Folk of Forochel/Snowmen of Lossoth (jayjay) Ice Men of Forochel (What Exit?) The Snow People [Lossoth] of the Ice Bay of Forechel (5 time champ) 6. What did the Rohirrim name Orome? Bema (5 time champ) 7. What caused the Kin-strife of Gondor? The heir to the throne was of mixed blood (Numenorean and “lesser men”). (jayjay) 8. To get from Bree to Norbury, which direction would you travel in? north (Qadgop the Mercotan) 9. What was the main language of Numenor? Adunaic (Qadgop the Mercotan) 10. Who fell in the enchanted river of Mirkwood and what did he dream about? Bombur dreamed of food after falling into the river. (Qadgop the Mercotan) 11. Why would only a very bold Hobbit have ventured to call the Master of Buckland Braldagamba to his face? The name usually rendered “Brandybuck” actually meant “Marchbuck”, where “March” means “border region” as in “Warden of the Northern Marches” and so on (a variant of the word “marge” as in “margin”, I should think). But “Braldagamba” literally did mean “Brandy-buck” and would be thoroughly cheeky. (Malacandra) 12. What was the High Hay, and why was it handy? Thick hedge protecting the Shire from the Old Forest. (5 time champ) 13. What names did Tom B. give to Frodo, Merry, Pippin, and Sam’s ponies? Swish-tail, white socks, wise nose and bumpkin. (5 time champ) 14. What did young Isildur steal? A seedling or fruit of the white tree (Qadgop the Mercotan) 15. Who was afraid he was going to be sent away with the maidens? Bergil, son of Beregond (Qadgop the Mercotan) 16. In early drafts of LOTR, what did Aragorn find at the Stone of Erech? a Palantir (5 time champ after several guesses) 17. The semi-mythical Queen \_\_\_\_\_\_\_ of Gondor had magical \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_s as pets. Beruthiel and cats (jayjay) corrected to Beruthiel (Chronos) 18. How did the Woses signify that they accepted King Elessar’s bestowal of lands upon them? Their drumming stopped (5 time champ) 19. What Middle-earth names appear on the tombstones of JRRT and his wife Edith? Beren and Luthien (jayjay) 20. What did JRRT consider the only actual religious reference in all of LOTR? The Standing Silence in Gondor (5 time champ) 21. On what day, noteworthy for another reason in modern times, did the Fellowship leave Rivendell? December 25 (Chronos) 22. What two brothers are considered the “founders” of the Shire? Marcho and Branco (jsc1953) Blanco (QtM) The Naugahyde brothers, Brasso and Drano. (RTFirefly) [admits it was Bored of the Rings)] 23. What king gave them permission to found the shire? Either Arglebargle IV or somebody else, says Bored of the Rings, so I’m gonna guess Argeleb IV is the real answer. (RTFirefly) Argeleb the second! (QtM) (unnumbered) Which of the following plot twists were actually part of JRRT’s early drafts of LOTR? > [@](#): > > a. Balin emerges from the depths of Moria, claiming he “fell asleep in the tub”. > b. Galadriel discovers Pippin singing the praises of a bath while he takes one in her mirror. > c. Boromir uses the ring, saves Gondor, destroys Sauron and becomes a wise and benevolent ruler. Book ends 40 chapters sooner. > d. Orc-slaughter competition between Legolas and Gimli becomes so fierce, they take to killing some of the smaller, uglier men of Gondor. > e. Farmer Giles of Ham shows up at the Pelennor Fields and saves Gandalf’s life. > f. Pippin hits on Eowyn in a dark corner of the Houses of Healing: “The hands of a Hobbit are the hands of a healer too, you know…” > g. In the happy days after the defeat of Sauron, Gimli keeps his promise and visits Mirkwood with Legolas – where they are eaten by giant spiders, whom everyone had forgotten about. > h. Aragorn discovers that he is not, in fact, Elendil’s heir. His older brother Mutt, after having lived with Ghan-Buri-Ghan & Co. for decades, lays claim to the throne after all the “dirty work” is done. > i. Ents and Elves dispute over title of “first-born”. Elrond has Quickbeam made into an armoire; Treebeard grinds Glorfindel into mulch. > j. The Shire, mobilized by Merry and Pippin and now hungry for vengeance, annexes Bree and slaughters “the big folk”. > k. Gollum adapts to molten Mt. Doom environment, and later plays a critical role in Fourth Age crisis. I really hope the correct answer is “none of them”. (Chronos) probably none (athelas) 1. What was the name of Farmer Giles’ dog? same as to my question 138 (Chronos) 2. What was Artanis noted for doing? For having super special shiny hair and being athletic. (Arien) 3. How many kingdoms were Arnor split into? What are the names of those kingdoms? Three: Arthedain, Rhudaur and Cardolan (jayjay) 4. Which palantir is Sauron believed to have? The stone of Minas Ithil (jayjay) 5. What are some of the racial slur the Dunlendings have for the Rohorrim? strawheads (jayjay) Forgoils (Qadgop the Mercotan) As yet unanswered 1. Who were sent to the Ship of Long Foam? 2. What was their mission? 3. Who was the first ruling Queen of Numenor? 4. What were Samwise and Hamfast Gamgee’s actual full names? 5. What language did the Valar speak among themselves? 6. When the Goblins assaulted Father Christmas’ house who crushed and squeezed the goblins? 7. Who spoke very poor English, and not even dog-Latin? 8. What first name did JRRT originally give to Turin’s father? 9. When the King said, “Give me my sword,” how did Farmer Giles reply? 10. What was Prentice called, by those few who didn’t call him Prentice? 11. How many spears did Theoden lead to the South Kingdom? 12. When Gandalf found the Book of Records in Balin’s tomb, who wrote the last few pages? 13. What are the street names mentioned in Gondor? Street of Lamplighters (jayjay) 14. What was the name of the new smials dedicated to the battle in Hobbiton? 162b. according to HOMES, from whom are the Dunlendings descended? 1. Name the Three Remarkable Daughters of the Old Took Belladonna Took (What Exit?) [two more needed] (unnumbered) What does Bagronk mean, and in what language? Black Speech (jsc1953) [meaning still unanswered] ---
**Author:** ![NoCoolUserName](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5fc32e/32.png) [@NoCoolUserName](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NoCoolUserName)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2006, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tolkien-trivia-contest/351963/354 "2006-04-17T21:40:49Z")
Dang it, don’t go posting answers while I’m Previewing! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2006, 9:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tolkien-trivia-contest/351963/355 "2006-04-17T21:52:34Z")
> [@](#): > > 1. What was the name of the new smials dedicated to the battle in Hobbiton? In the end, Hobbitish sensibilities prevailed, and they just called them New Smials. > [@](#): > > What does Bagronk mean, and in what language? I’m going to say that it’s the Dwarvish word for “mother”, and I defy anyone to prove me wrong :D. Oh, and just to confirm, **Arien** ’s answer to the Artanis question is a correct answer. ---
**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 17, 2006, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tolkien-trivia-contest/351963/356 "2006-04-17T22:34:38Z")
1. When Gandalf found the Book of Records in Balin’s tomb, who wrote the last few pages? It was Ori’s Large writing. 2. Who’s Oropher and what happened to him? Legolas’ Grandfather, founder of the Elven Kingdom of Greenwood and Died in the Last Alliance. Thank you again **NoCoolUserName**. Your effort has really allow this thread to keep going and still be good and fresh. _Mellon_. 3. What replaced the party tree at Hobbiton? ---
**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 17, 2006, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tolkien-trivia-contest/351963/357 "2006-04-17T22:40:44Z")
1. The Paths of the Dead lead under what mountain? The Dwimorberg ---
**Author:** ![jsc1953](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5daacb/32.png) [@jsc1953](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jsc1953)\ **Post date:** [April 17, 2006, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tolkien-trivia-contest/351963/358 "2006-04-17T22:51:17Z")
> [@What Exit?](#): > > 1. What replaced the party tree at Hobbiton? The \*mallorn \* given to Sam by Galadriel. ---
**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 17, 2006, 11:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tolkien-trivia-contest/351963/359 "2006-04-17T23:05:15Z")
> [@Arien](#): > > The people who eventually because the People of Haleth who didn’t enter Beleriand? Close, but not quite. > [@](#): > > 1. What was the first battle fought in the Shire? > 2. Who is Imrahil’s elven ancestor? 1. The battle of Greenfields, where the Bullroarer slew Golfimbul and invented Golf. 2. Mithrellas, handmaid to Nimrodel ---
**Author:** ![5\_time\_champ](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/5/278dde/32.png) [@5\_time\_champ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/5_time_champ)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2006, 1:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tolkien-trivia-contest/351963/360 "2006-04-18T01:02:29Z")
1. What are the street names mentioned in Gondor? Rath Dinen [Silent Street], the location of Minas Tirith morgue and mausoleum. 2. How many spears did Theoden lead to the South Kingdom? 6,000 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tolkien-trivia-contest/351963.md?page=17) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tolkien-trivia-contest/351963.md?page=19)