# 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:** 21
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [April 19, 2006, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tolkien-trivia-contest/351963/401 "2006-04-19T18:16:47Z")
> [@Elendil's Heir](#): > > A slight tangent. From _Publishers Weekly_’s recap of the plot of Walter Mosley’s new book, _Fortunate Son_: > > “White Los Angeles heart surgeon Minas Nolan, a very recent widower, meets African-American flower-shop employee Branwyn Beerman when her son Thomas is born prematurely with a hole in his lung, and without a father in his life.” > > Minas makes me think of Minas Tirith (Gondor); Branwyn sounds like a very Rohanesque name to me. Wonder if Mosley is a Tolkien fan? ‘Branwyn’ is a Welsh name, I believe; at any rate, it exists outside the Tolkien 'verse. Dunno about Minas. _Fortunate Son_ is a very good book, btw. ---
**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 20, 2006, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tolkien-trivia-contest/351963/402 "2006-04-20T00:41:16Z")
> [@5 time champ](#): > > Hmm- something tells me I am conflating the younger son of Elendil the Tall: Anarion \ with a province of Gondor: Anorien. > > I don’t remember how to correctly spell either of them however. 1. I thought that Elendur, son of Isildur, who died in the Gladden Fields, was the last one born in Numenor. 2. Ropes made from _Hithlain_ Despite **No Cool User Name** ’s mighty efforts, I’m losing track of what’s been answered. I’ll stab at a few. 1. Language of the Valar, depends on which JRRT writing you consider Canon. Either Valinorean, Qenya, Quenya, or none at all, communicating from mind to mind. (Also a case was made for a specific Vanyar version of Qenya. And to answer one I asked: Bagronk is black speech, and one translation given by JRRT is “cesspit”. I’m sure it was more colorful than that, but JRRT was a gentleman. Also, my 162b) Who were Dunlendings descended from, per JRRT’s later writings? The people of Haleth, some of whom refused to go to Numenor after the War of Wrath. They lived among the trees of Middle Earth, and welcomed their kin back to the homeland when the first Numenoreans began returning. But once the numenoreans got greedy and started felling all the trees to build ships and other stuff, they broke with their ancient kinsmen. ---
**Author:** ![Arien](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e0b2c6/32.png) [@Arien](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arien)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2006, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tolkien-trivia-contest/351963/403 "2006-04-20T04:10:41Z")
> [@](#): > > 1. I thought that Elendur, son of Isildur, who died in the Gladden Fields, was the last one born in Numenor. I read that it was Meneldil, the son of Anarion, but Tolkien apparently wrote that it was Elendur in some other places. > [@](#): > > 1. Language of the Valar, depends on which JRRT writing you consider Canon. Either Valinorean, Qenya, Quenya, or none at all, communicating from mind to mind. (Also a case was made for a specific Vanyar version of Qenya. I was thinking of Valarin, so yeah same thing. 🙂 > [@](#): > > 1. Who were sent to the Ship of Long Foam? > > 2. What was their mission? > > 3. What were Samwise and Hamfast Gamgee’s actual full names? [I think someone gave the english translations but not the actual names] > > 4. When the Goblins assaulted Father Christmas’ house who crushed and squeezed the goblins? > > 5. Who spoke very poor English, and not even dog-Latin? > > 6. What first name did JRRT originally give to Turin’s father? > > 7. When the King said, “Give me my sword,” how did Farmer Giles reply? > > 8. What was Prentice called, by those few who didn’t call him Prentice? > > 9. How many days later did Fingolfin arrive? (after Feanor to Middle Earth) [half answered, siege ended in 455 First Age] > > 10. How long was the siege of Angbang? > > 11. Who was the first person Tuor and Voronwe met when the reached the borders of Gondolin? (The whole valley, not just the city.) > > 12. Who said “Oh no, not another fucking elf!” when Tolkien read his work to the Inklings? I think these are all the unanswered ones so far. 1. What were the favorite trees of the Mirkwood elves? 2. Who were the Deep Elves? 3. Where did Arwen die? ---
**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 20, 2006, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tolkien-trivia-contest/351963/404 "2006-04-20T04:32:37Z")
1. The Noldor. 2. On Cerin Amroth. ---
**Author:** ![Grey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b782af/32.png) [@Grey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grey)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2006, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tolkien-trivia-contest/351963/405 "2006-04-20T12:57:17Z")
1. Beech ---
**Author:** ![NoCoolUserName](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5fc32e/32.png) [@NoCoolUserName](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NoCoolUserName)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2006, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tolkien-trivia-contest/351963/406 "2006-04-20T16:35:24Z")
We’re currently at 197. (Altho there have been several more questions asked but numbered improperly). Answered (unnumbered) What does Bagronk mean, and in what language? Black Speech (jsc1953) Bagronk is black speech, and one translation given by JRRT is “cesspit”. I’m sure it was more colorful than that, but JRRT was a gentleman. (Qadgop the Mercotan answering own question) 1. Who was the first ruling Queen of Numenor? Tar-Ancalime was the first ruling Queen of Numenor. (Arien answers own question) 2. Language of the Valar Depends on which JRRT writing you consider Canon. Either Valinorean, Qenya, Quenya, or none at all, communicating from mind to mind. Also a case was made for a specific Vanyar version of Qenya. (Qadgop the Mercotan) 3. When Gandalf found the Book of Records in Balin’s tomb, who wrote the last few pages? It was Ori’s Large writing. (What Exit?) 4. What are the street names mentioned in Gondor? Street of Lamplighters (jayjay) The Street of the Lampwrights (Arien) Rath Dinen [Silent Street], the location of Minas Tirith morgue and mausoleum. (5 time champ) 5. 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. (Chronos) 162b. according to HOMES, from whom are the Dunlendings descended? The people who eventually because the People of Haleth who didn’t enter Beleriand? (Arien) The people of Haleth, some of whom refused to go to Numenor after the War of Wrath. They lived among the trees of Middle Earth, and welcomed their kin back to the homeland when the first Numenoreans began returning. But once the numenoreans got greedy and started felling all the trees to build ships and other stuff, they broke with their ancient kinsmen. (Qadgop the Mercotan answering own question) 1. What was the first battle fought in the Shire? The battle of Greenfields, where the Bullroarer slew Golfimbul and invented Golf. (Qadgop the Mercotan) 2. Who’s Oropher and what happened to him? Legolas’ Grandfather, founder of the Elven Kingdom of Greenwood and Died in the Last Alliance. (What Exit?) 3. Who is Imrahil’s elven ancestor? Mithrellas, handmaid to Nimrodel (Qadgop the Mercotan) 4. The Paths of the Dead lead under what mountain? The Dwimorberg (jayjay) 5. What replaced the party tree at Hobbiton? The mallorn given to Sam by Galadriel. (jsc1953) 167b. At the time of the War of the Ring who was The Took? Paladin Took, Peregrin’s dad (Qadgop the Mercotan) 1. Whose bones did Aragorn discover on the Paths of the Dead? Baldor, brother of Aldor, and son of (?)Brego, king of Rohan. (Qadgop the Mercotan) 2. How does Bilbo misidentify his race/species to the three trolls? Burrahobbit (What Exit?) 3. Gandalf’s sword \_\_\_\_\_ originally belonged to \_\_\_\_\_\_, king of \_\_\_\_\_\_. Glamring owned by Turgil King of Gondolin (What Exit?) Glamdring, owned by Turgon, king of Gondolin (and High King of the Noldor in Middle-Earth) (jayjay) 4. What is the name of the mountain behind Minas Tirith? Mindolluin (jayjay) 5. Describe the banner of Dol Amroth. The banner of Dol Amroth was sky blue with a white swan. (Ivorybill) 6. This name of this prominent river in the Shire was corrupted by the hobbits from \_\_\_\_ to \_\_\_\_. Branduin to Brandywine (What Exit?) Baranduin (Arien) 7. Please describe Bilbo’s “Hole in the Ground” His hole wasn’t just a hole dug in the ground it was a cozy hobbit hole! (well he’s back) This was not a dank, disgusting hole, nor a nasty hole filled with the ends of worms. This was a hobbit-hole, and that means comfort. (Chronos) 8. Please describe his door. His door was round (well he’s back) Bright green and perfectly round, with a big brass doorknob right in the center. (Chronos) 9. Someone left a token at the last bridge to indicate that it was safe for Aragorn and the hobbits to cross it. Who left the token? What was it? Glorfindel left the token…but I can’t remember what it was. (well he’s back) The token was the (second) Elfstone, a huge emerald the color of sunlight through the forest, and which had healing powers. (Chronos) The stone was a beryl, however it was not the Elfstone. (Grey) 10. Describe Faramir’s mother’s cloak. Dark blue cloak with stars on it. (Grey) 11. What are two common names for athelas? kingsfoil (Chronos) sweet galenas (5 time champ) 12. Even in the hands of a non-king, athelas had one healing quality. What was it? Common folk use an infusion of the herb for headaches. (5 time champ) 13. Who were the Kolbítar? the Adunaic word for Hobbits? (Chronos) 14. What was the T.C.B.S. and why did it end? Wasn’t the TCBS a group that Tolkien and some buddies formed in college? & it ended because most of them died in WWI? (well he’s back) 15. (renumbered) Who was called “wise woman of Gondor”? Ioreth (Arien) 16. What was it [athelas] called in the Numenorean tongue? asea anarion as near as I can remember the spelling. There’s an umlaut in there somewhere. (Malacandra) 17. Who was the last man born in Numenor? Anorien, son of Elendil (5 time champ) I thought that Elendur, son of Isildur, who died in the Gladden Fields, was the last one born in Numenor. (Qadgop the Mercotan) I read that it was Meneldil, the son of Anarion, but Tolkien apparently wrote that it was Elendur in some other places. (Arien) 18. The ropes the Elves of Lothlorien gave to the Fellowship were made out of what material? hithlum (5 time champ) Hithlain (Qadgop the Mercotan) 19. Who wrote the Red Book of Westmarch? Bilbo, Frodo, Sam, and didn’t Sam’s grandson Elfstan Fairbairn preserve it? (5 time champ) [numbers corrected from 170 to 190] 190. What lit the sky when Feanor reached Middle Earth? The Moon (jayjay) 1. Who forged Turin’s black sword? Eol. He was thrown from the top of the mesa on which Gondolin sat. (jayjay) 2. What happened to the sword maker? He was killed by Turgon’s guards when he attempted to murder his half-Noldor son in the king’s court. (jayjay) 3. What is the name of the north western island in the 2nd and 3rd Age? Himling (jayjay) 4. What son of Feanor would have been associated with it? Maedhros (it was originally the hills in Beleriand on which Maedhros’s fortress stood) (jayjay) [number anomaly] 190. What were the favorite trees of the Mirkwood elves? Beech (Grey) 1. Who were the Deep Elves? The Noldor. (jayjay) 2. Where did Arwen die? On Cerin Amroth. (jayjay) [/na] Unanswered 36. Name the Three Remarkable Daughters of the Old Took Belladonna Took (What Exit?) Estella Bolger (5 time champ) [one more to go!] 1. Who were sent to the Ship of Long Foam? 2. What was their mission? 3. What were Samwise and Hamfast Gamgee’s actual full names? 4. When the Goblins assaulted Father Christmas’ house who crushed and squeezed the goblins? 5. Who spoke very poor English, and not even dog-Latin? 6. What first name did JRRT originally give to Turin’s father? 7. Who was the first person Tuor and Voronwe met when the reached the borders of Gondolin? (The whole valley, not just the city.) 8. Who said “Oh no, not another fucking elf!” when Tolkien read his work to the Inklings? 9. How many days later did Fingolfin arrive? 10. How long was the siege of Angbang? I know it ended in 455 of the First Age but I don’t recall when it started… (Arien) ---
**Author:** ![NoCoolUserName](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/5fc32e/32.png) [@NoCoolUserName](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NoCoolUserName)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2006, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tolkien-trivia-contest/351963/407 "2006-04-20T16:42:46Z")
> [@Qadgop the Mercotan](#): > > Despite **No Cool User Name** ’s mighty efforts… > [@What Exit?](#): > > Thank you again **NoCoolUserName**. Your effort has really allow this thread to keep going and still be good and fresh. _Mellon_. If you encourage me, I’ll just keep doing it, which will probably get me fired, and it’ll all be YOUR fault. 🙂 Actually, we’re in the process of being acquired, and no one in the company is doing much of anything, so don’t worry about it–as if you would…or should. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Grey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b782af/32.png) [@Grey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grey)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2006, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tolkien-trivia-contest/351963/408 "2006-04-20T17:05:10Z")
1. Who was the first person Tuor and Voronwe met when the reached the borders of Gondolin? (The whole valley, not just the city.) Turin if we’re talking about just outside the Encircling Mountains Ecthelion at the gates in the tunnel ---
**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 20, 2006, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tolkien-trivia-contest/351963/409 "2006-04-20T17:54:20Z")
> [@NoCoolUserName](#): > > If you encourage me, I’ll just keep doing it, which will probably get me fired, and it’ll all be YOUR fault. 🙂 > > Actually, we’re in the process of being acquired, and no one in the company is doing much of anything, so don’t worry about it–as if you would…or should. 🙂 Thank you again, you exposed one I can guess at. This thread would probably of died without your efforts. 102 & 103. Cair Andros is the “ship of long foam” so Aragorn sent the men too afraid to approach the gates of Mordor to free it. It’s been a long time and it was my question: 133. When the Goblins assaulted Father Christmas’ house who crushed and squeezed the goblins? It was the Polar Bear. New Questions: 197. What color was Gandalf the Grey’s Hat? 198. What shape did Gandalf make with his smoke rings at the beginning of the Hobbit that particularly impressed Bilbo? ---
**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 20, 2006, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tolkien-trivia-contest/351963/410 "2006-04-20T18:17:07Z")
1. What were Samwise and Hamfast Gamgee’s actual full names? Noone’s gotten this one of mine yet. Want me to give the answers? 1. Blue, wasn’t it? ---
**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 20, 2006, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tolkien-trivia-contest/351963/411 "2006-04-20T18:21:29Z")
> [@Qadgop the Mercotan](#): > > 1. What were Samwise and Hamfast Gamgee’s actual full names? > > Noone’s gotten this one of mine yet. Want me to give the answers? > > 1. Blue, wasn’t it? Yes to both. 🙂 ---
**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 20, 2006, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tolkien-trivia-contest/351963/412 "2006-04-20T18:23:23Z")
> [@What Exit?](#): > > Yes to both. 🙂 1. Banazir (halfwise) and Ranagud (stay at home) Galpsi (also written as Galbasi elsewhere by JRRT). ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Plastic\_Ninja](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f07891/32.png) [@Little\_Plastic\_Ninja](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Plastic_Ninja)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2006, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tolkien-trivia-contest/351963/413 "2006-04-20T21:31:23Z")
Sadly I am not savvy enough to answer any of the questions that are yet unanswered, except 189, which I am prepared to guess is C.S. Lewis. So – 1. What was the name of the very-well-hidden elf city carved out of the mountain, and who were its rulers? For bonus points, name the mountain and the nearby river. 2. Where and how did Feanor get his ships? (that lazy bastidge) 3. Perhaps this gives away 200, but related to that – why did Sindarin gain prominence over Quenya in most Middle Earth elf-settlements? ---
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2006, 9:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tolkien-trivia-contest/351963/414 "2006-04-20T21:54:14Z")
Arien wrote, “189. Who said ‘Oh no, not another fucking elf!’ when Tolkien read his work to the Inklings?” Hugo Dyson (who had an uncredited role in the movie _Darling_). ---
**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 20, 2006, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tolkien-trivia-contest/351963/415 "2006-04-20T22:24:42Z")
> [@](#): > > 1. Where and how did Feanor get his ships? (that lazy bastidge) He stole them from the Teleri (sea-elves) at Alqualonde (Swanhaven), in the First Kinslaying of the Elves (source of much strife and turmoil in times to come). And I could give a lot of general background on the answer to 201, but I can never remember which Elvish language is which. ---
**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 20, 2006, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tolkien-trivia-contest/351963/416 "2006-04-20T22:28:11Z")
> [@Little Plastic Ninja](#): > > 1. Perhaps this gives away 200, but related to that – why did Sindarin gain prominence over Quenya in most Middle Earth elf-settlements? Thingol (alias Elwe, twin brother of Olwe, king of the Teleri in Valinor) forbade the use of Quenya (which the Noldor spoke) in Doriath after learning of the Kinslaying at Alqualonde. ---
**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 20, 2006, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tolkien-trivia-contest/351963/417 "2006-04-20T22:31:17Z")
1. Nargothrond? Except there’s no mountain…it IS underground but carved into a hill. The river would be the Sirion in that case. It could also be Gondolin, which wasn’t actually carved out of a mountain but built in a vast caldera, the rim mountains of which were called the Echorriath. Again, the nearby river would be the Sirion. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Plastic\_Ninja](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f07891/32.png) [@Little\_Plastic\_Ninja](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Plastic_Ninja)\ **Post date:** [April 20, 2006, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tolkien-trivia-contest/351963/418 "2006-04-20T22:45:03Z")
199 – Nargothrond. Yes, I suppose it’s a hill. It’s rocky and cavernous inside. It’s a big hill. 200 – Yep, Chronos. 201 – jayjay has it, or at least the answer I was looking for. Darn, these questions are too easy for everyone. 😉 ---
**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 21, 2006, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tolkien-trivia-contest/351963/419 "2006-04-21T00:40:19Z")
> [@Little Plastic Ninja](#): > > Darn, these questions are too easy for everyone. 😉 No, they’re fine for most JRRT fans and proto-fanatics, and advanced amateurs too. But we’re the JRRT ubër-geeks! 😉 1. Expanding on Sindar over Quenya, keep in mind that Elu Thingol was the only Calaquendi (elf of the light) in middle-earth for many many years, before the Noldor in revolt showed up. Thingol ruled widely over a large area, and while not the titular leader of all elves in Beleriand, was certainly deferred to, and considered first among equals by the likes of Cirdan and other Sindarin rulers, along with being deferred to by the Sylvan elves who wandered in later. As a result, Doriathrin (the version of Sindarin spoken in Doriath, Thingol and Melian’s kingdom) became the pre-eminent version of Sindarin in Beleriand. The Noldor, coming back to Beleriand without a lot of resources, and broken into two antagonistic camps, lacked a certain moral authority (along with lacking sheer numbers) to make Quenya the de facto tongue among any peoples save themselves. And when Thingol added his authoritative voice to the cause of suppressing Quenya, the population took heed. 1. Who was Eorl the Young’s father? ---
**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 21, 2006, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tolkien-trivia-contest/351963/420 "2006-04-21T00:48:50Z")
1. Who was Eorl the Young’s father? Léod from the North. 2. Who did Eorl the Young swear his oath to? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tolkien-trivia-contest/351963.md?page=20) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tolkien-trivia-contest/351963.md?page=22)