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Tolkien Questions Trivia Quiz

A brief quiz on J. R. R. Tolkien.

A multiple-choice quiz by awkins. Estimated time: 6 mins.

Author
awkins

Time
6 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
37,761

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Difficult

Avg Score
4 / 10

Plays
1499

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. Where was JRR Tolkien born? Hint

Johannesburg, S.A.

Bloemfontein, S.A.

London, U.K.

Birmingham, U.K.

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Question 2 of 10

2. What relation to JRR was Hilary Tolkien?

Answer: (One Word - relationship)

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Question 3 of 10

3. How did Tolkien's mother die? Hint

Diabetic coma

Influenza

Thrown from a horse

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Question 4 of 10

4. What branch of the military was Tolkien commissioned in, when he was in the Somme in 1916? Hint

Welsh Guards

Lancashire Fusiliers

Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers

Catering Corps

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Question 5 of 10

5. Who is Tolkien's eldest child? Hint

Michael Hilary Reuel

Priscilla Anne Reuel

Christopher Reuel

John Francis Reuel

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Question 6 of 10

6. At what college was Tolkien a Professor of Literature and Language? Hint

Cambridge

Oxford

Eton

Harrow

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Question 7 of 10

7. His short story, published in the "Dublin Review" in 1945, was called? Hint

Leaf by Biggles

Leaf by Wiggle

Leaf by Giggle

Leaf by Niggle

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Question 8 of 10

8. What book or books of the Bible did Tolkien reputedly translate from the French? Hint

Numbers

Psalms & Ruth

Jonah & Job

Exodus

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Question 9 of 10

9. In 1972, what did Tolkien receive from the Queen? Hint

A CBE

A knighthood

An OBE

A telegram

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Question 10 of 10

10. On what date did Tolkien pass away? Hint

September 31, 1974

September 2, 1973

September 15, 1972

September 22, 1973

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Where was JRR Tolkien born?

Answer: Bloemfontein, S.A.

His father, Arthur Reuel Tolkien, and mother, Mabel nee Suffield, moved there from England. John Ronald Reuel Tolkien was born January 3rd 1892. His father died February 15th 1896 while Tolkien, his mother and brother were visiting family in England.

2. What relation to JRR was Hilary Tolkien?

Answer: Brother

He was born February 17th 1894.

3. How did Tolkien's mother die?

Answer: Diabetic coma

Mabel Tolkien died in 1904. She was only 34. At this time diabetes was almost always a death sentence. Insulin would not be discovered for a number of years.

4. What branch of the military was Tolkien commissioned in, when he was in the Somme in 1916?

Answer: Lancashire Fusiliers

He received the commission in 1915 as a 2nd Lieutenant with the 11th Battalion. He contracted 'trench fever' in 1916 and was eventually demobilized.

5. Who is Tolkien's eldest child?

Answer: John Francis Reuel

John was born in 1917, Michael in 1920, Christopher in 1924 and Priscilla in 1929.

6. At what college was Tolkien a Professor of Literature and Language?

Answer: Oxford

In 1925 he had the Rawlinson and Bosworth Professorship of Anglo-Saxon. In 1945 he became Merton Professor of English Language and Literature until he retired in 1959.

7. His short story, published in the "Dublin Review" in 1945, was called?

Answer: Leaf by Niggle

The story concerned an artist called Niggle. He paints a huge tree and becomes totally immersed in the details of the leaves of the tree, to the exclusion of his other commitments. Tolkien subsequently released it in his book "Tree and Leaf" in 1964.

8. What book or books of the Bible did Tolkien reputedly translate from the French?

Answer: Jonah & Job

In the 1960s he was asked to help with translating the Jerusalem bible. He is quoted as saying he only translated "Jonah" but he is also sometimes credited with "Job". There is some evidence that even though he translated the material, it was edited further by others before it was included.

9. In 1972, what did Tolkien receive from the Queen?

Answer: A CBE

He became a "Commander of the Order of the British Empire" for his services to Literature.

10. On what date did Tolkien pass away?

Answer: September 2, 1973

He was 81. His wife Edith Mary Bratt Tolkien preceded him in death. She died Nov 22nd 1971 at the age of 82. They are buried together in the Wolvercote cemetery in Oxford under the headstone of "Beren and Luthien".

Source: Author awkins

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