Which One? "The Hobbit", "LOTR", or Both! Quiz

Answer: The Hobbit

Thorin is the recognized leader of the company of dwarves, which includes Gandalf and Bilbo, as the group makes its way to Lonely Mountain. They want to take Lonely Mountain from the dragon, Smaug, who has held it for about 150 years, and recover the treasure that Smaug guards. Thorin is the rightful heir to the Kingdom Under the Mountain and wants to reclaim it. Especially important to him is the Arkenstone, part of Smaug's treasure, which is a sacred symbol to his people.

After Smaug's defeat, Thorin and Bilbo have a falling out when Bilbo gives the Arkenstone to Bard in an attempt to avert a war over the treasure. Quickly, however, the dwarves and humans must find a way to work together when attacked by an army of goblins and wargs. When Thorin is mortally wounded during the Battle of the Five Armies, he and Bilbo are able to reconcile before he dies. He is buried in Lonely Mountain with the Arkenstone and his sword, Orcrist. His cousin, Dáin Ironfoot, becomes the next King Under the Mountain.

Answer: The Hobbit

Beorn is a skin-changer, a man who can change into a black bear. In fact, as a man he still looks like a bear! He likes to be alone, living on honey and cream, and making friends with the animals as he is able to communicate with them. After the Eagles rescue the company of dwarves from the goblins and wargs, Gandalf is very careful to only take a few members of his group at a time to Beorn's hall; he doesn't like much company. Upon realizing that the group's mission coincides with his own feelings, Beorn not only welcomes them all, but also gives them much-needed food, rest, and even supplies.

As it turns out, Beorn later participates in the Battle of the Five Armies, arriving late to the scene, but killing the goblin leader before helping the mortally wounded Thorin off the battlefield. While Beorn died during the time between "The Hobbit" and "LOTR", his descendants, called Beornings, continue to help guard the high passes and fight goblins and wargs.

Answer: The Hobbit

Smaug is the fire breathing dragon that attacked Lonely Mountain and the human settlements of Dale and Lake-town so many years ago, taking the dwarves' treasure and driving them into exile. The purpose of Thorin's quest is to rescue the treasure and the nearby people and dwarves from Smaug, but the mission proves to be dangerous and difficult. Smaug sleeps on the treasure in order to guard it! Sleeping on the gemstones adds an extra layer of protection to Smaug's already tough skin as some of the stones are embedded among his scales.

When Bilbo sneaks into Smaug's lair on a reconnaissance mission, he notices that there is a small bare spot over Smaug's heart that is unprotected. As Bilbo relates this information to the dwarves, a thrush overhears and passes it on to Bard.

Answer: The Hobbit

Bard the Bowman is the leader of the archers who live in the human settlement of Lake-town, south of Lonely Mountain near Dale. When Smaug attacks, Bard fires all of his arrows, except for one - the special Black Arrow. When the thrush overhears Bilbo talk about Smaug's vulnerable spot, it passes the information on to Bard, and he fires the Black Arrow, his most prized weapon, into the dragon's soft spot.

Afterwards, Bard takes his rightful place as King of Dale. He marches to Lonely Mountain, and temporarily takes a share of the treasure after receiving help from Bilbo. He also leads his men to fight in the Battle of the Five Armies with the elves and dwarves against the goblins and wargs. Afterwards he uses his rightful share of the treasure to rebuild the area which Smaug had destroyed. By the time of "LOTR", Bard has died, but his descendants still rule.

Answer: Both

Bilbo Baggins is recruited in "The Hobbit" by Gandalf and the Company of Dwarves to aid in their plan to regain Lonely Mountain. He is chosen because he is small, clever, and sly. He will make a great burglar once they recover the dragon loot. Along the way to Lonely Mountain, Bilbo happens upon Gollum's ring which enables him to become invisible. This ability allows him to save his group many times. Bilbo proves himself to be a great negotiator, which helps the humans and dwarves finally make peace and work together to defeat the goblins and wargs. When the task is over, Bilbo returns home.

Sixty years later, the series of events that sets "LOTR" into motion begin to take place; it is Bilbo's 111th birthday celebration, and it's time for him to step back a bit. While he is not sure that he wants to retire and give the ring to Frodo, his cousin and heir, Gandalf convinces him that it is the right thing to do. It takes another seventeen years for the next adventure to begin. During this time, Bilbo retires and moves to Rivendell, where he spends his time writing stories. Ownership of the ring had slowed down his aging, but now he is beginning to appear to be much older. He serves as an advisor to Frodo, and in the end he is allowed to travel to the Undying Lands, where he lives out the rest of his life in the Blessed Realm. Eventually he dies of old age and natural causes.

Answer: Both

Gandalf helps Thorin organize the quest to Lonely Mountain in "The Hobbit", and convinces Bilbo to join the group. Sometimes he travels with them, and helps to rescue the group from the assortment of trolls, goblins, and wargs along the way. At one point he leaves to join the White Council, to help take care of a pressing issue, but he luckily turns up again just when it appears that there will be a war over the division of Smaug's treasure. With a strong voice he convinces the opposing armies to put aside their grievances and fight together. At the Battle of the Five Armies he is a very important strategist, helping to coordinate the different groups. Afterwards he travels back to the Shire with Bilbo.

In "LOTR" sixty years go by, and Gandalf attends Bilbo's 111th birthday party. He convinces Bilbo to pass the Ring on to his heir, Frodo, and spends the next seventeen years trying to verify that the ring is actually the One Ring. After questioning Gollum and returning to the Shire to give the ring one final test, Gandalf is convinced. He tells Frodo the history of the One Ring, urgently suggests that Frodo leave the Shire for his own safety, and helps to organize and guide the newly formed Fellowship of the Ring. The group is to travel to Mordor with the One Ring and throw it into the fires of Mount Doom, which will destroy it and defeat the evil Lord Sauron. Gandalf is killed in the Mines of Moria, while sacrificing himself so the others can escape. He returns as Gandalf the White, sent back as head of the Wizards to rally and lead kingdoms until the Ring can be destroyed. In the end, after he crowns Aragorn and ties up some loose ends, he returns to Valinor, the Undying Lands.

Answer: Both

On the way to Lonely Mountain in "The Hobbit", Bilbo becomes lost in the goblin tunnels and finds a ring quite by accident. He puts it into his pocket, and continues on his way, eventually meeting up with a strange creature named Gollum. Gollum lives on a small island in a lake deep beneath the Misty Mountains, and survives by eating fish and the occasional small goblin. He really would prefer to eat Bilbo, but the two agree instead to make a wager and play a game of riddles. If Gollum wins he will eat Bilbo, and if he loses he will lead him out of the tunnels. When Gollum realizes that Bilbo has his ring, he is furious. After Bilbo realizes that wearing the ring will make him invisible, he quickly eludes Gollum, who inadvertently leads him out of the tunnels.

In "LOTR", Gollum's past is revealed. When his cousin finds the ring, Gollum kills him in order to gain possession and is banished. Over time its power has mentally and physically corrupted him. He has been searching for the ring since losing it, and tracks the Fellowship of the Ring in order to retrieve it. Instead they are able to capture and question him, and he promises to guide them to Mordor where the ring can be destroyed at Mount Doom. In the end, however, Gollum cannot resist the power of the One Ring. He takes it from Frodo, and, during his celebration, he accidentally falls into Mount Doom, thus destroying the ring as the group intended.

Answer: Both

Elrond is first introduced in "The Hobbit". Known as a Half-elven creature, he is the Lord of Rivendell. Unlike his twin brother, who went to live with humans, Elrond decided to remain with the Elves. He provides invaluable assistance to Thorin and his company, allowing them to stay in Rivendell until they are fully recovered from their first leg of their journey. In addition, he is able to detect moon-letters on Thorin's map which help to locate a secret door into Lonely Mountain and determine how to enter. Elrond also sits on the White Council that discusses steps that should be taken to curb the power of one called the Necromancer.

Elrond returns in "LOTR" and presides over the Council of Elrond. There, the representatives of Elves, Men, and Dwarves decide what must be done with the One Ring once it has been properly identified. He is the foster-father of Aragorn and plays an important role in encouraging him to seek his true destiny. In addition, as a talented healer, he is able to save Frodo's life after he is stabbed with the Morgul-knife. Elrond stays in Rivendell until the War of the Ring is over and sees to the marriage of his daughter Arwen to Aragorn before deciding to travel to the Undying Lands.

Answer: LOTR

Legolas Greenleaf is the Elven representative in the Fellowship of the Ring. After arriving in Rivendell with a message from his father, the King of Mirkwood, he pledges his service to the group as their archer, scout, and tracker. His powers prove to be of great benefit, as Legolas has superhuman sight, hearing, and stealth.

While his support as an archer in battle is immeasurable, his real value is helping to end the racial hostility that exists between the elves and the dwarves with his deep friendship with Gimli. This symbolizes that men, dwarves, and elves worked together to defeat Sauron. In the end, he invites Gimli to sail to the Land of the Undying with him.

Answer: LOTR

The story begins with Bilbo's 111th birthday celebration, however, his cousin and adopted heir, Frodo, is also celebrating his birthday as it is on the same day! In fact, Frodo turns 33, which, for hobbits, is their coming-of-age year. This is when Bilbo leaves Bag End, his belongings, and the One Ring to Frodo as his inheritance. Seventeen years later, when Gandalf is sure that the Ring belongs to Sauron, Frodo begins his adventure, forming the Fellowship of the Ring, or the Nine Walkers.

It is Frodo's responsibility to carry the Ring to Mount Doom which proves to be quite a difficult task. The ring's power corrupts, and the journey affects Frodo both mentally and physically. At Mount Doom, he even decides to keep the Ring, putting it on his finger to claim it. Thanks to his earlier clemency toward Gollum, however, the die had been cast. Gollum, unable to give up the Ring, bites off Frodo's finger, takes it, and accidentally falls into the lava while celebrating. In the end, though, Frodo's journey was almost too much to bear. In spite of the fact that he saved Middle-earth, he cannot recover there from the mental and physical anguish that still plagues him. He is granted passage to the Undying Lands, along with Bilbo, Gandalf, and some of the others.

Answer: LOTR

Aragorn is the last Chieftain of the Dunedain of the North and the direct heir to Isildur. This makes him the rightful heir to the thrones of Arnor and Gondor. Since his father's death, he has been secretly raised by Elrond in Rivendell to protect him from Sauron. His upbringing has included learning Elven ways, stories, and the healing arts. He falls in love with Elrond's daughter, Arwen, but is told that he cannot marry her until he has been crowned as the rightful king. Taking the name Strider, he becomes a member of the Fellowship of the Ring as a tracker, guide, and protector, and becomes the group's leader after Gandalf's death.

Aragorn uses his knowledge of Elven healing arts several times during the adventure; however, it is his military prowess in leading his armies to the Black Gate of Mordor that creates a diversion to distract Sauron and gives Frodo and Sam the opportunity to destroy the Ring. In the end, Gandalf the White presides over Aragorn's coronation as king and marriage to Arwen before leaving for the Undying Lands. Aragorn and Arwen ruled as King and Queen of the Reunited Kingdom of Gondor and Arnor and usher in a long period of peace and unity in Middle-earth that lasts for over a hundred years.

Answer: LOTR

Boromir is one of the men who joins the Fellowship of the Ring; he is desperate to save his homeland - Gondor - from the evil Sauron. When he attends the Council of Elrond, he is the one who suggests that the group use the Ring as a weapon against Sauron instead of destroying it. He says that they are foolish if they plan to throw away such a valuable gift because he believes the power of the Ring can be used to turn back Sauron's forces. The problem is that the power of the ring is tied to Sauron and cannot be trusted to help anyone else.

In spite of the fact that no one else agrees with him, Boromir joins the Fellowship. Affected by the ring's power, he tries to take it from Frodo, but then, after realizing what he has done, is ashamed and sorrowful. In order to seek redemption for the act, he fights gallantly to defend Merry and Pippin from an ambush attack and is mortally wounded by goblin arrows.