Bounty Hunter in Middle-Earth Trivia Quiz

Answer: Ungoliant

Ungoliant's origin is a mystery. She may had been a Maia, or a spirit of the Void, created by Melkor's discords during the Ainulindale. She was sought by Melkor after the latter's imprisonment in Valinor for three ages.

After the theft of the Silmarils and the other treasures of the Noldor, Ungoliant demanded that Melkor give her everything he had stolen, so as to satisfy her greed. Melkor gave her all the jewels, apart from the Silmarils. Ungoliant demanded them too, but Melkor refused to surrender them. She spun her dark webs around him and the Dark Lord screamed in agony. His cry aroused his servants of Shadow and Flame, the Balrogs, who managed to drive Ungoliant away and save Melkor from a gruesome fate.

Ungoliant's ultimate fate is unknown, but she is said to have devoured herself out of her hunger.

Answer: Gothmog

Gothmog was also the High Captain of Angband. Alongside Sauron, he was the primary lieutenant of Morgoth. He assisted Morgoth in winning the Battles of Sudden Flame (Dagor Bragollach, First Age 455) and Unnumbered Tears (Nirnaeth Arnoediad, First Age 472).

He also led the assault upon the Hidden City of Gondolin, the last of the realms of the Noldor in Beleriand, at First Age 510. In the very early text "The Fall of Gondolin", it is said that he broke the North Gate of the Elven city by piling his siege equipment on it.

However, he met his end there, slain by Ecthelion of the Fountain, who was also killed in their duel.

Answer: Glaurung

Glaurung was the first of the Uruloki, aka Fire-Breathing Dragons. While he had legs, he had no wings, unlike other Dragons. His color was golden. He met his end at the hands of Turin, son of Hurin, whom he had persuaded to go to his father's former realm, which had been overrun by Easterlings loyal to Morgoth, so as to meet his doom.

However, Glaurung's lies were what drove Turin to suicide, since his sister, Nienor, had been also enchanted by the dragon and forgot everything about her past, including her name.

When she and Turin met (they had never met before, due to many unfortunate circumstances) they fell in love and were married. Turin was shocked after learning of their relationship, and cast himself on his sword.

Answer: Gorgol

Gorgol was known as "The Butcher". His name is mentioned at "The Lay of Leithian", an early telling of the adventures of Beren and Luthien.
After Sauron Gorthaur had tricked Gorlim the Unhappy into betraying Barahir, his Lord, he sent Gorgol to kill Barahir's Outlaws. They were all slain, apart from Beren, the son of Barahir, who had been sent away by his father for an errand. Gorlim's wraith appeared before Beren and informed him of his treachery and the death of his father. Beren rushed to the scene of the crime and killed Gorgol, reclaiming his father's ring.

Answer: Uldor

Uldor was the son of Ulfang the Black. Ulfang and his people swore an alliance with Caranthir, the fifth son of Feanor, but became Oathbreakers. Uldor's siblings were Ulfast and Ulwarth. Uldor's treachery was what turned the tide of the Nirnaeth Arnoediad against the Union of Maedhros and the Host of Fingon. Uldor was slain by Maglor, the second son of Feanor, while his siblings were killed by the sons of Bor, another Easterling chieftain who remained loyal to the Eldar.

Answer: Maeglin

Maeglin was the son of Eol, the Dark Elf, and Aredhel Ar-Feiniel, the White Lady of the Noldor, sister of King Turgon of Gondolin. At first he dwelled with his father at the forest of Nan Elmoth, but later he relocated to the City of Gondolin. He was welcomed by King Turgon and was given leadership of the House of the Mole.

He fell in love with his cousin, Idril, the daughter of Turgon, but he could never marry her, because it was against the customs of the Elves. When the Man Tuor came to Gondolin to delever the messages of Ulmo, Lord of Waters, Maeglin instantly despised him and was the major force behind Turgon's refusal to abandon the city. Maeglin's dislike of Tuor was increased after the latter's marriage to Idril.

When Morgoth promised Maeglin he would make him Lord of Gondolin and husband of Idril, Maeglin betrayed the location of the city.

When Morgoth's minions surrounded Gondolin, Maeglin convinced Turgon to stay there and be bottled up. He also tried to slay Tuor and his son, Earendil, but Tuor managed to kill him.

Answer: Khamul

Khamul is the only Nazgul whose name is revealed by Tolkien. He was a lord of Men in the East and was given one of the Nine Rings of Men by Annatar, Lord of Gifts, who was in fact Sauron in disguise. Khamul was the second Ringwraith in hierarchy, inferior only to the Witch-King.

After the death of the Witch-King at the hands of Eowyn, niece of Théoden, and Meriadoc Brandybuck of the Shire, Khamul became the Lord of the Ringwraiths. However, he did not stay in this post for long, since he perished with the other Nazgul when the One Ring was destroyed in the Cracks of Doom.

Answer: Azog

Azog's killing of Thror made his name accursed to the Dwarves. King Thrain I mustered a great Dwarven force, which is said to have been comprised of soldiers from all the Seven Clans of the Dwarves, and cleared all Orc strongholds in the Misty Mountains.

The War of Dwarves and Orcs culminated in the Battle of Azanulbizar, in Third Age 2799. At first, the Dwarves were fiercely opposed, with Frerin, son of Thrain and Fundin, father of Balin, being slain. In that battle, Thorin, son of Thrain, earned the epithet Oakenshield.

The arrival of Dwarves from the Iron Hills stemmed the tide and Azog was forced to come forth. He slew Nain I, but was finally eliminated by his son, Dain II Ironfoot. Subsequently, the Dwarves pursued the Orcs to the gates of Moria, the ancient Dwarf kingdom, but did not enter it, because Dain had felt the presence of Durin's Bane, a demon (later revealed to be a Balrog) that had earlier driven the Dwarves from that place. Azog's son, Bolg, was the Orc leader at the Battle of Five Armies.

Answer: Shagrat

Shagrat was one of the two Orc chieftains - the other being Gorbag - sent to patrol Shelob's Lair, when they found Frodo wound up in Shelob's webs. Shagrat took him to the tower of Cirith Ungol and locked him in the top chamber. He and Gorbag had a disagreement about Frodo's mithril shirt, which Gorbag coveted, but Shagrat insisted on taking it to Barad-dur.

Their minions clashed and Shagrat finally slew Gorbag and promptly headed for Barad-dur, to deliver his news to his master. Sauron was not satisfied with Shagrat's news and had him killed.

Answer: Marrer of Middle-Earth

The title "Marrer of Middle-Earth" was given to Morgoth, Sauron's master, by Hurin.

It is interesting to follow Sauron's evolution. He first appeared as Tevildo, the Prince of Cats, in "The Tale of Tinuviel", the very first narrative concerning the tale of Beren and Luthien. In "The Lay of Leithian", he is referred to as Thu, the Necromancer. The epithet Necromancer is also present in "The Hobbit". However, Sauron's name changed from Thu to Gorthu (which was later changed to Gorthaur, which means "The Cruel" in Sindarin), Sur, and finally Sauron.