Tolkien's "T" Characters Trivia Quiz

Answer: Fangorn

Treebeard is the oldest of the Ents, and perhaps as old as the Elves and Dwarves themselves. Ents are the shepherds of the trees and were created for Yavanna to protect the trees she loved; her spouse was Aulë and his creation, the Dwarves, were going to cut down many trees.

He is tree-like in his appearance as well, and perhaps also in his demeanour. Treebeard recounts that the entirety of Middle-earth was once forest and it was all his domain, however, wars and industry cut down the great forests and he now dwells in Fangorn, which is his other name.

Answer: King

When Elros Half-elven chose to live as a mortal man, Númenor was raised from the sea by Ossë, and Elros founded the line of the Kings of Númenor. He styled himself as Tar-Minyatur, taken from Quenya to mean King (Tar), First (Minya) Lord (Túrë). Therefore, he became the 'First high-King' of the island. All other rulers that came after Elros styled themselves in this was, if they were sympathetic to the Eldar.

In the time of Tar-Herunúmen, he styled himself in the Adûnaic language as Ar-Adûnakhôr, openly showing his disdain for the Valar and the Eldar. This was when the power of Númenor really began to waver.

Answer: Tulkas

Of all the Valar, Tulkas was the last to descend into Arda. He came when he heard that they were not succeeding in their battle against Melkor. Upon seeing him come, Melkor ran away which began the Spring of Arda and allowed the Valar to do the will of Eru Ilúvatar.

However, Melkor continued his evil. When Tulkas wed Nessa, there was a great party, after which Tulkas lay down to sleep. That was the hour that Melkor decided to renew his attacks. At the council, it was decided that Melkor had to go so Tulkas wrestled him and won, binding him in Angainor, the special chains.

Tulkas opposed the release of Melkor; he did not believe that Melkor had changed. Ultimately, he was correct - Melkor returned to Middle-earth and continued his evil ways. After several wars between Elves and Men and the forces of Morgoth, many had died. Tulkas himself came after the War of Wrath, wrestled Melkor again, and re-bound him in the chain of Angainor.

Answer: Goldberry

Tom Bombadil seems to be an interesting mix of personalities. While at times aloof and flighty, he is also powerful and wise. He meets the Hobbits leaving the Shire when they are caught by Old Man Willow in the Old Forest and he is nearby and hears their calls for help. When they go to Tom's house, Frodo is astonished to learn that the powers of the One Ring don't fool Tom, and that he is not affected by the One Ring.

Tom Bombadil is married to Goldberry, the River-daughter. It is assumed that she is the river-spirit of the river Withywindle. She likes her house to be adorned with water-lilies, perhaps trying to recreate there the atmosphere of the river she came from. From the hoard of the Barrow-wights, Tom takes her a brooch as a gift.

Answer: Thingol

Thingol, or Elwë Singollo, was born by the waters of Cuiviénen as one of the first Elves. When his people, the Teleri, journeyed to the West, they had to wait for the island of Tol Eressëa to return in order to take them there. However, by that time, Thingol had lived in Beleriand for quite some time and wanted to remain. He founded his kingdom in the forest of Doriath and took Melian the Maia as his wife.

His relationship with the Dwarves at first was quite good. They carved out his capital city of Menegroth and they forged for him weapons of war. Thingol and his people defended their land against the Orcs of Melkor, however, he would not side with the Noldor when they arrived after the Kinslaying. His daughter was Lúthien about whom legends were written regarding her love for a human, Beren. The price for Lúthien's hand was a Silmaril, which Beren managed to get from the crown of Melkor, however, this was also Thingol's undoing. He gave the jewel to the Dwarves to place in a necklace, the Nauglamír, and when they placed the jewel in it, they wanted it too. Thingol, who was alone in the forges of the Dwarves, was overrun by their sudden attack and died.

Answer: A stone-troll

Tom, along with his companions, Bill Huggins and Bert, were three Stone-trolls that had captured the Dwarves of Thorin Oakenshield's company and were debating what the best way to eat them would be. They were probably largely scavengers and bandits, finding opportune targets in their area and preying upon them. They had also never seen a Hobbit before, and Bilbo nearly blurted out that he was a burgular (since he had been caught trying to steal from them).

Luckily, Thorin's company was saved when Gandalf returned secretly and tricked Tom, Bert, and Bill into not noticing that the sun was coming up. The Stone-trolls all turned into stone statues, and these were found by Frodo and his company on their way to Rivendell, still intact.

Answer: Rohan

Théoden was the King of Rohan during the War of the Ring, probably best known for being under the sway of Saruman and managing to break that enchantment. His father, Thengel, raised him in the manner of his mother's people, the people of Gondor, and he was well-versed in the neighbouring country's customs and language. He married young, however, his wife died in childbirth giving birth to Théoden's only son.

By the time of the War of the Ring, Théoden had been in power for a long while already. His chief advisor, Gríma, was in the service of Saruman, and Théoden's judgement was clouded. When his son was killed following the First Battle of the Fords of Isen, he fell even more under Gríma's hold. He did, however, name his nephew, Éomer, as his heir.

Saruman's influence was broken upon the second arrival of Gandalf in Edoras and Théoden rode out against Saruman. After defeating the Uruk-hai and taking Isengard, Théoden turned around and came to Gondor's aid. It was at the Battle of the Pelennor Fields that Théoden faced off against the Lord of the Nazgûl, the Witch-king of Angmar, and ultimately met his death.

Answer: Idril

While all of the answers were Elf-maidens that married mortal men, the second union of Elves and Men was between Tuor and Idril. Tuor was the son of Huor, of the House of Hador, and a giant amongst men. He was born after his father had passed away in the Nírnaeth Arnoediad, and his mother died shortly after of grief. He was taken in by the Grey-elves and lived amongst them until he was captured and sold into slavery. He was indentured to Lorgan, Chief of the Easterlings, and eventually escaped.

He wandered the land of Nevrast until the Vala, Ulmo, appeared to Tuor and told him to go to Turgon in Gondolin. Carrying a message from Ulmo warning the King that he had to depart Gondolin, Maeglin, an Elf, spoke out against Tuor. The message was not heeded and Turgon and his people stayed, but doubled their guard and sealed the city. Tuor, in the meantime, fell in love with the king's daughter, Idril, and she with him. This pleased Turgon but angered Maeglin, as he had coveted Idril for a long time and had been rebuffed. Maeglin eventually betrayed the location of the city to Morgoth and the city fell, but, Tuor put up a valiant defence. Eventually, he escaped with his wife and child, Eärendil.

After years, Tuor and Idril built a great ship and sailed into the West. He, like Beren, was granted immortality by the Valar, one of the few mortals to be allowed this honour.

Answer: Old Toby

Tobold Hornblower was a well-respected gardener who was one of the first Hobbits to cultivate pipe-weed. He may have travelled in order to get the seed, but never spoke of where he first obtained it. He lived in Longbotton, in Southfarthing, and there were two main brands of leaf named after him: 'Longbottom Leaf' and 'Old Toby', both of which were very popular in the Shire and beyond. The culture of smoking a pipe was so refined in the Shire that Meriadoc (Merry) Brandybuck wrote a book about it "Herblore of the Shire".

The variety 'Old Toby' was the preferred one by Bilbo Baggins. Pippin and Merry also use it when they are at the siege of Isengard and find it amongst the flotsam there.

Answer: Oakenshield

Thorin II was the son of Thráin II and the grandson of Thrór, the King Under the Mountain that was forced to go into exile when the dragon, Smaug, came and took over the Lonely Mountain. Thorin was the rightful heir and felt compelled to lead an expedition to somehow take back the mountain and kill the dragon. However, he had twelve dwarven companions, making their number thirteen, an unlucky number. Luckily, the wizard Gandalf knew of an enterprising Hobbit who was willing (though he won't admit it) and able (though he doesn't know it yet) to go on the adventure as well - Bilbo Baggins.

Thorin and company journeyed to the Lonely Mountain and managed to accomplish their goals. However, in the Battle of Five Armies, Thorin lost his life. His deeds (and those of Bilbo Baggins) are the basis for the story in JRR Tolkien's "The Hobbit".

Thorin received his epithet, Oakenshield, when, in the Battle of Azanulbizar, his shield was broken. An oaken bough served him for the rest of the battle to both defend against Orc attacks and to use as a club, hence his name.

Answer: Thain

By the year 740 by the Shire Reckoning, the Took family of the Shire had been selected as the Thains of the Shire. This meant that they were the Masters of the Shire-moot, the war council, and the Captains of the Shire-muster, the forces that are recruited in case of a war or conflict.

Between the years 1434 and 1484, the title of Thain was held by Peregrin (Pippin) Took, the companion of Frodo on the Quest of the Ring. He was the first recorded Hobbit to abdicate this title, which he did in favour of his eldest son, Faramir. Pippin was the 32nd Thain.

Answer: Legolas

Thranduil is the son of Oropher and was born at some point in the First Age and then moved to Greenwood the Great to found a kingdom with the Silvan Elves that lived in the area. In the Battle of Dagorlad Oropher was killed leaving the crown to Thranduil. He and the Elves prospered in Greenwood until the power of Sauron in disguise as the Necromancer started to change the forest to a dark and evil place.

During the time of the quest of Erebor, the Dwarves were caught by the Wood-elves and held captive. However, Bilbo, using the invisibility powers of the One Ring, managed to free his friends. When Thorin and company manage to take the Lonely Mountain back, Thranduil leads a contingent of Elves in the Battle of the Five Armies. During the War of the Ring, Thranduil's son, Legolas, is chosen as one of the companions of Frodo Baggins.

Answer: Gondolin

Turgon was the second son of Fingolfin, one of the mightiest of the Noldor. He was opposed to Fëanor and his relentless pursuit of the Silmarils, however, family loyalty led him to join the rest of the Noldorin into exile in the Middle-earth. His wife died making the journey, however, Turgon and his daughter, Idril, managed to survive.

Originally he lived in Vinyamar which was the principal city of Nevrast, however, when the Vala Ulmo told Turgon to move, he went and founded the hidden city of Gondolin. He fostered for a while both Tuor and Túrin. Since his daughter fell in love with Tuor and not with Maeglin, the latter betrayed the location of the city to Morgoth. Turgon fell defending the city.

Answer: Thorondor

Of all of the characters of the First Age, I find the inclusion of Thorondor the Eagle one of the most interesting. With Morgoth's forces nearly overwhelming the Elves and Men, part of this is due to the deployment of dragons, aerial beast of overwhelming power. The Eagles, wise and mighty birds with the ability of speech, probably come to counter that threat.

Thorondor was the greatest of the Eagles and he was sent from Valinor by Manwë himself. The first mention of him is when Maedhros is rescued from Thangorodrim, and he became the protector of the hidden city of Gondolin. No mention is made of Thorondor after the War of Wrath, however, the Eagles that Bilbo encountered, Gwaihir and Landroval, both of them were said to be descended from Thorondor.

Answer: Túrin

Túrin Turambar's story is one of grief and woe, and was canonized in "Narn i Chîn Húrin" (The Tale of the Children of Húrin). He was born to Húrin Thalion and Morwen Eledhwen and the first tragedy that befell him was when his younger sister, called Lailaith, died very young. His father was then captured in the Nírnaeth Arnoediad (Battle of Unnumbered Tears) and his fate was unknown, but, at that time, Morgoth laid a curse upon the family.

Túrin was taken in by Thingol, the Lord of Doriath, and grew mighty there. However, a mistake caused him to go into self-exile and to become an outlaw. When Túrin took over as the leader of the band, he directed the outlaws to only hunt Orcs, and the area was free of evil for a while. A case of mistaken identity caused Túrin to kill his best friend, Beleg, with the sword Anglachel, and he descended into madness.

When the madness passed, Túrin re-forged the sword into Gurthang and he began to serve the Elves of Nargothrond. When danger approached, Túrin convinced King Orodreth to face it head-on, alas, the enemy was led by the great dragon Glaurung. All were slain save Túrin himself. Glaurung had also erased the memory of Túrin's youngest sister, Niënor, who Túrin did not know. When he met the fair maiden, he wed her and called her Níniel, not knowing the relationship.

Eventually, all of this war came to a head and Glaurung began terrorizing the lands near Túrin. Seizing an opportunity when the dragon was asleep, Túrin crept up and stabbed Glaurung. When Túrin withdrew his sword, the dragon's blood burned the hero and rendered him unconscious. With his dying words, Glaurung revealed to Níniel that she was, in fact, Túrin's sister and she threw herself off of a cliff. When Túrin awoke and was told of all that transpired, he killed the messenger, and, when he was told by others that it was all true, he could not live with the sin. He then threw himself upon his own sword and killed himself. Thus ended the life of the greatest hero, but not forever...