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Tolkien's Words Trivia Quiz

Tolkien used Anglo-Saxon extensively in his works. Let's see how well you know your Old English!

A multiple-choice quiz by wordnerd. Estimated time: 7 mins.

Author
wordnerd

Time
7 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
80,824

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
15

Difficulty
Very Difficult

Avg Score
6 / 15

Plays
1209

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 15

1. A position of authority in the Shire was the Thain. From what country did Tolkien get this name? Hint

Ireland

Scotland

Spain

Iceland

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Question 2 of 15

2. Samwise, while a loyal friend and servant, was a bit of a bumpkin. What does his name mean in Anglo-Saxon? Hint

All of these

Stupid

Foolish

Half-wise

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Question 3 of 15

3. Ents are the huge tree-shepherds who destroy Isengard. What does 'Ent' mean?

Answer: ( Add one syllable onto the front....)

4. And while we're on the subject of Ents, let's turn from Anglo-Saxon for a moment and see how well you know your Shakespeare. The Attack of the Ents on Isengard is believed by some to be derived from which Shakespearean play? Hint

King Lear

Julius Caesar

The Winter's Tale

Macbeth

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Question 5 of 15

5. While dressed as a man to fight with the Rohirrim, Eowyn calls herself Dernhelm. What does this name mean? Hint

Secret defense

Hidden woman

Hidden power

Disguised soldier

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Question 6 of 15

6. What two languages does the name Beorn seem to be derived from? Hint

Anglo-Saxon and Finnish

Welsh and Finnish

Welsh and Anglo-Saxon

Anglo-Saxon and Norwegian

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Question 7 of 15

7. What does 'Orc' mean? Hint

Evil

Demon

Goblin

Cruel

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Question 8 of 15

8. What does 'Orthanc' mean in Anglo-Saxon? Hint

Great power

Strong fortress

Iron tower

Mechanical art

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Question 9 of 15

9. Grima Wormtongue deceives Theoden and almost causes the destruction of Rohan (and indirectly, Gondor and Middle-Earth as a whole). What does his first name mean? Hint

Untruth

Veiled

Deceiver

Mask

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Question 10 of 15

10. Speaking of literal translations, what does 'eored' mean? Hint

Herd of horses

Company of soldiers

The people of a country

The court of a king

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Question 11 of 15

11. Here's another 'Rohirric vocabulary' word. The Rohirric word for hobbits is holbytla. What does that name mean ?

Answer: (Split the word into two and mess with the pronunciation)

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Question 12 of 15

12. And another split-it-into-two word! The Rohirrim's name for Merry was Holdwine. What does this name mean? Hint

Great warrior

Loyal friend

Loyal warrior

Small and brave

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Question 13 of 15

13. Shadowfax was one of the mearas: the best horses in Rohan-or the world, for that matter. What does his name mean? Hint

Shadow-magic

Shadow-grey

Shadow-flight

Shadow-hair

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Question 14 of 15

14. What is the literal translation of this sentence from 'The Two Towers': "Westu Theoden hal!"? Hint

"Theoden is here!"

"King Theoden returns!"

"Be Theoden whole!"

"Our King is arisen!"

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Question 15 of 15

15. King Theoden's hall is called Meduseld. What does that name mean? Hint

King's Hall

Capitol

Palace

Mead-hall

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. A position of authority in the Shire was the Thain. From what country did Tolkien get this name?

Answer: Scotland

The spelling is a bit different, but it's still more or less the same thing. A Thane is Scotland was a Lord in England, and a Count in France. You see this in 'Macbeth'.

2. Samwise, while a loyal friend and servant, was a bit of a bumpkin. What does his name mean in Anglo-Saxon?

Answer: All of these

The name can be translated as either 'Half-wise' or 'Foolish, stupid'. 'Sam' means 'half' in Anglo-Saxon, and 'wise' means just as it does today. I personally incline more towards the 'half-wise' translation, because in 'The Shaping of Middle-Earth' (I think) Aragorn says, "And Samwise, (who should be called Full-wise)..."

3. Ents are the huge tree-shepherds who destroy Isengard. What does 'Ent' mean?

Answer: Giant

Not particularly creative, maybe, but certainly to the point.

Answer: Macbeth

If you don't remember the part where Birnam Wood seems to march on Dunsinane, then you must have been sleeping in your junior English class. I am not certain that the two are connected, but they certainly are similar. Also 'Macbeth' is supposed to have been the only Shakespeare play Tolkien liked.

5. While dressed as a man to fight with the Rohirrim, Eowyn calls herself Dernhelm. What does this name mean?

Answer: Secret defense

I always wondered why she picked such an ugly name for herself. When I started learning Anglo-Saxon, it made sense.

6. What two languages does the name Beorn seem to be derived from?

Answer: Anglo-Saxon and Norwegian

Another one that I'm not entirely sure of, but it seems likely. 'Beorn' is Anglo-Saxon for 'man' (very creative), and the Norwegian word 'bjorn' (meaning 'bear') is pronounced very much like 'Beorn'. One thing we can be sure of, however: the name Beorn is a pun on 'beo', which means 'bee'. Beorn raises those huge honeybees.

7. What does 'Orc' mean?

Answer: Demon

It also means 'cup, vessel' but I have a feeling that 'demon' is the meaning Tolkien meant to be implied.

8. What does 'Orthanc' mean in Anglo-Saxon?

Answer: Mechanical art

'Iron fortress' is actually closer to what 'Isengard' means. I believe that a different definition is given in the book, so that's why I specified 'in Anglo-Saxon'.

9. Grima Wormtongue deceives Theoden and almost causes the destruction of Rohan (and indirectly, Gondor and Middle-Earth as a whole). What does his first name mean?

Answer: Mask

I like this one because 'Grima' isn't literally what Wormtongue is. So many of the words Tolkien employs as names are simply literal translations of what that character is or does (for example, 'Theoden' simply means 'king'). Grima has a nice double meaning.

10. Speaking of literal translations, what does 'eored' mean?

Answer: Company of soldiers

They use this one as a basic vocabulary word. It means pretty much exactly in Rohan what it meant to the Saxons, except to the Rohirrim it seems to signify a company of mounted soldiers. In Anglo-Saxon the meaning is not so specific.

11. Here's another 'Rohirric vocabulary' word. The Rohirric word for hobbits is holbytla. What does that name mean ?

Answer: Hole-builders

No, the Saxons didn't have a word for little people who live in holes (So, Tolkien, you said you made those hobbits up....) It's a combination of two words: 'hol', meaning 'hole' (see, Anglo-Saxon isn't so obscure), and 'bylta', 'builder(s)'.

12. And another split-it-into-two word! The Rohirrim's name for Merry was Holdwine. What does this name mean?

Answer: Loyal friend

'Hold' can be translated into 'loyal, kind, gracious, or true' so it doesn't have to be exactly 'Loyal friend'. 'Wine', however, has one meaning: friend.

13. Shadowfax was one of the mearas: the best horses in Rohan-or the world, for that matter. What does his name mean?

Answer: Shadow-hair

Actually, 'feax' means hair, but it's close enough so one can assume that is the intended meaning. Also his coat is described as making him difficult to see, which supports the 'Shadow-hair' meaning.

14. What is the literal translation of this sentence from 'The Two Towers': "Westu Theoden hal!"?

Answer: "Be Theoden whole!"

Eomer says it. One thing I've been wondering, however: a bit later in the same chapter, Eowyn says "Ferthu Theoden hal!". I can't find a translation for 'ferthu'. Maybe it means the same thing, but I don't know. If you happen to know the translation, please send me a note.

15. King Theoden's hall is called Meduseld. What does that name mean?

Answer: Mead-hall

Kind of suprising, isn't it? It's hard to believe that Tolkien's noble Rohirrim are based on the notoriously drunk, bloodthirsty, and arrogant Saxons. At least the Rohirrim don't go hanging up monster's severed limbs over their doors like some people we know.

Source: Author wordnerd

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor nerthus before going online.
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