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The Life of JRR Tolkien Trivia Quiz

JRR Tolkien is generally known only for being the author "The Lord of the Rings" and "The Hobbit". However he led a fascinating life, and was recently voted one of the "100 greatest Britons".

A multiple-choice quiz by bobalmighty. Estimated time: 3 mins.

Author
bobalmighty

Time
3 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
219,893

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
7 / 10

Plays
767

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. Tolkien came 92 in the list of the 100 greatest Britons, but where was he born? Hint

Liverpool

Heidelberg, Germany

Luzern, Switzerland

Bloemfontein, South Africa

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Question 2 of 10

2. How many siblings did he have? Hint

One sister, Hilary

One brother, Hilary

Two brothers, James and Jack

One of each, Doris and David

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Question 3 of 10

3. What does JRR stand for? Hint

John Ronald Reuel

John Richard Randy

James Remus Richard

James Ronald Remigius

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Question 4 of 10

4. Tolkien had a happy family life in England.

True

False

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Question 5 of 10

5. Where was Tolkien educated? Hint

Eton and Oxford

King Edward's School, Birmingham, and Oxford

Harrow and Cambridge

King's School, Canterbury, and the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst

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Question 6 of 10

6. In 1911 Tolkien met his future wife. What was her name? Hint

Doris Bratt

Sophia Dawes

Grace Darnley

Edith Bratt

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Question 7 of 10

7. In 1915 Tolkien completed his degree (first class in English) and joined the army. In what regiment did he enlist? Hint

2nd Battalion, The Black Watch

3rd Battalion, 23rd London Regiment

11th Battalion Lancashire Fuisiliers

2nd Battalion, The Sherwood Forresters

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Question 8 of 10

8. Where was Tolkien's first teaching job after the war? Hint

The Civil Service

Oxford University

Leeds University

Cambridge University

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Question 9 of 10

9. Was Tolkien was a close friend of Charles Dickens?

Yes

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Question 10 of 10

10. How many children did John and Edith Tolkien have? Hint

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Tolkien came 92 in the list of the 100 greatest Britons, but where was he born?

Answer: Bloemfontein, South Africa

Yes, one of the greatest Britons was in fact from South Africa. He left the country in 1895, at the age of three, so he spent most of his life in the UK. He came 35 in the list of the greatest South Africans. He had few memories of South Africa, one of the clearest being an encounter with a giant spider ...

2. How many siblings did he have?

Answer: One brother, Hilary

Tolkien, Hilary and their mother Mabel left South Africa without his father Arthur, he planned to follow later. Unfortunately he died of a brain hemorrhage before he could do so, and Mabel never re-married.

3. What does JRR stand for?

Answer: John Ronald Reuel

His family and early friends called him Ronald.

4. Tolkien had a happy family life in England.

Answer: False

His mother converted to Catholicism in 1900, which estranged her and her children from both sides of the family. In 1904 Mabel Tolkien died of diabetes, leaving her sons to be looked after by an aunt, who was not best pleased, whilst his local priest acted as guardian.

5. Where was Tolkien educated?

Answer: King Edward's School, Birmingham, and Oxford

He seems to have enjoyed school, and formed a group of extremely close friends, who founded their own secret society the TCBS (Tea Club and Barrovian Society).

6. In 1911 Tolkien met his future wife. What was her name?

Answer: Edith Bratt

She was 3 years older than him, and his guardian Father Morgan refused to permit him to marry, or even see her until he was 21. He waited until his 21st birthday, and proposed to her, she accepted and they married in 1916.

7. In 1915 Tolkien completed his degree (first class in English) and joined the army. In what regiment did he enlist?

Answer: 11th Battalion Lancashire Fuisiliers

He was commissioned as a second lieutenant and served in the Battle of the Somme. Most of his friends died during the war, and many of the horrific experiances must have influenced his later work. Fortunately he developed trench fever in October 1916 and had to be shipped home to recover.

8. Where was Tolkien's first teaching job after the war?

Answer: Leeds University

He became Reader in English language at Leeds in 1920. He later became professor of Anglo-Saxon at Oxford. (In the English universities a "reader" ranks immediately below a full professor). For a brief period before going to Leeds he worked on the "Oxford English Dictionary".

9. Was Tolkien was a close friend of Charles Dickens?

Answer: No

Dickens died 25 years before Tolkien was born, however he was able to count CS Lewis and WH Auden amongst his circle of friends.

10. How many children did John and Edith Tolkien have?

Answer: 4

John, Christopher, Michael and Priscilla (who all had two middle names, the second being Reuel in each case).

Source: Author bobalmighty

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