Nothing matches that yet. Try a word like “states”, “Disney” or “hard”.
Pack a second breakfast and set out across Middle-earth with this Lord of the Rings quiz. Ten questions cover Tolkien's books and Peter Jackson's films, from the members of the Fellowship and their horses and swords to the actors who brought them to life. Casual fans will find plenty they know, while a couple of book-only details should challenge even devoted readers.
J.R.R. Tolkien spent more than a decade writing The Lord of the Rings as a sequel to his 1937 children's book, The Hobbit. He thought of it as one long novel, but his publisher released it in three volumes in 1954 and 1955, which is why so many people call it a trilogy. Tolkien loved languages, and he invented several for his elves, which explains why so many names in Middle-earth sound like they come from a real ancient tongue.
Peter Jackson's three films arrived one per December from 2001 to 2003, shot back to back in a single marathon production. The movies trim, reorder and combine parts of the books, and the longer extended editions restore many scenes fans had missed. When a question in this quiz depends on the difference, it tells you whether it means the books or the films.
A good way to keep everything straight is to follow the map. The story moves from a quiet rural corner of Middle-earth through elven refuges, the horse country of Rohan and the great city of Gondor toward the dark land in the east. Picture where you are on that journey and characters, weapons and places tend to fall into place.
Who plays Gandalf in Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings films?
Answer: Ian McKellen
He earned an Oscar nomination for the role in "The Fellowship of the Ring" (2001).
How many members make up the Fellowship of the Ring?
Answer: Nine
In the book, Elrond picks that number to match the Ringwraiths hunting them.
What is the name of Frodo's home in Hobbiton?
Answer: Bag End
Frodo inherits the hillside home, with its round green door, from Bilbo, the hero of "The Hobbit."
In The Lord of the Rings, who rules the elven forest of Lothlórien alongside her husband, Celeborn?
Answer: Galadriel
Cate Blanchett plays her in the films, and the Fellowship leaves her forest with elven cloaks and lembas bread.
Before the Ring changed him, Gollum went by what name?
Answer: Sméagol
He came from a river-dwelling people related to hobbits, and the Ring stretched his life over centuries.
What is the name of Gandalf's swift white horse?
Answer: Shadowfax
He's the lord of the Mearas, a proud breed of horses from Rohan.
Which actor gave Gollum his voice and movements in the films?
Answer: Andy Serkis
He acted on set with the cast, and animators built the digital Gollum on top of his performance.
Tolkien was a professor at which university when he wrote The Lord of the Rings?
Answer: Oxford
He held professorships in Anglo-Saxon and later in English language and literature.
Which character from Tolkien's Lord of the Rings books was left out of Peter Jackson's films?
Answer: Tom Bombadil
In the first book he rescues the hobbits from Old Man Willow and later from a barrow-wight.
In The Lord of the Rings, Aragorn's sword, Andúril, is reforged from the shards of which blade?
Answer: Narsil
Isildur used a shard of the broken sword to cut the Ring from Sauron's hand.
Spot a mistake? Tell us and we’ll fix it.