Middle-earth: Tolkien's World – answers and explanations
Here are the answers to all 15 questions in the Middle-earth: Tolkien's World quiz, each with a short explanation. Hobbits, wizards, rings and realms — from the Shire to Mordor. Haven't played yet? Take the quiz first and compare your score.
Play the quiz · 15 questions1. In The Hobbit, what is the name of the dragon guarding the Mountain's treasure?
Answer: Smaug
Smaug is the fire-breathing dragon who seized the Lonely Mountain (Erebor) and its dwarven treasure in Tolkien's 1937 novel The Hobbit. He is finally slain by Bard the Bowman, who shoots a black arrow into the bare patch on Smaug's left breast after a thrush reveals the weakness.
2. How many Academy Awards did The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King win?
Answer: 11
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King won 11 Academy Awards at the 76th ceremony on 29 February 2004, sweeping every category it was nominated in, including Best Picture and Best Director for Peter Jackson. That total ties the records of Ben-Hur and Titanic.
3. Which actor played Aragorn in Peter Jackson's film trilogy?
Answer: Viggo Mortensen
Viggo Mortensen played Aragorn in Peter Jackson's trilogy, joining at the last minute after Irish actor Stuart Townsend was dropped just before shooting began for being too young. Sean Bean played Boromir, Orlando Bloom Legolas and Karl Urban Eomer.
4. The One Ring can only be destroyed in the fires of which Mordor volcano?
Answer: Mount Doom
The One Ring could only be unmade in the Cracks of Doom inside Mount Doom (Orodruin) in Mordor, the volcano where Sauron forged it in the Second Age. It is destroyed when Gollum falls in with it after biting the Ring from Frodo's hand.
5. Which hobbit is Frodo's gardener and loyal companion on the journey to Mordor?
Answer: Samwise Gamgee
Samwise Gamgee, son of the Gaffer, worked as Frodo Baggins' gardener at Bag End and was sent along by Gandalf after being caught eavesdropping. He stayed with Frodo all the way to Mount Doom, even briefly bearing the Ring himself.
6. In which country were Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings films shot?
Answer: New Zealand
Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings trilogy was shot entirely in his native New Zealand, using more than 150 locations across both islands, including Matamata for Hobbiton and Mount Ngauruhoe as Mount Doom.
7. What is Gollum's original hobbit-like name before the Ring corrupted him?
Answer: Sméagol
Gollum was originally a Stoor hobbit named Sméagol; he got the nickname Gollum from the gurgling noise in his throat after he murdered his cousin Déagol for the One Ring near the Gladden Fields.
8. Which actor played Gandalf in Peter Jackson's film trilogies?
Answer: Ian McKellen
Ian McKellen played Gandalf in both The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies, earning a Best Supporting Actor nomination for The Fellowship of the Ring; Christopher Lee played Saruman instead.
9. Who is the dwarf member of the Fellowship of the Ring?
Answer: Gimli
Gimli, son of Glóin, is the only Dwarf among the nine members of the Fellowship, chosen at the Council of Elrond to represent his race; John Rhys-Davies played him in the films.
10. Which kingdom of horse-lords is ruled by King Théoden?
Answer: Rohan
Théoden is King of Rohan, the land of the horse-lords, ruling from Edoras (filmed at Mount Sunday in New Zealand) until he is freed from Gríma Wormtongue's influence by Gandalf.
11. How many members make up the Fellowship of the Ring when it sets out?
Answer: Nine
The Fellowship that leaves Rivendell numbers nine: four hobbits, two men, one elf, one dwarf and the wizard Gandalf. Elrond set the number at nine so the Nine Walkers would be matched against Sauron's nine Ringwraiths.
12. Which elf lord hosts the great council at Rivendell?
Answer: Elrond
Elrond, the half-elven Lord of Rivendell, called and presided over the council that decided the fate of the One Ring, held on 25 October in the year 3018 of the Third Age. Glorfindel attended but did not host it.
13. What is the name of Bilbo Baggins' hobbit-hole in the Shire?
Answer: Bag End
Bag End is the luxurious smial dug into the Hill above Hobbiton at the end of Bagshot Row, built by Bilbo's father Bungo Baggins and later home to Frodo and then Sam Gamgee.
14. Who played Legolas in Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings trilogy?
Answer: Orlando Bloom
Orlando Bloom played the elf Legolas in Peter Jackson's trilogy, cast just days after graduating from London's Guildhall School in 1999 after originally auditioning for Faramir; he later returned for two Hobbit films.
15. What is the capital city of Gondor, besieged in The Return of the King?
Answer: Minas Tirith
Minas Tirith, the seven-walled city below Mount Mindolluin, became Gondor's capital in T.A. 1640 after Osgiliath declined, and it is the city besieged by Mordor's army before the Battle of the Pelennor Fields.