Q 01/05

Which Tolkien scholar calls Gollum Tolkien's 'central monster-figure'?

A) Verlyn Flieger

B) Tom Shippey

C) Douglas A. Anderson

D) Humphrey Carpenter

Answer · why

A) Verlyn Flieger

She sees him as Grendel and the Beowulf dragon combined in one figure.

Q 02/05

To which branch of hobbits did Gollum originally belong?

A) Bree-hobbits

B) Harfoots

C) Fallohides

D) Stoors

Answer · why

D) Stoors

His River-folk lived near the Gladden Fields on the Anduin.

Q 03/05

Tolkien presents Smeagol as a 'translation' of which Middle-earth name, meaning 'burrowing'?

A) Trahald

B) Nahald

C) Maura

D) Banazir

Answer · why

A) Trahald

It is rendered with a name based on the Old English verb smeagan, 'to scrutinize'; Deagol translates Nahald.

Q 04/05

How did the name Gollum arise?

A) From the Elvish for 'thief'

B) From the name of his cave

C) From his grandmother's clan

D) From a swallowing noise in his throat

Answer · why

D) From a swallowing noise in his throat

His relatives coined it before his grandmother disowned him.

Q 05/05

Whom did Smeagol murder to get the Ring?

A) His cousin Deagol

B) A Wood Elf

C) His brother Drogo

D) A goblin fisherman

Answer · why

A) His cousin Deagol

The victim had been pulled into the Anduin by a fish and found the Ring in the riverbed.