Oh-oh, it’s Gandalf again!

Here’s the first of three quizzes covering J.R.R. Tolkien’s masterpiece, The Lord of the Rings. It’s a book that teaches two main life lessons. First, when traveling, always stay with the Elves if at all possible. Second, and even more important, do not answer the door if it’s Gandalf. Avoid his company altogether.

Everyone’s talking Tolkien

The life story of linguist and author John Ronald Reuel Tolkien, the subject of our new quiz, has recently been adapted for the screen as the movie Tolkien. We haven’t seen the movie yet, but we are happy to assume without evidence that our quiz paints a picture of the man that is paradoxically far more vivid and visceral than any mere celluloid representation could hope to achieve. We begin with Tolkien’s grandfather, who pursued a business beginning with ‘B’.

Welcome to the
Biography Trivia Quiz

Start the quiz Start the ‘quick’ version

With so much energy being expended nowadays on the discussion, ogling, pursuit, worship and condemnation of ‘celebrities’, it’s interesting to step back now and then and consider those men and women whose celebrity has endured not just for a passing season or two but for hundreds or even thousands of years. Most of the big names we mention in our quiz are better known today than they were in their own lifetimes.

Aristotle with a Bust of Homer, a painting by Rembrandt (1606-1669)