Could You Destroy The One Ring Or Would You Be Corrupted?

Easily the greatest fantasy epic to ever be brought to the big screen, The Lord of the Rings was originally published between 1954 and 1955 by British author J. R. R. Tolkien. The high fantasy epic took over two decades to complete and was released in multiple volumes which also served as a sequel to Tolkien's 1937 children's novel The Hobbit.

Though both The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings have continued to be best-selling novels, modern audiences were largely reintroduced to the iconic story through Peter Jackson's film trilogy, which was first released in 2001 with The Fellowship of the Ring.

The story follows Frodo Baggins, who has been tasked with destroying the One Ring before the Dark Lord Sauron can use it to take over all of Middle-Earth. On Frodo's side is a fellowship composed of eight other companions who have vowed to help destroy the Ring, including his best friend Samwise Gamgee and the wise wizard Gandalf the Grey.

But Frodo has more to fear than the orcs and trolls the wander Middle-Earth; the One Ring is a dire threat unto itself, known to corrupt the bearer no matter how noble they may be.

So would you be able to carry the Ring all the way to Mordor and cast it into the fires of Mount Doom? Or would you eventually succumb to its unbounded power?

Question 1

What is your favorite race of characters?

One thing that continues to set The Lord of the Rings apart from many other popular fantasy series today — like Harry Potter and Game of Thrones — is its distinct cast of fantastical races that inhabit Middle-Earth. Although dwarves and elves were far from an original inclusion even at the times the novels were written, Tolkien still created many original races, including the hobbits, ents, and uruks.

Question 2

If Gandalf asks to see the One Ring, what would you do?

Easily one of the noblest characters throughout The Lord of the Rings, even Gandalf fears that he may be susceptible to the power of the One Ring. Though he refuses to put his hands on it, he does request to examine it. But would you even trust Gandalf to gaze into the One Ring knowing his initial hesitancy?

Question 3

Elrond has asked you to join the Fellowship. What is your response?

For whatever reason, Lord Elrond believes you’d make a much-needed addition to the Fellowship of the Ring. But after the council, you’re well aware of all the dangers that are in store for you on the road to Mordor. So would you accept his offer no matter what is asked of you, or would you have some conditions of your own?

Question 4

Which one of these traits is most important to you?

They say you’re only as strong as your weakest link, so who you chose to surround yourself with while undertaking such a life-changing task is of the utmost importance. While there may be many people that say they’re up to the task, what quality do you ultimately look for when assembling a team?

Question 5

Where on Middle-Earth would you prefer to live?

Middle-Earth is both breath-taking and terrifying, and the further east you find yourself during these trying times, the more likely there is to be danger lurking around the corner. So where would you choose to settle down? Do you prefer the laid back life of the hobbits in the Shire, who spend their time eating, smoking, drinking, and eating some more? Or do you more prefer the homes of the evils or men better?

Question 6

When would you use the Ring to turn invisible?

Though Elrond tells us that the power of the One Ring cannot be harnessed by men, we know right off the bat that the Ring will still allow its wearer to turn invisible. This is a pretty big power on its own, and we’ve all probably sat around thinking what we’d do if we could go invisible whenever we wanted to. So would you start wearing the One Ring around?

Question 7

Bilbo had just left his ring in your possession. What do you do with it?

You know that the Ring turns you invisible, and you know that your uncle was becoming obsessed with it, but beyond that, you have no idea that you’ve just come into possession of the most powerful artifact that was ever made. So do you immediately start using it as your own, or do you tuck it away should Bilbo ever return to reclaim his possession?

Question 8

Have you ever stolen anything?

Hobbits may be lazy and care-free, but for the most part, they seem like honest and good-hearted people. Then there’s Merry and Pippin, who are seen stealing fireworks and garden crops on two separate occasions. So have you ever taken anything before without asking? Excluding you years as a toddler, of course.

Question 9

Gollum insists on showing you the way to Mordor. How do you respond?

Gollum Smeagol Andy Serkis Lord of the Rings

Gollum is no doubt grotesque, but you can't help but concede that he’s also one of the few that knows what it’s like to carry the One Ring. Maybe that makes him more sympathetic to your plight. Maybe that just makes him want to reclaim the Ring for himself. So do you want him on your side, or do you think he'll be nothing but trouble to you down the road?

Question 10

Samwise asks to carry the Ring for you. How do you respond?

Samwise Gamgee Lord of the Rings Sean Astin

Even Tolkien himself believed that Samwise, not Frodo, is the true hero of The Lord of the Rings. He’s never tempted by the Ring, he never abandons Frodo, and he remains hopeful even when all hope seems lost. But does that mean you should let him take hold of the One Ring for part of your journey?

Question 11

What would be your most valuable asset to the Fellowship?

You’ve just joined the Fellowship with the skills that you have today. So what do you think your most valuable asset will be to the team? Are you someone that has more brains than brawn? Are you physically fit and ready to take on some orcs and maybe even a cave troll? Or are you just a generally good and honest person to keep around?

Question 12

Which one of these characters do you think could have carried the Ring better than Frodo?

One of the primary themes of The Lord of the Rings is that you don’t always get to chose your path in life, but that you must try to make the most of it regardless. Therefore, it is Frodo’s Ring to carry, even if someone else could have better handled the burden. But if you had to pick one person who could’ve done it better, who would it be?

Question 13

Would you rather be feared or loved?

It may be a cliched answer, but chances are you’ve never stopped and seriously considered the answer. Love may seem like the obvious way to go, but do you really need affection from everyone? After all, most of us will go through life with only a handful of true best friends, which is usually more than enough. But having people fear you could turn out to be more beneficial across the board.

Question 14

Which character would you have chosen to be your escort to Mordor?

Just as Frodo was the chosen one who was forced to carry the Ring to Mordor, Sam was destined to be his traveling companion. But now it’s you who is faced with the long and deadly trek to the east. So would you keep the trusty Samwise by your side, or chose someone who is better equipped for battle?

Question 15

If Saruman imprisoned you unless you told him the Ring’s whereabouts, what would you do?

Christopher Lee Saruman Lord of the Rings

Gandalf faces this similar scenario in The Fellowship of the Ring, and being the trustworthy wizard that he is, he refuses to crack under Saruman’s wrath. But we all can’t be as courageous and cunning as Gandalf the Grey. So what would you do if you were facing imprisonment until death atop Saruman’s tower?

Question 16

How would you prefer to travel to Mordor?

One of the most criticized plot points in The Lord of the Rings is that the Fellowship never employed the use of eagles to try and save some serious time during their travels. After all, Gandalf summons one to escape Saruman’s tower, and the show up during the battle of Mordor as well. So would you use them to get to Mordor? Or go by other means?

Question 17

You’ve just learned that the One Ring is the most powerful object in existence. What is your first instinct?

In the book, Frodo holds onto the Ring for literally years while he waits for Gandalf to return with knowledge about its existence, and when he does, Frodo suddenly learns that it’s much, much more than an invisibility ring. So what would be your first instinct after Gandalf drops this bombshell of knowledge on your head?

Question 18

What would be the hardest part of the journey for you?

The journey to Mordor is long and arduous, and even if you haven’t read the novels, you know full well from the three movies that Frodo and Sam’s journey is by far the least glorious and most mundane. So while you’re munching on your fifteenth piece of stale Lembas bread in the midst of an icy rainstorm, what would you be missing the most?

Question 19

The Ringwraiths ask you to surrender the Ring. What do you do?

Though Sauron is the ultimate evil at the end of the road to Mordor, the Ringwraiths are a constant threat on the road, traveling all the way to the Shire to try and track down the One Ring. So if a group of them surrounds you with their swords in hand, asking for the One Ring, what do you honestly think you would do?

Question 20

What would be your weapon of choice?

Legolas Orlando Bloom Lord of the Rings

The weapon you chose says more about your personality than you may think. For instance, if you choose an ax, you no doubt think of your self as strong enough to wield such a heavy weapon. Meanwhile, choosing a bow and arrow may subconsciously mean you’re too afraid to face the enemy in close quarters… which isn’t necessarily a bad thing.

Question 21

Have you ever worn someone else's stuff without asking?

Since a fantasy world scenario may not always be the easiest thing to assess, we’ll have to consider some real-life situations as well to know if you’re truly capable of carrying the One Ring. While you may not want to answer “Yes” to this question knowing its implications, we can almost certainly guarantee that you’ve worn somebody else’s stuff before without asking first.

Question 22

Would you be able to sacrifice yourself if it meant saving Middle-Earth?

You’ve made it to the Bridge of Khazad-dum, in the middle of Mordor, but you’re surrounded by enemies on all sides. Hand over the Ring and they promise to let you live. Throw the Ring into the fire and death is imminent. So, could you actually sacrifice yourself knowing that the fate of Middle-Earth literally sits in your hands?

Question 23

Which threat frightens you the most?

There’s nothing but danger on the road to Mordor, and the farther east you travel, the fewer friends you’re bound to have by your side. But what is the real threat that keeps you up at night? The magic of the evil wizard Saruman? The battle-hardened Uruk-hai? Or the companions of the Fellowship that may secretly be plotting to take the Ring from you?

Question 24

Who is your favorite member of the Fellowship?

Consisting of nine members — including one elf, one dwarf, one wizard, two men and four hobbits — the Fellowship’s numbers seem to dwindle quickly by the end of the first film. However, Gandalf’s unexpected return in the second film breathed new energy into the Fellowship as they continued their long trek toward Mordor. So which member do you like the best?

Question 25

The Uruk-hai falsely assume you are carrying the One Ring. What do you do?

After the skirmish with the Uruk-hai that left Boromir dead, Merry and Pippin are whisked away by the savage orc soldiers after being suspected of carrying the One Ring. When the two hobbits understand that they’ve been mistaken for Frodo and Sam they decide to keep quiet about the issue, decided that the Uruk-hai may have no more use for them after they learn that they do not possess the Ring.

Question 26

Have you ever lied on a first date to make yourself look better?

Easily the two occasions where you want to make yourself look way better than you actually are would have to be a job interview and a first date. And while there’s nothing wrong with putting your best foot forward and over-preparing for the occasions, it’s not exactly right if you start spouting off untruths to make yourself look more favorable. But we all do it anyway, right?

Question 27

You’ve finally reached Mount Doom. What do you do?

For whatever reason, the last step of the journey proves to be the hardest for the ring bearer. Despite all the death and destruction that the One Ring has caused them, they can never seem to take the final step and simply let it fall out of their hands. Knowing this, what would you do upon reaching Mount Doom?

Question 28

What would your profession be in Middle Earth?

Jobs don’t seem to be a big part of living in Middle-Earth. But then again, if the world is on the brink of destruction, you probably wouldn’t want to spend it wasting away at work either. But before the Battle for Middle-Earth had ever begun, what could you see yourself doing in Tolkien’s fantasy world in order to make a living?

Question 29

You’ve heard that Middle-Earth is on the brink of destruction. What do you do?

Eye of Sauron Lord of the Rings

Even if the Ring isn’t your responsibility and you have nothing to do with the Fellowship, Sauron’s wrath will begin to threaten the existence all the way from Mordor to the Shire. So would you volunteer and travel to the front lines immediately, or would you start to consider self-preservation about all else?

Question 30

If your only choice was to enter through the front gate of Mordor, how would you do it?

Boromir Sean Bean Lord of the Rings One does not simply

If Gollum had never met up with Frodo and Sam, there’s a good chance that the two hobbits would have been faced with having to enter Mordor through the front door. How they would have ever breached this obstacle remains a total mystery, and feels like it would have resulted in immediate death. But what would you do if you had no other choice?

Question 31

Saruman has your loved ones hostage and will exchange them for the Ring. What do you do?

While many people could probably find it in themselves to sacrifice their well being for the future of the entire world, bringing someone’s loved ones into the equation is a totally different scenario. This is why villains will often kidnap the hero’s family or friends, and it usually works out for them. For a little while at least.

Question 32

You believe that there’s nothing wrong with telling little white lies?

Everyone knows that telling a big lie is wrong. But what about white lies? After all, a white lie is usually told to avoid hurting someone’s feelings, as nothing good can ever come to answering “Yes” to the question “Do I look fat in this?” But even if you do tell white lies on occasion, you can certainly still think that it’s wrong.

Question 33

Which one of Galadriel’s gifts would be most helpful to you on your journey?

Galadriel Lord of the Rings Cate Blanchett

With how far each character ends up traveling, it’s a wonder that they’re all not carrying massive hiking backpacks filled with survival gear. While you wouldn’t want the extra weight to tire you out, you certainly wouldn't want to starve from lack of food either. Lady Galadriel gives each member of the Fellowship a special gift to aid on their journey, but is one gift more valuable than the others?

Question 34

How many times a day do you look at yourself in the mirror?

Since there’s a zero percent chance that any of us will be faced with a monumental undertaking like Frodo’s, there’s no reason that we’d ever have to summon that amount of courage. However, in our culture, it’s often vanity that leads to the downfall of certain individuals, who get so caught up in their own appearance and other superficial aspects of themselves, that they fail to care for the people around them.

Question 35

If you could add one more member to the Fellowship, who would it be?

Arwen Liv Tyler Lord of the rings

Why Tolkien decided to stop at nine members of the Fellowship as opposed to making it an even ten is beyond us. But since there are plenty of other characters throughout Middle-Earth that help the Fellowship on their quest, that gives us a lot of option of other potential members to chose from. So out of these four, who would you want by your side throughout the entire journey?

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