Lord Of The Rings Or Game Of Thrones? Only Real Fans Know Where These Characters Belong!

Fantasy has gained in popularity in recent years, and there are no two better examples of this than the success of The Lord of the Rings and Game of Thrones (and yes, fans, we know the book series by George R.R. Martin is called A Song Of Ice And Fire but given the popularity of the TV show, we are going with the show's title for this, may the High Sparrow forgive us).

Writer J.R.R. Tolkien more or less single-handedly invented the modern fantasy genre as a serious literary style of fiction meant to be enjoyed by adults. George R.R. Martin, the creator of Game of Thrones, is one of his many disciples who continued the tradition of high fantasy writing. Martin took many aspects of Tolkien's works as influences from which to build his own stories but went in a very different direction with his storytelling.

The characters in each series are remarkably well developed and just all-around cool to see in action. Some are selfish, and others are noble and kind. Some are wise while others are small-minded. But true fans of the two franchises should have no trouble identifying in which series a character belongs. So, we hope everybody ate their second breakfast and has paid proper respects to the Old Gods of the Weirwood because it's time to go forth and answer some questions!

Question 1

Aragorn, son of Arathorn, belongs to which franchise?

Aragorn is a ranger of the north and the heir to the ancient line of kings. He has spent years wandering through the wilds and has traveled to the forbidden places where mortal men dare not tread for fear of what lies in wait for them. He is skilled with a long sword, and at a crucial junction in the story, he takes up his family’s ancestral sword, Narsil, which had been broken in ages past but is now reforged as Anduril, Flame of the West. Is he the heir to Tolkien or Martin?

Question 2

Which writer created Ned Stark?

Eddard Stark (better known as “Ned” to his friends) is one of the most honorable characters in literature. Sure, he’s stubborn and more or less humorless. But he’s a man of action and a man of his word, committed to serving his family, his kingdom, and his realm without ever compromising his honor code. He does not let insults go unanswered and does not ask others to do what he would not do himself. Which author created him - JRR Tolkien or George RR Martin?

Question 3

In which franchise does Gandalf appear?

Gandalf is a wizard who has lived many thousands of years and done great deeds. Depending who is asked, he is called Gandalf the Grey, Gandalf the White, Mithrandir, the White Rider, Stormcrow or the Grey Pilgrim, among his other titles. With his wide-brimmed hat and his magic staff, he is a striking image, but it is his love of wry wit, old secrets, and a shared pipe with friends that make him such a beloved character. A true fan can conjure the name of his series.

Question 4

Which series is Jon Snow from?

Jon Snow is in many ways a stereotypical fantasy character. He starts out as a young lad both privileged (as his father was a lord) and disenfranchised (given his birth’s illegitimacy), then he goes on a series of quests with a sword and band of friends to challenge the threats of the wider world, be they human or supernatural. For all the cliché fantasy tropes, he is still a three-dimensional character; someone fans can admire, empathize with, and watch grow. Which series is he from?

Question 5

In which franchise does Daenarys appear?

Daenerys Targaryen is the heir to a royal family in exile, the Mother of Dragons, and the Breaker of Chains. She is known as Khaleesi, The Silver Queen, and as Danaerys Stormborn. From her astute understanding of courtly manipulation to her prowess as a leader of armies to the ways she subverts the romantic expectations placed on her, she is an awe-inspiring heroine! The New York Times has called her one of the finest characters every created by her author. But which series did that author write her into?

Question 6

Is Frodo Baggins a Lord of the Rings or Game of Thrones character?

Frodo is one of the most iconic characters in literature. He is not the strongest or the smartest, not the bravest or most connected, but he has a quality which makes him a unique hero: a willingness to do the right thing despite all his disadvantages. He is the sort of person willing to give up his home, his friends, and his second breakfast to do what needs doing. For all that, part of his charm is that he mixes simple rural living with educated book smarts, even as he ventures out into the wide, perilous world.

Question 7

Is Sam Gamgee a Lord of the Rings or Game of Thrones character?

Sam Gamgee is one of the most interesting characters in literature. He’s a bit of a country bumpkin, a gardener by trade, and a loyal loving servant devoted to his master (an old Victorian trope rooted in now-extinct class dynamics). He’s short and not particularly strong, especially when compared to his allies and enemies. That said, he’s also a brawler, whose love and devotion to his master afford him strength of body and force of will exceeding almost anyone in his series. Which series is he from?

Question 8

Which writer created Tyrion?

A dwarf, a lover of drink, and the smartest man in pretty much whichever room he enters, Tyrion is the ultimate smart aleck, relying on his wits and sense of sword-sharp humor to cut through the obstacles that are presented to him. While not as physically intimidating as many of the characters surrounding him, he is no pushover and has some skill in martial feats. But it is his love of wine and of women that inspire him. Which writer created this brilliant but underestimated character?

Question 9

Did JRR Tolkien or George RR Martin create Legolas?

Legolas is an elf from the forest of Mirkwood. He is also an archer without equal, a warrior skilled in the ways of the knife, and a man whose acute senses allow him to see great distances. He needs no sleep, being able to enter a meditative trance to recover while running, and he has a love of poetry, beauty, and deep woods. But was Legolas the woodland Elf created by the English author JRR Tolkien or by the American novelist George RR Martin?

Question 10

Which writer created Théoden?

He is Théoden, Son of Thengel, Lord of the Mark, and he is one of the coolest characters in all of fantasy literature. When his realm has been constantly threatened by incursions from hostile forces, he successfully fends off a besieging army despite being outnumbered by thousands, then rides to the aid of his allies where he speaks the famous lines, “Spears shall be shaken, swords shall be splintered! A sword day, …a red day…ere the sun rises! Ride now! Ride now! Ride! Ride to ruin and the world’s ending!” Which writer created this warrior king?

Question 11

Jaime Lannister is from which franchise?

Jaime Lannister is called the Kingslayer, and as he was the sworn protector of this particular king, it is not meant as a compliment. A skilled swordsman and devoted brother, he was born into a family that values ambition and family loyalty above things like being a decent person. That said, he is one of the finest swordsmen in the kingdom, and he is forever pushing himself to be better, growing into a virtuous character as the series progresses. Which franchise is he from?

Question 12

Which series featured Ramsay Bolton?

Ramsay Bolton is an unforgettable character. The man is a hunter who values fine hides. Unfortunately, his quarry are people. Because he is a unique monster who takes such personal delights in his sadistic approach to interpersonal relations, one might think he does not function well in the greater society at large. However, the privilege of his birth and the armies he commands protect him from the consequences of his actions. What series features this villain—Game of Thrones or Lord of the Rings?

Question 13

Who wrote about the Dwarf Gimli?

Gimli is a Dwarf from the Misty Mountain who is known for his handsome beard, his stubborn attitude, and his mastery of the axe. He took part in the Council of Elrond and traveled with his best friend, the Elf Legolas, to voyage forth afterwards. His attitudes throughout the series change as he grows, becoming more open to other cultures and peoples as he encounters them. Was it the Anglo-Saxon scholar from Oxford or the American hippie from New York who created this Dwarven warrior?

Question 14

Who created the character Joffrey?

Joffrey the boy king is one of the best villains of all time. Whether in fantasy novels or the history of the real world, child kings tend to be disastrous for all those who serve under them. Joffrey’s childlike inexperience is the least of his character flaws. The sadistic autocrat has less mercy in him than the professional interrogators employed in his dungeons. Some monarchs rule with an iron fist; he added spikes to the iron and delights in the expressions of his subjects as he squeezes. Which writer created this cruel king?

Question 15

Which series features Thorin Oakenshield?

Thorin is a Dwarf who towers above the rest, his deeds and his legacy speaking for themselves. He led the expedition of his countrymen that retook the Lonely Mountain, and he fought in the Battle of Five Armies. He has his flaws, being prone to anger, greed, and petty short-sightedness. He also is fiercely loyal, possesses deep wisdom, and is a lover of the arts, especially crafted works of metal and stone made by his kinsmen. In which series does Thorin Oakenshield appear?

Question 16

Which series features Arya?

Arya is brave, quick-witted, and adaptable. She respects these traits in others, and is eager to learn from anyone who can train her to become skilled in combat. What she does not respect is authority. Over the course of her life, she develops a mastery of swordsmanship, then later learns the arts of deception and disguise. She becomes a Water Dancer, then a warrior, then an assassin. Often, she is stripped of everything she has and all she is. Or so it seems. So far, she has learned to adapt to it all. In which series does she appear?

Question 17

Which writer created Shagrat?

Shagrat. That name is just a delight to read. It is such a perfectly vile villainous name. And the character has more than earned it. He is cruel, petty, and savage. He’s ratlike, a dirty scurrying thing of sharp teeth and sneering hunger, walled up in the dark places in the citadel of Cirith Ungol. This brutish uncouth cut is in only a couple of scenes, but he leaves an impression. Was he created by George RR Martin or by JRR Tolkien?

Question 18

Who wrote about Smaug?

Dragons are meant to be the ultimate baddies, creatures of greed, wrath, and flame. Smaug is no exception. Holed up in the Lonely Mountain with a hoard of stolen gold, this hot-headed usurper is a cruel and nearly indomitable beast, preying on the weak who surround the mountain castle after having already eradicated or driven out everyone who previously lived in the Lonely Mountain. While most of his story takes place prior to the main series, his legacy still haunts the characters. Who wrote about him?

Question 19

Which series is Hodor from?

Hodor Hodor Hodor? Hodor. Hodor Hodor Hodor Hodor Hodor, Hodor Hodor Hodor Hodor Hodor Hodor. Hodor Hodor Hodor Hodor. Hodor Hodor Hodor, Hodor Hodor Hodor Hodor Hodor Hodor, Hodor Hodor Hodor Hodor. Hodor Hodor Hodor Hodor Hodor Hodor Hodor Hodor Hodor—Hodor Hodor Hodor Hodor! Hodor! Hodor Hodor Hodor Hodor. Hodor Hodor Hodor Hodor Hodor Hodor Hodor Hodor Hodor? Hodor Hodor Hodor Hodor: Hodor. Hodor Hodor Hodor Hodor Hodor, Hodor Hodor Hodor Hodor Hodor, Hodor Hodor Hodor, Hodor Hodor Hodor Hodor?

Question 20

In which series is Rosie Cotton a character?

While not a major character, Rosie is notable for being there for another major character in her series, whom she eventually marries. She does not get much time of her own to showcase her personality, but her loyalty to her husband is unquestioned, and the fact that she has many many children suggests a deep love of either kids in general or her husband in particular to put up with all the chaos that comes from that many little ones. What series is she in?

Question 21

Did Tolkien or Martin create Theon Greyjoy?

JRR Tolkien and George RR Martin both created a number of classic characters inspired by Norse heroes. Theon Greyjoy is definitely inspired by Viking sagas, but in many ways, subverts them. He aspires to embody the warrior ideals of his kinsmen, but often falls short, and in his pursuits of manly bravery in battle, he is ultimately unmanned. He also takes the horrors of war to places where the heroism no longer can be used to justify the atrocities. Was it JRR Tolkien or George RR Martin who created this villainous Viking?

Question 22

The Nazgûl are in which series?

Also known as “Black Riders,” these fallen Men have been marked with the dark magics of the Dark Lord, and become semi-corporeal beings that do their master’s bidding. They ride throughout the world either on the backs of horses or huge winged beasts. They were armed with swords, but it was the dagger one of them carried, the Morgul blade, which was among their most dangerous weapons. These nefarious villains are legendary to most fantasy fans. Did they appear in The Lord of the Rings or Game of Thrones?

Question 23

Saruman is from which franchise?

Saruman the White is a wizard of the White Council of Wizards. He lives in the pillar of Orthanc in the castle Isengard. His magics are arguably the greatest of any wizard in the world, but after gazing into one of the Palantir—the seeing stones thought lost to the world—he looked on things he could not unsee and was forever changed. This led to his fall into darkness, in which he became Saruman the Many Colored. Which franchise is he from?

Question 24

What series features Robert Baratheon?

Robert is what happens when a man who is great at taking a throne learns what it means to sit upon it, and then decides to refute the lesson. His temper is as large as his appetites. He loves women, wine, and warfare, but despises his wife and her family. For all that, he is aware of his limitations, and surrounds himself with capable advisors to assist him in running his kingdom. Of course capable does not mean honorable or trustworthy. What series did he appear in?

Question 25

In what franchise was Khal Drogo a character?

Khal Drogo is the ultimate warrior. Sitting astride his horse with a blade in hand, he is fearless, savage, and indomitable, his beard and long mane streaking behind him as he rides forth to victory. Mercy is a word he does not know. Literally. There is no word for mercy in his language. But what he understands is the raw power of strength and skill in the Sea of Grass, the power of a horse beneath him, and the love he shares for his wife. What franchise is he from?

Question 26

Sansa is a character in which series?

Sansa is a difficult character to describe. She is spoiled, selfish, prissy, bossy, and short-sighted. At least, that is how she starts off. But she is one of those characters who grows over time, and who suffers enough hardships that the bad traits she maintains are overlooked out of sympathy for her. She also has a great mind for understanding the courtly interactions and manipulations that make a country run. People covet her beauty, but all too seldom underappreciate her mind. Which series is she from?

Question 27

Is Elrond a character from Lord of the Rings or Game of Thrones?

Elrond is an Elf who is revered throughout the kingdoms of the world, known as “Elrond Half-elven” since his lineage traced back to the pairing of the mortal Man Beren and the Elf Woman Lúthien, though he chose to become a full Elf and so was granted this by the divine beings known as the Valar. He is the sovereign of the community at Rivendell and oversaw the Council of Elrond. He also marched with the Last Alliance of Men and Elves. Which series is he part of?

Question 28

Galadriel is part of which series?

Also known as the Lady of Light, the Lady of the Wood, and the Lady of Lórien. She is married to Celeborn, and the two rule from their home in Lothlórien, where the woods rise in a great city of towering white spires in whose branches the Elves make their home. On her finger is a bright ring, Nenya, the Ring of Water and of Adamant. She has also demonstrated the ability to prophesize the future. Which series is she part of?

Question 29

What series is Littlefinger from?

Littlefinger is a master of manipulation. He is the sort of man who will charm people to their face, pull them into a close embrace, look them in the eyes, and still maintain that confidence-winning smile as he slides a dagger into their spine. A shaper of policy in the royal court, he uses a network of contacts and his influence over women of a certain oldest profession to gain advantage over others. For all that, he deeply loves and is committed to one woman. She just happens to be married. What series is he from?

Question 30

In which series does Cersei appear?

Cersei is such an interesting character! She is never anything other than a cruel, lying, double-crossing villain who uses her body as a weapon while breaking every promise and ruining every life she can in one Machiavellian scheme after another. With that in mind, she is also a loving mother, is deeply (DEEPLY!) devoted to one of her brothers, and has some sympathetic motives to act the way she does. Plus, as a woman who uses her assets to gain greater autonomy, more power to her. In which series does she appear?

Question 31

In what book series was Boromir a major character?

Boromir is the heir to the steward of his city, and so is almost royalty. But that’s the problem. He was almost royal. He was almost strong enough to protect his homeland from invasion. He was almost good enough to resist the magics tempting him as they worked themselves upon his mind. He was almost a hero. But tragically, he fell, and became not just the tragic hero but an unwitting accomplice to cause of villains in the story. Still, his deeds echo on, like his final notes upon his horn. What series is he from?

Question 32

Which writer created Gollum?

Gollum is his own character. Yes, precious, yesss. His. His own. His….preciousssss. No tricksy thieving writers will get credit for making him, oh no, precious, they won’t. They want to steal all the credit. They want to have it for themselves. The no good lying treacherous JRR Tolkiensess and George double-R Martinsesss, they are after what’s his, taking all the credit just because they wrotes the bookses. Well, we knows all abouts it. Still, if one were to get credit, just a little, precious, just a little, who would get it for creating Gollum?

Question 33

Which writer wrote The Hound?

The Hound is the ultimate kicked dog and attack dog rolled into one. A burn victim who bears disfiguring scars, he is a bitter and cruel warrior that acts as one of the king’s personal executioners. For all his cruelty, he is also loyal and has shown a soft side for protecting a few people who he sees are unable to fend for themselves. In particular, he seems to take teenage girls under his protection. Did Tolkien or Martin create this character?

Question 34

Drogon is from which franchise?

Drogon is a dragon, a savage hostile creature of flame and fury. This scaly beast has a hide as black as the night sky and teeth as long as the blades of swords. His wings allow him to rise above his enemies—literally—as he travels great distances in hardly any time. The fiercest of his brethren, Drogon has scoured battlefields of enemies with his hot breath. Does this dreaded draconic character appear in The Lord of the Rings or Game of Thrones?

Question 35

Varys is from which franchise?

The spymaster Varys is an interesting character. He is a cultivator of secrets which he uses to manipulate the court drama around him at King’s Landing. He uses children to do much of his spying, but he has many agents, often servants and the poor, giving them the things they were denied by the ruling elites, such as food and dignity, in exchange for the secrets they can gather. He knows all the secret passageways beneath the palace. Which franchise is he from?

Question 36

In which series does Arwen appear?

Arwen Undómiel is the daughter of Elrond and an Elf Woman of extraordinary wisdom, beauty, and loyalty. This immortal Elf takes a mortal Man to be her lover, marrying him, and in so doing she sacrifices her connection to her people so that she can be bound forever to this Man long after he has passed on. In true Victorian fashion, she thus embodies the old literary trope of a wild woman who becomes civilized through marriage. Is this Elf Woman from The Lord of the Rings or from Game of Thrones?

Question 37

Which series features Éowyn?

Éowyn is one of the greatest classic heroines in all of fantasy, a strong shieldmaiden inspired by Anglo-Saxon warrior ideals who rides into battle, proves her valor in combat alongside the men of her nation, and then surpasses them all by besting a foe that no man can defeat. She is bold, fearless, and yet fiercely loyalty to her nation, her friends, and her family. She loves deeply but will risk everything to fight for what she believes in. what series is she from?

Question 38

Stannis is from which series?

Stannis is a man who is far too serious for his own good. After finding religion, he lost his sense of compassion and his sense of mercy. While he is not a religious fanatic in the traditional sense, there is a cold callous lack of humanity in him that allows him to consider throwing people on the fires of his god to be a perfectly reasonable activity to perform regularly. Which series features this godly man—The Lord of the Rings or Game of Thrones?

Question 39

In what franchise does Shelob appear?

Shelob is not the usual villainess. Where most female fantasy villains tend to be witches brewing magical spells in their cauldrons or else manipulative figures in positions of power who twist others to do their bidding, Shelob has a very different way of getting people wrapped up in her web: she does it literally. This ancient sentient spider is descended from one of the eldest demons in the world, who took the form of a spider. With poison stingers and immense size, she is no pushover. What franchise is she in?

Question 40

Did Tolkien or Martin create Margaery Tyrell?

Margaery Tyrell is one of the heirs of House Tyrell and can possibly be considered to be professionally betrothed to the reigning monarch. Her first husband, Renley, was more interested in her brother than in her, but when Renley moved to become the next king, she and her brother worked to help produce an heir. Then she became betrothed to the sadistic King Joffrey. Then when Joffrey succumbed to the consequences of being a cruel ruler, she wed his younger brother. Which writer created this perpetually remarrying princess?

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