Your way through the trilogy

Yes, we know the books are very, very long - that's why we've come up with a handy guide for bluffing your way through Lord of the Rings.

Hobbits Frodo, the hero, is a hobbit. Officially, they are about two to four feet tall, have pointed ears, oversized feet and curly hair.

Westron The dialect spoken by hobbits.

Halfling Slang for a hobbit.

Merry, Pippin and Samwise Frodo's hobbit friends who help destroy the Ring so Lord Sauron can't get his hands on it.

Gimli, Galadriel and Gandalf the Grey Not to be confused. Gimli's a dwarf, Galadriel's an elf and Gandalf's a wizard.

Legolas, Arwen and Elrond Galadriel's fellow elves. Just so you know, elves are immortal and grow wiser and more beautiful with age.

Cracks of doom Not a dry lip condition but a place Frodo (our hero) must go to destroy the Ring.

Witch-king Leader of the Ringwraiths.

The Ringwraiths Remember the Dementors?

Middle-earth The land where The Lord of the Rings action happens.

Hobbiton, Bree, Weathertop and Wendell Locations within Middle-earth.

Nazgul and Blackriders Other names for Ringwraiths.

Anduril Sounds like a painkiller, granted, but is, in fact, the ancient sword used to cut the Ring from the Dark Lord's hand.

Dark Lord Sauron Think Lord Voldemort, but scarier.