List of Middle-earth animals
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This is a list of all animals that appear in J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth legendarium. In addition, this list encompasses several living creatures that were referred to at some point by Tolkien as being beast-shaped Maiar (angelic beings) rather than proper animals; such cases are annotated.
In Quenya, an Elven tongue devised by Tolkien, the general term for animals as distinct from plants was kelvar.[1]
[edit] Species
[edit] Craban (pl. Crebain)
A large species of crow that inhabited the land of Dunland during the Third Age. They were often used as servants and spies by various evil powers, notably Saruman. During the War of the Ring, a flock of crebain searched for the Ring-bearer.[2] Crebain "crows" would be the regular plural form of Sindarin *craban "crow," a word which (while unattested) seems to have ben adopted by Tolkien from Indo-European languages, particularly Proto-Germanic *kraban, from which descended both Old High German hraban and English raven. Also related are Latin corvus and English crow.
[edit] Fell beasts
Flying creatures that were used by the Nazgûl as steeds during the later parts of the War of the Ring. However it is believed that this is not their correct name but are simply described as "fell beasts" and therefore they would have no correct assigned name so they are generally referred to as "Fell Beasts". Tolkien describes one thus:
- ...if bird, then greater than all other birds... ...neither quill nor feather did it bear, and its vast pinions were as webs of hide between horned fingers... A creature of an older world maybe it was...[3]
A few paragraphs later it is said to attack with "beak and claw".[3]
[edit] Great Eagles
A race of eagles of outstanding size, believed to have been sent to Middle-earth and Númenor by Manwë. At different times, Tolkien proposed that they had been either Maiarin spirits or just highly intelligent animals. Gwaihir was one of the most famous of these Birds who was known for saving Gandalf, Bilbo and the 13 Dwarves in the Hobbit from Wargs and Goblins, also for retrieving Gandalf's body after his battle with Durin's bane.[4][5]
[edit] Great Spiders
In The Hobbit, it is described that a colony of sapient and over-sized spiders lived in the northern parts of Mirkwood at the end of the Third Age. The Elves of Thranduil's realm tried to exterminate them, but with no avail. During the events of the book, Thorin's company was captured by a colony of spiders and enmeshed in webs; however, Bilbo Baggins managed to free them, with the aid of his sword Sting and magic ring.[6]
The Lord of the Rings adds that these spiders were of the brood of Shelob, who in turn was a child of Ungoliant and that they inhabited southern regions of Mirkwood as well.[7] It is also suggested that the spiders first appeared after the Shadow fell on Mirkwood around T.A. 1050.[8] Although it is known that Ungoliant and some of the Mirkwood spiders could talk, it is unclear if they all could.
[edit] Kine of Araw
Legendary white oxen that lived near the inland Sea of Rhûn, called thus by the men of Gondor who believed them to have been brought to Middle-earth by the Vala Oromë or Araw. Vorondil the Hunter made a horn of one of these beasts into an heirloom of the Stewards of Gondor. This horn was eventually owned by Boromir and was destroyed during the War of the Ring.
The Kine of Araw have been compared to aurochs.[9]
[edit] Kirinki
One of the many species of birds found in Númenor that were not known in Middle-earth. The kirinki are said to have been smaller than wrens, with scarlet feathers and "piping voices on the edge of human hearing".[10]
[edit] Mearas
The mearas (singular mearh) were a breed of wild horses in the north of Middle-earth. Their mortality is equal to Men and their intelligence and strength are extraordinary. They surpass normal horses in the same degree that Elves surpass Men.
They descend from Felaróf, who was tamed by the first King of Rohan, Eorl the Young. Ever since, they have been the mounts of the King and Princes of Rohan alone. During the War of the Ring, however, Gandalf the Grey's friendship with Shadowfax, lord of the Mearas, led to Shadowfax allowing Gandalf to ride him at the end of the Third Age. They may be descended from Nahar, horse of the Vala Oromë.
[edit] Mûmakil
A race of animals that lived in the lands of Harad (South), resembling elephants but much larger and said to have been its ancestors. The mûmakil were used by the Haradrim both as beasts of burden and in warcraft, most prominently during the Battle of the Pelennor Fields.
[edit] Wargs
A race of wolves that was particularly evil-natured and usually in alliance with Orcs. Sometimes described as "demonic wolves", they appear in The Lay of Leithian, The Hobbit and The Fellowship of the Ring. It is believed that they are afraid of Fire as Gandalf uses flaming projectiles against them when trapped with 13 dwarves and Bilbo Baggins. A flame set the Warg chiefs coat alight which sparked panic among the rest who also caught a light and ran about in blind pain.
[edit] Individual animals
- See also: Eagle (Middle-earth)
[edit] Arod
The horse of Legolas. He is the grey horse given to Legolas by the Riders of Rohan in The Two Towers. Gimli also rides on him by sitting behind Legolas. They ride in the traditional Elven way without a saddle. They travel on Arod for much of their journey until they reach Minas Tirith, including the journey on the Paths of the Dead and the march to Pelargir. The epilogue to The Lord of the Rings (published in The History of Middle-earth, volume IX, Sauron Defeated) has Sam saying that "Legolas let his horse run back free to Rohan from Isengard", presumably after the war, when Legolas and Gimli left the rest of the Company to visit Aglarond and Fangorn.
[edit] Arroch
The horse of Húrin Lord of Dor-lómin that he rode to the battle of Nírnaeth Arnoediad. Neither the horse nor the rider returned, and Morwen Húrin's wife "listened for his footfall in the sleepless watches of the night, or would wake thinking that she had heard in the courtyard the neigh of Arroch his horse".
[edit] Asfaloth
The horse ridden by Glorfindel when he meets Strider and the Hobbits shortly before they arrive at Rivendell. Asfaloth carries Frodo alone to the Ford of Bruinen.
'Ride on! Ride on!' cried Glorfindel, and then loud and clear he called to the horse in the elf-tongue: noro lim, noro lim, Asfaloth!" (Sindarin for 'run quickly').
--The Fellowship of the Ring, "Flight to the Ford"
[edit] Bill
A pony bought, for the exorbitant price of twelve silver pennies, by Barliman Butterbur, the innkeeper at the Prancing Pony in Bree, for Frodo Baggins and his companions, as they fled the Shire on their way to Rivendell. This was necessary as their own ponies had been stolen from the stables of the Prancing Pony inn, while they spent the night there. Bill was purchased from Bill Ferny, who was in league with the spies who stole the other ponies. Ferny was a cruel man who mistreated Bill, but after being purchased by the hobbits Bill became a fatter and happier pony. He was given the name 'Bill' by Sam Gamgee shortly after the party left Bree.
After arriving in Rivendell, Bill became acquainted with the elvish horses, and this influence resulted in a good deal of self-improvement. He left Rivendell a much wiser pony, not to mention healthier and happier.
He accompanied the Fellowship of the Ring from Rivendell to the doors of Moria, but had to be left behind there because the company could not take a pony through the mines of Moria. All thought him killed by either the Watcher in the Water or wolves, but being a wise pony by this point, he managed to survive on his own and made his way back to Bree. There, he was nursed back to health at the Prancing Pony, until he eventually was joyfully reunited with Sam on his return journey to the Shire. Bill's old master, Bill Ferny, had been set by "the Chief" (Lotho Sackville-Baggins) to watch the gate at the Brandywine bridge into the Shire, and after he was cowed into submission and sent off by the hobbits, Bill the Pony caught him a kick just as he disappeared into the darkness. Sam took the pony back to Hobbiton where he apparently lived for the rest of his life.
[edit] Bumpkin
One of five ponies obtained by Merry and used by the hobbits to ride from the Shire to Bree. The ponies are named by Tom Bombadil after the hobbits' encounter with the barrow-wight. They later vanish during the attack on Bree by the Black Riders. The reader is told that the ponies find their way to Bombadil and his pony, Fatty Lumpkin, and are eventually sent back to Bree, to be looked after by Butterbur.
[edit] Carc
An intelligent raven that lived upon the Ravenhill beneath the Lonely Mountain in the days of King Thrór. He and his wife nested above the guard-chamber there, and became such a "wise and famous pair" that they lent the name to the hill.[11]
[edit] Carcharoth
The "mightiest of all wolves", bred by Morgoth and set to guard the gates of Angband. He bit off Beren's hand together with the Silmaril and was maddened by its touch. Carcharoth was slain by Huan, but not before he managed to wound mortally both the hound and Beren.
[edit] Draugluin
A werewolf (the first to exist) in the service of Sauron in the First Age.
Bred from the wolves and inhabited with an evil spirit sent by Morgoth himself, Draugluin was the sire of all werewolves of Beleriand, and lived with his master Sauron in Tol-in-Gaurhoth, the former watchtower of Finrod Felagund.
Draugluin was slain by the hound Huan during the Quest for the Silmaril, and Beren and Lúthien used his pelt to sneak into Angband.
Draugluin was the sire of Carcharoth and many other werewolves. It is probable the Wargs of the Third Age were descended from him, as these wolves could speak, suggesting they had fëar.
An earlier form of the name was Drauglir. While Draugluin translates as "blue wolf" in Sindarin, a closer translation is believed to be "pale wolf."
[edit] Fatty Lumpkin
The pony that is ridden by Tom Bombadil. In The Fellowship of the Ring, the Hobbits' (Sam, Merry, Pippin and Frodo) own ponies get to know Fatty Lumpkin and manage to find him after the Hobbits encounter a fog on the Barrow-downs.
[edit] Felaróf
The first of the Mearas, described as being as intelligent and long-lived as any human, could understand the speech of Men.
Felaróf was a wild foal when he was captured by Eorl the Young's father Léod, a tamer of horses. Despite no one being able to tame the horse, Léod attempted to mount him, but was killed when the stallion threw him.
Eorl vowed to avenge his father, but did not slay the horse, commanding the horse to serve him as weregild for his father, and naming the horse Felaróf. Eorl rode him without bit or bridle. They took part in the Battle of the Field of Celebrant.
[edit] Firefoot
A horse of Rohan, and he bore Éomer and Gimli from Edoras to Helm's Deep prior to the Battle of the Hornburg.
[edit] Huan
Huan, also known as the Hound of Valinor, was a great Hound. In The Silmarillion, Tolkien describes him as being approximately the same size as a small horse.
Huan was given to Celegorm, one of the Sons of Fëanor, by the Vala Oromë the Hunter. Huan accompanied Celegorm on his huntings. When the Noldor under Fëanor rebelled, Huan went to Middle-earth with his master. For this reason, he fell under the Doom of Mandos.
Huan had been granted special powers by the Valar, and was allowed to speak three times. It was also prophesied that he would be killed by the greatest wolf that ever lived.
Huan became involved in the Quest for the Silmaril in which Beren tried to recover a Silmaril from Morgoth, the Dark Enemy. When Beren had left Lúthien and gone with Finrod Felagund to Angband but had been captured in Tol-in-Gaurhoth, Lúthien set out to rescue him. She was intercepted by Celegorm and Curufin, who were living in Nargothrond at the time and were hunting. Huan smelt Lúthien and captured her, and she was brought before Celegorm. Celegorm and Curufin did not reveal to her that they had sent Beren to his death by the hand of Sauron, and took her as a prisoner to Nargothrond, "for her own protection", secretly plotting to wed her to Celegorm and thereby force an alliance with Lúthien's father Thingol.
Huan felt pity for Lúthien, and often sought her out. Speaking for the first time, he told her of a way to escape, and then accompanied her to Tol-in-Gaurhoth to rescue Beren. He killed all of Sauron's werewolves until Sauron himself came out, taking the shape of the greatest wolf that had ever lived up to that point (Sauron was as aware as any of Huan's destiny, and ultimately sought in vain to artificially bring about his death). Huan nevertheless managed to defeat him, and Sauron was forced to flee. Huan returned to his master, who had been exiled from Nargothrond by Orodreth.
On their way to Himring Celegorm, Curufin and Huan came across Beren and Lúthien in the north of Doriath. Curufin tried to kill Lúthien, but Huan turned against his master, defending Beren and Lúthien, and drove Celegorm and Curufin away. Speaking for the second time, Huan told Beren and Lúthien of his plan to gain entrance to Angband, bringing them the corpses of the werewolf Draugluin and the bat Thuringwethil, Sauron's messenger. Through magic Beren and Lúthien took the shapes of these beasts and went to Angband in this disguise, while Huan hunted in the wild.
After Beren and Lúthien had won the Silmaril but Beren had lost his hand to the werewolf Carcharoth, Huan joined Beren, Thingol, Beleg Cúthalion and Mablung in the Hunt for the Wolf. Huan and Beren managed to kill Carcharoth, but Huan was mortally wounded. Speaking for the third and last time, he wished Beren and Lúthien fare-well, and died.
Tolkien wrote he was either a beast-shaped Maia or a common animal that had been told to speak by the Valar.[4]
[edit] Hasufel
Hasufel is given to Aragorn by the Riders of Rohan in The Two Towers. Previously, this horse had been ridden by a Rider named Garulf, killed in the recent skirmish with the band of orcs that had captured Merry and Pippin ("May he bear you well and to better fortune than Garulf, his late master!" - Éomer to Aragorn). Later, Aragorn met with a company of Dúnedain from his own lands in the north, bringing him his own mount, Roheryn, which he rode for the remainder of the tale.
[edit] Lightfoot
A horse of Rohan, sire of Snowmane, and the mount of King Théoden. Lightfoot is mentioned on the inscription on Snowmane's grave (Snowmane's Howe).
[edit] Nahar
Nahar (from the Valarin Næχærra) was the horse of the Vala Oromë. It was the neighing of Nahar that alerted Oromë to the presence of the Quendi when he came upon them for the first time, and light from the sparks his hooves threw up were the first light in Valinor after the darkening of the trees.
[edit] Roäc
The son of Carc the raven, born in T.A. 2788. By the time of the Quest of Erebor organised by Thorin II Oakenshield, Roäc had become the leader of the great ravens of the Lonely Mountain, although it is stated that "he was getting blind, he could hardly fly, and the top of his head was bald." With his and his flock's help, Thorin's company gathered news and communicated with Dáin II Ironfoot before the Battle of Five Armies.[11]
[edit] Rochallor
The horse of Fingolfin, High King of the Noldor. Rochallor bore the King to the gates of Angband, where a desperate and fearless Fingolfin challenged Morgoth to single combat. Rochallor stayed by his master throughout the duel, but was driven away by wolves. He died of a burst heart in Hithlum soon afterwards.
[edit] Roheryn
The name Roheryn means 'horse of the lady' in Tolkien's invented Elven language, Sindarin; this stems from the horse being gifted to Aragorn by his lady-love, Arwen. Roheryn was brought to Aragorn in the South by his kinsman Halbarad during the War of the Ring, prior to the Battle of the Pelennor Fields. He, Arod, and the other horses of the Dúnedain went with their masters on the Paths of the Dead and made the great march to Pelargir.
[edit] Shadowfax
A horse of Rohan, the chief of the Mearas. Like the other mearas, Shadowfax was a grey/silver stallion and can understand the speech of Men. He was also seemingly fearless, and can run faster than any other horse in Middle-earth. He is tamed by Gandalf and reluctantly granted as a gift to him (after Gandalf had borrowed him for some time) by King Théoden of the Rohirrim. No Man could tame Shadowfax. He would not tolerate a bridle or saddle and only carried Gandalf by choice. The great horse also bore a hobbit, Pippin and the dwarf Gimli, (both times with Gandalf riding) for a short time during the War of the Ring. His name could be translated as Shadow-hair, Old English feax meaning "hair". The name Shadowfax derives from the horses Skinfaxi and Hrímfaxi in Norse Mythology.
In an unpublished epilogue and letters Tolkien stated that Shadowfax passed West over the Sea with Gandalf, but in The Lord of the Rings itself this is only hinted at by mention of Gandalf standing near a "great grey horse" on the quay just before departing, and the earlier promise by Gandalf (in the chapter 'The White Rider') that he and Shadowfax will not be parted again in this world.
[edit] Sharp-ears
See List of Middle-earth animals#Bumpkin.
[edit] Shelob
An "evil thing in spider form"[7] that dwelt beneath the Pass of Cirith Ungol on the borders of Mordor. During the events of The Lord of the Rings, she attacked the Ring-bearer Frodo Baggins who was passing through her lair, but she was withstood by Sam Gamgee.
Shelob is stated to have been the "last child of Ungoliant to trouble the unhappy world";[7] of Ungoliant's nature Tolkien had not provided any precise definition, noting that she entered the world from the Void[12] and implying apparently that she was one of the Ainur.
[edit] Snowmane
Foal of Lightfoot, is the mount of King Théoden, on which he rode into the Battle of the Pelennor Fields. He is certainly weaker than Shadowfax, ridden by Gandalf; however, since his master was the King of Rohan he was most likely one of the Mearas himself.
Snowmane accompanied Théoden to the Battle of the Hornburg, and is ridden on the final charge out of the fortress. At the battle of the Pelennor, however, Snowmane is pierced by a black dart, causing him to fall and crush Théoden beneath him. He is buried with honour on the field of battle; his grave, known as Snowmane's Howe, bore the inscription:
- Faithful servant yet master's bane
- Lightfoot's foal, swift Snowmane.
- -- The Return of the King: "The Battle of the Pelennor Fields," p. 120
[edit] Strider
The pony ridden by Frodo from Minas Tirith back to the Shire, and from the Shire to the Grey Havens. The pony came to be known as Strider during or after the journey from Minas Tirith.
[edit] Stybba
The pony given by Théoden to Merry Brandybuck. He is described as small, shaggy, and grey. Théoden's reason for leaving Merry in Edoras while he rides to Gondor to do battle is that Stybba cannot keep up with the horses of the Rohirrim, and none of the riders can carry Merry. The name is from Old English styb "stub, stump". Icelandic stubbur is a common name for sheep.
[edit] Swish-tail
See List of Middle-earth animals#Bumpkin.
[edit] Watcher in the Water
A mysterious creature with tentacles appearing in The Lord of the Rings. Shortly before the end of the Third Age, it lived in a lake before the West-door of Moria, and attacked the Company of the Ring during the events of the book. Later writers have compared it to legendary Kraken and giant squids.
[edit] White-socks
See List of Middle-earth animals#Bumpkin.
[edit] Windfola
Éowyn's grey horse. Whilst disguised as Dernhelm, Éowyn (with Merry) rode to the Battle of the Pelennor Fields on Windfola. During the battle, Éowyn and Merry were thrown from Windfola's back when Windfola was terrified by the fell beast on which the Nazgûl rode, and ran wild over the plain.
[edit] Wise-nose
See List of Middle-earth animals#Bumpkin.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
- ^ J. R. R. Tolkien (1977), Christopher Tolkien, ed., The Silmarillion, Boston: Houghton Mifflin, Ch. 2 "Of Aulë and Yavanna", ISBN 0-395-25730-1
- ^ J. R. R. Tolkien (April 1, 1987), The Fellowship of the Ring, vol. 1, The Lord of the Rings, Boston: Houghton Mifflin, Book II Ch. 3 "The Ring Goes South", ISBN 0-395-08254-4
- ^ a b J. R. R. Tolkien (April 1, 1987), The Return of the King, vol. 3, The Lord of the Rings, Boston: Houghton Mifflin, "The Battle of the Pelennor Fields", ISBN 0-395-08256-0
- ^ a b J. R. R. Tolkien (1993), Christopher Tolkien, ed., Morgoth's Ring, Boston: Houghton Mifflin, "Myths Transformed" VIII, pp. 410-12, ISBN 0-395-68092-1
- ^ Morgoth's Ring, p. 138.
- ^ J. R. R. Tolkien (2002), Annotated by Douglas A. Anderson, ed., The Annotated Hobbit, Boston: Houghton Mifflin, Ch. 8 "Flies and Spiders", ISBN 0-618-13470-0
- ^ a b c J. R. R. Tolkien (April 1, 1987), The Two Towers, vol. 2, The Lord of the Rings, Boston: Houghton Mifflin, "Shelob's Lair", ISBN 0-395-08254-4
- ^ J. R. R. Tolkien (April 1, 1987), The Return of the King, vol. 3, The Lord of the Rings, Boston: Houghton Mifflin, Appendix B, ISBN 0-395-08256-0
- ^ The Science of Middle-earth: The Kine of Araw - Henry Gee, The Science of Middle-earth
- ^ J. R. R. Tolkien (1980), Christopher Tolkien, ed., Unfinished Tales, Boston: Houghton Mifflin, "A Description of Númenor", ISBN 0-395-29917-9
- ^ a b J. R. R. Tolkien (2002), Annotated by Douglas A. Anderson, ed., The Annotated Hobbit, Boston: Houghton Mifflin, Ch. 15 "The Gathering of Clouds", ISBN 0-618-13470-0
- ^ Morgoth's Ring, p. 284.
[edit] External links
- Quenya and Sindarin wordlists at Wiktionary, which include Elvish names devised by Tolkien for real-word animals
- Movie Horses NZ Information on the horses who worked in Peter Jackson’s film trilogy
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