I think my favorite animal in the trilogy was the fox that ran across the escaping hobbits in the shire. The fox thought that something very queer was going on, but never found out what it was :)
"Gnome" was an early name for the Elves that would eventually be called the Noldor. The word is based on the Greek word "gnosis" referring to knowledge.
If Beren had originally been a Noldor and Luthien a Sindar, it would explain how they could easily fall in love, why her father opposed their marriage, and why he set a bride price that would probably get Beren killed. It would be comparable to a miller's son falling in love with a king's daughter.
@@emmitstewart1921 The final version was worse. Luthien, born of a Sindar and a Maia, marrying a mortal man, whom Thingol "did not even take into his service."
Just realized "Tevildo" is an anagram for "Evil Dot" The Eye of Sauron is similarly bright and red, and reflective of a cat's eye. Tolkien predicted lasers long before they were invented, and the cat's eternal struggle to hunt the red dot of evil.
I believe Huan's designation of "wolfhound" means he's a breed like the Irish Wolfhound, a dog bred to combat wolves, making werewolves a very natural enemy for him. Depictions of Huan as simply a wolf-like dog have become a pet peeve of mine because it's such a missed opportunity! Irish wolfhounds are cool (and huge!) and the professor would likely have been familiar with them specifically, being a breed with strong British pastoral ties.
Cats are mentioned twice in LOTR. Aragorn mentions Queen Beruthiel and her cats as they pass through Moria. The second reference takes place in Shelob's Lair where Tolkien mentions that Sauron regarded Shelob as his 'cat'.
There is also an indirect reference in "The Black Gate Opens" when the Captains of the West come before the gate a demand that the Dark Lord come forth. "he (Sauron) had a mind first to play these mice cruelly before he struck to kill." I've thought that casting Sauron in the role of a cat playing with mice as a sort of private Easter egg Tolkien inserted referencing Sauron's connection to Tevildo.
It was in LOTR, at the end of the Two Towers, page 333 in my copy, bottom paragraph. "And sometimes as a man may cast a dainty to his cat (his cat he calls her, but she owns him not) Sauron would send her prisoners that he had nor better use for: he would have them driven to her hole, and report brought back to him of the play she made." I hope that answers your question.@@bootstrapbill98
The discussion about the Eagles and why they didn't fly them to Mordor (aside from the Eagles being sentient beings and not a taxi service) has of course been had to death; but I'd just like to say one thing about it. As we know, the Nazgul were mounted on the fell-beasts when they returned to Mordor after Frodo's narrow escape at the Ford of Bruinen, so, by the time the Fellowship left Rivendell, they presumably had their gross pterosaurs going on. Additionally, Sauron resides at the top of Barad-dur, which is tall. Speaking of tallness, a single error in carrying the Ring-bearer would result in his falling a very tall distance (deadly to him as a short person), through air (which is famously poor at concealing things). In other words: the "take the Eagles to Mordor" plan is, in a little more detail, the "bring the Ring up to Sauron's eyeline and keep it there for many weeks while the newly-airborne Nazgul zero in on it" plan. To me, as an alternative to what they went with, this sounds Bad Actually.
Yes. I always felt that people acting like the eagles are a plot hole are being silly. Sauron is essentially a godlike being, so why would you make it obvious what you are doing? You have to trick him and be sneaky.
To add to the overdone discussion, Tolkien spends an entire paragraph describing the very well maintained rode between the Cracks of Doom and Baradur. The Eagles are spotted flying in, once Sauron figures out where they are headed, he hurries over there himself and meets them as they land. Things go badly.
I dunno, with a bit of good timing the Eagles could get there pretty quick, without fear of interception from the Flying Nazgul. For example, when they were all engaged at Minas Tirith. Also when the plan was made, this particular device of the Dark Lord was unknown, so it should have been considered at the least. Sauron's power to perceive things afar off, especially as he had a palantir, meant he could at least in theory spot the Eagles coming. However he didn't see the hobbits coming, despite quite a lot of info that they were somewhere in the vicinity, and that they were carrying, and even using the Ring (Sam used it in Cirith Ungol, right on the borders of Mordor). So it looks like he could've been caught off guard. Would not make a good story, of course.
There is no mention of any other notable horses in Tolkien's world such as King Theoden's horse or the horse of the Elves that bears Frodo to safety from the Black Riders!!
One thing I love about the biblical symbolism behind animals is that even those that are usually portrayed as bad (such as wolves & snakes) are reconciled with the rest of the animals (& people) at the coming of the Savior. Isaiah 11:6 is one of my favorites: “the wolf shall be the guest of the lamb.” 🥰
Thats beautiful! I also considered putting in a bit about the story of Saint Francis and the wolf in Gubbio, but it would have been an excessive tangent I think. Still super neat how even "evil" animals within the context of the Bible can be turned good with enough love and care.
I don't think they are literally talkng about animals. Thats one reason why there's a revival of pagan religions because animals simply are not part of the narrative for the big five religions, they are just useful symbols. Something I've always hated about them. Even humanists kind of say 'who cares'.
Also the use of the bronze serpent on the pole (where we get the modern medical symbol) in Numbers 21:8-9 - a representation of the people's source of suffering transformed into their instrument of healing. : )
@@Jess_of_the_Shire This nicely goes over why wolves get a worse reputation than they deserve: th-cam.com/video/4mm0KyaovhY/w-d-xo.htmlsi=PcK8ADhm9pt3tJ8y
I just love Saint Francis! And so few people seem to know the story of Saint Francis and the wolf. I’m thinking that it’s likely that as a Catholic, Tolkien would have been very familiar with Saint Francis. These two certainly would seem to have a similar view of nature and the environment. And of course Saint Francis developed this when it was complete the unfashionable to hold such views.
I have two black kittens, and i do not see them as purveyors of evil. But they are objectively purveyors of chaos. This is precisely why i love them so much.
One of my favorite little things in the lotr is the fox that comes across frodo, Sam, and pippin while still in the shire. I feel like it shows a brief window onto Tolkiens humor.
The reason "they didn't just fly in on the eagles" is that the only reason they could get there is that sauron underestimated them. If eagles had been involved, he would have dealt with them.
I am surprised the intelligent fox from Fellowship of the Ring didn't get a mention. I am always left puzzled by that fox, who comes across Frodo, Sam and Merry headed for Buckland and sleeping the woods. The fox thinks to itself, "Hobbits! Well, what's next? I have heard of strange doings in this land, but I have seldom heard of a hobbit sleeping out of doors under a tree. Three of them! There's something might queer behind this." It suggests all of his animals could have a full and articulate internal monologue. And then, separately, there are also the "were-worms" in the Last Desert in the East of East that are mentioned by Bilbo...always wondered what they were.
Were worms were a type of dragon I believe since they are called worm sometimes in the Legendarium. At least that is what I assumed them to be first time I read it.
@@MountainFisher There is nothing in the Legendarium that describes were-worms. "Were" is an Old English term meaning "man," and certainly recalls "werewolf," though in Tolkien's world a werewolf was an abnormally large and intelligent wolf (not a man who could transform into a wolf as in other literature or folklore) although Sauron could famously take the form of a werewolf in the early ages of the world. "Worm" can mean dragon in Old English and in Tolkien's parlance, though it could mean a number of things in Old English, including (commonly) snakes or any reptile generally, earthworms and other modern-day worms, or (less likely to be what Toilkien intended for a childrens' story) things like maggots, unwholesome insects, or things that can causes disease. Were-worms might be dragons, though Tolkien also had dragons of man-like intelligence and doesn't refer to those dragons as "were-worms." That dragons are not elsewhere referred to by that term makes me think were-worms were probably snakes of manlike intelligence, but we will never know.
@Pandaemoni aye agreed, it's entirely possible that the locals around where the were-worms lived used that name, hence Bilbo referencing them as such as they may be a particular species/subtype of dragon/drake/wyrm, distinct enough for bilbo to think of were-worms and dragons as sufficiently different beasts as to warrant different names (or just calls them what he was told they were called when he presumably asked? idk that's all conjecture but tolkein did LOVE giving multiple names to things depending on who was speaking)
The horses ridden by the Nazgul serve as a tragic counterpoint to the "good" horses of Middle-Earth, and underscore the point that horses are a reflection of their caretakers. (e.g., again, Bill the Pony flourished under Sam's care once he was free of Bill Ferny.)
I like your casting of horses, not having owners but “caretakers“. It reminds me of the story where the little boy with the dog. He’s asked about his dog’s name. He replies “we do not know his name, but we called him Fido“.
My personal fave is Roac the Raven. I know he was kind of a small part, but I've always loved corvids in general and kinda wished Tolkien had maybe leaned a little more into the Odin-inspiration for Gandalf more and gave him some raven friends to counter Saruman's crows.
The short tale of The Cats of Queen Beruthiel is solid proof that Tolkien agreed with cat lovers. That there are two types of people never to be trusted. People who don't like cats, and people cats don't like! 😂😂
I thought that interesting how at the VERY beginning of LOTR Tolkien has a fox thinking in human terms. But no animal really does that again. So Tolkien seems to be implying they do possess language, but unlike 'the old days' they don't bother communicating with humans. I always wonder WHAT kind of 'wisdom' Galdalf somehow passed on to Bill. Shadowfax doesn't seem that interested in a conversation, but he gets a free trip to Valinor for basically taking Galdalf on two trips. Its also interesting that Shelob never talks, despite Ungoliant having been able to, and obviously if gollum 'made a deal' with her, then she could at least understand language. Its interesting that the WORDS Frodo says when the nine riders attack are said to have hurt them more than the sword, but when Frodo and then Sam talk in old elvish, the text reads like its the light and the words have no effect. What that MEANS, I don't know, I just thought it interesting. He even says "she had heard elves say those words long ago and it didn't daunt her". The most cinematic part of the text is when sam is 'possessed' and speaks a language he doesn't know, but that doesn't affect Shelob. But then when 'he's just sam' again he basically yells 'come taste it again' and she goes crawling away. Again, I'm sure that means something in literary criticism, I don't know what it is, but its interesting.
When Sam calls on Varda (Elbereth) in the language he doesn't understand she replies by causing the Phial to blaze more intensely, helping Sam to defeat Shelob. The last surviving light of the Trees that Ungoliant killed, it's almost as if the Trees themselves fought Ungoliant's descendant.
@@gmansard641 It is actually the light if the sylmaryl bound to Earandils brow. It is not the last light of the two trees, since the sun is the flower of one tree and the moon is the fruit of the other. Shelob fears that light because it is a form of the light that eternally burned her mother and may have killed her in the end.
@@emmitstewart1921 I didn't think of that, Anar and Isil, carrying the last fruits of Laurelin and Telperion. I think JRRT referred the the Silmarils as containing the "last unsullied light" of the Trees. Perhaps I should think of it in those terms.
every time you mention your rats, it makes me smile, i had a pair of rats, and they're honestly the most wonderful wee beasties and surprisingly cuddly once they get to know you
@drs-xj3pb definitely check out fancy rats (the common name for the breed/species of rat used as pets, which is different to wild/sewer rats, which are much bigger), they're remarkably intelligent and often seem/behave more like tiny dogs or cats than they do other rodents, and they're so fluffy 😁
Gnomes was a term that Tolkien used in his early writings to refer to the inhabitants of Faerie. Sometimes meant Elves, sometimes Dwarves, but usually the former. He created a language he called Gnomish. Later he quit using the term, and switched to the ones we're familiar with today..
I believe Gnomes is just the original name Tolkien had for the Elven tribe of the Ñoldor/Ngoldor. Both deriving their name more from the Greek word for wisdom/knowledge of ‘gnōmē’ which characterized the skill and arts of the Ñoldor. We even see the morphology of the ñ/ng in words like ‘Morgul’ meaning: ‘black (mor) sorcery (gul). Sorcery/magic derived from knowledge or skill. Just like how Ñolofinwë is called the Gnomish King in The Lays of Beleriand. He even had Bëor give Findaráto the Mannish name Nóm to further hone in on the Gnome in his work being the Ñoldor.
Great video! Just found your channel last week. What a tremendous amount of work and wisdom you put into these. I was bummed the fox in Shortcut to Mushrooms didn't get a mention. I love that there's just this sentient fox "passing by on business of his own" who wonders briefly about hobbits acting strangely. It's one of my favorite scenes in Fellowship, if for no other reason than it implies there are other stories, just as strange and meaningful to their participants as ours are to us, going on around us all the time.
Great stuff - neat learning a bit more about the creatures of Middle-earth. Always loved how Tolkien wove nature and particular creatures into his storytelling. I like how it's present in all of the Free People's background and lore from the horses of Rohan to the ravens in The Hobbit and swans and such in the designs of boats and like amongst the humans and elves. It certainly showcases just how much stock Tolkien put in nature and being in tune with it rather than against it. Always been fascinated by Beorn in particular and it was neat that you linked him to Bombadil - I never would have thought that that mystery element built into his character. I would love to see more done about Beorn. I added a bunch about the Beornings into my One Ring RPG campaigns because I loved them so much haha
It is fascinating how he integrates the animals into cultural motifs! It enriches the world in such a beautiful way. Beorn is definitely going to come back up when I do a full video on Tom Bombadil. I had never made that connection myself until I read the journal entry that I linked in the description, but it's certainly a fascinating comparison. Thanks for watching, and for the continual support! It really means the world
I always thought it was super interesting how Melkors evil influences and his marring of Arda changed all the animals in ways you wouldn't expect to be considered evil. Like, growing horns and antlers and having dominance disputes rather than living peacefully. Makes you wonder if this is why the Oliphaunts were so willing to be ridden and sent to war, since they were so HUGE and had four gigantic tusks.
Even horses were, because thats what domestication does. I think thats why Tolkien makes a point of giving SOME domesticated animals 'language' to set them apart from the 'dumb' animals. Either way, 'evil' is very much a part of middle earth, so the idea that animals would just be one or the other seems unfair.
My eldest daughter hates stories about anthropomorphic animals, and she hit that fox and stopped reading. No matter how much we tried to explain it was not a talking animals story and that fox is sui generis. She wasn't impressed. As far as I know, she's never read the book. 😓😓😓
Lovely stream! Hooray for painful puns! The Ravens of Erebor were also quite important as messengers in the Hobbit, but kind of took a backseat to the thrushes
22:00 Tolkien saw the faith of horses in WW1. Those soldiers all went through hell but a neat fact is cavalry who lost their horse got leave of abcense. They understood the bond between man and horse in those days in a way we've forgotten today.
"If battles didn't start promptly, berserkers would start fistfights with trees" If this raid isn't going to start on time, I'm gonna go play MineCraft.
The thrush is a bird that is found in Celtic lore. The fae folks would take the form of thrushes and ravens frequently. There was even a story of a fae prince who married a human woman and he could turn from thrush to man.
I discoreved your channel only recently, and have been watching regularly. But i did not watched your older videos. It is funny to see the distinction. I LOVE how you do your videos nowadays, but it was interesting to see also videos like this, when you put references and jokes. That gnome sounds killed me everytime hahahaha
What! Not a word for the ravens of Erebor, for these brilliant and loyal messengers... shame on you for having forgotten them! Justice for Roäc, son of Carc. 22:16 Bill wasn't healed by Rivendell's magic (although it might have helped a little) but simply by Sam's good care. 24:33 I assume you mean "the Great Trees of Valinor".
I’ve been a fan of the Hobbit and the LOTR books (and movies) for more than 30 years. Over the last week, I have watched several of Your entertaining and humorous videos. Great job - and thank you.👍 (See super- thanks)
Would have been nice to mention the Ravens of Ravenhill in The Hobbit. Friendly to the Dwarves, Roac son of Carc could translate the Thrush's message for Thorin & Co.
Chat GPT knew: Furthermore, Tolkien himself kept horses and would often go on horseback rides in the English countryside. His personal experiences and appreciation for these creatures certainly influenced the way he depicted horses in his writings, emphasizing their grace, loyalty, and the strong connections they form with their riders. From what I know, Tolkien created the Rohirrim as a romantacised Anglo Saxon horse culture. "What if the Anglo-Saxons used cavalry more?"
@@cocobunitacobuni8738 No idea, you'd need a medieval history expert on that one. But on the Continent there was an established equestrian tradition going back to the rise of the Carolingians in the 8th century. My guess is that the Normans adopted it when they settled in France.
It is a rare thing for me to binge watch a single channels video's. I love you for your work my knowledge of tolkien and the ideologies of his works has increased, significantly challenging my preconceptions and ideologies deepening my love for fantasy. I admire and respect you which is not something I can say about most people I know personally and look forward to more.
Carcharoth was raised by Morgoth, not Sauron and there are other dogs, Beorn's and Farmer Maggot's (sorry for being a bighead) Great video, again! I was actually not aware of the cat-business.
Another appearance of the Eagles of Manwe was as an omen of the Downfall of Numenor. In its last days, 'a great cloud shaped as it were an eagle' appeared to blot out the sun, and bearing lightning beneath its wings, caused men to cry out in fear 'The Eagles of the Lords of the West!'.
Shadowfax was also the only horse to not flee in terror from the Witch king, very brave. So neither Tolkien nor Steven King is a fan of spiders, I can relate.
As someone who loves animals , I really enjoyed this video. It did make me realize that Tolkien didn't actually mention animals much that I can recall, other than the specific plot points you mentioned. Perhaps he leaves it to the reader to assume the standard fauna in the world. I think he does mention "forest creatures" when Bilbo and company are making their way through Murkwood. I think wargs would have been a nice inclusion in the dogs/wolves section, but I don't know how much lore there is to find about them.
Look up “Love of the three Oranges” it’s an opera. along with the puss and boots opera (19th century) Tolkien must’ve been keen on opera as it was at its height in popularity at the time. And there are several plot points you mention with animals which are 1:1. Especially the cat story
I have that same artwork of an eagle fighting a dragon, and I can't believe I never realized it could be Thorondor thrashing Ancalagon. It's been my phone's wallpaper since August.
I've heard it jokingly said that excellence of Bill the Pony was Tolkien's apolpgy for having so many ponies eaten by goblins and dragons in "The Hobbit". I enjoyed the video very much, and since it was an "almost" complete guide I will forgive the exclusion of the importance of Swans, the Fox and the queer ways of Badgers.
While not part of the Middle Earth universe, you would enjoy Farmer Giles of Ham. Where the titular character has a dog and a dragon that are both fun characters that feature prominently throughout the novella.
I love Farmer Giles of Ham! It's such a fun romp, and the animal/beast characters are just enchanting. Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment!
Another wonderful video. Tempo is pleasant, presentation almost whimsical and information presented in a well thought out manner (segues can be stretched when your viewers are both interested and appreciative of your efforts) and your humility really helped. Your degree serves you well. Thank you. Please continue.
According to modern scholars, Tolkien probably had NO arachnophobia (even though he didn't like them all that much) and he allegedly put the spiders into The Hobbit to affect his son Michael (who had), and then later in The Lord of the Rings to have an expy for Ungolianth. But still, it's funny that even his first outline for Earendil's story contains a giant spider as a fiend. 😅
❤ "In Christianity, the Thrush is seen as a symbol of hope and resurrection. The story of Easter is often associated with the Thrush because of its connection to rebirth and new beginnings. Christians also see the Thrush as a symbol of purity and innocence. In some Christian artwork, the Thrush is depicted as a white bird, representing the innocent soul of a child.The thrush bird symbolism is also associated with music and song. In many cultures, they are connected to the creative arts. If you hear a thrush singing, it is a sign that the muse is close by and inspiration is on the way. If you are feeling creatively blocked, listening to the song Thrush can help to open you up to new ideas and possibilities." from spiritanimalsandsymbolism
I am in the camp that berserkers were not a particularly Norse idea, rather they are among the last documented versions of Indo-European tradition. The reason we know more about Norse berserkers rather than their counterparts is because there was much written about the Norse while they were still a very tribal pagan people, while other Indo-Europeans adopted near eastern civilisational and/or religious norms at the same time their society started documenting itself/was being documented by others. I would argue Arcadian werewolves were the same, and it wasn't so much a punishment rather that is more or less the intended result Also negative spider myths definitely exist, though more in the south and east where venomous spiders predominate. Most importantly I think you touched on something often overlooked with the Tolkien horse girl comment. Many of the noble pursuits of old have been denigrated as the hobbies of weirdos. Wargaming is the hobby of sweaty overweight men, equestrianism is the hobby of weird horse girls, etc.
At 21:05, the role of the Eagles as messengers of God is seen in the Eagle that brings the news of the defeat of Sauron to Minas Tirith in language straight out of the Psalms of David.
are you aware of the TH-cam channel called men of the West? I believe that is the channel that has a video about what would’ve happened if Bill the Pony had ended up with the ring.
Beorn is also largely inspired the Norse Saga of King Hrólf Kraki in which Bödvar Bjarki is able to shapeshift into a bear to fight for the titular king. Bjarki’s father’s name, whom he inherited his shapeshifting ability from: Björn. I assume Tolkien would have or was going to have the skinchanging ability be some kind of curse from The Necromancer/Sauron given that in this Norse saga a witch casts the spell as well as Sauron’s own history in the legendarium to shapeshift to various animals.
Two other points. Don't forget about the ravens of Raven Hill in the Hobbit. And tho' it's maybe the most obscure character of all in the Fellowship, my fave is the fox in the woods who comes up on the hobbits and wonders to itself why they're out and abroad from Hobbiton.
Cat by J. R. R. Tolkien The fat cat on the mat may seem to dream of nice mice that suffice for him, or cream; but he free, maybe, walks in thought unbowed, proud, where loud roared and fought his kin, lean and slim, or deep in den in the East feasted on beasts and tender men. The giant lion with iron claw in paw, and huge ruthless tooth in gory jaw; the pard dark-starred, fleet upon feet, that oft soft from aloft leaps upon his meat where woods loom in gloom -- far now they be, fierce and free, and tamed is he; but fat cat on the mat kept as a pet he does not forget.
I always felt that Ungoliant and Shelob were also a way for Tolkien to draw a distinction between a kind of “naturally-occurring evil” versus a politically-motivated or socially-motivated evil as, say, Sauron is. Ungoliant and Shelob do not care anything about the petty squabbling between men and others. They simply see anyone and everyone as a meal. The sort of antisocial element of the two spiders makes them more frightening than the main villains were, at least to me.
I'd say Old Man Willow is very similar to Shelob and Ungoliant. I don't know if he was trying to actually eat the hobbits during the Old Forest sequence in Fellowship, but it sure seemed like he was!
Mûmakil / Oliphaunts are where its at 😔 By the way in Dutch/Afrikaans/Flemish Olifant is Elephant. I read the Lost Tales in high school it was so hard.
There's the black cat in Edgar Allen Poe's tale, which fawns on the protagonist, even though he hates it, and eventually kills it. It then appears to take revenge from beyond the grave. Maybe Tolkien was thinking of that cat as well.
Setting aside myth and fiction for the moment (if possible), I consider that a great number of authors and artists have kept and loved dogs and cats, but to date I have read or heard nothing about JRRT's keeping and loving them in real life. Yes, his frequent mention of pipe-smoking clearly reflects his own devotion to the practice (quite a few writers and artists of note were pipesters), but I wonder whether in real life he petted a dog or coddled a cat, since these domestic adornments seldom appear to advantage in the Saga or other writings. What say you?
Hi Jess. Sorry if I misspelled your name. Love your inspiring and informative videos. But maybe you should write references or origin of the art and artists shown in the video? 😊
I feel like they said somewhere the point of not going on with armies or eagles or the like was the need for stealth...... There were only so many eagles..... Sauron was supposed to have lots of spies. Hobbits slipped under everyone radar.
I think my favorite animal in the trilogy was the fox that ran across the escaping hobbits in the shire. The fox thought that something very queer was going on, but never found out what it was :)
Yes, something very queer was happening. 3 Hobbits were sleeping outside !!!
"Gnome" was an early name for the Elves that would eventually be called the Noldor. The word is based on the Greek word "gnosis" referring to knowledge.
Thanks for explaining the Noldor gnome connection, it's very interesting that initially Barron wasn't a man
"Gnomes" appear in JRRT's early versions of the Silmarillion, which are in Book of Lost Tales.
If Beren had originally been a Noldor and Luthien a Sindar, it would explain how they could easily fall in love, why her father opposed their marriage, and why he set a bride price that would probably get Beren killed. It would be comparable to a miller's son falling in love with a king's daughter.
@@emmitstewart1921 The final version was worse. Luthien, born of a Sindar and a Maia, marrying a mortal man, whom Thingol "did not even take into his service."
Dude, we were there
Just realized "Tevildo" is an anagram for "Evil Dot" The Eye of Sauron is similarly bright and red, and reflective of a cat's eye. Tolkien predicted lasers long before they were invented, and the cat's eternal struggle to hunt the red dot of evil.
Oh, my ... the evil red dot of evil!
Tolkien was definitely a genius and you’ve uncovered the final proof. Brilliant!
I believe Huan's designation of "wolfhound" means he's a breed like the Irish Wolfhound, a dog bred to combat wolves, making werewolves a very natural enemy for him. Depictions of Huan as simply a wolf-like dog have become a pet peeve of mine because it's such a missed opportunity! Irish wolfhounds are cool (and huge!) and the professor would likely have been familiar with them specifically, being a breed with strong British pastoral ties.
Cats are mentioned twice in LOTR. Aragorn mentions Queen Beruthiel and her cats as they pass through Moria. The second reference takes place in Shelob's Lair where Tolkien mentions that Sauron regarded Shelob as his 'cat'.
There is also an indirect reference in "The Black Gate Opens" when the Captains of the West come before the gate a demand that the Dark Lord come forth. "he (Sauron) had a mind first to play these mice cruelly before he struck to kill."
I've thought that casting Sauron in the role of a cat playing with mice as a sort of private Easter egg Tolkien inserted referencing Sauron's connection to Tevildo.
@@dsmdgold Good observation, definitely an indirect cat reference.
@@bsa45acp As a cat person, with two feline sisters currently living with me, I am sad that Tolkien apparently had negative views about these animals.
which book is that "shelob is cat" mention in? I don't remember that in the two towers, I assume it was in the legendarium or silmarilion?
It was in LOTR, at the end of the Two Towers, page 333 in my copy, bottom paragraph. "And sometimes as a man may cast a dainty to his cat (his cat he calls her, but she owns him not) Sauron would send her prisoners that he had nor better use for: he would have them driven to her hole, and report brought back to him of the play she made." I hope that answers your question.@@bootstrapbill98
The discussion about the Eagles and why they didn't fly them to Mordor (aside from the Eagles being sentient beings and not a taxi service) has of course been had to death; but I'd just like to say one thing about it. As we know, the Nazgul were mounted on the fell-beasts when they returned to Mordor after Frodo's narrow escape at the Ford of Bruinen, so, by the time the Fellowship left Rivendell, they presumably had their gross pterosaurs going on. Additionally, Sauron resides at the top of Barad-dur, which is tall. Speaking of tallness, a single error in carrying the Ring-bearer would result in his falling a very tall distance (deadly to him as a short person), through air (which is famously poor at concealing things). In other words: the "take the Eagles to Mordor" plan is, in a little more detail, the "bring the Ring up to Sauron's eyeline and keep it there for many weeks while the newly-airborne Nazgul zero in on it" plan. To me, as an alternative to what they went with, this sounds Bad Actually.
Riding the eagles to Mordor would make for a very short and boring story. One wouldn't be very popular.
Yes. I always felt that people acting like the eagles are a plot hole are being silly. Sauron is essentially a godlike being, so why would you make it obvious what you are doing? You have to trick him and be sneaky.
To add to the overdone discussion, Tolkien spends an entire paragraph describing the very well maintained rode between the Cracks of Doom and Baradur. The Eagles are spotted flying in, once Sauron figures out where they are headed, he hurries over there himself and meets them as they land. Things go badly.
Well said!
I dunno, with a bit of good timing the Eagles could get there pretty quick, without fear of interception from the Flying Nazgul. For example, when they were all engaged at Minas Tirith. Also when the plan was made, this particular device of the Dark Lord was unknown, so it should have been considered at the least.
Sauron's power to perceive things afar off, especially as he had a palantir, meant he could at least in theory spot the Eagles coming. However he didn't see the hobbits coming, despite quite a lot of info that they were somewhere in the vicinity, and that they were carrying, and even using the Ring (Sam used it in Cirith Ungol, right on the borders of Mordor). So it looks like he could've been caught off guard.
Would not make a good story, of course.
Bill the pony is the true hero of middle earth
My dad always wanted a puppy so when he finally got one he named it Huan. It's a great Pyrenees and will therefore be very big...
"Bill the pony and Shadofax were just really good horses."
Sometimes thats enough!
There is no mention of any other notable horses in Tolkien's world such as King Theoden's horse or the horse of the Elves that bears Frodo to safety from the Black Riders!!
One thing I love about the biblical symbolism behind animals is that even those that are usually portrayed as bad (such as wolves & snakes) are reconciled with the rest of the animals (& people) at the coming of the Savior. Isaiah 11:6 is one of my favorites: “the wolf shall be the guest of the lamb.” 🥰
Thats beautiful! I also considered putting in a bit about the story of Saint Francis and the wolf in Gubbio, but it would have been an excessive tangent I think. Still super neat how even "evil" animals within the context of the Bible can be turned good with enough love and care.
I don't think they are literally talkng about animals. Thats one reason why there's a revival of pagan religions because animals simply are not part of the narrative for the big five religions, they are just useful symbols. Something I've always hated about them. Even humanists kind of say 'who cares'.
Also the use of the bronze serpent on the pole (where we get the modern medical symbol) in Numbers 21:8-9 - a representation of the people's source of suffering transformed into their instrument of healing. : )
@@Jess_of_the_Shire This nicely goes over why wolves get a worse reputation than they deserve: th-cam.com/video/4mm0KyaovhY/w-d-xo.htmlsi=PcK8ADhm9pt3tJ8y
I just love Saint Francis! And so few people seem to know the story of Saint Francis and the wolf.
I’m thinking that it’s likely that as a Catholic, Tolkien would have been very familiar with Saint Francis.
These two certainly would seem to have a similar view of nature and the environment. And of course Saint Francis developed this when it was complete the unfashionable to hold such views.
I have two black kittens, and i do not see them as purveyors of evil. But they are objectively purveyors of chaos. This is precisely why i love them so much.
One of my favorite little things in the lotr is the fox that comes across frodo, Sam, and pippin while still in the shire. I feel like it shows a brief window onto Tolkiens humor.
The reason "they didn't just fly in on the eagles" is that the only reason they could get there is that sauron underestimated them. If eagles had been involved, he would have dealt with them.
I am surprised the intelligent fox from Fellowship of the Ring didn't get a mention. I am always left puzzled by that fox, who comes across Frodo, Sam and Merry headed for Buckland and sleeping the woods. The fox thinks to itself, "Hobbits! Well, what's next? I have heard of strange doings in this land, but I have seldom heard of a hobbit sleeping out of doors under a tree. Three of them! There's something might queer behind this." It suggests all of his animals could have a full and articulate internal monologue. And then, separately, there are also the "were-worms" in the Last Desert in the East of East that are mentioned by Bilbo...always wondered what they were.
Were worms were a type of dragon I believe since they are called worm sometimes in the Legendarium. At least that is what I assumed them to be first time I read it.
@@MountainFisher There is nothing in the Legendarium that describes were-worms. "Were" is an Old English term meaning "man," and certainly recalls "werewolf," though in Tolkien's world a werewolf was an abnormally large and intelligent wolf (not a man who could transform into a wolf as in other literature or folklore) although Sauron could famously take the form of a werewolf in the early ages of the world. "Worm" can mean dragon in Old English and in Tolkien's parlance, though it could mean a number of things in Old English, including (commonly) snakes or any reptile generally, earthworms and other modern-day worms, or (less likely to be what Toilkien intended for a childrens' story) things like maggots, unwholesome insects, or things that can causes disease. Were-worms might be dragons, though Tolkien also had dragons of man-like intelligence and doesn't refer to those dragons as "were-worms." That dragons are not elsewhere referred to by that term makes me think were-worms were probably snakes of manlike intelligence, but we will never know.
@@Pandaemoni I'm just giving my first impression.
@@MountainFisher Worm was a medieval synonym for dragon, as Tolkien uses it in his story, Farmer Giles Of Ham.
@Pandaemoni aye agreed, it's entirely possible that the locals around where the were-worms lived used that name, hence Bilbo referencing them as such as they may be a particular species/subtype of dragon/drake/wyrm, distinct enough for bilbo to think of were-worms and dragons as sufficiently different beasts as to warrant different names (or just calls them what he was told they were called when he presumably asked? idk that's all conjecture but tolkein did LOVE giving multiple names to things depending on who was speaking)
I felt like the Hobbit movies did a disservice to Beorn's character. He's supposed to have a regal bearing.
They were a disservice in general.
The horses ridden by the Nazgul serve as a tragic counterpoint to the "good" horses of Middle-Earth, and underscore the point that horses are a reflection of their caretakers. (e.g., again, Bill the Pony flourished under Sam's care once he was free of Bill Ferny.)
Also reflecting their caretakers are Tom Bombadil's Fatty Lumpkin and Theoden's Snowmane.
I like your casting of horses, not having owners but “caretakers“.
It reminds me of the story where the little boy with the dog. He’s asked about his dog’s name. He replies “we do not know his name, but we called him Fido“.
My personal fave is Roac the Raven. I know he was kind of a small part, but I've always loved corvids in general and kinda wished Tolkien had maybe leaned a little more into the Odin-inspiration for Gandalf more and gave him some raven friends to counter Saruman's crows.
The short tale of The Cats of Queen Beruthiel is solid proof that Tolkien agreed with cat lovers. That there are two types of people never to be trusted. People who don't like cats, and people cats don't like! 😂😂
Absolutely
Included in _The Adventures of Tom Bombadil_ is "Cat" which is a traditional Shire poem possibly revised a bit by Sam Gamgee.
I thought that interesting how at the VERY beginning of LOTR Tolkien has a fox thinking in human terms. But no animal really does that again. So Tolkien seems to be implying they do possess language, but unlike 'the old days' they don't bother communicating with humans. I always wonder WHAT kind of 'wisdom' Galdalf somehow passed on to Bill. Shadowfax doesn't seem that interested in a conversation, but he gets a free trip to Valinor for basically taking Galdalf on two trips.
Its also interesting that Shelob never talks, despite Ungoliant having been able to, and obviously if gollum 'made a deal' with her, then she could at least understand language. Its interesting that the WORDS Frodo says when the nine riders attack are said to have hurt them more than the sword, but when Frodo and then Sam talk in old elvish, the text reads like its the light and the words have no effect. What that MEANS, I don't know, I just thought it interesting. He even says "she had heard elves say those words long ago and it didn't daunt her". The most cinematic part of the text is when sam is 'possessed' and speaks a language he doesn't know, but that doesn't affect Shelob. But then when 'he's just sam' again he basically yells 'come taste it again' and she goes crawling away. Again, I'm sure that means something in literary criticism, I don't know what it is, but its interesting.
When Sam calls on Varda (Elbereth) in the language he doesn't understand she replies by causing the Phial to blaze more intensely, helping Sam to defeat Shelob. The last surviving light of the Trees that Ungoliant killed, it's almost as if the Trees themselves fought Ungoliant's descendant.
@@gmansard641 A great idea!
@@gmansard641 It is actually the light if the sylmaryl bound to Earandils brow. It is not the last light of the two trees, since the sun is the flower of one tree and the moon is the fruit of the other. Shelob fears that light because it is a form of the light that eternally burned her mother and may have killed her in the end.
@@emmitstewart1921 I didn't think of that, Anar and Isil, carrying the last fruits of Laurelin and Telperion. I think JRRT referred the the Silmarils as containing the "last unsullied light" of the Trees. Perhaps I should think of it in those terms.
every time you mention your rats, it makes me smile, i had a pair of rats, and they're honestly the most wonderful wee beasties and surprisingly cuddly once they get to know you
See the rat playmate in Little Women, the only literary rat pet I'm aware of. Willard excluded.
@drs-xj3pb definitely check out fancy rats (the common name for the breed/species of rat used as pets, which is different to wild/sewer rats, which are much bigger), they're remarkably intelligent and often seem/behave more like tiny dogs or cats than they do other rodents, and they're so fluffy 😁
Gnomes was a term that Tolkien used in his early writings to refer to the inhabitants of Faerie. Sometimes meant Elves, sometimes Dwarves, but usually the former. He created a language he called Gnomish. Later he quit using the term, and switched to the ones we're familiar with today..
I believe Gnomes is just the original name Tolkien had for the Elven tribe of the Ñoldor/Ngoldor. Both deriving their name more from the Greek word for wisdom/knowledge of ‘gnōmē’ which characterized the skill and arts of the Ñoldor. We even see the morphology of the ñ/ng in words like ‘Morgul’ meaning: ‘black (mor) sorcery (gul). Sorcery/magic derived from knowledge or skill. Just like how Ñolofinwë is called the Gnomish King in The Lays of Beleriand. He even had Bëor give Findaráto the Mannish name Nóm to further hone in on the Gnome in his work being the Ñoldor.
Great video! Just found your channel last week. What a tremendous amount of work and wisdom you put into these.
I was bummed the fox in Shortcut to Mushrooms didn't get a mention. I love that there's just this sentient fox "passing by on business of his own" who wonders briefly about hobbits acting strangely. It's one of my favorite scenes in Fellowship, if for no other reason than it implies there are other stories, just as strange and meaningful to their participants as ours are to us, going on around us all the time.
Great stuff - neat learning a bit more about the creatures of Middle-earth. Always loved how Tolkien wove nature and particular creatures into his storytelling. I like how it's present in all of the Free People's background and lore from the horses of Rohan to the ravens in The Hobbit and swans and such in the designs of boats and like amongst the humans and elves. It certainly showcases just how much stock Tolkien put in nature and being in tune with it rather than against it.
Always been fascinated by Beorn in particular and it was neat that you linked him to Bombadil - I never would have thought that that mystery element built into his character. I would love to see more done about Beorn. I added a bunch about the Beornings into my One Ring RPG campaigns because I loved them so much haha
It is fascinating how he integrates the animals into cultural motifs! It enriches the world in such a beautiful way.
Beorn is definitely going to come back up when I do a full video on Tom Bombadil. I had never made that connection myself until I read the journal entry that I linked in the description, but it's certainly a fascinating comparison. Thanks for watching, and for the continual support! It really means the world
@@Jess_of_the_Shire No problem, love watching every week - always fascinating learning more about Tolkien and from different perspectives!
I'd give Tevildo a heated blanket and cat snacks and he'd be rehabilitated in no time
I have just watched a video that includes the line “Tolkien was a horse girl at heart.” This is a thing that has just happened.😂
I always thought it was super interesting how Melkors evil influences and his marring of Arda changed all the animals in ways you wouldn't expect to be considered evil. Like, growing horns and antlers and having dominance disputes rather than living peacefully. Makes you wonder if this is why the Oliphaunts were so willing to be ridden and sent to war, since they were so HUGE and had four gigantic tusks.
Even horses were, because thats what domestication does. I think thats why Tolkien makes a point of giving SOME domesticated animals 'language' to set them apart from the 'dumb' animals.
Either way, 'evil' is very much a part of middle earth, so the idea that animals would just be one or the other seems unfair.
My eldest daughter hates stories about anthropomorphic animals, and she hit that fox and stopped reading. No matter how much we tried to explain it was not a talking animals story and that fox is sui generis. She wasn't impressed. As far as I know, she's never read the book. 😓😓😓
Lovely stream! Hooray for painful puns! The Ravens of Erebor were also quite important as messengers in the Hobbit, but kind of took a backseat to the thrushes
You missed the fox in the Shire! A fleeting reference admittedly, but an intriguing one in a small way... :)
22:00 Tolkien saw the faith of horses in WW1.
Those soldiers all went through hell but a neat fact is cavalry who lost their horse got leave of abcense.
They understood the bond between man and horse in those days in a way we've forgotten today.
I was waiting for the fox that has dialogue in fellowship of the ring.
My favourite animal in LOTR 😂
I think Shelob's mother is the most interesting mystery in middle earth lore.
"If battles didn't start promptly, berserkers would start fistfights with trees"
If this raid isn't going to start on time, I'm gonna go play MineCraft.
You can't talk about Tolkien's animals now without talking about #JUSTICEFORGARM
My god. I can't beleive I made this mistake. Expect my formal apology video tomorrow.
"Help! help! help!" 🐶
You forgot the Oliphants,,,, "Grey as mouse, big as a house..."
Spiders may be more used. plot-wise, but Tolkien never dedicated a whole poem to them!
Yes he did! The one Bilbo sings to the spiders in Mirkwood to taunt them!
The thrush is a bird that is found in Celtic lore. The fae folks would take the form of thrushes and ravens frequently. There was even a story of a fae prince who married a human woman and he could turn from thrush to man.
I picture Morgoth petting his giant cat, and ordering his troops around.
Like the Godfather?
I discoreved your channel only recently, and have been watching regularly. But i did not watched your older videos.
It is funny to see the distinction. I LOVE how you do your videos nowadays, but it was interesting to see also videos like this, when you put references and jokes. That gnome sounds killed me everytime hahahaha
What! Not a word for the ravens of Erebor, for these brilliant and loyal messengers... shame on you for having forgotten them! Justice for Roäc, son of Carc.
22:16 Bill wasn't healed by Rivendell's magic (although it might have helped a little) but simply by Sam's good care.
24:33 I assume you mean "the Great Trees of Valinor".
13:30, technically Tolkien's werewolves were wolves with manish or man-like intelligence. Were- Man, Wolf-wolf. Thus werewolf = manish wolf
Did Tolkien invent the ROUS' (rodents of unusual size)?😂
Now that is an EXCELLENT point.... much to consider
I believe Morgenstern came before Tolkien, though not before stew.
I’ve been a fan of the Hobbit and the LOTR books (and movies) for more than 30 years. Over the last week, I have watched several of Your entertaining and humorous videos. Great job - and thank you.👍 (See super- thanks)
Can we get a LoTR adaptation where Sauron's a cat please? I didn't know I needed that in my life until now!
He already had the eye for it.
@@edwarddore7617 EEEHHH
You have a very relaxing voice, you should do readings of books or short stories
You're currently my favorite youtuber, loving this content!
Ah, Huan. Middle Earth's goodest boy.
Tolkien as a horse girl is a joyful thought I will never let go. And it was nice to see a cameo of your rat! ❤
The gnome popping up every few minutes is killing me
Would have been nice to mention the Ravens of Ravenhill in The Hobbit. Friendly to the Dwarves, Roac son of Carc could translate the Thrush's message for Thorin & Co.
Also, as a "horse girl" at heart, I have always wondered if Tolkien had a special love for horses.
I read that he actually cared for horses during the first world war at the front but I never verified that...
Chat GPT knew: Furthermore, Tolkien himself kept horses and would often go on horseback rides in the English countryside. His personal experiences and appreciation for these creatures certainly influenced the way he depicted horses in his writings, emphasizing their grace, loyalty, and the strong connections they form with their riders.
From what I know, Tolkien created the Rohirrim as a romantacised Anglo Saxon horse culture. "What if the Anglo-Saxons used cavalry more?"
@@cocobunitacobuni8738 With Saxon cavalry the Battle of Hastings would have been very different.
@@gmansard641 I'm a noob in English history so had to go read up on it. yes it would have been very different. Why didn't England use horses?
@@cocobunitacobuni8738 No idea, you'd need a medieval history expert on that one. But on the Continent there was an established equestrian tradition going back to the rise of the Carolingians in the 8th century. My guess is that the Normans adopted it when they settled in France.
It is a rare thing for me to binge watch a single channels video's. I love you for your work my knowledge of tolkien and the ideologies of his works has increased, significantly challenging my preconceptions and ideologies deepening my love for fantasy. I admire and respect you which is not something I can say about most people I know personally and look forward to more.
Carcharoth sound like the sort of guy you want to keep at arm's lenght.
Carcharoth was raised by Morgoth, not Sauron and there are other dogs, Beorn's and Farmer Maggot's (sorry for being a bighead)
Great video, again! I was actually not aware of the cat-business.
Another appearance of the Eagles of Manwe was as an omen of the Downfall of Numenor. In its last days, 'a great cloud shaped as it were an eagle' appeared to blot out the sun, and bearing lightning beneath its wings, caused men to cry out in fear 'The Eagles of the Lords of the West!'.
Shadowfax was also the only horse to not flee in terror from the Witch king, very brave. So neither Tolkien nor Steven King is a fan of spiders, I can relate.
The realtionship of CS Luis and Tulkin is like Freaaiser and Niles in Fraiser.
This is such a great subject, thank you for making an entire video about it 👌🏾😄
As someone who loves animals , I really enjoyed this video. It did make me realize that Tolkien didn't actually mention animals much that I can recall, other than the specific plot points you mentioned. Perhaps he leaves it to the reader to assume the standard fauna in the world. I think he does mention "forest creatures" when Bilbo and company are making their way through Murkwood.
I think wargs would have been a nice inclusion in the dogs/wolves section, but I don't know how much lore there is to find about them.
Saruman using ravens as spies is very odin of him
You forgot the fox that asks himself where the hobbits are going.
Look up “Love of the three Oranges” it’s an opera. along with the puss and boots opera (19th century) Tolkien must’ve been keen on opera as it was at its height in popularity at the time. And there are several plot points you mention with animals which are 1:1. Especially the cat story
Nice Video! I've never gotten into Tolkien, but I've always been interested. Thank you for making a video that's easy to watch and learn a bit.
Thank you so much for watching! I'm glad I could help you get a little further into Middle Earth!
Jess - part time hobbit/full time angel! 🌹🌹🌹
I have that same artwork of an eagle fighting a dragon, and I can't believe I never realized it could be Thorondor thrashing Ancalagon. It's been my phone's wallpaper since August.
I've heard it jokingly said that excellence of Bill the Pony was Tolkien's apolpgy for having so many ponies eaten by goblins and dragons in "The Hobbit".
I enjoyed the video very much, and since it was an "almost" complete guide I will forgive the exclusion of the importance of Swans, the Fox and the queer ways of Badgers.
Theatre nerd! why am I not surprised I spent three years in technical theatre in Grant MacEwan in Canada too, so it's not a shock that I like you, 😊
18:04 Thorondor was bigger than an Airbus 320 or a Boeing 737.
While not part of the Middle Earth universe, you would enjoy Farmer Giles of Ham. Where the titular character has a dog and a dragon that are both fun characters that feature prominently throughout the novella.
It is a fun quick read.
I love Farmer Giles of Ham! It's such a fun romp, and the animal/beast characters are just enchanting. Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment!
Toklien's wolf stories, a yarn of armed robbery. I'll see myself out.
Fauns are rather benevolent compared to the more sadistic satyrs, so Tumnus as a faun is totally appropriate.
Another wonderful video. Tempo is pleasant, presentation almost whimsical and information presented in a well thought out manner (segues can be stretched when your viewers are both interested and appreciative of your efforts) and your humility really helped. Your degree serves you well. Thank you. Please continue.
According to modern scholars, Tolkien probably had NO arachnophobia (even though he didn't like them all that much) and he allegedly put the spiders into The Hobbit to affect his son Michael (who had), and then later in The Lord of the Rings to have an expy for Ungolianth.
But still, it's funny that even his first outline for Earendil's story contains a giant spider as a fiend. 😅
Good stuff! Fun and enlightening!
thank you for your videos, as a wannabe tolkien historian these are amazingly well made
wonderful video informative and so entertaining
the constant gnome laughter when he's mentioned really got to me.. LOL
❤ "In Christianity, the Thrush is seen as a symbol of hope and resurrection. The story of Easter is often associated with the Thrush because of its connection to rebirth and new beginnings. Christians also see the Thrush as a symbol of purity and innocence. In some Christian artwork, the Thrush is depicted as a white bird, representing the innocent soul of a child.The thrush bird symbolism is also associated with music and song. In many cultures, they are connected to the creative arts. If you hear a thrush singing, it is a sign that the muse is close by and inspiration is on the way. If you are feeling creatively blocked, listening to the song Thrush can help to open you up to new ideas and possibilities." from spiritanimalsandsymbolism
I am in the camp that berserkers were not a particularly Norse idea, rather they are among the last documented versions of Indo-European tradition. The reason we know more about Norse berserkers rather than their counterparts is because there was much written about the Norse while they were still a very tribal pagan people, while other Indo-Europeans adopted near eastern civilisational and/or religious norms at the same time their society started documenting itself/was being documented by others. I would argue Arcadian werewolves were the same, and it wasn't so much a punishment rather that is more or less the intended result
Also negative spider myths definitely exist, though more in the south and east where venomous spiders predominate.
Most importantly I think you touched on something often overlooked with the Tolkien horse girl comment. Many of the noble pursuits of old have been denigrated as the hobbies of weirdos. Wargaming is the hobby of sweaty overweight men, equestrianism is the hobby of weird horse girls, etc.
Plot twist - super mice are R.O.U.S.s and the Princess Bride lives within Tolkein's universe.
Unconcievable!
12:55 I saw so many movies like that, that was great!
At 21:05, the role of the Eagles as messengers of God is seen in the Eagle that brings the news of the defeat of Sauron to Minas Tirith in language straight out of the Psalms of David.
are you aware of the TH-cam channel called men of the West? I believe that is the channel that has a video about what would’ve happened if Bill the Pony had ended up with the ring.
Beorn is also largely inspired the Norse Saga of King Hrólf Kraki in which Bödvar Bjarki is able to shapeshift into a bear to fight for the titular king. Bjarki’s father’s name, whom he inherited his shapeshifting ability from: Björn.
I assume Tolkien would have or was going to have the skinchanging ability be some kind of curse from The Necromancer/Sauron given that in this Norse saga a witch casts the spell as well as Sauron’s own history in the legendarium to shapeshift to various animals.
Two other points. Don't forget about the ravens of Raven Hill in the Hobbit. And tho' it's maybe the most obscure character of all in the Fellowship, my fave is the fox in the woods who comes up on the hobbits and wonders to itself why they're out and abroad from Hobbiton.
Tolkien does write about more dogs in FotR, with farmer Maggot’s puppers.
Oliphants!
I think the most important cat in Tolkien is the cat who played a 5 string fiddle.
Cat by J. R. R. Tolkien
The fat cat on the mat
may seem to dream
of nice mice that suffice
for him, or cream;
but he free, maybe,
walks in thought
unbowed, proud, where loud
roared and fought
his kin, lean and slim,
or deep in den
in the East feasted on beasts
and tender men.
The giant lion with iron
claw in paw,
and huge ruthless tooth
in gory jaw;
the pard dark-starred,
fleet upon feet,
that oft soft from aloft
leaps upon his meat
where woods loom in gloom --
far now they be,
fierce and free,
and tamed is he;
but fat cat on the mat
kept as a pet
he does not forget.
I always felt that Ungoliant and Shelob were also a way for Tolkien to draw a distinction between a kind of “naturally-occurring evil” versus a politically-motivated or socially-motivated evil as, say, Sauron is. Ungoliant and Shelob do not care anything about the petty squabbling between men and others. They simply see anyone and everyone as a meal. The sort of antisocial element of the two spiders makes them more frightening than the main villains were, at least to me.
I'd say Old Man Willow is very similar to Shelob and Ungoliant. I don't know if he was trying to actually eat the hobbits during the Old Forest sequence in Fellowship, but it sure seemed like he was!
Mûmakil / Oliphaunts are where its at 😔 By the way in Dutch/Afrikaans/Flemish Olifant is Elephant. I read the Lost Tales in high school it was so hard.
Luthien is still looking good since last I saw her.
“Her hatred of cats only drew them closer”
Yeah that checks out
There's the black cat in Edgar Allen Poe's tale, which fawns on the protagonist, even though he hates it, and eventually kills it. It then appears to take revenge from beyond the grave.
Maybe Tolkien was thinking of that cat as well.
"shabby horse energy" 🤣🤣
Setting aside myth and fiction for the moment (if possible), I consider that a great number of authors and artists have kept and loved dogs and cats, but to date I have read or heard nothing about JRRT's keeping and loving them in real life. Yes, his frequent mention of pipe-smoking clearly reflects his own devotion to the practice (quite a few writers and artists of note were pipesters), but I wonder whether in real life he petted a dog or coddled a cat, since these domestic adornments seldom appear to advantage in the Saga or other writings. What say you?
What’s your thoughts on the fox from fellowship that observes Frodo with sentient thoughts?
Hi Jess. Sorry if I misspelled your name.
Love your inspiring and informative videos.
But maybe you should write references or origin of the art and artists shown in the video? 😊
I feel like they said somewhere the point of not going on with armies or eagles or the like was the need for stealth......
There were only so many eagles..... Sauron was supposed to have lots of spies. Hobbits slipped under everyone radar.
I have always been fond of dogs, and the loyalty of Huan completely resonated with me.
Now I like him even more.
Somehow it had never occurred to me that there were no cats in Middle Earth