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{{evil infobox
{{evil infobox
| image=[[Image:Danny Staten - Luthien and Carcaroth.jpg|250px]]
| image=[[File:Ted Nasmith - Huan's Leap 2.jpg]]
| name=Carcharoth
| name=Carcharoth
| othernames=Red Maw, [[Anfauglir]]
| othernames=Red Maw, [[Anfauglir]], Borosaith
| created=Mid-[[First Age]]
| created=Mid-[[First Age]]
| years=
| years=
| age=
| age=
| destroyed=[[First Age 466|F.A. 466]], [[Neldoreth]]
| destroyed={{FA|466}}, [[Neldoreth]]
| realm=[[Angband]]
| realm=[[Angband]]
| gender=Male
| gender=Male
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| accomplishments=Took the [[Silmarils|Silmaril]] from [[Beren]] by biting off his hand
| accomplishments=Took the [[Silmarils|Silmaril]] from [[Beren]] by biting off his hand
|}}
|}}
'''Carcharoth''' ("Red Maw" in [[Sindarin]]) was bred from the foul breed of [[Draugluin]], the first [[Werewolf]], and fed with [[Elvish]] and [[Men|human]] flesh by [[Morgoth]] himself. Carcharoth was set as a guard on the [[Gates of Angband]].
'''Carcharoth''' was bred from the foul breed of [[Draugluin]], the first [[Werewolf]], and fed with [[Elves|elvish]] and [[Men|mannish]] flesh by [[Morgoth]] himself. Carcharoth was set as a guard on the [[Gates of Angband]].<ref name=S19>{{S|19}}</ref>


He became involved with the [[Quest for the Silmaril]] when [[Beren Erchamion|Beren]] and [[Lúthien]] had to pass him on their way in. Lúthien enchanted him with her magic, but on their way out Carcharoth attacked before Lúthien could enthrall him again. Beren held out the captured Silmaril in an attempt to stay the beast, but Carcharoth bit off Beren's hand at the wrist with Silmaril and all.
==History==
Carcharoth became involved with the [[Quest for the Silmaril]] when [[Beren]] and [[Lúthien]] had to pass him on their way in. Lúthien enchanted him with her magic, but on their way out Carcharoth attacked before Lúthien could enthral him again. Beren held out the captured Silmaril in an attempt to stay the beast, but Carcharoth bit off Beren's hand at the wrist with Silmaril and all.


The Silmaril burnt away Carcharoth's insides, and he became crazed with pain. A terror to [[Eldar]], Men and [[Orcs]] alike, he passed south through [[Beleriand]], until he arrived in [[Doriath]]. There Beren, King [[Thingol]], [[Beleg|Beleg Cúthalion]] and [[Mablung]] joined with [[Huan the Hound]] in the [[Hunting of the Wolf]].


{{quote|Upon the threshold, watchful, dire,<br>his eyes new-kindled with dull fire,<br>towered Carcharoth, a biding doom:<br>his jaws were gaping like a tomb,<br>his teeth were bare, his tongue aflame;<br>aroused he watched that no one came,<br>no flitting shade nor hunted shape,<br>seeking from Angband to escape.<br>Now past that guard what guile or might<br>could thrust from death into the light?<br><br>He heard afar their hurrying feet,<br>he snuffed an odour strange and sweet;<br>he smelled their coming long before<br>they marked the waiting threat at door.<br>His limbs he stretched and shook off sleep,<br>then stood at gaze. With sudden leap<br>upon them as they sped he sprang,<br>and his howling in the arches rang.<br>Too swift for thought his onset came,<br>too swift for any spell to tame;<br>and Beren desperate then aside<br>thrust Lúthien, and forth did stride<br>unarmed, defenceless to defend<br>Tinúviel until the end.<br>With left he caught at hairy throat<br>with right hand at the eyes he smote—<br>his right, from which the raidance welled<br>of the holy Silmaril he held.<br>As gleam of swords in fire there flashed<br>the fangs of Carcharoth, and crashed<br>together like a trap, that tore<br>the hand about the wrist, and shore<br>through brittle bone and sinew nesh,<br>devouring the frail mortal flesh;<br>and in that cruel mouth unclean<br>engulfed the jewel's holy sheen.|final paragraphs of the ''[[Lay of Leithian]]''}}
At last, he was discovered within the borders of Doriath itself, where he fought his last fight with Huan: the wolf and the hound took one another's lives in that combat.  


Both Beren and Huan were slain. When Mablung cut open the belly of the beast, he found there the Silmaril with Beren's hand still around it, but when he touched the flesh it was swept away by a wind.<ref name=S19/>
{{Pronounce|Carcharoth.mp3|Ardamir}}


The Silmaril burnt away Carcharoth's insides, and he became crazed with pain. A terror to [[Eldar]], Men and [[Orcs]] alike, he passed south through [[Beleriand]], until he arrived in [[Doriath]]. There Beren, King [[Thingol]], [[Beleg Cúthalion]] and [[Mablung of the Heavy Hand|Mablung]] joined with [[Huan the Hound]] in the [[Hunting of the Wolf]].
==Etymology==
The name is translated as Red Maw;<ref name=S19/> the recogniseable [[Sindarin]] elements are [[caran|car(a)n]] "red" as well as [[carach]] "jaw"<ref>{{S|Appendix}}, (entries for ''carak-'' and ''caran'')</ref> or [[carch]] "fang"<ref>{{LR|Etymologies}}, '''KARAK'''</ref>. Based on the above, perhaps the name can be analyzed into the unattested words *''carn'' (an alternate version of ''caran'') and *''caroth'' "maw", the latter ending with the augmentative suffix ''-oth'' also seen in ''[[Nogoth]]'' "(Big) Dwarf" = ''[[naug]]'' + ''oth''<ref>{{PE|17}}, p. 45</ref> ("maw" = "big jaw").


Carcharoth was killed by Beren and Huan, but both Beren and Huan were slain. When Mablung cut open the belly of the beast, he found there the Silmaril with Beren's hand still around it, but when he touched the flesh it was swept away by a wind.{{Pronounce|Carcharoth.mp3|Ardamir}}
Note that the final letter of ''car(a)'''n''''' + the initial letter of '''''c'''arach/oth-'' produce the sound '''ch''' (IPA: {{IPA|x}}) with the phenomenon called [[nasal mutation]].<ref>{{S|Note}}</ref><ref>{{App|E1i}}</ref>


The story of Beren losing his hand to Carcharoth was perhaps modelled after the Germanic legend of the god Tyr, who lost his hand to the wolf Fenris.
==Other Versions of the Legendarium==
Originally Carcharoth's name was ''Karkaras'', the Knife-fang, who was the father of wolves.  He was a great grey wolf.<ref>{{LT2|I}}, p. 21</ref>
 
'''Borosaith''' meaning Everhungry is another name for Carcharoth, and it is said to be used in old songs.<ref>{{SM|Q10}} Note 9 p. 115</ref>


== See Also ==
== See Also ==
* [[:Category:Images of Carcharoth|Images of Carcharoth]]
* [[:Category:Images of Carcharoth|Images of Carcharoth]]


{{references}}
{{wolves}}
{{wolves}}
 
[[Category:Characters in The Silmarillion]]
[[Category:Sindarin names]]
[[Category:Wolves]]
[[Category:Wolves]]
[[Category:Werewolves]]
[[Category:Werewolves]]
[[de:Carcharoth]]
[[de:Carcharoth]]
[[fr:encyclo:personnages:animaux:loups:carcharoth]]
[[fi:Carcharoth]]

Revision as of 14:37, 10 June 2014

Carcharoth
Werewolves
Ted Nasmith - Huan's Leap 2.jpg
Biographical Information
Other namesRed Maw, Anfauglir, Borosaith
Physical Description
RaceWerewolves
GenderMale
GalleryImages of Carcharoth

Carcharoth was bred from the foul breed of Draugluin, the first Werewolf, and fed with elvish and mannish flesh by Morgoth himself. Carcharoth was set as a guard on the Gates of Angband.[1]

History

Carcharoth became involved with the Quest for the Silmaril when Beren and Lúthien had to pass him on their way in. Lúthien enchanted him with her magic, but on their way out Carcharoth attacked before Lúthien could enthral him again. Beren held out the captured Silmaril in an attempt to stay the beast, but Carcharoth bit off Beren's hand at the wrist with Silmaril and all.

The Silmaril burnt away Carcharoth's insides, and he became crazed with pain. A terror to Eldar, Men and Orcs alike, he passed south through Beleriand, until he arrived in Doriath. There Beren, King Thingol, Beleg Cúthalion and Mablung joined with Huan the Hound in the Hunting of the Wolf.

At last, he was discovered within the borders of Doriath itself, where he fought his last fight with Huan: the wolf and the hound took one another's lives in that combat.

Both Beren and Huan were slain. When Mablung cut open the belly of the beast, he found there the Silmaril with Beren's hand still around it, but when he touched the flesh it was swept away by a wind.[1]

Etymology

The name is translated as Red Maw;[1] the recogniseable Sindarin elements are car(a)n "red" as well as carach "jaw"[2] or carch "fang"[3]. Based on the above, perhaps the name can be analyzed into the unattested words *carn (an alternate version of caran) and *caroth "maw", the latter ending with the augmentative suffix -oth also seen in Nogoth "(Big) Dwarf" = naug + oth[4] ("maw" = "big jaw").

Note that the final letter of car(a)n + the initial letter of carach/oth- produce the sound ch (IPA: x) with the phenomenon called nasal mutation.[5][6]

Other Versions of the Legendarium

Originally Carcharoth's name was Karkaras, the Knife-fang, who was the father of wolves. He was a great grey wolf.[7]

Borosaith meaning Everhungry is another name for Carcharoth, and it is said to be used in old songs.[8]

See Also

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: Of Beren and Lúthien"
  2. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Appendix: Elements in Quenya and Sindarin Names", (entries for carak- and caran)
  3. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Lost Road and Other Writings, Part Three: "The Etymologies", KARAK
  4. J.R.R. Tolkien, "Words, Phrases and Passages in Various Tongues in The Lord of the Rings", in Parma Eldalamberon XVII (edited by Christopher Gilson), p. 45
  5. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Note on Pronunciation"
  6. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix E, "Pronunciation of Words and Names", "Consonants"
  7. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Book of Lost Tales Part Two, "I. The Tale of Tinúviel", p. 21
  8. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Shaping of Middle-earth, "III. The Quenta: [Section] 10" Note 9 p. 115


Wolves
Individuals: Carcharoth · Draugluin · Hound of Sauron · (Wolf-Sauron)
Races: Wargs · Werewolves · White Wolves