Gongs: Difference between revisions

From Tolkien Gateway
No edit summary
No edit summary
 
(27 intermediate revisions by 10 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{rewrite}}{{sources}}'''Gongs''' are evil beings that are obscurely related to [[Orcs]]. They appear in early drafts of ''[[The Silmarillion]]'', and nowhere else.
{{race infobox
| name=Gongs
| image=
| caption=
| pronun=
| othernames=False-fairies, Goblins, Kaukareldar
| origin=Created by [[Morgoth|Melko]] in the likeness of [[Elves]] and [[Men]]
| location=[[Angband|Angamandi]], [[Nargothrond]], [[Thingol|Linwë's]] [[Menegroth|halls]], [[Rôs]]
| affiliation=[[Úvanimo|Úvanimor]]
| rivalry=[[Elves]], [[Gnomes]], [[Men]]
| language=[[Melkian]]
| people=
| members=
| lifespan=Unknown
| distinctions=Evil footsoldiers of the [[Dark Lord|Enemy]]
| height=Bent back<!--Don't want to remove as it is worth mentioning under physical descriptions but this isn't exactly a very helpful height descriptor-->
| hair=
| skin=
| clothing=
| weapons=
}}


[[Category:Non-canon]]
'''Gongs''' were evil beings, obscurely related to [[Orcs]] that appeared within ''[[The Book of Lost Tales]]'', the earliest version of the [[Legendarium]].<ref>{{LT2|Index}}, entry "Gongs"</ref> There are no references to Gongs in the later legendarium.
[[Category:Other races]]
 
== History ==
After the [[Nirnaeth Arnoediad|Battle of Unnumbered Tears]], [[Morgoth|Melko]] created Gongs,<ref group="note">Within the text, the word ''Gongs'' appears bracketed close to false-fairies and ''Kaukareldar''.</ref> in the image of [[Men]] and [[Elves]] in order to deceive and betray Men.<ref>{{LT1|X}}</ref>
 
[[Mîm]] the [[Petty-dwarves|petty-dwarf]] commanded a guard of Orcs and Gongs to protect the treasures of [[Glaurung|Glorund]] in [[Nargothrond]]. They were slain by [[Húrin]] and his companions.<ref name=Gongs>{{LT2|IIn}}</ref>
 
Not long after, a group of Gongs sacked [[Thingol|Linwë's]] [[Menegroth|halls]], killing Linwë, stealing the cursed gold, and fleeing far away. However, they are attacked by [[Beren|Beren Ermabwed]], forcing the gold and [[Silmarils|Silmaril]] into the river [[Sirion]], though the Silmaril was eventually found washed up by the [[Dwarves|Nauglath]].<ref name=Gongs/>
 
During the [[Faring Forth]], a group of Gongs, alongside Orcs, Dwarves, [[Trolls]], and evil [[Men]] were among the evil participants of the [[Battle of Rôs]].<ref>{{LT2|VIb}}</ref>
 
== Etymology ==
In his commentary, [[Christopher Tolkien]] remarks that the Gnomish Lexicon defines a ''Gong'' as ''"one of a tribe of the Orcs, a goblin"'', but notes that ''Gongs'' might just be another name for ''Kaukareldar'',<ref>{{LT1|Xn}}, note 10</ref> an early [[Quenya]] word under the root ''[[KAWA]]'' ("stoop") which has five derivations: ''[[kauka]]'' ("crooked, bent, humped"), ''[[kauko]]'' ("humpback"), ''[[kawin]]'' ("I bow"), ''[[kaurë]]'' ("fear"), and ''[[kaurëa]]'' ("timid").<ref>{{LT1|Appendix}}, entry "Kaukareldar"</ref> In the Quenya Lexicon, ''[[Eldar]]'', the second element of ''Kaukareldar'', is defined as ''"a beach-fay or [[Solosimpi|Solosimpë]]"''.<ref>{{LT1|Appendix}}, entry "Eldar"</ref>
 
The Gnomish Lexicon reportedly compares the word ''Gongs'' to ''sithagong'' ("dragonfly") derived from ''sitha'' ("[[flies|fly]]") and ''Gong''.<ref>{{LT1|Appendix}}, entry "Gong"</ref><ref>{{PE|11}}, p. 68</ref>
 
 
{{References|Notes}}
 
[[Category:Gnomish nouns]]
[[Category:Races in The Book of Lost Tales]]
[[Category:Servants of Melkor]]

Latest revision as of 02:41, 20 February 2024

Gongs
Race
General Information
Other namesFalse-fairies, Goblins, Kaukareldar
OriginsCreated by Melko in the likeness of Elves and Men
LocationsAngamandi, Nargothrond, Linwë's halls, Rôs
AffiliationÚvanimor
RivalriesElves, Gnomes, Men
LanguagesMelkian
Physical Description
LifespanUnknown
DistinctionsEvil footsoldiers of the Enemy
Average heightBent back

Gongs were evil beings, obscurely related to Orcs that appeared within The Book of Lost Tales, the earliest version of the Legendarium.[1] There are no references to Gongs in the later legendarium.

History[edit | edit source]

After the Battle of Unnumbered Tears, Melko created Gongs,[note 1] in the image of Men and Elves in order to deceive and betray Men.[2]

Mîm the petty-dwarf commanded a guard of Orcs and Gongs to protect the treasures of Glorund in Nargothrond. They were slain by Húrin and his companions.[3]

Not long after, a group of Gongs sacked Linwë's halls, killing Linwë, stealing the cursed gold, and fleeing far away. However, they are attacked by Beren Ermabwed, forcing the gold and Silmaril into the river Sirion, though the Silmaril was eventually found washed up by the Nauglath.[3]

During the Faring Forth, a group of Gongs, alongside Orcs, Dwarves, Trolls, and evil Men were among the evil participants of the Battle of Rôs.[4]

Etymology[edit | edit source]

In his commentary, Christopher Tolkien remarks that the Gnomish Lexicon defines a Gong as "one of a tribe of the Orcs, a goblin", but notes that Gongs might just be another name for Kaukareldar,[5] an early Quenya word under the root KAWA ("stoop") which has five derivations: kauka ("crooked, bent, humped"), kauko ("humpback"), kawin ("I bow"), kaurë ("fear"), and kaurëa ("timid").[6] In the Quenya Lexicon, Eldar, the second element of Kaukareldar, is defined as "a beach-fay or Solosimpë".[7]

The Gnomish Lexicon reportedly compares the word Gongs to sithagong ("dragonfly") derived from sitha ("fly") and Gong.[8][9]


Notes

  1. ↑ Within the text, the word Gongs appears bracketed close to false-fairies and Kaukareldar.

References

  1. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Book of Lost Tales Part Two, "Index", entry "Gongs"
  2. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Book of Lost Tales Part One, "X. Gilfanon's Tale: The Travail of the Noldoli and the Coming of Mankind"
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Book of Lost Tales Part Two, "II. Turambar and the Foalókë": "Notes and Commentary"
  4. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Book of Lost Tales Part Two, "VI. The History of Eriol or Ælfwine and the End of the Tales": "Ælfwine of England"
  5. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Book of Lost Tales Part One, "X. Gilfanon's Tale: The Travail of the Noldoli and the Coming of Mankind": "Notes and Commentary", note 10
  6. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Book of Lost Tales Part One, Appendix: Names in the Lost Tales – Part I, entry "Kaukareldar"
  7. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Book of Lost Tales Part One, Appendix: Names in the Lost Tales – Part I, entry "Eldar"
  8. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Book of Lost Tales Part One, Appendix: Names in the Lost Tales – Part I, entry "Gong"
  9. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, "I-Lam na-Ngoldathon: The Grammar and Lexicon of the Gnomish Tongue", in Parma Eldalamberon XI (edited by Christopher Gilson, Arden R. Smith, and Patrick H. Wynne), p. 68
Retrieved from "https://tolkiengateway.net/w/index.php?title=Gongs&oldid=386190"