Long-worms: Difference between revisions

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A type of dragon found in the northern parts of [[Middle-earth]], and perhaps elsewhere. The most famous long-worm (and in fact the only one that [[Tolkien]] explicitly identifies) was [[Scatha]] of the [[Ered Mithrin]], who preyed on the [[Dwarves]] and [[Men]] of the [[Grey Mountains]], and was slain by [[Fram]] of the [[Éothéod]].
"'''Long-worms'''" was another name that [[J.R.R. Tolkien]] used for, at least, some [[dragons]]. The only named example is [[Scatha]]:


Though [[Tolkien]] gives almost no clues about long-worms in the text of [[The Lord of the Rings]], his illustrations of dragons give us some further hints. Tolkien's dragons tend to be sinuous, serpentine creatures, having the appearance almost of a winged snake rather than the more traditional dragon-form. This would explain the term 'long-worm' easily. It's interesting to note that Tolkien gave this form to another northern dragon, [[Smaug]], which strongly suggests that he, too, was one of the long-worms.
{{blockquote|[[Frumgar]], they say, was the name of the chieftain who led his people to [[Éothéod]]. Of his son, [[Fram]], they tell that he slew [[Scatha]], the great dragon of [[Grey Mountains|Ered Mithrin]], and the land had peace from the long-worms afterwards. Thus Fram won great wealth, but was at feud with the [[Dwarves]], who claimed the hoard of Scatha.|{{App|Eorl}}}}
 
Tolkien regularly used "[[worms|worm]]" as a nickname for dragons - examples include [[Glaurung]]<ref>{{CH|16}}</ref> and [[Smaug]]<ref>{{H|1}}</ref> - but it is unclear how "long-worms" differ, if at all.
 
{{references}}
[[Category: Dragons]]
[[fi:Hirmukäärmeet (Pohjola)]]

Latest revision as of 16:08, 23 January 2015

"Long-worms" was another name that J.R.R. Tolkien used for, at least, some dragons. The only named example is Scatha:

Frumgar, they say, was the name of the chieftain who led his people to Éothéod. Of his son, Fram, they tell that he slew Scatha, the great dragon of Ered Mithrin, and the land had peace from the long-worms afterwards. Thus Fram won great wealth, but was at feud with the Dwarves, who claimed the hoard of Scatha.
—J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "The House of Eorl"

Tolkien regularly used "worm" as a nickname for dragons - examples include Glaurung[1] and Smaug[2] - but it is unclear how "long-worms" differ, if at all.

References

  1. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Children of Húrin, "The Coming of Glaurung"
  2. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, "An Unexpected Party"
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