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'''Ogres''' were monstrous and destructive creatures of legend and folklore. In fact, it is doubtful whether Ogres ever existed in [[Middle-earth]]. [[Tolkien]] mentions them only once, in [[The Hobbit]], during [[Bilbo's Riddle-game]] with [[Gollum]]. In his attempt to solve Gollum's fifth riddle, Bilbo '...sat in the dark thinking of all the horrible names of all the giants and ogres he had ever heard told of in tales...' Since no ogre is ever again mentioned in the works on Middle-earth that Tolkien published during his lifetime, it is entirely possible that they were a mythical race even to the inhabitants of Middle-earth.  It is also possible that Ogre is just another name for the [[Trolls]], as is true in many mythologies.
{{race infobox
| name=Ogres
| image=[[File:Glangonn.jpg|250px]]
| caption="A 'Jorthkyn' in ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online|LOTRO]]''
| pronun=
| othernames=
| origin=
| location=
| affiliation=[[Morgoth|Melko]]
| rivalry=
| language=
| people=''Hongwir'', ''Sarqindi''
| members=[[Fluithuin]]
| lifespan=
| distinctions=
| height=Large
| hair=
| skin=
| clothing=
| weapons=
}}
'''Ogres''' were monstrous and destructive creatures of legend and folklore of [[Middle-earth]].


== Early mythology ==
During the [[Riddle-game]] with [[Gollum]], [[Bilbo Baggins]], in his attempt to solve Gollum's fifth riddle, sat thinking of all the horrible names of all the giants and ogres he had ever heard told of in tales.<Ref>{{H|Riddles}}</ref>


The name ''ogre'' was used by J.R.R. Tolkien in early drafts of Middle-earth as a name for one of the monsters bred by [[Melkor]]. In posthumous publications, ogres appear in:
No ogre is ever mentioned in the annals of the [[Elder Days]] and none are known to have played any role in the wars and battles. It is entirely possible that they were simply a mythical race.  


*''The Creatures of the Earth'', J.R.R. Tolkien (published in [[Parma Eldalamberon]], issue 14): "Hongwir (Ogres of the north) and Sarqindi (Ogres of the south): cannibal giants of lesser size."
It is also possible that Ogre was just another name for the [[Trolls]].<ref name=HMN/>


*''[[The Book of Lost Tales]]'', vol. I: "Úvanimor [bred by Melkor] who are monsters, giants, and ogres"
== Etymology ==
''[[Wiktionary:ogre#English|Ogre]]'' derives, through French, from the Greco-Latin name Orcus. It is interesting to note that Orcus is supposedly the origin also for the [[Old English]] word ''[[Orc]]'', although [[Tolkien]] doubted that etymology.<ref>{{LE|290a}}</ref>


Another mention (of much later date) of ogres by Tolkien is in his analysis of the name Ettendales in ''[[Guide to the Names in The Lord of the Rings]]'': "This is meant to be a Common Speech (not Elvish) name, though it contains an obsolete element eten 'troll, ogre'."
== Other versions of the legendarium ==
''Ogres'' were used by [[J.R.R. Tolkien]] in early drafts of the [[legendarium]] as a name for one of the monsters bred by [[Morgoth|Melkor]] along with [[Gongs]] and the other [[úvanimo|Úvanimor]].<ref>{{HM|LT1}}</ref>


[[Category:Creatures]]
They are mentioned as cannibal [[giants]]. Those of the north were known as ''Hongwir'' while the southern ones were named ''Sarqindi''.<ref>{{PE|14}}, "The Creatures of the Earth", p. 9</ref> ''Sarqindi'' is glossed as "Cannibal-ogres",<ref>{{LT2|Appendix}}, p. 347</ref> and [[Patrick H. Wynne]] and [[Christopher Gilson]] have suggested that ''hongwir'' might be related to the [[Qenya]] word ''ongwe'' (meaning "pain").<ref>{{PE|14}}, p. 6</ref>
 
Tolkien mentioned again ogres out of context in analyses of the name ''[[Orcs|Orc]]'': "...the gloss ''Þyrs'' 'ogre'..." , and of the name ''[[Ettendales]]'': "This is meant to be a Common Speech (not Elvish) name, though it contains an obsolete element ''eten'' 'troll, ogre'."<ref name=HMN>{{HM|N}}, pp. 762, 770</ref>
 
== Inspiration ==
In his childhood, Tolkien and his brother [[Hilary Tolkien|Hilary]] gave a miller and a farmer, who frightened the boys and lived near the [[Sarehole Mill]] in the Moseley area of [[Birmingham]], the nicknames "White Ogre" and "Black Ogre", respectively.<ref>[[Humphrey Carpenter]], ''[[J.R.R. Tolkien: A Biography]]''</ref> These characters also appear in stories written by Hilary Tolkien.<ref>[[Hilary Tolkien]]; [[Angela Gardner]] (ed), ''[[Black & White Ogre Country|Black & White Ogre Country: The Lost Tales of Hilary Tolkien]]''</ref>
 
Tolkien enjoyed reading E.A. Wyke-Smith's ''[[The Marvellous Land of Snergs]]'' ([[1927]]) to his children. The book recounts the adventures of two children and a Snerg ("a race of people only slightly taller than the average table"), and their tale include meeting the vegetarian ogre Golithos.<ref>[[Douglas A. Anderson]] (ed.), ''[[Tales Before Tolkien|Tales Before Tolkien: The Roots of Modern Fantasy]]'', pp. 359-60</ref>
 
== Portrayal in adaptations ==
'''2007-: ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]'':'''
: Ogres, also known as the Jorthkyn, are unfriendly Earth-kin, related to Giants. They are predominantly found in Nan Amlug East in the North Downs.<ref>[http://lotro-wiki.com/index.php/Ogres Ogres] at [http://lotro-wiki.com Lotro-wiki.com] (accessed 20 November 2010)</ref>
 
[[File:The Hobbit - The Battle of the Five Armies - Ogre.jpg|An Ogre in ''[[The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies]]''|right|thumb|200px]]
'''2014: ''[[The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies]]'':'''
:Ogres served in [[Azog]]'s Army as both shock troops and [[Trolls|Troll]] commanders. One commanded a team of catapult Trolls. Several Ogres fought in [[Dale]], and two are killed by [[Bard]].<ref>''[[The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies: Visual Companion]]''</ref>
 
== External links ==
*{{WP|Ogre}}
 
{{references}}
{{Legend}}
[[Category:Other races]]
[[Category:Races in The Book of Lost Tales]]
[[Category:Servants of Melkor]]
[[fi:Hirvitykset]]

Latest revision as of 15:30, 1 December 2023

Ogres
Race
Glangonn.jpg
"A 'Jorthkyn' in LOTRO
General Information
AffiliationMelko
PeopleHongwir, Sarqindi
MembersFluithuin
Physical Description
Average heightLarge
GalleryImages of Ogres

Ogres were monstrous and destructive creatures of legend and folklore of Middle-earth.

During the Riddle-game with Gollum, Bilbo Baggins, in his attempt to solve Gollum's fifth riddle, sat thinking of all the horrible names of all the giants and ogres he had ever heard told of in tales.[1]

No ogre is ever mentioned in the annals of the Elder Days and none are known to have played any role in the wars and battles. It is entirely possible that they were simply a mythical race.

It is also possible that Ogre was just another name for the Trolls.[2]

Etymology[edit | edit source]

Ogre derives, through French, from the Greco-Latin name Orcus. It is interesting to note that Orcus is supposedly the origin also for the Old English word Orc, although Tolkien doubted that etymology.[3]

Other versions of the legendarium[edit | edit source]

Ogres were used by J.R.R. Tolkien in early drafts of the legendarium as a name for one of the monsters bred by Melkor along with Gongs and the other Úvanimor.[4]

They are mentioned as cannibal giants. Those of the north were known as Hongwir while the southern ones were named Sarqindi.[5] Sarqindi is glossed as "Cannibal-ogres",[6] and Patrick H. Wynne and Christopher Gilson have suggested that hongwir might be related to the Qenya word ongwe (meaning "pain").[7]

Tolkien mentioned again ogres out of context in analyses of the name Orc: "...the gloss Þyrs 'ogre'..." , and of the name Ettendales: "This is meant to be a Common Speech (not Elvish) name, though it contains an obsolete element eten 'troll, ogre'."[2]

Inspiration[edit | edit source]

In his childhood, Tolkien and his brother Hilary gave a miller and a farmer, who frightened the boys and lived near the Sarehole Mill in the Moseley area of Birmingham, the nicknames "White Ogre" and "Black Ogre", respectively.[8] These characters also appear in stories written by Hilary Tolkien.[9]

Tolkien enjoyed reading E.A. Wyke-Smith's The Marvellous Land of Snergs (1927) to his children. The book recounts the adventures of two children and a Snerg ("a race of people only slightly taller than the average table"), and their tale include meeting the vegetarian ogre Golithos.[10]

Portrayal in adaptations[edit | edit source]

2007-: The Lord of the Rings Online:

Ogres, also known as the Jorthkyn, are unfriendly Earth-kin, related to Giants. They are predominantly found in Nan Amlug East in the North Downs.[11]
An Ogre in The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies

2014: The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies:

Ogres served in Azog's Army as both shock troops and Troll commanders. One commanded a team of catapult Trolls. Several Ogres fought in Dale, and two are killed by Bard.[12]

External links[edit | edit source]

References

  1. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, "Riddles in the Dark"
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, "Nomenclature of The Lord of the Rings" in Wayne G. Hammond and Christina Scull (eds), The Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion, pp. 762, 770
  3. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien; Humphrey Carpenter, Christopher Tolkien (eds.), The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien: Revised and Expanded edition, Letter 290a
  4. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Book of Lost Tales Part One
  5. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, "Early Qenya and The Valmaric Script", in Parma Eldalamberon XIV (edited by Carl F. Hostetter, Christopher Gilson, Arden R. Smith, Patrick H. Wynne, and Bill Welden), "The Creatures of the Earth", p. 9
  6. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Book of Lost Tales Part Two, "Appendix: Names in the Lost Tales – Part II", p. 347
  7. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, "Early Qenya and The Valmaric Script", in Parma Eldalamberon XIV (edited by Carl F. Hostetter, Christopher Gilson, Arden R. Smith, Patrick H. Wynne, and Bill Welden), p. 6
  8. ↑ Humphrey Carpenter, J.R.R. Tolkien: A Biography
  9. ↑ Hilary Tolkien; Angela Gardner (ed), Black & White Ogre Country: The Lost Tales of Hilary Tolkien
  10. ↑ Douglas A. Anderson (ed.), Tales Before Tolkien: The Roots of Modern Fantasy, pp. 359-60
  11. ↑ Ogres at Lotro-wiki.com (accessed 20 November 2010)
  12. ↑ The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies: Visual Companion
Legendary races of Arda
 Animals:  Dumbledors · Gorcrows · Hummerhorns · Pards · Swans of Gorbelgod · Turtle-fish
Dragon-kind:  Sea-serpents · Spark-dragons · Were-worms
Evil Races:  Ettens · Giants · Half-trolls · Hobgoblins · Ogres · Snow-trolls · Two-headed Trolls
Other:  Badger-folk · Great beasts · Lintips · Mewlips · Nameless things · Spectres
Individuals:  Talking Gurthang · Talking purse · The Hunter · Lady of the Sun · Lonely Troll · Man in the Moon · The Rider · River-woman · Tarlang · Tim · Tom · White cow
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