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[[ | [[File:John Howe - Morgul Rats.jpg|thumb|''Morgul Rats'' by [[John Howe]].]] | ||
'''Rats''' were creatures often found in filthy and unfriendly places of [[Middle-earth]].<ref name=RKVI8/><ref>{{TT|III9}}</ref> A specific breed of rats seems to have been the "''brown water-rat''", mentioned in [[Hobbits|Hobbit]] poetry.<ref>{{ATB|1}}</ref> | '''Rats''' were creatures often found in filthy and unfriendly places of [[Middle-earth]].<ref name=RKVI8/><ref>{{TT|III9}}</ref> A specific breed of rats seems to have been the "''brown water-rat''", mentioned in [[Hobbits|Hobbit]] poetry.<ref>{{ATB|1}}</ref> | ||
"Rat" was also commonly used as a humiliating nickname.<ref>{{TT|III9}} ("''I saw him crawling up the steps like a draggled rat.''")</ref><ref>{{H|17}} ("''What have you to say, you descendant of rats?''")</ref><ref>{{TT|III3}} ("''I'd make you squeak, you miserable rat.''")</ref><ref name=RKVI1>{{RK|VI1}} (nickname: "''...that little frightened rat...''"; "''...those stinking Morgul-rats''"; "''You up there, you dunghill rat!''")</ref><ref name=RKVI8>{{RK|VI8}} (nickname: "''Then you'll learn a thing or two, you little rat-folk.''")</ref> | "Rat" was also commonly used as a humiliating nickname.<ref>{{TT|III9}} ("''I saw him crawling up the steps like a draggled rat.''")</ref><ref>{{H|17}} ("''What have you to say, you descendant of rats?''")</ref><ref>{{TT|III3}} ("''I'd make you squeak, you miserable rat.''")</ref><ref name=RKVI1>{{RK|VI1}} (nickname: "''...that little frightened rat...''"; "''...those stinking Morgul-rats''"; "''You up there, you dunghill rat!''")</ref><ref name=RKVI8>{{RK|VI8}} (nickname: "''Then you'll learn a thing or two, you little rat-folk.''")</ref> | ||
In [[Quenya]], the word for "rat" is ''nyarro'', and the [[Noldorin]] cognate of the same meaning is ''nâr''.<ref>{{LR|Etymologies}}, p. 379 (root [[NYAD|NYAD-]]</ref><ref>{{VT|46a}}, p. 7</ref> | ==Etymology== | ||
In [[Quenya]], the word for "rat" is ''nyarro'', and the [[Noldorin]] cognate of the same meaning is ''nâr''.<ref>{{LR|Etymologies}}, p. 379 (root [[NYAD|NYAD-]])</ref><ref>{{VT|46a}}, p. 7</ref> | |||
==Portrayal in adaptations== | ==Portrayal in adaptations== | ||
'''1982-97: ''[[Middle-earth Role Playing]]'':''' | '''1982-97: ''[[Middle-earth Role Playing]]'':''' | ||
:Rats can infect people with the plague through their fleas.<ref>{{ICE|2016}}, pp. 150, 162</ref> | :Rats can infect people with the plague through their fleas.<ref>{{ICE|2016}}, pp. 150, 162</ref> | ||
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:"Morgul-rats" is a Hazard Creature, able to inflict 12 strikes. The breed is described as carrying "''the stink of black sorcery in their bite''". "Rats!" is a Hazard Event, forcing a player to discard a minor item of one of the characters, which also become wounded. | :"Morgul-rats" is a Hazard Creature, able to inflict 12 strikes. The breed is described as carrying "''the stink of black sorcery in their bite''". "Rats!" is a Hazard Event, forcing a player to discard a minor item of one of the characters, which also become wounded. | ||
'''2000-: '' | '''2000-: ''Lord of the Rings (board game)'':''' | ||
:"Morgul Rats" is a card (with artwork by [[John Howe]]) supplied with the ''Friends & Foes'' Expansion (2002) for the ''Lord of the Rings'' boardgame.<ref>[http://www.john-howe.com/portfolio/gallery/details.php?image_id=1076 Morgul Rats] at [http://www.john-howe.com/ John-howe.com] (accessed 14 March 2011)</ref> | :"Morgul Rats" is a card (with artwork by [[John Howe]]) supplied with the ''Friends & Foes'' Expansion (2002) for the ''Lord of the Rings'' boardgame.<ref>[http://www.john-howe.com/portfolio/gallery/details.php?image_id=1076 Morgul Rats] at [http://www.john-howe.com/ John-howe.com] (accessed 14 March 2011)</ref> | ||
'''2003:: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King]]'':''' | |||
:As part of the [[Minas Tirith]] set, one hut was called the "Ratcatcher's hut", after a doodle by [[Alan Lee]] was interpreted as a rat. It was outfitted with several taxidermied rats, but was not featured prominently in the movie.<ref>{{rotkee}}, "Designing Middle-earth"</ref> | |||
'''2007-: ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]'':''' | '''2007-: ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]'':''' | ||
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==See also== | ==See also== | ||
*[[:Category:Images of | *[[:Category:Images of rats|Images of rats]] | ||
{{references}} | {{references}} | ||
[[Category:Animals]] | [[Category:Animals]] |
Revision as of 12:35, 16 June 2012
Rats were creatures often found in filthy and unfriendly places of Middle-earth.[1][2] A specific breed of rats seems to have been the "brown water-rat", mentioned in Hobbit poetry.[3]
"Rat" was also commonly used as a humiliating nickname.[4][5][6][7][1]
Etymology
In Quenya, the word for "rat" is nyarro, and the Noldorin cognate of the same meaning is nâr.[8][9]
Portrayal in adaptations
1982-97: Middle-earth Role Playing:
- Rats can infect people with the plague through their fleas.[10]
1995-8: Middle-earth Collectible Card Game:
- "Morgul-rats" is a Hazard Creature, able to inflict 12 strikes. The breed is described as carrying "the stink of black sorcery in their bite". "Rats!" is a Hazard Event, forcing a player to discard a minor item of one of the characters, which also become wounded.
2000-: Lord of the Rings (board game):
- "Morgul Rats" is a card (with artwork by John Howe) supplied with the Friends & Foes Expansion (2002) for the Lord of the Rings boardgame.[11]
2003:: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King:
- As part of the Minas Tirith set, one hut was called the "Ratcatcher's hut", after a doodle by Alan Lee was interpreted as a rat. It was outfitted with several taxidermied rats, but was not featured prominently in the movie.[12]
2007-: The Lord of the Rings Online:
- Rats are always aggressive. Breeds include Field-rats (found in the Barrow-downs), Harbour-rats (found around Falathlorn in Ered Luin), and Plague-rats.[13][14]
See also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King, "The Scouring of the Shire" (nickname: "Then you'll learn a thing or two, you little rat-folk.")
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Two Towers, "Flotsam and Jetsam"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Adventures of Tom Bombadil, "The Adventures of Tom Bombadil"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Two Towers, "Flotsam and Jetsam" ("I saw him crawling up the steps like a draggled rat.")
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, "The Clouds Burst" ("What have you to say, you descendant of rats?")
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Two Towers, "The Uruk-hai" ("I'd make you squeak, you miserable rat.")
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King, "The Tower of Cirith Ungol" (nickname: "...that little frightened rat..."; "...those stinking Morgul-rats"; "You up there, you dunghill rat!")
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Lost Road and Other Writings, Part Three: "The Etymologies", p. 379 (root NYAD-)
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, "Addenda and Corrigenda to the Etymologies — Part Two" (edited by Carl F. Hostetter and Patrick H. Wynne), in Vinyar Tengwar, Number 46, July 2004, p. 7
- ↑ Zachariah Woolf (1995), Lake-town (#2016), pp. 150, 162
- ↑ Morgul Rats at John-howe.com (accessed 14 March 2011)
- ↑ The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (Extended Edition) , "Designing Middle-earth"
- ↑ Category:Beast at Lorebook.lotro.com (accessed 13 March 2011)
- ↑ Rats at Lotro.wiki.com (accessed 13 March 2011)