Sting: Difference between revisions

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[[Image:John Howe - Sting.jpg|thumb|''Sting'' by [[John Howe]].]]
[[Image:John Howe - Sting.jpg|thumb|''Sting'' by [[John Howe]].]]
'''Sting''' was an [[Elvish]] knife made in [[Gondolin]] in the [[First Age]].  Its maker and bearer is unknown.
'''Sting''' was an [[Elvish]] knife made in [[Gondolin]] in the [[First Age]].  Its maker and original bearer are unknown.


Sting was found by [[Bilbo Baggins|Bilbo Baggins]] in [[The Hobbit]], in a [[Troll]]-hoard along with the other Gondolindrim blades [[Glamdring]] and [[Orcrist]]. Although it was just a dagger by the standard of [[Men]] or Elves, it made an excellent sword for a [[Hobbit]]. During his adventures, Bilbo gave it the name ''Sting'', after killing a [[Giant Spider]].  Bilbo gave Sting to [[Frodo Baggins]], just before the [[Fellowship of the Ring]] set off from [[Rivendell]]. After the defeat of Sauron at the end of the [[Third Age]], it passed to [[Samwise Gamgee]].
In [[The Hobbit]], [[Thorin and Company]] found Sting in a [[Troll]]-hoard along with the other Elvish blades [[Glamdring]] and [[Orcrist]]. Although it was just a dagger by the standard of [[Men]] or Elves, it made an excellent sword for a [[Hobbit]]. [[Bilbo Baggins|Bilbo Baggins]] used the weapon for the remainder of the quest.  [[Gollum]], who disliked anything made by Elves, was afraid of Sting. This fear helped Bilbo when confronting Gollum under the mountain in ''[[The Hobbit]]''. Later, Bilbo gave it the name ''Sting'', after killing a [[Giant Spider]] in [[Mirkwood]].


It had the (apparently) magic ability to detect any [[Orcs]] near the weapon. When this presence was felt, it glowed blue, as it did when the Fellowship encountered Orcs in the mines of [[Moria]].
In ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'', Bilbo gave Sting to his nephew, [[Frodo Baggins]], just before the [[Fellowship of the Ring]] set off from [[Rivendell]]. Fear of Sting helped Frodo to tame Gollum (temporarily).  It also helped Frodo and [[Samwise Gamgee]] escape from Shelob's lair, and Sam used it to seriously wound Shelob in combat.  After the defeat of Sauron at the end of the [[Third Age]], it remained with Sam.


[[Gollum]], who similarly disliked anything made by Elves, was afraid of Sting. This fear helped Bilbo when confronting Gollum under the mountain in ''[[The Hobbit]]''. It also helped Frodo to tame Gollum (temporarily) in ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]''.
==Special Properties==


Sting also glowed in the presence of the giant spider descendants of [[Ungoliant]], such as the spiders of [[Mirkwood]] in [[The Hobbit]] and [[Shelob]] in [[The Two Towers]]. Sting also cut through the webs of such spiders easily, whereas the [[Daggers of Westernesse|blade]] that Sam brought from the [[Barrow Downs]] failed to cut through Shelob's webs.
Sting had the (apparently) magic ability to detect the presence of [[Orcs]] in its vicinity. When Orcs were nearby, it glowed blue, as it did when the Fellowship encountered Orcs in the mines of [[Moria]].  Sting also glowed in the presence of the giant spider descendants of [[Ungoliant]], such as the spiders of [[Mirkwood]] in [[The Hobbit]] and [[Shelob]] in [[The Two Towers]].
 
Sting also performed better than ordinary weapons in combat and against odd materials; it cut through the webs of giant spiders easily, whereas the [[Daggers of Westernesse|blade]] that Sam brought from the [[Barrow Downs]] failed to cut through Shelob's webs.


==Portrayal in Adaptions==
==Portrayal in Adaptions==

Revision as of 19:02, 22 November 2006

Sting by John Howe.

Sting was an Elvish knife made in Gondolin in the First Age. Its maker and original bearer are unknown.

In The Hobbit, Thorin and Company found Sting in a Troll-hoard along with the other Elvish blades Glamdring and Orcrist. Although it was just a dagger by the standard of Men or Elves, it made an excellent sword for a Hobbit. Bilbo Baggins used the weapon for the remainder of the quest. Gollum, who disliked anything made by Elves, was afraid of Sting. This fear helped Bilbo when confronting Gollum under the mountain in The Hobbit. Later, Bilbo gave it the name Sting, after killing a Giant Spider in Mirkwood.

In The Lord of the Rings, Bilbo gave Sting to his nephew, Frodo Baggins, just before the Fellowship of the Ring set off from Rivendell. Fear of Sting helped Frodo to tame Gollum (temporarily). It also helped Frodo and Samwise Gamgee escape from Shelob's lair, and Sam used it to seriously wound Shelob in combat. After the defeat of Sauron at the end of the Third Age, it remained with Sam.

Special Properties

Sting had the (apparently) magic ability to detect the presence of Orcs in its vicinity. When Orcs were nearby, it glowed blue, as it did when the Fellowship encountered Orcs in the mines of Moria. Sting also glowed in the presence of the giant spider descendants of Ungoliant, such as the spiders of Mirkwood in The Hobbit and Shelob in The Two Towers.

Sting also performed better than ordinary weapons in combat and against odd materials; it cut through the webs of giant spiders easily, whereas the blade that Sam brought from the Barrow Downs failed to cut through Shelob's webs.

Portrayal in Adaptions

In Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings, Sting is leaf-shaped. Upon its crossguard are engraved the Sindarin words:

Maegnas aen estar nin dagnir in yngyl im

Which is translated "Magenas is my name, I am the spider's bane".

Weapons in Tolkien's legendarium
 Arrows:  Black Arrow · Dailir · Red Arrow
Axes:  Dramborleg · Durin's Axe
Bows:  Belthronding · Bow of Bregor · Bow of the Galadhrim
Knives:  Angrist · Barrow-blades · Morgul-knife · Sting
Maces:  Grond
Spears:  Aeglos
Swords:  Anglachel/Gurthang · Anguirel · Aranrúth · Dagmor · Glamdring · Glend · Gúthwinë · Herugrim · Narsil/Andúril ·  Orcrist · Ringil · Sword of Manwë