Two-headed Trolls: Difference between revisions
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[[File:Stephen King - Two-headed Troll.jpg|thumb|[[Stephen King]] - ''"Two-headed" Troll'']] | [[File:Stephen King - Two-headed Troll.jpg|thumb|[[Stephen King]] - ''"Two-headed" Troll'']] | ||
'''Two-headed Trolls''' might have been a legendary race of [[Trolls]], as [[ | '''Two-headed Trolls''' might have been a legendary race of [[Trolls]], as a chronicle of the [[Quest of Erebor]] remarks that "''trolls do behave like that, even those with only one head each.''"<ref>{{H|2}}</ref> If this statement was not merely a way of speaking, perhaps there were indeed Trolls in [[Middle-earth]] that, unlike the [[Stone trolls]], had at least two heads, and were even nastier. | ||
==Inspiration== | ==Inspiration== | ||
Commenting on | Commenting on the above remark, [[John D. Rateliff]] has noted that trolls "with multiple heads appear in many stories", especially pointing to [[Wikipedia:George Webbe Dasent|George Webbe Dasent]]'s "[[Wikipedia:Soria Moria Castle|Soria Moria Castle]]".<ref>{{HH|Trolls}}, p. 99 (note 9)</ref> | ||
In many later fantasy settings, but also some adaptations of [[Middle-earth]], there are two-headed monsters, which usually are called [[Wiktionary:ettin|Ettin(s)]].<ref>[[Dungeons and Dragons]] (1977), ''Monster Manual''; see further [[Wikipedia:Ettin (Dungeons & Dragons)|Ettin (Dungeons & Dragons)]] at Wikipedia</ref><ref>[https://ultima.fandom.com/wiki/Ettins Ettins] at Ultima Wiki.</ref><ref>[http://www.wowwiki.com/Ettin Ettin] at [http://www.wowwiki.com World of Warcraft Wiki] (accessed 15 November 2010)</ref> Tolkien used the English word ''ettin'' in the names ''[[Ettenmoors]]'' and ''[[Ettendales]]'', but there is not indication he associated them with two-headed creatures. | In many later fantasy settings, but also some adaptations of [[Middle-earth]], there are two-headed monsters, which usually are called [[Wiktionary:ettin|Ettin(s)]].<ref>[[Dungeons and Dragons]] (1977), ''Monster Manual''; see further [[Wikipedia:Ettin (Dungeons & Dragons)|Ettin (Dungeons & Dragons)]] at Wikipedia</ref><ref>[https://ultima.fandom.com/wiki/Ettins Ettins] at Ultima Wiki.</ref><ref>[http://www.wowwiki.com/Ettin Ettin] at [http://www.wowwiki.com World of Warcraft Wiki] (accessed 15 November 2010)</ref> Tolkien used the English word ''ettin'' in the names ''[[Ettenmoors]]'' and ''[[Ettendales]]'' probably as another name for Trolls, but there is not indication he associated them with two-headed creatures.<ref group=note>The word is etymologically related to ''[[Ent]]''.</ref> | ||
==Portrayal in adaptations== | ==Portrayal in adaptations== | ||
'''1982-97: ''[[Middle-earth Role Playing]]'':''' | '''1982-97: ''[[Middle-earth Role Playing]]'':''' | ||
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: The Overlord of the [[Núrnen]] region of Mordor is an [[Olog-hai|Olog]] named Ranger, who poses as a Troll with two heads. In reality, the second head is that of the Uruk [[Ratbag the Coward]], who is riding on Ranger's back and wearing a large helmet to conceal his identity. | : The Overlord of the [[Núrnen]] region of Mordor is an [[Olog-hai|Olog]] named Ranger, who poses as a Troll with two heads. In reality, the second head is that of the Uruk [[Ratbag the Coward]], who is riding on Ranger's back and wearing a large helmet to conceal his identity. | ||
{{references}} | {{references|n}} | ||
{{legend}} | {{legend}} | ||
[[Category:Trolls]] | [[Category:Trolls]] | ||
Revision as of 15:46, 12 February 2020
| This article describes a concept which is mentioned in J.R.R. Tolkien's works, but was never given a definite name. |
Stephen King - "Two-headed" Troll
Two-headed Trolls might have been a legendary race of Trolls, as a chronicle of the Quest of Erebor remarks that "trolls do behave like that, even those with only one head each."[1] If this statement was not merely a way of speaking, perhaps there were indeed Trolls in Middle-earth that, unlike the Stone trolls, had at least two heads, and were even nastier.
Inspiration
Commenting on the above remark, John D. Rateliff has noted that trolls "with multiple heads appear in many stories", especially pointing to George Webbe Dasent's "Soria Moria Castle".[2]
In many later fantasy settings, but also some adaptations of Middle-earth, there are two-headed monsters, which usually are called Ettin(s).[3][4][5] Tolkien used the English word ettin in the names Ettenmoors and Ettendales probably as another name for Trolls, but there is not indication he associated them with two-headed creatures.[note 1]
Portrayal in adaptations
1982-97: Middle-earth Role Playing:
- Although neither a race of "Two-headed" Trolls nor Ettin/Ettens are mentioned, there exists an individual monster called Skessa, a crossbreed between a troll and giant, having two heads.[6]
1995-8: Middle-earth Collectible Card Game:
- "'Two-headed' Troll" is a Warrior Ally for evil players.
1998-2004: Middle-earth Online:
- Ettins, a race of two-headed trolls, was intended to be included in the game.[7]
2002-5: The Lord of the Rings Roleplaying Game:
- Ettens resemble the Hill-trolls, but they possess "not one but two long heads". The solitary creatures, a result of an ancient experiment by Morgoth, live almost exclusively in the Ettenmoors.[8]
2017: Middle-earth: Shadow of War:
- The Overlord of the Núrnen region of Mordor is an Olog named Ranger, who poses as a Troll with two heads. In reality, the second head is that of the Uruk Ratbag the Coward, who is riding on Ranger's back and wearing a large helmet to conceal his identity.
Notes
References
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, "Roast Mutton"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, John D. Rateliff (ed.), The History of The Hobbit, Mr. Baggins, The Second Phase, "Trolls", p. 99 (note 9)
- ↑ Dungeons and Dragons (1977), Monster Manual; see further Ettin (Dungeons & Dragons) at Wikipedia
- ↑ Ettins at Ultima Wiki.
- ↑ Ettin at World of Warcraft Wiki (accessed 15 November 2010)
- ↑ Zachariah Woolf (1995), Lake-town (#2016)
- ↑ Roundup 12.1 (02-09-2004) at My.lotro.com (accessed 16 November 2010)
- ↑ Scott Bennie, Mike Mearls, Steve Miller, Aaron Rosenberg, Chris Seeman, Owen Seyler, and George Strayton (2003), Fell Beasts and Wondrous Magic
| 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 |
