Two-headed Trolls: Difference between revisions
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[[ | [[File:Stephen King - Two-headed Troll.jpg|thumb|[[Stephen King]] - ''"Two-headed" Troll'']] | ||
'''Two-headed Trolls''' might have been a legendary race of [[Trolls]], | {{quote|Yes, I am afraid trolls do behave like that, even those with only one head each.|[[Roast Mutton]]}} | ||
'''Two-headed Trolls''' might have been a legendary race of [[Trolls]], whose possible existence is fleetingly suggested in a chronicle of the [[Quest of Erebor]], commenting on [[William]] wiping his lips on his sleeve.<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 behaved even worse. | |||
==Inspiration== | ==Inspiration== | ||
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> | |||
[[C.S. Lewis]] mentioned the [https://narnia.fandom.com/wiki/Ettins Ettins] of [https://narnia.fandom.com/wiki/Ettinsmoor Ettinsmoor] in [[Narnia]], some of which have two heads.<Ref>[https://narnia.fandom.com/wiki/Giants#Ettins Ettins] in [https://narnia.fandom.com Narnia Wiki]</ref> In many later fantasy settings, but also some adaptations of [[Middle-earth]], there are two-headed monsters, which usually are called "[[etten]]s" (q.v.). | |||
==Portrayal in adaptations== | ==Portrayal in adaptations== | ||
'''1982-97: ''[[Middle-earth Role Playing]]'':''' | '''1982-97: ''[[Middle-earth Role Playing]]'':''' | ||
: | : An individual monster called Skessa, a cross-breed between a troll and [[giants|giant]], having two heads.<ref>{{ICE|2016}}</ref> | ||
'''1995-8: ''[[Middle-earth Collectible Card Game]]'':''' | '''1995-8: ''[[Middle-earth Collectible Card Game]]'':''' | ||
:"Two-headed" | :"'Two-headed' Troll" is a Warrior Ally for evil players. | ||
'''1998-2004: ''[[Middle-earth Online]]'':''' | '''1998-2004: ''[[Middle-earth Online]]'':''' | ||
''Ettins'', a race of two-headed trolls, was intended to be included in the game.<ref>[http://my.lotro.com/user-875952/page/3/ Roundup 12.1] (02-09-2004) at [http://my.lotro.com My.lotro.com] (accessed 16 November 2010) | :''Ettins'', a race of two-headed trolls, was intended to be included in the game.<ref>[http://my.lotro.com/user-875952/page/3/ Roundup 12.1] (02-09-2004) at [http://my.lotro.com My.lotro.com] (accessed 16 November 2010)</ref> | ||
'''2002-5: ''[[The Lord of the Rings Roleplaying Game]]'':''' | '''2002-5: ''[[The Lord of the Rings Roleplaying Game]]'':''' | ||
:''Ettens'' resemble the Hill-trolls, but they | :''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.<ref>{{D|Fell}}</ref> | ||
''' | '''2017: ''[[Middle-earth: Shadow of War]]'':''' | ||
The | : 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}} | ||
{{legend}} | {{legend}} | ||
[[Category:Trolls]] | [[Category:Trolls]] | ||
Revision as of 11:43, 25 August 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
- "Yes, I am afraid trolls do behave like that, even those with only one head each."
- ― Roast Mutton
Two-headed Trolls might have been a legendary race of Trolls, whose possible existence is fleetingly suggested in a chronicle of the Quest of Erebor, commenting on William wiping his lips on his sleeve.[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 behaved even worse.
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]
C.S. Lewis mentioned the Ettins of Ettinsmoor in Narnia, some of which have two heads.[3] In many later fantasy settings, but also some adaptations of Middle-earth, there are two-headed monsters, which usually are called "ettens" (q.v.).
Portrayal in adaptations
1982-97: Middle-earth Role Playing:
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.[5]
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.[6]
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.
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)
- ↑ Ettins in Narnia Wiki
- ↑ 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 |
