Two-headed Trolls: Difference between revisions
(→Inspiration: removed source to a wikipedia list of creatures of C. S. Lewis' fictional world) |
|||
(26 intermediate revisions by 10 users not shown) | |||
Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
{{Unnamed}} | {{Unnamed}} | ||
[[ | [[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]]'':''' | |||
:''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 Overlord of the [[Núrnen]] region of Mordor is an [[Olog-hai|Olog]] named Az-Harto, who poses as a two-headed [[Trolls|Troll]]. In reality, the second head is that of the [[Orcs|Uruk]] [[Ratbag|Ratbag the Coward]], who is riding on Az-Harto's back and wearing a large helmet to conceal his identity. | |||
'''2018: ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]'':''' | |||
: Two-headed Trolls are among the evil creatures of [[Gundabad]] and can be found among the [[Grey Mountains]]. | |||
{{references}} | {{references}} | ||
{{legend}} | {{legend}} | ||
[[Category:Trolls]] | [[Category:Trolls]] | ||
Latest revision as of 04:32, 26 November 2022
This article describes a concept which is mentioned in J.R.R. Tolkien's works, but was never given a definite name. |
- "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[edit | edit source]
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[edit | edit source]
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 Az-Harto, who poses as a two-headed Troll. In reality, the second head is that of the Uruk Ratbag the Coward, who is riding on Az-Harto's back and wearing a large helmet to conceal his identity.
2018: The Lord of the Rings Online:
- Two-headed Trolls are among the evil creatures of Gundabad and can be found among the Grey Mountains.
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 |