Werewolves: Difference between revisions

From Tolkien Gateway
No edit summary
No edit summary
(19 intermediate revisions by 7 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
[[Image:The White Council - Werewolf.jpg|thumb|250px|Werewolf sketch from [[The Lord of the Rings: The White Council]] game]]
{{disambig-more|Wolf|[[Wolf (disambiguation)]]}}[[File:The White Council - Werewolf.jpg|thumb|250px|Werewolf sketch from [[The Lord of the Rings: The White Council]] game]]
'''Werewolves''' were servants of [[Morgoth]], bred from [[wolf|wolves]] and inhabited by dreadful spirits (fallen lesser [[Maiar]] or [[fëar]] of [[Orcs]]).


They were thought of by [[Sauron]], who was their master, and took the shape of a great [[wolf]] himself at least once. The Middle-earth werewolves were not shapeshifters like the Werewolves of European mythology — they were always in the form of beasts. The name ''werewolf'' appears to have been chosen because they were in essence sentient (but evil), and thus had a status beyond that of normal wolves.
'''Werewolves''' were servants of [[Morgoth]], bred in the [[Elder Days]] from [[Wolves|wolf]] and inhabited by dreadful spirits (fallen lesser [[Maiar]] or [[fëar]] of [[Orcs]]).
==History==
Werewolves were created (or a least corrupted from some other form) by [[Sauron]], who was their master, and who took the shape of a great [[Wolves|wolf]] himself at least once.


The first werewolf was [[Draugluin]], and the greatest werewolf was [[Carcharoth]], the guardian of [[Angband]], a descendant of Draugluin as all other werewolves were. [[Huan]] the Hound of [[Valinor]], while also sentient, was not a werewolf.
The first werewolf was [[Draugluin]], and the greatest was [[Carcharoth]], the guardian of [[Angband]], a descendant of Draugluin as all other werewolves were.


It is probable that the [[Wargs]] of the [[Third Age]] were descended from the werewolves, as these wolves could speak, suggesting they had fëar. Another possibility is that Sauron attempted to recreate the werewolves after his return to Middle-earth, and that the Wargs were the result.
In the ''[[The Grey Annals|Grey Annals]]'' it is told that "creatures that walked in wolf-shapes" entered [[Beleriand]] in the [[Valian Years|Valian Year]] 1330.<ref>{{GA|26}}, p. 12</ref>


[[Category:Werewolves]]
Although not appearing as such in the known written records of [[Arda]] during the [[Second Age|Second]] and [[Third Age|Third]] Ages, Gandalf mentioned the werewolves as being among Sauron's servants in the late Third Age, along with [[orcs]], [[trolls]], [[wargs]], and [[wraiths]].<ref>{{FR|Meetings}}</ref>
==Names==
 
In [[Sindarin]], werewolves were called ''gaurhoth'' (sing. ''[[gaur]]'').<ref>{{S|Index}}</ref><ref>{{S|Appendix}}</ref> The [[Quenya]] name was ''[[nauro]]''.<ref>{{PE|19}}, p. 106</ref>
 
==Portrayal in adaptations==
[[File:Mark Evans - Werewolves.jpg|thumb|right|''Werewolves'' in ''[[The Lord of the Rings Roleplaying Game|LotRRPG]]'']]
'''1982-1997: ''[[Middle-earth Role Playing]]'':'''
:Classified as Undead Beings, the Werewolves are either bred from Wolves or Wargs. They cannot transform themselves into Men, although they can alter shape into being able to stand upright (while remaining Wolf-like).<ref>{{ICE|2012}}, p. 130</ref>
 
'''2002-5: ''[[The Lord of the Rings Roleplaying Game]]'':'''
:Werewolves can change between Man-form (hairy, muscular folk) and Warg-form (surpassing the size and ferocity of the largest Wargs).<ref>{{D|Fell}}, pp. 52-53</ref>
 
==See also==
*[[:Category:Images of Werewolves|Images of Werewolves]]
 
==External links==
*{{WP|Werewolf}}
{{references}}
{{wolves}}
[[Category:Werewolves| ]]
[[Category:Wolves]]
[[Category:Wolves]]
[[Category:Creatures]]
[[fi:Ihmissudet]]
[[fi:Ihmissudet]]

Revision as of 14:30, 10 July 2012

The name Wolf refers to more than one character, item or concept. For a list of other meanings, see Wolf (disambiguation).

Werewolves were servants of Morgoth, bred in the Elder Days from wolf and inhabited by dreadful spirits (fallen lesser Maiar or fëar of Orcs).

History

Werewolves were created (or a least corrupted from some other form) by Sauron, who was their master, and who took the shape of a great wolf himself at least once.

The first werewolf was Draugluin, and the greatest was Carcharoth, the guardian of Angband, a descendant of Draugluin as all other werewolves were.

In the Grey Annals it is told that "creatures that walked in wolf-shapes" entered Beleriand in the Valian Year 1330.[1]

Although not appearing as such in the known written records of Arda during the Second and Third Ages, Gandalf mentioned the werewolves as being among Sauron's servants in the late Third Age, along with orcs, trolls, wargs, and wraiths.[2]

Names

In Sindarin, werewolves were called gaurhoth (sing. gaur).[3][4] The Quenya name was nauro.[5]

Portrayal in adaptations

Werewolves in LotRRPG

1982-1997: Middle-earth Role Playing:

Classified as Undead Beings, the Werewolves are either bred from Wolves or Wargs. They cannot transform themselves into Men, although they can alter shape into being able to stand upright (while remaining Wolf-like).[6]

2002-5: The Lord of the Rings Roleplaying Game:

Werewolves can change between Man-form (hairy, muscular folk) and Warg-form (surpassing the size and ferocity of the largest Wargs).[7]

See also

External links

References

  1. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The War of the Jewels, "The Grey Annals": §26, p. 12
  2. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring, "Many Meetings"
  3. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Index of Names"
  4. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Appendix: Elements in Quenya and Sindarin Names"
  5. J.R.R. Tolkien, "Quenya Phonology", in Parma Eldalamberon XIX (edited by Christopher Gilson), p. 106
  6. Ruth Sochard Pitt, Jeff O'Hare, Peter C. Fenlon, Jr. (1994), Creatures of Middle-earth (2nd edition) (#2012), p. 130
  7. Scott Bennie, Mike Mearls, Steve Miller, Aaron Rosenberg, Chris Seeman, Owen Seyler, and George Strayton (2003), Fell Beasts and Wondrous Magic, pp. 52-53


Wolves
Individuals: Carcharoth · Draugluin · Hound of Sauron · (Wolf-Sauron)
Races: Wargs · Werewolves · White Wolves