| Cats | |
| Miaulë | |
|---|---|
| Biographical Information | |
| Position | Tevildo's cook |
| Location | Halls of Tevildo |
| Affiliation | Angamandi (Cat-servants of Tevildo) |
| Physical Description | |
| Gender | Female |
Miaulë was the name of Tevildo's cook in "The Tale of Tinúviel", according to the early version of the legendarium in The Book of Lost Tales.[1]
History
Miaulë was the cook working within Tevildo's great kitchens, which were widely vaulted, with at least one great fire. She supervised the work of Tevildo's scullions.[1]
Upon meeting Beren for the first time, Tevildo made him a scullion under the supervision of Miaulë after Beren failed a difficult test. Miaulë's supervision over him was miserable enough that Beren eventually wished that he never saw Tinúviel.[1]
Some time later, when Umuiyan led Tinúviel up the cliff, Tevildo brought her to a dining chamber next to the great kitchens of his halls. Tinúviel was able to catch a glimpse of Beren and many cats, likely including Miaulë. When Tinúviel began talking to Tevildo, her voice was heard by Beren, causing him to accidentally drop an unspecified amount of metal and earthware vessels. Miaulë gave him sound scratches as a punishment.[1]
An hour later, after the death of Oikeroi in the Withered Dale, Tevildo tells Huan that Beren was likely being punished with Miaulë's scratches, due to the incident earlier.[1]
The ultimate fate of Miaulë is not known.
Etymology
The Gnomish[2] name Miaulë is described by Christopher Tolkien alongside Miaugion and Meoita as "engagingly Elvish-feline names".[3] It is, according to Patrick H. Wynne and Christopher Gilson, likely cognate with Gnomish miaulin ("she-cat"),[4] the feminine form of miog ("cat").[5]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Book of Lost Tales Part Two, "I. The Tale of Tinúviel", pp. 16-7, 28
- ↑ Paul Strack, "Miaulë", Eldamo - An Elvish Lexicon
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Book of Lost Tales Part Two, "I. The Tale of Tinúviel": "Notes and Commentary", p. 54
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, "Early Elvish Poetry and Pre-Fëanorian Alphabets", in Parma Eldalamberon XVI (edited by Christopher Gilson, Arden R. Smith, Patrick H. Wynne, Carl F. Hostetter and Bill Welden), p. 132
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Book of Lost Tales Part Two, "Appendix: Names in the Lost Tales – Part II", entry "Tevildo, Tifil"