Talk:Great Plague

From Tolkien Gateway

Was it ever said what the symptoms of the Great Plague were? Was it a boils and rashes sort of thing, or maybe like the bubonic plague, spread through infected animals?--Quidon88 13:08, 4 January 2007 (EST)

I don't think it was (at least, I can't remember a reference to one). I have always got the impression that it wasn't like the bubonic plague at all but rather more like the 1918 Flu Pandemic (or Spanish Flu Pandemic, if you like) - an event which Tolkien would've been well aware of. I don't really know how to explain myself as I can't remember specific references, bu I just have a feeling it was more along the lines of a flu pandemic. — Mith (Talk/Contribs/Edits) 15:25, Sunday 7th of January 2007 (GMT)

It's probably based on the Bubonic plague and enflueza, which came right after World War 1 killing 50-90 million people. The plague came spread because the troops and such were bringing home diseases from France and Belgium. Considering that Tolkien would have lived through this plague I would assume that he based the Great Plague off this experience. --Dwarf Lord 15:16, 7 January 2007 (EST)

Question about (apparently) conflicting information[edit source]

This page says "the plague gained strength as it went north." But what is that assumption based on? The only comment in LOTR specifically about its strength as it spread is "the plague lessened as it passed northwards," which is also mentioned on this page, and coming so soon after the other, seems to directly contradict it. Ed8r (talk) 15:44, 6 February 2024 (UTC)Reply[reply]