Tolkien Gateway - User contributions [en]

Giants

2013-02-19T08:58:42Z

24.7.209.47: /* Games */

[[File:Angus McBride - Giants.jpg|thumb|right|Artwork by [[Angus McBride]]]]
'''Giants''' were one of the mysterious [[races]] of [[Middle-earth]], mentioned only fleetingly.

==History==
Giants are beings shrouded in mystery. [[Gandalf|Gandalf the Grey]] was known for telling stories about [[dragons]] and [[Orcs|goblins]] and giants<ref>{{H|Party}}</ref> and [[Bilbo Baggins|Bilbo]] had heard of giants in tales,<ref>{{H|Riddles}}</ref> but none of these tales survive and the origin and history of the giants is obscure. Presumably, not all giants were evil, as Gandalf seems to have convinced a more or less decent giant to block the entrance to [[Goblin-town]] at the top of the [[High Pass]] in the [[Misty Mountains]].<ref>{{H|6}}</ref><ref name="Giants">{{HH|IV}}, "(iii): The Giants", pp. 143-5</ref>

However, what is known is that ''stone-giants'' lived in the Misty Mountains during the late [[Third Age]]. Upon coming, they drove out the majority of the [[bears]] that lived there.<ref>{{H|Queer}}</ref> They found a sport in throwing rocks at each other, and then into the depths below them to hear them shatter trees.<ref>{{H|Hill}}</ref>

A local legend among the [[Pre-Númenóreans|indigenous people]] of [[Gondor]] told of giants making the [[White Mountains]], to keep [[Men]] out of their lands by the [[Belegaer|Sea]]. One of them, [[Stiff-neck]] or [[Tarlang]], tripped, and broke his neck. The other giants did not clean up his body, which became incorporated in the land instead. The giant's neck became [[Tarlang's Neck]], his head [[Dol Tarlang]], and the stones he was carrying [[Cûl Veleg]] and [[Cûl Bîn]].<ref>{{HM|N}}, pp. 536-7</ref>

==Other versions of the legendarium==
===Before ''The Hobbit''===
Giants originally had a larger part in the [[legendarium]]. In one early manuscript, the giants are counted among the [[úvanimo|Úvanimor]], servants of [[Morgoth|Melko]].<ref>{{LT1|X}}</ref> In another manuscript, the giants are counted among the [[Earthlings]], and are divided between the "wood-giants" ([[Qenya]] ''ulbandi'') and "mountainous-giants" (Qenya ''taulir'').<ref>{{PE|14}}, p. 9</ref> And in other early writings, two giants are named: [[Nan (giant)|Nan]] and [[Gilim]].<ref>{{LB|C5}} (verse 1497)</ref><ref>{{LT2|I}}</ref> ''Gilim'' is [[Gnomish]] for "winter", and ''Nan'' was said to be like an [[Elms|Elm]]-tree.

It is quite possible that their appearance in ''[[The Hobbit]]'' is a relic from this early phase of the legendarium. [[John D. Rateliff]] has argued that they might have become "free agents"; not wicked, but simply not aware of their surroundings.<ref name="Giants"/>

===Giants and Ents===
Giants were the wicked precursors of [[Ents]]. The elm-like features of the Giant Nan, and that in early versions of ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'' it was the Giant [[Treebeard]] who held [[Gandalf]] captive, not [[Saruman]],<ref>{{RS|3XXI}}</ref> makes the connection between Giants and Ents within [[J.R.R. Tolkien]]'s imagination clear.<ref name="Giants"/> "Ent" comes from an [[Old English]] word for "giant",<ref>{{RS|1XId}}</ref> seen at various points in ''[[Beowulf]]'', for example line 2717, ''enta geweorc'', "the work of giants".<ref>Howell D. Chickering, Jr., "Beowulf: A Dual Language Edition", pp. 212-3</ref>

==Inspiration==
In the ''[[The Return of the King|Return of the King]]'' it is noted that [[Minas Tirith]] "''seemed to have been not builded but carven by giants out of the bones of the earth''".<ref>{{RK|V1}}</ref> [[Wayne G. Hammond|Hammond]] and [[Christina Scull|Scull]] have suggested that this notion derives from [[Old English]] mythology, in which giants were often portrayed as builders of ancient structures.<ref>{{HM|RC}}, p. 514</ref>

==Other Fiction==
A [[The Giant|giant]] troubles [[Farmer Giles]]' land, who chases him off with his blunderbuss.<ref>[[J.R.R. Tolkien]], ''[[Farmer Giles of Ham]]''</ref>

==Etymology==
An early [[Sundocarmë|root]] for "giant" is given as [[NOROTH]]. This yields [[Quenya]] ''[[norsa]]'',<ref name="NOROTH">{{LR|Etymologies}} (cf. [[Sundocarmë|Root]] ''[[NOROTH]]'')</ref> and ''Noroth'' (likely supposed to be a [[Noldorin]] word<ref>{{webcite|author=Roman Rausch|articleurl=http://sindanorie.lima-city.de/RS&TI&WR.htm|articlename=''Essekenta Endamarwa'' - Names from ''The Return of the Shadow'', ''The Treason of Isengard'' and ''The War of the Ring''|dated=23 December 2006|website=Sindanórie|accessed=8 October 2011}}</ref>). A discarded Quenya word was ''hanako'', from a root KHAN-AK.<ref>{{VT|45a}}, p. 21</ref>

==Portrayal in adaptations==
{{Gallery
|title=Giants in adaptations
|width=480
|height=200
|lines=1
|File:Nicholas Jainschigg - Thunder's Companion.jpg|''Thunder's Companion'' by Nicholas Jainschigg for [[Middle-earth Collectible Card Game|''MECCG'']]
|File:The Hobbit - An Unexpected Journey - Stone Giants.jpg|A stone giant in ''[[The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey]]''
}}
===Films===
'''2012: ''[[The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey]]'':'''
:Stone-giants are seen throwing rocks and crashing into each other as [[Thorin and Company]] travel over the [[Misty Mountains]]. In the film, they are interpreted as being literal beings of stone.

===Games===
'''1982: ''[[Middle-earth Role Playing]]'':'''
:Several divisions and races of giants are described and given statistics, such as Stone Giants<ref>{{ICE|8070}}</ref>, Ice Giants<ref>{{ICE|2025}}</ref>, Giants of the Southern Misty Mountains<ref>{{ICE|3600}}</ref>, and Red Giants<ref>{{ICE|2012}}</ref>.

'''1995: ''[[Middle-earth Collectible Card Game]]'':'''
:Giants, called ''Thunder's Companions'', are one of the Hazard Creatures.

'''2003: [[The Hobbit (2003 video game)|''The Hobbit'' (2003 video game)]]:'''
:Stone-giants are golem-like creatures that appear in the fourth level, hurling rocks at Bilbo as he tries to travel along a mountain path. They are completely made of stone, and their stones are dangerous.<ref>[[The Hobbit (2003 video game)|''The Hobbit'' (2003 video game)]], "Over Hill and Under Hill"</ref>

'''2006: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth II]]'':'''
:"Mountain Giants" are large and powerful beings in the Goblin faction, with brown scaly skin. They can hurl stones at great distance, and serve as the faction's artillery units.

'''2007: ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]'':'''
:Several tribes of giants appear in the game, including Stone-giants, Ogres (also called Jorthkyn or Earth-kin), and Ice-giants. While some are enemy creatures, others remain neutral and can be befriended by the player.

'''2011: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]]'':'''
:A renegade Stone-Giant named Bargrisar appears in the game, serving as a boss character. He is the leader of a small army of Orcs and Trolls. Similar to the Hobbit movie's portrayal, he is a being composed entirely of stone.

===Other===
'''1989: [[The Hobbit (comic book)|''The Hobbit'' (comic book)]]:'''
:Giants are displayed as bearded gigantic men with regular leather attire.

==See also==
*[[:Category:Images of Giants|Images of Giants]]
*[[Ents]]
*[[Trolls]]

{{references}}
{{Legend}}
[[Category:Giants| ]]
[[de:Riesen]]

Giants

2013-02-19T08:58:12Z

24.7.209.47: /* Games */

[[File:Angus McBride - Giants.jpg|thumb|right|Artwork by [[Angus McBride]]]]
'''Giants''' were one of the mysterious [[races]] of [[Middle-earth]], mentioned only fleetingly.

==History==
Giants are beings shrouded in mystery. [[Gandalf|Gandalf the Grey]] was known for telling stories about [[dragons]] and [[Orcs|goblins]] and giants<ref>{{H|Party}}</ref> and [[Bilbo Baggins|Bilbo]] had heard of giants in tales,<ref>{{H|Riddles}}</ref> but none of these tales survive and the origin and history of the giants is obscure. Presumably, not all giants were evil, as Gandalf seems to have convinced a more or less decent giant to block the entrance to [[Goblin-town]] at the top of the [[High Pass]] in the [[Misty Mountains]].<ref>{{H|6}}</ref><ref name="Giants">{{HH|IV}}, "(iii): The Giants", pp. 143-5</ref>

However, what is known is that ''stone-giants'' lived in the Misty Mountains during the late [[Third Age]]. Upon coming, they drove out the majority of the [[bears]] that lived there.<ref>{{H|Queer}}</ref> They found a sport in throwing rocks at each other, and then into the depths below them to hear them shatter trees.<ref>{{H|Hill}}</ref>

A local legend among the [[Pre-Númenóreans|indigenous people]] of [[Gondor]] told of giants making the [[White Mountains]], to keep [[Men]] out of their lands by the [[Belegaer|Sea]]. One of them, [[Stiff-neck]] or [[Tarlang]], tripped, and broke his neck. The other giants did not clean up his body, which became incorporated in the land instead. The giant's neck became [[Tarlang's Neck]], his head [[Dol Tarlang]], and the stones he was carrying [[Cûl Veleg]] and [[Cûl Bîn]].<ref>{{HM|N}}, pp. 536-7</ref>

==Other versions of the legendarium==
===Before ''The Hobbit''===
Giants originally had a larger part in the [[legendarium]]. In one early manuscript, the giants are counted among the [[úvanimo|Úvanimor]], servants of [[Morgoth|Melko]].<ref>{{LT1|X}}</ref> In another manuscript, the giants are counted among the [[Earthlings]], and are divided between the "wood-giants" ([[Qenya]] ''ulbandi'') and "mountainous-giants" (Qenya ''taulir'').<ref>{{PE|14}}, p. 9</ref> And in other early writings, two giants are named: [[Nan (giant)|Nan]] and [[Gilim]].<ref>{{LB|C5}} (verse 1497)</ref><ref>{{LT2|I}}</ref> ''Gilim'' is [[Gnomish]] for "winter", and ''Nan'' was said to be like an [[Elms|Elm]]-tree.

It is quite possible that their appearance in ''[[The Hobbit]]'' is a relic from this early phase of the legendarium. [[John D. Rateliff]] has argued that they might have become "free agents"; not wicked, but simply not aware of their surroundings.<ref name="Giants"/>

===Giants and Ents===
Giants were the wicked precursors of [[Ents]]. The elm-like features of the Giant Nan, and that in early versions of ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'' it was the Giant [[Treebeard]] who held [[Gandalf]] captive, not [[Saruman]],<ref>{{RS|3XXI}}</ref> makes the connection between Giants and Ents within [[J.R.R. Tolkien]]'s imagination clear.<ref name="Giants"/> "Ent" comes from an [[Old English]] word for "giant",<ref>{{RS|1XId}}</ref> seen at various points in ''[[Beowulf]]'', for example line 2717, ''enta geweorc'', "the work of giants".<ref>Howell D. Chickering, Jr., "Beowulf: A Dual Language Edition", pp. 212-3</ref>

==Inspiration==
In the ''[[The Return of the King|Return of the King]]'' it is noted that [[Minas Tirith]] "''seemed to have been not builded but carven by giants out of the bones of the earth''".<ref>{{RK|V1}}</ref> [[Wayne G. Hammond|Hammond]] and [[Christina Scull|Scull]] have suggested that this notion derives from [[Old English]] mythology, in which giants were often portrayed as builders of ancient structures.<ref>{{HM|RC}}, p. 514</ref>

==Other Fiction==
A [[The Giant|giant]] troubles [[Farmer Giles]]' land, who chases him off with his blunderbuss.<ref>[[J.R.R. Tolkien]], ''[[Farmer Giles of Ham]]''</ref>

==Etymology==
An early [[Sundocarmë|root]] for "giant" is given as [[NOROTH]]. This yields [[Quenya]] ''[[norsa]]'',<ref name="NOROTH">{{LR|Etymologies}} (cf. [[Sundocarmë|Root]] ''[[NOROTH]]'')</ref> and ''Noroth'' (likely supposed to be a [[Noldorin]] word<ref>{{webcite|author=Roman Rausch|articleurl=http://sindanorie.lima-city.de/RS&TI&WR.htm|articlename=''Essekenta Endamarwa'' - Names from ''The Return of the Shadow'', ''The Treason of Isengard'' and ''The War of the Ring''|dated=23 December 2006|website=Sindanórie|accessed=8 October 2011}}</ref>). A discarded Quenya word was ''hanako'', from a root KHAN-AK.<ref>{{VT|45a}}, p. 21</ref>

==Portrayal in adaptations==
{{Gallery
|title=Giants in adaptations
|width=480
|height=200
|lines=1
|File:Nicholas Jainschigg - Thunder's Companion.jpg|''Thunder's Companion'' by Nicholas Jainschigg for [[Middle-earth Collectible Card Game|''MECCG'']]
|File:The Hobbit - An Unexpected Journey - Stone Giants.jpg|A stone giant in ''[[The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey]]''
}}
===Films===
'''2012: ''[[The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey]]'':'''
:Stone-giants are seen throwing rocks and crashing into each other as [[Thorin and Company]] travel over the [[Misty Mountains]]. In the film, they are interpreted as being literal beings of stone.

===Games===
'''1982: ''[[Middle-earth Role Playing]]'':'''
:Several divisions and races of giants are described and given statistics, such as Stone Giants<ref>{{ICE|8070}}</ref>, Ice Giants<ref>{{ICE|2025}}</ref>, Giants of the Southern Misty Mountains<ref>{{ICE|3600}}</ref>, and Red Giants<ref>{{ICE|2012}}</ref>.

'''1995: ''[[Middle-earth Collectible Card Game]]'':'''
:Giants, called ''Thunder's Companions'', are one of the Hazard Creatures.

'''2003: [[The Hobbit (2003 video game)|''The Hobbit'' (2003 video game)]]:'''
:Stone-giants are golem-like creatures that appear in the fourth level, hurling rocks at Bilbo as he tries to travel along a mountain path. They are completely made of stone, and their stones are dangerous.<ref>[[The Hobbit (2003 video game)|''The Hobbit'' (2003 video game)]], "Over Hill and Under Hill"</ref>

'''2006: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth II]]'':'''
:"Mountain Giants" are large and powerful beings in the Goblin faction, with brown scaly skin. They can hurl stones at great distance, and serve as the faction's artillery units.

'''2007: ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]'':'''
:Several tribes of giants appear in the game, including Stone-giants, Ogres (also called Jorthkyn or Earth-kin), and Ice-giants. While some are enemy creatures, others remain neutral and can be befriended by the player.

'''2011: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]]'':''':A renegade Stone-Giant named Bargrisar appears in the game, serving as a boss character. He is the leader of a small army of Orcs and Trolls. Similar to the Hobbit movie's portrayal, he is a being composed entirely of stone.

===Other===
'''1989: [[The Hobbit (comic book)|''The Hobbit'' (comic book)]]:'''
:Giants are displayed as bearded gigantic men with regular leather attire.

==See also==
*[[:Category:Images of Giants|Images of Giants]]
*[[Ents]]
*[[Trolls]]

{{references}}
{{Legend}}
[[Category:Giants| ]]
[[de:Riesen]]

Gwaihir

2013-02-19T08:49:06Z

24.7.209.47: /* Portrayal in adaptations */

{{sources}}{{cleanup}}
{{maiar infobox
| image=[[Image:Roger Thomasson - Gwaihir.jpg|250px]]
| name=Gwaihir
| othernames=none
| coming=
| death=Immortal
| duty=[[Manwë]]
| robes=
| gender=Male
| appearance= Eagle
| hair=
}}
{{Pronounce|Gwaihir.mp3|Ardamir}}
'''Gwaihir''' was the greatest and the swiftest of the [[Eagles]] of [[Middle-earth]] at the time of the [[War of the Ring]].

==History==
A descendant of [[Thorondor]], it is said that Gwaihir was his vassal in the [[First Age]] and with his brother [[Landroval]] helped him rescue [[Beren]] and [[Lúthien]] from [[Angband]].<ref name=P1>{{WJ|P1}} p. 68</ref>

In the [[Third Age]] he was the greatest and the swiftest of the Eagles of the North.

When the Eagles heard about [[Gollum]]'s escape from [[Mirkwood]], Gwaihir was sent to bear the news to [[Isengard]], as they had been told by [[Radagast]].

[[File:Stephen Hickman - Escape from Orthanc.jpg|thumb|left|Stephen Hickman: Escape from Orthanc]]
During the [[War of the Ring]], he noticed [[Gandalf]] on the pinnacle of [[Orthanc]] while trapped by [[Saruman]] and carried him to [[Edoras]].<ref>{{FR|Council}}</ref> Later he was sent by [[Galadriel]] to find Gandalf; he found him on the peak of [[Celebdil]] after the [[Battle of the Peak]], and carried him to [[Lothlórien]].<ref>{{TT|White}}</ref>

Gwaihir, [[Meneldor]] and [[Landroval]] helped the [[Free peoples]] in the [[Battle of the Morannon]]; in the aftermath, they brought [[Frodo Baggins|Frodo]] and [[Samwise Gamgee|Sam]] out of [[Mordor]] after [[the One Ring]] was destroyed.<ref>{{RK|Doom}}</ref>

==Genealogy==
{{familytree/start}}
{{familytree| | |THO| | | |THO=[[Thorondor]]}}
{{familytree| | | |:| | | |}}
{{familytree| | |FAT| | |FAT=Father of Gwaihir}}
{{familytree| |,|-|^|-|.| | | |}}
{{familytree|GWA| |LAN| | |GWA='''GWAIHIR'''|LAN=[[Landroval]]}}
{{familytree/end}}

==Etymology==
'''''Gwaihir''''' comes from [[Sindarin]] ''[[gwaew]]'' ("wind")<ref>{{PE|17}}, pp. 33-4</ref> and possibly ''[[hîr]]'' "lord". His name could thus likely be translated as "Windlord".

==Other versions of the legendarium==
Eagles named "Gwaihir" and "Landroval" (or, in even earlier texts, "Gwaewar" and "Lhandroval") appeared in early ''[[The Silmarillion|Silmarillion]]'', as vassals of Thorondor who helped to bear [[Beren]] and [[Lúthien]] from [[Angband]]<ref name=P1/>. These references were removed by [[Christopher Tolkien]] to escape the seeming discrepancy with ''The Lord of the Rings'', although later he admitted that he was not sure about his father's intentions.<ref>{{LR|Quenta}} Chs. 12–15, p. 301–3</ref><ref>{{SD|V}}</ref>

It is generally thought that Gwaihir is the [[Lord of the Eagles]] of ''[[The Hobbit]]'', although [[J.R.R. Tolkien|Tolkien]] never makes a connection nor mentions that Gwaihir was Lord of the Eagles. This notion is also seen in [[Robert Foster]]'s ''[[The Complete Guide to Middle-earth]]''.

In the whole ''Lord of the Rings'' Gwaihir carries Gandalf twice, and by the end of the book Gandalf says that Gwaihir had carried him twice<ref>{{RK|Cormallen}}</ref>; this implies that Gwaihir never carried him before the timeframe of the book.

==Portrayal in adaptations==
'''2001: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring]]'':'''
:Gandalf whispers "Gwaihir" repeatedly to a moth that arrives at [[Isengard]]. Later, Gwaihir rescues [[Gandalf]] from Isengard, and carries him to safety.

'''2003: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King]]'':'''
:Gwaihir and his Eagles come to aid at the [[Battle of the Morannon]]. They attack the Nazgûl and their [[fell beasts]]. After the battle is won and the One Ring destroyed, Gwaihir along with [[Gandalf]] and a second Eagle rescue [[Frodo Baggins]] and [[Samwise Gamgee]] from the rocks of [[Mount Doom]].

'''2007: ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]'':'''
:Gwaihir is first mentioned by [[Gandalf]] when the player meets up with him at the [[Prancing Pony]].<ref>{{VGC|SAII}}, Foreword: "Aiding the Order"</ref> The player first sees Gwaihir when entering Galadriel's garden in [[Lothlórien]] for the first time.<ref>{{VGC|MMVI}}, Chapter 9: "The Mirror of Galadriel"</ref>

'''2011: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]]'':'''
:Gwaihir is first mentioned in chapter 1, where [[Belarum]] tells that he has been sent by Gwaihir to seek news. Later on in the game, he makes a full appearance.<ref>[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]], Chapter 1: Fornost, ''Main Gate''</ref>

==See also==
* [[:Category:Images of Gwaihir|Images of Gwaihir]]

{{References}}

{{Ainur}}

[[Category:Characters in The Lord of the Rings]]
[[Category:Eagles]]
[[Category:Pronounced articles]]
[[Category:Sindarin names]]

[[de:Gwaihir]]
[[fr:encyclo:personnages:animaux:aigles:gwaihir]]
[[fi:Gwaihir]]