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==History==
==History==
Gríma was secretly in thrall to [[Saruman]], and worked to weaken Théoden and his kingdom. Upon [[Gandalf]]'s arrival, "many things which men had missed" were found locked in his trunk and he was given a grim choice: ride into battle or into exile.<ref name=Golden>{{TT|III6}}</ref> Choosing the latter, he went to dwell with Saruman at [[Orthanc]]. Saruman had cause to regret this when, following the confrontation between Saruman and Gandalf, he mistakenly threw a "heavy rock"&mdash;which was actually the ''[[palantíri|palantír]]'' of Orthanc&mdash;at the [[Rohirrim]] accompanying Gandalf, an act for which Saruman seems to have punished him severely.<ref>{{TT|III10}}</ref>
Gríma was secretly in thrall to [[Saruman]], who had promised him [[Éowyn]]. Gríma not only informed Saruman about the secrets of [[Rohan]], but also worked to weaken Théoden and his kingdom with his words and poison.


He then accompanied Saruman to [[the Shire]], where the two sought revenge in petty tyranny over the hobbits (though Saruman had already been exerting control from afar by sending evil Men to the Shire). During this time he became increasingly degraded until he was a crawling wretch, almost resembling [[Gollum]], and Saruman shortened his nickname to "Worm". During this time he killed [[Lotho Sackville-Baggins]], and may have eaten him.<ref name=RKVI8>{{RK|VI8}}</ref>
During the [[War of the Ring]], the Nine [[Nazgûl]] came to Rohan and questioned Wormtongue, who, terrified, answered that the [[Wizard]] [[Gandalf]] had passed through Rohan, and also revealed to them where the [[Shire]] was. He also told them that Saruman had lied to them in this information, revealing his treachery against [[Sauron]].<ref>{{UT|hunt}}</ref>
 
Upon [[Gandalf]]'s arrival, he tried to discredit Gandalf, until he managed to heal Théoden. After this, "many things which men had missed" were found locked in Gríma's trunk and he was given a grim choice: ride into battle or into exile.<ref name=Golden>{{TT|III6}}</ref> Choosing the latter, he went to dwell with Saruman at [[Orthanc]], where he witnessed the [[Battle of Isengard]]. Following the confrontation between Saruman and Gandalf, he mistakenly threw a "heavy rock"&mdash;which was actually the ''[[palantíri|palantír]]'' [[Orthanc-stone}of Orthanc]]&mdash;at the [[Rohirrim]] accompanying Gandalf, an act for which Saruman seems to have punished him severely.<ref>{{TT|III10}}</ref>
 
Saruman had already been exerting control to Shire from afar by sending [[ruffians|evil Men]] there, so they lefte for that country, where the two sought revenge in petty tyranny over the hobbits. During this time he became increasingly degraded until he was a crawling wretch, almost resembling [[Gollum]], and Saruman shortened his nickname to "Worm". During this time he killed [[Lotho Sackville-Baggins]], and may have eaten him.<ref name=RKVI8>{{RK|VI8}}</ref>


Spurred by the words of [[Frodo Baggins|Frodo]] that he did not have to follow Saruman, and being pushed over the edge when Saruman scorned him, he used a hidden knife to slit the throat of [[Saruman]] and darted down the road. He was quickly killed by several Hobbit arrows.<ref name=RKVI8/>
Spurred by the words of [[Frodo Baggins|Frodo]] that he did not have to follow Saruman, and being pushed over the edge when Saruman scorned him, he used a hidden knife to slit the throat of [[Saruman]] and darted down the road. He was quickly killed by several Hobbit arrows.<ref name=RKVI8/>

Revision as of 14:19, 18 July 2012

"...It is a long tale..." — Aragorn
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Gríma Wormtongue
Rohir
John Alvin - Untitled (Theoden and Wormtongue).jpg
Biographical Information
PositionKing's Advisor
DeathNovember 3, Third Age 3019.
Family
ParentageGálmód
Physical Description
GenderMale
GalleryImages of Gríma Wormtongue

Gríma Wormtongue (died Third Age November 3, 3019)[1] was the chief advisor to King Théoden of Rohan. He was the son of Gálmód.[2]

History

Gríma was secretly in thrall to Saruman, who had promised him Éowyn. Gríma not only informed Saruman about the secrets of Rohan, but also worked to weaken Théoden and his kingdom with his words and poison.

During the War of the Ring, the Nine Nazgûl came to Rohan and questioned Wormtongue, who, terrified, answered that the Wizard Gandalf had passed through Rohan, and also revealed to them where the Shire was. He also told them that Saruman had lied to them in this information, revealing his treachery against Sauron.[3]

Upon Gandalf's arrival, he tried to discredit Gandalf, until he managed to heal Théoden. After this, "many things which men had missed" were found locked in Gríma's trunk and he was given a grim choice: ride into battle or into exile.[2] Choosing the latter, he went to dwell with Saruman at Orthanc, where he witnessed the Battle of Isengard. Following the confrontation between Saruman and Gandalf, he mistakenly threw a "heavy rock"—which was actually the palantír [[Orthanc-stone}of Orthanc]]—at the Rohirrim accompanying Gandalf, an act for which Saruman seems to have punished him severely.[4]

Saruman had already been exerting control to Shire from afar by sending evil Men there, so they lefte for that country, where the two sought revenge in petty tyranny over the hobbits. During this time he became increasingly degraded until he was a crawling wretch, almost resembling Gollum, and Saruman shortened his nickname to "Worm". During this time he killed Lotho Sackville-Baggins, and may have eaten him.[5]

Spurred by the words of Frodo that he did not have to follow Saruman, and being pushed over the edge when Saruman scorned him, he used a hidden knife to slit the throat of Saruman and darted down the road. He was quickly killed by several Hobbit arrows.[5]

Etymology

The name Gríma derives from the Old English or Icelandic word meaning "mask, visor, helmet" or "spectre".[6][7][8] It is also possible to link the name to the English word "grim", which among other characteristics meant "ugly" in Old English.[9]

Wormtongue is a modernized form of Old English wyrm-tunge ("snake-tongue").[10]

Portrayal in Adaptations

1956: The Lord of the Rings (1956 radio series):

Bernard Rebel played Gríma.

1978: The Lord of the Rings (1978 film):

Gríma Wormtongue was voiced by Michael Deacon.

1979: The Lord of the Rings (1979 radio series):

John Vickery played Gríma.

1981: The Lord of the Rings (1981 radio series):

Paul Brooke played Gríma.

2001-3: The Lord of the Rings: The Motion Picture Trilogy:

Gríma is played by Brad Dourif. The reason for Gríma's pale and emaciated appearance in the movie is not entirely clear. Perhaps it is meant to suggest that by throwing in his lot with Saruman he has started down the same path to physical and mental corruption that caused Gollum to become a twisted parody of his original self, although it is just as likely that Jackson simply wanted to make it clear that Wormtongue was one of the "bad guys" in the large and confusing cast of characters.
The events of "The Scouring of the Shire" do not appear in the film version, so Saruman's death was moved to an earlier scene. Other than the location, the manner of their deaths is very much the same. As in the book, Gríma kills Saruman, but by stabbing him in the back, not slitting his throat. Saruman's body then falls from the tower and is impaled on a spiked wheel, a remnant of his war machine. Gríma himself is shot by an arrow fired by Legolas, thereby mirroring his death in the book. This scene was to have included a line where Saruman blamed Gríma for killing Théodred, replacing Lotho in the context of that scene, but the line was cut out.

2009: The Lord of the Rings: Conquest:

Kirk Thornton played Gríma.

See also

References

  1. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, "The Chief Days from the Fall of Barad-dûr to the End of the Third Age"
  2. 2.0 2.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Two Towers, "The King of the Golden Hall"
  3. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Two Towers, "The Voice of Saruman"
  4. 5.0 5.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King, "The Scouring of the Shire"
  5. Wayne G. Hammond, Christina Scull (2008), The Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion, p. 404
  6. Hálfdan Helgason (1991), The Emigration from Iceland to North America: Icelandic first names, accessed 12 October 2010
  7. Joseph Bosworth, "gríma" at An Anglo-Saxon Dictionary (online, accessed 12 October 2010)
  8. Joseph Bosworth, "EORL" at An Anglo-Saxon Dictionary (online, accessed 12 October 2010)
  9. J.R.R. Tolkien, "Nomenclature of The Lord of the Rings" in Wayne G. Hammond and Christina Scull (eds), The Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion, p. 764