 | |
| Orc | |
| Golfimbul | |
|---|---|
| Biographical Information | |
| Titles | King of the Goblins of Mount Gram |
| Location | Mount Gram Greenfields |
| Affiliation | Orcs of Mount Gram |
| Language | Presumably Orkish |
| Death | T.A. 2747 Greenfields (Northfarthing) |
| Notable for | Being in the first "game" of Golf |
| Physical Description | |
| Gender | Male |
| Gallery | Images of Golfimbul |
Golfimbul was a king of the Orcs of Mount Gram.[1]
History
Golfimbul led a band of Orcs in an invasion of the Shire in T.A. 2747.[2] Bandobras Took met Golfimbul in the Northfarthing of the Shire and defeated him in the Battle of Greenfields. During the battle Bandobras, who was large enough to ride a horse, charged at Golfimbul and knocked off his head with a club. Golfimbul's head flew through the air for 100 yards and went down a rabbit hole. It is said that this is how the game of golf was invented.[1]
Etymology
Jim Allan suggests that Golfimbul has a Scandinavian origin, means "Wind-terrible" and contains the elements Gol- ("wind") and Fimbul ("might" or "great").[3]
"Fimbul" is Old Norse for "great".[4]
Robert Foster notes that the connection with the English word "golf" suggests that the name is either fictitious or translated Westron.[5]
Other versions of the legendarium
At an early stage in writing The Hobbit J.R.R. Tolkien used the name Fingolfin for the Goblin-leader, which also contained the word "golf" for the joke about the origin of the game (although not as prominently as in "Golfimbul").[6] Many years later, in the never-finished 1960 rewrite of the story, Tolkien intended to change the name to Gulfimbul.[7] John D. Rateliff speculated that this was either a further evolution of Tolkien's languages or because he was dropping the golf-joke reference.[8] The 1960 revision was an effort to "upgrade" The Hobbit to the same epic level as The Lord of the Rings.
Portrayal in adaptations
Films
2012: The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey:
- In trying to convince Bilbo of his Tookishness, Gandalf tells about the story of the Battle of Greenfields, referring to Golfimbul as a Goblin-king.
Games
2007: The Lord of the Rings Online:
- In Brockenborings there is a wooden statue depicting Bandobras standing in a golf pose over Golfimbul's head. Every Spring, the Shire celebrates Bullroarer Took Day when the Hobbits place tankards of the drink under his statue in his honor.
- The epic book prologue in the Shire involves the player trying to thwart Lubach, who believes that he is the descendant of Golfimbul, from invading the Shire with a group of Goblins. He dwells in a landmark in the Greenfields referred to as Golfimbul's Hole.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, "An Unexpected Party"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, "The Third Age"
- ↑ Jim Allan (1978), An Introduction to Elvish, Giving of Names, p. 226
- ↑ Wikipedia:Fimbulwinter#Etymology
- ↑ Robert Foster, The Complete Guide to Middle-earth, p. 167
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, John D. Rateliff (ed.), The History of The Hobbit, Mr. Baggins, The First Phase, "The Bladorthin Typescript", p. 39
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, John D. Rateliff (ed.), The History of The Hobbit, Return to Bag-End, "The Fifth Phase", "New Chapter I. A Well-Planned Party", p. 776
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, John D. Rateliff (ed.), The History of The Hobbit, Return to Bag-End, "The Fifth Phase", "New Chapter I. A Well-Planned Party", note 24, p. 785