Black Arrow: Difference between revisions

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When in {{TA|2941}}<ref>{{App|TA}}</ref> the [[Dragons|dragon]] [[Smaug]] attacked [[Lake-town]], after being disturbed by [[Thorin and Company]] in the [[Lonely Mountain]], the '''Black Arrow''' was the last arrow left in Bard's quiver.
When in {{TA|2941}}<ref>{{App|TA}}</ref> the [[Dragons|dragon]] [[Smaug]] attacked [[Lake-town]], after being disturbed by [[Thorin and Company]] in the [[Lonely Mountain]], the '''Black Arrow''' was the last arrow left in Bard's quiver.


Bard fired the arrow through a bare patch in the armor on Smaug's underbelly, described to him by the [[Thrushes|Thrush]].  The arrow penetrated into Smaug's heart, killing the dragon immediately.<ref>{{H|Fire}}</ref>
Bard fired the arrow through a bare patch in the armor on Smaug's underbelly, described to him by the [[Thrushes|Thrush]].  The arrow penetrated Smaug's heart, killing the dragon immediately.<ref>{{H|Fire}}</ref>


==Inspiration==
==Inspiration==

Revision as of 03:09, 12 April 2014

Anke Eißmann - Bard the Bowman
"Arrow!" said the bowman. "Black arrow! I have saved you to the last. You have never failed me and always I have recovered you. I had you from my father and he from of old. If ever you came from the forges of the true king under the Mountain, go now and speed well!"
Bard, Fire and Water

According to Bard the Bowman, the Black Arrow had originated in the Lonely Mountain and had been passed down to him from his father and grandfather of the line of Girion. It was magical for him and whenever he shot it, he always recovered it.

When in T.A. 2941[1] the dragon Smaug attacked Lake-town, after being disturbed by Thorin and Company in the Lonely Mountain, the Black Arrow was the last arrow left in Bard's quiver.

Bard fired the arrow through a bare patch in the armor on Smaug's underbelly, described to him by the Thrush. The arrow penetrated Smaug's heart, killing the dragon immediately.[2]

Inspiration

J.R.R. Tolkien may have found inspiration for the weapon that achieves its goal and then perishes in Beowulf. In that story Beowulf's sword cannot kill Grendal's mother but another sword, an ancient blade found in her lair, can destroy her and slice off Grendel's head. However, the sword then melted down to the hilt.[3]

References

  1. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, "The Third Age"
  2. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, "Fire and Water"
  3. J.R.R. Tolkien, John D. Rateliff (ed.), The History of The Hobbit, Return to Bag-End, The Second Phase, "The Death of Smaug", (ii) The Black Arrow, p. 558
Weapons in Tolkien's legendarium
 Arrows:  Black Arrow · Dailir · Red Arrow
Axes:  Dramborleg · Durin's Axe
Bows:  Belthronding · Bow of Bregor · Bow of the Galadhrim
Knives:  Angrist · Barrow-blades · Morgul-knife · Sting
Maces:  Grond
Spears:  Aeglos
Swords:  Anglachel/Gurthang · Anguirel · Aranrúth · Dagmor · Glamdring · Glend · Gúthwinë · Herugrim · Narsil/Andúril ·  Orcrist · Ringil · Sword of Manwë