Ettenmoors: Difference between revisions

From Tolkien Gateway
(Ettinsmoor appears in Lewis's Narnian works earlier that the first appearance of the name in the FR Map so it's safe to assume that Tolkien was inspired by Lewis.)
Line 31: Line 31:
"Fells" translates to hills or moorland, thus "troll-fells" were hills in which [[trolls]] lived.<ref name=RC>{{HM|RC}}, p. 183</ref>
"Fells" translates to hills or moorland, thus "troll-fells" were hills in which [[trolls]] lived.<ref name=RC>{{HM|RC}}, p. 183</ref>
==Other versions of the legendarium==
==Other versions of the legendarium==
The first instance of ''troll-fells'' was devoid of a dash and was capitalized, "Trollfells": [[J.R.R. Tolkien]] wrote on a map: "Alter Entish Lands to [Trollfells > Bergrisland >] Ettenmoor". This is also the first mention of Ettenmoor(s) in the legendarium.<ref name="Map">{{TI|Map}}, p. 306</ref>
In the "first phase" of ''[[The Fellowship of the Ring]]'', map sketches label the source of Hoarwell as [[Dimrill dale]](s), but when the name was displaced, the region was renamed Hoardale, changed to "Entish Dales" or "Entish Lands". This was before [[J.R.R. Tolkien]] conceived the [[Ents]] of ''[[The Two Towers]]'' and the adjective "entish" directly refers to Old English ''eōten'' "giant"<ref>{{RS|1XId}}</ref> (see also [[#Etymology|Etymology]] section).
 
Later Tolkien decided to change it into "Trollfells" (capitalized without a hyphen): he wrote on a map: "Alter Entish Lands to [Trollfells > Bergrisland >] Ettenmoor". This is also the first mention of Ettenmoor(s) in the legendarium.<ref name="Map">{{TI|Map}}, p. 306</ref>
 
==Inspiration==
==Inspiration==
The name ''Ettenmoors'' is similar to the land of [http://narnia.wikia.com/wiki/Ettinsmoor Ettinsmoor] of [[The Chronicles of Narnia|Narnia]] by [[C.S. Lewis]]. In ''The Silver Chair'' Lewis mentions that it is inhabited by [http://narnia.wikia.com/wiki/Ettin Ettins], giants who often play the game of Cockshies, throwing rocks at a gorge, much like the [[giants|stone giants]] in ''[[The Hobbit]]''.
The name ''Ettenmoors'' is similar to the land of [http://narnia.wikia.com/wiki/Ettinsmoor Ettinsmoor] of [[The Chronicles of Narnia|Narnia]] by [[C.S. Lewis]]. In ''The Silver Chair'' Lewis mentions that it is inhabited by [http://narnia.wikia.com/wiki/Ettin Ettins], giants who often play the game of Cockshies, throwing rocks at a gorge, much like the [[giants|stone giants]] in ''[[The Hobbit]]''.

Revision as of 06:32, 13 February 2020

Ettenmoors
Moorland
Rob Alexander - Ettenmoors.jpg
"Ettenmoors" by Rob Alexander
General Information
Other namesEttendales, Troll-fells
LocationEastern Eriador, north of the Trollshaws
TypeMoorland
DescriptionHighland region infested with Trolls
InhabitantsTrolls, possibly Orcs
GalleryImages of Ettenmoors

The Ettenmoors were a mountainous, wild, and untamed land that lay north of Rivendell.

Also called the troll-fells,[1] the region was likely infested with Trolls.

The Ettenmoors included the land of the Ettendales, which consisted of valleys reaching into the foothills of the Misty Mountains.[2]

It is speculated that Mount Gram, from where a host of Orcs attacked the Shire, was located in the Ettenmoors.[3]

History

It was here that in T.A. 1975 the Witch-king of Angmar fled after his defeat in the Battle of Fornost.[4] Chieftain Arador was slain by trolls in this area[5] in 2930.[6]

Around November T.A. 3018, scouts from Rivendell investigated the Ettenmoors for any activities concerning the servants of Sauron, but they came with no warning news.[7]

Etymology

The name Ettenmoors consists of etten (derived from Old English eōten "giant, troll") and moor ("high barren land").[8] Etten is a word derived from Old English eōten ("giant, troll, ogre").[9][10] It has been noted that Tolkien "probably thought of an 'ettin' as a troll".[11] Note that etten is etymologically related to the word Ent.

"Fells" translates to hills or moorland, thus "troll-fells" were hills in which trolls lived.[8]

Other versions of the legendarium

In the "first phase" of The Fellowship of the Ring, map sketches label the source of Hoarwell as Dimrill dale(s), but when the name was displaced, the region was renamed Hoardale, changed to "Entish Dales" or "Entish Lands". This was before J.R.R. Tolkien conceived the Ents of The Two Towers and the adjective "entish" directly refers to Old English eōten "giant"[12] (see also Etymology section).

Later Tolkien decided to change it into "Trollfells" (capitalized without a hyphen): he wrote on a map: "Alter Entish Lands to [Trollfells > Bergrisland >] Ettenmoor". This is also the first mention of Ettenmoor(s) in the legendarium.[13]

Inspiration

The name Ettenmoors is similar to the land of Ettinsmoor of Narnia by C.S. Lewis. In The Silver Chair Lewis mentions that it is inhabited by Ettins, giants who often play the game of Cockshies, throwing rocks at a gorge, much like the stone giants in The Hobbit.

Portrayal in Adaptations

2002-5: The Lord of the Rings Roleplaying Game:

The Ettenmoors are the homeland of the Ettens who resemble Hill-trolls, but they possess "not one but two long heads".[14]
Map of the Ettenmoors from The Lord of the Rings Online

2007: The Lord of the Rings Online:

The Ettenmoors is the region where player vs player play takes place. The land has three keeps (Lugazag, Tirith Rhaw and Tol Ascarnen), Isendeep Mine and Grimwood Lumber Camp that can be controlled by either the forces of Angmar or the Free Peoples of Middle-earth.

See also

References

  1. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring, "Flight to the Ford"
  2. J.R.R. Tolkien, "Unfinished index for The Lord of the Rings", in Wayne G. Hammond and Christina Scull (eds), The Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion, p. 188
  3. Karen Wynn Fonstad (1991), The Atlas of Middle-earth, pp. 75, 80
  4. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, "The Third Age"
  5. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "The Númenorean Kings", "The Tale of Aragorn and Arwen"
  6. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "The Númenorean Kings", "The Realms in Exile", "The Northern Line: Heirs of Isildur"
  7. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring, "The Ring Goes South"
  8. 8.0 8.1 Wayne G. Hammond and Christina Scull (eds), The Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion, p. 183
  9. Wayne G. Hammond and Christina Scull (eds), The Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion, p. 183
  10. 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. 770
  11. Michael D.C. Drout, "An Anglo-Saxonist Gets his Fifteen Minutes: or, what happens when the media briefly pay attention" at Old English Newsletter Online (accessed 10 March 2011)
  12. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Return of the Shadow, "The First Phase: XI. From Weathertop to the Ford, Note on the Entish Lands"
  13. J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Treason of Isengard, "XV. The First Map of The Lord of the Rings", p. 306
  14. Scott Bennie, Mike Mearls, Steve Miller, Aaron Rosenberg, Chris Seeman, Owen Seyler, and George Strayton (2003), Fell Beasts and Wondrous Magic