https://tolkiengateway.net/w/api.php?action=feedcontributions&user=192.0.175.171&feedformat=atomTolkien Gateway - User contributions [en]2024-03-28T16:59:20ZUser contributionsMediaWiki 1.39.3https://tolkiengateway.net/w/index.php?title=Fingon&diff=301876Fingon2018-12-11T04:33:33Z<p>192.0.175.171: /* History */</p>
<hr />
<div>{{Sources}}<br />
{{noldor infobox<br />
| name=Fingon<br />
| image=[[File:Anna Lee - Fingon.jpg|250px]]<br />
| caption="Fingon" by [[Anna Lee]]<br />
| pronun=<br />
| othernames=''Findekáno'' ([[Quenya|Q]], [[Father-name|fn]])<br />
| titles=[[High King of the Noldor]]<br />
| position=<br />
| location=[[Tirion]]; [[Dor-lómin]]<br />
| affiliation=<br />
| language=[[Quenya]] and [[Sindarin]]<br />
| birth=between {{YT|1190}} and {{YT|1300|n}}<br />
| birthlocation=[[Tirion]]<br />
| rule={{FA|456}} - {{FA|472|n}}<br />
| death={{FA|472}}<br />
| deathlocation=[[Anfauglith]] in [[Nirnaeth Arnoediad]]<br />
| age=<br />
| notablefor=<br />
| house=[[House of Fingolfin]]<br />
| parentage=[[Fingolfin]] & [[Anairë]]<br />
| siblings=[[Turgon]], [[Aredhel]] and [[Argon]]<br />
| spouse=<br />
| children=<br />
| gender=Male<br />
| height=<br />
| hair=Dark<br />
| eyes=<br />
| clothing=<br />
| weapons=Bow<br />
| steed=<br />
}}<br />
{{quote| Of all the children of Finwe he is justly most renowned: for his valour was as a fire and yet as steadfast as the hills of stone; wise he was and skilled in voice and hand; truth and justice he loved and bore good will to all, both Elves and Men, hating Morgoth only; he sought not his own, neither power nor glory, and death was his reward.|''[[The Lost Road and Other Writings]]'', "[[Quenta Silmarillion]]"}}<br />
'''Fingon''' ([[Sindarin|S]], pron. {{IPA|[ˈfiŋɡon]}}; [[Years of the Trees]] – [[First Age]] 472), called 'the Valiant' by [[Maedhros]], was a [[High King of the Noldor]] in [[Beleriand]] during the [[First Age]]. He was the eldest son of [[Fingolfin]], older brother of [[Turgon]], [[Aredhel]], and [[Argon]].<ref group=note>[[Argon]] only appears in very late writings by [[J.R.R. Tolkien|Tolkien]] as published in ''[[The History of Middle-earth]]'', and is left out of the published ''[[The Silmarillion]]''.</ref><br />
<br />
== History ==<br />
<br />
Fingon went with his father and people from [[Aman]] to [[Beleriand]] at the beginning of the [[First Age]]. Eldest of the sons of [[Fingolfin]], he was already of high repute among the [[Noldor]], being dubbed "The Valiant" by his half first cousin and friend [[Maedhros]] before the war against [[Morgoth]] had begun. Despite the protests of Maedhros he was left behind with the rest of Fingolfin and [[Finarfin]]'s people when Feanor returned to Middle-Earth. With his people he passed the [[Helcaraxë]] and came to Middle-Earth himself. It was Fingon who restored the relationship among the houses of the Noldor; hearing of Maedhros's imprisonment he went alone to [[Thangorodrim]] to search for him. In defiance of Morgoth he played his harp and sang a song of [[Valinor]], finding Maedhros when the latter sang in response. With [[Thorondor]] he rescued Maedhros and achieved great renown. Fingolfin gave Fingon a domain in [[Dor-lómin]], in the west of [[Hithlum]], where he did good service during the [[Siege of Angband]]; defeating [[Orcs]] that attempted to go around to the north and attack Hithlum from the west, and then later the first to fight against the [[Dragons|Dragon]] [[Glaurung]] when he first came forth from [[Angband]].<br />
<br />
Fingon became High King when Fingolfin died fighting [[Morgoth]] after the [[Dagor Bragollach]] ("Battle of Sudden Flame"). Seven years later, Morgoth's forces invaded Hithlum, and Fingon was hard-pressed and outnumbered, but rescued by [[Círdan]] and his people of the [[Falas]], who came up the [[Firth of Drengist]] in their ships. During this time Fingon's people became closely allied with the Men of the house of [[Hador]].<br />
<br />
In the [[Nirnaeth Arnoediad]], Fingon was nearly victorious; but in the end he was finally defeated, and then killed by [[Gothmog (balrog)|Gothmog]], lord of [[Balrogs]] with an axe after another Balrog bound him with its whip.<br />
<br />
== Etymology ==<br />
{{Pronounce|Fingon.mp3|Ardamir}}<br />
''Fingon'' is the [[Sindarization|Sindarized]] version of his [[Quenya]] [[father-name]], '''''Findekáno'''''. The latter consists of ''[[findë]]'' ("hair") + ''[[káno]]'' ("commander").<ref>{{PM|Finwe}}, p. 345</ref><ref>{{PE|17}}, p. 113</ref><br />
<br />
== Other Versions of the Legendarium ==<br />
In the published ''[[The Silmarillion]]'' Fingon was the father of [[Gil-galad]], but this was an editorial mistake by [[Christopher Tolkien]], and is said "to have no wife or children". Argon does not appear in the published Silmarillion at all.<br />
<br />
== Genealogy ==<br />
<div style="overflow-x: scroll; overflow-y: hidden; border: 1px solid #AAAAAA; padding: 3px; background: #EEEEEE;"><br />
{{familytree/start}}<br />
{{familytree| MIR |y| FIN |y| IND | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |FIN=[[Finwë]]</br><small>''d. {{YT|1495}}''</small>|IND=[[Indis]]</br><small>''b. {{YT}}''</small>|MIR=[[Míriel]]</br><small>''d. {{YT|1170}}''</small>}}<br />
{{familytree| | | |!| | | |)|-|-|-|v|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|v|-|-|-|.| | | |}}<br />
{{familytree| | | FEA | | FDS | | FNG |y| ANA | | IRM | | FIR | | |FEA=[[Fëanor]]</br><small>''{{YT|1169}} - {{YT|1497|n}}''</small>|FDS=[[Findis]]</br><small>''b. {{YT}}''</small>|FNG=[[Fingolfin]]</br><small>''{{YT|1190}} - {{FA|456}}''</small>|ANA=[[Anairë]]</br><small>''b. {{YT}}''</small>|IRM=[[Írimë]]</br><small>''b. {{YT}}''</small>|FIR=[[Finarfin]]</br><small>''b. {{YT|1230}}''</small>}}<br />
{{familytree| |,|-|-|-|v|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|+|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|.| |}}<br />
{{familytree| FIN | | TUR |y| ELE | | ARE |y| EOL | | ARG|FIN='''FINGON'''</br><small>''d. {{FA|472}}''</small>|ARE=[[Aredhel]]</br><small>''{{YT|1362}} - {{FA|400}}''</small>|TUR=[[Turgon]]</br><small>''{{YT|1300}} - {{FA|510}}''</small>|ELE=[[Elenwë]]</br><small>''d. {{YT|1500}}''</small>|EOL=[[Eöl]]</br><small>''d. {{FA|400}}''</small>|ARG=[[Argon]]</br><small>''d. {{FA|1}}''</small>}}<br />
{{familytree| | | | | | | |!| | | | | | | |!| | | | | | | |}}<br />
{{familytree| | | TUO |y| IDR | | | | | | MAE | | | | | ||MAE=[[Maeglin]]</br><small>''{{FA|320}} - {{FA|510|n}}''</small>|IDR=[[Idril]]</br><small>''b. {{YT}}''</small>|TUO=[[Tuor]]</br><small>''b. {{FA|472}}''</small>}}<br />
{{familytree| | | | | |!| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |}}<br />
{{familytree| | | | | EAR | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ||EAR=[[Eärendil]]</br><small>''b. {{FA|503}}''</small>}}<br />
{{familytree/end}}<br />
</div><br />
{{seq-start}}<br />
{{seq-head<br />
|race=noldor<br />
|house=[[House of Fingolfin]]<br />
|born=during the [[Years of the Trees]]<br />
|died={{FA|472}}<br />
}}<br />
{{seq<br />
|pvac=<br />
|prev=[[Fingolfin]]<br />
|next=[[Turgon]]<br />
|list=[[High King of the Noldor]]<br />
|dates={{FA|456}} – {{FA|472|n}}<br />
}}<br />
{{seq-end}}<br />
{{references|note}}<br />
[[Category:Characters in The Silmarillion]]<br />
[[Category:House of Fingolfin]]<br />
[[Category:Sindarin names]]<br />
[[Category:Rulers in Beleriand]]<br />
[[Category:First Age characters]]<br />
[[Category:Noldor]]<br />
[[de:Fingon]]<br />
[[fr:/encyclo/personnages/elfes/noldor/fingon]]<br />
[[fi:Fingon]]</div>192.0.175.171https://tolkiengateway.net/w/index.php?title=Eagles&diff=301743Eagles2018-12-02T05:49:46Z<p>192.0.175.171: /* Official explanation to the problem */</p>
<hr />
<div>{{cleanup}}<br />
{{race infobox<br />
| name=Eagles<br />
| image=[[File:Darrell Sweet - The Lord of the Eagles.jpg|250px]]<br />
| caption="The Lord of the Eagles" by [[Darrell Sweet]]<br />
| pronun=<br />
| othernames=<br />
| origin=Animals sung and created by [[Manwë]] and [[Yavanna]]<br />
| location=[[Taniquetil]]<br/>[[Crissaegrim]]<br/>[[Eagle's Eyrie]]<br />
| affiliation=[[Manwë]]<br />
| rivalry=<br />
| language=At least [[Valarin]], [[Quenya]], [[Sindarin]], [[Westron]]<br />
| people=<br />
| members=[[Thorondor]], [[Great Eagle]], [[Gwaihir]], [[Landroval]], [[Meneldor]]<br />
| lifespan=Unknown, but obviously very longeval<ref name=P1>{{WJ|P1}} p. 68</ref><ref group=note>Since Gwaihir and Landroval were said to have helped Thorondor in the escape of Beren and Lúthien ({{FA|466}}) and they were both alive at the time of the War of the Ring ({{TA|3019}}) that would make them at least 6,584 years old.</ref><br />
| distinctions=<br />
| height=<br />
| hair=<br />
| skin=<br />
| clothing=<br />
| weapons=<br />
}}<br />
The '''Eagles''' were birds that served as messengers of [[Manwë]]. Among those were the '''Great Eagles''', immense birds who were sentient and capable of speech, and often helped [[Men]], [[Elves]] and [[Wizards]] in the quests to defeat evil. They were "devised" by [[Manwë]] Súlimo, King of the [[Valar]], and were often called the '''Eagles of Manwë'''.<br />
<br />
They were sent from [[Valinor]] to [[Middle-earth]] to keep an eye on the exiled [[Noldor|Ñoldor]], and on their foe the evil Vala [[Morgoth]].<br />
<br />
==History==<br />
The Great Eagles were messengers of [[Manwë]], the ruler of the sky and Lord of the [[Valar]].<br />
<br />
===First Age===<br />
[[Image:Ted Nasmith - Beren and Lúthien are Flown to Safety.jpg|thumb|[[Ted Nasmith]] - ''Beren and Lúthien are Flown to Safety'']]<br />
At a command of [[Manwë]], for a time the Lord of the Eagles, [[Thorondor]] kept his eyries at the top of [[Thangorodrim]], the volcano above [[Angband]] itself<ref>{{S|Noldor}}</ref><ref>{{S|Fingolfin}}</ref>. While they lived there, Thorondor helped [[Fingon]] rescue [[Maedhros]]. Many years later, three of the Great Eagles came to the aid of [[Beren]] and [[Lúthien]], bearing them away from Thangorodrim after both had drained their strength in the [[Quest for the Silmaril]].<ref>{{S|Beren}}</ref> Thorondor's folk later removed their eyries to the [[Crissaegrim]], part of the [[Echoriad]] about [[Gondolin]]. There they were friends of [[Turgon]], keeping spies off the mountains, bringing him news and keeping spies off the borders. Because of their guardianship, the [[Orcs]] were unable to approach either the nearby mountains,<ref name="Silm-TFG">{{S|Gondolin}}</ref> or the important ford of [[Brithiach]] to the south;<ref name="Tuor">{{UT|Tuor}}</ref> their watch had been redoubled after the coming of [[Tuor]],<ref>{{S|Doriath}}</ref> enabling Gondolin to remain undiscovered the longest of all Elven realms. When the city [[fall of Gondolin|fell]] at last, the eagles of Thorondor protected the fugitives, driving away the orcs that ambushed them at [[Cirith Thoronath]], the Eagles' Cleft north of Gondolin.<ref name="Silm-TFG"/><br />
<br />
Thorondor wounded Morgoth in the face after Morgoth's battle with [[Fingolfin]], and he carried Fingolfin's body to the Echoriath, where he was buried by Fingon.<br />
<br />
The Eagles fought alongside the army of the Valar, [[Elves]] and Edain during the [[War of Wrath]] at the end of the [[First Age]]. After the appearance of winged [[dragons]], all the great birds gathered under Thorondor to [[Eärendil]], and destroyed the majority of the dragons.<ref>{{S|Earendil}}</ref><br />
<br />
===Númenor===<br />
In the [[Second Age]], a pair of Eagles had an eyrie in the King's House in [[Armenelos]], the capital of Númenor until the time of [[Tar-Ancalimon]], when the [[Kings of Númenor]] became hostile to the Valar.<br />
<br />
The [[Númenóreans]] believed that three eagles, "the Witnesses of Manwë", were sent by Manwë to guard the summit of [[Meneltarma]]; these appeared whenever one approached the hallow and staying in the sky during the [[Three Prayers]].<br />
<br />
Many eagles lived upon the hills around [[Sorontil]] in the north of the island.<ref>{{UT|Numenor}}</ref><br />
[[File:Ted Nasmith - The Eagles of Manwë.jpg|thumb|left|[[Ted Nasmith]] - ''The Eagles of Manwë'']]<br />
Eagle-shaped storm clouds, called the "Eagles of the Lords of the West", were sent by Manwë when he tried to reason or threaten them.<ref>{{S|Akallabeth}}</ref><br />
<br />
===Third Age===<br />
{{quote|- Farewell! wherever you fare, till your eyries receive you at the journey's end!<br>- May the wind under your wings bear you where the [[sun]] sails and the [[moon]] walks.|Polite way to exchange good-bye with an Eagle|[[Queer Lodgings]]}}<br />
By the end of the [[Third Age]], a colony under the [[Great Eagle]] lived in the northern parts of the [[Misty Mountains]] who mostly nested upon the eastward slopes not far from the [[High Pass]] leading from [[Rivendell]], and thus in the direct vicinity of the [[Goblin-town]] beneath; they often afflicted the goblins and disrupted their plans.<br />
<br />
These Eagles helped the Elves of [[Rivendell]] and [[Radagast]] in watching the land and in gathering news about the Orcs.<ref>{{FR|Council}}</ref><ref>{{FR|South}}</ref>. As a result of feeding on the sheep of the local [[Woodmen]] of [[Mirkwood]], their relationship was not good and the Eagles were afraid of their bows.<br />
<br />
Those rescued [[Thorin|Thorin]]'s company from a band of [[Orcs#Orcs and Goblins|Goblins]] and [[Wargs]] and carried them to the [[Carrock]]<ref>{{H|Queer}}</ref> and some days later they espied the mustering of goblins all over the Mountains, to be gathered under the Great Eagle in the [[Battle of Five Armies]] near [[Lonely Mountain|Erebor]]. It was only with their help that the Dwarves, Men and Elves managed to defeat the goblins.<ref>{{H|Return}}</ref> The Great Eagle became [[King of All Birds]].<br />
<br />
The Eagles appeared in great numbers at the [[Battle of the Morannon]], helping the [[Host of the Valar|Host of the West]] against the [[Nazgûl]]. Several of them rescued [[Frodo Baggins]] and [[Samwise Gamgee]] from [[Mount Doom]] after [[the One Ring]] had been destroyed.<ref>{{RK|Cormallen}}</ref><br />
<br />
==Names==<br />
In [[Gnomish]], one of [[J.R.R. Tolkien|Tolkien]]'s early conceptions of an [[Elvish|Elven]] language, a word for "eagle" is ''ioroth'' (poetic form ''ior''). A cognate of the same meaning in [[Qenya]] is the poetic ''ea(r)'' or ''earen''. Another Gnomish word for "an eagle" is ''thorn''.<ref>{{PE|11}}, pp. 51, 73</ref><br />
<br />
In the later languages, the [[Quenya]] word for eagle is ''soron'' and in [[Noldorin]]/[[Sindarin]] ''thoron/thorn''<ref>{{LR|Etymologies}}</ref><br />
<br />
The ''Thornhoth'' was the name for the eagle-folk in the earliest legends.<ref name="Fall">{{LT2|III}}, p. 103</ref><br />
<br />
==Origin and nature==<br />
For some time Tolkien considered the Eagles as bird-shaped [[Maiar]].<ref>{{MR|Annals}} p. 138</ref> From this stage comes this excerpt from [[The Silmarillion]]:<ref>{{S|Days}}</ref><ref>{{LR|Ainu}}</ref><ref>{{MR|P1a}}</ref><br />
<br />
<blockquote>Spirits in the shape of hawks and eagles flew ever to and from his halls; and their eyes could see to the depths of the seas, and pierce the hidden caverns beneath the world. </blockquote><br />
<br />
The same used to be applied to certain intelligent animals, like [[Huan]]:<ref>{{MR|P5VIII}}. Note 4.</ref><br />
<br />
<blockquote>Living things in Aman. As the Valar would robe themselves like the Children, many of the Maiar robed themselves like other lesser living things, as trees, flowers, beasts. (Huan.)</blockquote><br />
<br />
However, the notion of a "Maia" like Thorondor having descendants contradicted later concepts. Therefore, Tolkien decided that the Great Eagles, Huan and other intelligent animals were just animals, despite being "higher level" ones.<ref name="MR409-11">{{MR|Myths}} pp. 409-11</ref><br />
<br />
<blockquote>But true 'rational' creatures, 'speaking peoples', are all of human / 'humanoid' form. Only the Valar and Maiar are intelligences that can assume forms of Arda at will. Huan and [[Sorontar]] could be Maiar - emissaries of Manwe. But unfortunately in The Lord of the Rings Gwaehir and Landroval are said to be descendants of Sorontar.<br />
(...)<br />
In summary: I think it must be assumed that 'talking' is not necessarily the sign of the possession of a 'rational soul' or [[fëa]]. (...)<br />
The same sort of thing may be said of Huan and the Eagles: they were taught language by the Valar, and raised to a higher level - but they still had no fëar.</blockquote><br />
<br />
Curiously, the [[Ents]] are not mentioned in the text. Probably Tolkien viewed them as a 'humanoid' people of their own kind, which would leave them free of the offspring problem. In fact, [[Treebeard]] is described as "man-like" in [[The Lord of the Rings]].<ref>{{TT|III4}}</ref><br />
<br />
In a later text, the Eagles were first envisioned by Manwë during the Music of the Ainur, and appeared before the awakening of the Elves.<ref>{{S|Aule}}</ref><ref>{{WJ|Ents}}</ref><br />
<br />
<blockquote>Then Manwë awoke, and he went down to Yavanna upon Ezellohar, and he sat beside her beneath the Two Trees. And Manwë said: 'O Kementári, Eru hath spoken, saying: "Do then any of the Valar suppose that I did not hear all the Song, even the least sound of the least voice? Behold! When the Children awake, then the thought of Yavanna will awake also, and it will summon spirits from afar, and they will go among the kelvar and the olvar, and some will dwell therein, and be held in reverence, and their just anger shall be feared. For a time: while the Firstborn are in their power, and while the Secondborn are young." But dost them not now remember, Kementári, that thy thought sang not always alone? Did not thy thought and mine meet also, so that we took wing together like great birds that soar above the clouds? That also shall come to be by the heed of Ilúvatar, and before the Children awake there shall go forth with wings like the wind the Eagles of the Lords of the West.'</blockquote><br />
<br />
In the text Tolkien retains the notion that the Eagles have no fëar and have a distinct nature to that of the Ents, stressing the fact that the Eagles appeared "before the Children awake", whereas the "spirits from afar" that would give rise to the Ents only would appear "when the Children awake". Indeed, to the Ents is given a special origin, which can be compared to the origin of the [[Dwarves]]:<ref>{{WJ|Ents}}</ref><ref>{{L|247}}</ref><br />
<br />
<blockquote>No one knew whence they (Ents) came or first appeared. The High Elves said that the Valar did not mention them in the 'Music'. But some (Galadriel) were [of the] opinion that when Yavanna discovered the mercy of Eru to Aule in the matter of the Dwarves, she besought Eru (through Manwe) asking him to give life to things made of living things not stone, and that the Ents were either souls sent to inhabit trees, or else that slowly took the likeness of trees owing to their inborn love of trees.<br />
</blockquote><br />
<br />
It is quite remarkable that this contrast between the Ents and their "humanoid" or free nature, on one side, and the Eagles and their animal or conditioned nature, on the other side, can already be intuited in the Treebeard's song in The Lord of the Rings:<ref>{{TT|III4}}</ref><br />
<br />
<blockquote><br />
''Learn now the lore of Living Creatures! <br><br />
''First name the four, the free peoples <br><br />
''Eldest of all, the Elf children <br><br />
''Dwarf the delver, dark are his houses <br><br />
''Ent the earthborn, old as mountains <br><br />
''Man the mortal, master of horses; <br><br />
<br><br />
''Hm, hm, hm. <br><br />
<br><br />
''Beaver the builder, buck the leaper <br><br />
''Bear bee hunter, boar the fighter <br><br />
''Hound is hungry, hare is fearful...<br><br />
<br><br />
''Hm, hm.<br><br />
<br><br />
''Eagle in eyrie, ox in pasture,<br><br />
''Hart horn crowned; hawk is swiftest<br><br />
''Swan the whitest, serpent coldest...<br><br />
</blockquote><br />
<br />
==Flying the Ring to Mount Doom==<br />
{{quote|The Eagles are a dangerous 'machine'. I have used them sparingly, and that is the absolute limit of their credibility or usefulness. |[[Letter 210]], [[J.R.R. Tolkien]]}}<br />
Many skeptical readers have wondered why the Eagles simply didn't carry Frodo and [[the One Ring]] into Mordor and drop the Ring in Mount Doom, or at least aid the Fellowship at some part of the journey, such as helping them avoiding the [[Redhorn Gate]] and [[Moria]].<br />
<br />
At first glance this seems incredibly easy compared to what actually happened (and it would have made a boring book).<br />
<br />
The party of Tolkienists that accepts this as a [[wikipedia:plot hole|plot hole]] usually respond that in any book there are usually plot holes. In a larger, far more detailed and realistic book we expect fewer (if any) plot holes, when in reality there is a far greater chance.<br />
<br />
===Considering the Eagles===<br />
Strangely, the possibility of using the Eagles has not been mentioned at all during the [[Council of Elrond]]. Although many flawed proposals are made during it (destroy the Ring, guard it, send it to the West, give it to [[Tom Bombadil]]), none of the participants thought to propose this seemingly obvious solution, especially after Gandalf described his escape with Gwaihir; even if the Eagle plan was to be countered or dismissed implausible later for some reason (like the ones above), it would be only logical to be mentioned.<br />
<br />
On the other hand, the Council was seen deciding the fate of the Ring, not the manner; this was left to the discretion of the Fellowship. Indeed, during its existence, the Fellowship had not even decided whether they should go directly to Mordor or to seek aid from Gondor, let alone the manner to do so, before decisively being [[Breaking of the Fellowship|broken]] at [[Amon Hen]]. If Gandalf ever considered requesting the help of the Eagles after some point (eg. after passing the Misty Mountains) it's not mentioned in the narrative.<ref>{{HM|FR}}, Book II</ref><br />
<br />
===Official explanation to the problem===<br />
It seems that nobody noticed this alleged plot-hole during Tolkien's lifetime, as there is no surviving letter where Tolkien is inquired so. It is unknown whether Tolkien ever was aware of the issue while writing the book or later.<br />
<br />
Tolkien's only relevant mention is concerning a possible adaptation of the ''Lord of the Rings'' into a movie, where he simply mentions that the Eagles should be used carefully as a plot device and was self-aware whenever he used them.<ref>{{L|210}}</ref><br />
<br />
Peter Jackson and [[Fran Walsh]] joke around the issue on the writer-director DVD commentary track; writing partner [[Philippa Boyens]] then bursts out and angrily declares one of the common explanations: "Why does everyone always say that?! The flying Nazgûl on their Fell Beasts would have stopped them! How more obvious does that need to be?! Mordor has flying creatures too!"<br />
<br />
The topic is also brought up in the video game ''[[The Lord of the Rings: War in the North]]'', where the heroes (who have experience working with the Great Eagles) suggest having one fly Frodo and the Ring to Mount Doom. Gandalf, however, explains that Sauron would anticipate such an intrusion and how dangerous the attempt would be.<br />
<br />
At no point in the Legendarium are Eagles considered a reliable mode of transportation by any character. The Eagles specifically intervene to rescue characters at certain times - then and only then do they act to move people. The only times when Eagles are not explicitly rescuing someone when carrying them are when Thorondor's people carry Hurin and Huor from Gondolin as an act of mercy (since the Eagles delivered them there in the first place), and when Gwaihir carries Gandalf with him on the rescue mission to find the Ring-bearer on Mount Doom. Acts of intervention by the Eagles' in the greater affairs of Middle Earth are often associated with the will of Manwe, and can reasonably be assumed to act only within his will. While they seem to have some degree of communication with the High Elves, they are never treated as wartime allies. Throughout The Silmarillion the Eagles do not participate in any military conflict in a significant way until the [[War of Wrath]] at the end of the First Age, when the Ainur of Valinor themselves came to fight against Melkor. The Valar, including Manwe decrease their direct intervention in Middle-earth throughout the ages of Arda. This combined with the Eagles' lack of general intervention in the affairs of the Free Peoples of Arda would suggest that the Eagles would not have been willing to bear the Ring-bearer to Mordor. Their participation in the history of Middle Earth was as agents of mercy in greatest need, not to solve the problems of the world, or certainly they would have been solved long before. The Eagles act therefore, not as Deus Ex Machina, but when the agency of the Children of Illuvatar has been faithfully played out, to preserve the lives of the faithful in an act of divine grace.<br />
<br />
===Other explanations===<br />
[[File:Ted Nasmith - At the Foot of Mount Doom.jpg|thumb|According to ''[[The Field of Cormallen]]'', some Eagles flew to Mount Doom, rescued Frodo and Sam and carried them back. Critics say that they could as well had carried them there in the first place.]]<br />
As Tolkien's writings on the Eagles do not allow for an explanation, several speculative theories have been proposed by critics, although they are not definitive and can be countered.<ref>[[Tolkien FAQ]]</ref><ref>[http://www.sean-crist.com/personal/pages/eagles/index.html Could the eagles have flown Frodo into Mordor?]</ref><ref>{{webcite|author=[[Michael Martinez]]|articlename=Is There An In-story Explanation For Why the Eagles Rarely Participate in Great Events?|articleurl=http://middle-earth.xenite.org/2012/10/11/is-there-an-in-story-explanation-for-why-the-eagles-rarely-participate-in-great-events/|website=[http://middle-earth.xenite.org Xenite.org]}}</ref><br />
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*The Eagles coming from the air would have been fairly obvious and defenseless to Sauron; the [[Fell beasts]] and/or archers would most likely have stopped the attempt. The Eagles expressed fear in ''[[The Hobbit]]'' about going into the Lands of Men because of their bows. After the Ring is destroyed (along with all of Sauron's forces), the Eagles met no resistance from evil forces; thus, they were able to rescue Frodo and Sam.<br />
:This often cited argument could possibly have been countered with a parallel divertive battle plan, more or less like the [[Battle of the Morannon]] begun to help Frodo.<br />
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*The Eagles could have possibly become corrupted by the power of the Ring and would have most likely attempted to prevent the destruction. Gandalf himself not only knew that ''anyone'' might and would refuse to throw in the Ring, but he was also afraid of it; the Eagles, as Maiar, could have been corruptive and dangerous.<br />
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*As emissaries of the Valar, the Eagles may had been somehow limited in how they intervened to great events, which the Valar perhaps considered matters between the Elves and Sauron;<ref>Cf. {{FR|Council}}, Elrond: "for good or ill [the Ring] belongs to Middle-earth; it is for us who still dwell here to deal with it".</ref> for example, they had sent the [[Wizards]], who were prohibited to directly fight Sauron by physical or supernatural force, and the Eagles did aid the [[free peoples]] and even participated in battles. But otherwise, the Eagles would had been either afraid, unwilling, incapable, or (like the Wizards) forbidden to take any greater part.<br />
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*The Eagles's availability and power must have been limited. Gwaihir only arrives at Isengard because he is sent by Radagast. Once he rescues Gandalf, the Wizard asks him how far he can bear him, to which the Eagle replies "...not to the ends of the earth. I was sent to bear tidings not burdens." He took Gandalf just to Edoras, so he could find a horse to ride, and then departed.<br />
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*With the War of the Ring expanding to all the western realms of Middle-earth, the Eagles would need to protect their own lands in the event that Sauron's forces invade, and thus would be unable to spare any resources to assist the Fellowship.<br />
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==Inspiration==<br />
Tolkien's painting of an eagle on a crag appears in some editions of ''The Hobbit''. According to [[Christopher Tolkien]], the author based this picture on a painting by Archibald Thorburn of an immature Golden Eagle, which Christopher found for him in ''The Birds of the British Isles'' by T.A. Coward. However, Tolkien's use of this model does not necessarily mean that his birds were ordinary Golden Eagles.<br />
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==Other versions of the legendarium==<br />
In the earliest version of the fall of Gondolin, the king of the eagles, Thorndor (later Thorondor), had no love for Melko (later Melkor) because he had caught many eagles and tortured them for the magic words that would enable him to fly (in order to challenge Manwë for command of the air). When the eagles refused to reveal the magic words Melko cut off their wings in order to fashion a pair for himself, "but it availed not".<ref name="Fall"/><br />
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==Portrayal in adaptations==<br />
'''2001: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring]]'':'''<br />
:The Eagles are associated with [[moths]]; while Gandalf is trapped on the summit of Orthanc, he whispers to a moth and lets it go. Later, when confronted by Saruman, the moth reappears; an Eagle (supposedly Gwaihir) arrives and Gandalf escapes on its back.<br />
'''2003: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King]]'':'''<br />
:Right before the Battle of the Morannon, Gandalf notices a moth flies near him. Then the Eagles appear and fly against the [[fell beasts]]. They pick up Frodo and Sam from the slopes of Orodruin.<br />
'''2012: ''[[The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey]]'':'''<br />
:As [[Thorin and Company]] are trapped in a falling tree by the band of [[Azog]] and their [[Wargs]], Gandalf uses a moth to summon them to his aid. They grasp the wargs and drop them onto the rocks or in the fire, pick up an unconscious Thorin, and save the protagonists from falling. Unlike in the book, they drop the characters on the [[Carrock]] and leave; the Eagles don't appear sentient and there is no dialogue between them and the characters.<br />
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==External links==<br />
*[http://tolkien.slimy.com/faq/History.html#Eagles Tolkien FAQ] question and possible answer<br />
*[http://www.sean-crist.com/personal/pages/eagles/index.html Could the eagles have flown Frodo into Mordor?] a discussion investigating a possible battle plan that would help the eagles.<br />
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==Notes==<br />
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{{references}}<br />
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[[Category:Races]]<br />
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[[de:Adler]]<br />
[[fr:encyclo/biologie/faune/aigles]]<br />
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