Two-headed Trolls: Difference between revisions

From Tolkien Gateway
 
(14 intermediate revisions by 5 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Unnamed}}
{{Unnamed}}
[[File:Stephen King - Two-headed Troll.jpg|thumb|[[Stephen King]] - ''"Two-headed" Troll'']]  
[[File:Stephen King - Two-headed Troll.jpg|thumb|[[Stephen King]] - ''"Two-headed" Troll'']]  
'''Two-headed Trolls''' might have been a legendary race of [[Trolls]], as [[Gandalf]] once said that "''I am afraid trolls do behave like that, even those with only one head each.''"<ref>{{H|2}}</ref> If Gandalf's statement was not merely a way of speaking, perhaps the two-headed Trolls lived in the [[Ettenmoors]].<ref>See section "Inspiration" below</ref>
{{quote|Yes, I am afraid trolls do behave like that, even those with only one head each.|[[Roast Mutton]]}}
'''Two-headed Trolls''' might have been a legendary race of [[Trolls]], whose possible existence is fleetingly suggested in a chronicle of the [[Quest of Erebor]], commenting on [[William]] wiping his lips on his sleeve.<ref>{{H|2}}</ref>  
 
If this statement was not merely a way of speaking, perhaps there were indeed Trolls in [[Middle-earth]] that, unlike the [[Stone-trolls]], had at least two heads and behaved even worse.
==Inspiration==
==Inspiration==
''Etten'', the first element in ''Ettensmoor'', is a word derived from [[Old English]] ''eōten'' ("giant, troll, ogre").<ref>{{HM|RC}}, p. 183</ref><ref>{{HM|N}}, p. 770</ref> It has been noted that Tolkien "probably thought of an 'ettin' as a troll".<ref>[[Michael D.C. Drout]], "[http://oenewsletter.org/OEN/archive.php/essays/drout37_3/ An Anglo-Saxonist Gets his Fifteen Minutes: or, what happens when the media briefly pay attention]" at [http://www.oenewsletter.org/OEN/index.php ''Old English Newsletter'' Online] (accessed 10 March 2011)</ref> Historically, the ''Ettins'' have been represented as similar to giants, but with two heads.{{fact}} It is unknown if [[J.R.R. Tolkien]] was aware of this connection between ''Etten'' and the notion of Ettins as trolls or giants with two heads. However, in many other fictional fantasy worlds, the race of Ettin(s) are described as two-headed monsters.<ref>[[Dungeons and Dragons]] (1977), ''Monster Manual''; see further [[Wikipedia:Ettin (Dungeons & Dragons)|Ettin (Dungeons & Dragons)]] at Wikipedia</ref><ref>[http://www.wowwiki.com/Ettin Ettin] at [http://www.wowwiki.com World of Warcraft Wiki] (accessed 15 November 2010)</ref>
Commenting on the above remark, [[John D. Rateliff]] has noted that trolls "with multiple heads appear in many stories", especially pointing to [[Wikipedia:George Webbe Dasent|George Webbe Dasent]]'s "[[Wikipedia:Soria Moria Castle|Soria Moria Castle]]".<ref>{{HH|Trolls}}, p. 99 (note 9)</ref>


Commenting on Gandalf's words, [[John D. Rateliff]] has noted that trolls "with multiple heads appear in many stories", especially pointing to [[Wikipedia:George Webbe Dasent|George Webbe Dasent]]'s "[[Wikipedia:Soria Moria Castle|Soria Moria Castle]]".<ref>{{HH|Trolls}}, p. 99 (note 9)</ref>
[[C.S. Lewis]] mentioned the [https://narnia.fandom.com/wiki/Ettins Ettins] of [https://narnia.fandom.com/wiki/Ettinsmoor Ettinsmoor] in [[Narnia]], some of which have two heads.<Ref>[https://narnia.fandom.com/wiki/Giants#Ettins Ettins] in [https://narnia.fandom.com Narnia Wiki]</ref> In many later fantasy settings, but also some adaptations of [[Middle-earth]], there are two-headed monsters, which usually are called "[[etten]]s" (q.v.).


==Portrayal in adaptations==
==Portrayal in adaptations==
'''1982-97: ''[[Middle-earth Role Playing]]'':'''
'''1982-97: ''[[Middle-earth Role Playing]]'':'''
: Although neither a race of "Two-headed" Trolls nor Ettin/Ettens are mentioned, there exists an individual monster called Skessa, a crossbreed between a troll and giant, having two heads.<ref>{{ICE|2016}}</ref>
: An individual monster called Skessa, a cross-breed between a troll and [[giants|giant]], having two heads.<ref>{{ICE|2016}}</ref>


'''1995-8: ''[[Middle-earth Collectible Card Game]]'':'''
'''1995-8: ''[[Middle-earth Collectible Card Game]]'':'''
Line 19: Line 21:


'''2002-5: ''[[The Lord of the Rings Roleplaying Game]]'':'''
'''2002-5: ''[[The Lord of the Rings Roleplaying Game]]'':'''
:''Ettens'' resemble the Hill-trolls, but they possess "''not one but two long heads''". The solitary creatures, a result of an ancient experiment by Morgoth, live almost exclusively in the Ettenmoors.<ref>{{D|Fell}}</ref>
:''Ettens'' resemble the [[Hill-trolls]], but they possess "''not one but two long heads''". The solitary creatures, a result of an ancient experiment by Morgoth, live almost exclusively in the Ettenmoors.<ref>{{D|Fell}}</ref>


'''2017: ''[[Middle-earth: Shadow of War]]'':'''
'''2017: ''[[Middle-earth: Shadow of War]]'':'''
: The Overlord of the Núrnen region of Mordor is an [[Olog-hai|Olog]] named Ranger, who poses as a Troll with two heads. In reality, the second head is that of the Uruk Ratbag the Coward, who is riding on Ranger's back and wearing a large helmet to conceal his identity.
:The Overlord of the [[Núrnen]] region of Mordor is an [[Olog-hai|Olog]] named Az-Harto, who poses as a two-headed [[Trolls|Troll]]. In reality, the second head is that of the [[Orcs|Uruk]] [[Ratbag|Ratbag the Coward]], who is riding on Az-Harto's back and wearing a large helmet to conceal his identity.
 
'''2018: ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]'':'''
: Two-headed Trolls are among the evil creatures of [[Gundabad]] and can be found among the [[Grey Mountains]].


{{references}}
{{references}}
{{legend}}
{{legend}}
[[Category:Trolls]]
[[Category:Trolls]]
[[de:Halbtrolle]]
[[fi:Puolipeikot]]

Latest revision as of 04:32, 26 November 2022

This article describes a concept which is mentioned in J.R.R. Tolkien's works, but was never given a definite name.
Stephen King - "Two-headed" Troll
"Yes, I am afraid trolls do behave like that, even those with only one head each."
― Roast Mutton

Two-headed Trolls might have been a legendary race of Trolls, whose possible existence is fleetingly suggested in a chronicle of the Quest of Erebor, commenting on William wiping his lips on his sleeve.[1]

If this statement was not merely a way of speaking, perhaps there were indeed Trolls in Middle-earth that, unlike the Stone-trolls, had at least two heads and behaved even worse.

Inspiration[edit | edit source]

Commenting on the above remark, John D. Rateliff has noted that trolls "with multiple heads appear in many stories", especially pointing to George Webbe Dasent's "Soria Moria Castle".[2]

C.S. Lewis mentioned the Ettins of Ettinsmoor in Narnia, some of which have two heads.[3] In many later fantasy settings, but also some adaptations of Middle-earth, there are two-headed monsters, which usually are called "ettens" (q.v.).

Portrayal in adaptations[edit | edit source]

1982-97: Middle-earth Role Playing:

An individual monster called Skessa, a cross-breed between a troll and giant, having two heads.[4]

1995-8: Middle-earth Collectible Card Game:

"'Two-headed' Troll" is a Warrior Ally for evil players.

1998-2004: Middle-earth Online:

Ettins, a race of two-headed trolls, was intended to be included in the game.[5]

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

Ettens resemble the Hill-trolls, but they possess "not one but two long heads". The solitary creatures, a result of an ancient experiment by Morgoth, live almost exclusively in the Ettenmoors.[6]

2017: Middle-earth: Shadow of War:

The Overlord of the Núrnen region of Mordor is an Olog named Az-Harto, who poses as a two-headed Troll. In reality, the second head is that of the Uruk Ratbag the Coward, who is riding on Az-Harto's back and wearing a large helmet to conceal his identity.

2018: The Lord of the Rings Online:

Two-headed Trolls are among the evil creatures of Gundabad and can be found among the Grey Mountains.

References

  1. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, "Roast Mutton"
  2. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, John D. Rateliff (ed.), The History of The Hobbit, Mr. Baggins, The Second Phase, "Trolls", p. 99 (note 9)
  3. ↑ Ettins in Narnia Wiki
  4. ↑ Zachariah Woolf (1995), Lake-town (#2016)
  5. ↑ Roundup 12.1 (02-09-2004) at My.lotro.com (accessed 16 November 2010)
  6. ↑ Scott Bennie, Mike Mearls, Steve Miller, Aaron Rosenberg, Chris Seeman, Owen Seyler, and George Strayton (2003), Fell Beasts and Wondrous Magic
Legendary races of Arda
 Animals:  Dumbledors · Gorcrows · Hummerhorns · Pards · Swans of Gorbelgod · Turtle-fish
Dragon-kind:  Sea-serpents · Spark-dragons · Were-worms
Evil Races:  Ettens · Giants · Half-trolls · Hobgoblins · Ogres · Snow-trolls · Two-headed Trolls
Other:  Badger-folk · Great beasts · Lintips · Mewlips · Nameless things · Spectres
Individuals:  Talking Gurthang · Talking purse · The Hunter · Lady of the Sun · Lonely Troll · Man in the Moon · The Rider · River-woman · Tarlang · Tim · Tom · White cow
Retrieved from "https://tolkiengateway.net/w/index.php?title=Two-headed_Trolls&oldid=362993"