Gongs

From Tolkien Gateway
Gongs
Race
General Information
Other namesFalse-fairies, Goblins, Kaukareldar
OriginsCreated by Melko in the likeness of Elves and Men
LocationsAngamandi, Nargothrond, Linwë's halls, Rôs
AffiliationÚvanimor
RivalriesElves, Gnomes, Men
LanguagesMelkian
Physical Description
LifespanUnknown
DistinctionsEvil footsoldiers of the Enemy
Average heightBent back

Gongs were evil beings, obscurely related to Orcs that appeared within The Book of Lost Tales, the earliest version of the Legendarium.[1] There are no references to Gongs in the later legendarium.

History[edit | edit source]

After the Battle of Unnumbered Tears, Melko created Gongs,[note 1] in the image of Men and Elves in order to deceive and betray Men.[2]

Mîm the petty-dwarf commanded a guard of Orcs and Gongs to protect the treasures of Glorund in Nargothrond. They were slain by Húrin and his companions.[3]

Not long after, a group of Gongs sacked Linwë's halls, killing Linwë, stealing the cursed gold, and fleeing far away. However, they are attacked by Beren Ermabwed, forcing the gold and Silmaril into the river Sirion, though the Silmaril was eventually found washed up by the Nauglath.[3]

During the Faring Forth, a group of Gongs, alongside Orcs, Dwarves, Trolls, and evil Men were among the evil participants of the Battle of Rôs.[4]

Etymology[edit | edit source]

In his commentary, Christopher Tolkien remarks that the Gnomish Lexicon defines a Gong as "one of a tribe of the Orcs, a goblin", but notes that Gongs might just be another name for Kaukareldar,[5] an early Quenya word under the root KAWA ("stoop") which has five derivations: kauka ("crooked, bent, humped"), kauko ("humpback"), kawin ("I bow"), kaurë ("fear"), and kaurëa ("timid").[6] In the Quenya Lexicon, Eldar, the second element of Kaukareldar, is defined as "a beach-fay or Solosimpë".[7]

The Gnomish Lexicon reportedly compares the word Gongs to sithagong ("dragonfly") derived from sitha ("fly") and Gong.[8][9]


Notes

  1. Within the text, the word Gongs appears bracketed close to false-fairies and Kaukareldar.

References