Were-worms: Difference between revisions
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[[J.R.R. Tolkien|Tolkien]] only ever mentions Were-worms once, in the quote given above, so we know almost nothing about them. We cannot even be certain that they actually existed — the [[Hobbits]] had a rich folklore full of fantastic creatures, and Were-worms quite possibly fall into that category. | [[J.R.R. Tolkien|Tolkien]] only ever mentions Were-worms once, in the quote given above, so we know almost nothing about them. We cannot even be certain that they actually existed — the [[Hobbits]] had a rich folklore full of fantastic creatures, and Were-worms quite possibly fall into that category. | ||
==Etymology== | |||
Though the name "were-worm" suggests a shapeshifting creature like the werewolf of modern-day folktales, that might not be the case in Tolkien's [[legendarium]]. In [[Middle-earth]], "[[Werewolves]]", such as [[Draugluin]], were horrific, supernatural wolves of enormous size, but they did not shapechage. Thus Were-worms, if they did exist, could be a bizarre type of Dragon, though this must remain in the realm of speculation. | Though the name "were-worm" suggests a shapeshifting creature like the werewolf of modern-day folktales, that might not be the case in Tolkien's [[legendarium]]. In [[Middle-earth]], "[[Werewolves]]", such as [[Draugluin]], were horrific, supernatural wolves of enormous size, but they did not shapechage. Thus Were-worms, if they did exist, could be a bizarre type of Dragon, though this must remain in the realm of speculation. | ||
[[Category:Creatures]] | [[Category:Creatures]] | ||
[[Category:Characters in The Hobbit]] | [[Category:Characters in The Hobbit]] | ||
Revision as of 09:10, 30 July 2008
- "Tell me what you want done, and I will try it, if I have to walk from here to the East of East and fight the wild Were-worms in the Last Desert."
- ― Bilbo Baggins, from The Hobbit, "An Unexpected Party"
Were-worms were creatures of an unknown kind, possibly mythical and presumably related to Dragons, that were said to dwell in the Last Desert.
Tolkien only ever mentions Were-worms once, in the quote given above, so we know almost nothing about them. We cannot even be certain that they actually existed — the Hobbits had a rich folklore full of fantastic creatures, and Were-worms quite possibly fall into that category.
Etymology
Though the name "were-worm" suggests a shapeshifting creature like the werewolf of modern-day folktales, that might not be the case in Tolkien's legendarium. In Middle-earth, "Werewolves", such as Draugluin, were horrific, supernatural wolves of enormous size, but they did not shapechage. Thus Were-worms, if they did exist, could be a bizarre type of Dragon, though this must remain in the realm of speculation.
