![]() ![]() ![]() The name deus ex machina was probably chosen, because the god's appearing in the sky (or from above), was an effect which was achieved by means of some sort of a crane (the "machine"). *) deus ex machina, the ' god from the machinery' has its origin in the Greek drama where it meant the timely appearance of a god to unravel and resolve the plot. Had he not used them in this 'function', he probably could have had them involved in the plot more often. ![]() The eagles are IMO a somewhat different case, because Tolkien used them as sort of "dei ex machina" *), using them too often would have meant to overstress their credibility and that is IMO the reason why Tolkien calls them ".a dangerous 'machine'" in his letter. Tolkien's Elves are probably the best example of how unique the creatures of Middle-earth could become, they reached a state of refinement and sophistication, which is absolutely without parallels in extant mythologies. True, Inderjit, I think that - as time went by - Tolkien successively freed himself from his sources, Middle-earth and its " creatures" became more unique and references, or even mentionings of creatures "borrowed" from other mythologies became sparse. Thus, I do not think that Tolkien ever pondered about which creatures to "add" to his subcreation and which not, rather, I think he added what he saw fit and whatever had caught his interest one way or another.īut what I find fascinating, is the mix of knowledge and fantasy, which makes Tolkien's creatures so unique, IMO ![]() The giant spiders may have come in for a different reason, though. his essay Sigelwara-Land).Įnts are in Northern and Anglo-Saxon tradition portrayed as giants, what Tolkien added to make them walking and talking trees has probably roots in Macbeth (Birnam Wood) and the Câd Goddeu, the 'Battle of the Trees', a Celtic myth.įastitocalon is another example where mythological and philological roots meet. Auden In what Tolkien has termed The Primary World, man is, so far as we know, the only creature capable of making moral judgements and choi ces the only creature, therefore, on whom moral judgements can be passed. Beowulf: The Monsters and the Critics).īalrogs, the 'fire-demons' resemble not only the fiery sons of Muspell of Germanic/Northern myths, but probably also stem from Tolkien's philological interest in the roots of the Old English word Sigelhearwan (cf. GOOD AND EVIL IN THE LORD OF THE RINGS by w. Gandalf calls that something the 'Watcher in the Water,' but other than this name, we dont get much information on the creature. Right outside of Moria, there is a deep body of water where something lives. In this way, The Lord of the Rings introducing the most feared creatures of the second will give the Amazon original the same grandiose stakes that made Peter Jackson's films so compelling to begin with.If we put aside the brownies, fays, pixies, leprawns (BoLT1) or the enchanted leprechauns (" Goblin Feet") or the dragon-moths, sea-worms, -cats and -cows ( Roverandom) and creatures of the like, which seem more or less casually mentioned, what remains has in most cases either mythological or philological roots, or both.ĭragons seem to have fascinated Tolkien from his youth and it appears he dedicated much thought to them and their mythological roots (cf. Speaking of mysterious, evil creatures, we never get an answer to one of the creepiest beings we meet in Fellowship of the Ring. Presenting new evil behemoths for the series' protagonists to battle is evocative of some of the franchise's classic clashes, such as Samwise Gamgee (Sean Astin) fending off Shelob or Bard (Luke Evans) slaying Smaug (Benedict Cumberbatch) with his father's arrows above Lake Town. Narrative cohesion aside, Amazon's The Lord of the Rings should also introduce Tolkien's previously unseen creatures due to the narrative stakes they inherently carry. Many of these creatures go on to exist independently following Morgoth's destruction and play key roles in Sauron's rise to power, meaning establishing their existence in season 1 is key to The Lord of the Rings' overarching story. The timing of Amazon's The Lord of the Rings story, therefore, is perfect, with the show able to depict the original dark lord calling forth legions of dragons, Long-Worms, and spiders that only exist in legend by the time The Fellowship of the Ring's narrative begins. Some of the scariest entities to ever exist on Tolkien's Middle Earth did so at the beginning of the Second Age, with many of these creatures free to wander the land following Morgoth's defeat (and before Sauron's rise to power across the course of the age). ![]()
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