Forums » Forum Games » Favorite Middle-Earth Creature!

Here's the rules: You post a creature from Tolkien's work, and talk about why you love it. This doesn't have to be things that exist only in Middle-Earth, but has to follow their lore as per the setting.

I'll start with: Wizards.
I love the Wizards because they're pretty mysterious, yet still flawed and prone to temptation as per their personal vices. While not having the same view of the world as elves, humans, or anyone else.

Oh, definitely elves! They have the awesome mystical language, and the immortality, they're graceful, they're good at archery, which is just beautiful to watch. They have Orlando Bloom. And most of all...they have Arwen. She's pretty. And they always say those wise, mystical things, like, "I'd rather have one lifetime with you than a thousand lifetimes alone"...or however that line goes when she gives her ring to Aragon. So elves, man. I heart Tolkein's elves.

I think it might just be hobbits. They’re kind and simple people with gentler hearts and ambitions than the other races of Middle Earth. I think I could quite happily live out the rest of my life in the shire.

A close second would be the River Daughters. Gold berry was one, and they seem likeMiddle Earths water nymphs, altogether just a really cool concept.

The Tolkien elves are incredible. Galadriel gets me when she says ‘not dark but beautiful and terrible as the dawn, treacherous as the sea!’ When she’s tempted by the one ring. I think if she’d taken the ring, even Sauron would’ve been afraid.

Ohmigosh!!!!!

The logical choice would be the Elves. I adore their knowledge. The things they have seen in the thousands of years in their immortality - it must be absolutely fascinating! They know so much of the world. I envy it.

Another thing I love about the Elves is just how human they can be. I know that sounds strange, but hear me out. Everyone sees them as these beautiful, perfect creatures who fight only for the good of the world. But in the Silmarillion, you see just how wrong that is. How corrupt they can be, and how dark they become. And how they overcome that darkness and become what we know them as now!!!

(Sorry. Tolkien was my first love.)

So true!

I would definitely like to take a vacation to the shire and have my nerves soothed by the humble hobbits. And have all those extra meals.

<---- (Long-time Tolkien nerd/geek alert)

Hmmm. I don't know if the different sub-races of men count as 'creatures' but I've always been intrigued by the people of Rhun, Khand, and Harad, as well as the Dunlandings and Hillmen of Rhuadur. Also, the Rhovanions, whhere a large part of that kingdom came to the aid of Gondor and later settled in Calenardhon, the northwestern province of Gondor. Not to mention teh Realm of Arnor and how it fractured into three kingdoms and eventually disintegrated.

So other the mankind, I always love the elf Galadriel, and the Wizards.

Ah. River Daughters. I also love whatever the heck Tom Bombadil is. A pleasant sort of mischief about that one.

Tom Bombadil is considered a Maiar. The "He was here before the world" (or something along the lines of that quote) was a tie in from the Silmarillion and the Bestiary I have for Middle Earth. I would recommend the Silmarillion if you want the complete history of the Elves and Middle Earth. It's a bit of a tough read, but so worth it!

Oh! Are there other Maiar mentioned in Hobbit/Lord of the Rings? It's been so long since I actually read through either that I cannot remember.

From what I can remember, no. Goldberry and her mother could technically be considered them, but last time I checked, they weren't officially called that. And I can't remember if Melian was mentioned in LotR...I know her daughter Luthien-Tinuvel was, but can't remember if Melian was.

For more Tom Bombadil, I recommend reading his book. It is a bit different from LotR as it's mostly the poetry.

Shelob was, arguably, as the daughter of Ungoliant. Melian wasn’t mentioned but you’re right that Luthien was. Sauron was a big one of course. The Silmarillion is packed full of them. It’s mentioned at some point that the reason for Tookish behavior was because one of the early tooks married a fairy, which is argued to have been a Maia as Tolkien said later that there were all sorts of Maiar spirits that we would know as fae, I don’t remember if that was in his letters or an essay though. What’s interesting to note though is that it’s been speculated that Tom Bombadil might actually be the Iluvatar.

I never thought of Tom as Iluvatar! That would be an interesting idea. Gonna have to look around, see where the pieces fit together.

Creature? Hmm... the Watcher in the water outside the Gates of Moria was always a mysterious one to me. Was it another fell beast of Morgoth? How did it get there to damn up the stream as it is said to have run free in the 2nd Age....