| ! | The canonicity of this subject is uncertain. The precise canonical status of this article's subject is unclear. To find out about what is considered "canon" see LOTR:Canon. |
! |
Kaukareldar,[1] also called false-fairies[1] and Gongs, were evil beings that were obscurely related to Orcs according to an early version of the legendarium in The Book of Lost Tales.[2]
History[]
After the Battle of Unnumbered Tears, Melko created Kaukareldar in the image of Men and Elves in order to deceive and betray Men so that both races would be too busy spying on each other to unite against him.[1]
Mîm the petty-dwarf commanded a guard of Orcs and Kaukareldar[1] to protect the treasures of Glorund in Nargothrond. They were slain by Húrin and his companions.[3]
Not long after, a group of Kaukareldar[1] 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 Kaukareldar[1], alongside Orcs, Dwarves, Trolls, and evil Men were among the evil participants of the Battle of Rôs.[4]
Etymology[]
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]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 The History of Middle-earth, Vol. I: The Book of Lost Tales Part One, X: "Gilfanon's Tale: The Travail of the Noldoli and the Coming of Mankind"
- ↑ The History of Middle-earth, Vol. II: The Book of Lost Tales Part Two, Index, entry "Gongs"
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 The History of Middle-earth, Vol. II: The Book of Lost Tales Part Two, II: "Turambar and the Foalókë", "Notes and Commentary"
- ↑ The History of Middle-earth, Vol. II: The Book of Lost Tales Part Two, VI: "The History of Eriol or Ælfwine and the End of the Tales", "Ælfwine of England"
- ↑ The History of Middle-earth, Vol. I: The Book of Lost Tales Part One, X: "Gilfanon's Tale: The Travail of the Noldoli and the Coming of Mankind", "Notes and Commentary", note 10
- ↑ The History of Middle-earth, Vol. I: The Book of Lost Tales Part One, "Appendix: Names in the Lost Tales – Part I", entry "Kaukareldar"
- ↑ The History of Middle-earth, Vol. I: The Book of Lost Tales Part One, "Appendix: Names in the Lost Tales – Part I", entry "Eldar"
- ↑ The History of Middle-earth, Vol. I: The Book of Lost Tales Part One, "Appendix: Names in the Lost Tales – Part I", entry "Gong"
- ↑ Parma Eldalamberon, issue XI: I·Lam na·Ngoldathon: The Grammar and Lexicon of The Gnomish Tongue, pg. 68