Werewolves

In the First Age, werewolves were servants of Morgoth, bred from wolves and inhabited by dreadful spirits (fallen lesser Maiar or the fëar of orcs), imprisoned so by Sauron. Unlike werewolves of other literature, these did not transform from man to wolf at night, and their behavior had no lunar influences.

Werewolves inhabited Tol-in-Gaurhoth, which became known as the "Isle of Werewolves".

History Edit

Origins Edit

The first werewolf was Draugluin at Tol-in-Gaurhoth, and the greatest werewolf after him was Carcharoth, guardian of Angband, and a descendant of Draugluin as all other werewolves were. The form of the werewolves was first fashioned by Sauron, their lord, who took the shape of a great wolf himself at least once.

Gandalf suggests in his talks with Frodo after the Ford of Bruinen that werewolves survived into the Third Age, and makes a distinction between them and wargs. The latter, though, might simply be descended from werewolves, as they could speak, suggesting they had fëar (souls).^[1][2]

Characteristics Edit

The werewolves of Arda were not shape-shifters, and were always in the form of great beasts. They were similar to wolves and the later wargs, but were as intelligent as Man, rendering them capable of negotiating and communicating with others.

Etymology Edit

The name werewolf is Anglo-Saxon for "man-wolf", although those of Middle-earth are not actually lycanthropic. The Elves of their time called them 'gaurhoth'.^[3]

Portrayals Edit

Werewolves appear in The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth II: The Rise of the Witch-king in the form of the giant "Shade of the Wolf", a monster summoned by Angmar.

TranslationsEdit

References Edit

1. ↑ The Silmarillion, Quenta Silmarillion, Chapter XIX: "Of Beren and Lúthien"
2. ↑ The Complete Guide to Middle-earth
3. ↑ Tolkien: The Illustrated Encyclopedia, by way of Google Books [1]