Balrog
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- This article deals with J.R.R. Tolkien's Balrogs. For more Balrogs see Balrog (disambiguation)
A Balrog is a demon from J. R. R. Tolkien's Arda legendarium. A Balrog (Sindarin for "Demon of Might"; the Quenya form is Valarauko) is a tall, menacing being in the shape of a man, having control of both fire and shadow. It has a fiery whip of many thongs. The Balrog induces great terror in friends and foes alike and can shroud itself in darkness and shadow. It can only be defeated by some person or thing of equal power, and amongst its own evil allies is rivalled only in its capacity for ferocity and destruction by the dragons. The Fellowship of the Ring encountered a Balrog in the mines of Moria, in The Lord of the Rings in the first volume, The Fellowship of the Ring.
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[edit] First Age
The Balrogs were originally Maiar, of the same order as Sauron, Saruman and Gandalf, but they became seduced by Morgoth, who corrupted them to his service in the days of his splendour before the making of Arda. During the First Age, they were among the most feared of Melkor's forces. When his fortress of Utumno was destroyed by the Valar, they fled and lurked in the pits of Angband.
As Maiar, Balrogs would have originally had the ability to change their shape at will, and to move "unclad in the raiment of the world" meaning invisible and without form. However, it seems that Melkor, Sauron, and their assorted Ainur servants could lose parts of this ability to change shape. At the very least, we know that Melkor became locked into the "tyrant of Utumno", gigantic and terrible, and he even seems unable to heal basic wounds, his hands and forehead remained burned by the Silmarils and his face and foot wounds never healed after the duel with Fingolfin. Sauron was never again able to take a fair-seeming form after his original material body was lost in the flooding of Númenor.
While it is not specifically stated, it seems that Balrogs were at least partially fixed in their fiery demonic forms in the same way. Even so, Tolkien describes them as "spirits" of fire and "great shadows." As a result, it is uncertain whether the Balrogs were somewhat ethereal or if they could still become so.
The Balrogs were first encountered by the Elves during the Dagor-nuin-Giliath in the First Age. After the great victory of the Noldor over Morgoth's Orcs, Fëanor pressed on towards Angband, but the Balrogs came against him. He was mortally wounded by Gothmog, Lord of Balrogs, the only Balrog known by name. Though his sons arrived shortly thereafter and fought off the demons, Fëanor died of his wounds, and his spirit departed for the Halls of Mandos.
Later, during and after the fall of Gondolin, two Balrogs fell at the hands of Elves. Ecthelion of the Fountain fought Gothmog in the square of the king, where they both perished. Additionally, Glorfindel fought a Balrog who waylaid the escape from the fallen Gondolin; both perished in the struggle after falling off a mountainside.
[edit] The Lord of the Rings
The Balrogs were nearly all destroyed at the end of the First Age. It was stated in The Silmarillion that all the Balrogs were destroyed in the War of Wrath save some few that fled and hid themselves in the bowels of the earth. However, it was later discovered that one had escaped and hid in Moria. It was known as Durin's Bane after killing King Durin VI, not long after awakening. The history of this Balrog prior to that is not stated in any of Tolkien's texts.
Eventually, the Fellowship of the Ring also ventured through the mines of Moria and stumbled upon Durin's Bane. All but Gandalf fled the caves, while Gandalf tried to place a lock-spell on the door of Balin's tomb-chamber. While he was busy with that, the Balrog appeared, cast a counterspell and shattered the door, nearly killing Gandalf in the process. Gandalf and company fled, followed by the Balrog. It caught up with them on the bridge of Khazad-dûm. Gandalf stayed back to hold off the Balrog, and they both fell into the abyss. Both survived the fall, and continued their fight all the way to the peak of the mountain, where Gandalf finally slew the Balrog and perished himself.
[edit] Weaponry
The Balrog of Moria used a sword ("From out of the shadow a red sword leapt flaming") and many-thonged whip of flame in its battle with Gandalf. In the First Age, they also used black axes and maces, as described in the Nirnaeth Arnoediad (Battle of Unnumbered Tears).
[edit] Appearance
Tolkien's writings are unclear as to the exact appearance of Balrogs. Whether Balrogs were winged or not, or indeed had retained the Maia ability to change shape is unknown.
[edit] Winged or Wingless
The debate on its wings mainly comes from The Bridge of Khazad-dûm, a chapter in The Fellowship of the Ring. There are two references in this chapter. The first states:
- "His enemy halted again, facing him, and the shadow about it reached out like two vast wings."
While this reference clearly uses the term "wings" as a simile, the controversy comes from a reference later in the same chapter:
- "...suddenly it drew itself up to a great height, and its wings were spread from wall to wall..."
In brief, Tolkien's use of the phrase "like two vast wings" thus leads some to believe that the Balrog had no physical wings. However, others interpret the use of the words "wings" and "winged" to describe Balrogs as referring to actual winged creatures.
Taken by itself, it is unclear whether this second reference to wings remains metaphorical or is to be taken literally — whether the wings were actually physical, distinct from the shadow (and following this, whether they can actually support the creature in flight), or, as suggested by the first reference, rather that the shadow of the Balrog just looked like wings, or even if "shadow" was meant as an allusion to its menacing nature. Although, if it did have wings capable of flight, it probably need not have fallen all the way down the void, depending on its size. There are other mentions of Balrogs traveling with "winged speed", but this term is also used for other characters throughout Tolkien's work[citation needed], and is a common expression in other literary works, such as William Shakespeare's [1].
Earlier drafts of the Bridge chapter, as described by Christopher Tolkien in The Treason of Isengard seem to point to Balrogs as being non-winged:
| “ | In B it is said only that the Balrog 'stood facing him': in C 'the Balrog halted facing him, and the shadow about him reached out like great wings'.(17) Immediately afterwards, where in F[ellowship of the] R[ing] the Balrog drew itself up to a great height, and its wings were spread from wall to wall', neither B nor C has the words 'to a great height' nor speaks of the 'wings'. | ” |
In the younger Tolkien's comment on the changes in the drafts, he puts single quotes around 'wings', which further indicates that he at least thinks the wings were metaphorical, not physical.
Elsewhere, Tolkien states that Morgoth was unable to develop winged creatures prior to the winged dragons led by Ancalagon due to Manwë's dominion over the air. As Balrogs existed long before the dragons this would argue against wings. On the other hand, Sauron and Thuringwethil, as shape-changers, assume winged shapes at times and fly. Balrogs also do a lot of falling when they could be flying. Comparing Tolkien's descriptions of Balrogs with those of winged Dragons in flight gives a much clearer idea of how Tolkien writes about flying creatures. The description of the flight of Smaug in The Hobbit is indicative.
As discussed further in the text, it appears that throughout the drafts of the chapter the Balrog description was dramatically increased with first the addition of an ominous shadow, then a Balrog with a shadow that seemed to wrap itself around Gandalf, and, finally, a Balrog wrapped in shadows which seemed to look like wings.
The Tolkien fan community is divided on its interpretation of Balrogs as winged or wingless. Notable Tolkien artist John Howe typically depicts his Balrogs as possessing physical wings, a notion which was carried across to Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings film trilogy, for which John Howe was a conceptual artist. Other artists like Ted Nasmith prefer to depict the Balrogs as wingless.
[edit] Size
The size of Balrogs is also a matter of dispute. For example, in his notes, Tolkien states:
- "[the Balrog] strode to the fissure, no more than man-high yet terror seemed to go before it."'
- The History of Middle-earth Volume VII (The Treason of Isengard), X The Mines of Moria II: The Bridge
However, this draft was rejected, and such a statement does not appear in the published version of The Lord of the Rings. The published version actually states:
- "What it was could not be seen: it was like a great shadow, in the middle of which was a dark form, of man-shape, maybe, yet greater; and a power and terror seemed to be in it and to go before it."
- The Lord of the Rings Book II, Chapter 5 "The Bridge of Khazad-dûm".
Additionally, Tolkien states that:
- "suddenly it [the Balrog] drew itself up to a great height, and its wings were spread from wall to wall..."
- The Lord of the Rings Book II, Chapter 5 "The Bridge of Khazad-dûm".
These two statements made in the actual works suggest that they were greater in size than men.
However, in The Lord of the Rings, Tolkien also notes that the entrance to the Chamber of Mazarbul was sized so that
- "...orcs one after another leaped into the chamber." and "...clustered in the doorway."
- The Lord of the Rings Book II, Chapter 5 "The Bridge of Khazad-dûm".
While some contend that such a doorway seems unlikely to be passable for a creature much larger than man-sized without destroying the passage, others interpret this as a large number of orcs passing through a particularly large passageway, through which a Balrog could fit.[citation needed]
Also, some assume that Balrogs, as "spirits of fire" "swathed in shadows", were ethereal in having no definitive solid matter at any given time. This and a similar view is surely in support of the idea that Balrogs could possibly retain some of their shapeshifting abilities as Maiar, or at least could walk the earth without raiment as shadow, flame, or otherwise. As a result, it is quite possible that an ethereal spirit made of fire and shadow could pass through even a narrow opening, regardless of whether the ethereal spirit was immense.
There is nothing in the works of Tolkien to dispute the possible ethereal make-up of Balrogs or that they at least had the power to become so. Rather, Tolkien often refers to them as "spirits" or "great shadows"; both of which, if taken literally, would have no trouble passing through openings be they large or small. Furthermore, there is nothing to wholly dispute the Balrogs' initial shapeshifting abilities which they would have had as Maiar. Sauron, also a Maia, often assumed multiple physical forms through the Ages, including that of a great wolf, a vampire, a dragon[citation needed], a handsome man, and finally a large terrible warrior (at which point he had lost the ability to change his shape). Similarly, the Balrogs could also have retained some of their ability to walk without raiment in assuming the form of both shadow and flame.
[edit] Name
The term Balrog is defined as Demon of Might in the published Silmarillion. No further information on the name is given.
[edit] Etymology
The name, but not the meaning, is relatively early: it appears in the Fall of Gondolin, one of the earliest texts Tolkien wrote (ca. 1918). At the time the name is described as "an Orc-word with no pure Quenya equivalent: 'borrowed Malaroko-'". Its meaning at the time was Cruel demon.
In the Gnomish (=early Sindarin) wordlist from the same period Balrog is given as balc 'cruel' + graug 'demon', with a Quenya equivalent Malkarauke. Variant forms of the latter include Nalkarauke and Valkarauke.
By the 1940s, when the writing of The Lord of the Rings had begun, Tolkien had come to think of Balrog as Noldorin (Sindarin) balch (cruel) + rhaug (demon), with a Quenya equivalent Malarauko (from nwalya- (to torture) + rauko (demon).
The last etymology given for Balrog, written as part of Quendi and Eldar, gives the Quenya form Valarauko (Demon of Might), defining Balrog as the Sindarin translation. This etymology was adopted in the published The Silmarillion.
[edit] Plural form
The Sindarin plural form for Balrog is not clear. Tolkien consistently used Balrogs, but this is generally considered an anglicization because Sindarin does not form plurals in that way. In one case Tolkien used Balrogath,[2] similar to Periannath for 'Halflings', Argonath for 'king-stones', Dagorath for 'battles'. However, the '-ath' suffix was often used as a 'class plural', and thus 'Balrogath' might mean 'Balrogkind' rather than simply 'Balrogs'. Linguists disagree on how a simple Sindarin plural would be formed, but most often suggest either *Balroeg or *Belryg.
The plural form for Quenya Valarauko is attested as Valaraukar.
[edit] Other names
In one of Tolkien's early Middle-earth writings, Lay of the Children of Húrin, "Lungorthin, Lord of Balrogs" is mentioned. It is not, however, certain if this was another name for Gothmog, or whether it simply meant "a Balrog lord". According to Christopher Tolkien, the latter is more probable since the name Gothmog was mentioned in the earliest Middle-earth writings, as well as the final version of Tolkien's legendarium. In addition, during Gandalf's battle with the balrog on the bridge of Khazad-dûm Gandalf refers to the balrog as "flame of Udûn" meaning hell fire, maybe referring to the balrog's principle weapon, a whip of many throngs shrouded in fire.
[edit] Number
The Balrogs were originally envisioned as being immense in number:
- "The early conception of Balrogs makes them less terrible, and certainly more destructible, than they afterwards became: they existed in 'hundreds' (p. 170), and were slain by Tuor and the Gondothlim in large numbers: "thus five fell before Tuor's great axe Dramborleg, three before Ecthelion's sword, and two score were slain by the warriors of the king's house."
- The Book of Lost Tales 2, commentary by Christopher Tolkien on The Fall of Gondolin.
- "There came wolves and serpents and there came Balrogs one thousand, and there came Glaurung the Father of Dragons."
- The Lost Road, Quenta Silmarillion chapter 16, §15.
As the legendarium became more formidable and internally consistent, and the Balrogs more terrible, this number was much reduced. In the end Tolkien stated that there were "at most" seven Balrogs:
- "In the margin my father wrote: 'There should not be supposed more than say 3 or at most 7 ever existed.'"
- Morgoth's Ring, Section 2 (AAm*): note 50 (just before section 3).
The note to change the number of Balrogs to at most 7 comes from roughly the same time they "became" Maiar in Tolkien's mind.
[edit] Adaptations
For movie adaptations of the book, the issues regarding Balrog wings and size needed to be resolved. The Balrog in Ralph Bakshi's 1978 animated version resembled a winged ape, not much larger than man-sized but considerably heavier, and it did fly.
Peter Jackson's film versions of The Fellowship of the Ring and The Two Towers, released in 2001 and 2002 respectively, ultimately decided on a very large winged monster made that resembled lava covered with a dark crust. However, during the fight with Gandalf, the Balrog could not fly because the physical characteristics of the wing did not permit flight (they did not have any sort of flesh on them, but like the rest of the Balrog's body appeared to be made out of shadow and fire). It was also killed only when Glamdring was struck by lightning, temporarily infusing the energy into the sword. John Howe designed this version of the creature, explaining in The Art of the Fellowship of the Ring book; "It doesn't say they don't have wings, so why not? That was Peter's tongue-in-cheek approach, too!"
Concept art was drawn up for a "slime balrog"; the balrog fell into the lake and its fires were extinguished, it's outer hide becoming slimy. The concept was not used in the film.
In the computer game The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth, and its sequel, both based on Jackson's movies, the Balrog can use its wings, although only in short leaps.
Though the Balrog of Moria was never named by Tolkien himself, Iron Crown Enterprises later dubbed him Muar for their Middle-earth role playing (MERP) products.
In the game, The Lord of the Rings: The Third Age, the Balrog uses its wings to fly into the air, and comes crashing down, sending a tremendously damaging shockwave of flames at the player.
[edit] References
- ^ "In winged speed no motion shall I know:" - Sonnet 51, Last accessed December 2, 2006
- ^ J. R. R. Tolkien (1993). in Christopher Tolkien (ed.): Morgoth's Ring. Boston & New York: Houghton Mifflin, Annals of Aman - Section 2. ISBN 0-395-68092-1.
[edit] Appearances
- The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
- The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
- The Lord of the Rings: The Third Age
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[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- The Truth About Balrogs essay series by Conrad Dunkerson.
- Encyclopedia of Arda article on Balrogs
- Do Balrogs have wings? Do Balrogs fly? Pro-wings argument by Michael Martinez
| Ainur from J. R. R. Tolkien's legendarium | |
|---|---|
| Ainulindalë (Music of the Ainur) | |
| Lords of the Valar: | Manwë | Ulmo | Aulë | Oromë | Námo (Mandos) | Irmo (Lórien) | Tulkas |
| Queens of the Valar (The Valier): | Varda | Yavanna | Nienna | Estë | Vairë | Vána | Nessa |
| The Enemy: | Morgoth (a.k.a. Melkor) |
| Maiar: | Eönwë | Ilmarë | Ossë | Uinen | Salmar | Sauron | Melian | Arien | Tilion | Gothmog Curumo (Saruman) | Olórin (Gandalf) | Aiwendil (Radagast) | Alatar and Pallando | Durin's Bane |
