The Merlock Mountains are mentioned in the Shire-poem The Mewlips.[1]
It is unknown if the Merlock Mountains refer to an actual mountain range in Middle-earth, or if they were just an invention by the poet. As the poem describes a location similar to Mirkwood,[2] it is possible that they were a fictitious version of the Misty Mountains, or what the Hobbits knew about them.[3]
Etymology
Fans have speculated that the name Merlock was inspired by the name Morlock appearing in "Knocking at the Door", an earlier version of the poem (which was perhaps itself inspired by H.G. Wells's Morlock) [4]
References
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Adventures of Tom Bombadil, "The Mewlips"
- ↑ Robert Foster, The Complete Guide to Middle-earth, entry "Mewlips, the"
- ↑ Robert Foster, The Complete Guide to Middle-earth, p. 260
- ↑ . "Middle-earth Is Orbiting Saturn (post #3)". Plaza. Retrieved 15 February 2013
| Legendary locations in Arda | |
| Islands: | Isle of Meneltarma |
|---|---|
| Mountains and Hills: | Astulat · Faraway · Mountains of the Moon · Merlock Mountains |
| Regions: | Aerie · Delving · Belmarie · Fantasie · Last Desert · Sindanórie · Thellamie · Tode |
| Rivers: | Derrilyn |
| Other: | Caves of the Forgotten · Gorbelgod · Tong |