Smaug: Difference between revisions
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<center>{{quote|Never laugh at live dragons, Bilbo you fool!|[[Bilbo Baggins|Bilbo]] to himself.<ref name="H12">{{H|12}}</ref>}}</center> | <center>{{quote|Never laugh at live dragons, Bilbo you fool!|[[Bilbo Baggins|Bilbo]] to himself.<ref name="H12">{{H|12}}</ref>}}</center> | ||
'''Smaug''' (birth unknown – [[Third Age]] {{TA|2941|n}}) was the greatest [[Fire-drakes|fire-breathing]] [[Dragons|dragon]] of the [[Third Age]]. Details of his origin are unknown, but in {{TA|2770}} he attacked the [[Erebor|Lonely Mountain]] and the town of [[Dale]]. He claimed the treasure of the mountain for himself and forced [[Thrór]], [[King under the Mountain]], and [[Durin's Folk|his people]] into exile. [[Thorin | '''Smaug''' (birth unknown – [[Third Age]] {{TA|2941|n}}) was the greatest [[Fire-drakes|fire-breathing]] [[Dragons|dragon]] of the [[Third Age]]. Details of his origin are unknown, but in {{TA|2770}} he attacked the [[Erebor|Lonely Mountain]] and the town of [[Dale]]. He claimed the treasure of the mountain for himself and forced [[Thrór]], [[King under the Mountain]], and [[Durin's Folk|his people]] into exile. [[Thorin|Thorin's]] quest - with the help of his burglar [[Bilbo Baggins]] - to reclaim the treasure ended in success when Smaug was slain by [[Bard]] in {{TA|2941}}.<ref name="H14"/><ref name="AppA3"/><ref name="AppB2"/><ref name="H1">{{H|1}}</ref> | ||
==Appearance== | ==Appearance== | ||
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In {{TA|2850}}, [[Gandalf]], whilst spying on the [[Necromancer]] in [[Dol Guldur]], found a Dwarf imprisoned; near death, the dwarf gave Gandalf a key and a map. Unbeknownst to Gandalf at the time this dwarf was [[Thráin II|Thráin]], [[Kings of Durin's Folk|King of Durin's Folk]], who had been captured by the Necromancer in {{TA|2845}}. Having discovered that the Necromancer was indeed [[Sauron]], Gandalf was very concerned that Sauron could use Smaug to a devastating effect. It is for this reason that Gandalf sought a plan to neutralise the threat of Smaug and limit the potential power of Sauron in the north of Middle-earth.<ref name="UTErebor"/> | In {{TA|2850}}, [[Gandalf]], whilst spying on the [[Necromancer]] in [[Dol Guldur]], found a Dwarf imprisoned; near death, the dwarf gave Gandalf a key and a map. Unbeknownst to Gandalf at the time this dwarf was [[Thráin II|Thráin]], [[Kings of Durin's Folk|King of Durin's Folk]], who had been captured by the Necromancer in {{TA|2845}}. Having discovered that the Necromancer was indeed [[Sauron]], Gandalf was very concerned that Sauron could use Smaug to a devastating effect. It is for this reason that Gandalf sought a plan to neutralise the threat of Smaug and limit the potential power of Sauron in the north of Middle-earth.<ref name="UTErebor"/> | ||
By chance on [[15 March]] {{TA|2941|n}}, Gandalf met [[Thorin | By chance on [[15 March]] {{TA|2941|n}}, Gandalf met [[Thorin|Thorin Oakenshield]] in [[Bree]] (although another source states that they met when Thorin overtook but started to talk to Gandalf on the road<ref name="UTErebor">{{UT|9}}</ref>). They discussed their desire to destroy Smaug and retake the Lonely Mountain; they later met in [[Thorin's Halls]] in the [[Blue Mountains]] to develop a plan. Gandalf wanted Thorin to take the [[hobbits|hobbit]] [[Bilbo Baggins]] as a ''burglar'' on their adventure to retake Erebor; this took considerable persuasion.<ref name="AppB2"/><ref name="AppA3"/> | ||
Later in {{TA|2941}}, at the home of [[Bilbo Baggins]], Gandalf presented Thorin with the map and key, and accompanied them on part of their quest.<ref name=H1/> The party reached the mountain later that year on [[Durin's Day]]. They sent Bilbo in through the secret door to carry out his duty as their burglar, stealing a small - but heavy - cup from the dragon's vast hoard of treasure Smaug used as a bed. This enraged Smaug beyond measure, causing him to leave his chamber and scour the mountainside for the intruder; remembering hearing strange noises from the passageway he failed to find the entrance, only eating their ponies.<ref name="H11">{{H|11}}</ref><ref name="H12"/> | Later in {{TA|2941}}, at the home of [[Bilbo Baggins]], Gandalf presented Thorin with the map and key, and accompanied them on part of their quest.<ref name=H1/> The party reached the mountain later that year on [[Durin's Day]]. They sent Bilbo in through the secret door to carry out his duty as their burglar, stealing a small - but heavy - cup from the dragon's vast hoard of treasure Smaug used as a bed. This enraged Smaug beyond measure, causing him to leave his chamber and scour the mountainside for the intruder; remembering hearing strange noises from the passageway he failed to find the entrance, only eating their ponies.<ref name="H11">{{H|11}}</ref><ref name="H12"/> | ||
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{{blockquote|I kill where I wish and none dare resist. I laid low the warriors of old and their like is not in the world today. Then I was but young and tender. Now I am old and strong, strong strong.|Smaug to Bilbo.}} | {{blockquote|I kill where I wish and none dare resist. I laid low the warriors of old and their like is not in the world today. Then I was but young and tender. Now I am old and strong, strong strong.|Smaug to Bilbo.}} | ||
Like all dragons, Smaug - described by [[Thorin | Like all dragons, Smaug - described by [[Thorin|Thorin]] as "''a most specially greedy, strong and wicked worm''"<ref name="H1"/> - loves to hoard gold with a meticulous knowledge of his own collection as evidenced by his immediate spotting of the missing cup.<ref name="H12"/> Whilst being quick to anger in defence of his own wealth, he also exhibits a fierce intellect (as well as a curious fascination) in guessing deciphering Bilbo's cryptic origins, a pride and vanity in his own armour, an arrogance in his own invulnerability (laughing at the suggestion that the dwarves would be able to have their revenge), and an ability to question Bilbo's loyalty to the dwarves.<ref name="H12"/> | ||
==Inspiration== | ==Inspiration== | ||
Revision as of 00:25, 5 August 2011
| Smaug | |
|---|---|
| Dragon | |
.jpg) | |
| Biographical Information | |
| Other names | Smaug the Golden Lord Smaug the Impenetrable Trāgu (see below) |
| Realm | Erebor[1] |
| Hoard | Treasure of Thrór, including the Arkenstone[1] |
| Appeared | T.A. 2770[2] |
| Death | T.A. 2941[2] Lake-town[3] |
| Slain by | Bard the Bowman[3] |
| Physical Description | |
| Type | Urulókë[4] |
| Legs | Yes |
| Winged | Yes |
| Colour | Red-golden |
| Gallery | Images of Smaug |
Smaug (birth unknown – Third Age 2941) was the greatest fire-breathing dragon of the Third Age. Details of his origin are unknown, but in T.A. 2770 he attacked the Lonely Mountain and the town of Dale. He claimed the treasure of the mountain for himself and forced Thrór, King under the Mountain, and his people into exile. Thorin's quest - with the help of his burglar Bilbo Baggins - to reclaim the treasure ended in success when Smaug was slain by Bard in T.A. 2941.[3][1][2][6]
Appearance
When Bilbo Baggins first encounters Smaug he can hear his snoring - "like the noise of a large pot galloping in the fire, mixed with the rumble of a gigantic tom-cat purring" - but is most of all struck by the reddish glow and heat that Smaug gives off, both of which travel up the passage-way so Smaug is felt long before he is seen. His flames are green and scarlet.[5]
There he lay, a vast red-golden dragon, fast asleep; thrumming came from his jaws and nostrils, and wisps of smoke, but his fires were low in slumber. Beneath him, under all his limbs and his huge coiled tail, and about him on all sides stretching away across the unseen floors, lay countless piles of precious things, gold wrought and unwrought, gems and jewels, and silver red-stained in the ruddy light. Smaug lay, with wings folded like an immeasurable bat, turned partly on one side, so that the hobbit could see his underparts and his long pale belly crusted with gems and fragments of gold from his long lying on his costly bed.
—J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, "Inside Information"
History
Sack of Erebor
- See also: Sack of Erebor
In T.A. 2770, Smaug first appeared in the history of Middle-earth when he flew south "like a hurricane coming from the North" and attacked the wealthy Dwarven kingdom of the Lonely Mountain and its adjacent lands: he first landed upon the mountain before going down the slopes and setting the woods on fire. When the dwarves came running out of the front gate Smaug killed them all before turning his attention to the men of Dale, also killing most of their warriors including Girion, Lord of Dale (but his wife and child safely fled to Lake-town[3]). Returning to the mountain, he crawled into the front gate and left no dwarf left alive.
Only Thrór, King under the Mountain, and his son Thráin II managed to escape by using the secret side-door (Thrór later gave the key to the secret door and a map of the Lonely Mountain to Thráin). Smaug claimed the treasure (which included the Arkenstone and a mithril shirt) for himself and laid there upon a bed of gold, only occasionally leaving the mountain to carry away people (especially maidens) and continue the destruction of Dale.[6][1] The area surrounding the mountain became known as the Desolation of the Dragon as "there was neither bush nor tree, and only broken and blackened stumps to speak of ones long vanished".[7]
The Quest for Erebor
- See also: The Hobbit
In T.A. 2850, Gandalf, whilst spying on the Necromancer in Dol Guldur, found a Dwarf imprisoned; near death, the dwarf gave Gandalf a key and a map. Unbeknownst to Gandalf at the time this dwarf was Thráin, King of Durin's Folk, who had been captured by the Necromancer in T.A. 2845. Having discovered that the Necromancer was indeed Sauron, Gandalf was very concerned that Sauron could use Smaug to a devastating effect. It is for this reason that Gandalf sought a plan to neutralise the threat of Smaug and limit the potential power of Sauron in the north of Middle-earth.[8]
By chance on 15 March 2941, Gandalf met Thorin Oakenshield in Bree (although another source states that they met when Thorin overtook but started to talk to Gandalf on the road[8]). They discussed their desire to destroy Smaug and retake the Lonely Mountain; they later met in Thorin's Halls in the Blue Mountains to develop a plan. Gandalf wanted Thorin to take the hobbit Bilbo Baggins as a burglar on their adventure to retake Erebor; this took considerable persuasion.[2][1]
Later in T.A. 2941, at the home of Bilbo Baggins, Gandalf presented Thorin with the map and key, and accompanied them on part of their quest.[6] The party reached the mountain later that year on Durin's Day. They sent Bilbo in through the secret door to carry out his duty as their burglar, stealing a small - but heavy - cup from the dragon's vast hoard of treasure Smaug used as a bed. This enraged Smaug beyond measure, causing him to leave his chamber and scour the mountainside for the intruder; remembering hearing strange noises from the passageway he failed to find the entrance, only eating their ponies.[7][5]
Remembering a saying of his father's, "every worm has a weak spot", Bilbo offered to return the the dragon's lair - the Dwarves ardently accepted and, putting on the ring, off he went. Bilbo believed that the dragon was fast asleep and that his presence would remain unknown to the dragon, however, Smaug was pretending to be asleep. He then spoke to Bilbo:
Well thief! I smell you and I feel your air. I hear your breath. Come along! Help yourself again, there is plenty and to spare!
—Smaug to Bilbo Baggins.
But Bilbo was more shrewd than Smaug gave him credit: Bilbo praised the dragon and made sure that he didn't reveal his real name, speaking only in riddles. Smaug couldn't resist the fascination of what Bilbo had said - he needed to understand it - so they continued to talk; he was also intrigued to smell something new being puzzled by the never-before-encountered "hobbit-smell". Bilbo grew more and more uncomfortable in the presence of Smaug, but plucking up courage he revealed that he had not come for the treasure alone: Smaug laughed and mocked the notion that anyone could steal from him and get away with it. Bilbo eventually revealed the true purpose of his mission to Smaug, that of "revenge" - Smaug burst into a devastating laughter, shaking Bilbo to the floor, mocking the suggestion that anyone could achieve revenge, boasting about his achievements and strengths. Bilbo then suggested that dragon's were softer underneath, particularly in the chest: in retaliation and vanity Smaug rolled over, claiming that Bilbo's information was false and outdated. But Bilbo saw something crucial, thinking:
Old fool! Why there is a large patch in the hollow of his left breast as bare as a snail out of its shell!
—Bilbo, to himself.
Bilbo had obtained the information that he had needed. He fled up the passage, leaving behind a dragon infuriated by the notion of "revenge", having the hair on the back of his head and heels singed off. When Bilbo returned the the door-step he regaled the dwarves with the story of his conversation with the dragon whilst the thrush was listening. Smaug left his lair once more and smashed the mountainside with strikes of his tail, trapping Thorin and Company inside the secret passage.[9]
Death and aftermath
Realizing that the Lake-men of Esgaroth must have helped the intruders - reinforced by Bilbo calling himself the "Barrel-rider". The waters turned red but Smaug dared not get too close as the water would quench his fire; as the Lake-men had cut the bridges, Smaug flew above attacking and setting the town aflame, destroying the Great House with a swipe of his tail. The dragon's scales were impervious to the arrows of the defenders, but the thrush had flown to the town and informed Bard - a descendent of Girion, Lord of Dale - of the bare spot in Smaug's armour. He was then able to kill Smaug by firing the Black Arrow directly into the vulnerable spot of his left breast. As Smaug fell he crashed into and destroyed Esgaroth.[3]
After Smaug's death, Thorin and Company claimed the treasure as theirs by birthright. This created a conflict with Bard and the Elvenking of Mirkwood, who each wanted a portion of the treasure as reimbursement for huge damage that Smaug had inflicted upon them. Thorin refused to share the treasure and had every intention of going to war with the Elves of Mirkwood and men of Esgaroth to defend his right to the treasure. However the sudden attack by the armies of Bolg brought the forces of the free peoples of Middle-earth together in the Battle of Five Armies.[10][11][12]
Following the death of Smaug a new Lake-town was built further north; Smaug's bones could be seen from the shore but the people were always fearful of it and a no one dared go in the water to retrieve the gems or gold.[3] After the Battle of Five Armies, Bilbo's fourteenth-share of the hoard was given over to Bard who sent some to Lake-town to aid its rebuilding.[13]
Personality
I kill where I wish and none dare resist. I laid low the warriors of old and their like is not in the world today. Then I was but young and tender. Now I am old and strong, strong strong.
—Smaug to Bilbo.
Like all dragons, Smaug - described by Thorin as "a most specially greedy, strong and wicked worm"[6] - loves to hoard gold with a meticulous knowledge of his own collection as evidenced by his immediate spotting of the missing cup.[5] Whilst being quick to anger in defence of his own wealth, he also exhibits a fierce intellect (as well as a curious fascination) in guessing deciphering Bilbo's cryptic origins, a pride and vanity in his own armour, an arrogance in his own invulnerability (laughing at the suggestion that the dwarves would be able to have their revenge), and an ability to question Bilbo's loyalty to the dwarves.[5]
Inspiration
Fafnir in the late Norse versions of the Sigurd-story is better; and Smaug and his conversation obviously is in debt there.
—J.R.R. Tolkien[14]
In Letter 122, Tolkien noted his lack of enthusiasm for the dragon in Beowulf. Instead he stated his preference for the dragon-like creature Fafnir from the late Norse versions of the Sigurd-story. Indeed Tolkien wrote that Smaug's character owed much to Fafnir.[14]
Etymology
Deriving from the same Old English and Germanic roots as smial and Smeagol,[15] the name Smaug is "the past tense of the primitive Germanic verb Smugan, to squeeze through a hole".[16] It has been suggested that Tolkien likely thought of Old English smeag, a word used to describe a "worm".[15]
Other names and titles
In drafts of the Appendices, Tolkien wrote that Trāgu was the name of the name of Smaug in the language of Dale, "Dalish".[17]
In the conversation between Smaug and Bilbo, Bilbo calls Smaug "Smaug the Tremendous", "Smaug the Chiefest and Greatest of Calamities", "Smaug the Mighty", "Smaug the unassailably wealthy", "Lord Smaug the Impenetrable" and "Your Magnificence",[5] and later Bilbo refers to him as "Smaug the Terrible" and Balin calls him "old Worm".[9] When the dwarves learn of Smaug's demise they grab their harps and sing, referring to Smaug as the "Worm of Dread".[10] Appendix A uses the popular name "Smaug the Golden",[1] whilst in "The Quest of Erebor" he is simply referred to as "The Dragon".
Other versions of the Legendarium
In a very early manuscript of The Hobbit Smaug was known as Pryftan. Indeed John D. Rateliff refers to this manuscript as The Pryftan Fragment.[18]
Portrayal in adaptations
| Smaug in Adaptations | |||||||||
| |||||||||
_Smaug.jpg)
1968: The Hobbit (1968 radio series):
- Francis de Wolff provides Smaug's voice.
1977: The Hobbit (1977 film):
- Smaug was voiced by American actor Richard Boone; his name is pronounced "Smog". In this version, Smaug is broadly similar in size and colour but his shape is less elongated due to being more weighty. Smaug's face is rounder, possessing more mammalian traits - resembling a mix between a cat and a bat - having bat-like ears and fur around the face and down the back. Also, his armour is never mentioned to be strengthened by lying on the treasure, but more resembles an extra padding of skin/scales, minus the bare patch.
1979: The Hobbit (1979 radio series):
- Smaug's name is pronounced "Smog".[19] Erik Bauersfeld performed the voice of the dragon.[20]
1982: The Hobbit (1982 video game):
- The goal of this game is to plunder the treasuries of Smaug's Lair in the Lonely Mountain. While the computer is loading the game it shows a picture of Smaug with the Lonely Mountain on the background.[21]
1988: Creatures of Middle-earth (1st edition):
- In this supplement to the 1st edition of Middle-earth Role Playing, Smaug is put forward as a potential enemy should the gamesmaster wish to include the dragon in his or her story. Another dragon, Utumkodur, is described as Smaug's elder sister. [22]
1994: Creatures of Middle-earth (2nd edition):
- In this supplement to the 2nd edition of Middle-earth Role Playing, Smaug is described in some detail and given a brief history before his coming to Erebor. Smaug survived the destruction of Angband at the end of the First Age and settled at Anvilmount in the Grey Mountains. Here he found and defiled a First Age Adan holy place, destroying tombs and stealing a modest amount of treasure. Smaug was upset by his lack of wealth. Therefore when he heard the tale of the Dwarves of Erebor he knew that the great treasure should be his. Creatures of Middle-earth also describes Smaug as being the son of Ancalagon, being one of a number of siblings including Throkmaw, Ruingurth, and Utumkodur.[23]
2003: The Hobbit (2003 video game):
- Smaug was voiced by James Horan.
2012-3: The Hobbit films:
- Smaug will be a CGI-motion capture creature produced by Weta Digital. It was announced on the 16 June 2011 that Smaug will be voiced by Benedict Cumberbatch.[24]
See also
- Images of Smaug
- "The Quest of Erebor", a chapter of Unfinished Tales which provides more background information
- Chrysophylax, the dragon in Farmer Giles of Ham
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "Durin's Folk"
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, "The Third Age"
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, "Fire and Water"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Index of Names", entry Urulóki: "Quenya word meaning 'fire-serpent', dragon"
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 5.5 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, "Inside Information"
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, "An Unexpected Party"
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, "On the Doorstep"
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "The Quest of Erebor"
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, "Not at Home"
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, "The Gathering of the Clouds"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, "A Thief in the Night"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, "The Clouds Burst"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, "The Return Journey"
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 J.R.R. Tolkien; Humphrey Carpenter, Christopher Tolkien (eds.), The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien, Letter 122, (dated 18 December 1949)
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 Peter Gilliver, Edmund Weiner and Jeremy Marshall, The Ring of Words: Tolkien and the Oxford English Dictionary, pp. 190-1
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien; Humphrey Carpenter, Christopher Tolkien (eds.), The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien, Letter 25, (dated February 1938)
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Peoples of Middle-earth, "II. The Appendix on Languages", p. 54
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, John D. Rateliff (ed.), The History of The Hobbit, Mr. Baggins, The First Phase, "The Pryftan Fragment", passim
- ↑ The Hobbit (1979 radio series), "Inside Information"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien – The Lord Of The Rings & The Hobbit, discogs.com (accessed 22 April 2011)
- ↑ ZX Computing, iss. 8304, p. 76 reproduced at World of Spectrum - Archive (accessed 23 June 2011)
- ↑ Ruth Sochard Pitt, Jeff O'Hare, Peter C. Fenlon, Jr., Creatures of Middle-earth, 1st edn, pp. 51-52
- ↑ Ruth Sochard Pitt, Jeff O'Hare, Peter C. Fenlon, Jr., Creatures of Middle-earth, 2nd edn, pp. 112-115
- ↑ Deadline, "Benedict Cumberbatch To Voice Smaug in 'The Hobbit'", 16 June 2011 (accessed 23 June 2011)
| Named Dragons | |
| Glaurung · Gostir · Ancalagon · Scatha · Smaug | |
