Smaug
This article or section needs more/new/more-detailed sources to conform to a higher standard and to provide proof for claims made. |
Smaug | |
---|---|
Dragon | |
File:J.R.R. Tolkien - Conversation with Smaug.jpg | |
Biographical Information | |
Other names | Smaug the Golden[1] |
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 |
Gallery | Images of Smaug |
Smaug (Germanic, pron. [smaʊɣ]; 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 to reclaim the treasure ended in success when Smaug was slain by Bard in T.A. 2941.[6]
History
Sack of Erebor
When Smaug attacked in 2770, he destroyed the town of Dale before entering the Lonely Mountain and slaying all the dwarves he encountered and burning all the towns with massive fires. After securing the mountain, he blocked all but two entrances: the main gate and a secret postern gate known only to the King Under the Mountain and his son Thrain II. Unknown to Smaug, the dwarf king Thrór and his son Thrain II had escaped through the secret postern gate, and others were not in the mountain when Smaug attacked. Following the attack, Thrór abdicated and gave the key to the postern gate to his son Thráin II. Smaug would remain in control of the Lonely Mountain for 170 years, turning the area surrounding the mountain into what became known as the Desolation of the Dragon.
The Quest for Erebor
In T.A. 2850, Gandalf the Grey, while spying upon the Necromancer of Dol Guldur, obtained the key and map to the secret postern gate from Thrain, who had become a prisoner there after being captured in 2845. Having discovered that the Necromancer was actually Sauron, Gandalf realized that Smaug would be a valuable ally to the Dark Lord. Gandalf therefore sought a way to destroy Smaug and re-establish the Kingdom Under the Mountain to reduce Sauron's power in the north.[7]
Gandalf recruited Thráin's only living son and heir to his throne, Thorin Oakenshield, to reclaim the mountain. In 2940, at the home of Bilbo Baggins, he presented Thorin with the map and key, and accompanied them on part of their quest. The party reached the mountain in 2941, and they sent Bilbo in through the secret door to investigate. Bilbo stole a small but heavy cup from the dragon's vast hoard of treasure which he used as a bed to sleep on, sending Smaug into a killing frenzy.
Smaug scoured the mountainside for the intruder, but was unable to find the secret door. Bilbo visited the dragon's lair again when Smaug returned and discovered Smaug's only vulnerability (a patch on his left breast unprotected by treasure that was otherwise embedded all over his underside) through riddling talk. Smaug left his lair again and smashed the mountainside with strikes of his tail, trapping Thorin and Company inside the secret passage, but not before the thrush that lived on the mountainside heard Bilbo describe Smaug's weakness.
Realizing that the men of Lake-town must have helped the intruders, Smaug flew there and attacked, setting the town aflame from the air. The dragon's scales were impervious to the arrows of the defenders, but the thrush also flew to the town and revealed the bare spot in Smaug's armor to Bard the Bowman, who killed Smaug by firing the Black Arrow through the vulnerable spot. Smaug destroyed the town when he crashed onto it, then sank to the bottom of the Long Lake.
After Smaug's death, Thorin and Company claimed the treasure as theirs by birthright. This created a conflict with Bard and the Elven King Thranduil of Mirkwood, who each wanted a portion of the gold as reimbursement for all the damage Smaug had caused their kingdoms over the years. Thorin refused to share the treasure and declared war on both of them. The conflict eventually exploded because they heard news of approaching wargs and goblins. This became the Battle of Five Armies.
Inspiration
- "Fafnir in the late Norse versions of the Sigurd-story is better; and Smaug and his conversation obviously is in debt there."
- ― Letter 122
This article or section is a stub. Please help Tolkien Gateway by expanding it. |
Etymology
The name Smaug is a translation of the "original Dalish" Trâgu, and is related to the name Sméagol. According to Tolkien, the name Smaug is "the past tense of the primitive Germanic verb Smugan, to squeeze through a hole".[8]
Note that the language of Dale is rendered with Norse terms.[9]
Smaug also has echoes of "smoke", "smog" and the Polish word for dragon, "smok", though it is pronounced with a long /au/.[source?]
Portrayal in adaptations
- Rankin-Bass' Smaug.jpg
Smaug in Rankin/Bass' The Hobbit
Smaug in Sierra's The Hobbit
1968: The Hobbit (1968 radio series):
- Francis de Wolff provides Smaug's voice.
1977: The Hobbit (1977 film):
- Smaug was voiced by Richard Boone. In this version, Smaug's face possesses more mammilian traits, resembling a mix between a cat and a bat. Also, his armor 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):
- No actor is specifically credited for the role of Smaug.
2003: Sierra's The Hobbit:
- Smaug was voiced by James Horan.
2012-3: The Hobbit films:
- Smaug will be a CGI-motion capture creature produced by Weta Digital. It is unknown whether or Smaug will be voiced, there have been no announcements regarding a voice actor.
See also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "Durin's Folk"
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, "The Third Age"
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 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"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, "Inside Information"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, "An Unexpected Party"; J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "Durin's Folk"; J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, "Fire and Water"; J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, "The Third Age"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "The Quest of Erebor"
- ↑ 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, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix F
Named Dragons | |
Glaurung · Gostir · Ancalagon · Scatha · Smaug |