Thrushes: Difference between revisions
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'''1982-97: ''[[Middle-earth Role Playing]]'':''' | '''1982-97: ''[[Middle-earth Role Playing]]'':''' | ||
: Given gaming statistics, the Thrushes are among Radagast's principal agents and are friends of the Northmen. The thrush language, which can be learned by Elves and Men but not by Dwarves, is called "Throsel-tunge".<ref>{{ICE|2012}}</ref><ref>{{ICE|2016}}</ref> | : Given gaming statistics, the Thrushes are among Radagast's principal agents and are friends of the Northmen. The thrush language, which can be learned by Elves and Men but not by Dwarves, is called "Throsel-tunge".<ref>{{ICE|2012}}</ref><ref>{{ICE|2016}}</ref> | ||
'''1977: ''[[The Hobbit (1977)]]'':''' | |||
The Thrush goes with Bilbo into The Mountain. The Thrush later tells Bard of the dragon's weakness. | |||
'''2012-14: ''[[The Hobbit (film series)]]'':''' | '''2012-14: ''[[The Hobbit (film series)]]'':''' | ||
: Towards the end of ''An Unexpected Journey'', a thrush appears to the Dwarves and it is considered as a sign of hope. The bird flies to the Lonely Mountain and breaks an nut, which wakes Smaug. The same thrush, or another of its species, appears during ''The Desolation of Smaug'' where it knocks snails against the gray stone. However, the Thrush does not fly to Lake-town to inform Bard of Smaug's weakness like in the book, nor is Bard's family's ability to understand the Thrush's language ever addressed. | : Towards the end of ''An Unexpected Journey'', a thrush appears to the Dwarves and it is considered as a sign of hope. The bird flies to the Lonely Mountain and breaks an nut, which wakes Smaug. The same thrush, or another of its species, appears during ''The Desolation of Smaug'' where it knocks snails against the gray stone. However, the Thrush does not fly to Lake-town to inform Bard of Smaug's weakness like in the book, nor is Bard's family's ability to understand the Thrush's language ever addressed. | ||
Revision as of 16:54, 2 June 2020
Thrushes are large speckled brown birds with a special fondness for snails, whose shells they remove by breaking them against stones. The thrush that Bilbo Baggins and the Dwarves encountered on the Lonely Mountain was unusually large and nearly black with dark spots on its pale yellow breast.[1] Thorin stated that it was a member of an ancient breed, long lived and magical.[2]
In T.A. 2941[3] the thrush on the Lonely Mountain was instrumental in the downfall of Smaug. On Thrór's Map, the Moon-letters instructions said to "Stand by the grey stone when the thrush knocks" on Durin's Day to see the magic key-hole.[4] Sure enough, when Durin's Day arrived this thrush knocked a snail on the grey stone in the small rocky alcove on the Mountain, which alerted the company to watch for the appearance of the keyhole and secret door.[1]
The men of Lake-town and Dale could understand the language of the thrushes, and some thrushes could understand the common tongue. Fortunately the thrush on the Mountain was one of them for he was able to understand Bilbo's account of his talk with Smaug and hear about the bare patch on the dragon's breast.[2] On the night when Smaug attacked Esgaroth the thrush spoke to Bard and revealed the vulnerable part on the monster. Bard was able to pierce the dragon with his arrow with this knowledge.[5]
After the Dwarves and the Hobbit had escaped from the mountain to Ravenhill the thrush returned with the news of Smaug's demise. Finding that none could understand his speech, the thrush left and brought back the raven Roäc who could translate the thrush's words.[6] After this exchange of information the thrush vanished from the scene.
Inspiration
In The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrún, a raven and a finch speak two of the verses,[7] reminiscent of the sentient thrushes and ravens in The Hobbit.
Other Versions of the Legendarium
On the earliest version of Thrór's Map (called "Fimbulfambi's Map" by John D. Rateliff in The History of The Hobbit since that was Thrór's original designation) the Moon-letters said to "Stand by the grey stone when the crow knocks…". This was soon changed to thrush.[8]
Portrayal in adaptations
1968: The Hobbit (1968 radio series):
- When the thrush informs Bard of Smaug's weakness, its speech is translated in English with a warbling voice.
1982-97: Middle-earth Role Playing:
- Given gaming statistics, the Thrushes are among Radagast's principal agents and are friends of the Northmen. The thrush language, which can be learned by Elves and Men but not by Dwarves, is called "Throsel-tunge".[9][10]
1977: The Hobbit (1977): The Thrush goes with Bilbo into The Mountain. The Thrush later tells Bard of the dragon's weakness. 2012-14: The Hobbit (film series):
- Towards the end of An Unexpected Journey, a thrush appears to the Dwarves and it is considered as a sign of hope. The bird flies to the Lonely Mountain and breaks an nut, which wakes Smaug. The same thrush, or another of its species, appears during The Desolation of Smaug where it knocks snails against the gray stone. However, the Thrush does not fly to Lake-town to inform Bard of Smaug's weakness like in the book, nor is Bard's family's ability to understand the Thrush's language ever addressed.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, "On the Doorstep"
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, "Inside Information"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, "The Third Age"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, "A Short Rest"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, "Fire and Water"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, "The Gathering of the Clouds"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Legend of Sigurd and Gudrún, pp. 116-117, 214-215
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, John D. Rateliff (ed.), The History of The Hobbit, Mr. Baggins, The First Phase, "The Pryftan Fragment", pp. 22-23
- ↑ Ruth Sochard Pitt, Jeff O'Hare, Peter C. Fenlon, Jr. (1994), Creatures of Middle-earth (2nd edition) (#2012)
- ↑ Zachariah Woolf (1995), Lake-town (#2016)
