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[[Image:Guy Gondron - Wolf Riders.jpg|thumb|300px|''Wolf Riders'' by [[Guy Gondron]].]]
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'''Wolves''' were of old allied with the [[Dark Lord]]; [[Morgoth]] bred the two greatest of their kind, [[Draugluin]] and [[Carcharoth]], and [[Sauron]] was wont to take the form of a great Wolf. The lesser kinds were sometimes used as steeds by the [[Orcs]].
{{disambig-more|Wolves|[[Wolf (disambiguation)]]}}
[[File:Quinton Hoover - Orc-mounts.jpg|thumb|[[Quinton Hoover]] - ''Orc-mounts'']]
'''Wolves''' were of old allied with the [[Dark Lord]];<ref>{{S|20}}</ref> [[Morgoth]] bred the two greatest of their kind, [[Draugluin]] and [[Carcharoth]], and [[Sauron]] was wont to take the form of a great Wolf. The lesser kinds were sometimes used as steeds by the [[Orcs]].


'''Wolf''' is also used as a short form of '''[[Werewolf]]'''.
'''Wolf''' is also used as a short form of '''[[Werewolf]]'''.
==Names==
In [[Quenya]], one of the words for "wolf" is ''ñarmo'' or ''narmo''. Cognates of the same meaning are [[Doriathrin]] ''garm'', and [[Noldorin]] ''garaf''. (A "wolf-howl" is ''naule'' in Quenya, and ''gaul'' in Noldorin.)<ref>{{LR|Etymologies}}, p. 377 (roots [[ÑGAR(A)M|ÑGAR(A)M-]] and [[ÑGAW|ÑGAW-]])</ref>
Another Quenya word for "wolf" is ''ráka''. Cognates, also meaning "wolf", are [[Noldorin|Exilic Noldorin]] ''draug'' and Doriathrin ''drôg''.<ref>{{LR|Etymologies}}, p. 354 (root [[DÁRAK|DÁRAK-]])</ref>
In [[Gnomish]], one of [[J.R.R. Tolkien|Tolkien]]'s early conceptions of an [[Elvish|Elven]] language, "wolf" is ''harog'' or ''harw''; "a she-wolf" is ''harach'';<ref>{{PE|11}}, p. 48</ref> [[Qenya]] has ''ulku'' "wolf".<ref>{{PE|16}}, p. 85</ref>


==Inspiration==
==Inspiration==
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{{quote|Only a few hundred yards beyond the houses [in Bloemfontein] was the open veldt where '''wolves, wild dogs''', and jackals roamed and menaced the flocks, and where after dark a post-rider might be attacked by a marauding lion.|[[J.R.R. Tolkien: A Biography]]}}
{{quote|Only a few hundred yards beyond the houses [in Bloemfontein] was the open veldt where '''wolves, wild dogs''', and jackals roamed and menaced the flocks, and where after dark a post-rider might be attacked by a marauding lion.|[[J.R.R. Tolkien: A Biography]]}}


Sometime in the Age of Stars, Wolves came into the Westlands and served as mounts for Melkor's armies. These huge and terrible creatures gave Melkor an Orkish cavalry.
==Portrayal in adaptations ==
 
Though somewhat diminished in stature by the Third Age of the Sun, they instilled great fear to any foe. A race of White Wolves came out of the Northern Waste during the fell winter of 2911 and stained the snows of Eriador with the blood of Men. The "Red Book of Westmarch" tells of Wargs, an evil breed that carried the Orcs of the Misty Mountains into battle. Indeed, this cavalry was the greatest threat of the Orkish hordes in the Battle of Five Armies.
 
The most famous Wolf legend tells of Carcharoth, the Red Maw, who in the First Age of the Sun was reared by Morgoth on living flesh and bestowed with great powers. He was guardian of the Gates of Angband and none could pass him without sorcerous aid.
 
In the Quest of the Silmaril, Carcharoth bit off Beren's hand at the Gates of Angband and consumed the Silmaril, which in turn, consumed him. In tormented fury, he slew many Elves and Men. But at last he met the one he was destined to battle: Huan, the Wolfhound of the Valar. Though Huan was mortally wounded, he managed to slay Carcharoth. 


'''2007: ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]'':'''
:Wolves are found in nearly every corner of Middle-earth. They are a popular mount of goblins, especially in Moria and Mirkwood.
==See also==
*[[:Category:Images of wolves|Images of wolves]]
{{references}}
{{wolves}}
{{wolves}}


[[Category:Wolves]]
[[Category:Wolves]]
[[Category:Characters in The Hobbit]]
[[Category:Characters in The Hobbit]]
[[de:Wölfe]]
[[fi:Sudet]]

Revision as of 19:07, 27 April 2014

The name Wolves refers to more than one character, item or concept. For a list of other meanings, see Wolf (disambiguation).
Quinton Hoover - Orc-mounts

Wolves were of old allied with the Dark Lord;[1] Morgoth bred the two greatest of their kind, Draugluin and Carcharoth, and Sauron was wont to take the form of a great Wolf. The lesser kinds were sometimes used as steeds by the Orcs.

Wolf is also used as a short form of Werewolf.

Names

In Quenya, one of the words for "wolf" is ñarmo or narmo. Cognates of the same meaning are Doriathrin garm, and Noldorin garaf. (A "wolf-howl" is naule in Quenya, and gaul in Noldorin.)[2]

Another Quenya word for "wolf" is ráka. Cognates, also meaning "wolf", are Exilic Noldorin draug and Doriathrin drôg.[3]

In Gnomish, one of Tolkien's early conceptions of an Elven language, "wolf" is harog or harw; "a she-wolf" is harach;[4] Qenya has ulku "wolf".[5]

Inspiration

"Only a few hundred yards beyond the houses [in Bloemfontein] was the open veldt where wolves, wild dogs, and jackals roamed and menaced the flocks, and where after dark a post-rider might be attacked by a marauding lion."
J.R.R. Tolkien: A Biography

Portrayal in adaptations

2007: The Lord of the Rings Online:

Wolves are found in nearly every corner of Middle-earth. They are a popular mount of goblins, especially in Moria and Mirkwood.

See also

References


Wolves
Individuals: Carcharoth · Draugluin · Hound of Sauron · (Wolf-Sauron)
Races: Wargs · Werewolves · White Wolves