Óin

From Tolkien Gateway
This article is about the Dwarf in The Hobbit. For the the King of Durin's Folk, see Óin (King of Durin's Folk).
Óin
Dwarf
Francesco Amadio - Oin.jpg
"Oin" by Francesco Amadio
Biographical Information
LocationThorin's Halls
Lonely Mountain
Khazad-dûm
AffiliationThorin and Company
Balin's folk
LanguageKhuzdul and Westron
BirthT.A. 2774
DeathPossibly in or after T.A. 2994 (aged 220+)
Possibly in the Sirannon
Family
HouseHouse of Durin
ParentageGróin
SiblingsGlóin
Physical Description
GenderMale
ClothingBrown hood
GalleryImages of Óin

Óin was one of the Dwarves of Thorin's company who set out to reclaim Erebor from Smaug. Later, he followed Balin in an ill-fated attempt to retake Moria.

History[edit | edit source]

Óin was the son of Gróin and older brother of Glóin, both of the House of Durin.[1]

The Quest of Erebor[edit | edit source]

Óin was one of the five Dwarves in the fourth group to arrive at Bag End. He wore a brown hood.[2]

Óin and Glóin were noted for their ability to start fires, although both failed on the night that the company met the trolls. In their frustration they began to quarrel and eventually to fight, which was the incident that prompted the company to head for the fire seen far off on a hill.[3]

In the glade where the wolves came to gather, Óin was one of five Dwarves who climbed up to fairly comfortable seats in a huge pine tree.[4]

When Gandalf was telling the story of the company's adventures to Beorn, Óin and Glóin were the fifth pair of Dwarves to show up.[5]

Óin fought in and survived the Battle of Five Armies. He was given his share of the treasure by Dáin Ironfoot, and made his home in Erebor.[6]

Expedition to Moria[edit | edit source]

In T.A. 2989[7] Óin had followed Balin with a company of Dwarves in an attempt to reclaim their ancient mansions of Khazad-dûm, which were occupied by Orcs.[8] At first the colony did well, but on November 10, 2994 Balin was killed, and the Orcs returned. They took the East-gate/First Hall then the Second Hall after a fierce battle which Óin likely fought in.

Óin went with a party to find escape via the West-gate but they found the water up to the doors and he was taken by the Watcher in the Water. Of his party only four returned five days after they had left, and soon thereafter all the remaining colonists were killed in a final stand in the Chamber of Mazarbul.[9]

Their fate was unknown to their kinsmen and their silence was largely why Glóin and Gimli went to Rivendell at that time, to seek news from Elrond. When Frodo Baggins came to Rivendell, Glóin delighted in telling him about the doings of the renewed dwarf-kingdom. But when Frodo asked about Óin, Balin, and Ori, Glóin's face darkened and he said that he did not know.[10]

Etymology[edit | edit source]

Oinn is a dwarf from the Dvergatal. His name means "Shy".[11]

Genealogy[edit | edit source]

 
 
 
 
 
Náin II
2338 - 2585
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Dáin I
2440 - 2589
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Borin
2450 - 2711
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Thrór
2542 - 2790
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Farin
2560 - 2803
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Thráin II
2644 - 2850
 
 
 
Fundin
2662 - 2799
 
 
 
 
 
Gróin
2671 - 2923
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Thorin
2746 - 2941
 
Balin
2763 - 2994
 
Dwalin
2772 - Fo.A. 91
 
ÓIN
b. T.A. 2774
 
Glóin
2783 - Fo.A. 15
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Gimli
2879 - Fo.A. 120+


Portrayal in adaptations[edit | edit source]

Óin in adaptations
The Remains of Óin in The Lord of the Rings Online  

Films[edit | edit source]

1966: The Hobbit (1966 film):

Óin is omitted. Thorin Oakenshield only travels with an unnamed guard and the princess Mika Milovana of Dale.[12]

1977: The Hobbit (1977 film):

No actor is specified for the role of Óin. If he does speak, it is only in unison with rest of the Dwarves.

2012-14: The Hobbit (film series):

Óin was portrayed by John Callen.[13] A description of Óin in The Hobbit films was released by the studio:

Along with his brother Gloin, Oin is a distant cousin of Thorin Oakenshield. A brave Northern Dwarf, Oin joins The Company of Thorin Oakenshield out of a sense of loyalty to his kin, and also because he has a substantial sum of money invested in the venture. Well read with an enquiring mind, Oin is the healer among the Company, often applying an herbal salve of his own invention – which has since come to be known as ‘ointment’ after its maker.
Warner Bros.[14]

Perhaps the oldest of the thirteen Dwarves after Balin, Óin is also hard of hearing, as he carries an ear trumpet. When the company was captured in Goblin-town, the ear trumpet got trodden upon by a Goblin, though Óin was mostly able to bend it back into its original shape after their escape. Due to the fact that he was the group's de facto medicine man, he opts to stay behind in Lake-town along with Fíli to look after Kíli when Thorin deems him too ill to accompany the group on the final leg of their quest up to the Lonely Mountain due to having been struck by a poisoned arrow. Óin is in awe of Tauriel's Elvish healing powers when she ultimately heals Kíli's wound with Athelas

Radio series[edit | edit source]

1968: The Hobbit (1968 radio series):

Óin is portrayed by Rolf Lefebvre.

1979: The Hobbit (1979 radio series):

No actor is specified for the role of Óin.

1989: Hobit (1989 Slovak radio series):

Óin is present, but no actor is specified for the role of Óin.

Games[edit | edit source]

1982: The Hobbit (1982 video game):

Óin is omitted; Thorin is the only companion of the player, Bilbo Baggins.[15]

2003: The Hobbit (2003 video game):

No actor is credited for the role of Óin.

2008: The Lord of the Rings Online:

Óin appears in an extended flashback depicting the Battle of Azanulbizar, in which he fights alongside his father and the rest of Farin's kin.
The game took advantage of the exact wording of the Book of Mazarbul and rather than having the Watcher in the Water killing Óin outright, it took him to Ghân-gharâf within the Water-works of Moria. There, Óin discovered the legendary Mithril axe Zigilburk and used it to keep the Watcher in the Water at bay until he eventually succumbed to hunger. In the present day, the same happens to Bofur's grandson Bróin of the Iron Garrison. Bróin and Zigilburk are eventually discovered by the player, allowing the dwarves to pay proper respect to Óin's remains.

References

  1. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix A, "Durin's Folk"
  2. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, "An Unexpected Party"
  3. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, "Roast Mutton"
  4. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, "Out of the Frying-Pan into the Fire"
  5. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, "Queer Lodgings"
  6. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, "The Return Journey"
  7. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, Appendix B, "The Third Age"
  8. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring, "The Council of Elrond"
  9. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring, "The Bridge of Khazad-dûm"
  10. J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring, "Many Meetings"
  11. Chester Nathan Gould, "Dwarf-Names: A Study in Old Icelandic Religion", published in Publications of the Modern Language Association of America, Vol 44 (1929), issue #4, pp. 939-967
  12. "The Hobbit.mp4" dated 5 January 2012, YouTube (accessed 10 January 2012)
  13. Peter Jackson, "Production begins in New Zealand on The Hobbit" dated 20 March 2011, Facebook (accessed 23 December 2011)
  14. Warner Bros., "Hobbit Movies" dated 7 September 2012, Apple iPhone/iPad App (accessed 19 September 2012)
  15. ZX Computing, 8304 (April/May 1983), p. 76, accessed April 24 2011
Members of Thorin and Company
Thorin · Balin · Dwalin · Fíli · Kíli · Dori · Nori · Ori · Óin · Glóin · Bifur · Bofur · Bombur · Gandalf · Bilbo Baggins
Route of Thorin and Company
Bag End · Green Dragon · The Shire · Lone-lands · Last Bridge · Trollshaws · Trolls' cave · Rivendell · High Pass · Front Porch · Goblin-town · Goblin-gate · Eagle's Eyrie · Carrock · Beorn's Hall · Wilderland · Forest Gate · Elf-path · Mirkwood · Elvenking's Halls · Forest River · Lake-town · Long Lake · River Running · Desolation of the Dragon · Ravenhill · Back Door · Lonely Mountain · Great Hall of Thráin
The Hobbit film series
Source material: The Hobbit · The Lord of the Rings
Films An Unexpected Journey (extended editionThe Desolation of Smaug (extended edition) · The Battle of the Five Armies (extended edition)
Music An Unexpected Journey (Special Edition) · The Desolation of Smaug (Special Edition) · The Battle of the Five Armies (Special Edition) · "Song of the Lonely Mountain" · "I See Fire" · "The Last Goodbye"
Tie-in books An Unexpected Journey Official Movie Guide · Visual Companion · Movie Storybook · Annual 2013 · Chronicles: Art & Design · Chronicles: Creatures & Characters · The World of Hobbits
The Desolation of Smaug Official Movie Guide · Visual Companion · Movie Storybook · Annual 2014 · Chronicles: Art & Design · Chronicles: Cloaks & Daggers · Smaug: Unleashing the Dragon · Activity Book · Sticker Book · Ultimate Sticker Collection
The Battle of the Five Armies Official Movie Guide · Visual Companion · Movie Storybook · Annual 2015 · Chronicles: Art & Design · Chronicles: The Art of War · Activity Book
Video games Kingdoms of Middle-earth · Armies of The Third Age · Lego The Hobbit
Characters Bilbo · Thorin · Gandalf · Balin · Fíli · Kíli · Dwalin · Dori · Nori · Ori · Óin · Glóin · Bifur · Bofur · Bombur · Smaug · Radagast · Elrond · Galadriel · Saruman · Azog · Bolg · Thranduil · Legolas · Tauriel · Bard · Bain · Tilda · Sigrid · Master of Lake-town · Alfrid · Dáin Ironfoot · Necromancer · Bert · William · Tom · Beorn · Thráin · Thrór · Goblin King · Gollum · Frodo