The Encyclopedia of Arda - an interactive guide to the world of J.R.R. Tolkien

What does the encounter on the Great River tell us about Balrogs?

An article from the Encyclopedia of Arda FAQ

This question is usually asked in relation to the debate about the wings of Balrogs, and specifically whether those wings existed at all. For some background on this topic, see the main Encyclopedia's entry for Balrogs. Sources are indexed by bracketed indexes in the text - a detailed list is given at the end of the article.

Late in The Fellowship of the Ring, the companions encounter a mysterious being that we only later discover to be a Winged Nazgûl. Though they aren't able to identify it, Legolas succeeds in shooting down its flying steed. These events, and the conversation that follows them, are often put forward as evidence in the 'Balrog wings' debate. Perhaps strangely, readers on both sides of the discussion see support here for their position. In this article, we'll look at the details of the event, with particular interest in its relevance to Balrogs and their possible possession of wings.

The events in question occurred on 23 February III 3019, above the rapids of Sarn Gebir on the Great River. After being attacked in their boats by Orcs on the eastern bank of the river, the Company made their escape to the western shore. At that point, they see something coming up out of the southern sky:

'Soon it appeared as a great winged creature, blacker than the pits in the night.' (1)

We also know that it gave off the air of terror associated with the Nazgûl:

'Frodo felt a sudden chill running through him and clutching at his heart...' (1)

From his position on the bank, Legolas fired an arrow from his bow, bringing down the great Winged Creature on the other side of the River. Later in the night, the Company discussed their experiences, and Gimli praises Legolas for his shot.

''But who can say what it hit?' said Legolas.' (1)

It is Gimli's response that ties this episode into the Balrog question:

''I cannot,' said Gimli. 'But I am glad that the shadow came no nearer. I liked it not at all. Too much it reminded me of the shadow in Moria - the shadow of the Balrog,' he ended in a whisper.' (1)

At this point Frodo also makes a relevant comment:

''It was not a Balrog,' said Frodo, still shivering with the chill that had come upon him. 'It was something colder. I think it was -' Then he paused and fell silent.' (1)

After this, no more is said on the subject.

Perhaps the most common interpretation comes from Gimli's comment above. If the winged shape reminded him of the Balrog, then doesn't it follow that the Balrog must also have been winged?

On a purely literal interpretation, there may be some merit in this position. It does face one difficulty, though: the fact that all three characters are sure that the creature is not a Balrog (even Gimli is only 'reminded' of it). If all they know about the being Legolas shot down is that it is winged and fearsome, and they already know that the Balrog has these attributes, it should be natural for them to assume that the flying creature was a Balrog.

If Frodo, Gimli and Legolas spy a flying, winged creature, then, and all conclude that it isn't a Balrog, then that seems to form an argument against Balrog wings. However, this point isn't really much more conclusive than the alternative, because we can't dismiss the possibility that some other unmentioned factor came into play (such as the sense of fear it emanated, or a lack of fire and smoke) to show that the winged figure could not be a Balrog.

The story of the encounter on the River certainly connects Balrogs and Wings in an interesting way, and perhaps it even goes some way toward providing a definitive answer to the question of Balrog 'wingedness'. Without a little more information, though, it's hard to tell whether that answer is yes or no.

Sources
1 The Fellowship of the Ring II 9, The Great River

For acknowledgements and references, see the Disclaimer & Bibliography page.

Original content © copyright Mark Fisher 1997-2024. All rights reserved. For conditions of reuse, see the Site FAQ.

Website services kindly sponsored by Discus from Axiom Software Ltd.
Generate DISC results instantly and automatically, and receive an alert as soon as those results are available.
The Encyclopedia of Arda
The Encyclopedia of Arda
Menu
Homepage Search Latest Entries and Updates Random Entry
FAQ Questions [show]