Could animals talk? - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Sharpis Corbis · 03-17-2005, 10:32 PM

I've read the books once and have started reading them again. I remebered when Frodo, Sam and Pippin were camping under a tree and a fox saw them and wondered what hobbits were doing camping under a tree. Did other animals talk?

radagastly · 03-17-2005, 11:56 PM

The Great Eagles could talk, at least to Gandalf as I recall (I'm not at home, but my books are. I'm doing this from memory.)

Also, in The Hobbit I seem to recall there was a bird, a crow or a raven I think, that spoke to both Bilbo and Bard. Didn't he clue Bard in on where to aim his arrow to penetrate Smaug's jewel-encrusted armor?

The Giant Spiders in The Hobbit could talk as well, but that's no reason to think that arachnids of ordinary dimensions would bother with such prattle.

In The Silmarillion a dog spoke with a human voice (Huan?) It's been a long time since I read either of those books, so it's hard to recall.

Can't think of any others at the moment. If I do, I'll edit.

Welcome to the Down's by the way. You'll enjoy being dead. All the wights here are both nice and smart about Tolkien.

Hookbill the Goomba · 03-18-2005, 12:43 AM

I think there is a passage somewhere that referees to all animals talking with there own tongs. In 'The Hobbit' Tolkien tells us that Gandalf could understand the language of the Wargs. He did not like what he heard, but that cannot be helped. The Goblins also could understand their tongs, and of course Beorn knew many languages of animals.

So, from that, I'd say yes. Animals could talk with there own languages. Although, I could be wrong...

Tuor of Gondolin · 03-18-2005, 10:24 AM

There is also a line of argument that sentient animals
were actually maia, for example, the great eagles,
and the giant mirkwood spiders offspring of Ongoliant.

Gurthang · 03-18-2005, 11:04 AM

Don't forget Dragons! Although, I'm not sure they would be considered on the same plane as other animals. And I think the spirits in Dragons were definitely not animal-like.

**The Saucepan Man** · 03-18-2005, 11:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tuor of Gondolin

There is also a line of argument that sentient animals were actually maia, for example, the great eagles, and the giant mirkwood spiders offspring of Ongoliant.

Would that include the ravens of Erebor and the thrush that spoke to Bard? Or the fox that witnesses the Hobbits travelling through the Shire?

I'm not a fan of this theory or the theories that have the talking animals as merely repeating learned patterns or the products of Hobbitish whimsy, as they all rather detract from the charm of the Hobbit and the early chapters of LotR, which suggest to me that all of these creatures (including the eagles and the spiders) are just what they appear to be - sentient (non-Maiar) animals.

Whoever said that such things could not exist in Middle-earth anyway?

03-17-2005, 10:32 PM	#1
Sharpis Corbis Pile O'Bones Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Misty Mountains Posts: 12	Could animals talk? I've read the books once and have started reading them again. I remebered when Frodo, Sam and Pippin were camping under a tree and a fox saw them and wondered what hobbits were doing camping under a tree. Did other animals talk?

03-17-2005, 11:56 PM	#2
radagastly Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Washington, D. C., USA Posts: 299	The Great Eagles could talk, at least to Gandalf as I recall (I'm not at home, but my books are. I'm doing this from memory.) Also, in The Hobbit I seem to recall there was a bird, a crow or a raven I think, that spoke to both Bilbo and Bard. Didn't he clue Bard in on where to aim his arrow to penetrate Smaug's jewel-encrusted armor? The Giant Spiders in The Hobbit could talk as well, but that's no reason to think that arachnids of ordinary dimensions would bother with such prattle. In The Silmarillion a dog spoke with a human voice (Huan?) It's been a long time since I read either of those books, so it's hard to recall. Can't think of any others at the moment. If I do, I'll edit. Welcome to the Down's by the way. You'll enjoy being dead. All the wights here are both nice and smart about Tolkien. __________________ But all the while I sit and think of times there were before, I listen for returning feet and voices at the door.

03-18-2005, 12:43 AM	#3
Hookbill the Goomba Alive without breath Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: On A Cold Wind To Valhalla Posts: 5,912	I think there is a passage somewhere that referees to all animals talking with there own tongs. In 'The Hobbit' Tolkien tells us that Gandalf could understand the language of the Wargs. He did not like what he heard, but that cannot be helped. The Goblins also could understand their tongs, and of course Beorn knew many languages of animals. So, from that, I'd say yes. Animals could talk with there own languages. Although, I could be wrong... __________________ I think that if you want facts, then The Downer Newspaper is probably the place to go. I know! I read it once. THE PHANTOM AND ALIEN: The Legend of the Golden Bus Ticket...

03-18-2005, 10:24 AM	#4
Tuor of Gondolin Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Pennsylvania, WtR, passed Sarn Gebir: Above the rapids (1239 miles) BtR, passed Black Rider Stopping Place (31 miles) Posts: 1,548	There is also a line of argument that sentient animals were actually maia, for example, the great eagles, and the giant mirkwood spiders offspring of Ongoliant. __________________ Aure Entuluva!

03-18-2005, 11:04 AM	#5
Gurthang Sword of Spirit Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Oh, I'm around. Posts: 1,401	Don't forget Dragons! Although, I'm not sure they would be considered on the same plane as other animals. And I think the spirits in Dragons were definitely not animal-like. __________________ I'm on a Mission from God.