Demons from the Ancient World

[doug*platypus]

No, Sam's cousin Hal sees one striding across the moors of the Northfarthing... at least he thinks that he does.

Giants would hardly be considered an "evil of the ancient world" though. I don't think that they would necessarily all be considered evil? Hal's giant at least seemed to be fleeing from evil. Perhaps he was an outcast, good giant from the Misty Mountains who was banishéd for being too nice??

On the subject of giants and ancient demons, remember the mysterious inhabitants of Caradhras who threw rocks at the Fellowship. Aragorn says of the fell voices on the wind that:

There are many evil and unfriendly things in the world that have little love for those that go on two legs, and yet are not in league with Sauron, but have purposes of their own.

Tolkien thus leaves the monster door wide open, enabling him to insert fairy tale bad guys wherever he deems fit, such as the giants in the passes of the Misty Mountains in The Hobbit.