Do Balrogs Have Wings? - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

William Cloud Hicklin · 01-04-2008, 12:43 PM

Tolkien also tells us that before the appearance of the Winged Dragons in the War of Wrath, Morgoth had never before essayed to bring war to the upper airs. This is related to the observation that at Gondolin the Balrogs needed the dragon-tanks to surmount the city walls- hardly necessary for flying creatures!

Tolkien uses 'fly' so often and so regularly in its sense of 'flee, run away,' dozens and dozens of times, that no significance at all can be attached to its use in connection to Balrogs.

Besides, the leading cause of death among Balrogs (100% of known cases) is plummeting.

Sardy · 01-04-2008, 12:49 PM

If nothing else, is it not true that Gandalf the Grey's final words should lay this debate to rest?: "It flies, you fools!"

jk

TheGreatElvenWarrior · 01-04-2008, 12:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sardy

If nothing else, is it not true that Gandalf the Grey's final words should lay this debate to rest?: "It flies, you fools!"

jk

Didn't he say, Fly you fools!not it flys

anyway, Balrogs have shadows that look like wings I am pretty sure!

Gwathagor · 01-04-2008, 01:34 PM

Maybe they were vestigial...wings made of shadow couldn't have been too useful, while they certainly would been imposing/ridiculously trendy.

Lord Halsar · 01-04-2008, 05:37 PM

Ugh!

The person who started this thread said that this would potentially settle the matter, and yet here we all are, still bickering over the same usages of words and phrases, getting nowhere with the topic. My hopes for this matter to ever be laid to rest are dead (unlike the topic) and I hope that all of you will realize that we may never know.

Lord Gothmog · 01-04-2008, 06:19 PM

Quote:

I hope that all of you will realize that we may never know.

Of course we will know.

Some (like me) will know that Balrogs do Not have Wings!

Some will know that Balrogs Do have Wings!

In this, each reader puts their own Demon into the shadowy area marked out by Tolkien.

Lord Halsar · 01-04-2008, 08:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lord Gothmog

In this, each reader puts their own Demon into the shadowy area marked out by Tolkien.

Finally! Someone finally gets it!

obloquy · 01-05-2008, 11:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lord Halsar

Ugh!

The person who started this thread said that this would potentially settle the matter, and yet here we all are, still bickering over the same usages of words and phrases, getting nowhere with the topic. My hopes for this matter to ever be laid to rest are dead (unlike the topic) and I hope that all of you will realize that we may never know.

The thread had been inactive since April of '07.

Finduilas · 01-05-2008, 11:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by obloquy

The thread had been inactive since April of '07.

Yes indeed, but it always pops back up. Not all threads do that.

Lord Gothmog · 01-04-2008, 12:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by William Cloud Hickli

Besides, the leading cause of death among Balrogs (100% of known cases) is plummeting.

Although, to be fair, Gothmog's plummet was very short (and wet), and no doubt having the spike of Ecthelion's helm stuck in his guts probably did not help

View Poll Results: Do balrogs have wings?
Yes	114	58.16%
No	82	41.84%
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01-04-2008, 12:43 PM	#1
William Cloud Hicklin Loremaster of Annúminas Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 2,330	Tolkien also tells us that before the appearance of the Winged Dragons in the War of Wrath, Morgoth had never before essayed to bring war to the upper airs. This is related to the observation that at Gondolin the Balrogs needed the dragon-tanks to surmount the city walls- hardly necessary for flying creatures! Tolkien uses 'fly' so often and so regularly in its sense of 'flee, run away,' dozens and dozens of times, that no significance at all can be attached to its use in connection to Balrogs. Besides, the leading cause of death among Balrogs (100% of known cases) is plummeting. __________________ The entire plot of The Lord of the Rings could be said to turn on what Sauron didn’t know, and when he didn’t know it.

01-04-2008, 12:49 PM	#2
Sardy Wight Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Hudson Valley, NY Posts: 111	If nothing else, is it not true that Gandalf the Grey's final words should lay this debate to rest?: "It flies, you fools!" jk __________________ www.scottchristiancarr.com They passed slowly, and the hobbits could see the starlight glimmering on their hair and in their eyes.

01-04-2008, 01:34 PM	#4
Gwathagor Shade with a Blade Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: A Rainy Night In Soho Posts: 2,512	Maybe they were vestigial...wings made of shadow couldn't have been too useful, while they certainly would been imposing/ridiculously trendy. __________________ Stories and songs.

01-04-2008, 05:37 PM	#5
Lord Halsar Haunting Spirit Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: 'Round the corner, down the well, passed the Balrog, straight to HELL! Posts: 77	Really now, are we doomed to this forever? Ugh! The person who started this thread said that this would potentially settle the matter, and yet here we all are, still bickering over the same usages of words and phrases, getting nowhere with the topic. My hopes for this matter to ever be laid to rest are dead (unlike the topic) and I hope that all of you will realize that we may never know. __________________ My time is at an end, for I have walked from Valinor to the Far-east where men have not gone for millennia. Demons have fallen before me. And now... I must rest...