Middle-earth Bad Popularity Cup - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Eönwë · 03-12-2009, 03:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Groin Redbeard

Or was Glaurung obviously weaker than Smaug?

Glaurung is worm that can only wriggle around and spout fire against his foes. Smaug can actually fly! Glaurung is only half a dragon.

And yet caused much more damage. Doesn't that make him even more amazing?

And his "playing" with the children of Hurin makes him much more evil. Smaug just kills (yes, there was that bit where he was thinking of picking of the Lake men if I recall correctly, but he failed). Glaurung makes people suffer for his own pleasure. Doesn't that make him more evil?

And he has hypnotic powers.

++Glaurung

Andsigil · 03-12-2009, 04:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eönwë

And his "playing" with the children of Hurin makes him much more evil. Smaug just kills (yes, there was that bit where he was thinking of picking of the Lake men if I recall correctly, but he failed). Glaurung makes people suffer for his own pleasure. Doesn't that make him more evil?

Perhaps, but it doesn't make him very smart. And smart counts.

Allow me to again point out that Glaurung's making people suffer for his own pleasure was his own undoing. His involuted, Ernst Stavro Bloefeld scheme left alive the man who killed him.

So he's not as smart as he thinks he is.

Nogrod · 03-12-2009, 04:44 PM

Go Glaurung go!

Glaurung is the more mythical and awesome as a mere sentiment or feeling the reader has. The name of Glaurung * rings deep into the layers of the unconscious parts of many languages inciting something like a premordial fear and awe; it calls forwards an ur-creature you will tremble in front of, whereas Smaug sounds more like a cheap rendering of some slimy or just bare un-nice syllables in English.

*remember to spell Glaurung correctly: like keeping the vowels separate: 'a' as wide as 'u' in "but" and 'u' as narrow as 'u' in "put".

++ Glaurung

Lalwendë · 03-12-2009, 04:49 PM

Ah well, laying all clever arguments aside, they are still dragons and as such I can't make a logical choice. Therefore I'm going with the one who has lived longest in my imagination.

++Smaug

Unlike Nogrod, I prefer his name, too. Smaug, it reminds me of smog...

Nogrod · 03-12-2009, 04:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lalwendë

Unlike Nogrod, I prefer his name, too. Smaug, it reminds me of smog...

Exactly my point!

Smaug is not a primordial, mythical, your deepest unconsciousness-tingling terrifying evil you can't quite describe in any way, but more like "smog" or any other everyday thing that can be unsettling or even frightening but is not quite the same thing.

In this case the fact that we know so much about Smaug turns against it as it's clear Smaug can be grasped at some level as to being a petty and greedy monster whereas Glaurung is just some dark thing you can't quite get to grips with and whose name makes you shiver.

Lalwendë · 03-12-2009, 05:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nogrod

Exactly my point!

Smaug is not a primordial, mythical, your deepest unconsciousness-tingling terrifying evil you can't quite describe in any way, but more like "smog" or any other everyday thing that can be unsettling or even frightening but is not quite the same thing.

In this case the fact that we know so much about Smaug turns against it as it's clear Smaug can be grasped at some level as to being a petty and greedy monster whereas Glaurung is just some dark thing you can't quite get to grips with and whose name makes you shiver.

Ah but smog kills (according to the book Austerity Britain which I was reading recently) - you might think it's just a dark bit of fog, but it's a silent, deadly killer. Smog isn't an everyday thing but a dark and sinister thing that can have you fooled! Tricksy...

And Smaug also sounds better. It's like the expletive of an angry Scot - "Ach! Smaug!"

And reason three - it is also uncannily similar to smug. Which also describes the timorous beastie perfectly.

Facetious reason four - it makes me laugh too as it sounds like something you can buy in IKEA

Tuor in Gondolin · 03-12-2009, 05:42 PM

To date, the Worm of Greed has overcome an early
lead by Smaug the Golden:

Smaug-6
Glaurung-8

Durelin · 03-12-2009, 05:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lalwende

Facetious reason four - it makes me laugh too as it sounds like something you can buy in IKEA

Lol! No, it'd have to be Smaüg or Smäug then.

Seems like a good name for a sofa.

And I mean...Glaurung and Gandalf?! Really?!

Durelin · 03-12-2009, 04:57 PM

++Smaug

I have read The Hobbit so many times. I have only read LotR once all the way through and have only read bits and pieces of The Sil and such...

I love Smaug. He's iconic. A good ol' fashioned dragon who lived a life of luxury sleeping on a hoard of treasure, and who even enjoyed a good conversation nearly as much as a good meal.

Edit: I also prefer Smaug's name. It's more suited. In hearing Glaurung's name in the past I used to think he was some other balrog with a name or something, for some reason assuming that from the name. Not sure why, but...I don't know, it's definitely not a dragon/wyrm/worm name to me.

"Smog" or pronouncing the "au" in a German-y way, either way it's cool. The monosyllabic name is more ominous.

03-12-2009, 04:44 PM	#3
Nogrod Flame of the Ainulindalë Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Wearing rat's coat, crowskin, crossed staves in a field behaving as the wind behaves Posts: 9,308	Go Glaurung go! Glaurung is the more mythical and awesome as a mere sentiment or feeling the reader has. The name of Glaurung * rings deep into the layers of the unconscious parts of many languages inciting something like a premordial fear and awe; it calls forwards an ur-creature you will tremble in front of, whereas Smaug sounds more like a cheap rendering of some slimy or just bare un-nice syllables in English. remember to spell Glaurung correctly: like keeping the vowels separate: 'a' as wide as 'u' in "but" and 'u' as narrow as 'u' in "put". ++ Glaurung* __________________ Upon the hearth the fire is red Beneath the roof there is a bed; But not yet weary are our feet...

03-12-2009, 04:49 PM	#4
Lalwendë A Mere Boggart Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: under the bed Posts: 4,737	Ah well, laying all clever arguments aside, they are still dragons and as such I can't make a logical choice. Therefore I'm going with the one who has lived longest in my imagination. ++Smaug Unlike Nogrod, I prefer his name, too. Smaug, it reminds me of smog... __________________ Gordon's alive!

03-12-2009, 05:42 PM	#7
Tuor in Gondolin Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Southeast Pennsylvania Posts: 3,651	To date, the Worm of Greed has overcome an early lead by Smaug the Golden: Smaug-6 Glaurung-8 __________________ The poster formerly known as Tuor of Gondolin. Walking To Rivendell and beyond 12,555 miles passed Nt./Day 5: Pass the beacon on Nardol, the 'Fire Hill.'

03-12-2009, 04:57 PM	#9
Durelin Estelo dagnir, Melo ring Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 3,063	++Smaug I have read The Hobbit so many times. I have only read LotR once all the way through and have only read bits and pieces of The Sil and such... I love Smaug. He's iconic. A good ol' fashioned dragon who lived a life of luxury sleeping on a hoard of treasure, and who even enjoyed a good conversation nearly as much as a good meal. Edit: I also prefer Smaug's name. It's more suited. In hearing Glaurung's name in the past I used to think he was some other balrog with a name or something, for some reason assuming that from the name. Not sure why, but...I don't know, it's definitely not a dragon/wyrm/worm name to me. "Smog" or pronouncing the "au" in a German-y way, either way it's cool. The monosyllabic name is more ominous. Last edited by Durelin; 03-12-2009 at 05:03 PM.