Scariest thing in Middle Earth...

[Ellesime]

I always thought Shelob was very grusesome but those Watcher's gave me nightmares for ages! What were they exactly, and what gave you the most creeps?
By the way I'm new here and I'm only 14 so try not to give me a hard time smilies/biggrin.gif

[Mayla Took]

Ha ha! Don't worry, most people at the Downs are not mean. There are many fightening aspects of Tolkeins books to me. On of these parts has to be when the enemy was chucking heads into Gondor. That really freaked me out. Also the death of Denthor I could almost hear and see everything very vividly. smilies/eek.gif

[Daegwenn]

The ringwraiths scared the tar out of me in the movie-probably because the horses squealed and that was freaky.

But, in the books, I found Shelob pretty spooky, although in some aspects, I found her intriguing. (That scared me even more.) Sauron was pretty scary too because he was like, the menacing over-lord that could be lurking around every corner. ^.^

Sincerely,
Daegwenn

[Enedhil]

I keep a lot of, erm, spider plants, and have one on a wall bracket...it casts some weird reflections on the wall and not the best thing to look at when reading the chapter shelob's lair!! smilies/eek.gif Has anyone ever seen a spider wrap up a bug and drag it away again? and not on TV! (squeals as memory returns...) smilies/eek.gif

[Oliphaunt]

I find the Barrow-Wight intensely frightening.

[Rosa Underhill]

The Ring. *shudder* "Bagginssss...."

In the film, the Ringwriaths gave me the chills, too. Shelob spooked me in the books and so did that Palantir. (Poor Pippin!)

But nothing compares to that feakish Ring! *shivers*

[Aralaithiel]

I agree with you Rosa...That ring was pretty dang frightening! And to think I want to get one (I saw it in a Skymall catalog)! smilies/eek.gif

[Lush]

Shelob takes top honors for grossness, Gollum for creepiness, and Saruman for sheer malice. Old Man Willow deserves an honorable mention. Never thought a tree could be so ravenous and cunning.

[Thingol]

I don't like bugs; Shelob is scary, but her mom from the Silmarillion is even scarier. I can imagine sitting at the feast of the Valar celebrating the new harvest, looking out over the golden fields of Yavanna and gazing at the light of the two trees. Then the shadow of Ungoliant blocks out the light of the trees and a great darkness, like towers of gloom, shoots into the sky. The source of light in Middle Earth has been destroyed. I look to where the trees used to stand; the cloud of Ungoliant is blacker than the darkness that covers the world and is moving towards me. The darkness is more than a lack of light, it is tangible, piercing the eye and entering into my heart and mind. The unlight of Ungoliant swells to a vast cloud as she drinks the sap of the trees and drains the wells of Varda. The image is terrifying, even the Valar were afraid.

[ February 14, 2002: Message edited by: Thingol ]

[Lindolirian]

I'd hafta say the Wolf of Angband Carcharoth i think his name was after he ate Beren's hand and went crazy because of the Silmaril. I mean that just wierded me out thinkin of a gigantic wolf thrashin about killing everythin it sees.... including Huan.. poor guy that dog was cool too..

[Joy]

In the books, nothing scared me. It takes a lot to freak me out, okay. The movie, the Uruk-Hai's "birth" was just plain gross.

[Elven-Maiden]

For me, the most frightening things were:

smilies/eek.gif Gollum in "The Hobbit"
smilies/eek.gif The spiders in "The Hobbit:
smilies/eek.gif The Ring
smilies/eek.gif The palantir
smilies/eek.gif The Black Riders

[calenfaniel]

What scared me, was the Ents. smilies/frown.gif It wasn't that I was afraid of them, but I remember one time I was reading the part where the Ent-Moot was over, and they were moving through the forest. Then I read: "There was a noise like wind in many branches.", and the wind was blowing really hard outside, and there are trees outside my window. smilies/eek.gif It's silly, but for some reason it freaked me out.

But, I have to say that the scariest thing is the actual Ring itself, that and the marshes with the dead faces. smilies/eek.gif smilies/eek.gif freaky. And the Ring Wraiths, yes they're quite disturbing also. smilies/smile.gif

[Daegwenn]

Now that I think of it...the ring was scary. I know I would be really paranoid about handling something like that. I would be playing hot-potato with the rest of the fellowship.

"Here! you hold it!"

"No! You!"

"No! I don't want it!! You hold it!!"

[Birdland]

The whole scene with Shelob pouncing on Frodo, and then Sam being left all alone. And having to get past the Watchers and go through Cirith Ungol looking for Frodo.

Pippin and Merry in the hands of the Uruk-Hai.

Also the suicide of Denethor and the attempted murder of Faramir.

I guess nothing in LOTR is really scary in the typical "Stephen King" scary way. But you care so much for the characters that you hate watching them suffer.

[Daisy Sandybanks]

Well, in The Hobbit, I found that those gant spiders were reall creepy. But in the LotR's series, I found that the ring wraiths(spelling?), Shelob (I have this phobia thing with spiders), and the Orcs terrifyed me. I mean the descriptions of the Orcs, and how they lived and everything, was pretty grusome, they are really nasty creatures, and I don't think I'd ever like to be near one!
Actully, to tell yo the truth, whicis kind f sad though, Treebeard an all the Ents kind of feaked me out aswell, they were vey nice and all, but the whole giant tree-human thing i ddn't like.
Also, in The Hobbit, that bear guy (what was his name?) scared me awell, he just didn't really seem like too nice of a person... er, bear to begin with.

[Rosa Underhill]

"Here! you hold it!"

"No! You!"

"No! I don't want it!! You hold it!!"



Heh, kinda gives that scene in the movie a whole new meaning, doesn't it?

Frodo holding the Ring out to Gandalf in a trembling hand, looking terrified: Take it, Gandalf! You must take it!

Gandalf: Do not tempt me! I will not!

Oooo, I forgot about the Marshes of the Dead. That was the most vivid scene for me the first time I read the books. It just gave me chills...

[Elanor]

For me the scariest bits were the spiders in Mirkwood in The Hobbit, and the whole chapter on Weathertop in LotR. I was scared of going to bed without a light for weeks after that chapter, I was convinced that Black Riders were going to appear from the dark somewhere. smilies/eek.gif It still gives me shivers when I read it.

[Fingolas]

The orc’s launching severed heads into Minas Tirith. Just the way Tolkien describes the heads falling into the city, and how people would come across someone they knew was disturbing on several levels.

Also, the madness of Denethor was creepy, and added to the sense of hopelessness that Tolkien was building in this part of the story. It worked!

[Aralaithiel]

Now that I think of it, Gollum reminds me of that creep that sat next to me in genetics class in college -gasp- 10 years ago! That's why I started taking my notes in Tengwar. Got him to leave me alone, I tell ya! I'm shuddreing just recalling it! smilies/eek.gif

[Starbreeze]

Well I have the real disadvantage of having a VERY vivid imagination, so almost everything in the books terrified me for months afterwards. In this respect the movie was a real let-down. There was me with my popcorn, all geared up to scream all the way through, sitting with my friends, and nothing made mt jump, scream or make me run around wetting myself, my friends jumped at the bit where the nazgul came out from behind the tree, at the balrog, at the bit where the elves spring the fellowship at Lorien, but I was not scared!

[Kuruharan]

Pippin and Merry in the hands of the Uruk-Hai.

That was one of my favorite parts! And Ugluk is one of my favorite characters.

Come to think of it, a lot of the orcs are some of my favorite characters.

Ummm, excuse me, I think I'm going to go see my psychologist now and try to figure out why I identify with vicious blood-thirsty thugs.

[Starbreeze]

Argh! Orcs! Run!

[Jessica Jade]

I agree that the ring itself was extremely frightening. It represents the power that corrupts us all, and that is scary, when you think about the results of it...the movie made the ring scary too, because it was always whispering mysteriously and evilly. The movie also made Bilbo quite dark and Galadriel menacing...based on the books, i'd say the Ringwraiths were downright chilling...and The Great Eye, of course!

I haven't gotten to the part about Shelob, but i don't understand why she'd be the scariest. She's just all BIg and swollen and all she wants to do is eat. She's considered evil, yes, because she's destructive, but i still don't see how that evil can be greater than the evil of Sauron, who wants to control all people and torture them. So far i think that the only thing scary abotu Shelob is her physical prowess. She just wants to eat all creatures, not torture them or control them...her motives are just too simple to really frighten me. Being physically and visually frightening is never as piercing as the scariness of pure, cunning malice, desire for power, deceit, betrayal, etc. You might even say Gollum is scarier than her because of what he did.

Yes, i happen to vaguely know what's going to happen next even though i'm only on the beginning of Two Towers...my sis says i just don't understand about the evilness of Shelob (why she's the MOST evil creature) but i just don't see how she can be the worst, well i guess i'll just have to get to that part in the book, but this was just what i think at this point.

[Kuruharan]

I haven't gotten to the part about Shelob, but i don't understand why she'd be the scariest.
Because she is this big hideous spider, and to those of us with arachniphobia there is no worse thing possible. [shudder...cringe]

[Rosa Underhill]

No, Shelob's not the worst (unless you're an arachnophobic) but she is quite spooky. What makes her scary is more than her size. She's menacing and contemplative. Gave me the heebie-jeebies. And she does like to play with her food, but you'll find that out later...

[Lush]

I agree with Rosa that the Marshes of the Dead were most vivid. It was an image of ancient horror. I had a nightmare after reading about that (of course, I was reading alone, in my bed, with a single light shining in the darkness, while the wind outside howled and rattled the bare branches of the trees).

[Niphredil Baggins]

I found The Eye most terrifying, sort of an anti-god, always watching at the world and looking for ways to hurt people... Also the fall of Numenor and how the queen climbs the highest mountain to the holy tree but that sinks too...

[Starbreeze]

Argh! Run from the Eye! The Eye is watching you!
Yes, that freaked me out aswell! Easily scared aren't I?

[dragongirlG]

I always thought Shelob was the most frightening, but Mordor itself was scary and Gollum scared me a little too.

[Aralaithiel]

Hey Kuruharan...let me know what your shrink says, because I kinda like spiders! That's why I didn't get all freaked out about Shelob.
Oooohh, not the eye! ACK!
Orcs a problem, just call Galadriel's Guard. Nothing like a bunch of female Elven warriors with PMS to take care of that problem! smilies/biggrin.gif

[Kuruharan]

Apparently I'm a hopeless case. smilies/biggrin.gif

[Melime]

Spiders...I hate spiders...**shudders**
Therefor Shelob scared the heck out of me.

Then in the movie it was definitally the Ring wraiths. I had nightmares about them that night... smilies/eek.gif

[calenfaniel]

Quote:
"I agree with Rosa that the Marshes of the Dead were most vivid. It was an image of ancient horror. I had a nightmare after reading about that (of course, I was reading alone, in my bed, with a single light shining in the darkness, while the wind outside howled and rattled the bare branches of the trees)."

When I read that part, I had a candle lit on the other side of my room. I kept looking over at it. I wished it would blow itself out so I didn't have to walk over there in the dark. smilies/eek.gif

But I did go blow it out, and nothing got me. smilies/tongue.gif smilies/smile.gif I was definately glad to go back to my bed though.

I'm hopeless! smilies/rolleyes.gif

[Kuruharan]

Spiders...I hate spiders...**shudders**


Ahh, another person with their fear priorities in order. Good. smilies/smile.gif

[Jessica Jade]

I'm on Return of the King now...i finished TT last week...well, I didn't think Shelob was all that scary...pretty darn gross though! The marshes sure were really scary though...yipe..it's so sad and spooky...i get shivers thinking about it...

[Bramblerose Gamgee-Took]

Shelob scared me the most in the book, even though in real life I dont mind spiders (I actually have one sitting right above me as I am typing this) Also with Pippen and Merry with that awful Uruk-Hai, it was mean how they were treating them smilies/frown.gif . Anyway, back on track, in the movie the Eye scared me silly! smilies/eek.gif

[Birdland]

In the book - The Dead Marshes. Because they were sad AND scary.

In the movie - The horses, with those nails and things sticking out of their hoofs and flesh.

And the whole Moria episode. I kept nudging my sister, saying, "Here's a real scary part..." then that scene would end, and I'd say "Ooooh, here comes a REAL scary part!"

Actually, Moria was kinda fun. smilies/biggrin.gif

[Kalimac]

When I was younger, the Nazgul (I remember being ten years old and reading FOTR on a stifling summer night, but keeping my windows shut because it was so dark and windy out that I was scared). Now that I have reached the wise and mature age of 22 smilies/smile.gif - the Dead Marshes. So much horror and grief which time didn't heal, but rather made worse.

[Jessica Jade]

Birdland- i'm glad to know that i'm not the only one who liked Moria! I would TOTALLY visit there! The Bridge of Khazad Dum was my favorite chapter in Fellowship, i even liked it more than Lothlorien. Moria absolutely fascinated me because it is so vast and once-prosperous, and all the expansive dwarven cities underground ...the terrible majesty of the dwarven halls and the elaborate labyrinths and great pillars...it struck a chord of sadness in my heart because it was once so thriving and then fell to ruin and evil. But the tragedy of the loss of Durin's kingdom and the dominion of evil in Moria could not completely destroy the grandeur and beauty that had once endured. I was fascinated because Moria was so beautiful, tragic, and terrible and mysterious. I think the scariest movie parts were what happened in Moria. THe fact that it's scary only feeds my fascination smilies/smile.gif Tolkien is an awesome writing, and his description of the Moria scenes amaze me.

[Starbreeze]

I was really creeped out be the Marshes *shudders* I can't wait to see how they do it in the film though.

[Gorin Icearms]

My brother (what a nice guy smilies/biggrin.gif) recently purchased "A Guide to Middle Earth" by David Day for me, and it has an (to my knowledge) accurate description of the Watcher in the Water. After reading this, I made the mistake of trying to picture it. Ewwwwwwwww.

Kraken
According to the most ancient tales, Melkor, that most evil of powers, in his kingdom of Utumno in Middle Earth bred many terrible creatures for which there are no names in the Time of Darkness before Varda rekindled the stars. In the following ages these creatures were a bane on land and in dark waters to those who lived peacefully in the World.

Some of these beings of Melkor's survived below the thunders of the deep far beneath the abysmal seas in ancient, dreamless, uninvaded sleep even into the Third Age of the Sun. The "Red Book of Westmarch" tells that when a firey Balrog was loosed in the Dwarf-kingdom of Moria, another being came out from the dark waters that lay beneath the great mountains. This was a great Kraken, many tentacled and with a slimy sheen. It was luminous and green and an inky stench came from it's foul bulk. Like a legion of serpents it lay in the black water beneath the mountain. Eventually it came to the clear water of the River Sirannon, which flowed from the West Gate of Moria. There it built a great wall in the river bed and made for itself a black pool, hideous and still. The Kraken was guardian of the West Gate and none could pass without challenge. For this reason, in the "Book of Marzarbul" it was named "Watcher in the Water". During the quest, this evil being was awakened by the Fellowship of the Ring, who managed to escape into Moria.


Whew. Specifically Boromir awakened it. smilies/biggrin.gif

[VanimaEdhel]

Hey! No worries, mellonamin (my friend), for I am only 14 as well! And do not worry: I have a friend who had to leave in the movie when the Nazgul came on...and did not come back for 20 minutes...my friend and I yelled at him SO much...Oh well...enjoy the site! As you can see, I am a "Recently Deceased" as well!

[ElanorGamgee]

Things that scared me:

-Orcs catapulting heads (that took me completely off guard!)

-The Dead Marshes

-The Barrow-Downs

-Denethor's death

-The mutilation of Thrór in Appendix A

-The attack on the Fellowship in Moria

-Pippin and the Palantír

Also, Saruman talking about Lotho's murder really got to me, especially the bit when he says to the affect of "I hope Wormtongue buried him, but he's been hungry lately." I know this was most likely just sick humor, but ick! And I can't imagine anyone actually killing a poor, defensless hobbit in its sleep. Wormtongue gives me the creeps.

[ March 12, 2002: Message edited by: ElanorGamgee ]

[Amarinth]

shelob scared me too---never did like marilyn manson...

---------------------------------------------
every man's life is a path to the truth -- hesse

[Starbreeze]

Lol! Marilyn Manson! SOOOOOOOO funny! smilies/biggrin.gif smilies/biggrin.gif

[Enedhil]

first of all - what's the connection between shelob *shudder* and marilyn manson *shudder*? sorry for being slightly dim smilies/rolleyes.gif

And now, after reading through all the replies, safe to say i'm feeling just a bit squeamish smilies/frown.gif
And apart from severed heads, giant spiders and orcs, i was terrified all the way through Mordor. Wanted to crawl under a big stone and hide. Or a small stone. Cos i really felt that tall -->*holds two fingers about three inches apart*

I read a little clip somewhere, Elijah saying that he used to look over his shoulder sometimes, in case there was orcs following him *eek* smilies/eek.gif

Have an image (I get a lot of that :P) of us folks creeping through Mordor behind Sam and Frodo, clinging to each other, looking around fearfully and armed with bows, swords, knives etc... smilies/wink.gif

[Jessica Jade]

first of all - what's the connection between shelob *shudder* and marilyn manson *shudder*? sorry for being slightly dim

seriously, what IS the connection? I don't get it either... smilies/confused.gif

[Maikadilwen]

I'm not easily frightened. I LOVE the Nazgûl (well, most evil things actually...) smilies/evil.gif Though there is ONE thing in the movie that creeps me out every time I see it: Frodo's eyes. Oh, I can't stand them. (Sorry to all Frodo lovers).

[Starbreeze]

Maikadilwen, I agree with you about Frodo's eyes! Creepy! The worst thing is, my friend can do a really great impression of them so when ever I turn around to look at her she does Frodo eyes at me! Argh! lol! smilies/biggrin.gif

[Jessica Jade]

erm, why do you think Frodo's eyes are scary? I think his eyes are big and blue and beautiful, if you want ot know the truth! smilies/tongue.gif Besdies, he's not an evil character, so why would his eyes ever be scary? i just don't understand....i think elijah wood has the most amazing eyes smilies/biggrin.gif

[ March 17, 2002: Message edited by: Jessica Jade ]

[ElanorGamgee]

The only time I think Elijah's eyes are creepy is when he's been stabbed by the Nazgûl and he's struggling against becoming a wraith. Other than that, I think his eyes are beautiful smilies/smile.gif

[Maikadilwen]

my friend can do a really great impression of them so when ever I turn around to look at her she does Frodo eyes at me!
Oh no. I feel SO sorry for you.
They're just..... just.... argh, they're just too big and too blue and too..... happy???? And scary. smilies/eek.gif

[ March 17, 2002: Message edited by: Maikadilwen ]

[Noxomanus]

I think the Dead Marshes was what frightened me most,the balrog didn't really scare me but I was merely shocked it took Gandalf with it.Mordor was quite frightening though,but Shelob really didn't freak me out

[Schmendrick]

I just can't believe that not everyone found the Nazgul most frightening! For me, nothing compares them. When I was reading about them (at night...), I was so scared, I almost couldn't look out of my window. I was sure I would see a black shape in the shadows!
And same thing when I came from the movies - I kept watching over my shoulder and thought I heard their (or their horse's?) voices...
I guess it's the fact that they are nor living nor dead that makes them so scary. To be dragged to their "nothingness" would definitely be worse than death!
I think Shelob and the Orcs were only gross, not really scary... (even if I am really arachnofobic!)
And the ring of course. Not really scary, but so evil...(By the way, when I made a test "Which of the bad guys are you?" I was...THE RING! Wonder what that means... smilies/smile.gif)

[GaladrieloftheOlden]

In the books, there were very many places which I thought were scary, but....in a weird and twisted way. It was pleasant that they were scary. I don't know why. The one I thought was just gruesome was Shelob. And possibly one of the things with the spiders in the Hobbit when Bilbo is piercing it and JRRT just describes how....*shudders* ugh... smilies/wink.gif

[merenwen]

oooo i agree with the head catapulting thing, that was just kinda...what's the word..gruesome? i dont know it just freaked me out!

[Cibbwin]

I personally LOVE spiders, so I'd be more amazed by Shelob more than anything. And yes, I'm nuts! smilies/tongue.gif

The one thing in the movie that scared the CRAP out of me was the dead marshes, especially when that particular elf opened his eyes... /shudder

That, and Denethor's suicide... Gods, that is so disturbing I can't describe it...

[Estelyn Telcontar]

Whoa, an opinion thread that survived in the depths of the Books forum - now that is scary! smilies/tongue.gif Time to move this to the Novices and Newcomers forum...

[Peri]

In the movies, I thought the Balrog and the cavetroll were really frightening. In the books, it was the ringwraiths that gave me the creeps. Maybe it's just me, but things seem to be even more menacing when you read them. Maybe it's the fact that I have problems putting faces on characters, so all the characters are very mysterious, especially the evil ones. When you see them defined for you on the screen, it kinda takes away from the intensity of fear I have when I read about them.

[Tinuviel the Nightingale]

I agree with most things:
eg. severed heads, thrors death, denethor, Frodo's ringwraith eyes (*shudders*)

but I found Boromir's whole, turning against Frodo thing kinda creepy, because in my opinion he started out to be one of the strongest and noblest characters. Just proves that you just can't trust some people...

[The Evenstar]

Yea, those Watchers give me the creeps, even though the the Orcs are hideous!