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Old 10-07-2001, 01:09 PM   #52
Elenhin
Wight
 
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Vantaa, Finland
Posts: 205
Elenhin has just left Hobbiton.
Sting

The text says that there were wings.
It does not say what the wings are made out of (shadow or flesh?), or if the word "wing" is used metaphorically (to describe a wing-shaped shadow in a more lively fashion).

In other words: the Moria passage does not directly tell us whether the Balrog had real wings or not. However, when looking at the whole chapter and other texts of Tolkien's mythology, it can be clearly seen that the Balrogs can't have real wings. (At least, they can't use them to fly.)

That's what I think, anyway.

[ October 07, 2001: Message edited by: Elenhin ]
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