The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum - View Single Post - What was Shelob, and more importantly, what was Ungoliant?

Bêthberry · 01-09-2008, 07:52 AM

Interesting comparison with Tom and Goldberry. They are supposed to be a happily mated couple whereas S/U are rather rough with their partners.

Then again, spiders are a fear and nightmare from Tolkien's childhood. But when assimilated to the loathesome personification of unbridled female appetite . . . well, maybe that makes them a nightmare from Tolkien's adulthood (manhood not being quite the right word here.)

01-09-2008, 07:52 AM	#9
Bêthberry Cryptic Aura Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 5,979	Interesting comparison with Tom and Goldberry. They are supposed to be a happily mated couple whereas S/U are rather rough with their partners. Then again, spiders are a fear and nightmare from Tolkien's childhood. But when assimilated to the loathesome personification of unbridled female appetite . . . well, maybe that makes them a nightmare from Tolkien's adulthood (manhood not being quite the right word here.) __________________ I’ll sing his roots off. I’ll sing a wind up and blow leaf and branch away.