The scariest characters in the LOTR? - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

04-06-2007, 03:16 PM

Well, Elephants can be great in earthly wars as well. The Persians and several Asian nations have what we call war-elephants. Alexander the Great is supposed to have coped with these elephants.

And to how they might be scary, well, several Latin texts state that Phyrrus (A Greek having war with the Romans) had brought an Elephant with him to Itali to scare the Roman Commander. And according to the text I had to translate about it at school, they were pretty damn scary in the eyes of the Romans....

Isabellkya · 04-06-2007, 08:16 PM

I can't really say that I was terribly scared by any of the characters in the books.. if I had to choose.. I would probably say the Nazgul.. they were more creepy than scary.
I didn't find Shelob scary.. mainly because I kind of like spiders... well I don't mind them.. but they don't scare me... even giant ones.

Eomer of the Rohirrim · 04-10-2007, 02:46 AM

One of the scariest parts for me was when Frodo woke up in the barrow and saw his friends lying next to him, as if dead, dressed in strange garments. It's not so much the big monsters that do it for me on the page; this scene was just really creepy.

Rune Son of Bjarne · 04-10-2007, 06:00 AM

There is many scary charachters in the book so it is hard to point out the scariest one, also because you learn more things about some of them as the book progress.

Personally I found the Nazgul very scary when we only knew them as black ridders that constantly showed up behind Frodo and Sam. . .they really creeped me out.

Another charachter I found scary was Old man willow. . . you could do nothing against him, if you tried to hurt him he would crush your friends and if you did not then he probably would anyway.

Volo · 04-10-2007, 07:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rune Son of Bjarne

Another charachter I found scary was Old man willow. . . you could do nothing against him, if you tried to hurt him he would crush your friends and if you did not then he probably would anyway.

That sure is one candidate.

The Might · 04-10-2007, 08:17 AM

I'd say Sauron and Gandalf.
As Gandalf says in "The White Rider" chapter I believe, he is dangerous in his own way, and nothing in ME is as dangerous as he is, unless you would stand before Sauron himself.
He isn't scary because he chooses not to be, but he could potentially be.
So from those ho do choose to be scary, I'd nominate the Nazgul.

Aganzir · 04-10-2007, 11:18 AM

I agree with Rune about the Nazgul. Although they were scary and real enemies, they were an actual threat only until Bruinen. They were much scarier with living horses than with beasts, living or undead. Horses are living creatures, with a will of their own, and one should be able to predict their behaviour at least a little bit. Thus, it makes me wonder how corrupted those poor animals must have been to carry the Black Riders. I even feel a little pity for them though I am no animal lover. The same cannot be said about the fell beasts. They are just beasts born to serve Sauron, unlike the horses we know. This makes them a little less scary creatures than horses, and it affects also to the Nazgul. They can be ever present without actually being seen. They don't have to be close to keep watch. And in my opinion, the closer they are, the scarier they are.

The most terrible moments I've ever had with Tolkien were the ones with the Balrog. Maybe it's understandable, since I was 11 when I read the Lotr for the first time, and it was the only time I was truly afraid of the Balrog. The movies hadn't come out yet, so I created a very own conception of the Balrog, and I must confess that my balrog has always been much scarier than the one shown us in the movies.

Sauron was scarier in The Silmarillion. In those days he was nothing but a servant, he took risks and fought himself. Now that he's the one commanding armies from his tower, he doesn't seem so strong anymore. Really, I can't imagine he'd win an Elven lord in a song contest anymore. Not without the help of a bunch of Orcs.

Was this thread about the number of nightmares, the scariest characters would be the Nazgul. I've happened to have several nightmares about the Ringwraiths living in our cellar and attacking me when I have nothing better than a flick knife to defend myself with. By now, I have managed to kill already three of them. Still six (or five) to go, but I beat Éowyn.

However, one thing I love in Tolkien's books is that there are no creatures that cannot be slain; nothing that is evil is invincible. They cannot conquer for ever.

04-06-2007, 08:16 PM	#2
Isabellkya Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Amongst trees. Posts: 919	I can't really say that I was terribly scared by any of the characters in the books.. if I had to choose.. I would probably say the Nazgul.. they were more creepy than scary. I didn't find Shelob scary.. mainly because I kind of like spiders... well I don't mind them.. but they don't scare me... even giant ones. __________________ But I was clinging to her like a homicidal monkey.

04-10-2007, 02:46 AM	#3
Eomer of the Rohirrim Auspicious Wraith Join Date: May 2002 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 4,859	One of the scariest parts for me was when Frodo woke up in the barrow and saw his friends lying next to him, as if dead, dressed in strange garments. It's not so much the big monsters that do it for me on the page; this scene was just really creepy. __________________ Los Ingobernables de Harlond

04-10-2007, 08:17 AM	#6
The Might Guard of the Citadel Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Oxon Posts: 2,205	I'd say Sauron and Gandalf. As Gandalf says in "The White Rider" chapter I believe, he is dangerous in his own way, and nothing in ME is as dangerous as he is, unless you would stand before Sauron himself. He isn't scary because he chooses not to be, but he could potentially be. So from those ho do choose to be scary, I'd nominate the Nazgul. __________________ “The invisible and the non-existent look very much alike.” Delos B. McKown

04-10-2007, 11:18 AM	#7
Aganzir Woman of Secret Shadow Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: in hollow halls beneath the fells Posts: 4,511	I agree with Rune about the Nazgul. Although they were scary and real enemies, they were an actual threat only until Bruinen. They were much scarier with living horses than with beasts, living or undead. Horses are living creatures, with a will of their own, and one should be able to predict their behaviour at least a little bit. Thus, it makes me wonder how corrupted those poor animals must have been to carry the Black Riders. I even feel a little pity for them though I am no animal lover. The same cannot be said about the fell beasts. They are just beasts born to serve Sauron, unlike the horses we know. This makes them a little less scary creatures than horses, and it affects also to the Nazgul. They can be ever present without actually being seen. They don't have to be close to keep watch. And in my opinion, the closer they are, the scarier they are. The most terrible moments I've ever had with Tolkien were the ones with the Balrog. Maybe it's understandable, since I was 11 when I read the Lotr for the first time, and it was the only time I was truly afraid of the Balrog. The movies hadn't come out yet, so I created a very own conception of the Balrog, and I must confess that my balrog has always been much scarier than the one shown us in the movies. Sauron was scarier in The Silmarillion. In those days he was nothing but a servant, he took risks and fought himself. Now that he's the one commanding armies from his tower, he doesn't seem so strong anymore. Really, I can't imagine he'd win an Elven lord in a song contest anymore. Not without the help of a bunch of Orcs. Was this thread about the number of nightmares, the scariest characters would be the Nazgul. I've happened to have several nightmares about the Ringwraiths living in our cellar and attacking me when I have nothing better than a flick knife to defend myself with. By now, I have managed to kill already three of them. Still six (or five) to go, but I beat Éowyn. However, one thing I love in Tolkien's books is that there are no creatures that cannot be slain; nothing that is evil is invincible. They cannot conquer for ever. __________________ He bit me, and I was not gentle.

04-06-2007, 03:16 PM	#1
LjösÁlfr Guest Posts: n/a	Well, Elephants can be great in earthly wars as well. The Persians and several Asian nations have what we call war-elephants. Alexander the Great is supposed to have coped with these elephants. And to how they might be scary, well, several Latin texts state that Phyrrus (A Greek having war with the Romans) had brought an Elephant with him to Itali to scare the Roman Commander. And according to the text I had to translate about it at school, they were pretty damn scary in the eyes of the Romans....