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

Lalwendë · 03-11-2009, 06:10 AM

Drat, missed the vote...not that it would have made a jot of difference (a bit like a real UK election then

).

Is Smaug really more clever than Glaurung? After all, he manages to let slip to a teensy Hobbit where his vulnerable part is. Would Glaurung have done that?

I really, really do not like the idea of a wyrm on wyrm fight though. You cannot have enough dragons...

Morthoron · 03-11-2009, 06:28 AM

Hmmm....I withhold judgement at the present time in order to consider the choices further.

Andsigil · 03-11-2009, 08:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lalwendë

Is Smaug really more clever than Glaurung? After all, he manages to let slip to a teensy Hobbit where his vulnerable part is. Would Glaurung have done that?

I always had the impression that Smaug was unaware of the weak spot in his breast.

Lalwendë · 03-11-2009, 03:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andsigil

I always had the impression that Smaug was unaware of the weak spot in his breast.

That's a weakness in itself, to be unaware of a weak spot, or in the case of Smaug, to be so arrogantly self-assured that one would assume no weak spots exist.

Though in terms of 'badness', that kind of arrogance, despite being a failing, does add a certain cachet

the phantom · 03-11-2009, 04:22 PM

This is a tough one.

Smaug is one of my favorite characters. His chatter with Bilbo is priceless.

But Glaurung did more damage I believe (played a roll in a couple big battles and overthrew Nargothrond). And he was also killed in a cooler way, by a much greater slayer.

And the weapons used- you have a lucky arrow versus the sword destined to slay Morgoth himself.

*squirms*

++Glaurung

But really I'd be happy with either one winning.

Thinlómien · 03-11-2009, 05:05 PM

++Smaug

Morthoron · 03-11-2009, 07:05 PM

++Glaurung

I'll go old school on this one. Glaurung's adversaries were far tougher than Smaug's. Obviously the 1st Age Dwarves did not run, while the 3rd Age Dwarves shrieked and scattered like wee li'l girls.

Tuor in Gondolin · 03-11-2009, 07:25 PM

+ + Glaurung

He seems to be more inspiration from the
Professor's reading of Sigurd slaying
Fafnir. (although Smaug did
have a great dragon hoard).

Voting so far
Smaug-4
Glaurung-3

Groin Redbeard · 03-11-2009, 09:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lalwendë

Is Smaug really more clever than Glaurung? After all, he manages to let slip to a teensy Hobbit where his vulnerable part is. Would Glaurung have done that?

Smaug only had one weak spot, Glaurung nearly got killed by a bunch of dwarves and was stabbed in the belly. Plus, Glaurung with his entire horde could not defeat an army of dwarves, while Smaug single handedly destroyed an entire colony of dwarves. Evil Smaug

(but in here I guess that's a good thing

)!

++Smaug

Legate of Amon Lanc · 03-11-2009, 12:03 PM

Smaug was fiery, tempestous, and flying, and has a fantastic voice. He makes red and green flames and is golden, which makes a lovely sight. He lives close to Esgaroth, which is a very lovely place. (Thus, he obviously has good taste.) Besides, he was killed by one of the coolest Men in Middle-Earth.

Glaurung is a stupid and lazy worm who cannot fly and gets stabbed by Túrin, who is not of the most adorable characters in Middle-Earth.

++Smaug

Tuor in Gondolin · 03-11-2009, 01:11 PM

On the other hand Galurung was killed by the greatest mannish,
and possibly also (I think Tolkien said so) elvish warrior in
Middle-earth history while Smaug was taken out by a
provincial Home Guardish fellow using a lucky arrow.

Andsigil · 03-11-2009, 01:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tuor in Gondolin

On the other hand Galurung was killed by the greatest mannish,
and possibly also (I think Tolkien said so) elvish warrior in
Middle-earth history while Smaug was taken out by a
provincial Home Guardish fellow using a lucky arrow.

Hey, Boromir showed us what arrows can do, too. He was still a great hero.

Legate of Amon Lanc · 03-11-2009, 02:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tuor in Gondolin

On the other hand Galurung was killed by the greatest mannish,
and possibly also (I think Tolkien said so) elvish warrior in
Middle-earth history while Smaug was taken out by a
provincial Home Guardish fellow using a lucky arrow.

Yes, but isn't that even cooler for Smaug? The coolest thing was that this Home Guardish fellow was a King.

Eönwë · 03-11-2009, 01:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Groin Redbeard

Smaug only had one weak spot, Glaurung nearly got killed by a bunch of dwarves and was stabbed in the belly. Plus, Glaurung with his entire horde could not defeat an army of dwarves, while Smaug single handedly destroyed an entire colony of dwarves.

The Lonely Mountain was one mountain inhabited by dwarves.

Gondolin was a city chosen especially for protection by Ulmo, and guarded by Manwe's own eagles. The place was basically designed to be a fort. And this isn't mentioning the fact that there were great warriors there who could kill balrogs.

Groin Redbeard · 03-12-2009, 08:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eönwë

The Lonely Mountain was one mountain inhabited by dwarves.

Yes, the greatest of the Dwarven holds, after Khazad-dum fell into darkness. Also Smaug drove them out single handedly, I think that makes him greater. How should I put it... more independent than Glaurung.

Quote:

I'll go old school on this one. Glaurung's adversaries were far tougher than Smaug's. Obviously the 1st Age Dwarves did not run, while the 3rd Age Dwarves shrieked and scattered like wee li'l girls.

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.

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

03-11-2009, 06:10 AM	#1
Lalwendë A Mere Boggart Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: under the bed Posts: 4,737	Drat, missed the vote...not that it would have made a jot of difference (a bit like a real UK election then ). Is Smaug really more clever than Glaurung? After all, he manages to let slip to a teensy Hobbit where his vulnerable part is. Would Glaurung have done that? I really, really do not like the idea of a wyrm on wyrm fight though. You cannot have enough dragons... __________________ Gordon's alive!

03-11-2009, 06:28 AM	#2
Morthoron Curmudgeonly Wordwraith Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Ensconced in curmudgeonly pursuits Posts: 2,515	Hmmm....I withhold judgement at the present time in order to consider the choices further. __________________ And your little sister's immaculate virginity wings away on the bony shoulders of a young horse named George who stole surreptitiously into her geography revision.

03-11-2009, 04:22 PM	#5
the phantom Beloved Shadow Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: The Stadium Posts: 5,971	This is a tough one. Smaug is one of my favorite characters. His chatter with Bilbo is priceless. But Glaurung did more damage I believe (played a roll in a couple big battles and overthrew Nargothrond). And he was also killed in a cooler way, by a much greater slayer. And the weapons used- you have a lucky arrow versus the sword destined to slay Morgoth himself. squirms ++Glaurung But really I'd be happy with either one winning. __________________ the phantom has posted. This thread is now important.

03-11-2009, 05:05 PM	#6
Thinlómien Shady She-Penguin Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: In a far land beyond the Sea Posts: 8,093	++Smaug __________________ Like the stars chase the sun, over the glowing hill I will conquer Blood is running deep, some things never sleep Double Fenris

03-11-2009, 07:05 PM	#7
Morthoron Curmudgeonly Wordwraith Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Ensconced in curmudgeonly pursuits Posts: 2,515	++Glaurung I'll go old school on this one. Glaurung's adversaries were far tougher than Smaug's. Obviously the 1st Age Dwarves did not run, while the 3rd Age Dwarves shrieked and scattered like wee li'l girls. __________________ And your little sister's immaculate virginity wings away on the bony shoulders of a young horse named George who stole surreptitiously into her geography revision.

03-11-2009, 07:25 PM	#8
Tuor in Gondolin Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Southeast Pennsylvania Posts: 3,651	+ + Glaurung He seems to be more inspiration from the Professor's reading of Sigurd slaying Fafnir. (although Smaug did have a great dragon hoard). Voting so far Smaug-4 Glaurung-3 __________________ 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.'

03-11-2009, 12:03 PM	#10
Legate of Amon Lanc A Voice That Gainsayeth Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: In that far land beyond the Sea Posts: 7,431	Smaug was fiery, tempestous, and flying, and has a fantastic voice. He makes red and green flames and is golden, which makes a lovely sight. He lives close to Esgaroth, which is a very lovely place. (Thus, he obviously has good taste.) Besides, he was killed by one of the coolest Men in Middle-Earth. Glaurung is a stupid and lazy worm who cannot fly and gets stabbed by Túrin, who is not of the most adorable characters in Middle-Earth. ++Smaug __________________ "Should the story say 'he ate bread,' the dramatic producer can only show 'a piece of bread' according to his taste or fancy, but the hearer of the story will think of bread in general and picture it in some form of his own." -On Fairy-Stories

03-11-2009, 01:11 PM	#11
Tuor in Gondolin Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Southeast Pennsylvania Posts: 3,651	On the other hand Galurung was killed by the greatest mannish, and possibly also (I think Tolkien said so) elvish warrior in Middle-earth history while Smaug was taken out by a provincial Home Guardish fellow using a lucky arrow. __________________ 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, 04:44 PM	#18
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...