Moria: 📔Book vs. Film (analysis and comparison)

Radaghast said:

The previous reference says they're "like wings". Tolkien switches from simile to metaphor. If he stayed with simile the text would possibly be awkward.

I would say they are wings but more in a metaphorical sense rather than physical appendages. They're wings of immaterial darkness that the Balrog can extend and presumably retract. They don't enable the Balrog to fly.


Doesn't Boromir ask to let them grieve a bit? And then Aragorn warns that the place would be "swarming with orcs" come nightfall?

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Barliman said:

"The Balrog made no answer. The fire in it seemed to die, but the darkness grew. It stepped forward slowly on to the bridge, and suddenly it drew itself up to a great height, and it's wings were spread from wall to wall...."

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Barliman said:

"The Balrog made no answer. The fire in it seemed to die, but the darkness grew. It stepped forward slowly on to the bridge, and suddenly it drew itself up to a great height, and it's wings were spread from wall to wall...."

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Barliman said:

"The Balrog made no answer. The fire in it seemed to die, but the darkness grew. It stepped forward slowly on to the bridge, and suddenly it drew itself up to a great height, and it's wings were spread from wall to wall...."

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Elbereth Vala Varda said:

Just saying... Tolkien said it....

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Elbereth Vala Varda said:

Just saying... Tolkien said it....

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Vilisse said:

Then let it be closed! Let it come to pass! Let no more be said of it! The decision hath been made, and shall be made e'ermore!

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Radaghast said:

He also (and first) says the shadow was like wings. At most nothing it's not definitive. But one thing that is definitive is that the Balrog cannot fly, wings or no.

For my part, I think the Balrog has wings, just not tangible wings or wings functional for flight. The wings of the movie creature make no logical sense.

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Goldilocks Gamgee said:

Then tell me, how did the Balrog fall, if he had wings? Couldn't he just... fly...

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Squint-eyed Southerner said:

View attachment 14826

The especially obsessed are directed here:

https://thetolkien.forum/threads/wings-or-no.230/

42 pages and counting. Add some more! 😃

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Elbereth Vala Varda said:

Oh no... I see this topic resurfacing.

It is classic-- I guess.

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