Grima Wormtongue served Rohan’s King Théoden for a time as his chief advisor. However, upon visiting, Aragorn and his companions exposed Wormtongue as a Saruman’s spy. In the Scouring of the Shire at the end of The Return of the King, Grima Wormtongue kills Saruman and meets his end as well.
Biography
Grima is the son of Gálmód. Both are citizens native to Rohan. Aside from being a native of Rohan, Grima may also have ancestors of Dunlending descent due to his slight physique and black-colored hair. Most of Grima Wormtongue’s past is unmentioned and unwritten. Not much is known about his childhood or youth. In his adulthood and during the events of Lord of the Rings, Wormtongue came to serve Saruman and work as his spy within Théoden’s halls. Wormtongue’s main mission was to use a spell imbued into his voice by Saruman to weaken Théoden’s strength and will. Although it was not explicitly said, it is implied that Théoden’s niece Éowyn was Saruman’s offered prize to Grima for being in his service. It was mentioned in the books that Grima would often follow Éowyn around and “haunt her steps”, as well as constantly spy on her. His strange affections for her are emphasized in the film during a scene where Éowyn visits Théodred, her cousin, on his deathbed. Grima, in this scene, makes unwanted and inappropriate romantic remarks toward her.
In the Peter Jackson films, it is Éomer, King Théoden’s nephew, who accuses Grima of “watching” his sister Éowyn and “haunting” her steps. Grima sends Éomer into exile after this moment, remarking that Éomer is too observant of him. Grima’s belongings were examined after Gandalf was able to sever Grima’s control over King Théoden. When they looked through Wormtongue’s trunk, they found Théoden’s sword Herugrim, as well as other belongings stolen from residents in the King’s hall. After Théoden was freed from Saruman’s spell, he allowed Wormtongue to choose between riding with Rohan or going into exile. Wormtongue chose exile and went to hide with Saruman within the tower Orthanc.
Although the movie showed Grima arriving at Orthanc before the Ents overtook Isengard, the book writes that Grima came to Orthanc afterward instead. While Grima was at Orthanc, he divulged to Saruman information about Théoden’s movements from Edoras to Helm’s Deep. These were in anticipation of an attack upon Edoras. Théoden’s transfer to Helm’s Deep resulted in the Battle of the Hornburg between the Rohirrim and Saruman’s forces. One foolish thing that Saruman did not foresee was that Grima would mistakenly lob the Palantir of Orthanc in an attack against Saruman and Gandalf (for he hated them both). This happened when Gandalf confronted Saruman once more after the Battle of the Hornburg.
This later caused Saruman to regret allowing Grima into Isengard. Saruman was said to have beaten and scalped Wormtongue afterward as punishment. In the Scouring of the Shire, Grima came with Saruman to lay waste to the home of the hobbits. This was an attempt at revenge, even though Saruman was already sending evil men to harass the Shire beforehand. Between Grima’s stay in Isengard and the Scouring of the Shire, he had become a wretched creature, crawling and begging on the ground. He was described to nearly look like Gollum. Saruman would call him “Worm” instead of the usual “Wormtongue.” During the Scouring of the Shire, Grima murdered Lotho Sackville-Baggins.
It is implied that Grima might have devoured his victim as well, claiming that he did so because Saruman ordered it. During this event, Grima killed Saruman. This happened after Frodo tried to appeal to Grima, saying that Grima should not always follow Saruman and that he was free not to. Because of Grima’s growing contempt at how Saruman had scorned and tortured him, Grima cut Saruman at the throat with his hidden knife. Afterward, Grima attempted to escape the Shir but was instead shot by the hobbits who had arrived to fight off Saruman. Wormtongue died from the arrows. This scene, however, was not included in the movie.
In the Peter Jackson films, it is Éomer, King Théoden’s nephew, who accuses Grima of “watching” his sister Éowyn and “haunting” her steps. Grima sends Éomer into exile after this moment, remarking that Éomer is too observant of him. Grima’s belongings were examined after Gandalf was able to sever Grima’s control over King Théoden. When they looked through Wormtongue’s trunk, they found Théoden’s sword Herugrim, as well as other belongings stolen from residents in the King’s hall. After Théoden was freed from Saruman’s spell, he allowed Wormtongue to choose between riding with Rohan or going into exile. Wormtongue chose exile and went to hide with Saruman within the tower Orthanc.
Although the movie showed Grima arriving at Orthanc before the Ents overtook Isengard, the book writes that Grima came to Orthanc afterward instead. While Grima was at Orthanc, he divulged to Saruman information about Théoden’s movements from Edoras to Helm’s Deep. These were in anticipation of an attack upon Edoras. Théoden’s transfer to Helm’s Deep resulted in the Battle of the Hornburg between the Rohirrim and Saruman’s forces. One foolish thing that Saruman did not foresee was that Grima would mistakenly lob the Palantir of Orthanc in an attack against Saruman and Gandalf (for he hated them both). This happened when Gandalf confronted Saruman once more after the Battle of the Hornburg.
This later caused Saruman to regret allowing Grima into Isengard. Saruman was said to have beaten and scalped Wormtongue afterward as punishment. In the Scouring of the Shire, Grima came with Saruman to lay waste to the home of the hobbits. This was an attempt at revenge, even though Saruman was already sending evil men to harass the Shire beforehand. Between Grima’s stay in Isengard and the Scouring of the Shire, he had become a wretched creature, crawling and begging on the ground. He was described to nearly look like Gollum. Saruman would call him “Worm” instead of the usual “Wormtongue.” During the Scouring of the Shire, Grima murdered Lotho Sackville-Baggins.
It is implied that Grima might have devoured his victim as well, claiming that he did so because Saruman ordered it. During this event, Grima killed Saruman. This happened after Frodo tried to appeal to Grima, saying that Grima should not always follow Saruman and that he was free not to. Because of Grima’s growing contempt at how Saruman had scorned and tortured him, Grima cut Saruman at the throat with his hidden knife. Afterward, Grima attempted to escape the Shir but was instead shot by the hobbits who had arrived to fight off Saruman. Wormtongue died from the arrows. This scene, however, was not included in the movie.
Unfinished Tales
Even though Grima only appeared in The Two Towers [1]] within the events of The Lord of the Rings, he was more involved in prior events than the narrative initially let on. Tolkien revealed in Unfinished Tales that the Nazgûl captured Grima before he arrived at Isengard. Grima, at this point, was going to tell Saruman that Gandalf was arriving at Edoras. The date was pegged at exactly September 20 of 3018. In Grima’s captivity, the Nazgûl interrogated him until he revealed to the Nazgûl his information regarding Saruman’s plans. He mentioned Saruman’s desire to attack the Shire, as well as the location of the Shire. The Nazgûl, until that moment, had not known exactly where the Shire was, except for Gollum’s revelation about “Baggins”.
The Nazgûl eventually freed Grima and made him swear that he would not tell anyone that he was captured and met with the Nazgûl, especially to Saruman. Immediately after this, the Nazgûl traveled to the Shire to attempt to retrieve the ring from Baggins. If this event had not happened and Grima had not been captured, the Nazgûl likely would have tried to get the location of the Shire from Gandalf. This would have led the Nazgûl to arrive at the Shire long after they did. Had that happened, the Hobbits might not have had the dangerous encounter with the Nazgûl. [2]
The Nazgûl eventually freed Grima and made him swear that he would not tell anyone that he was captured and met with the Nazgûl, especially to Saruman. Immediately after this, the Nazgûl traveled to the Shire to attempt to retrieve the ring from Baggins. If this event had not happened and Grima had not been captured, the Nazgûl likely would have tried to get the location of the Shire from Gandalf. This would have led the Nazgûl to arrive at the Shire long after they did. Had that happened, the Hobbits might not have had the dangerous encounter with the Nazgûl. [2]
Adaptations and Character Portrayals
Lord of the Rings animated film (1978) by Ralph Bakshi
In the animated film adaptation by Ralph Bakshi, [3] Michael Deacon voiced Grima Wormtongue’s character. In this adaptation, they pronounced Grima as “Gree-ma”. The animated adaptation showed him to be a smaller person than the book described. In the 1981 serial adaption by BBC radio, Paul Brooke portrayed Grima Wormtongue. In the more well-known film adaptation of Lord of the Rings by Peter Jackson, Brad Dourif was cast to play Grima. Similar to the book’s description, they made Dourif’s Wormtongue appear as gaunt and pale. Aside from this, he wore black fur robes to match his black hair.
Peter Jackson also had Dourif shave his eyebrows off to give a more unsettling appearance. The effect was an emaciated, snide-looking person, which seemed to suit the character very well. In Peter Jackson’s film adaptation of The Lord of the Rings, the Scouring of the Shire event was not included. Since that scene was supposedly set for Grima’s and Saruman’s death, Peter Jackson instead showed their deaths in an earlier scene. The resulting scene called “The Voice of Saruman” showed them die at Isengard. However, this scene cannot be found in the theatrical version of the films. It was instead included in the Return of the King Extended DVD. This scene depicted Isengard in its post-Ent attack state.
A party including Théoden, Gandalf, Aragorn, Legolas, Merry, and Pippin confronted Saruman, who was perched atop Orthanc with Grima. During the confrontation, Théoden appeals to Grima and offers to forgive Grima despite his service to Saruman. Théoden tells him that Grima is also a victim of Saruman, just as Théoden was. Wanting to be free of Saruman, Grima tries to accept Théoden’s offer. However, Saruman proclaims that he owns Grima and prevents him from joining Théoden. Grima tries to assert himself only for Saruman to strike him with his hand. This provokes Grima to kill Saruman with a dagger by stabbing him in the back. Saruman falls from the attack and ends up impaled on one of the Orthanc’s war machine wheels. When Saruman’s body lands, the Palantir of Orthanc escapes his robes. Legolas shot Grima in an attempt to stop him from killing Saruman (about to divulge pertinent information).
Legolas was too late, however. The arrow found its mark, leaving Grima too die from the arrow wound. Although Grima’s and Saruman’s death happened in an earlier scene and a different location from the book, the way they died in Jackson’s film adaptation remains somewhat true to Tolkien’s writing. In the book of Return of the King, in the Scouring of the Shire, Grima is also the one to bring about Saruman’s end. He cuts Saruman at the throat instead of in the back. Grima dies by an arrow from a hobbit instead of Legolas. It is speculated that the book’s manner of death may not have suited the PG-13 movie rating. The scene originally would have had Saruman reveal Grima as the reason for Théodred’s death. Unfortunately, that line was removed from the film. In a Gameboy Advance adaptation of The Two Towers, however, the player encounters Saruman and their dialogue includes Saruman’s revelation regarding Théodred’s death.
Peter Jackson also had Dourif shave his eyebrows off to give a more unsettling appearance. The effect was an emaciated, snide-looking person, which seemed to suit the character very well. In Peter Jackson’s film adaptation of The Lord of the Rings, the Scouring of the Shire event was not included. Since that scene was supposedly set for Grima’s and Saruman’s death, Peter Jackson instead showed their deaths in an earlier scene. The resulting scene called “The Voice of Saruman” showed them die at Isengard. However, this scene cannot be found in the theatrical version of the films. It was instead included in the Return of the King Extended DVD. This scene depicted Isengard in its post-Ent attack state.
A party including Théoden, Gandalf, Aragorn, Legolas, Merry, and Pippin confronted Saruman, who was perched atop Orthanc with Grima. During the confrontation, Théoden appeals to Grima and offers to forgive Grima despite his service to Saruman. Théoden tells him that Grima is also a victim of Saruman, just as Théoden was. Wanting to be free of Saruman, Grima tries to accept Théoden’s offer. However, Saruman proclaims that he owns Grima and prevents him from joining Théoden. Grima tries to assert himself only for Saruman to strike him with his hand. This provokes Grima to kill Saruman with a dagger by stabbing him in the back. Saruman falls from the attack and ends up impaled on one of the Orthanc’s war machine wheels. When Saruman’s body lands, the Palantir of Orthanc escapes his robes. Legolas shot Grima in an attempt to stop him from killing Saruman (about to divulge pertinent information).
Legolas was too late, however. The arrow found its mark, leaving Grima too die from the arrow wound. Although Grima’s and Saruman’s death happened in an earlier scene and a different location from the book, the way they died in Jackson’s film adaptation remains somewhat true to Tolkien’s writing. In the book of Return of the King, in the Scouring of the Shire, Grima is also the one to bring about Saruman’s end. He cuts Saruman at the throat instead of in the back. Grima dies by an arrow from a hobbit instead of Legolas. It is speculated that the book’s manner of death may not have suited the PG-13 movie rating. The scene originally would have had Saruman reveal Grima as the reason for Théodred’s death. Unfortunately, that line was removed from the film. In a Gameboy Advance adaptation of The Two Towers, however, the player encounters Saruman and their dialogue includes Saruman’s revelation regarding Théodred’s death.
