Mewlips were a legendary race of evil creatures only mentioned in Hobbit verse. The creatures were likely fictitious, although they could have been inspired by Orcs.[1]
Living beyond the Merlock Mountains and the marsh of Tode, they are said to have fed on passers-by, collecting their bones in a sack.[2]
Other versions of the legendarium
In The Hobbit, Bilbo Baggins learned that the Long Marshes had grown wider, consuming paths and lost people.[3] In plot notes that J.R.R. Tolkien made while writing the story the raftsmen told tales of disappearing rafts, men, and beasts;[4] John D. Rateliff suggests that the more ominous line in the notes may indicate that Tolkien had some unpleasantness in mind had Thorin and Company gotten into the marshes - perhaps meeting the Mewlips.[5]
Portrayal in adaptations
1982-97: Middle-earth Role Playing:
- Mewlips, described and given statistics in various supplements, are portrayed as undead beings living in swamps and marshes. The race is conceived as having been created by Morgoth in the Elder Days.[6][7]
See also
External links
- Speculation on the location of the Mewlips (Web archive link)
- The Mewlips - an animated film with music and song by Colin Rudd
References
- ↑ Robert Foster, The Complete Guide to Middle-earth. p. 260
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Adventures of Tom Bombadil, "The Mewlips"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, "A Warm Welcome"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, John D. Rateliff (ed.), The History of The Hobbit, Mr. Baggins, The Second Phase, "Plot Notes B", p. 362
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, John D. Rateliff (ed.), The History of The Hobbit, Mr. Baggins, The Second Phase, "Plot Notes B", (ii) Visiting the Mewlips, p. 370
- ↑ Jeff McKeage (1988), Raiders of Cardolan (#8108)
- ↑ Jessica Ney (ed.; 1990), Angus McBride's Characters of Middle-earth (#8007)
| Legendary races of Arda | |
| Animals: | Dumbledors · Gorcrows · Hummerhorns · Pards · Swans of Gorbelgod · Turtle-fish · Wise-fish |
|---|---|
| Dragon-kind: | Sea-serpents · Spark-dragons · Were-worms |
| Other: | Badger-folk · Ettens · Giants · Great beasts · Half-trolls · Hobgoblins · Lintips · Mewlips · Nameless things · Ogres · Otter-folk · Snow-trolls · Spectres |
| Individuals: | Badger-brock · Bill Butcher · Farmer Hogg · Fastitocalon · Fisher Blue · Fíriel · Grip · Hunter and Rider · The Lady of the Sun · Lonely Troll · Man in the Moon · Mee · Mrs. Bunce · Old Swan · Peeping Jack · Perry-the-Winkle · Pott the Mayor · Talking Gurthang · Talking purse · River-woman · Shee · Tarlang · Tim · Tom · Whisker-lad · White cow · Willow-wren |