Balrog of Morgoth, Me, Ink and Acrylic, 2023Submitted by GoblinSuplex t3_1088xh3 in creepy
Bojikthe8th t1_j3rt11e wrote
Reply to comment by mynameisnickromel in Balrog of Morgoth, Me, Ink and Acrylic, 2023 by GoblinSuplex
So the evidence against Balrogs not having wings that they're specifically stated to have is that they sometimes fall (after being injured or being in an enclosed space)?
Plus, if it's unclear, then why do you assume that they don't in spite of contrary evidence that they do?
Wanderer_Falki t1_j3svqh7 wrote
I wouldn't say "no Balrog ever could possibly have had wings", but rather "Tolkien never described any Balrog having wings".
The only mention of wings on Durin's bane is an obviously non-physical simile comparing the movement of the expanding shadow at a specific moment to the general shape of wings, and the simile becomes a metaphor in the next paragraph for greater effect (and to avoid repeating the simile, which would be quite tedious). Tolkien uses the same process in the Akallabêth (first, the clouds are described as being shaped like eagles; then, the same clouds are referred to as "the eagles").
Now if we were to consider those wings as physical, there would be a huge problem in how Tolkien describes distances and measurements in the Balrog scenes. You'd have to imagine a ~5m tall Balrog (uppermost estimation) with a ~50m wingspan (lowest estimation), making the Balrog's visible shape composed of around 90% wings 10% body? And yet Tolkien's descriptions of Balrogs fully concentrates on those 10%, consistently calling them humanoids/of human shape, with the mention of wings left vague at most. Not to mention the obvious conclusion that wings that big would be the worst, most impractical thing ever.
Also, as far as I remember the description of the Balrog being able to go out of the chamber of Mazarbul, you'd need that Balrog and its 50m wingspan to go through a doorway small enough that a normal man can easily push the door closed in one movement, as shown during the earlier battle. When you pay attention to the description, what Tolkien focuses on, and the measurements, Durin's Bane being winged doesn't make any sense, and it's the reason why that debate only exists among fan (particularly Jackson fans) - all the scholars I've seen talking about the topic are unanimous that there's no actual wing being described.
Bojikthe8th t1_j3tacfe wrote
Well the Balrogs traveled from Angband to Lammoth pretty quickly to rescue Morgoth without wings. I guess Ungoliant must've waited a few weeks for them to arrive so she could be driven off.
Joking aside, this is probably one of those many inconsistencies that exist in the series, like how Tolkien originally described armies of Balrogs then later says that there were no more than seven.
TheBerraExperience t1_j3ru0hz wrote
Because LOTR isn't the first time Balrogs are mentioned, and in no other instance in the legendarium do they have wings, much less wings so big as to cover the entire surface of a wide chamber of Moria.
It would have been very advantageous for Balrogs to have flight, yet they never fly. It is much more likely that the passage in LOTR refers to the darkness emanating from the Balrog filling the chamber. This would be consistent with other evil creatures in this world, of whom darkness emanates and envelops those around them.
Bojikthe8th t1_j3rupdz wrote
> and in no other instance in the legendarium do they have wings,
It doesn't say they don't have wings though.
>It would have been very advantageous for Balrogs to have flight, yet they never fly.
It never says they don't though.
>It is much more likely that the passage in LOTR refers to the darkness emanating from the Balrog filling the chamber. This would be consistent with other evil creatures in this world, of whom darkness emanates and envelops those around them.
No other creatures have their darkness described as wings. Whenever other creatures are mentioned to have wings (like dragons) they're still assumed to have wings.
pasher5620 t1_j3to1tc wrote
I get where everyone is coming from and I agree I like the interpretation of them to have wings, but let’s be real here. The text is very clearly stating that the darkness that the Balrog creates is similar to outstretched wings blocking the light. It’s not saying the demon itself literally has wings, just using a simile to describe it. I’ve always interpreted it similar to how Gandalf creates shadows when confronting Bilbo about the ring in the movie. He’s not actually blocking out the light with his body, his presence and power are absorbing the light to appear more threatening.
Bojikthe8th t1_j3rvh63 wrote
> It would have been very advantageous for Balrogs to have flight, yet they never fly.
They might've flown when they rescued Morgoth from Ungoliant, seeing as they were still very far from Angband when they heard his cries and still managed to fend of Ungoliant before she could take the Silmarils.
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