The Dwarves: Created in Secret by Aulë | Tolkien Deep Dive
Research & Sources
Research Notes: The Dwarves - Children of Aulë
Overview
The Dwarves (Khazâd in their own tongue) are one of the most fascinating races in Tolkien's legendarium - beings created outside the Music of the Ainur by the Vala Aulë, who was impatient for the coming of the Children of Ilúvatar. Their creation story is unique among Middle-earth's peoples, and Ilúvatar's acceptance of them as "adopted children" established their place in the world's destiny. The Dwarves are renowned for their exceptional craftsmanship, their resistance to corruption, their fierce independence, and their complex relationship with both Elves and the natural world. Their history spans from before the awakening of the Elves through the end of the Third Age and beyond, marked by the rise and fall of great kingdoms, conflicts with dragons and Balrogs, and an unbreakable connection to stone and metal.
Primary Sources
The Silmarillion
Creation of the Dwarves ("Of Aulë and Yavanna"): - Aulë created the Seven Fathers of the Dwarves in secret because "he was impatient for the arising of the Children of Ilúvatar (Elves and Men) and he wished for children to love and instruct" (The Silmarillion, "Of Aulë and Yavanna") - Aulë made them "strong and resistant and able to endure hardships; but as he had only a vague impression of the Children of Ilúvatar, his creations were structured differently, shorter and stunted" - The Dwarves Aulë created were mere automatons - "able to move and speak only if he wished so, and would remain motionless whenever Aulë would think elsewhere" - When Ilúvatar rebuked Aulë, he "admitted that his impatience had driven him to folly and submitted his creations to Ilúvatar's will. Assuming that they should be destroyed, he made to smite the Seven Fathers of the Dwarves with a great hammer" - But "Aulë accepted the rebuke, and begged pardon, and raised his hammer to crush the Dwarves, who cowered from the blow. And Ilúvatar stopped him, saying that he accepted Aulë's creations and had granted them life - why else would mindless automatons flinch from his blow?" - Ilúvatar accepted the Dwarves as his "adopted children," but decreed they must sleep until after the Awakening of the Elves, as "it was ordained that the Elves were to be the first-born race" - Ilúvatar told Aulë that "while both races were his children, the Dwarves' creation was outside the scope of the Music of the Ainur, and strife would arise between the Dwarves and the Elves in the future" Placement of the Seven Fathers: - "The Seven Fathers of the Dwarves had to wait until the Elves first arrived, and Aulë laid them to rest in various places in Middle-earth" - "The eldest of all, Durin, 'lay alone' at Mount Gundabad in the north of the Misty Mountains" - "Two others were laid to rest in the Ered Luin or Blue Mountains, and they founded the lines of the Broadbeams and the Firebeards who later lived in Nogrod and Belegost" - "The other four Dwarf-fathers were laid to rest in two pairs in Rhûn" Dwarven Afterlife: - "Aforetime it was held among the Elves in Middle-earth that dying the Dwarves returned to the earth and the stone of which they were made" (believed by Elves in earlier times) - According to Dwarvish belief, "Mahal (Aulë) gathers their spirits into a separate hall set apart in the Halls of Mandos" - After the Dagor Dagorath (Last Battle), "Ilúvatar gave them a place among the Children in the end, and that after the Dagor Dagorath the dwarves will help Aulë rebuild the earth" The Nauglamír Incident: - The Nauglamír was "a golden necklace made for Finrod Felagund by the Dwarves of Nogrod and Belegost, in which were set countless gems that Finrod had brought from Valinor," created around Year 102 of the First Age - After Húrin left Doriath, "Thingol sought to have the treasure remade to include the Silmaril of Lúthien and Beren... For this he employed the Dwarves of Nogrod" - "The Dwarves were enthralled by the beauty of the Nauglamír and the Silmaril, and desired to possess them for themselves but agreed to the task" - "After they completed their work, they refused to hand the treasure to Thingol, who had come alone into their smithy to receive it" - "The Dwarves, enraged by his words, slew the king as he stood among them and took the Nauglamír for themselves" - This incident became "a major source of the long-lasting feud between Elves and Dwarves in Tolkien's legendarium"The Lord of the Rings
Physical Description: - Dwarves were "a short, stocky race, a little taller than hobbits, but much broader and heavier," approximately 4-5 feet tall - "Most had thick, luxuriant beards in which they took great pride, and in some cases forked or braided them and tucked them into their belts" Resistance to the Rings: - From Gandalf: Dwarves "ill endure the domination of others, and the thoughts of their hearts are hard to fathom, nor can they be turned to shadows" - "The seven Rings of Power of the Dwarves did not turn them to evil, but it did amplify their greed and lust for gold" - "Whereas the Men who owned the nine Rings were corrupted and became the Nazgûl, the Dwarves were unaffected, save by an increase of their goldlust" - "It is said that thanks to them the Seven Hoards were made" War of the Dwarves and Orcs: - In T.A. 2790, "the elderly Dwarven King Thrór... journeyed to Moria" - "The Orc Azog had Thrór's body flung out onto the steps of the gate... with Azog's name carved into Thrór's face" - "In T.A. 2793 the Dwarves were gathered, and advanced together, sacking every Orc-hold in the Misty Mountains from Mount Gundabad of the North to the peak of Methedras" - At the Battle of Azanulbizar (T.A. 2799), "The Dwarves were victorious, but half of their forces were dead or mortally wounded. The Orcs suffered even worse casualties, with ten thousand dead" - "Azog was slain by Dáin Ironfoot" - "They could not bury them all in tombs of stone, as was their custom... From then on those that died in Dimrill Dale were remembered proudly as 'burned Dwarves'" Gimli and the Fellowship: - At the Council of Elrond, "the Dwarves were represented by Glóin of the Lonely Mountain... and his son Gimli" - "Glóin spoke of evil messengers who had come to the Lonely Mountain promising the return of one or more of the Seven rings if they would reveal the location of Bilbo Baggins" - Gimli's friendship with Legolas: "Legolas was deeply moved by Gimli's poetic description of the caves. 'I have never heard you speak like this before,' he told him" - "Eventually, Gimli and Legolas boarded a ship to the West, a journey that makes Gimli the first and only known Dwarf to travel beyond the circles of the world"The Hobbit
Erebor and Smaug: - "In TA 2770, Smaug came from the mountains in the north, attracted by the vast wealth amassed by the Dwarven kingdom of Erebor" - "In one savage attack, he laid waste to both Erebor and the neighboring town of Dale" - "Smaug was a fire-drake of the Third Age, considered the last 'great' dragon of Middle-earth" The Arkenstone: - "The Arkenstone of Thráin, also known as the Heart of the Mountain, was a great and wondrous jewel" discovered "underneath the roots of Erebor" during the reign of Thráin I - "Revered for its unmatched brilliance, it became the greatest treasure of Durin's Folk, a symbol of their heritage and sovereignty" - "It was said that any who possessed the gem could call upon the seven armies of the dwarves to ride to battle in their defense" - "After the Battle of Five Armies... Bard of Dale placed the Heart of the Mountain on the breast of Thorin in Thorin's tomb" Thorin's Death: - On his deathbed, Thorin's last words were: "Farewell, good thief. I go now to the halls of waiting to sit beside my fathers, until the world is renewed"Unfinished Tales
The Petty-dwarves: - "The Petty-dwarves were Dwarves of (presumably) several clans, which descended from Dwarves exiled for evil deeds from the mansions of their kind" - "They were the first to cross the Ered Luin in the First Age, and established strongholds in Beleriand before the Elves arrived" - "In Beleriand they diminished in physical stature and in smith-craft" - "The Sindar, not yet acquainted with Dwarves, first thought the Petty-dwarves were animals, and hunted them" - "Afterwards they were mostly left alone, but not before the Petty-dwarves came to hate all Elves with a passion" - "By the fifth century of the Sun of the First Age, the last remnant of their people were Mîm and his two sons" - "In IA 502, the Petty-dwarf Mîm was slain by the Man Húrin in retribution for the Dwarf's part in the doom of Húrin's son Túrin. Mîm died with a curse on his lips. He was the last of his kind"The History of Middle-earth
Dwarven Women ("The War of the Jewels," Volume 11): - "For the Naugrim have beards from the beginning of their lives, male and female alike; nor indeed can their womenkind be discerned by those of other race, be it in feature or in gait or in voice" Reincarnation of Durin ("The Peoples of Middle-earth," Volume 12): - "For the Dwarves asserted that the spirits of the Seven Fathers of their races were from time to time reborn in their kindreds. This was notably the case in the race of the Longbeards whose ultimate forefather was called Durin... Of these Durin's the Dwarves reported that they retained memory of their former lives as Kings" - Tolkien also explored the idea "that Durin's body itself was preserved intact in its tomb and that Durin's return would be accomplished with his soul returning to his once-dead body to make it rise again" - However, Tolkien stated plainly that "the Dwarves' belief in Durin's reincarnation was a 'false notion,' connected with 'the various strange ideas which both Elves and Men had concerning the Dwarves'"Letters
Letter to Naomi Mitchison (December 8, 1955): - "I do think of the 'Dwarves' like Jews: at once native and alien in their habitations, speaking the languages of the country, but with an accent due to their native tongue" (Letters 229) On Dwarven Nature: - "The only measure that he [Sauron] knows is desire, desire for power; and so he judges all hearts" (Letters 131) - explaining why Sauron couldn't understand beings who didn't seek domination BBC Radio Interview (1964, broadcast 1965): - "The Dwarves of course are quite obviously—wouldn't you say that in many ways they remind you of the Jews?" On Khuzdul: - "The language of the Dwarves... is Semitic in cast, leaning phonetically to Hebrew (as suits the Dwarvish character)"Key Facts & Timeline
Before Time
- Before the Awakening of the Elves: Aulë creates the Seven Fathers of the Dwarves in secret. Ilúvatar accepts them but commands they sleep until after the Elves awaken. (Source: The Silmarillion, "Of Aulë and Yavanna")First Age
- c. Year 102: The Nauglamír is forged by Dwarves of Nogrod and Belegost for Finrod Felagund. (Source: Multiple Tolkien Gateway entries) - First Age: Dwarves of Belegost and Nogrod establish trade relationships with the Elves. "Thingol was the first Elf to make contact and alliances with the Dwarves of Belegost, who helped delve the caves of Menegroth." (Source: Tolkien Gateway) - First Age: "The dwarves of Nogrod helped Finrod build his kingdom of Nargothrond, and the dwarves of Belegost built the city of Menegroth for Thingol." (Source: Tolkien Gateway) - First Age: Petty-dwarves hunted by Sindar who mistook them for animals. (Source: Unfinished Tales) - F.A. 486: Mîm the Petty-dwarf encounters Túrin's band of outlaws; his son Khîm is killed. (Source: Unfinished Tales) - c. F.A. 502: The Nauglamír dispute - Dwarves of Nogrod slay King Thingol over the necklace, sparking major Elf-Dwarf conflict. (Source: The Silmarillion) - F.A. 502: Mîm slain by Húrin, last of the Petty-dwarves. (Source: Unfinished Tales) - End of First Age: War of Wrath destroys Nogrod and Belegost in the Blue Mountains; survivors flee to Khazad-dûm. (Source: The Silmarillion)Second Age
- S.A. 40: Khazad-dûm reaches height of its power and wealth. (Source: Appendices, LOTR) - S.A. 750: Foundation of Dwarf-realm in the Grey Mountains. (Source: Appendices, LOTR) - S.A. c. 1200: Sauron forges the Rings of Power; Seven Rings given to Dwarf-lords. (Source: The Silmarillion) - S.A. 1695-1701: War of the Elves and Sauron. "The Dwarves of Moria maintained close connections to the Gwaith-i-Mírdain of Eregion. When Eregion was sacked by Sauron's forces, the Dwarves assailed them from behind." (Source: Multiple wiki sources) - S.A. 3434: War of the Last Alliance. "Of the Dwarves, few fought upon either side; but the folk of Durin from Khazad-dûm fought against Sauron." (Source: The Silmarillion)Third Age
- T.A. 1980: "After centuries of greedy digging for mithril and other minerals, the Dwarves woke a Balrog that was sleeping in the deeps of the Misty Mountains since the First Age." Durin VI slain; becomes Durin's Bane. (Source: Appendices, LOTR) - T.A. 1999: Thráin I founds the Kingdom under the Mountain at Erebor and discovers the Arkenstone. (Source: Appendices, LOTR) - T.A. 2210: Thorin I leaves Erebor for the Grey Mountains. (Source: Appendices, LOTR) - T.A. 2570: Dragons reappear in the north, begin attacking Dwarf kingdoms. (Source: Appendices, LOTR) - T.A. 2589: King Dáin I slain by a cold-drake; Dwarves abandon Grey Mountains. (Source: Appendices, LOTR) - T.A. 2590: Grór establishes lordship in the Iron Hills. Thrór returns to Erebor. (Source: Appendices, LOTR) - T.A. 2770: Smaug attacks Erebor, claiming its treasure. Dwarves scattered into exile. (Source: The Hobbit) - T.A. 2790: Thrór enters Moria alone; slain and beheaded by Azog. Start of War of Dwarves and Orcs. (Source: Appendices, LOTR) - T.A. 2793-2799: War of the Dwarves and Orcs. (Source: Appendices, LOTR) - T.A. 2799: Battle of Azanulbizar. Dwarves victorious but at terrible cost; Azog slain by Dáin Ironfoot. (Source: Appendices, LOTR) - T.A. 2845: Four of the Seven Rings consumed by dragons; Thráin II imprisoned in Dol Guldur, his Ring (last of the Seven) taken by Sauron. (Source: Appendices, LOTR) - T.A. 2941: Thorin and Company, with Bilbo Baggins, quest to Erebor. Smaug slain by Bard. Battle of Five Armies; Thorin dies. Dáin II Ironfoot becomes King under the Mountain. (Source: The Hobbit) - T.A. 2989: Balin leads expedition to reclaim Moria. (Source: Appendices, LOTR) - T.A. 2994: Balin slain; Moria colony fails. (Source: Appendices, LOTR) - T.A. 3018-3019: War of the Ring. Gimli son of Glóin joins the Fellowship. Dwarves of Erebor battle Easterlings. (Source: LOTR) - T.A. 3019: After the War, Gimli brings Dwarves from Erebor to found the Glittering Caves (Kingdom of Aglarond). (Source: Appendices, LOTR)Fourth Age
- F.A. 171+: Durin VII the Last leads Dwarves back to Khazad-dûm, restores the ancient kingdom. (Source: Appendices, LOTR) - F.A. 120: Gimli and Legolas sail West together - Gimli becomes the only Dwarf to travel to the Undying Lands. (Source: Appendices, LOTR)The Seven Houses of the Dwarves
1. Longbeards (Durin's Folk)
- Founder: Durin I the Deathless, eldest of the Seven Fathers - Original Location: Awoke alone at Mount Gundabad - Primary Kingdom: Khazad-dûm (Moria), later Erebor and the Iron Hills - Significance: Most prominent and detailed house in Tolkien's writings - Notable Members: All the Durins (7 incarnations), Thorin Oakenshield, Gimli, Balin, Dáin Ironfoot - Language: Retained purest form of Khuzdul2. Firebeards
- Original Location: Blue Mountains (Ered Luin) - Primary Kingdom: Nogrod - Fate: Kingdom destroyed in War of Wrath; survivors fled to Khazad-dûm3. Broadbeams
- Original Location: Blue Mountains (Ered Luin) - Primary Kingdom: Belegost - Notable Achievement: Created the Nauglamír; fought valiantly against dragons in First Age - Fate: Kingdom destroyed in War of Wrath; survivors fled to Khazad-dûm4-7. Four Eastern Houses
- Ironfists: Originated in Rhûn - Stiffbeards: Originated in Rhûn - Blacklocks: Originated in Rhûn - Stonefoots: Originated in Rhûn - Note: Very little is known about these houses; they remained in the East and are rarely mentioned in Tolkien's writingsMajor Dwarven Kingdoms
Khazad-dûm (Moria)
- Meaning: "Dwarves + Delving" or "Dwarrowdelf" - Founded: By Durin I in the Misty Mountains, discovering caves there - Significance: "The oldest and most famous of the Kingdoms of the Dwarves" - Peak: Second Age, became wealthiest Dwarf-realm due to mithril - Fall: T.A. 1980 - Balrog awakened by deep mining for mithril, Durin VI slain - Mithril: "It could be beaten like copper, and polished like glass; and the Dwarves could make of it a metal, light and yet harder than tempered steel" - Failed Reclamation: T.A. 2989-2994, Balin's colony destroyed - Future: Durin VII the Last will eventually reclaim and restore Khazad-dûm in the Fourth AgeErebor (The Lonely Mountain)
- Founded: T.A. 1999 by Thráin I after fleeing Moria - Peak: Under King Thrór, became immensely wealthy - Arkenstone: Discovered beneath the mountain, became symbol of kingship - Fall: T.A. 2770 - Smaug destroys the kingdom - Reclaimed: T.A. 2941 by Thorin and Company - War of the Ring: Successfully defended against Easterlings under Dáin II IronfootIron Hills
- Founded: T.A. 2590 by Grór son of Dáin I - Significance: "Became the strongest realm in the North, being the only realm standing between Sauron and his plans to destroy Rivendell" - Notable: Provided crucial reinforcements at Battle of Azanulbizar and Battle of Five ArmiesNogrod and Belegost (Blue Mountains)
- Era: First Age - Craftsmanship: Among the finest in Middle-earth - Belegost Achievement: Forged dragon-proof masks; King Azaghâl wounded Glaurung - Nogrod Achievement: Created the Nauglamír - Fate: Destroyed in War of Wrath at end of First AgeGrey Mountains
- Era: T.A. 2210-2589 - Prosperity: Rich in minerals, prospered for nearly 500 years - Fall: Repeated dragon attacks culminated in death of Dáin I (T.A. 2589)Glittering Caves (Aglarond)
- Founded: After War of the Ring by Gimli - Significance: "Became one of the most essential dwarven settlements in the Fourth Age" - Gimli's Description: Called it "one of the marvels of the Northern World"Significant Dwarf Characters
Durin I "The Deathless"
- Eldest of the Seven Fathers, founder of Khazad-dûm - "Called 'the Deathless' due to his longevity" - Believed to be reincarnated seven times throughout the ages - Each reincarnation "retained memory of their former lives as Kings" (The Peoples of Middle-earth)The Seven Durins
- Durin I: The original, founded Khazad-dûm - Durin VI: Slain by the Balrog in T.A. 1980 - Durin VII "The Last": Prophesied to reclaim Khazad-dûm in Fourth Age; "led Durin's folk from Erebor back to Khazad-dûm and restored the ancient kingdom"Thorin II Oakenshield
- Leader of the quest to reclaim Erebor from Smaug - "Formidable swordsman, archer, and skilled military leader" - Wielded Orcrist, "The Goblin Cleaver, a legendary sword from Gondolin" - Shield broken in Battle of Azanulbizar, used oak branch - thus "Oakenshield" - Succumbed to "dragon-sickness" - obsession with the Arkenstone - Mortally wounded in Battle of Five Armies; reconciled with Bilbo before death - Last words: "Farewell, good thief. I go now to the halls of waiting to sit beside my fathers, until the world is renewed"Gimli Son of Glóin
- Only Dwarf in the Fellowship of the Ring - Instrumental in healing Elf-Dwarf relations through friendship with Legolas - Founded the Glittering Caves after the War of the Ring - First (and only known) Dwarf to sail to the Undying Lands - "The relationship between Legolas and Gimli is of immense importance, as it paved the way for improved relations between their peoples"Balin Son of Fundin
- "One of the kinder Dwarves" in Thorin's Company - "Second eldest" with "position of leadership" - Became close friend of Bilbo after The Hobbit - Led ill-fated expedition to reclaim Moria in T.A. 2989 - Became "Lord of Moria" but was "slain by Orcs after ruling for five years" - His tomb encountered by the Fellowship: "caused great grief to his cousin... Gimli son of Glóin"Dáin II Ironfoot
- Slew Azog at Battle of Azanulbizar; saw Durin's Bane beyond the East-gate - Became King under the Mountain after Thorin's death - Led defense of Erebor during War of the Ring - Died fighting at Battle of Dale, defending Thorin's tombAzaghâl of Belegost
- Dwarf-lord of First Age - "Wounded Glaurung" the dragon, forcing him to retreat - "Dwarves were much more effective against dragons thanks to their fireproof metal masks"Mîm the Petty-dwarf
- Last of the Petty-dwarves by the First Age - Betrayed Túrin's location to Orcs - Slain by Húrin with a curse on his lips - "He was the last of his kind"Dragons and the Dwarves
Why Dragons Targeted Dwarves
The Seven Rings amplified Dwarven greed and skill, causing them to accumulate massive hoards that attracted dragons: - "Thanks to them the Seven Hoards were made" - "The Seven Hoards became so massive that they drew in monsters like dragons" - "Four [Rings] were consumed and destroyed by Dragons"
Glaurung (First Age)
- "The first dragon ever seen in Middle Earth" - "Father of dragons," wingless fire-drake - "Had four legs and could breathe fire, but didn't have wings" - Destroyed the Elf-realm of Nargothrond - Slain by Túrin TurambarSmaug (Third Age)
- "Last 'great' dragon of Middle-earth" - Winged fire-drake - major advantage over earlier dragons - Attacked Erebor in T.A. 2770, drawn by its wealth - Occupied the Lonely Mountain for 171 years - "Glaurung was stronger than Smaug in most ways... but Smaug had a major advantage: he could fly" - Slain by Bard the Bowman with a black arrowCold-drakes
- Lesser dragons without fire - Killed Dáin I in the Grey Mountains (T.A. 2589) - Continued to plague northern Dwarf-realmsDragon-Proof Technology
- "In The Silmarillion, Dwarves were much more effective against dragons thanks to their fireproof metal masks" - "Dwarven technology worsened throughout Middle-earth's history" - By Third Age, couldn't replicate old techniquesThe Seven Rings and Dwarven Resistance
Nature of the Seven Rings
- Forged by Sauron and given to Dwarf-lords - "The Rings, used only for the gaining of wealth, amplified their wearer's natural skills and desire for dominion" - "The Rings gave them the power to multiply whatever they mined"Why Dwarves Resisted Corruption
Key quote from Gandalf (LOTR): "[Dwarves] ill endure the domination of others, and the thoughts of their hearts are hard to fathom, nor can they be turned to shadows"Explanation from Tolkien's lore: - "Aulë, the godlike being who created the Dwarves, made them physically and mentally resilient so that they could resist the power of Sauron's master, Morgoth" - "The Dwarves resisted not because of the difference in the Rings - but because of something inherent about themselves" - Designed from creation to resist external domination
Effects on Dwarves
- Did NOT turn them into wraith-like servants like the Nine - DID amplify their goldlust and greed - "Thorin Oakenshield's father, Thráin, and grandfather, Thrór, became obsessed with reclaiming their lost wealth, leading both of them to their deaths" - Created the Seven Hoards, attracting dragonsFate of the Seven Rings
- Four: "Consumed and destroyed by Dragons" - one of few things capable of melting them - Two: Recovered by Sauron at unknown times - One (Ring of Thrór/Durin): "The mightiest of the seven Dwarven rings"; taken from Thráin II when imprisoned in Dol Guldur (T.A. 2845) - By the War of the Ring, Sauron possessed three; four destroyedDwarven Culture and Characteristics
Physical Traits
- Height: 4-5 feet (122-152 cm), "about 4 ft. high at least" - Build: "Short but sturdy stature," "broad-shouldered and heavily muscled" - Beards: Universal and prized - "thick, luxuriant beards in which they took great pride" - All Dwarves have beards from birth, including women: "For the Naugrim have beards from the beginning of their lives, male and female alike" (War of the Jewels)Dwarven Women
- Extremely rare: "Only approximately one-third of the Dwarven population consisted of women" - "Usually kept concealed inside their mountain halls" - "Seldom traveled in the outside world, only in great need, and when they did, they were dressed as men" - Indistinguishable from males: "womenkind be discerned by those of other race, be it in feature or in gait or in voice" - Only ONE named in all Tolkien's writings: Dís, sister of Thorin (mentioned only because her sons Fíli and Kíli died heroically)Marriage Customs
- "Dwarves marry late, seldom before they are ninety or more" - "Only 1 in 3 dwarves are female and not all females choose to marry" - "Less than half of Dwarf-men actually married: many preferred to spend their time with their crafts instead" - "When dwarven women marry they join their husband's family" - "If female dwarves could not marry the dwarf of their choice, they would have none" - "Dwarves... marry for life, choosing only one partner in their life" - "Female dwarves are never forced against their will to marry... 'would of course be impossible'"Lifespan and Demographics
- Extremely long-lived (200-250+ years typical) - Durin I lived so long he was called "the Deathless" - Slow population growth due to: - Only 1/3 female - Many choose not to marry - Late marriage age - Single-partner for lifeKhuzdul: The Secret Language
Origins
- "Aulë, the creator of the Seven Fathers of the Dwarves, taught them 'the language he had devised for them'" - "According to the Lhammas, Khuzdul is a language isolate, the sole member of the Aulëan language family" - Named "from the Dwarvish tradition that it had been devised by Aulë the Smith"Linguistic Structure
- Based on Semitic languages, particularly Hebrew: "Tolkien... based its structure and phonology on Semitic languages, primarily Hebrew, with triconsonantal roots of words" - "One of the defining features of Khuzdul is its triconsonantal root system" - Example: Root "Kh-Z-D" relates to Dwarves/identity - Example: Root "FLK" (chisel/hew rock) - "Felak" (chisel object), "afluk" (to chisel), "uflak" (hewer/person), "iflêk" (act of hewing)Cultural Secrecy
- "Dwarves were unwilling to teach outsiders Khuzdul, even to their non-dwarf friends" - "Dwarves do not go by their Khuzdul names in public, instead taking 'outer' names from Northern" - "Even on their tombs, Dwarves are recorded by these foreign names rather than their secret names" - "The Dwarves kept their own name for the material [mithril] secret"Famous Khuzdul Phrases
- "Baruk Khazâd! Khazâd ai-mênu!" = "Axes of the Dwarves! The Dwarves are upon you!" (battle cry) - "Khazad-dûm" = "Dwarves + Delving" or "Dwarrowdelf"Real-World Note
- Tolkien acknowledged: "Dwarves... both were 'at once natives and aliens in their habitations, speaking the languages of the country, but with an accent due to their own private tongue…'" - Parallel to Jewish diaspora communities was intentionalThe Cirth: Dwarven Writing
Origins
- Created by the Elf Daeron, minstrel of Doriath, in Y.T. 1300 First Age - Originally Sindarin Elvish alphabet called "Certhas Daeron" - "Letters were entirely made for carving on wood, stone or metal, hence their angular forms and straight lines"Dwarven Adoption and Modification
- "During the beginning of the Second Age in Eregion, Dwarves first came to know the Elvish runes" - "They modified the runes to suit the specific needs of their language, Khuzdul" - "The Dwarves 'introduced a number of unsystematic changes in value, as well as certain new cirth'"Angerthas Moria
- Dwarven adaptation used in Khazad-dûm - "The Long Rune-rows of Moria" - Modified from Elvish originalAngerthas Erebor
- Further adaptation at the Lonely Mountain - "Several letters reverted back to the original Angerthas Daeron phonetic value" - Used throughout Third Age by eastern DwarvesReal-World Inspiration
- "The runes of the dwarves were adapted by Tolkien from the Anglo-Saxon and Scandinavian rune scripts"Dwarven Craftsmanship
Inherent Skill
- "Throughout their existence, Dwarves were highly skilled in building unmatched weaponry and using it to their best advantage" - "They derived this skill from Vala Aulë, the Smith who fashioned the world of Arda and also crafted the dwarves"Materials
- Mithril: Most prized material - "Resembling silver, but being stronger and lighter than steel" - Could be "beaten like copper, and polished like glass" - "Light and yet harder than tempered steel" - "The beauty of mithril did not tarnish or grow dim" - Became priceless after Moria fell - Originally "worth ten times its weight in gold"Famous Creations
- Bilbo's Mithril Coat: "Greater than the value of the whole Shire and everything in it" (Gandalf) - Nauglamír: Golden necklace with countless gems; later set with a Silmaril - Doors of Durin: Magical mithril inlay that only appeared in moonlight - Arkenstone: Discovered and shaped by Dwarves, though possibly natural in origin - Orcrist and Glamdring: While Elvish-made, found and used by DwarvesWeapons and Armor
- "Dwarven weapons and armor are especially known for their exceptional durability and quality" - "The Dwarven ax is the most famously known weaponry in the Dwarven arsenal" - "The armor was mostly made of iron and chain-mails" - "When the dwarves started using Mithril in their smithing process, their armors changed more drastically than ever before" - "Mithril had the power to make the arrows bounce off from their shields and armor"Mining Expertise
- Unmatched knowledge of stone and metals - Built vast underground kingdoms - Helped build: Menegroth (Thingol), Nargothrond (Finrod) - Found and mined mithril exclusivelyDecline of Craftsmanship
- "Dwarven technology worsened throughout Middle-earth's history" - "Following the losses of Moria and Erebor, the Dwarves were unable to replicate their old techniques" - Loss of mithril source after Moria's fall - Loss of ancient knowledge as kingdoms fellElf-Dwarf Relations
Early Friendship (First Age)
- "Thingol was the first Elf to make contact and alliances with the Dwarves of Belegost" - Dwarves helped build Menegroth and Nargothrond - "There was a good deal of trade between the two races for much of the First Age" - Belegost's King Azaghâl fought valiantly against GlaurungThe Great Rupture: The Nauglamír
- After remaking the necklace with the Silmaril, Dwarves "refused to hand the treasure to Thingol" - "Slew the king as he stood among them" - Dwarves of Nogrod attacked Doriath - Beren slew the Lord of Nogrod at Sarn Athrad - "This tragic incident became a major source of the long-lasting feud between Elves and Dwarves"Lasting Tension
- Ilúvatar warned: "strife would arise between the Dwarves and the Elves in the future" - By Third Age, relations remained cool - Initial tension between Gimli and Legolas at Council of Elrond - "One of the greatest friendships in Tolkien's work comes out of one of the most long-held racial grudges"Healing Through Gimli and Legolas
- Galadriel's warm reception of Gimli in Lothlórien began change - Their pact: Fangorn Forest for the Glittering Caves - "I have never heard you speak like this before" - Legolas to Gimli about the caves - Fought side-by-side through the War of the Ring - Sailed West together - ultimate symbol of reconciliation - "Their friendship made significant strides in improving relations between Elves and Dwarves"Dwarves and Sauron
Second Age
- War of the Elves and Sauron (S.A. 1695-1701): - "When Eregion was sacked by Sauron's forces, the Dwarves assailed them from behind" - Helped save Elrond's forces, allowing founding of Rivendell - "Once the Dwarves returned to Khazad-dûm, the Doors of Durin were shut and remained so until the Fellowship"- War of the Last Alliance (S.A. 3430-3441): - "Of the Dwarves, few fought upon either side" - "But the folk of Durin from Khazad-dûm fought against Sauron" - Durin IV sent army to fight alongside the Last Alliance
Third Age
- T.A. 3018: Sauron's messenger to Erebor - "A messenger from Sauron had asked his king, Dáin II Ironfoot, for news of Bilbo and his ring" - Promised "three Dwarf-Rings in return" - Dwarves refused, remained loyal to Free Peoples- War of the Ring (T.A. 3019): - "Sauron sends his allies to attack the dwarves of Erebor" - "Taking place simultaneously with Mordor's assault on Gondor" - Dwarves fought desperate battle against Easterlings - "Kept the Easterlings distracted for the duration of the war" - Prevented Easterling reinforcements from reaching Mordor - Both Dáin II Ironfoot and King Brand of Dale killed defending Dale
Theological and Philosophical Dimensions
Created Outside the Music
- Dwarves are unique: created by a Vala, not by Ilúvatar - "The Dwarves' creation was outside the scope of the Music of the Ainur" - Yet Ilúvatar accepted them as "adopted children" - Implications: special relationship to fate and free willAfterlife Beliefs
Dwarven Belief: - "Mahal (Aulë) gathers their spirits into a separate hall set apart in the Halls of Mandos" - After death, they rest in a separate chamber awaiting the world's renewal - Thorin's words: "I go now to the halls of waiting to sit beside my fathers, until the world is renewed" Elvish Belief (early): - "Dying the Dwarves returned to the earth and the stone of which they were made" Eschatological Hope: - After Dagor Dagorath, "the dwarves will help Aulë rebuild the earth" - "Dead Dwarf-souls stayed at a separate place at Mandos, and would eventually be released as 'true children' of Eru" - Special role in the renewal of ArdaReincarnation Mystery
- Belief that Seven Fathers, especially Durin, are reborn - "The Longbeards believed that Durin would return seven times" - Each would "retain memory of their former lives as Kings" - However, Tolkien called this "a 'false notion'" - Ambiguity suggests: truth or cultural belief?Resistance to Domination
- Built into their nature by Aulë - "Made them physically and mentally resilient so that they could resist the power of Sauron's master, Morgoth" - Philosophical dimension: value freedom and autonomy absolutely - Will not submit to external control - Even the Rings cannot enslave themRelationship with the Natural World
- Aulë created without Yavanna's input - Yavanna's concern: "they will have little love for the animals and growing things" - Response: Creation of Ents as guardians - Tension: stone/metal vs. living growth - Yavanna's warning: "There shall walk a power in the forests whose wrath they will arouse at their peril"Jewish Parallels (Scholarly Context)
Tolkien's Statements
- "I do think of the 'Dwarves' like Jews: at once native and alien in their habitations, speaking the languages of the country, but with an accent due to their native tongue" (Letters 229) - BBC Interview: "The Dwarves of course are quite obviously—wouldn't you say that in many ways they remind you of the Jews?"Linguistic Parallels
- "The language of the Dwarves... is Semitic in cast, leaning phonetically to Hebrew" - Triconsonantal root system modeled on Hebrew - Secret language preserved in diasporaCultural/Historical Parallels
- Diaspora: Lost homeland, scattered among other peoples - "Preserving their own culture" despite dispersion - Ancient homeland (Khazad-dûm) vs. exile - "At once natives and aliens in their habitations" - Distinct cultural identity maintained across generationsScholarly Debate
Scholar Rebecca Brackmann analyzed: - Similarities in The Hobbit drew on "cultural assumptions about Jewishness" - Greed, gold-hoarding initially prominent - "The Nazi treatment of Jews... made Tolkien realize that such stereotyping could have horrifying consequences" - Gimli represents "a radical shift in the characterization of the Dwarves" - LOTR shows Dwarves as "no longer marginal to the heroic culture"Important Context
- Tolkien "deplored the Nazis and their 'race science'" - Angry with German publisher inquiring if he was "Aryan" - Not anti-Semitic but "product of a culture of anti-Jewishness" - Consciously evolved portrayal toward dignity and heroismContradictions & Different Versions
Durin's Day in The Hobbit
- First drafts: "First new moon of autumn" - Final version: Changed to "last new moon" - One mention in Chapter IV remained uncorrected until 1995 editionPlural "Dwarves"
- Original editor "corrected" to "dwarfs" - Tolkien: Real historical plural is "dwarrows" or "dwerrows" - Called "dwarves" "a piece of private bad grammar" - Kept it anyway for stylistic reasonsDurin's Reincarnation
Multiple versions: 1. Soul reborn in new body with memories intact (LOTR appendices) 2. Original body preserved in tomb; soul returns to same body (late writings) 3. "False notion" held by Dwarves (Tolkien's commentary) - Ambiguity suggests Tolkien never settled on one versionDwarven Afterlife
- Early: Elves believed Dwarves returned to stone - Later: Dwarves have separate chamber in Mandos - Eventually: Released as "true children" of Eru after Last Battle - Different traditions represent different peoples' beliefsThe Arkenstone
- Books: Greed partly caused by Seven Rings - Films: Arkenstone itself causes "dragon sickness" - Also films: Quest was specifically to retrieve Arkenstone (not emphasized in book)Discrete Analytical Themes
Theme 1: Unauthorized Creation and Divine Adoption
Core idea: The Dwarves' unique origin story - created by a subordinate deity out of impatience, then accepted and ensouled by the supreme creator - establishes their paradoxical position as both "natural" and "outside" the cosmic plan. Evidence: - "Aulë was impatient for the arising of the Children of Ilúvatar... and he wished for children to love and instruct" - creation motivated by love, not ambition (The Silmarillion) - Initially mere automatons "able to move and speak only if he wished so" - lacking true life - Aulë's immediate repentance: "raised his hammer to crush the Dwarves" when rebuked by Ilúvatar - Ilúvatar's mercy: "The Dwarves, who cowered from the blow" - their flinching proved they had received true life - "The Dwarves' creation was outside the scope of the Music of the Ainur" - unique among all peoples - "Ilúvatar accepted the Dwarves as his adopted children" - theological significance of adoption vs. natural children Distinction: This theme addresses their metaphysical origin and theological status, not their cultural traits or historical role. It establishes WHY they are different from Elves and Men fundamentally, at the level of creation itself. This is about BEING, not DOING.Theme 2: Engineered Resilience Against Domination
Core idea: The Dwarves were designed from their creation to resist external control - a trait that proved to be their salvation when faced with Sauron's corruption but also shaped their stubborn independence. Evidence: - "Aulë... made them physically and mentally resilient so that they could resist the power of Sauron's master, Morgoth" - deliberate design feature - Gandalf: "[Dwarves] ill endure the domination of others, and the thoughts of their hearts are hard to fathom, nor can they be turned to shadows" (LOTR) - "The Dwarves resisted not because of the difference in the Rings - but because of something inherent about themselves" - The Seven Rings amplified greed but could NOT enslave them unlike the Nine turning Men into Nazgûl - Sauron's miscalculation: "The only measure that he knows is desire, desire for power; and so he judges all hearts" - couldn't understand beings who wouldn't submit (Letters 131) - "Few [Dwarves] willfully served the side of darkness" despite receiving corrupted Rings Distinction: This theme is about their INNATE PSYCHOLOGICAL ARCHITECTURE, not about specific cultural practices or individual choices. It's the hard-wiring Aulë gave them that makes them constitutionally incapable of being dominated. Different from Theme 6 (individual Dwarves' choices) or Theme 8 (consequences of this trait).Theme 3: The Seven Hoards Paradox - Amplified Excellence Drawing Destruction
Core idea: The Seven Rings amplified the Dwarves' natural skills and industry to create unprecedented wealth, which became a curse by attracting the dragons that destroyed their kingdoms. Evidence: - "The Rings, used only for the gaining of wealth, amplified their wearer's natural skills and desire for dominion" - "The Rings gave them the power to multiply whatever they mined" - "It is said that thanks to them the Seven Hoards were made" - Rings as wealth multipliers - "The Seven Hoards became so massive that they drew in monsters like dragons, who claimed the treasures for themselves" - "Four [Rings] were consumed and destroyed by Dragons" - the Hoards attracted the very force that destroyed the Rings - Smaug's attack on Erebor: "attracted by the vast wealth amassed by the Dwarven kingdom" - Dragons began attacking northern kingdoms around T.A. 2570, targeting the wealthiest realms - Thrór's obsession with gold led him to Moria and death; Thráin II's greed led to his capture Distinction: This is about the IRONIC MECHANISM by which success becomes failure - how excellence amplified creates its own destruction. Not about greed as a character flaw (Theme 8) or Ring resistance (Theme 2), but about the self-defeating logic of unlimited accumulation attracting predators.Theme 4: Mortality Through Stone - Immortality Through Memory
Core idea: Though tied to stone and earth in creation, Dwarves developed unique eschatological beliefs about death, resurrection, and their role in remaking the world after its ending. Evidence: - Elvish belief: "Dying the Dwarves returned to the earth and the stone of which they were made" - dissolution into their material origin - Dwarven belief (contradicting Elves): "Mahal (Aulë) gathers their spirits into a separate hall set apart in the Halls of Mandos" - Thorin's last words: "I go now to the halls of waiting to sit beside my fathers, until the world is renewed" - confident hope of conscious afterlife - "After the Dagor Dagorath the dwarves will help Aulë rebuild the earth" - unique eschatological role - Durin's reincarnation belief: "Durin would return seven times... retained memory of their former lives as Kings" - memory persisting through death - "Dead Dwarf-souls... would eventually be released as 'true children' of Eru" - ultimate transformation from "adopted" to "true" children Distinction: This theme addresses DEATH, AFTERLIFE, AND ESCHATOLOGY specifically - their beliefs about what happens after death and at the end of the world. Not about their creation (Theme 1) or their living culture, but about their understanding of endings and renewal. This is about BECOMING after death.Theme 5: The Aulë-Yavanna Dialectic - Stone vs. Growth
Core idea: The Dwarves embody an eternal tension between craft/stone (Aulë's domain) and nature/growth (Yavanna's domain), a conflict built into the world's design that shaped both Dwarf and Ent. Evidence: - Yavanna's complaint to Aulë: "Because he created the dwarves without her aid, they will have little love for the animals and growing things of the world" - Yavanna sought "protection of her creations" from Aulë's Dwarves - expecting inevitable conflict - Result: "When the Firstborn (Elves) awoke, spirits also would come down into certain of the plants and animals in the form of... the Shepherds of the Trees" - Ents created as counterbalance - Yavanna's warning: "There shall walk a power in the forests whose wrath they will arouse at their peril" - Balrog awakened by "greedy digging for mithril" - delving too deep disrupted ancient powers - Gimli's poetry about the Glittering Caves vs. Legolas's love of Fangorn - individual Dwarf and Elf transcending racial divisions - Mining/crafting vs. preservation/growth as philosophical opposition Distinction: This is about the COSMIC-LEVEL PHILOSOPHICAL CONFLICT between transformation/craft and preservation/growth, not individual Dwarf traits. It's about the tension designed into creation itself between two Valar's visions. This is about OPPOSING PRINCIPLES embodied in races.Theme 6: The Price of the Deep - Hubris and the Balrog
Core idea: The Dwarves' greatest strength - their unmatched ability to delve into mountains - became their greatest vulnerability when greed and pride led them to awaken ancient evil. Evidence: - "Avarice, principally for mithril, drove the dwarves to go too deep and awaken the Balrog" - T.A. 1980: "After centuries of greedy digging for mithril and other minerals, the Dwarves woke a Balrog" - Mithril's value: "Before Moria was abandoned... worth ten times its weight in gold. After... it became priceless" - The Balrog "hibernated in his deep hiding place at the roots of the mountains" for over 5,000 years - ancient presence disturbed - Durin VI slain, called "Durin's Bane" - greatest king destroyed by unleashed power - "The Dwarves fled Khazad-dûm, leaving behind a looming, empty ruin which soon became known as Moria, the 'Black Pit'" - Balin's failed reclamation (T.A. 2989-2994): "Durin's Bane could not be bested" - the wound cannot be healed - Dáin Ironfoot "saw Durin's Bane beyond the East-gate" after Battle of Azanulbizar - warned against entering Distinction: This theme is about the SPECIFIC TRAGEDY of Khazad-dûm and the archetypal pattern of delving-too-deep, not general greed or dragon-gold. It's about crossing a threshold into forbidden depths and unleashing consequences. Different from Theme 3 (Hoards attracting dragons from outside) - here the danger comes from WITHIN the mountain itself.Theme 7: Diaspora and Cultural Persistence
Core idea: Like the Jewish people Tolkien explicitly compared them to, the Dwarves maintained their distinct identity, secret language, and cultural memory despite exile and dispersion among other peoples. Evidence: - Tolkien's explicit statement: "I do think of the 'Dwarves' like Jews: at once native and alien in their habitations, speaking the languages of the country, but with an accent due to their native tongue" (Letters 229) - Khuzdul as secret language: "Dwarves were unwilling to teach outsiders Khuzdul, even to their non-dwarf friends" - "Dwarves do not go by their Khuzdul names in public, instead taking 'outer' names" - maintaining hidden authentic identity - "Even on their tombs, Dwarves are recorded by these foreign names rather than their secret names" - secrecy extending to death - After Moria's fall, Smaug's attack, multiple exiles: Dwarves scattered but "preserved their own unique traditions and language in exile" - Multiple kingdoms rose and fell, but cultural continuity maintained: "The language of the Dwarves... is Semitic in cast, leaning phonetically to Hebrew" - Durin's memory preserved across millennia: "Retained memory of their former lives as Kings" Distinction: This is about CULTURAL SURVIVAL MECHANISMS IN EXILE, not about individual kingdoms or battles. It's about how a people maintain identity without a homeland through language, custom, and memory. Different from Theme 4 (afterlife beliefs) or Theme 1 (creation) - this is about CULTURAL REPRODUCTION across generations in diaspora.Theme 8: The Friendship That Healed Millennia - Gimli and Legolas
Core idea: The relationship between a Dwarf and an Elf reversed thousands of years of mistrust stemming from the Nauglamír betrayal, demonstrating individual choice transcending historical grievance. Evidence: - Ilúvatar's prophecy: "Strife would arise between the Dwarves and the Elves in the future" - conflict built into their relationship from creation - The Nauglamír incident (F.A. c. 502): Dwarves "slew the king [Thingol] as he stood among them" - "major source of the long-lasting feud" - Initial hostility: "Gimli's first clash with Legolas occurred before the Doors of Durin, in a brief dispute over whose fault it was" - Transformation through Galadriel: Gimli's warm reception in Lothlórien began healing - The Pact: "Gimli would go with Legolas to see the expansive Fangorn Forest if Legolas would travel with Gimli again to see the Glittering Caves" - Legolas's response to cave description: "I have never heard you speak like this before" - mutual recognition of depth - Ultimate symbol: "Gimli and Legolas boarded a ship to the West" - Gimli becomes "the first and only known Dwarf to travel beyond the circles of the world" - Impact: "Their friendship made significant strides in improving relations between Elves and Dwarves" Distinction: This is specifically about the HEALING OF HISTORICAL ENMITY THROUGH INDIVIDUAL RELATIONSHIP, not about Dwarves generally or cultural traits. It's about how personal friendship can overcome inherited grudges. Different from Theme 7 (cultural identity) or Theme 5 (Aulë-Yavanna tension) - this is about RECONCILIATION as a counter-force to structural conflict.Questions & Mysteries
What happened to the Four Eastern Houses?
- Ironfists, Stiffbeards, Blacklocks, Stonefoots barely mentioned - Did they survive into the Fourth Age? - What was their culture and history?What were the Dwarves' "true names" in Khuzdul?
- We only know their outer names (Thorin, Balin, Gimli, etc.) - Their secret Khuzdul names never revealed - What naming traditions did they follow?How exactly did Ring-greed differ from normal Dwarf nature?
- Dwarves already valued gold and craft - How much was Ring amplification vs. natural tendency? - Did non-Ring-bearing Dwarves notice the difference?What was Mîm's original crime?
- Petty-dwarves "descended from Dwarves exiled for evil deeds" - What were these evil deeds? - When and why were they exiled?Did Gimli's journey West create theological controversy?
- Dwarves believe they go to separate chamber in Mandos - Gimli sailed to Valinor like an Elf - What happened to his soul? Did he violate Dwarvish eschatology?Was Durin truly reincarnated or was it false?
- Tolkien says it's a "false notion" - But also describes it happening in detail - Cultural belief or actual mechanism?What is the "world renewed" Thorin references?
- "Until the world is renewed" - his last words - References to helping Aulë rebuild after Last Battle - What did Dwarves believe about this new world?Compelling Quotes for Narration
1. "He admitted that his impatience had driven him to folly and submitted his creations to Ilúvatar's will. Assuming that they should be destroyed, he made to smite the Seven Fathers of the Dwarves with a great hammer." (The Silmarillion, "Of Aulë and Yavanna")
2. "And Ilúvatar stopped him, saying that he accepted Aulë's creations and had granted them life - why else would mindless automatons flinch from his blow?" (The Silmarillion)
3. "[Dwarves] ill endure the domination of others, and the thoughts of their hearts are hard to fathom, nor can they be turned to shadows." - Gandalf (LOTR)
4. "The only measure that he knows is desire, desire for power; and so he judges all hearts." (Letters 131)
5. "Farewell, good thief. I go now to the halls of waiting to sit beside my fathers, until the world is renewed." - Thorin Oakenshield (The Hobbit)
6. "I have never heard you speak like this before." - Legolas to Gimli about the Glittering Caves (LOTR)
7. "I do think of the 'Dwarves' like Jews: at once native and alien in their habitations, speaking the languages of the country, but with an accent due to their native tongue." - Tolkien (Letters 229)
8. "For the Naugrim have beards from the beginning of their lives, male and female alike; nor indeed can their womenkind be discerned by those of other race, be it in feature or in gait or in voice." (The War of the Jewels)
9. "It could be beaten like copper, and polished like glass; and the Dwarves could make of it a metal, light and yet harder than tempered steel. Its beauty was like to that of common silver, but the beauty of mithril did not tarnish or grow dim." (LOTR, on mithril)
10. "Baruk Khazâd! Khazâd ai-mênu!" - "Axes of the Dwarves! The Dwarves are upon you!" (Battle cry)
Visual Elements to Highlight
1. Aulë raising the hammer to destroy the Seven Fathers, who cower in fear - the moment they receive true life 2. The Seven Fathers sleeping in their stone beds in different locations, waiting for the Elves to awaken 3. Khazad-dûm at its height - vast halls, mithril veins gleaming, forges blazing 4. The Balrog's awakening - fire erupting from the depths, Durin VI's last stand 5. The Seven Hoards - mountains of gold attracting the gaze of distant dragons 6. The Nauglamír - the golden necklace with a Silmaril at its heart, beautiful and cursed 7. Battle of Azanulbizar - Dwarves fighting Orcs in the snow before Moria's gates, pyres burning 8. Smaug descending on Erebor - the dragon-fire destroying the greatest Dwarf kingdom of the Third Age 9. The Glittering Caves - Gimli's vision of natural beauty that moves an Elf to silence 10. Gimli's ship sailing West with Legolas - the only Dwarf to pass beyond the circles of the world 11. The Arkenstone glowing with inner light in the darkness of the treasure hoard 12. Dwarven smiths working mithril, hammering the impossible metal into mail lighter than silk 13. The Dead of Azanulbizar - Dwarven warriors cutting down all the trees for funeral pyres, valley bare forever after
Sources Consulted
Primary Tolkien Sources
- The Silmarillion - Creation story, First Age history, Nauglamír incident - The Lord of the Rings - Gimli's story, Ring resistance, Third Age events - The Hobbit - Erebor, Smaug, Thorin's quest, Battle of Five Armies - Unfinished Tales - Petty-dwarves, additional First Age details - The History of Middle-earth series: - Volume 11: The War of the Jewels - Dwarf-women with beards - Volume 12: The Peoples of Middle-earth - Durin's reincarnation - Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien - Jewish parallels, Khuzdul as SemiticSecondary Sources (Web Research)
Tolkien Gateway (primary wiki resource): - Fathers of the Dwarves - Dwarves - Durin I - Seven Rings - Khuzdul - Cirth - Battle of Azanulbizar - Durin's Bane - Mithril - Nauglamír - Petty-dwarves The One Wiki to Rule Them All (Fandom): - Aulë - Seven Fathers of the Dwarves - Dwarves - War of the Dwarves and Orcs - Rings of Power - Arkenstone of Thráin Scholarly and Analysis Articles: - J. R. R. Tolkien's Jewish Dwarves - JSTOR Daily - Antisemitism and the Dwarves in J.R.R. Tolkien's Writing - Are Tolkien's dwarves an allegory for the Jewish people? Specialized Tolkien Blogs: - The Dwarrow Scholar - Death, Petty-dwarves, Resurrection of Durin - Ask About Middle Earth (Tumblr) - Dwarven afterlife, Petty-dwarves, Legolas and Gimli - It's a Dangerous Business, Frodo (Sweating to Mordor) - Creation of Dwarves, Durin's reincarnation Screen Rant, CBR, GameRant, Collider (popular culture analysis): - Multiple articles on Ring corruption, dragon attacks, Gimli-Legolas friendship, notable Dwarves Wikipedia: - Dwarves in Middle-earth - Khuzdul - Cirth - Mithril Language Resources: - Khuzdul: The Secret Language of the Dwarves - Worldwide Interpreters - Cirth - OmniglotAdditional Notes
Production Considerations for Script
Narrative Complexity: This topic is enormous - spans all Ages, multiple kingdoms, theological dimensions, linguistic elements. Script will need to carefully select which aspects to emphasize for a coherent narrative arc. Emotional Throughlines: - Aulë's love and repentance - Thorin's tragic arc from exile to redemption - Gimli and Legolas healing ancient wounds - The melancholy of lost kingdoms (Moria especially) Visual Opportunities: - The Dwarves are visually rich: underground halls, forges, battles, dragons, the contrast of bearded Dwarves vs. tall Elves - The Balrog awakening is iconic - Seven Hoards attracting dragons creates strong imagery Connecting to Broader Mythology: - Dwarves interact with nearly every major race and story - Created before Elves but must wait for them - Fight Orcs, Goblins, Dragons - Befriend and betray Elves - Allied with Men in Last Alliance and War of the Ring - Resistant to Sauron but affected by his machinations Controversial/Sensitive Elements: - Jewish parallels: Must handle respectfully and historically accurately - Tolkien's evolution from stereotype to dignity (Hobbit → LOTR) - Not shy away from Tolkien's statements but contextualize appropriately Unique Selling Points: - Only race created by someone other than Eru - Only race that resisted the Rings - Most tragic arc: repeated exile and loss - Most skilled craftsmen - Secret language never shared - Complex afterlife theologyResearch Quality Assessment
Strengths: - Abundant primary source material (Silmarillion, LOTR, Hobbit, Letters, HoME) - Excellent secondary sources (Tolkien Gateway comprehensive) - Multiple perspectives and scholarly analyses - Rich detail on language, culture, history, theology Gaps: - Eastern Houses barely documented - Few specific Dwarf names/individuals beyond Durin's line - Khuzdul remains largely secret (intentionally by Tolkien) - Some contradictions never resolved by Tolkien himself Particularly Strong Areas: - Creation story and Aulë-Ilúvatar dialogue - Ring resistance explanation - Gimli-Legolas friendship arc - Jewish parallels explicitly stated by Tolkien - Battle of Azanulbizar detail - Moria/Balrog tragedy Script Should Definitely Include: 1. The creation scene with hammer raised 2. Why they resist Ring corruption (unique among races) 3. The Seven Hoards and dragon attraction 4. Moria's fall - most tragic moment 5. Gimli sailing West - most hopeful moment 6. Jewish parallels (sensitively) 7. Secret language and cultural persistenceWord Count: ~9,800 words
This represents comprehensive research drawing from canonical Tolkien sources and authoritative secondary materials. The Discrete Analytical Themes section provides clear, non-overlapping frameworks for script structure, preventing redundancy while ensuring comprehensive coverage of this rich topic.
Sources Consulted: The Dwarves - Children of Aulë
Primary Tolkien Works (Referenced, Not Directly Accessed)
Most Useful Primary Sources
1. The Silmarillion - "Of Aulë and Yavanna" - Creation of Dwarves story - Nauglamír incident - First Age Dwarf-Elf relations - Most important for: Origin story and theological framework2. The Lord of the Rings - Appendices A, B, C - Third Age Dwarf history - War of Dwarves and Orcs - Battle of Azanulbizar - Durin's line genealogy - Most important for: Historical chronology and Gimli's story
3. The Hobbit - Erebor and Smaug - Thorin's quest and death - Battle of Five Armies - Arkenstone - Most important for: Emotional arc and Third Age kingdoms
4. Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien - Letter 131 (Sauron's psychology) - Letter 229 to Naomi Mitchison (Jewish parallels) - Most important for: Tolkien's explicit intentions and comparisons
5. Unfinished Tales - Petty-dwarves and Mîm - First Age additional details - Most important for: Deeper First Age lore
6. The History of Middle-earth Series - Volume 11: The War of the Jewels (Dwarf-women beards) - Volume 12: The Peoples of Middle-earth (Durin's reincarnation, eschatology) - Most important for: Evolution of concepts and unpublished details
Web Sources - Tolkien Gateway (Most Comprehensive)
Primary Reference Articles
1. Dwarves - Comprehensive overview of entire race - Cultural practices, history across all Ages - Usefulness: 10/10 - Central reference for everything2. Fathers of the Dwarves - Seven Fathers detailed - Where they were placed by Aulë - Seven Houses origins - Usefulness: 10/10 - Essential for creation story
3. Aulë - The Vala who created Dwarves - His nature and motivations - Dialogue with Ilúvatar - Usefulness: 9/10 - Crucial for theological dimension
4. Durin I - Eldest of the Fathers - Foundation of Khazad-dûm - Reincarnation beliefs - Usefulness: 9/10 - Most important individual Dwarf
5. Seven Rings - Fate of each Ring - Effects on Dwarves - Dragon consumption - Usefulness: 10/10 - Central to resistance theme
6. Khuzdul - Language structure - Secrecy customs - Semitic influences - Usefulness: 8/10 - Important for cultural identity
7. Cirth - Writing system origins - Dwarven modifications - Angerthas Moria and Erebor - Usefulness: 7/10 - Good cultural detail
8. Battle of Azanulbizar - Most detailed battle account - "Burned Dwarves" detail - Strategic significance - Usefulness: 9/10 - Most important Dwarf battle
9. War of the Dwarves and Orcs - Six-year war context - Thrór's death - Campaign across Misty Mountains - Usefulness: 8/10 - Important historical event
10. Durin's Bane - Balrog awakening - Fall of Moria - Gandalf's battle - Usefulness: 9/10 - Most tragic Dwarf moment
11. Mithril - Properties and value - Role in Moria's fall - Famous items - Usefulness: 8/10 - Important craftsmanship element
12. Nauglamír - Creation for Finrod - Thingol incident - Elf-Dwarf conflict origins - Usefulness: 9/10 - Key to understanding Elf relations
13. Petty-dwarves - Exiled Dwarves - First Age Beleriand - Mîm's story - Usefulness: 7/10 - Interesting but not central
14. Dwarf-women - Rarity and appearance - Marriage customs - Beards - Usefulness: 7/10 - Cultural detail
15. Gimli - Fellowship role - Legolas friendship - Glittering Caves - Sailing West - Usefulness: 9/10 - Most important individual story
Web Sources - Fandom (The One Wiki to Rule Them All)
1. Aulë - Additional creation details - Usefulness: 7/10 - Duplicates Tolkien Gateway but with some different quotes
2. Seven Fathers of the Dwarves - Good summary of Seven Houses - Usefulness: 7/10 - Clear organization
3. Dwarves - Comprehensive but less scholarly than Tolkien Gateway - Usefulness: 6/10 - Good backup reference
4. War of the Dwarves and Orcs - Battle details - Usefulness: 7/10 - Good narrative
5. Arkenstone of Thráin - Discovery and significance - Thorin's obsession - Final resting place - Usefulness: 8/10 - Important symbol
6. Rings of Power - Overview of all Rings - Dwarven resistance explained - Usefulness: 7/10 - Good context
7. Petty-dwarves - Exile and diminishment - Usefulness: 6/10 - Less detailed than Tolkien Gateway
Specialized Tolkien Blogs and Forums
1. The Dwarrow Scholar - Death - Afterlife beliefs - All about the Petty Dwarves - The Resurrection of Durin - Usefulness: 9/10 - Scholarly depth on specific topics
2. Ask About Middle Earth (Tumblr) - The Dwarven Afterlife - Elves and Dwarves: The Nauglamir - Legolas and Gimli in the Fourth Age - Petty-Dwarves - Dwarves, Sex, and Gender - Usefulness: 8/10 - Accessible answers with good citations
3. It's a Dangerous Business, Frodo (Sweating to Mordor) - The Creation of the Creation of the Dwarves - To Be the Deathless that Returned (Dwarvish Reincarnation) - Usefulness: 9/10 - Deep textual analysis
4. The Blog of Mazarbul - Durin VII, Reincarnation, and the Beautiful Dwarvish Long Defeat - Usefulness: 8/10 - Thoughtful thematic analysis
5. Wisdom from The Lord of the Rings - Gimli Speaks to Legolas of The Glittering Caves - Usefulness: 7/10 - Good on friendship theme
Scholarly Articles on Jewish Parallels
1. J. R. R. Tolkien's Jewish Dwarves - JSTOR Daily - Academic perspective - Historical context - Tolkien's explicit statements - Usefulness: 10/10 - Essential for contextualizing parallels
2. Antisemitism and the Dwarves in J.R.R. Tolkien's Writing (Rebecca Brackmann) - Scholarly analysis of stereotype vs. dignity - Evolution from Hobbit to LOTR - Nazi context - Usefulness: 10/10 - Most thorough academic treatment
3. Are Tolkien's dwarves an allegory for the Jewish people? - TheOneRing.net - Accessible discussion - Community perspectives - Usefulness: 7/10 - Good popular introduction
4. Are Tolkien's dwarves an allegory for the Jews? - Times of Israel - Jewish perspective - Cultural reception - Usefulness: 8/10 - Important perspective
Language Resources
1. Khuzdul: The Secret Language of the Dwarves - Worldwide Interpreters - Linguistic structure - Triconsonantal roots - Hebrew parallels - Usefulness: 9/10 - Best linguistic analysis
2. Cirth - Wikipedia - Writing system overview - Historical development - Usefulness: 7/10 - Good technical reference
3. Cirth - Omniglot - Character charts - Pronunciation guide - Usefulness: 6/10 - Good for visual reference
4. The Art Of Naming In Tolkien's Dwarvish Language - NamesFlare - Naming conventions - Cultural significance - Usefulness: 7/10 - Interesting cultural detail
Popular Culture Analysis Sites
Screen Rant
1. The Dwarves' Seven Rings Explained 2. Why Smaug Is The Only Dragon In LOTR 3. Where The Hobbit's Dwarves Are During LOTR 4. Should Dwarf Women Have Beards? 5. Durin The Deathless Explained - Usefulness: 6/10 - Good for accessible summaries, less rigorousGame Rant
1. LOTR: Who Were the 7 Dwarf Lords? 2. LOTR: Who Were The Dwarves of the Iron Hills? 3. LOTR: What is the Arkenstone? 4. LOTR: How Does Gimli Become Lord Of The Glittering Caves? 5. LOTR: Where Are The Dwarf Women? - Usefulness: 6/10 - Similar to Screen RantCBR (Comic Book Resources)
1. Lord of the Rings: The Races Most Susceptible to the One Ring's Power 2. Where Were the Dwarves During The Lord of the Rings? 3. The Lord of the Rings' Durin the Deathless, Explained 4. LOTR: Who Made the Best Weapons & Armor? 5. This Dragon-Proof Armor Could Have Saved the Dwarves - Usefulness: 6/10 - Pop culture angleCollider
1. Where Did the Seven Dwarf Rings Go? 2. 'The Rings of Power's Dwarven Line of Durin, Explained 3. Why Can the Elves Resist the Rings of Power's Influence? - Usefulness: 5/10 - Some good detailsWikipedia
1. Dwarves in Middle-earth - Comprehensive overview - Real-world influences - Usefulness: 8/10 - Good starting point
2. Khuzdul - Language structure - Usefulness: 7/10 - Solid linguistic reference
3. Mithril - Properties and uses - Cultural impact - Usefulness: 7/10 - Good material reference
4. Balrog - Durin's Bane context - Usefulness: 7/10 - Important for Moria story
Additional Resources
1. The Encyclopedia of Arda - Fathers of the Dwarves - Scholarly reference - Usefulness: 7/10 - Good supplementary source
2. Battle-Merchant - The friendship between Legolas and Gimli - Detailed friendship analysis - Usefulness: 7/10 - Good on healing theme
3. Panoply - Gimli and Legolas - Quick facts - Usefulness: 6/10 - Brief but accurate