Post by Stormrider on Jan 25, 2009 11:23:33 GMT -6
From: Algamesh_of_Arnor (Original Message) Sent: 3/24/2003 12:53 AM
"There agelong she had dwelt, an evil thing in spider-form ..."
Shelob ... quite an interesting antagonist! Our minds envision a great arachnid with venom-laden fangs and great clusters of obsidian eyes. A lumbering creature that can surprise with sudden cat-like reflexes and possessing a cunning intelligence that derives from the instinct of an ancient predator. But, how much time have we taken to really look into the soul of this creature ... twisted and dark it may be. A subtle indication that Shelob is ageless and immune to natural death may begin the mind to wander ...
Who or what is Shelob? Offspring to Ungoliant, we know, through quick reference. How much more do you know of her lineage? Do you truly have a grasp of the essence of Shelob's identity?
I believe that the best way to draw better conclusions about this entity is to understand Ungoliant. Ungoliant is described by Foster:
UNGOLIANT (S.: 'spider---') Spirit of evil. Ungoliant may have been one of the maiar corrupted by Melkor ... A creature of darkness, Ungoliant assumed a huge spider form ...
-The Complete Guide to Middle-Earth
Author: Robert Foster
Given this information, please draw some conclusions about Shelob and post them here for discussion and debate. I'll save my personal conclusions for a later date.
Your Thoughts?
* * *
From: Ruscosenda Sent: 3/24/2003 12:26 PM
This is an interesting question. If Shelob was a descendant of Ungoliant, that would seem to imply that Ungoliant had a mate(scary thought). Also, if Ungoliant was a corrupted Maiar - how do Maiar reproduce? I know that Melian had offspring with Thingol, but he was not a Maiar.
Also, it is interesting that both Shelob and Ungoliant were evil spirits that assumed "spider-form" and that the spiders of Mirkwood were Shelob's descendants. Was it possible for them to assume other forms?
-- Rusco
* * *
From: FelineCat9 Sent: 5/4/2003 5:29 PM
Just a thought , but in the mind of Illuvater , Melkor and Manwe are supposed to be brothers , manby in the mind of Illuvater Ungoliant and Shelob are supposed to be Mother and Daughter , manby the where both Maia Spirits who where fair but where corrupted by Melkor , manby some of the Maia's took on these huge Spider forms and Ungoliant was there Queen , and the others where called her children only because they followed her and her most devoted follower was Shelob , just a thought > Gandalf and Saruman are supposed to be brothers but not by some birth I think and Radagast is supposed to be there cousin > Also another way to look at this is manby Ungoliant went to flesh Spiders and adopted them and it seems since it says Shelob is an Evil thing in Spider Form that she must be a Spirit and manby in this case Ungoliant adopted a Spirit and turned her into Spider form or whatever , these are just thoughts >
"There agelong she had dwelt, an evil thing in spider-form ..."
Shelob ... quite an interesting antagonist! Our minds envision a great arachnid with venom-laden fangs and great clusters of obsidian eyes. A lumbering creature that can surprise with sudden cat-like reflexes and possessing a cunning intelligence that derives from the instinct of an ancient predator. But, how much time have we taken to really look into the soul of this creature ... twisted and dark it may be. A subtle indication that Shelob is ageless and immune to natural death may begin the mind to wander ...
Who or what is Shelob? Offspring to Ungoliant, we know, through quick reference. How much more do you know of her lineage? Do you truly have a grasp of the essence of Shelob's identity?
I believe that the best way to draw better conclusions about this entity is to understand Ungoliant. Ungoliant is described by Foster:
UNGOLIANT (S.: 'spider---') Spirit of evil. Ungoliant may have been one of the maiar corrupted by Melkor ... A creature of darkness, Ungoliant assumed a huge spider form ...
-The Complete Guide to Middle-Earth
Author: Robert Foster
Given this information, please draw some conclusions about Shelob and post them here for discussion and debate. I'll save my personal conclusions for a later date.
Your Thoughts?
* * *
From: Ruscosenda Sent: 3/24/2003 12:26 PM
This is an interesting question. If Shelob was a descendant of Ungoliant, that would seem to imply that Ungoliant had a mate(scary thought). Also, if Ungoliant was a corrupted Maiar - how do Maiar reproduce? I know that Melian had offspring with Thingol, but he was not a Maiar.
Also, it is interesting that both Shelob and Ungoliant were evil spirits that assumed "spider-form" and that the spiders of Mirkwood were Shelob's descendants. Was it possible for them to assume other forms?
-- Rusco
* * *
From: FelineCat9 Sent: 5/4/2003 5:29 PM
Just a thought , but in the mind of Illuvater , Melkor and Manwe are supposed to be brothers , manby in the mind of Illuvater Ungoliant and Shelob are supposed to be Mother and Daughter , manby the where both Maia Spirits who where fair but where corrupted by Melkor , manby some of the Maia's took on these huge Spider forms and Ungoliant was there Queen , and the others where called her children only because they followed her and her most devoted follower was Shelob , just a thought > Gandalf and Saruman are supposed to be brothers but not by some birth I think and Radagast is supposed to be there cousin > Also another way to look at this is manby Ungoliant went to flesh Spiders and adopted them and it seems since it says Shelob is an Evil thing in Spider Form that she must be a Spirit and manby in this case Ungoliant adopted a Spirit and turned her into Spider form or whatever , these are just thoughts >