What Orcs Look Like

FrodoFriend · 01-15-2002, 12:07 AM

There's a passage in the Sil that descibes when the Elves in Middle Earth first saw Orcs. I remember that they thought that Orcs were just Elves that had gone savage and wild. So, logically, they didn't look THAT different from the Elves themselves. Now, in The Hobbit they're described as "goblins" and are very distinctively not elvish looking, and in LotR (book and movie) they're described as being much more animal-looking (Grishnakh's abnormally long arms, etc.).

What I want to know is: Did the Orcs look the same in the Elder Days as in the other ages? Or did they evolve into more and more hideous forms as time went by? Surely no one could mistake Grishnakh or the movie-Orcs as wild Elves? So what happened?

Michael Martinez · 01-15-2002, 12:24 AM

Tolkien's view of the Orcs changed radically through the years, but the orcs and goblins of The Hobbit were inspired by the goblins in George MacDonald's The Princess and the Goblin.

Wayfarer · 01-15-2002, 08:01 PM

Which is a VERY good story, by the way. I suggest you read it.

Wayfarer · 01-15-2002, 09:24 PM

You know...

As far as orcs looking like elves, did anyone else think hugo weaving looked like a goblin? He acted a bit like one as well.

FrodoFriend · 01-15-2002, 11:11 PM

Hmmm . . . no, I thought he looked sort of like a rat. The pointy nose. I could just picture it twitching.

Wayfarer · 01-16-2002, 08:11 PM

Thanks for that image, FF.

Ñólendil · 01-21-2002, 12:52 AM

It's stupid, I know, but I thought he looked more like a human than anything else.

01-15-2002, 12:07 AM	#1
FrodoFriend Halfwitted Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Eryn Vorn Posts: 1,659	What Orcs Look Like There's a passage in the Sil that descibes when the Elves in Middle Earth first saw Orcs. I remember that they thought that Orcs were just Elves that had gone savage and wild. So, logically, they didn't look THAT different from the Elves themselves. Now, in The Hobbit they're described as "goblins" and are very distinctively not elvish looking, and in LotR (book and movie) they're described as being much more animal-looking (Grishnakh's abnormally long arms, etc.). What I want to know is: Did the Orcs look the same in the Elder Days as in the other ages? Or did they evolve into more and more hideous forms as time went by? Surely no one could mistake Grishnakh or the movie-Orcs as wild Elves? So what happened? __________________ Fingolfin lives! ... in my finger! The Crossroads of Arda - Warning. Halfwit content. Not appropriate for people with IQ of over 18. The Fellowship of the Message Board Nyáréonié - The Tale of Tears

01-15-2002, 12:24 AM	#2
Michael Martinez Elven Loremaster Join Date: Feb 2000 Posts: 892	Tolkien's view of the Orcs changed radically through the years, but the orcs and goblins of The Hobbit were inspired by the goblins in George MacDonald's The Princess and the Goblin. __________________ http://www.xenite.org/faqs/lotr_movie/ http://www.michael-martinez.com/ http://www.merp.com/essays/MichaelMartinez/

01-15-2002, 08:01 PM	#3
Wayfarer The Insufferable Join Date: Aug 2001 Posts: 3,333	Which is a VERY good story, by the way. I suggest you read it. __________________ Disgraced he may be, yet is not dethroned, and keeps the rags of lordship once he owned

01-15-2002, 09:24 PM	#4
Wayfarer The Insufferable Join Date: Aug 2001 Posts: 3,333	You know... As far as orcs looking like elves, did anyone else think hugo weaving looked like a goblin? He acted a bit like one as well. __________________ Disgraced he may be, yet is not dethroned, and keeps the rags of lordship once he owned

01-15-2002, 11:11 PM	#5
FrodoFriend Halfwitted Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Eryn Vorn Posts: 1,659	Hmmm . . . no, I thought he looked sort of like a rat. The pointy nose. I could just picture it twitching. __________________ Fingolfin lives! ... in my finger! The Crossroads of Arda - Warning. Halfwit content. Not appropriate for people with IQ of over 18. The Fellowship of the Message Board Nyáréonié - The Tale of Tears

01-16-2002, 08:11 PM	#6
Wayfarer The Insufferable Join Date: Aug 2001 Posts: 3,333	Thanks for that image, FF. __________________ Disgraced he may be, yet is not dethroned, and keeps the rags of lordship once he owned

01-21-2002, 12:52 AM	#7
Ñólendil Elf Lord Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: California Posts: 60,865	It's stupid, I know, but I thought he looked more like a human than anything else. __________________ Falmon -- Dylan

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