Mewlips

The Mewlips were a fictional race, made up by Hobbits of the Shire,^[1] mentioned only in one poem. They were dangerous creatures, dwelling in the dark and feasting on unwary travelers who sought them out.^[2]

History

The Mewlips's dwelling place was said to be a dark valley far over the Merlock Mountains, through 'spider-shadows' and a forbidding wood, and beyond the marsh of Tode. They live and hide in damp, moonless and sunless cellars, where they sit and count their gold.^[2]

Background

On February 13 of 1963, Tolkien stated in a letter to one Miss Allen that the Mewlips were simply legends made up as fiction by the Shire-folk.^[1]

In some plot notes that J.R.R. Tolkien made while writing the The Hobbit, the raftsmen told tales of rafts, men, and beasts disappearing in the Long Marshes;^[3] It was suggested by John D. Rateliff 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.^[4] If this is the case, the idea of these plot notes may possibly have been in Tolkien's mind when he eventually wrote the poem. If this is indeed the case, then the "you" in the poem may possibly be referring to one of the raftsmen.

Gallery

A Mewlips drawing

Scuplted rendition of Mewlips, by Lone Animator

Translations

References