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Sam20
Menegroth
Aug 2 2012, 11:23pm
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Grìma Wormtongue
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I was just thinking, it would be interesting to know more of this character (however foul he is and of no great importance) before the story of the LOTR. I mean we know that he was once a man of Rohan but how did enter into the service of Saruman and thereafter becoming closest into the counsel of king Theoden? Wormtongue isn't 'such' an important character I think, still he is the one who has poisoned the ears or Theoden and contributed to the idleness of the king while Rohan was becoming weaker every day. He's also the one who kill Saruman (in a treacherous way) and so ending for good the War of the Ring. Since Tolkien has writted about many things for the background of LOTR and The Hobbit I am a bit surprised that this character has no previous tale concerning him at least not that I am aware of.
What's you thought on this?
(This post was edited by sam90 on Aug 2 2012, 11:26pm)
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geordie
Dor-Lomin
Aug 3 2012, 8:54am
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As written by Tolkien, Grima was a man of Rohan who rose to be counsellor of the king. As Gandalf said, he gave Theoden good and faithful service, but fell under Saruman's influence - we aren't told how or when. He had ambitions; never a good trait in a follower.
Grima was a small sort of person - while still in the service of the king he fell to petty thieving (as was shown when Hama was sent to get Theoden's sword, which Grima had in his keeping - there were also several other items in Grima's chest).
Grima was extremely dangerous - in one or other of Tolkien's writings he's said to have been secretly administering poisons to Theoden.
Grima's name comes from an Old English word meaning 'mask'.
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Ziggy Stardust
Mithlond
Aug 4 2012, 12:18am
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Another mystery surrounding Grima, that I often wondered about was if he was an albino. In the novel, he's described as pale, and has red eyes. (Sounds like a vampire, huh?) Grima was human, so why did he have red eyes? I know that albinos tend to have red or pinkish-eyes, so I wondered if Grima was albino? *shrugs*.
"It's okay, I feel like getting up and screaming every time you walk into a room." -Lestrade, Sherlock S2,ep3.
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Seaber
Ossiriand
Aug 4 2012, 1:39pm
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he had bloodshot eyes. It would add to his ill appearance.
I quite like the idea this comes from his inability to sleep, either from misgivings about his actions, or thinking about Eowyn.
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Sam20
Menegroth
Aug 4 2012, 10:38pm
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Thanks for you answers.
@geordie
quote:
'Grima was extremely dangerous - in one or other of Tolkien's writings he's said to have been secretly administering poisons to Theoden.'
Indeed that's what I've read also in the Uninished Tales in the part of Rohan. Apparently he had contributed to increase the natural sickness that had afflicted King Theoden or perhaps even created it. It tells a bit more of his evil doings while in the service of Theoden. But though the big lines of his background are relatively known, how it came to happen can only be guessed. Maybe that's what make me wondering more about it.
(This post was edited by sam90 on Aug 4 2012, 10:42pm)
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sador
Gondolin
Aug 5 2012, 7:54am
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I've given some thought to this character in my time
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Grima was a small sort of person - while still in the service of the king he fell to petty thieving (as was shown when Hama was sent to get Theoden's sword, which Grima had in his keeping - there were also several other items in Grima's chest).
And Grima said he lied. And Theoden passed this point. I don't think knowing that one character is "good" and the other is "bad" proves who speaks the truth in such case - remember Bilbo's evasions in The Hobbit?
Grima was extremely dangerous - in one or other of Tolkien's writings he's said to have been secretly administering poisons to Theoden.
I don't have Unfinished Tales here - but this is in The Battles of the Fords of Isen. If I remember correctly, Tolkien is only reporting a rumor, not stating a fact.
In our discussion of The Lord of the Rings four years ago, I have written three posts about his character. If you forgive my self-referencing, here are the links:
http://newboards.theonering.net/..._latest_reply;so=ASC;
http://newboards.theonering.net/..._latest_reply;so=ASC;
http://newboards.theonering.net/..._latest_reply;so=ASC;
"Is the mountain more dangerous because it is personified? Are the nights not scary enough unless they are actively plotting against the dwarves?"
- Arwen's Daughter.
The weekly discussion of The Hobbit is back. Join us in the Reading Room for A Short Rest!
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Ziggy Stardust
Mithlond
Aug 8 2012, 3:37am
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Perhaps Tolkien meant that Grima's eyes were red, in the sense from illness? I just assumed the irises were red, because I've read things like "His green eyes", so when I read that his eyes were red, I literally thought the eyes were red. My bad. 
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Sam20
Menegroth
Aug 8 2012, 11:25pm
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It may be that it is in a metaphorical way, that he has 'red eyes' from his malice.
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