Are Azog and Bolg in J.R.R. Tolkien’s Legendarium?

In J.R.R. Tolkien's legendarium, characters such as Azog and Bolg play significant roles. However, their appearances and involvement in the books are somewhat limited compared to their portrayals in the film adaptations of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings.

Character Appearances in The Hobbit

Azog and Bolg are mentioned in The Hobbit, yet their roles are minimal. Azog is referenced just once in the main text, where it is mentioned that he killed Thror, Thorin's grandfather. In the context of the films, his role was significantly expanded, giving audiences a more prominent villain to root against.

Bolg, on the other hand, appears only in the final battle, the Battle of the Five Armies. He has no dialogue and meets his end at the hands of Beorn. In the movie adaptation, his role is more substantial, becoming the leader of the Goblin forces and a key antagonist alongside his father.

Expanded Roles in The Lord of the Rings

In The Lord of the Rings, the storyline related to Azog and Bolg is more indicative of the film's narrative. Azog's character is further detailed in the appendices, where we learn about his cruel act of slaying Thror and branding his name on his corpse. This event sparked the War of the Dwarves and Orcs, which Azog was killed in, by Dain Ironfoot.

Similarly, Bolg's role is expanded in the appendices. He is described as the leader of the goblin forces that attacked Erebor during the final battle. Both characters' roles are significantly less prominent in the main text of The Lord of the Rings.

The Outcomes of Their Deaths

Azog was killed by Dain Ironfoot at the end of the Goblin War, which began due to Azog's dishonorable act of decapitating and throwing out Thror's body. Bolg met his end at the hands of Beorn during the Battle of the Five Armies. Beorn, an imposing force, dealt with Bolg's bodyguard and then crushed Bolg to death after recovering Thorin's companions, Fili and Kili.

The book's expansion of Azog and Bolg's characters in the appendices provides a more detailed and gripping narrative. These accounts are markedly different from the streamlined versions in the film adaptations.

Summary and Comparison

While Azog and Bolg are characters from the Tolkien legendarium, their roles in the source material and film adaptations differ significantly. In the books, they have limited appearances, but their stories are expanded in the appendices to provide additional depth. In the films, their roles are more prominent, often serving as key antagonists in the storytelling.

Both Azog and Bolg bring an intriguing element to the narrative of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, but their true impact on the legendarium and the wars they instigated is more fully realized in the expanded appendices of The Lord of the Rings.