This episode of Mythic Existence is about monsters in Lord of the Rings. We dive into the deep lore of Tolkien’s legendarium, which stretches back to the creation of Arda through the Music of the Ainur, straight through to the War of the Ring. We try to determine where these beings came from in myth, and what function they serve. Tolkien’s legendarium is filled with creatures that have been existing in myth and folklore from time immemorial. His ability to take recognizable figures like giants and turns them into ents is one thing that keeps readers coming back. We’ll have another episode in the future featuring creatures like balrogs, nazguls, and ringwraiths. But clearly, the story of middle-earth is deeply intertwined so you can’t talk about one thing without talking about another.