May 11, 2003

Orcs in Moria
Paths_of_the_dead

A question about the Moria orcs. In FotR, when the Fellowship is running out of the Chamber of Mazarbul (spelling?) and all of five thousand-some orcs are pursuing them...since when do orcs climb like monkeys? I know that Tolkien has used insect metaphors and similies in his stories (and insects came walk on a wall) and ape-like descriptions, but I don't remember ever reading that orcs could climb down columns and on the ceiling. I've always seen orcs as being more man/elf-like in abilities, since they're basically deformed elves and I don't remember reading that elves can climb like monkeys either. Any thoughts on this?