Dwarves (Middle-earth)

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The Dwarves of J. R. R. Tolkien's fictional universe of Middle-earth are beings of short stature, often friendly with Hobbits although long suspicious of Elves. They are typically blacksmiths and stoneworkers by profession, unrivaled in some of their arts even by the Elves. For Dwarves in other legends and fantasy works see: Dwarf.

The enduring popularity of Tolkien's books, especially The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, has led to the popular use of the term dwarves to describe this race in fantasy literature. Before Tolkien, the term dwarfs (with a different spelling) was used, as seen in Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.

According to Tolkien, the "real 'historical'" plural of dwarf is dwarrows or dwerrows. He once referred to dwarves as "a piece of private bad grammar" (The Letters of J. R. R. Tolkien, 17), but in Appendix F to The Lord of the Rings he explains that if we still spoke of dwarves regularly, English might have retained a special plural for the word dwarf as with man. The form dwarrow only appears in the word Dwarrowdelf, a name for Moria. Tolkien used Dwarves, instead, which corresponds with Elf and Elves, making its meaning more apparent. The use of a different term also serves to set Tolkien's Dwarves apart from the similarly-named creatures in mythology and fairy-tales.

Unlike Elves and Men, the Dwarves are not counted among the Children of Il�vatar. They were created by Aul� the Smith. They were kept asleep until the creation of the Elves. Aul� created the Seven Fathers of the Dwarves, from whom all other Dwarves are descended. Aul� later repented and confessed to Il�vatar. Il�vatar granted the Dwarves life, and therefore they are known as the Adopted Children of Il�vatar.

Most Dwarves mentioned in Tolkien's works are of Durin's folk, the clan founded by Durin, called the Longbeards. (A notable exception are the inhabitants of the dwarf-cities of Nogrod and Belegost in the Blue Mountains, spoken of in The Silmarillion).

They mined and worked precious metals throughout the mountains of Middle-earth. In many ways, they were in between the Elves and Men. They were not immortal, but lived to two hundred and fifty years or more. They were generally less corruptible than Men, but committed their share of rash and greedy acts. (Among these are the slaying of Thingol and the dispute over the Arkenstone.)

The Dwarven language was created by Aul�, and was known as Khuzdul. It was a strange language to Elves and Men, and few non-Dwarves learned it, also because they kept it secret. However, one Dwarven phrase is well known: the ancient battle cry, going back to at least the First Age: "Baruk Khaz�d! Khaz�d ai-m�nu!", which means "Axes of the Dwarves! The Dwarves are upon you!"

Thorin brings twelve Dwarves to Bag End to recruit Bilbo for their treasure hunt in The Hobbit.

Gimli joins the Fellowship of the Ring and befriends Legolas in The Lord of the Rings.

In the earliest versions of Tolkien's Middle-earth mythology (see: The History of Middle-earth) the dwarves were evil beings created by Melkor.

Dwarves of Middle-earth