Essays

Collected essays by members of Heirs of Durin, and guest contributors:

By DarkJackal

In Defense of Thorin Oakenshield: A Journey from Hero to Villain, and Back Again

What Sort of Thorin Will We See in The Hobbit Film? (written in 2011)

Richard Armitage: Warrior Extraordinaire – A Thorin Preview (less of an essay and more of me saying “I told you so!”)

Orcrist: The Sword of Thorin in Book, Film, and Replica

Matters of Trust: Exploring Conflict in “The Quest of Erebor” (written before AUJ debuted with predictions on what we will see in the films)

Legacy of the People: The Burdens of Thorin Oakenshield and Boromir of Gondor

Confusticate and Bebother these Dates! The Durin’s Day Dilemma

By ArchedCory

Middle-earth’s Biology as Shown in The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

In Defense of Fili, Kili, and Thorin Oakenshield: An Appreciation Beyond Hot Dwarves

Dwarven Demographics

The Evolution of Smaug

The Anatomy of Smaug

Fili, Kili and Thorin Oakenshield in Desolation of Smaug – A Second Appreciation of the Heirs of Durin

By Ori’s Quill

The Great Rings Part I: Concerns of the White Council

The Great Rings Part II: The Rings of Power

The Great Rings Part III: The Last of the Seven

By DanielLB and DarkJackal

Who Was the Original Owner of Orcrist?

By Michelle Nevins

An Introduction to Runes in The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

By Anjy Roemelt

Dori, Nori and Ori: Appreciating the Not-So-Hot Dwarves

Once a Dwarf – Always a Dwarf? From the Nauglath to the Heirs of Durin
Part I: The Roots of Tolkien’s Dwarves

What’s So Special About These Dwarves?

By Susan Messer Chan

Thorin Oakenshield: Tolkien’s Inimitable Hero

By Ewelina the Wonderer

The Unexpected Origins of Gandalf and the Dwarves

By Iduna

Predicting Durin’s Day

By Kingfisher

Weapons of a King – Thorin Oakenshield

Fili: Twice as Fierce – or – “The One-Dwarf Walking Arsenal”

Kili and His Weapons – Deadly at Every Range

Dwalin – Weapons of a Veteran

Balin – Mace or Sword from Ancient Times

Gloin – His Axe Stands Ready

Oin – A Healer and His Staff

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