How Do You Spell SHELOB?

Pronunciation: [ʃˈɛlɒb] (IPA)

The word "shelob" is a fictional character in J.R.R. Tolkien's "The Lord of the Rings." It is pronounced as /ˈʃɛlɒb/ with the first syllable sounding like "shell" and the second sounding like "ob." The "sh" sound is represented by the IPA symbol "ʃ" while the "ɛ" sound in the first syllable is like the "e" in "bed." The "ɒ" sound in the second syllable is like the "o" in "hot." The spelling of "shelob" is attributed to Tolkien's own language creation and naming conventions.

Meaning and Definition
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SHELOB Meaning and Definition

  1. Shelob is a fictional character in J.R.R. Tolkien's fantasy works, specifically in his renowned novel "The Lord of the Rings". She is a massive spider creature and plays a significant role in the story as an antagonist. Described as the last of the ancient and monstrous spiders, Shelob resides in the dark labyrinthine tunnels of the Ephel Dúath, a range of mountains situated in the land of Mordor.

    Standing as a powerful and deadly creature, Shelob is known for her immense size, cunning intelligence, and her insatiable appetite for living flesh. She possesses a hideous appearance, with a monstrous body covered in coarse black hair, venomous fangs, and eight long, spindly legs. Her intimidating presence embodies the essence of fear and terror.

    Shelob's lair is a treacherous and deadly place, constructed with webs that are both intricate and deadly. These webs serve her as traps for capturing and consuming prey, including but not limited to hapless creatures and even Men. It is said that her origins can be traced back to the ancient creatures, the spawn of Ungoliant, who was a great evil spirit known to have taken the shape of a spider.

    In Tolkien's epic narrative, the protagonist Frodo Baggins and his faithful companion Samwise Gamgee encounter Shelob during their arduous journey to destroy the One Ring in the fires of Mount Doom. The skirmish between the hobbits and Shelob becomes a climactic moment in the novel, as they fight for their lives in a battle against this formidable adversary in a desperate bid to continue their quest.

Etymology of SHELOB

The word "Shelob" originates from J.R.R. Tolkien's fictional Middle-earth legendarium, specifically from his novel "The Lord of the Rings". Shelob is the name of a giant, venomous spider that resides in the mountains of Mordor. The etymology of the word "Shelob" is Elvish, derived from the Sindarin language. In Tolkien's work, "shelob" is composed of two Sindarin words: "she" meaning "female" and "lob" meaning "spider". So, the name Shelob essentially means "spider-woman" in Tolkien's fictional Elvish language.