Ents are a fictional race of tree-like creatures that became a free people, appearing in J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-earth legendarium, which includes The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, and The Silmarillion. The name "Ent" is derived from the Old English word "ent," which means "giant." They were given life to protect the forests from Orcs, Dwarves, and other perils.
Ents are described as being slow to anger and deliberate in their actions, but powerful and fierce when roused. They are often depicted as being old and wise, with a deep connection to the natural world, especially to trees and forests. They’re also notable for their physical appearance, which includes long limbs and a trunk-like body covered in bark. They are able to move and communicate with other Ents and creatures of the forest and are skilled in the use of axes and other tools made from wood.
Female Ents are called “Entwives”, who are said to be more skilled at cultivating plants and gardens than male Ents. During the First or the Second Age they started to move farther away from the Ents because they liked to plant small things like vegetables, grass, and flowers while the male Ents tended the larger trees of the great forest. In Tolkien's works, the Entwives have been lost for centuries and are greatly missed by the Ents.
The Ents are a dwindling race and have been threatened by the actions of humans and other creatures who have destroyed many of the forests that they call home. They are known for their slow and methodical way of speaking and decision-making and are said to have a language of their own that sounds like the rustling of leaves and the creaking of tree branches. Tolkien described it as being "unhurried, slow, and sonorous, with a deep resonance that comes from the chest." They are often characterized as being very patient and slow to anger, but once they are roused, they are powerful, fierce fighters. This is seen most especially in the Battle of Isengard in The Lord of the Rings, where the Ents finally rise up against Saruman's destruction of the forests.
Treebeard, (also known as Fangorn), is the most well-known Ent in Tolkien's works, and he serves as a protector and shepherd of the trees in Fangorn Forest. We hear Tolkien’s voice in Treebeard’s lament over the actions of the wizard, Saruman, “Curse him, root and branch! Many of those trees were my friends, creatures I had known from nut and acorn; many had voices of their own that are lost forever now. And there are wastes of stump and bramble where once there were singing groves.” Saruman represents industrialization and technological advancements without care for the natural world. An evil that threatens not only free folk and natural creatures, but the very land upon which they all depend. Perhaps Treebeard is representative of Tolkien’s passion for all things green.
Ents have a tradition of holding "moots," or meetings, in which they discuss important issues related to the forests and the natural world. These meetings can take a long time, as Ents are deliberate in their decision-making, but they are seen as important for maintaining the balance of nature.
Overall, Ents are an important part of Tolkien's rich and complex mythology and are beloved by fans of his works for their unique and memorable characteristics. They’re certainly one of my favorite inhabitants of Middle-Earth!
I've always wanted to hold a meeting and call it a moot!