Melissa Barker-Simpson

A to Z Blogging Challenge – Day 17: Fantasy Squad – Ogres

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I can’t help it, when I think of ogres, I think of Shrek, and I have DreamWorks to thank for that, or at least the writers! So I’m going to move away from the movie, otherwise this post will turn into something else entirely!

Ogres are often confused with trolls and giants. They certainly overlap in folklore. I think they’re pretty fascinating, though I say that about most mythical creatures. What can I say, I enjoy mythology (yes, yes, especially Greek!)

As I began writing this, and thinking about how ogres are represented, it occurred to me that the dwarves (if Tolkien can do it…let’s not start that debate again) I created in The Contract, are more like ogres than the usual interpretation of dwarves. But let’s move on before this post turns into something else entirely (wait…didn’t I already use that line?)

Ogre by JuanCharles Digital Art / Drawings & Paintings / Fantasy©2012-2015 JuanCharles
Ogre by JuanCharles
Digital Art / Drawings & Paintings / Fantasy©2012-2015 JuanCharles

So, anyway, the general consensus seems to be that ogres are large creatures, solidly built and pretty strong. An excellent addition to the team, I’m sure you’ll agree. They have been used to instil fear in children, which refers to the darker side of the myth (mainly that they munch on small bones). I prefer to think of them as somewhat reclusive, with or without an annoying donkey as a side-kick! Going back to children for a moment, or children’s literature to be exact. As Shrek demonstrates, there is an abundance of children’s tales in which ogres kidnap princesses and basically scare villages.

Ogres appear in C.S. Lewis’ Chronicles of Narnia; Piers Anthony’s Xanth series, and Ruth Manning-Sanders’ A Book of Ogres and Trolls. They appear in popular fantasy role-playing and video games like, Dungeons and Dragons; RuneScape; Final Fantasy, and Warhammer Fantasy. Ogres also play a part in many horror movies, and though I’m a fan of the horror genre, I can’t think of a single one! Feel free to help me out.

I’m going to divert from my usual list and open the topic up for discussion. What is your favourite ogre story? Do you have any sources to share? Let’s talk ogres!

Thanks for stopping by. Until next time.

Mel

 

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17 responses to “A to Z Blogging Challenge – Day 17: Fantasy Squad – Ogres”

  1. callummclaughlin Avatar
    callummclaughlin

    I also can’t help but think of Shrek, but maybe that’s not such a bad thing 😉 I like the idea of them being somewhat reclusive as well… only eating little children when disturbed 😉

    Reply
    1. mbarkersimpson Avatar
      mbarkersimpson

      Ha! We’ve all been there (sort of!) 😉 I enjoy ogres, and feel like one some of the time!

      Reply
  2. Charles Yallowitz Avatar
    Charles Yallowitz

    The only ogre story that I know of is Shrek. Though I keep forgetting that the creature in Harry Potter 1 is a troll and not an ogre. You’re right that those two overlap a lot. Anyway, ogres were a favorite monster in the D&D games that I used to play. They were the orc replacement once the players became too strong for that creature. Sadly, it was always a meeting with a dumb, strong, angry beast that usually had a club. This might be why I found trolls and orcs more interesting. Need to use ogres more often in my own books actually.

    Reply
    1. mbarkersimpson Avatar
      mbarkersimpson

      Dumb, strong and angry tends to be the way most people depict the ogre. It will be nice for you to play around with an ogre or two in your books, I’m sure 😀

      Reply
      1. Charles Yallowitz Avatar
        Charles Yallowitz

        I introduced them in Book 5, but nothing more than a monster. They have some potential for changing, but I made them rather territorial. Cunning too. I think I put them in the typical role that orcs sit in as the ‘smart monster’. This means they can talk and think, which always opens the path for one or two non-monster ogres.

      2. mbarkersimpson Avatar
        mbarkersimpson

        That sounds great 😀

  3. Natasha Duncan-Drake Avatar
    Natasha Duncan-Drake

    I have to admit I immediately think Shrek too 🙂 I really enjoyed the first and second movies and I love Puss in Boots 🙂 I vaguely remember reading about ogres in fairytales when I was younger, but I can’t for the life of me remember which ones. Ogres would be a good addition to the squad – it’s important to have some heavy hitters.
    Tasha
    Tasha’s Thinkings | Wittegen Press | FB3X (AC)

    Reply
    1. mbarkersimpson Avatar
      mbarkersimpson

      Ha! So true. I wouldn’t mind an ogre on my side 😀

      Reply
  4. Jacqui Murray Avatar
    Jacqui Murray

    I guess I think of ogres as dwarfs (sp?) with attitude. Bad attitude. Something about the definition of ‘ogre’.

    Reply
    1. mbarkersimpson Avatar
      mbarkersimpson

      I can cope with a little attitude! And humour – a sarcastic orgre…I love that thought 🙂

      Reply
  5. Patricia Lynne (@plynne_writes) Avatar
    Patricia Lynne (@plynne_writes)

    Yeah, my mind went to Shrek too.

    ~Patricia Lynne aka Patricia Josephine~
    Member of C. Lee’s Muffin Commando Squad
    Story Dam
    Patricia Lynne, Indie Author

    Reply
    1. mbarkersimpson Avatar
      mbarkersimpson

      I think most people agree on that 🙂

      Reply
  6. Cassie Avatar
    Cassie

    I think of Orcs, really good book series by Morgan Howell – Queen of the Orcs, think beyond Lord of The Rings. 😊 although Shrek is great too!

    Reply
    1. mbarkersimpson Avatar
      mbarkersimpson

      Thanks, Cassie 🙂 I will check those books out.

      Reply
  7. Alex Hurst Avatar
    Alex Hurst

    I also can’t help but think of Shrek, though I really felt like the trolls in LOTR and Harry Potter always looked more… ogre-ish. 😛

    Reply
    1. mbarkersimpson Avatar
      mbarkersimpson

      That’s a good point – the two do seem interchangeable. I like to think ogres are friendlier, but maybe that’s Shrek again! Sarcastic and bad tempered – you could have a lot of fun with that!

      Reply
  8. A to Z Blogging Challenge – Day 21: Fantasy Squad – Reaper | Melissa Barker-Simpson

    […] Day 17 – Fantasy Squad: Ogres […]

    Reply

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