In The Lord of the Rings, what creature is Shelob?

Shelob is a giant spider in The Lord of the Rings.

She lives in a lair in the Mountains of Shadow, near the pass that leads toward Mordor. Frodo and Sam encounter her while trying to enter Mordor, and her attack becomes one of the most dangerous stages of their journey.

Tolkien presents Shelob as an ancient descendant of Ungoliant, a monstrous spider-like being from the mythology of The Silmarillion. Shelob is not one of Sauron’s servants in the ordinary sense; she cooperates with him because his presence provides prey and darkness, while she ultimately serves her own hunger.

Shelob’s encounter also highlights Samwise Gamgee’s courage. After Shelob stings Frodo, Sam takes the sword Sting and uses it against her. The scene is sometimes confused with the giant spiders of Mirkwood in The Hobbit, but Shelob is a distinct character.