Túrin Turambar faces the dragon Glaurung in J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Children of Húrin. Glaurung is the first of the great dragons in Tolkien’s legendarium and serves Morgoth, the chief enemy of the Elder Days.
The dragon possesses immense physical power, a hypnotic gaze, and a talent for deceptive speech. Glaurung’s actions contribute to the tragic fate of Túrin and his sister Nienor. In the climax of the story, Túrin kills Glaurung at Cabed-en-Aras, but the dragon’s words and enchantment have already caused terrible harm.
Glaurung is often confused with Smaug, the dragon in The Hobbit. Smaug is a later dragon who occupies Erebor, while Glaurung belongs to the First Age stories of Beleriand. Ancalagon the Black is another distinct dragon, famous for serving Morgoth in the War of Wrath.