The Ents are the tree-shepherds described in J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings. They are ancient, tree-like beings who protect and care for forests, and their name comes from an Old English word meaning “giant.” Their best-known leader is Treebeard, or Fangorn.
Ents appear most prominently in The Two Towers, where Treebeard meets Merry and Pippin. The hobbits help bring the Ents’ attention to the destruction caused by Saruman’s industrial expansion. The resulting Entmoot leads to the march on Isengard, one of the major turning points in the story.
Ents are not simply animated trees. Tolkien presents them as a distinct speaking people with their own history, language, customs, and extremely slow decision-making. Their female counterparts, the Entwives, disappeared before the events of the main narrative. This is why Ents and Entwives should not be treated as interchangeable terms.