What is wights?

Wights

Wights are undead creatures or reanimated corpses found in various works of fantasy fiction, most notably in the works of J.R.R. Tolkien and George R.R. Martin. They are often depicted as being animated by malevolent spirits or dark magic.

Tolkien's Wights (Barrow-wights)

In Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings, wights appear as Barrow-wights. They are evil spirits dwelling in the barrows of the Barrow-downs, animated by the Witch-king of Angmar. These wights are ancient, powerful, and malicious, possessing the power to trap and enchant their victims. They dress the victims in ancient garbs and prepare them for burial, often with gold and jewelry, before attempting to kill them with cold iron weapons. The Barrow-wight's touch is icy and can induce fear and paralysis. The most famous encounter with Barrow-wights involves Frodo Baggins and his companions, who are saved by Tom Bombadil.

Martin's Wights (Walkers)

In George R.R. Martin's A Song of Ice and Fire series, wights are reanimated corpses brought back to life by the White Walkers. They are essentially zombies controlled by the White Walkers and serve as their army. They possess decaying flesh, icy blue eyes, and are extremely dangerous in large numbers. These Wights retain some of the physical attributes of their previous lives but are driven only by the will of the White Walkers. Fire and dragonglass (obsidian) are effective weapons against them.