Tolkien Gateway - Changes related to "Letter 70" [en]

Gollum

2013-05-22T09:14:21Z

Departure of the Ring:

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	His addiction to the Ring was so great that he overcame his hatred and fear of the [[Sun]], the [[Moon]] and other creatures. He left the Mountains and pursued Bilbo, but the trail was cold. He made his way into [[Mordor]], where he was captured and forced to reveal what he knew about the Ring. Thus Sauron's spies learned from him the names "[[Shire]]" and "[[Baggins]]". By {{TA\|3017}} Gollum was then set free, but caught by [[Aragorn]], who turned him over to [[Gandalf]].		His addiction to the Ring was so great that he overcame his hatred and fear of the [[Sun]], the [[Moon]] and other creatures. He left the Mountains and pursued Bilbo, but the trail was cold. He made his way into [[Mordor]], where he was captured and forced to reveal what he knew about the Ring. Thus Sauron's spies learned from him the names "[[Shire]]" and "[[Baggins]]". By {{TA\|3017}} Gollum was then set free, but caught by [[Aragorn]], who turned him over to [[Gandalf]].

−	The [[Wizard]] managed to interrogate him and learned parts of the history of the Ring which he had not previously known. He placed him in the care of the [[Silvan Elves]] living in [[Thranduil]]'s ~~kingdom in~~ [[Mirkwood]]. In June of {{TA\|3018}}, Orcs raided the [[Elves of Mirkwood]] (in an obviously coordinated attack) allowing Gollum to escape. He resumed his search of the Ring and he was brought into [[Moria]] but could not open the [[Doors of Durin]].	+	The [[Wizard]] managed to interrogate him and learned parts of the history of the Ring which he had not previously known. He placed him in the care of the [[Silvan Elves]] living in [[Thranduil]]'s [[Woodland Realm]] of [[Mirkwood]]. In June of {{TA\|3018}}, Orcs raided the [[Elves of Mirkwood]] (in an obviously coordinated attack) allowing Gollum to escape. He resumed his search of the Ring and he was brought into [[Moria]] but could not open the [[Doors of Durin]].

	===The War of the Ring===		===The War of the Ring===
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	Here Frodo's kindness in sparing Gollum's life was rewarded, for Gollum then teetered on the edge of the great pit, lost his balance and fell in, taking the Ring and finger with him with a last cry of "Preciouss!". Had Gollum not lived to play this final part, there would have been a good chance that Sauron would have regained the Ring, as he knew where Frodo was as soon as he put the Ring on.		Here Frodo's kindness in sparing Gollum's life was rewarded, for Gollum then teetered on the edge of the great pit, lost his balance and fell in, taking the Ring and finger with him with a last cry of "Preciouss!". Had Gollum not lived to play this final part, there would have been a good chance that Sauron would have regained the Ring, as he knew where Frodo was as soon as he put the Ring on.

−	===Personality===	+	==Personality==
−	Sméagol was the most inquisitive and curious-minded of his community. He owed his name to ~~the fact that he was interested~~ in roots, deep pools, he burrowed and tunnelled under trees, plants and mounds.	+	Sméagol was the most inquisitive and curious-minded of his community. He owed [[#Etymology\|his name]] to his interest in roots and deep pools; he burrowed and tunnelled under trees, plants and mounds.

	During his centuries of loneliness and under the Ring's influence, he developed a sort of multiple personality: his evil personality was a slave to the Ring and would kill for it, overwhelming his former self, who still vaguely remembered things like friendship and love. Not having anyone else to speak to, he often quarrelled with himself. Gollum both loved and hated the Ring and himself. He often referred both to the Ring and himself as "my Preciiouss", perhaps confusing the two entities.<ref name=guide/>		During his centuries of loneliness and under the Ring's influence, he developed a sort of multiple personality: his evil personality was a slave to the Ring and would kill for it, overwhelming his former self, who still vaguely remembered things like friendship and love. Not having anyone else to speak to, he often quarrelled with himself. Gollum both loved and hated the Ring and himself. He often referred both to the Ring and himself as "my Preciiouss", perhaps confusing the two entities.<ref name=guide/>
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	Other aspects of the Ring's corruption was the aversion to all living creatures, especially the [[Elves]] and all things Elven. The [[Elven rope]] burnt his skin, and [[lembas]] tasted like dust to him.		Other aspects of the Ring's corruption was the aversion to all living creatures, especially the [[Elves]] and all things Elven. The [[Elven rope]] burnt his skin, and [[lembas]] tasted like dust to him.

−	~~There is some debate about the nature of his impulse to kill Déagol. Some maintain that~~ Sméagol, as a Hobbit, was good at heart, and it was entirely the Ring's doing. But ~~the more popular and perhaps more~~ likely ~~opinion is~~ that Sméagol was harboring dark thoughts to begin with. Their argument bases on several points, including...	+	Sméagol, as a Hobbit, was perhaps good at heart, and his killing was entirely the Ring's doing. But it's also likely that Sméagol was harboring dark thoughts to begin with. Their argument bases on several points, including...
−	# The sight of the Ring at the ~~council~~ or at many points in the journey of the Fellowship did not cause anyone to suddenly murder someone else.	+	# The sight of the Ring at the [[Council of Elrond]] or at many points in the journey of the Fellowship did not cause anyone to suddenly murder someone else.
	# It is possible for Hobbits to be evil; for instance, [[Ted Sandyman]] and [[Lotho Sackville-Baggins]].		# It is possible for Hobbits to be evil; for instance, [[Ted Sandyman]] and [[Lotho Sackville-Baggins]].
−	# ~~In the chapter ''[[The Shadow of the Past]]'', Gandalf mentions that~~ Bilbo was corrupted far more slowly by the Ring because his adventures with it began with an act of mercy, while Gollum began his with murder.	+	#Bilbo was corrupted far more slowly by the Ring because his adventures with it began with an act of mercy, while Gollum began his with murder.<ref name=shadow>{{FR\|Shadow}}</ref>

	==Etymology==		==Etymology==

Gollum

2013-05-21T23:50:24Z

Appearence:

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	==Appearence==		==Appearence==
	Sméagol was a Hobbit, but he spent long centuries (thanks to the Ring) in darkness and damp, influenced by the Ring. He was reduced to a small, extremely thin and wiry person, with scrawny neck, black skin, flat feet,		Sméagol was a Hobbit, but he spent long centuries (thanks to the Ring) in darkness and damp, influenced by the Ring. He was reduced to a small, extremely thin and wiry person, with scrawny neck, black skin, flat feet,
−	long thin hands with clammy fingers, and large pale eyes that seemed to glow. He vision was weak and developed an acute hearing.	+	long thin hands with clammy fingers, and large pale eyes that seemed to glow. His vision was weak and he developed an acute sense of hearing.

	He could move and climb silently like a spider, and although he had six teeth<ref>{{HM\|H}}</ref>, had the ability to give deep bites, and was able to bite off Frodo's finger.		He could move and climb silently like a spider, and although he had six teeth<ref>{{HM\|H}}</ref>, had the ability to give deep bites, and was able to bite off Frodo's finger.
		+
	==History==		==History==
	===Early life===		===Early life===

Letter 165

2013-05-17T18:32:27Z

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	Tolkien felt that he was more of a Suffield.<ref group="note">Suffield was his mother’s maiden name.</ref> When he was young his mother taught him and infused in him his taste for philology and romance. He was a West-midlander at home only in counties bordering the Welsh Marches. Both descent and opportunity made Anglo-Saxon and Western Middle English a childhood attraction and his main professional sphere. Welsh he found particularly attractive and he constructed [[Sindarin]] to resemble the language phonologically (and related to High-elven in the same way as British is to Latin). All names and languages in his books are constructed rather than being at random.		Tolkien felt that he was more of a Suffield.<ref group="note">Suffield was his mother’s maiden name.</ref> When he was young his mother taught him and infused in him his taste for philology and romance. He was a West-midlander at home only in counties bordering the Welsh Marches. Both descent and opportunity made Anglo-Saxon and Western Middle English a childhood attraction and his main professional sphere. Welsh he found particularly attractive and he constructed [[Sindarin]] to resemble the language phonologically (and related to High-elven in the same way as British is to Latin). All names and languages in his books are constructed rather than being at random.

−	[[Wikipedia: Alliterative verse\|Alliterative verse]] Tolkien wrote for pleasure, fragments of which had appeared in ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]''. He also used it in his poem, "[[The Homecoming of Beorhtnoth]]", and in a yet unfinished poem, "[[The Fall of Arthur]]".<ref group="note">"The Fall of Arthur" was never published.</ref>	+	[[Wikipedia: Alliterative verse\|Alliterative verse]] Tolkien wrote for pleasure, fragments of which had appeared in ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]''. He also used it in his poem, "[[The Homecoming of Beorhtnoth]]", and in a yet unfinished poem, "[[The Fall of Arthur]]".<ref group="note">"The Fall of Arthur" was never finished, but it has since been edited and published by [[Christopher Tolkien]].</ref>

	Another "fallacious fact" was his birth in [[Bloemfontein]], [[Wikipedia:Orange Free State\|Orange River Free State]], fallacious because he was shipped to England in 1895 and had lived in Birmingham and Oxford for most of 60 years thereafter (except for 5 or 6 years in Leeds at the university there). Tolkien said that he was untraveled. He knew Wales, he had visited Scotland (south of the Tay) often, and knew something of France, Belgium, and Ireland. Although he had spent a good deal of time in Ireland, his first visit was not until 1949, after ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'' was completed and he found Gaelic and Ireland wholly alien. Tolkien mentioned that in Liège, Belgium in October 1954 he had received a degree and was astonished to be welcomed in French as "le createur de M. Bilbo Baggins".		Another "fallacious fact" was his birth in [[Bloemfontein]], [[Wikipedia:Orange Free State\|Orange River Free State]], fallacious because he was shipped to England in 1895 and had lived in Birmingham and Oxford for most of 60 years thereafter (except for 5 or 6 years in Leeds at the university there). Tolkien said that he was untraveled. He knew Wales, he had visited Scotland (south of the Tay) often, and knew something of France, Belgium, and Ireland. Although he had spent a good deal of time in Ireland, his first visit was not until 1949, after ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'' was completed and he found Gaelic and Ireland wholly alien. Tolkien mentioned that in Liège, Belgium in October 1954 he had received a degree and was astonished to be welcomed in French as "le createur de M. Bilbo Baggins".