| Poems by J.R.R. Tolkien | |
| "Old fat spider spinning in a tree!" | |
|---|---|
| Poem Information | |
| Written | Before 1937 |
| Revised | Before 1937 |
| Published | The Hobbit, The History of The Hobbit |
| Subject(s) | Spiders |
"Old fat spider spinning in a tree!" is the first line of a poem written by J.R.R. Tolkien that was published in The Hobbit in 1937.[1]
First stanza
Old fat spider spinning in a tree!
Old fat spider can’t see me!
Attercop! Attercop!
Won't you stop,
Stop your spinning and look for me?[1]
History
Bilbo Baggins sang this poem to distract the spiders while attempting to save Thorin and his companions in Mirkwood.[1]
Background
Tolkien first wrote the poem on some plot notes before he subsequently made minor changes to it.[2]
See also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, "Flies and Spiders"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, John D. Rateliff (ed.), The History of The Hobbit, Mr. Baggins, The Second Phase, "Plot Notes A", note 15