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Post by Sparrow on Jul 25, 2004 12:24:21 GMT -6
After the conclusion of the riddle game, with the interruption of Gollum's missing "precious," Gollum asks Bilbo what is in his pocket. Bilbo declines to disclose the answer (not yet knowing the rings properties), and later also withholds his find and its power from his companions the dwarves. Why? What kept Bilbo from telling?
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Post by Stormrider on Jul 26, 2004 5:46:18 GMT -6
Perhapses the Precioussss' hot fingers of fire were wrapping themselvesss around Bilbo's soul already and he did not wish to reveal that it was a Ring to Gollum. The Ring was already possessing its new master.
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Post by Hilary on Jul 26, 2004 6:09:19 GMT -6
As many of us probably know, this chapter changed significantly from the first edition.
To summarize, in the original version of the story, Gollum was a weird fellow who lived on the island in the slimy lake. Bilbo does find the ring, and follows the tunnel down, and meets up with Gollum. One big difference is what is at stake during the riddle contest: Bilbo's life vs. Gollum's "present". When Bilbo stumps Gollum with "What have I got in my pocket", Gollum intends to honor the rules of the game, and heads to the island in order to give Bilbo his "present". He is shocked that it is gone, and is genuinely sorry that he can't give it to Bilbo. ( Annotated Hobbit, p. 129).
In the first edition, Bilbo's decision to keep what he has found is chalked up to "finder's keepers". Gollum, in lieu of the present or the fish, shows Bilbo the way out of the tunnels, and goes back to his lonely existance.
Once Tolkien had Lord of the Rings underway, he knew he needed to revamp The Hobbit to bring the tale into line with LotR. I think he intended to bring into question the influence of the Ring: could it already be working on Bilbo?
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Post by Stormrider on Jul 26, 2004 6:34:21 GMT -6
Hilary:
That is quite a change to the chapter! I never saw an early copy of The Hobbit before!
With the original version in mind now, I would have to say that Bilbo was probably just being obstinate in not revealing what he had in his pockets. If Gollum couldn't guess, why should he tell what it was? The fact that Gollum would have given the Ring to Bilbo for winning the game is an interesting twist. Did Gollum still lead Bilbo out of the tunnel the way my later version of The Hobbit reads?
However, I am glad that Tolkien changed The Hobbit to fit into The Lord of the Rings. So now I would stick with my first impression above that The Ring was starting to possess Bilbo at this point.
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Post by Stormrider on Aug 8, 2012 5:58:41 GMT -6
Going with the ORIGINAL written story: Aside from being obstinant in not telling Gollum what he had in his pocket, I think Bilbo may have felt bad that he "cheated" in the game. Wouldn't Gollum have been surprised to see that Bilbo actually had the Ring? The anger Gollum would have had thinking Bilbo had stole his "present" would have been enough to have Gollum chase Bilbo up the mountain in the dark.
I feel that Bilbo was the one who actually cheated since his "question" did not follow normal "riddle" structure by giving clues for the quesser to figure out the answer. Gollum should not have had to apologize for cheating!
I don't understand why Gollum would have agreed to give Bilbo his Ring anyway for winning the riddle game. The Ring was very helpful to Gollum in catching the goblins when they came down to tunnel. Or was the fact that Gollum throttled the goblins and ate them later added after merging the storyline with LOTR?
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Post by Stormrider on Aug 8, 2012 17:31:38 GMT -6
I just read the side column in the Annotated Hobbit and most of the 1937 version is included and it does say everything Hilary mentions:
Then Bilbo tells Gollum to never mind because the ring would have been his anyway if Gollum had found it. Bilbo lets Gollum off on one other condition: To help him get out. Then Gollum just leads him out and only once Bilbo tries the ring on and it did make him invisible as Gollum mentioned. But Gollum didn't realize that Bilbo had the ring and just leads him out but has to turn around before Bilbo goes the last part out. It is a much milder version without all the anger and hatred Gollum incurs in the newer LOTR merged versions. Also Bilbo doesn't stay invisible the entire time and Gollum in not trying to stop him the entire way out.
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