Birth: Circa 2400s of the Third Age
Death: March 25, 3019 of the Third Age Race: Hobbits Culture: Stoor Parents: Names unknown Siblings: None known Spouse: None Children: None Residences: Vales of the Anduin, later Misty Mountains |
Biography
Gollum, born as Smeagol sometime during the 2400s of the Third Age, was an individual of Hobbit origin who killed another Hobbit in order to acquire the One Ring. Smeagol once lived in Vales of the River Anduin near Gladden Fields, where he was part of a group of Hobbits called Stoors. He was not well-liked by any of his family members. He only had one friend; a Hobbit named Deagol, whom he once went fishing with in the Anduin. Deagol found the One Ring at the bottom of the river while fishing, and immediately the Ring took over him, making him want it for himself. But Smeagol also wanted the Ring, Smeagol arguing that it was his own birthday, but Deagol would not give up the Ring. Smeagol strangled Deagol, taking the One Ring for himself.
Smeagol took the Ring deep into the Misty Mountains, where it drove him mad, while at the same time giving him unnaturally long life. Smeagol lived on fish and Goblins, and ate other revolting things if he could find them. Smeagol made a strange "Gollum" sound, so Smeagol became known as Gollum. He lived deep beneath Goblin-town in the Misty Mountains.
In 2941, after having lived in the Misty Mountains for nearly five hundred years, Gollum encountered Bilbo Baggins, a Hobbit of the Shire. By coincidence, the One Ring abandoned Gollum and Bilbo found it and put it in his pocket, not knowing how important this mysterious Ring was. Gollum played a riddle game with Bilbo, and Bilbo won because he asked what was in his pocket, and Gollum did not know the correct answer. Since Bilbo won, Gollum did not eat Bilbo as he planned. However, Bilbo did tell his name, and Gollum remembered it. Gollum later guessed that Bilbo Baggins had the Ring when he discovered that he could not find it, and he chased after Bilbo, chanting "thief" as Bilbo ran away, invisible with the Ring on his finger.
Gollum followed Bilbo in secret. He overheard much of Thorin and Company's plans to reclaim the Lonely Mountain from the Dragon Smaug, and he even learned that Bilbo came from the Shire, a land in far western Eriador.
Gollum was greatly saddened by the loss of his beloved Ring, or "the precious," as he called it. Gollum journeyed to the Shire to find the Ring. It was rumored that he stole babies from their cradles to eat as he traveled through Mirkwood Forest.
Sauron's servants realized the Ring was near. Sauron desired the Ring, for with it he could cover all lands in shadow in a second darkness. Sauron had made the Ring millennia before, but had lost it during the War of the Last Alliance. The Ring had an evil will of its own, and wanted to go back to Sauron. The enemy found Gollum in Mirkwood before Gandalf, a wizard who was also hunting him for the other side. Sauron's servants and slaves tortured Gollum, and between the screams of pain the enemy's servants heard two words: "Shire; Baggins." Sauron released Gollum into the wild only because Gollum knew about the location of the Ring, and he dwelt nearby. The Nazgul were sent to hunt the for the Ring in the Shire.
Sauron did not quite know where this mysterious "Shire" was. He had never been there, nor had his servants been there, nor had any of his allies been there. Sauron needed to use his so-called ally, a self-driven wizard named Saurman, to guide him to the Shire and ultimately to the One Ring. Saruman's agent the squint-eyed Southerner was captured by the Wtich-King, and he was forced to tell him the location of the Shire.
Gollum was captured by Aragorn on February 1, 3018 and imprisoned in Mirkwood's Elven kingdom led by King Thranduil. Gandalf questioned Gollum, and from him he received a great deal of information concerning the Ring. On June 20, Orcs attacked the Elves of Mirkwood and Gollum escaped. By August, he entered the East-gate of Moria in an attempt to find the Shire somewhere west. He was lost in Moria for a time.
Gandalf realized the Nazgul were after the Ring in the Shire and would kill Frodo Baggins and find it. Bilbo passed the Ring down to his young cousin Frodo Baggins who now bore it. It was decided at the Council of Elrond held in Rivendell that Frodo would destroy the Ring in the fires of Mount Doom in Mordor, the only place in Middle-Earth where the Ring could be properly destructed. If the Ring was destroyed, Sauron would be destroyed along with it. Frodo would be accompanied by eight companions, and they would collectively form the Fellowship of the Ring.
The Fellowship of the Ring entered Moria in January of 3019. On January 13, Gollum picked up the scent of the Ring-bearer and began to follow him. He followed him all the way out of Moria and into the woods of Lothlorien, where he attempted to approach the Ring-bearer but was frightened away by Haldir.
On January 17, Gollum positioned himself near the southern border of Lothlorien, waiting for the Fellowship to leave. His need for the One Ring was growing. On January 24, Gollum was captured by the Uruk leader Ugluk, but he was able to escape. When the Fellowship left Lothlorien on February 16, they sailed along the Anduin River in row boats. Gollum followed, keeping himself afloat on a log in the center of the river. Sam spotted him on February 19, and on February 20 Gollum tried to approach Frodo but was scared away.
On February 23, the Fellowship reached Amon Hen. There, a skirmish between the Fellowship and Uruk-Hai from Isengard under the service of Saruman. He followed the Ring-bearer and his companion Sam Gamgee into the Emyn Muil across the Anduin. He followed Sam and the Ring-bearer Frodo until they captured him on February 29.
Gollum promised to guide Frodo to Mordor as long as Frodo agreed not to kill him. He swore to serve the Master of the Precious, for Gollum desired the precious more than anything. He led Frodo and Sam though the Dead Marshes on March 1 and 2. Gollum claimed that these marshes were unknown to Orcs, and the Hobbits could pass through in secrecy so long as they did not follow the lights. Frodo did follow some of the lights and he fell into the Marshes, but Gollum rescued him.
On March 4, Gollum began debating with himself about what to do with the Hobbits, and how to get back the One Ring. Gollum began devising a plan to feed the Hobbits to Shelob, a Great Spider who inhabited the pass of Cirith Ungol.
When the Hobbits reached the Black Gate on March 5, Gollum was quick to conclude that it was not able to be passed based on the fact that it was heavily guarded and the passage of a host of Easterlings. Frodo agreed to take the passage of Cirith Ungol.
On March 7, Faramir and a group of Rangers from Gondor captured Frodo and Sam in Ithilien. Gollum eluded capture, but he followed Frodo and Sam to Henneth Annun, where on March 8 he hunted fish in the Forbidden Pool. Frodo advised Faramir to spare Gollum's life, despite the rule that anyone who swam in the Forbidden Pool was to be killed.
Though Faramir spared Gollum, he ordered his scouts to capture the creature and bring him to Faramir. Gollum led himself to believe that Frodo had betrayed him, when in truth it was Frodo who encouraged Faramir to spare Gollum's life. Frodo provoked Faramir to release him and his companions, saying that it was imperative that he destroy the Ring for the sake of the world. But Gollum was currently unaware that Frodo intended to destroy the Ring.
On March 10, Gollum led the Hobbits to the foot of the Stairs of Cirith Ungol. Gollum had fully devised his plan to feed the Hobbits to Shelob, the Great Spider residing in Cirith Ungol, and, once Shelob failed to digest the Ring, he would take it for himself.
As the Hobbits climbed the winding Stairs of Cirith Ungol, they witnessed a great army of Mordor being released to fight Gondor from Minas Morgul. They were led by the Witch-King, a Nazgul had previously stabbed Frodo on Weathertop.
On March 11, Gollum payed Shelob a visit while Frodo and Sam stayed behind. He ensured that she was present and hungry. The next day, Gollum returned to Frodo and Sam to find Frodo sleeping. A force inside Gollum wanted to take the Ring from Frodo, but Sam accused Gollum of "sneaking." This awoke a new rage inside Gollum, and he was ready to feed the Hobbits to Shelob. Gollum led the Hobbits into her lair later that day. Gollum fled when Shelob appeared.
On March 13, Shelob stung Frodo. Sam tried to prevent this from happening, but was attacked by Gollum. Sam fought Gollum off before fighting Shelob. Once Sam defeated Shelob, Gollum fled. Though Frodo had been stung, he was not dead and he was kidnapped by Orcs, causing Sam to have to go retrieve him.
On March 16, Gollum came out of his hiding and he continued to follow the Hobbits through Mordor. He found Frodo's Orc-mail that had been taken off because of the growing burden of the One Ring. Gollum was nearly killed by an Orc himself, but he managed to evade death one last time.
Gollum continued to pursue the Hobbits. Sam even saw Gollum near a water hole, but Gollum passed out of sight before Sam could pursue him. Gollum finally attacked Frodo on Mount Doom, making one last attempt at retrieving the Ring. Sam fought Gollum off and chased Frodo up Mount Doom, and Frodo entered the Chambers of Fire, readying himself to destroy the Ring once and for all. But Gollum knocked Sam unconscious and pursued Frodo, trying to get the Ring for himself. Frodo put the Ring on his finger, making himself invisible to Gollum (while at the same time making himself perfectly clear to Sauron). Gollum bit Frodo's finger off and took the Ring for himself. In a great deal of pain, Frodo made one last move to combat Gollum: he pushed Gollum and the Ring off the the edge of the cliff and into the burning fires of Mount Doom. There, the Ring was undone and Gollum finally perished. Following the Ring's destruction, Sauron himself fell apart, the entirety of his real falling into shadow. Mount Doom erupted, and Sauron was destroyed forever.
Frodo forgave Gollum's final act of greed, for Gollum's attack was vital in the destruction of the One Ring.
Smeagol took the Ring deep into the Misty Mountains, where it drove him mad, while at the same time giving him unnaturally long life. Smeagol lived on fish and Goblins, and ate other revolting things if he could find them. Smeagol made a strange "Gollum" sound, so Smeagol became known as Gollum. He lived deep beneath Goblin-town in the Misty Mountains.
In 2941, after having lived in the Misty Mountains for nearly five hundred years, Gollum encountered Bilbo Baggins, a Hobbit of the Shire. By coincidence, the One Ring abandoned Gollum and Bilbo found it and put it in his pocket, not knowing how important this mysterious Ring was. Gollum played a riddle game with Bilbo, and Bilbo won because he asked what was in his pocket, and Gollum did not know the correct answer. Since Bilbo won, Gollum did not eat Bilbo as he planned. However, Bilbo did tell his name, and Gollum remembered it. Gollum later guessed that Bilbo Baggins had the Ring when he discovered that he could not find it, and he chased after Bilbo, chanting "thief" as Bilbo ran away, invisible with the Ring on his finger.
Gollum followed Bilbo in secret. He overheard much of Thorin and Company's plans to reclaim the Lonely Mountain from the Dragon Smaug, and he even learned that Bilbo came from the Shire, a land in far western Eriador.
Gollum was greatly saddened by the loss of his beloved Ring, or "the precious," as he called it. Gollum journeyed to the Shire to find the Ring. It was rumored that he stole babies from their cradles to eat as he traveled through Mirkwood Forest.
Sauron's servants realized the Ring was near. Sauron desired the Ring, for with it he could cover all lands in shadow in a second darkness. Sauron had made the Ring millennia before, but had lost it during the War of the Last Alliance. The Ring had an evil will of its own, and wanted to go back to Sauron. The enemy found Gollum in Mirkwood before Gandalf, a wizard who was also hunting him for the other side. Sauron's servants and slaves tortured Gollum, and between the screams of pain the enemy's servants heard two words: "Shire; Baggins." Sauron released Gollum into the wild only because Gollum knew about the location of the Ring, and he dwelt nearby. The Nazgul were sent to hunt the for the Ring in the Shire.
Sauron did not quite know where this mysterious "Shire" was. He had never been there, nor had his servants been there, nor had any of his allies been there. Sauron needed to use his so-called ally, a self-driven wizard named Saurman, to guide him to the Shire and ultimately to the One Ring. Saruman's agent the squint-eyed Southerner was captured by the Wtich-King, and he was forced to tell him the location of the Shire.
Gollum was captured by Aragorn on February 1, 3018 and imprisoned in Mirkwood's Elven kingdom led by King Thranduil. Gandalf questioned Gollum, and from him he received a great deal of information concerning the Ring. On June 20, Orcs attacked the Elves of Mirkwood and Gollum escaped. By August, he entered the East-gate of Moria in an attempt to find the Shire somewhere west. He was lost in Moria for a time.
Gandalf realized the Nazgul were after the Ring in the Shire and would kill Frodo Baggins and find it. Bilbo passed the Ring down to his young cousin Frodo Baggins who now bore it. It was decided at the Council of Elrond held in Rivendell that Frodo would destroy the Ring in the fires of Mount Doom in Mordor, the only place in Middle-Earth where the Ring could be properly destructed. If the Ring was destroyed, Sauron would be destroyed along with it. Frodo would be accompanied by eight companions, and they would collectively form the Fellowship of the Ring.
The Fellowship of the Ring entered Moria in January of 3019. On January 13, Gollum picked up the scent of the Ring-bearer and began to follow him. He followed him all the way out of Moria and into the woods of Lothlorien, where he attempted to approach the Ring-bearer but was frightened away by Haldir.
On January 17, Gollum positioned himself near the southern border of Lothlorien, waiting for the Fellowship to leave. His need for the One Ring was growing. On January 24, Gollum was captured by the Uruk leader Ugluk, but he was able to escape. When the Fellowship left Lothlorien on February 16, they sailed along the Anduin River in row boats. Gollum followed, keeping himself afloat on a log in the center of the river. Sam spotted him on February 19, and on February 20 Gollum tried to approach Frodo but was scared away.
On February 23, the Fellowship reached Amon Hen. There, a skirmish between the Fellowship and Uruk-Hai from Isengard under the service of Saruman. He followed the Ring-bearer and his companion Sam Gamgee into the Emyn Muil across the Anduin. He followed Sam and the Ring-bearer Frodo until they captured him on February 29.
Gollum promised to guide Frodo to Mordor as long as Frodo agreed not to kill him. He swore to serve the Master of the Precious, for Gollum desired the precious more than anything. He led Frodo and Sam though the Dead Marshes on March 1 and 2. Gollum claimed that these marshes were unknown to Orcs, and the Hobbits could pass through in secrecy so long as they did not follow the lights. Frodo did follow some of the lights and he fell into the Marshes, but Gollum rescued him.
On March 4, Gollum began debating with himself about what to do with the Hobbits, and how to get back the One Ring. Gollum began devising a plan to feed the Hobbits to Shelob, a Great Spider who inhabited the pass of Cirith Ungol.
When the Hobbits reached the Black Gate on March 5, Gollum was quick to conclude that it was not able to be passed based on the fact that it was heavily guarded and the passage of a host of Easterlings. Frodo agreed to take the passage of Cirith Ungol.
On March 7, Faramir and a group of Rangers from Gondor captured Frodo and Sam in Ithilien. Gollum eluded capture, but he followed Frodo and Sam to Henneth Annun, where on March 8 he hunted fish in the Forbidden Pool. Frodo advised Faramir to spare Gollum's life, despite the rule that anyone who swam in the Forbidden Pool was to be killed.
Though Faramir spared Gollum, he ordered his scouts to capture the creature and bring him to Faramir. Gollum led himself to believe that Frodo had betrayed him, when in truth it was Frodo who encouraged Faramir to spare Gollum's life. Frodo provoked Faramir to release him and his companions, saying that it was imperative that he destroy the Ring for the sake of the world. But Gollum was currently unaware that Frodo intended to destroy the Ring.
On March 10, Gollum led the Hobbits to the foot of the Stairs of Cirith Ungol. Gollum had fully devised his plan to feed the Hobbits to Shelob, the Great Spider residing in Cirith Ungol, and, once Shelob failed to digest the Ring, he would take it for himself.
As the Hobbits climbed the winding Stairs of Cirith Ungol, they witnessed a great army of Mordor being released to fight Gondor from Minas Morgul. They were led by the Witch-King, a Nazgul had previously stabbed Frodo on Weathertop.
On March 11, Gollum payed Shelob a visit while Frodo and Sam stayed behind. He ensured that she was present and hungry. The next day, Gollum returned to Frodo and Sam to find Frodo sleeping. A force inside Gollum wanted to take the Ring from Frodo, but Sam accused Gollum of "sneaking." This awoke a new rage inside Gollum, and he was ready to feed the Hobbits to Shelob. Gollum led the Hobbits into her lair later that day. Gollum fled when Shelob appeared.
On March 13, Shelob stung Frodo. Sam tried to prevent this from happening, but was attacked by Gollum. Sam fought Gollum off before fighting Shelob. Once Sam defeated Shelob, Gollum fled. Though Frodo had been stung, he was not dead and he was kidnapped by Orcs, causing Sam to have to go retrieve him.
On March 16, Gollum came out of his hiding and he continued to follow the Hobbits through Mordor. He found Frodo's Orc-mail that had been taken off because of the growing burden of the One Ring. Gollum was nearly killed by an Orc himself, but he managed to evade death one last time.
Gollum continued to pursue the Hobbits. Sam even saw Gollum near a water hole, but Gollum passed out of sight before Sam could pursue him. Gollum finally attacked Frodo on Mount Doom, making one last attempt at retrieving the Ring. Sam fought Gollum off and chased Frodo up Mount Doom, and Frodo entered the Chambers of Fire, readying himself to destroy the Ring once and for all. But Gollum knocked Sam unconscious and pursued Frodo, trying to get the Ring for himself. Frodo put the Ring on his finger, making himself invisible to Gollum (while at the same time making himself perfectly clear to Sauron). Gollum bit Frodo's finger off and took the Ring for himself. In a great deal of pain, Frodo made one last move to combat Gollum: he pushed Gollum and the Ring off the the edge of the cliff and into the burning fires of Mount Doom. There, the Ring was undone and Gollum finally perished. Following the Ring's destruction, Sauron himself fell apart, the entirety of his real falling into shadow. Mount Doom erupted, and Sauron was destroyed forever.
Frodo forgave Gollum's final act of greed, for Gollum's attack was vital in the destruction of the One Ring.
References
The Hobbit: "Riddles in the Dark," passim
The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring: "The Shadow of the Past," pages 63-64 and passim
The Lord of the Rings, The Two Towers: "The Taming of Smeagol," passim; "The Passage of the Marshes," passim; "The Black Gate is Closed;" "The Stairs of Cirith Ungol," passim
The Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King: "Mount Doom" and passim
The Lord of the Rings, Appendix F: "The Languages and Peoples of the Third Age - On Translation"
The Unfinished Tales: "The Hunt for the Ring," passim
The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien: Letters # 96, 214, and 246
The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring: "The Shadow of the Past," pages 63-64 and passim
The Lord of the Rings, The Two Towers: "The Taming of Smeagol," passim; "The Passage of the Marshes," passim; "The Black Gate is Closed;" "The Stairs of Cirith Ungol," passim
The Lord of the Rings, The Return of the King: "Mount Doom" and passim
The Lord of the Rings, Appendix F: "The Languages and Peoples of the Third Age - On Translation"
The Unfinished Tales: "The Hunt for the Ring," passim
The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien: Letters # 96, 214, and 246
Timeline
Circa 2400s of the Third Age:
Smeagol was born in the Vales of the Anduin.
2463:
Smeagol killed his friend Deagol in order to take the One Ring for himself.
2470:
Smeagol took the Ring deep into the tunnels underneath the Misty Mountains. He became known as Gollum.
2941:
Bilbo Baggins of the Shire came into Gollum's cave accidentally and took the One Ring. After winning a riddle game, Bilbo escaped Gollum.
2944:
In desperation, Gollum left the caves of the Misty Mountains and traveled northwest to search for the One Ring in the Shire.
2951:
Gollum's initial plan to find the Shire was abandoned. He was now headed for Mordor.
2980:
Gollum met Shelob, a Great Spider, in the passage of Cirith Ungol outside Mordor.
3017:
Gollum is captured by Sauron. He is tortured and questioned about the Ring and then is allowed to escape.
3018:
February 1: Gollum was captured by Aragorn and was brought to a prison in Mirkwood.
March 21: Gollum arrived at the Elvish prison in Mirkwood.
March 23: Gandalf interrogated Gollum and learned much about the One Ring.
June 20: Orcs attacked the Elvish stronghold in Mirkwood and Gollum escaped.
August: Gollum passed through the East-gate into Moria.
3019:
January 13: The Fellowship entered Moria through the West-gate. Gollum began following the Ring-bearer Frodo Baggins.
January 16: Gollum followed the Fellowship into Lothlorien. He was frightened away by Haldir, but remained lurking at the borders of Lorien.
January 24: On the southern border of Lothlorien, Gollum was captured by Ugluk, leader of Saruman's Uruk-Hai. Gollum managed to quickly escape and continue stalking the One Ring.
February 16: The Fellowship left Lothlorien and rowed down the Anduin. Gollum followed.
February 18: Gollum was able to follow the Fellowship on a log in the middle of the river.
February 19: Sam took notice of Gollum's log.
February 20: Frodo frightened Gollum away from the Fellowship's camp.
February 23: The Fellowship was attacked by Orcs and Uruk-Hai at Amon Hen. Gollum fled to the west bank of the river and into the hills of the Emyn Muil.
February 26: Frodo and Sam continued the quest alone, and crossed the Anduin to the Emyn Muil. Gollum followed them.
February 29: Gollum was captured by Frodo and Sam. In return for Frodo sparing him, Gollum swore to serve the Master of the Precious.
March 2: Frodo, Sam, and Gollum traveled through the Dead Marshes.
March 4: Gollum debated with himself what to do with the Hobbits, and how to win back the One Ring. Gollum began devising a plan to feed the Hobbits to Shelob.
March 5: The Hobbits arrived at the Black Gate. They rendered it unable to be passed, and Gollum told Frodo of a secret way into Mordor.
March 7: The Hobbits were captured by Faramir. He and his Rangers of Gondor escorted the Hobbits to Henneth Annun. Gollum managed not to be captured, but he follows the Ring-bearer.
March 8: Gollum hunted fish in the Forbidden Pool but was captured by Faramir. Gollum led himself to believe that Frodo betray him.
March 10: Gollum led the Hobbits to the Stairs of Cirith Ungol. After witnessing a great army of Mordor set out from Minas Morgul, the Hobbits began to climb.
March 11: Gollum visited Shelob in her lair.
March 12: Gollum led the hobbits into Shelob's air and fled when Shelob appeared.
March 13: Gollum attacked Sam but was frightened away when Sam defeated Shelob. Shelob stung Frodo nonetheless.
March 16: Gollum found Frodo's Orc-mail in Mordor and was nearly killed by an Orc. This was the last time Gollum would manage to evade death.
March 25: Gollum finally caught up with Frodo on the slopes of Mount Doom, and he attacked him. Sam fought off Gollum and Frodo managed to enter the Chambers of Fire, but Gollum followed. Frodo and Gollum fought until Gollum bit the Ring off of Frodo's finger (biting Frodo's finger off along with it), and Frodo pushed Gollum into the fires of Mount Doom along with the Ring. Gollum, the Ring, and Sauron were all destroyed in the same moment.
Names & Meanings
Sméagol:
Sméagol means "retreat" in Old English. It comes from the Old English word smygel meaning "retreat.
Gollum:
Smeagol was called Gollum after he acquired the One Ring. The name is based on a hideous gutteral sound that Gollum made from his throat.
Trahald:
Trahald was the name that was given to Smeagol by his people. It is said to mean "burrowing" in the language of the Stoors who lived in the Vales of the Anduin.
Stinker:
Stinker was Sam Gamgee's nickname for Gollum.
Slinker:
Slinker was Sam Gamgee's nickname for Smeagol.
Precious:
Gollum called the One Ring his Precious, and he also came to refer himself to the same title. After he reclaimed the One Ring seconds before his death, Gollum praised himself by calling himself Lord Smeagol, Gollum the Great, The Gollum, Most Precious Gollum.
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