Gollum

Lore & Background

During the War of the Ring, Gollum's path crossed with the Fellowship of the Ring. Initially captured by Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli, he was released under oath to guide them through Mordor. Torn between his lingering desire for Frodo (whom he called 'Master') and his insatiable hunger for the Ring, Gollum played a pivotal role in the quest. While he betrayed the hobbits by leading them into Shelob's Lair, his ultimate betrayal of Samwise Gamgee at Mount Doom was ironically what ensured the Ring's destruction.

In Their Own Story

The heat of the Cracks of Doom pressed against his skin, a sensation far more painful than the cold damp of his mountain caves. Gollum crept forward, his large eyes reflecting the fiery glow of the chasm below. He saw the small creature, Frodo, kneeling before the fire, holding the Precious. The hunger surged within him, drowning out the voice that whispered of pity and friendship. 'My own,' he hissed, the sound bubbling up from a throat unused to speech for centuries. With a sudden, desperate lunge, he leaped onto the hobbit's back, not to kill, but to reclaim what was lost. The struggle sent them both tumbling toward the edge of the abyss.

Reader's Guide

Sméagol was born into a Stoor-hobbit family living along the banks of the Anduin River before the Third Age ended. His life changed irrevocably when he discovered the One Ring, an event that severed his ties to his people and drove him into exile. For centuries, he lived as Gollum in the dark caves beneath the Misty Mountains, surviving on raw fish and shadows while the Ring slowly consumed his humanity. During the War of the Ring, Gollum was recruited by Gandalf to serve as a guide for Frodo Baggins. Though he harbored treacherous intentions, his internal conflict between the gentle Sméagol and the twisted Gollum made him an unpredictable ally. He led the hobbits through the Dead Marshes and into Mordor, all while plotting to steal back the Ring. His destiny was sealed at Mount Doom. After betraying Frodo's trust by leading them past Shelob, he finally confronted Frodo at the edge of the fiery chasm. In a final moment of madness, Gollum bit off Frodo's finger to seize the Ring but lost his footing and fell into the lava, destroying both himself and the artifact that had enslaved him for so long.

Did You Know?

• Gollum was originally a Stoor-hobbit named Sméagol before the Ring corrupted him.
• He lived in the Misty Mountains for nearly five hundred years without seeing sunlight.
• His unique dual personality often spoke to itself, with one side arguing against the other.
• The destruction of the One Ring was directly caused by Gollum's fall into Mount Doom.