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• Gollum is a fictional character from J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-earth. Before becoming the monster known as Gollum, he was a regular person (some think he may have been a hobbit) called Smeagol. His cousin Deagol found the One Ring, but it exerted its power of Smeagol and enthralled him, so much so that he murdered Deagol and took the ring. He spent several hundred years living in a cave, hunting any living thing that entered, including orcs, but lost it to the hobbit Bilbo Baggins when he dropped it before a riddle game. Gollum is also a pivotal character in The Lord of the Rings trilogy and plays a crucial role in the final fate of the One Ring.

• Fast Facts

  1. Created by: J.R.R. Tolkien
  2. First appearance: The Hobbit
  3. Race: Possibly Hobbit
  4. Portrayed by Andy Serkis in the film series
  5. Also known as: Smeagol, Precious, Slinker, Stinker, Sneak, Trahald

• Character Analysis

  Of all the characters who inhabit Middle-Earth, Gollum is one of the richest and most complex. Though his inner conflict is made explicit, Gollum is a tragically selfish figure who is tormented for years by loneliness and lust for treasure. His centuries of isolation with the magical item has transformed him into a monomaniacal monster who frequently talks to the ring, calling it his Precious. Many critics have interpreted Gollum as a metaphoric character who warns of the danger of materialism, though J.R.R. Tolkien was reluctant to confirm or deny any figured context of any aspect of his epic trilogy.

• Related Mahalo Pages

  The Hobbit | The Lord of the Rings | J.R.R. Tolkien | Frodo Baggins | Gandalf | Aragorn | Samwise Gamgee | Meriadoc Brandybuck | Peregrin Took | Bilbo Baggins | Galadriel | Fantasy | Andy Serkis | Arwen | Boromir | Faramir

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