What was Smeagol/Gollum anyway.......
 

Many people have told me that Smeagol was (before he got the Ring) a Hobbit!!! I dissagree. To me that just doesn't sound correct. Doesn't Gandalf in the FOTR tell Frodo that they were a web footed race that lived by the river? Am I mistaken? Was Gullom REALLY a Hobbit?!?!!?

I believe it is stated somewhere in one of the books (specifics-ah well! :/) that Smeagol was at least of a hobbit-like race, if not a "real" hobbit

It's in the 'Shadow of the Past.' Gandalf didn't mention webbed feet, but said Smeagol was likely related to the particular race of Hobbits, the Stoors (mentioned in 'About Hobbits' in the Prologue). But you have good company: Frodo was also horrified!

-Maril

Don't forget, Gollum had been wearing the ring and hiding in the depths of the Misty Mountains for centuriesss my precious. His physical form had been twisted by this: the ring does that sort of thing. With the Nine, it sucked their physical form until they became the wraiths. For a Hobbit, the process is slower, due to their seeming resistance.

Wow! Thanks guys! That helps my understanding greatly! Great informataion. Thanks again!

I've been thinking a bit over Hobbits customs they give away things on thier birthdays, however Smeagol says that the ring is his birthday-present. That means that it's a rathernew cutom, not more than 300 yeaers or how old smeagol is.

HE was more like 1000 years old I thought...

Manwe, I'm not so sure that means the custom is new. How do you know that this doesn't speak to the ring's evil nature. What I mean is...maybe the custom was intact, and the fact that Gollum claims the ring as his present shows us how the ring attempts to destroy things (customs) and the like; or how selfish it tries to make the bearer, so as to rebel against the lifestyle of his/her people.

Just a thought...