How would he not know they were down there? He was following them! Why would he want a rope? He doesn't seem to want things like this later on. And ,if my memory serves, he has no fear of the rope before he is tied up in it, and if your theory is true, he would already know that it was made by elves. Taking into accout Sam's knot-tying skills, Gollum would have to have untied that knot at lightning speed if he could untie the knot before he realised it hurt his hands to touch it. Lastly, if Tolkien didn't want us to think it was magic, why did he not explain that it was gollum who undid the rope?
There we are! That's what 10 years of English lessons does to you! (To be more precise 1 year of persuasive writing English lessons)
__________________
"We might succeed in roasting Pippin alive inside." - Frodo.
|