This chapter feels pivotal to us readers, but I wonder - is that because of the later events of LotR? What significance does Gollum have for
this adventure? He seems to be just one of the foes whom Bilbo encounters and overcomes. It's too early in the tale for a climactic peak.
And what about the Ring? In this story it's still just a ring, a small object, though magical. Would Bilbo have been able to accomplish his quest without it?
I see one detail that strikes me as important in Bilbo's growth into his role: here, he gives Gollum his full real name. Later, when he encounters the dragon, he has learned to be more devious.
The riddles have a characteristic that is typical for Tolkien - he takes existing material and changes it. He does that later on for Frodo's song in the Prancing Pony, or in giving the Gaffer's version of proverbs. In the
Annotated Hobbit, Anderson points out that several of the riddles are put into rhyming form, which is not typical for the original form.
How significant do you think this chapter is? Do you remember your reaction upon first reading it?
(
Previous discussion)