we wonders, precious, we wonders *gollum* - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Evisse the Blue · 04-06-2004, 02:12 AM

If this is an idiot question, please say so.

Does Gollum, later Smeagol's nickname, mean anything? I know it is the approximate spelling of the chocking sound that Smeagol used to make. But why did he make those noises? And what were they meant to express? What does the resonance of the word evoke? One thing is certain: they were provoked by the sight (and possession) of the Ring. Does anybody know for sure or care to speculate about this?

Thorongil · 04-06-2004, 08:13 AM

Well, I would think any throat would make weird noises after being in a cold cave for like 500 years. I guess he just has a REALLY sore throat.

Imladris · 04-06-2004, 09:19 AM

No, he made the noise soon after he discovered the Ring:

Quote:

He took to thieving, and going about muttering to himself, and gurgling in his throat. So they [his relations] called him Gollum , and cursed him, and told him to go far away;

Maybe he forgot how to laugh. The book says that he would eavesdrop on secrets and use his knowledge for wicked ends. Maybe he laughed in spite, but as time went on and he became so miserable, all that came out was a strangled sort of sound: Gollum. Now, if that's the case (which is doubtful but that's the first thought that came to me), it wouldn't sound like the movie version of Smeagol's gollum. I'm going on the fact that he "gurgled in his throat."

Or maybe he had a severe case of post-nasel drip he never got rid of.

Lhunardawen · 04-07-2004, 02:06 AM

This would sound stupid, but i guess the gollum sound came about due to Gollum's excessive fish-eating (or any other meat, for that matter).

IN The Hobbit :

Quote:

And when he said gollum he made a horrible swallowing noise in his throat. That is how he got his name, though he always called himself "my precious."

So I agree with Imladris that it is not like the sound Gollum made in the movie. And what did he usually swallow? Fish!

Do I make sense?

radagastly · 04-07-2004, 09:07 AM

The name itself may have been inspired by "golem," a legend of a creature formed from clay and brought to life through the mysteries of the Kabbalah to be a servent of its maker. The stories I was able to find on the internet seem to all come from eastern Europe, and they all give the impression (to me) that they were stories told to frighten children, like a ghost story before bed-time. I believe Tolkien spent some time in Poland as a child. He may have heard the story there. Of course this is just a theory of mine. Maybe some of our more learned Barrow-downers can shed more light on it.

Ainaserkewen · 04-07-2004, 01:18 PM

I was just thinking that Radagastly.

Who can try and explain what weird, comical quirks that Smeagol developed after all those years? Whether or not they actually were supposed to mean something other than direct side-effects of his life...who knows.

01-27-2005, 09:44 PM

Who ever decided that the story of Rabbi Loew and his Golem was a recent story has got it completely wrong. Whats more, it was not the story that introduced the idea of the Golem. That has been in Jewish mythology for thousands of years. The story about Rabbi Loew just happens to be the most popular.

Its good that you have just decided that Gollum has nothing to do with the Golem legend but the fact is Tolkien would have known all about Gollems seeing as the legend has been around for so long and one of his main passtimes was researching the mythoilogy and language of other cultures hence the creation of his various languages.

Please next time you say something, make sure there is at least a hint of truth to it.

Assasin · 01-30-2005, 06:16 PM

They gave him that name because of his cough. He always goes, ***gollum, gollum*** when he coughs.

ohtatyaro · 02-01-2005, 01:14 AM

I have a question: who are 'they'? he was alone in a cave, right? So 'they' are people of his village? Or Bilbo, whom he talked to first of all of the later folks?

Assasin · 02-04-2005, 01:45 AM

I think it was the people in his village... but that's just what I think. There was a murderer in the "village" and the chased him out.

Finwe-89 · 02-04-2005, 06:07 AM

Smeagol, when he had the Ring, his mind got poisend. Cause of the Ring, he also lost him self, and got a slipetted personality ( if I say it right ). That means that he got two personalities ( it happens in reallife too, only not with the Ring of course ). Cause Smeagol lost it, Gollum came. But not right away. It started with the name ''Gollum, Gollum, Gollum''. Later, Gollum took over the mind of Smeagol and shared it with Smeagol. So the name Gollum just came out of nowhere. Or Tolkien meant something with it... But I don't think any one knows

04-06-2004, 02:12 AM	#1
Evisse the Blue Brightness of a Blade Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: wherever I may roam Posts: 2,685	we wonders, precious, we wonders gollum If this is an idiot question, please say so. Does Gollum, later Smeagol's nickname, mean anything? I know it is the approximate spelling of the chocking sound that Smeagol used to make. But why did he make those noises? And what were they meant to express? What does the resonance of the word evoke? One thing is certain: they were provoked by the sight (and possession) of the Ring. Does anybody know for sure or care to speculate about this? __________________ And no one was ill, and everyone was pleased, except those who had to mow the grass.

04-06-2004, 08:13 AM	#2
Thorongil Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: The Elvenpath Posts: 780	Well, I would think any throat would make weird noises after being in a cold cave for like 500 years. I guess he just has a REALLY sore throat. __________________ To win one hundred victories in one hundred battles is not the acme of skill. To subdue the enemy without fighting is the acme of skill. ~Sun Tzu

04-07-2004, 01:18 PM	#6
Ainaserkewen Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: A cosmic waiting room Posts: 651	I was just thinking that Radagastly. Who can try and explain what weird, comical quirks that Smeagol developed after all those years? Whether or not they actually were supposed to mean something other than direct side-effects of his life...who knows. __________________ Solus... I'm eating chicken again. I ate chicken yesterday and the day before... will I be eating chicken again tomorrow? Why am I always eating chicken?

01-27-2005, 09:44 PM	#7
Jim Little Guest Posts: n/a	Get your facts straight Who ever decided that the story of Rabbi Loew and his Golem was a recent story has got it completely wrong. Whats more, it was not the story that introduced the idea of the Golem. That has been in Jewish mythology for thousands of years. The story about Rabbi Loew just happens to be the most popular. Its good that you have just decided that Gollum has nothing to do with the Golem legend but the fact is Tolkien would have known all about Gollems seeing as the legend has been around for so long and one of his main passtimes was researching the mythoilogy and language of other cultures hence the creation of his various languages. Please next time you say something, make sure there is at least a hint of truth to it.

01-30-2005, 06:16 PM	#8
Assasin Wight Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: In a desert. Posts: 142	They gave him that name because of his cough. He always goes, *gollum, gollum* when he coughs. __________________ Death is as light as a feather, duty is as heavy as a mountain.

04-07-2004, 09:07 AM	#5
radagastly Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Washington, D. C., USA Posts: 299	The name itself may have been inspired by "golem," a legend of a creature formed from clay and brought to life through the mysteries of the Kabbalah to be a servent of its maker. The stories I was able to find on the internet seem to all come from eastern Europe, and they all give the impression (to me) that they were stories told to frighten children, like a ghost story before bed-time. I believe Tolkien spent some time in Poland as a child. He may have heard the story there. Of course this is just a theory of mine. Maybe some of our more learned Barrow-downers can shed more light on it.

02-01-2005, 01:14 AM	#9
ohtatyaro Wight Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: here, there, everywhere... Posts: 121	I have a question: who are 'they'? he was alone in a cave, right? So 'they' are people of his village? Or Bilbo, whom he talked to first of all of the later folks? __________________ Reading this sig costs three Galleons, nine Sickles, and a Knut. Pay up!

02-04-2005, 01:45 AM	#10
Assasin Wight Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: In a desert. Posts: 142	I think it was the people in his village... but that's just what I think. There was a murderer in the "village" and the chased him out. __________________ Death is as light as a feather, duty is as heavy as a mountain.

02-04-2005, 06:07 AM	#11
Finwe-89 Wight Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: In Lotholorien, looking in the mirror that shows that there is still hope for life... Posts: 84	Smeagol, when he had the Ring, his mind got poisend. Cause of the Ring, he also lost him self, and got a slipetted personality ( if I say it right ). That means that he got two personalities ( it happens in reallife too, only not with the Ring of course ). Cause Smeagol lost it, Gollum came. But not right away. It started with the name ''Gollum, Gollum, Gollum''. Later, Gollum took over the mind of Smeagol and shared it with Smeagol. So the name Gollum just came out of nowhere. Or Tolkien meant something with it... But I don't think any one knows __________________ Ash nazg durbatulûk, ash nazg gimbatul, ash nazg thrakatulûk agh burzum- ishi krimpatul... Beware: Don't speak this loud when you're alone in the dark... Unless you really want it... But don't say I didn't warn you...