August 7, 2002

To Curious George: About Gollum
Schlauz

My dear fellow Tolkien-reader, I would have to disagree with your statement. It is true that Gollum rushed to the point that Frodo put on the ring inside Mt. Doom, yet I disagree with your "dancing" assumption.

If you think a little about what was going on, and read further, after the "dancing, the fires of Mt. Doom blasted just before Sam saw Gollum holding "nothing" (Frodo's hand)and clamping his sharp little teeth as Frodo cried in pain. The way I see it.....the "dancing" was Gollum wrestling with Frodo. After all Tolkien knew a little bit of grammar, and if in fact Gollum was searching for Frodo, he wouldn't have dragged himself away from the cliff. At least Tolkien wouldn't have worded it so, if that were the case.

Besides, if Gollum was dancing, or looking for Frodo, I don't see it possible for him to miraculously grab Frodo's hand before finding his invisible body.