Gollum’s Origin Story

We all know this popular LOTR character. He starts out as Smeagol, one of the Stoors , one of the river folk ancestors of hobbits. On his 33rd birthday, he went fishing with his cousin, Deagol,. Deagol got a bite from a particularly big fish, which pulled him in. His eye caught on a shiny object in the bottom of the river. It was the one ring, which had been lost for centuries. So naturally, he picked it up. Smeagol, who had been a pretty bad Stoor in the first place, saw it and asked Deagol for it since it was his birthday. Deagol said no and Smeagol strangled him, taking the ring for himself.

Eventually he grew corrupted and was kicked out. Then he went to the misty mountains where he was further twisted and developed the line we all know him for “my precious”. He would devour the goblins who ventured down to his little pool. One day(or night) Bilbo , a hobbit, stumbled on his cave and Gollum challenged him to a riddle contest.If Bilbo won he would show him the way out and if Gollum won he would eat “the baggins”. Soon Bilbo ran out of riddles and just asked “What’s in my pocket?” because he had picked up the one ring and forgotten about it. Gollum was desperate, thought it was an unfair riddle and attacked Bilbo. Bilbo escaped with the ring.

Gollum was drawn to Mordor where he served Shelob the spider in Cirith Ungol until he was captured and tortured until he said 2 words baggins and shire. Apparently, that was enough for Sauron. Gollum escaped and pursued the fellowship of the ring until they broke up. Then he joined Frodo and Sam as their guide and they were caught by Faramir who let them go. Gollum led them to the pass of Cirith Ungol where he left them to Shelob but Frodo used Sting, the dagger obtained by Bilbo,and the phial of Galadriel. In the end Frodo was wrapped up in spider silk and taken by orcs and Sam had killed Shelob. Gollum caught up with them at Mount Doom. Frodo refused to throw the ring in so Gollum stole it and then fell into the fire.