It’s well-known that The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit don’t exactly line up. The most significant difference lies in the tone of each story, with Bilbo Baggins’ adventure far lighter and more whimsical compared to the intensity and lore-heavy approach behind The Lord of the Rings. J.R.R. Tolkien’s original 1937 novel had the air of a more traditional fantasy tale filled with magic, dragons, and goblins, while The Lord of the Rings encompassed elements of war, oppression, and politics, exploring every blade of grass along the way.
In narrative terms, the disconnect between The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings raises key questions. Why didn’t Gandalf realize Bilbo Baggins had discovered the One Ring? Didn’t Gandalf have more pressing matters at hand, anyway? How did Smaug survive when Morgoth’s other dragons died? Why would Sauron need to turn invisible? Many of these questions have answers in Tolkien’s works, but one required the author to rewrite The Hobbit post-publication.
What Happened In The Hobbit’s Original Chapter Between Bilbo And Gollum
Bilbo and Gollum first meet in The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey
“Riddles in the Dark” is the fateful chapter of The Hobbit where Bilbo Baggins and Gollum compete in a challenge of riddles. Bilbo wins, of course, and manages to escape with the creature’s magic golden ring still in his pocket, having stumbled across it previously.
In the version of the chapter that most will be familiar with, Bilbo’s prize for winning the game is that Gollum will (supposedly) guide the hobbit out of the caves. Instead, Gollum conspires to kill Bilbo, but upon failing to locate the ring he uses to turn himself invisible when hunting prey, Gollum realizes the hobbit has the treasure in his pocketses.
Gollum chases Bilbo in a rage, desperate to reclaim his ring, but his hairy-footed nemesis gives him the slip. This moment marks the beginning of the end for poor old Sméagol.
This was not how events played out when The Hobbit was first published. Early editions of Tolkien’s book saw Bilbo and Gollum exchanging riddles with the ring on the line. When Bilbo wins, Gollum willingly goes to retrieve the gift, but can’t find it because the ring is already in Bilbo’s pocket. Instead of sharing this detail, Bilbo suggests Gollum simply show him the way out instead. Gollum obliges, and they part ways on reasonably good terms.
Why Tolkien Rewrote The Hobbit’s “Riddles In The Dark” Chapter
Gollum is hiding behind a rock in Lord of the Rings Two Tower
The notion that Gollum would honor his wager and happily hand over the One Ring bears no correlation whatsoever to The Lord of the Rings. Gollum’s obsession over the Ring is a foundation element of both The Lord of the Rings and Middle-earth’s entire mythology. Not only does it inform Gollum’s own arc, his infatuation defines the power of the One Ring, triggers Sauron’s pursuit of Frodo, and ultimately leads to the Ring’s destruction. The entire story falls apart if Gollum isn’t wholly consumed by his precious.
This is why, as The Lord of the Rings continued to take shape in the 1940s, Tolkien rewrote “Riddles in the Dark” and sent it to his publishers. The second edition of The Hobbit, complete with the nastier Gollum, was first printed in 1951, and has now become the definitive version of the story, as well as the one adapted by Peter Jackson in An Unexpected Journey.
According to The History of The Hobbit (John D. Rateliff, 2007), Tolkien even sought to make further changes in the 1960s. These would have addressed The Hobbit’s lighter tone compared to The Lord of the Rings, but the idea was quickly abandoned as it became clear this new edition would turn The Hobbit into a completely different book than the one readers already loved.
Created by
J.R.R. Tolkien
Cast
Norman Bird, Anthony Daniels, Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen, Liv Tyler, Viggo Mortensen, Sean Astin, Cate Blanchett, John Rhys-Davies, Billy Boyd, Dominic Monaghan, Orlando Bloom, Christopher Lee, Hugo Weaving, Sean Bean, Ian Holm, Andy Serkis, Brad Dourif, Karl Urban, Martin Freeman, Richard Armitage, James Nesbitt, Ken Stott, Benedict Cumberbatch, Evangeline Lilly, Lee Pace, Luke Evans, Morfydd Clark, Mike Wood, Ismael Cruz Cordova, Charlie Vickers, Markella Kavenagh, Megan Richards, Sara Zwangobani, Daniel Weyman, Cynthia Addai-Robinson, Lenny Henry, Brian Cox, Shaun Dooley, Miranda Otto, Bilal Hasna, Benjamin Wainwright, Luke Pasqualino, Christopher Guard, William Squire, Michael Scholes, John Hurt
Character(s)
Frodo Baggins, Gandalf, Legolas, Boromir, Sauron, Gollum, Samwise Gamgee, Pippin Took, Celeborn, Aragorn, Galadriel, Bilbo Baggins, Saruman, Aldor, Wormtongue, Thorin Oakenshield, Balin Dwalin, Bifur, Bofur, Bombur, Fili, Kili, Oin, Gloin, Nori, Dori, Ori, Tauriel, King Thranduil, Smaug, Radagast, Arondir, Nori Brandyfoot, Poppy Proudfellow, Marigold Brandyfoot, Queen Regent MÃriel, Sadoc Burrows