From what I remember reading from the books (which I haven’t read in over 12 years or so) and from watching the movie, one thing puzzles me.
OK, so while traveling with Sam and Gollum, Frodo starts talking to Gollum about his past. He correctly guesses that he use to belong to some river folk that were closely related to Hobbits.
OK, that wouldn’t be too hard to figure out, I guess, but then he tells Gollum that his name use to be Smeegle.
How did he know this? Where did he get the information from? I don’t remember the book or the movie telling how he knew this.
In the film, he learns Smeagol’s name from Gandalf, while taking a breather in Moria. The full scene, however, is only in the extended edition of the flick, not the theatrical release.
IIRC, in the books, Gandalph and Aragorn reveal Smeagol’s history at the Council of Elrond, whilst discussing the history of the ring.
I just got The Two Towers DVD for Christmas, and I haven’t had a chance to watch it yet, nor have I seen ROTK, but the literary answer is found in The Fellowship of the Ring (the book, not the movie).
(Just in case)
Gandalf told Frodo Smeagol’s story in Bag End, one fine spring morning, about seventeen years after Bilbo’s departure. Gandalf had spent those years researching the Ring, and he felt it important to discover how Gollum had got hold of it in the first place. With the aid of Aragorn, he hunted for Golllum, Aragorn capturing Gollum after he (Gollum) had sojourned in the Black Land. Gandalf then had the opportunity to interrogate Gollum. This is how Gandalf learned the story of Smeagol’s youth, and of how he acquired a Ring of Power.
One presumes Frodo had read The Fellowship of the Ring, and he remembered these details when Gollum started reminiscing.
OK, hearing all this is bringing back some memories because, like I said, it’s been about 12 or more years since I’ve read the books. So thank you everybody for your answers. I appreciate it.
Urg. That will teach me to read the thread more carefully…not only was the information that I posted already posted, but in essentially the identical phrasing. Sorry, Skeezix.
