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dormouse
Half-elven
Aug 15 2012, 2:33pm
Views: 2596
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A. Doesn’t the phrase “old Gollum” convey a kind of folksiness to the character?
I suppose... It could almost have a note of affection in it 'dear old so-and-so'. But I think it also has to do with that sense that Bilbo is moving through landscapes and places with their own long history.
B. Is slimy metaphorical or literal here?
Both. At least, not slimy of its own nature, like a fish or slug, but slimy because he lives in a dark, damp environment and it clings to his skin.
I. Or not … what do you think?
I think Tolkien is giving Gollum a very definite accent here, and more than likely representing the accent he used when he told the story out loud. Gollum is Welsh - hence the sibilance with all those 'sssss's and the speech rhythms. I don't see 'choice' and 'tasty' as in any way cute. Those are expressions that were used about food - not so much now, maybe, but then - and they work for Gollum because again they have that 's' sound which makes the Welsh accent.
L. Would a more modern Gollum call himself “babe”?
Only if he wasn't Welsh! ;-)
On riddles - I can remember playing with riddles a lot as a kid - including some of the ones Bilbo and Gollum use, or something very like them, and riddles came up in school books and children's poetry books and magazines. But mostly it was just riddles for their own sake, as word games, not the folklore ritual of having to answer a set number of riddles to win your way past an obstacle.
(This post was edited by dormouse on Aug 15 2012, 2:36pm)
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