The Encyclopedia of Arda - an interactive guide to the world of J.R.R. Tolkien
Dates
Location
Samwise Gamgee gave Sméagol this name during their journey into Mordor
Race
Division
Descended from the same stock as the Stoors
Meaning
A name devised by Sam Gamgee for the cunning, Gollum-like aspect of Sméagol's personality, as opposed to 'Slinker', his more fawning, Sméagol-like aspect
Title of
Sméagol (also called Gollum)

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About this entry:

  • Updated 5 December 2022
  • This entry is complete

Stinker

The twisted half of Sméagol’s personality

For Sméagol, the creature also known as Gollum, the loss of the Ring and his tortures in the land of Mordor had destroyed his mind. By the time he met Frodo and Sam beneath the Emyn Muil, his personality had split into two, with one side seeking companionship and favour, and the other side desperately wanting to recover the Ring at any cost, including the murder of his companions. Sam secretly gave names to these two sides of Sméagol: the pathetic, simpering side he called 'Slinker', but the jealous, dangerous side he gave an even worse name: Stinker. As Gollum's darker side took him over completely, so Sam started to use the name 'Stinker' as just another name for the scheming creature.


See also...

Gollum, Slinker

Indexes:

About this entry:

  • Updated 5 December 2022
  • This entry is complete

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