Riddles In The Dark
Chapter Information
Title	Riddles In The Dark
Number	5
Location	Goblin-town
Date	10—12 July T.A. 2941
Characters	Bilbo Baggins, Gollum
Previous	Over Hill And Under Hill
Next	Out Of The Frying-Pan Into The Fire

Riddles in the Dark is the fifth chapter of J.R.R Tolkien's The Hobbit. This chapter of The Hobbit holds the most importance to The Lord of the Rings as it deals with Bilbo's finding of the One Ring.

Contents 1 Plot 2 Synopsis 3 Appearances 4 Riddles

PlotEdit

Bilbo recovers from his fall and finds himself in a dark passage, finds a gold ring on the ground, and pockets it. Soon he comes across the creature Gollum.

SynopsisEdit

Bilbo regains consciousness and, finding himself alone, tries to crawl through the tunnel. He finds a ring, which he absentmindedly pockets. He wishes he were back in his comfortable home, eating. As a hobbit, he can orient himself quite well underground, and he continues to descend the tunnel until he comes to a lake that he cannot cross, not knowing how to swim.

Bilbo is spotted by old Gollum, who lives alone on an island in the lake, which he navigates in a small boat. Gollum is a small, slimy, dark creature with pale eyes, named for the sound he makes as he swallows; he preys upon Goblins and fish. Because he lives alone, Gollum is in the habit of speaking to himself in a kind of hissing baby-talk, calling himself "my precious." Trying to assess Bilbo, he engages him in a game of riddles, at which Bilbo proves his equal.

Gollum decides to get the better of Bilbo by using his birthday present, a ring. When he wears it, he is invisible and can more easily snag his prey. He goes to the hiding place where he keeps the ring, but it is gone. Gollum correctly surmises that Bilbo has it and confronts him, asking what is in his pocket. Bilbo, who does not understand the power of the ring, slips it on his finger as Gollum runs to attack him. Bilbo becomes invisible, and Gollum cannot find him to attack.

Gollum is afraid that without the invisibility of the ring, he will be captured by the Goblins . He panics and runs to escape the cave. Bilbo, who is still invisible, follows him, thereby discovering the way out. Gollum, who can smell Bilbo, blocks his way. Bilbo thinks of killing Gollum, but decides it would not be fair, because Bilbo is invisible and Gollum is unarmed. Bilbo escapes by an extraordinary leap over Gollum's head and through the passageway, but he runs into the Goblins. As they rush at him, he slips the ring on, becoming invisible, and narrowly escapes to the outside where it is light and the Goblins cannot follow.

AppearancesEdit

RiddlesEdit

• Gollum

What has roots as nobody sees,
Is taller than trees
Up, up, up it goes,
And yet never grows?

Answer: Mountain

• Bilbo

Thirty white horses on a red hill,
First they champ,
Then they stamp,
Then they stand still.

Answer: Teeth

• Gollum

Voiceless it cries,
Wingless flutters,
Toothless bites,
Mouthless mutters.

Answer: Wind

• Bilbo

An eye in a blue face
Saw an eye in a green face.
'That eye is like to this eye'
Said the first eye,
'But in low place
Not in high place.'

Answer: Sun shining on daisies

• Gollum

It cannot be seen, cannot be felt,
Cannot be heard, cannot be smelt.
It lies behind stars and under hills,
And empty holes it fills.
It comes first and follows after,
Ends life, kills laughter.

Answer: Dark

• Bilbo

A box without hinges, key or lid,
Yet golden treasure inside is hid.

Answer: Egg

• Gollum

Alive without breath,
As cold as death;
Never thirsty, ever drinking,
All in mail never clinking

Answer: Fish

• Bilbo

No-legs lay on one-leg, two legs sat near on three legs, four legs got some.

Answer: Fish on a little one-legged table, man at table sitting on a three-legged stool, the cat gets the bones

• Gollum

This thing all things devours:
Birds, beasts, trees, flowers;
Gnaws iron, bites steel;
Grinds hard stones to meal;
Slays king, ruins town,
And beats high mountain down.

Answer: Time