Were the Hobbits Aware of Gollum's Connection to the One Ring Before Trusting It to Frodo?

When J.R.R. Tolkien created the beloved characters of The Lord of the Rings universe, he wove a complex tapestry of lore and mystery around the One Ring and the individuals who sought to destroy it. A crucial question often arises: did the Hobbits, specifically the initial ring bearers, know about Gollum's connection to the One Ring before entrusting the Ring to Frodo Baggins?

Probing the Past: Bilbo's Silence and Gandalf's Revelation

Before the events of The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (LOTR:TFOTR), only Bilbo Baggins, the only adventurous Hobbit at the time, ever held the One Ring. Bilbo kept the truth of the Ring to himself until he had to leave it behind. In The Fellowship of the Ring, Tolkien specifically notes that Bilbo never mentioned Gollum's name during this period:

Only Bilbo, as he was the only adventurous Hobbit at the time before the events of LOTR:TFOTR ever took place, had never told anybody about the Ring up until the night he had to leave it behind, and even if he had to fess up about it, he never asked Gollum’s name when they met, so he would not have a name to give to tell from whom Bilbo took the Ring from.

The Unveilings: Gandalf's Role and The Fellowship of the Ring

By the time the Ring reached Frodo, it was unknown to most of the Hobbits that it was indeed the One Ring. In Tolkien's writings, Gandalf remains a pivotal figure in the story, though his knowledge of the Ring was not immediate:

By that time at least Gandalf was aware of the Ring's nature, but it was not clear that it was the One Ring. In the books, Gandalf only discovered this years later, after certain events had transpired.

Gandalf played a crucial role in informing the Hobbits about the full story of Gollum and the Ring's history. Months before Frodo's departure, Gandalf had shared the complete tale with Gollum, though an abbreviated version of the Ring's history was also told to the Hobbits. The relevant chapters, An Unexpected Party and The Shadow of the Past, provide comprehensive insights into the events leading up to Frodo's quest.

Secondary Sources and Adaptations

For those interested in delving deeper into the tale, it is worth noting that Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings film adaptations have condensed and simplified the information. However, the original material in The Fellowship of the Ring offers a more detailed narrative. Here are the opening chapters that provide a thorough understanding: An Unexpected Party and The Shadow of the Past.

In summary, the Hobbits, particularly Bilbo and Frodo, did not possess full knowledge of Gollum's connection to the One Ring until Gandalf's revelations. The quest to destroy the Ring was a journey of discovery, both for the characters and for the reader, as Tolkien masterfully built a world of intrigue and mystery.

Key Points:

Bilbo kept the truth of the Ring to himself. Gandalf revealed the full story to Gollum and the Hobbits. The revelation came years after Gandalf first discovered the Ring's true nature.

Through the exploration of these points, the story of The Lord of the Rings achieves not only a gripping narrative but also an intricate web of lore and history.