All Questions
Tagged with tolkiens-legendarium smaug
44
questions
-6
votes
1
answer
366
views
Did Tolkien ever address Gandalf's propensity to take risks? [closed]
Gandalf wanted to get rid of Smaug, fearing that Smaug could eventually become an ally and tool of Sauron. But at the time of The Hobbit, Smaug was slumbering in Erebor. Gandalf explicitly discouraged ...
- 306
5
votes
1
answer
867
views
Why was Smaug able to take over Erebor with such ease?
The dwarves of Erebor were a powerful nation who were well aware of the existence of dragons (and their relative proximity to the Withered Heath). Despite vast resources, of both time and money, they ...
- 543
24
votes
3
answers
8k
views
What was Thorin's plan if Bilbo hadn't woken up Smaug?
In The Hobbit, Thorin sends Bilbo in first to scout out the mountain and maybe snatch the Arkenstone if convenient, all ideally without waking the dragon (Smaug).
Of course, the dragon is awakened and ...
- 349
1
vote
1
answer
410
views
Did Smaug have the power to destroy Barad-dûr? [closed]
Consider a scenario in which Smaug was not killed in T.A. 2942, continuing to live to T.A. 3019, the year of the Battle for Middle-earth. Now let's say that he and Sauron had a major disagreement ...
user126715
2
votes
1
answer
637
views
Was Sauron aware of the prophecy that Smaug would be killed and that the Dwarves would reclaim Erebor?
I was wondering if there is any mention in Tolkien's Legendarium that Sauron knew about the prophecy that Smaug would be killed and that the Dwarves would then reclaim Erebor. If so, I was thinking ...
user126715
80
votes
4
answers
35k
views
Why does Smaug have 4 legs in the 1st movie but only 2 legs in the 2nd?
In the movie, The Hobbit: The Unexpected Journey, Smaug has 4 legs. If you look closely in this scene where he crawls into the mountain, he has 2 fore legs and 2 back legs.
...
- 38.7k
12
votes
1
answer
3k
views
Was Smaug sealed inside the Lonely Mountain?
The dwarves said there was no way into the mountain before Gandalf gave Thorin the key... in the movie. So I was wondering, how did Smaug get out to eat?
- 155
2
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Was Smaug awake when Bilbo entered Erebor?
The Hobbit movie ends with Smaug being awoken by a bird who was knocking on a wall with snail, right?
So, was Smaug awake when Bilbo entered Erebor Halls to find the Arkenstone in the 2nd movie?
...
- 21
16
votes
4
answers
6k
views
Is Smaug a reptile?
Basically, as the title asks. Dragons are often referred to as reptilian in various stories, but I don't think I remember Tolkien ever specifying this about Smaug. I looked a bit, and couldn't find ...
- 13.3k
-3
votes
2
answers
6k
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Why doesn't Smaug die in the 2nd Hobbit film if it was titled the 'Desolation of Smaug'?
Doesn't desolation mean a state of complete emptiness or destruction?
So why doesn't Smaug perish by the end of the 2nd Hobbit film if the film's title was made to describe his end? He only dies at ...
- 1,710
13
votes
1
answer
3k
views
How did Gandalf expect the dwarves to kill Smaug?
It has been stated that Gandalf had his reasons for sending Bilbo with Thorin & Company. One of them was to prevent an alliance between Sauron and Smaug. However, he also knew that the company was ...
- 306
15
votes
3
answers
12k
views
How old is Smaug, the dragon, in The Hobbit?
Wikipedia says Smaug drove the dwarves out of their mountain stronghold 150 years prior to the events of The Hobbit. But it doesn't mention his age.
Tolkien Gateway says Smaug's birthyear is unknown.
...
- 38.7k
26
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Would Gandalf have been allowed to fight Smaug?
This is not a Gandalf vs Smaug debate.
The question is more about whether, if presented with the opportunity, Gandalf would have been permitted (by the Valar) to fight Smaug without any limitations ...
- 2,319
2
votes
1
answer
1k
views
How did Smaug get the treasure into the mountain? [duplicate]
Correct me if I'm wrong- I've seen the movies and read the book but it has been a while.
Smaug not only hoarded the treasure that was already under the mountain but he also collected the treasure of ...
- 29
60
votes
3
answers
13k
views
Why model Smaug after a cat?
In the 1977 animated film version of the Hobbit, the dragon Smaug is drawn similar to a cat- the shape of his head is distinctly feline (complete with whiskers), and his posture when awoken from his ...
- 26.6k
10
votes
2
answers
3k
views
How would Sauron have contacted Smaug?
I asked this question a while back and received some very good responses about the status of Sauron in Morgoth's army, and what Smaug might have done in the scenario. If the question was still fairly ...
- 1,719
36
votes
3
answers
10k
views
Was Smaug woken up by a nut hitting the mountain?
I have been re-watching The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey. By the end, the movie shows a how a bird came knocking (actually hitting a snail) on the mountain. And then there is shifting inside, and ...
- 3,217
77
votes
10
answers
60k
views
Would Smaug have actually followed and allied with Sauron had he lived on?
I know Gandalf was worried Smaug would have joined Sauron, but was that just him being cautious? Would Smaug actually join up with Sauron? How does he benefit from that? All it does is bring more ...
- 1,719
1
vote
1
answer
2k
views
Why did Thorin believe that the gold could kill Smaug? [duplicate]
Thorin was successful in causing Smaug a great deal of agony, but the molten gold was ineffective beyond that. Smaug is obviously capable of dishing out extreme temperature, so why did Thorin believe ...
- 915
7
votes
5
answers
5k
views
Why did Dale have anti-dragon defences?
Ok so, at the beginning when Smaug first attacked Dale, the city next to Erebor, they had a sling shot that was made to sling giant spears. Why did they have this in the first place? Were Dragons ...
- 368
-2
votes
1
answer
615
views
Is it possible to create armor with Smaug scales?
I haven't read the book, but I've read in some wiki that Smaug died by the black arrow and fell so the corpse still remains. Is it possible to skin the dragon and make armor with his scales?
- 119
30
votes
4
answers
6k
views
How did Smaug transport all of his gold and jewels?
Smaug first appeared in TA 2770 as a mature Fire-drake. I'm not sure if there are canonical sources which say his age or maturity, but he must have been quite large and quite old at the time in order ...
- 3,488
10
votes
1
answer
1k
views
How did the dwarves know Smaug's name?
In The Hobbit, how did Thorin and his dwarves know the name of the dragon who destroyed their home? It doesn't seem like Smaug ever spoke during that battle. I was wondering if maybe it is supposed to ...
- 101
22
votes
5
answers
9k
views
Where did the name Smaug come from?
So I was wondering what the origin of this name is for the dragon? Is it a known word from a language with a meaning or is it a completely made up word?
Or perhaps it evolved from another word... its ...
- 323
50
votes
6
answers
28k
views
How was Smaug's treasure actually divided?
If I recall correctly:
The agreement was that each dwarf would receive 1/14 of the treasure.
Bilbo takes the Arkenstone, and though unspoken, is willing to give up his share for it.
Bard demanded 1/...
- 1,595
-2
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Balrog of Moria vs. Smaug the Dragon [closed]
My son asked me this very tricky question and I'd be interested to hear opinions: Who would win in a fight between the Balrog from Moria and Smaug the dragon?
Things to consider; Smaug, despite being ...
2
votes
1
answer
5k
views
What are the differences between the book and the film version of Smaug and Bilbo's conversation?
I have read in several places that the movie scene differs quite a bit from the book scene. Sadly I haven't read the books. I just want some major highlights as to how the 2 scenes differed, and what ...
- 16.2k
3
votes
1
answer
2k
views
How could Smaug live buried under gold without breathing? (The desolation of Smaug: The film)
Before Smaug awakens because of Bilbo's ventures, there's not even a single breath amidst all the gold. His breath is only heard when he wakes up. Is he capable of living without breathing?
- 16.2k
30
votes
2
answers
7k
views
How did Gandalf plan to kill Smaug?
As we know Gandalf had a far bigger plan than the dwarves when he decided to join their quest of reclaiming Erabor. Smaug, the dragon, was always on his mind, and he feared that Sauron would gain ...
- 301
3
votes
1
answer
506
views
In The Hobbit (Book), what was the layout of the barricade on the Front Gate of the Lonely Mountain?
In the book it has this image:
In the book, it says that they built a wall of bricks covering it, but it also said that they could climb in and out with ladders and ropes, and sit on top of it. How ...
- 573
16
votes
4
answers
3k
views
How is Smaug aware that there is a war coming when all he did was lie in all the dwarves gold at Erebor?
How is Smaug aware of the fact that there is a war coming when all he has done is lie amongst the gold that he stole from the dwarves at Erebor?
He mentions that there is a war coming but how would ...
- 961
9
votes
3
answers
21k
views
Why does Smaug smell the ring (when it was invisible) and refer to it as 'precious'?
In Jackson's Hobbit Desolation of Smaug, Bilbo stands near Smaug as he wakes up and puts on the ring to become invisible. From what we can see, Smaug doesn't lay eyes on the ring.
Yet Smaug comments,...
- 9,979
36
votes
5
answers
14k
views
How does Smaug know the name Oakenshield?
In the second Hobbit movie, Smaug mentions the name Thorin Oakenshield to Bilbo. (I don't have my copy of the book with me now, but I don't believe he refers to Oakenshield in that.) Thorin received ...
- 1,288
6
votes
0
answers
2k
views
Is the Hobbit's gold statue scene physically accurate or even possible? [closed]
In the second Hobbit movie,
Considering that liquid gold was poured into just one or two minutes earlier, completely filling the mold, which was then removed, could the statue be hard enough to hold ...
- 169
10
votes
3
answers
11k
views
How much gold did Smaug possess in his hoard?
I realize this will be only an estimation based on passages from the book.
In addition, if his wealth were to be redistributed across Middle Earth, would the influx of currency cause a resurgence of ...
- 8,690
59
votes
6
answers
41k
views
What did Smaug eat for 60 years?
From what I understand, Smaug is a beast that must eat other living things to sustain himself. For example, he does not "eat" gold and jewels, he simply admires and covets them.
It's implied that he ...
- 2,322
34
votes
7
answers
17k
views
Could the gold actually kill Smaug?
This wasn't in the book, so I was wondering: in the second Hobbit movie (The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug), when:
could he actually die?
- 27.5k
37
votes
4
answers
14k
views
Is "Smaug" pronounced "Smog"?
Did Tolkien the linguist intend for the name of the dragon Smaug to be pronounced "Smog" [IPA: /smɒɡ/ or /smɔːɡ/]? The trailer for the second installment of The Hobbit trilogy pronounces the word (...
- 63.6k
8
votes
3
answers
12k
views
How did Smaug know about the treasure within Erebor?
It is presumed that Smaug hears about the treasure within the Lonely Mountain and decides he will take it, but as the dwarves had been mining there for a long time there must've been a significant ...
- 199
36
votes
6
answers
9k
views
Would Smaug have been able to identify and claim the One Ring?
Reputed to be intimately familiar with every last item within his hoard, Smaug instantly noticed the theft of a relatively inconsequential cup by Bilbo Baggins. Had he been able to defeat the barrel ...
- 63.6k
18
votes
3
answers
4k
views
How did Smaug know about the habits of Laketown?
In The Hobbit cartoon Bilbo enters Lonely Mountain and confronts the dragon Smaug. Smaug is trying to figure out who he is and where he comes from. Bilbo answers in riddles about his many adventures ...
- 115k
17
votes
1
answer
2k
views
What happened to the carcass of Smaug after the events of The Hobbit?
What happened to the carcass of Smaug after the events of The Hobbit?
I remember reading that Smaug fell into the flaming ruins of Laketown (and that many tried to dive in later for the riches it may ...
- 3,994
8
votes
2
answers
2k
views
What relation/link is there between Glaurung and Smaug, if any?
Is there any relation or link (by blood or legend or anything) between the dragon Glaurung, in The Children of Húrin, and Smaug in The Hobbit?
- 369
45
votes
9
answers
36k
views
Why did Smaug gather a treasure of gold and other precious objects?
In The Hobbit, the Dwarves, Bilbo and Gandalf are on a mission to rob Smaug. But why did he have so much to steal from? He's a Dragon! He is not the kind of dragon that eats gold and gems. He doesn't ...
- 96.1k