All Questions
38
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
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
views
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
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