Tolkien, J.R.R. -- The Hobbit, ch. 12 “Inside Information” [Bilbo] (1937)

Dave — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 15:44:02 +0000

I come from under the hill, and under the hills and over the hills my paths led. And through the air. I am he that walks unseen. […] I am the clue-finder, the web-cutter, the stinging fly. I was chosen for the lucky number. […] I am he that buries his friends alive and drowns them and draws them alive again from the water. I came from the end of a bag, but no bag went over me. […] I am the friend of bears and the guest of eagles. I am Ring-winner and Luckwearer; and I am Barrel-rider.

J.R.R. Tolkien (1892–1973) English writer, fabulist, philologist, academic [John Ronald Reuel Tolkien]
The Hobbit, ch. 12 “Inside Information” [Bilbo] (1937)

Bilbo's "riddling talk" epithets, given to Smaug in "the way to talk to dragons, if you don't want to reveal your proper name (which is wise), and don't want to infuriate them by a flat refusal (which is also very wise)."

Tolkien, J.R.R. -- The Hobbit, ch. 5 “Riddles in the Dark” [Gollum] (1937)

Dave — Tue, 15 Feb 2011 15:19:10 +0000

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.

J.R.R. Tolkien (1892–1973) English writer, fabulist, philologist, academic [John Ronald Reuel Tolkien]
The Hobbit, ch. 5 “Riddles in the Dark” [Gollum] (1937)

One of Gollum's riddles for Bilbo. The answer is "time."

WIST Quotations

Tolkien, J.R.R. -- The Hobbit, ch. 12 “Inside Information” [Bilbo] (1937)

Tolkien, J.R.R. -- The Hobbit, ch. 5 “Riddles in the Dark” [Gollum] (1937)