Smaug

"Never laugh at live dragons, Bilbo you fool!"

― The Hobbit, Inside Information

Smaug the Golden was the greatest dragon of Middle-earth to survive into the Third Age. In the year 2770, he attacked the Lonely Mountain and drove the dwarves out, claiming their treasure as his own. Killing Smaug and reclaiming the treasure was the object of the quest in The Hobbit.

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Smaug's Conceited Personality

"My armour is like tenfold shields, my teeth are swords, my claws spears, the shock of my tail a thunderbolt, my wings a hurricane, and my breath death!"

― Smaug, Inside Information

Smaug appeared to be very conceited, and believed in his own invulnerability. The very suggestion that the dwarves might seek revenge upon him sent him into a fit of hysterical laughter. It might be said that it was only his greed and laziness that kept him from continuing to plague the nearby lands. Like all dragons, he loved riddling talk, and revealed his own weakness because of his vanity.

Treasure

Among the items in Smaug's possession were the Arkenstone, a cup, and a mithril chain shirt, which was gifted to Bilbo by Thorin Oakenshield, and was later to save Frodo Baggins life from the spear of a Goblin Chieftain in the Chamber of Mazarbul.

Aftermath

After Smaug's death, Thorin and Company claimed the treasure as theirs by birthright. This created a conflict with Bard and the Elven King Thranduil of Mirkwood, who each wanted a portion of the gold as reimbursement for all the damage Smaug had caused their kingdoms over the years. Thorin refused to share the treasure and declared war on both of them. The conflict eventually exploded because they heard news of approaching wargs and goblins. This became the Battle of Five Armies.

Etymology

The name Smaug is a translation of the "original Dalish" Trâgu, and is related to the name Trahald (Sméagol, also known as Gollum). According to Tolkien, the name Smaug is "the past tense of the primitive Germanic verb Smugan, to squeeze through a hole" (Letter 31).

This reflects his custom to render the language of Dale with Norse terms.

Others have noted that Smaug has echoes of "smoke" and "smog", though it is pronounced with a long /au/.

Inspiration

"Fafnir in the late Norse versions of the Sigurd-story is better; and Smaug and his conversation obviously is in debt there."

― Letter 122

Portrayal in Adaptations

File:Rankin-Bass' Smaug.jpg

Smaug as portrayed in Rankin/Bass' The Hobbit

1977: Rankin/Bass' The Hobbit:

Smaug was voiced by Richard Boone. In this version, Smaug's face possesses more mammilian traits, resembling a mix between a cat and a bat. Also, his armor is never mentioned to be strengthened by lying on the treasure, but more resembles an extra padding of skin/scales, minus the bare patch.

2003: Sierra's The Hobbit:

Smaug was voiced by James Horan.

See Also

• Images of Smaug