The Finding of the Ring

From Tolkien Gateway
The printable version is no longer supported and may have rendering errors. Please update your browser bookmarks and please use the default browser print function instead.
The Finding of the Ring
Scene from
The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
The Lord of the Rings - The Return of the King - Sméagol2.jpg
Scene number1
Event Sméagol obtains the One Ring
Characters Sméagol, Déagol
Navigation
Previous:
Gollum's Plan
Next:
Journey to the Cross-roads

The Finding of the Ring is the first scene of The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King and The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (extended edition). It was extended in the latter edition.

Synopsis

The scene begins with Sméagol inspecting a worm while fishing with Déagol on a riverboat in the middle of a peaceful, forested area. Déagol hooks onto a large fish which drags him underwater. There he sees a glint of gold half buried in the riverbed and, entranced by it, he grabs it.

On coming to the surface and returning to the bank, he discovers in his hand a plain golden ring, covered in mud. A cheerful Sméagol comes to Déagol, but upon seeing the ring, immediately lusts for it, saying "It's my birthday, and I wants it". Déagol refuses and the two begin to fight. Sméagol takes it by force, murdering Déagol to do so. Taking it out of Déagol's lifeless hand, a look of pure joy crosses Sméagol's face. "My precious!" he says, before putting the ring on for the first time and vanishing.

The scene cuts to a Sméagol who has become entirely dependent upon the ring, uttering "Gollum!" while holding the ring. He gradually forgets his name and we witness his transformation and decline into his present-day condition.

Differences

This scene follows the account of Sméagol and Déagol as told by Gandalf to Frodo in the book chapter The Shadow of the Past very closely in terms of both narrative, and dialogue (after Déagol emerges from underwater). The two Stoor-hobbits indeed go fishing, Déagol is dragged under water and finds the ring, and Sméagol strangles him to take it.[1] Where this scene differs from the source material is in what is not included, which mainly covers Sméagol's malicious use of the ring upon returning to his family, before being expelled by his grandmother. This results in him eventually ending up under the Misty Mountains.[1]

References