Tolkien Rewrote Part Of The Hobbit Just To Fix A Lord Of The Rings Plot Hole

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Most fans recognize that The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings feel quite different. The biggest difference is the overall mood: The Hobbit, with Bilbo Baggins’ journey, is much more lighthearted and playful than the serious and detailed world of The Lord of the Rings. Tolkien’s original book, The Hobbit, published in 1937, felt like a classic fantasy story with magic and mythical creatures. The Lord of the Rings, on the other hand, delves into themes of war, injustice, and politics, exploring them in great depth.

The differences between The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings create some puzzling plot holes. For example, why didn’t Gandalf connect Bilbo Baggins with the One Ring earlier? Was Gandalf simply preoccupied with other issues? And how did Smaug, the dragon, manage to survive when other dragons from Morgoth’s time did not? Furthermore, why did Sauron feel the need to conceal himself? While Tolkien addressed many of these inconsistencies in his other writings, he actually had to revise The Hobbit after it was originally published to resolve one of them.

What Happened In The Hobbit’s Original Chapter Between Bilbo And Gollum

In the chapter “Riddles in the Dark” from The Hobbit, Bilbo Baggins has a riddle contest with Gollum. Bilbo wins the game and, luckily, escapes with the magical golden ring he’d found earlier, still hidden with him.

Most readers know that Bilbo wins a game against Gollum with the promise that Gollum will lead him out of the caves. However, Gollum actually plans to kill Bilbo. When he can’t find the ring Bilbo used to become invisible, Gollum figures out that Bilbo has it.

Filled with anger, Gollum pursues Bilbo, determined to get his ring back, but Bilbo manages to escape. This chase is the start of a downward spiral for the unfortunate Sméagol.

You know, it’s fascinating how The Hobbit has changed over time. When it was first released, the scene with Bilbo and Gollum’s riddle game was actually quite different. Originally, Gollum willingly agreed to fetch the prize Bilbo won, but Tolkien wrote it so Gollum couldn’t find it because Bilbo had already pocketed the ring! Instead of revealing that, Bilbo cleverly suggested Gollum just guide him out of the cave. They actually parted ways on pretty decent terms – it wasn’t the angry, possessive Gollum we often think of now. It’s amazing how even classic stories evolve!

Why Tolkien Rewrote The Hobbit’s “Riddles In The Dark” Chapter

The idea of Gollum willingly giving up the One Ring simply doesn’t fit with the story of The Lord of the Rings. Gollum’s obsession with the Ring is central to the entire world and story. It shapes his character, explains the Ring’s power, drives Sauron’s hunt for Frodo, and ultimately leads to the Ring being destroyed. Without Gollum’s all-consuming desire for his ‘precious,’ the whole story would fall apart.

As The Lord of the Rings was developing in the 1940s, Tolkien really went back and polished the “Riddles in the Dark” chapter, sending it off to his publishers. That led to the second edition of The Hobbit in 1951 – and honestly, it’s the version we all know and love, with that much creepier Gollum. It’s also the one Peter Jackson used as the basis for An Unexpected Journey, which makes total sense – it’s the definitive story!

As detailed in The History of The Hobbit (John D. Rateliff, 2007), Tolkien considered revising the book in the 1960s. He wanted to align its tone more closely with The Lord of the Rings, which is much more serious. However, he realized that making these changes would essentially create a new story, and he didn’t want to alter the beloved original version readers already knew.

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2026-01-31 16:28