Since the old Professor himself was an arachnophobe (having been bitten by one in his youth), I think that he would have wanted his readers to feel that same surprised fear at the truly repulsive sight of Shelob. Granted, seeing those icky webs and smelling that icky smell would have been frightening enough, but nothing could have prepared Frodo or Sam for seeing "Big Mama" herself, up close and personal.
You are more frightened by the things that you do not expect, or that you do not fully realize. I think that the fear would have mounted, as the Hobbits came upon bigger and bigger webs, a worse stench, and the skeletons of Shelob's prey, and it would have come to a peak upon being attacked by the spider herself.
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But Melkor also was there, and he came to the house of Fëanor, and there he slew Finwë King of the Noldor before his doors, and spilled the first blood in the Blessed Realm; for Finwë alone had not fled from the horror of the Dark.
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