Who was most responsible for the death of Smaug? - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Birdland · 05-30-2002, 10:33 AM

Thanks Nar! I appreciate your good opinion. Unfortunately, as far as the Gandalf/Thrush theory goes, I've let that go. I was younger when I read the Hobbit, and was probably influenced by Beorn's shape shifting ability. So I assumed that Gandalf had "shape shifted" into the Thrush to aide Bilbo. I think, also, that there was something in the book where Tolkien describes the look of the Thrush's eye, and it was similar to his description of Gandlalf's look.

Of course, now we know that Gandalf had other business to attend to (The White Council, I think), so he couldn't have been the bird.

But, on the third hand, Tolkien did edit later editions of The Hobbit so it would jive with the later events of LoTR. Could the Thrush/Gandalf thing have been something he let go so he could place Gandalf at Isengard?

Anybody got info out there that would prove or disprove my theory?

05-30-2002, 10:33 AM	#16
Birdland Ghastly Neekerbreeker Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: the banks of the mighty Scioto Posts: 1,751	Thanks Nar! I appreciate your good opinion. Unfortunately, as far as the Gandalf/Thrush theory goes, I've let that go. I was younger when I read the Hobbit, and was probably influenced by Beorn's shape shifting ability. So I assumed that Gandalf had "shape shifted" into the Thrush to aide Bilbo. I think, also, that there was something in the book where Tolkien describes the look of the Thrush's eye, and it was similar to his description of Gandlalf's look. Of course, now we know that Gandalf had other business to attend to (The White Council, I think), so he couldn't have been the bird. But, on the third hand, Tolkien did edit later editions of The Hobbit so it would jive with the later events of LoTR. Could the Thrush/Gandalf thing have been something he let go so he could place Gandalf at Isengard? Anybody got info out there that would prove or disprove my theory?