Did the Ring Shrink?

[Eomer of the Rohirrim]

I wouldn't say the Ring had a mind of its own. The 'mind' in question was Sauron's.

[elronds_daughter]

ah, yes. True. I stand corrected.

[Lotrelf]

"A Ring of power looks after itself." Ring changed the size. It fit Smeagal, Isildur, Bilbo, Frodo and Sam-and none of them mention any kind of difficulty in putting it on. And all of them have fingers of different size.

[Inziladun]

Originally Posted by Lotrelf

"A Ring of power looks after itself." Ring changed the size. It fit Smeagal, Isildur, Bilbo, Frodo and Sam-and none of them mention any kind of difficulty in putting it on. And all of them have fingers of different size.

It's clear that the Ring did alter its size to suit the wearer. The Nine, the Seven, and the Three would seem to have been deliberately imparted with that ability, as the physical attributes of their potential users would have been unforeseeable.
The question though, is why the One Ring would do that. Certainly it was only made for one person, Sauron. So why the flexibility in sizing? Maybe that was connected with the fact the it contained a large part not only of Sauron's power, but his will and fea as well. It simply adjusted itself to fit a temporary bearer until it could make its way back to its master.

[Zigûr]

Originally Posted by Inziladun

The question though, is why the One Ring would do that. Certainly it was only made for one person, Sauron. So why the flexibility in sizing? Maybe that was connected with the fact the it contained a large part not only of Sauron's power, but his will and fea as well. It simply adjusted itself to fit a temporary bearer until it could make its way back to its master.

It's also worth remembering that Sauron forged the One back when he could still change his form. Presumably he would need the One to be able to fit on any sized finger he might manifest (prior to the Akallabêth).

[Lotrelf]

Originally Posted by Inziladun

It's clear that the Ring did alter its size to suit the wearer. The Nine, the Seven, and the Three would seem to have been deliberately imparted with that ability, as the physical attributes of their potential users would have been unforeseeable.
The question though, is why the One Ring would do that. Certainly it was only made for one person, Sauron. So why the flexibility in sizing? Maybe that was connected with the fact the it contained a large part not only of Sauron's power, but his will and fea as well. It simply adjusted itself to fit a temporary bearer until it could make its way back to its master.

Yes, that's what I was thinking. The Ring was like a terrorist in disguise who is your friends but still doing its job (of whatever the ter. is asked to do). The Ring would want its bearer to "love" it, so the size matters.
But what does this suggest? I mean why couldn't the Ring just be like it was?

[Belegorn]

Sort of like Sauron the Ring could shift its form. It is basically made up of most of Sauron's essence.