Gollum's Grammar

[ElanorGamgee]

I have often pondered the unusual use of grammar in Gollum’s speech, namely the verb conjugation and pronouns, and I wonder why Tolkien chose this particular way for the creature to speak, so I analyzed several of the his statements, both concerning himself (in both Slinker and Stinker mentalities) and others. I have posted an argument similar to this on another Tolkien-related message board, but it wasn’t much discussed there, and I think that a discussion like this would last longer and be more interesting on this message board.

Concerning “Stinker,” or Gollum: Gollum always uses the first person plural pronoun, “we,” and conjugates his verbs in the third person singular (him, her, it) when speaking of himself. For example: “We hates it,” “And we’re so lonely, gollum,” and “But we won’t go back, no, no!” It is as if he is first talking of himself and another, represented as “we,” and then referring to only one person, but not necessarily himself, represented by the verb in the third person singular. But who are the “we” and the “he” of whom he speaks?

Concerning “Slinker,” or Sméagol: Very rarely Sméagol speaks, but mixes his use of the first person singular through the pronoun “I” with correct verb conjugation and the use of the third person singular pronouns with correct verb conjugation when referring to himself. For example: “I don’t know. I can’t help it. Master’s got it. Sméagol promised to help the master.” When Sméagol makes this statement (The Two Towers, “The Passage of the Marshes”), he is arguing with the other side of his personality, Gollum or Stinker, who uses the mixed persons in his pronouns and verb conjugations, as shown in the above paragraph. Accompanying the change in personality is the light in the creature’s eyes; Stinker’s have a green glow to them while Slinker’s have a pale glow. So, Sméagol speaks of himself both from the first person and from the third person, “he” and “I.”


Concerning “Slinker” and “Stinker’s” speech of others: While Gollum butchers his grammar while referring to himself, oddly enough, no matter which side of himself is speaking, he always refers to others using the correct pronouns and verb conjugations. For example: “Yes, yes, and Sam [he] stinks!” “Or hobbits [they] go down to join the Dead ones and light little candles,” and “He sees. He knows. He heard us make silly promises―against His orders, yes…The Wraiths [they] are searching.”


Other irregularities in speech: The only other really noticeable irregularities in the grammar of either Slinker or Stinker is the adding on of an extra “es” to many plural nouns and the frequent interjection of “Precious” and “gollum.”

So, he does not distort the verbs when referring to others, but as Stinker he refers to a “we” and a “he” and as Slinker he refers to an “I” and a “he,” both of which refer to himself. So, who is included in Stinker’s “we” and to whom does he refer in his “he?” Perhaps the “we” includes both the Stinker and the Slinker side of himself, the Stinker side being dominated by the power of the Ring. In all his arguments with himself, Stinker wishes to steal the Ring for himself while Slinker, tired and frightened, wishes to help “kind Master” and do no harm. But to whom does the “he” refer in Gollum’s speech? Is it the same “he” as used by Slinker/Sméagol to refer to himself, or does Stinker’s “he” refer to the Ring? Does his use of grammar portray the conflict within himself between the original Sméagol/Slinker and the Ring, represented by Gollum/Stinker?

[ July 10, 2002: Message edited by: ElanorGamgee ]