Gollum (sound)

Gollum is both a character and a sound that Bilbo hears down in the dark.  I’ve wrestled this name back and forth a few times – do I count the name as well as the throat sound in the onomatopoeia analysis?  There are clear reasons why or why not.  In the end, I did because simply repeating the character’s call-name contributes to the creepy, decaying, scary sound of Chapter 5.

These are instances of the sound in the throat, not the name.

• 05.015 at least a tasty morsel it’d make us, gollum!’
• 05.015 and when he said gollum
• 05.080 Oh no! gollum!’
• 05.093 gollum!
• 05.093 gollum, gollum, gollum.’
• 05.093 gollum, gollum, gollum.’
• 05.093 gollum, gollum, gollum.’
• 05.095 gollum.’
• 05.111 It’s gone, gollum.’
• 05.117 Ssss, sss, gollum!
• 05.117 then goblinses will get it, gollum!
• 05.117 never, gollum!
• 05.117 gollum, gollum!’
• 05.117 gollum, gollum!’

And here’s the name:

• 05.012 lived old Gollum,
• 05.012 He was Gollum –
• 05.013 Actually Gollum lived on a slimy island of rock
• 05.014 Gollum got into his boat
• 05.014 Suddenly up came Gollum
• 05.018 whispered Gollum
• 05.020 said Gollum,
• 05.022 Sssss’ said Gollum,
• 05.022 and whether Gollum was really hungry.
• 05.025 So Gollum hissed:
• 05.031 and Gollum knew the answer as well as you do.
• 05.036 Ss, ss, ss,’ said Gollum.
• 05.036 Gollum brought up memories of ages
• 05.039 Unfortunately for Gollum
• 05.041 But it proved a nasty poser for Gollum.
• 05.045 But suddenly Gollum remembered
• 05.048 After a while Gollum began to hiss
• 05.050 haste!’ said Gollum,
• 05.052 Gollum was dreadfully disappointed;
• 05.052 so that Gollum had to get back into his boat
• 05.054 Gollum might have had some trouble guessing it,
• 05.054 and Gollum soon gave it.
• 05.056 Gollum began to get out of his boat.
• 05.058 Gollum was disappointed once more;
• 05.059 said Gollum.
• 05.061 ask us!’ said Gollum.
• 05.063 but Gollum thought it was a riddle,
• 05.066 S-s-s-s-s,’ hissed Gollum.
• 05.068 Handses!’ said Gollum.
• 05.070 S-s-s-s-s,’ said Gollum
• 05.073 Now Gollum was
• 05.074 whether Gollum guessed right or not.
• 05.076 shrieked Gollum,
• 05.078 Gollum did not at once attack him.
• 05.082 hissed Gollum.
• 05.083 relieved to think of Gollum going away.
• 05.083 What was Gollum talking about?
• 05.083 Gollum did mean to come back.
• 05.087 But who knows how Gollum came by that present,
• 05.087 Gollum used to wear it at first,
• 05.090 Gollum was cursing
• 05.093 shrieked Gollum.
• 05.094 Utterly miserable as Gollum sounded,
• 05.094 and he had a feeling that anything Gollum wanted so much
• 05.095 precious!’ Gollum answered.
• 05.097 Never guessed!’ said Gollum.
• 05.098 naturally, for Gollum had brooded for ages on this one thing,
• 05.098 Gollum’s mind had jumped to a guess quicker than his;
• 05.099 said Gollum.
• 05.101 in Gollum’s mind,
• 05.103 Gollum was
• 05.103 in Gollum’s eyes had become a green fire,
• 05.104 and that Gollum meant to murder him at any rate.
• 05.105 and the splash as Gollum leapt from his boat.
• 05.106 and saw Gollum’s eyes
• 05.107 In a moment Gollum was on him.
• 05.107 Gollum passed by,
• 05.108 Gollum could see
• 05.108 Gollum might lead him
• 05.108 down to Gollum’s water.
• 05.109 curse it!’ hissed Gollum.
• 05.110 getting as close as he dared behind Gollum,
• 05.112 Suddenly Gollum sat down
• 05.112 After a while Gollum stopped weeping
• 05.119 With a spring Gollum got up
• 05.119 Gollum with his bright eyes had passed him by,
• 05.120 Gollum flip-flapping ahead,
• 05.120 Gollum began at once to count them.
• 05.126 Gollum had brought Bilbo to the way out after all,
• 05.126 There was Gollum sitting humped up right
• 05.127 but Gollum stiffened at once,
• 05.128 Gollum had no sword.
• 05.128 Gollum had not actually threatened to kill him,
• 05.129 Straight over Gollum’s head he jumped,
• 05.130 Gollum threw himself backwards,
• 05.130 He did not turn to see what Gollum was doing.
• 05.130 Gollum was defeated.
• 05.138 like an echo of Gollum’s misery,
• 06.019 and shuddered most appreciatively at his description of Gollum.
• 06.023 jumping over Gollum,
• 08.125 in particular insisted on having the Gollum story,
• 08.127 Gollum! Well I’m blest!