The Tolkien Translation Game!

[Inanna]

So, a sad story about Hobbits?

Regarding Sméagol?

[Jude]

Your second sentence is accurate.

As for your first sentence, well, hobbits are mentioned in the quote but I wouldn't say it was "about" hobbits specifically.

Edit because it's a new page:

I think it is a sad story, and that may have happened to other people I know as my hobby.

[Inanna]

So it’s about Sméagol finding the ring?

Or Sméagol being bound to the ring and wasting away through the years before Bilbo “met” him?

[Jude]

It's about Sméagol, yes, but I think it's more a comment on his whole life.

[Jude]

Is it obvious now in what conversation this takes place, or is another hint needed?

[Inanna]

I can only think of Gandalf telling Sméagol’s story, but I can’t remember when. To Frodo?

[Frelga]

Or to Bilbo?

[Jude]

Inanna's on the right track...

[Inanna]

So, Gandalf telling Sméagol’s story to Frodo... in Bag End?

[Jude]

Yes! Can you provide the quote?

[Inanna]

I will need to look for it.

Be back soon...

[Inanna]

“I think it is a sad story, and it might have happened to others, even to some hobbits that I have known”

[Jude]

That's it!

[Inanna]

Q: is it okay to take a quote from UT? Wherein there all these Versions A, B and C of the tales. Taking, of course, from one of the stated "Versions", and not from Christopher's commentary.

[Jude]

My vote: no, unless you identify it as such when posting it.

But I'd be interested to hear what others think...

[Inanna]

:'-(

[Jude]

I believe that's from Unfinished Tales, when Aldarion yelled at Christopher, "No, no, no! You've got it all wrong!"

[Inanna]

Well? What DO others say?

[Voronwë the Faithful]

We've always limited it to the "big 3". Personally, I wouldn't mind expanding that to include UT.

[Jude]

It sounds like you've got a quote in mind, so I'd say go for it, since you've already identified it as being from UT...