Question concerning 🧙gandalf

No-the ring had nothing to do with Tolkien's early mythology. It was originally a magic ring, not much else to it really. When Tolkien began writing the sequel to 'The Hobbit' he gave the ring itself a storyline and a whole new significance.

Hm, name one magic ring that can lead to invisibility... the elven rings sure don't. I wouldn't bet this ring had no particular role from the very begining.

elfofthewoods said:

In the hobbit, does gandalf know that Biblo has a ring, but just does not know that it is the ring of power?

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I think that it isnt until the night of Bilbos party and departure from the shire/bag end that Gandalf finally admits to himself that it is indeed the ring of power. I think that before that he had a hunch and that maybe he didn't realize that Bilbo used the ring of power to disappear when he was facing Smaug. I do think since Tolkien had already been developing the history during the first WW that he perhaps didn't want to make it obvious to Gandalf as a way to maybe further the plot. If Gandalf was sure right off the bat there wouldnt have been as suspenseful.