Which riddle gets Bilbo in trouble with Smaug?
A. Barrel-rider
B. Ring-winner
C. web-cutter
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
The correct answer is B. Ring-winner.
In The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien, Bilbo Baggins finds himself in a tense situation with Smaug, the dragon guarding the treasure hoard in the Lonely Mountain. Bilbo, using his cunning and the magical ring he finds earlier in the story (the One Ring), engages Smaug in a riddle contest. This occurs during Bilbo’s first direct encounter with Smaug, where Bilbo, invisible thanks to the ring, tries to steal a cup from the treasure.
When Smaug realizes a burglar is in his lair, he begins a conversation with Bilbo. Bilbo’s cleverness is tested as he must both answer the dragon’s riddles and ask riddles himself in an attempt to avoid getting caught. The riddle that causes trouble for Bilbo is when Smaug refers to him as the “Ring-winner”, a term which, in this context, acknowledges Bilbo’s possession of the One Ring.
This phrase directly references Bilbo’s role as the one who “won” the ring, not just in terms of finding it but also the powerful influence it has over him. While Bilbo does not openly reveal that he possesses the ring, the dragon’s recognition of this fact is significant. Smaug’s words in this exchange hint at Bilbo’s possession of a great and powerful object, which is dangerous information for Bilbo to have inadvertently revealed.
This riddle, though seemingly innocuous in the larger contest of riddles, directly leads to Smaug’s fury and a change in his strategy. It sets the stage for Smaug’s later attempt to destroy the town of Lake-town, which ultimately results in his death when Bard the Bowman shoots him in the heart, a moment triggered by Smaug’s anger over the riddle Bilbo’s words helped uncover.