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Podcast: Exploring Tolkien
Episode: 144. Never Laugh at Live Dragons - The Hobbit #29
Description: Smaug is finally fully revealed! This week, we finish “Inside Information”, where Bilbo finally comes face-to-face with the unassessably wealthy dragon. We break down the wordplay Bilbo engages in as he denies Smaug his real name, Smaug’s memorable boasts, and how Bilbo manages to outwit Middle-earth’s greatest dragon (or maybe it’s just… luck?).
We explore:
Why names and riddles matter so much in Middle-earth (and how they protect Bilbo)
How Tolkien redefined dragons for fantasy—leaving old fairy tale clichés behind
The thrush’s “snail anvil,” Bilbo’s lucky break, and whether Tolkien’s worldbuilding...