Which finger did Frodo lose when Gollum bit the ring off his hand? - Page 3

Elf Girl · 04-04-2002, 01:45 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Pip
I know for a fact that it was his middle finger because I remember a quote that I read. I don't remember the exact words but I know it said something like "his middle finger was missing. 'So it was real' said Sam." This probably isn't the exact quote but it's close enough in the fact of what finger it was. I hope this helps clear up some of the debate.

The quote was, "his third finger was missing." The debate is, does this count the thumb or not?

Rána Eressëa · 08-18-2002, 04:48 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Elf Girl
Yes, but does that count the thumb or not?

Why wouldn't it? Right hand, third finger. The third finger of any hand, going from left or from right is the middle finger. I doubt Tolkien would leave off the thumb as being a finger in the first place.

Urksnik the Sleek · 08-18-2002, 06:34 PM

I don't know about Tolkien, but I've always thought of the third finger as the ring finger on the right hand, but then I tend to count the thumb as a thumb!

Elbereth · 08-18-2002, 08:39 PM

I believe that elsewhere in the book it stated the Frodo slipped the Ring onto his ring finger. I would count the thumb as a thumb. Though in the movie at one point it looks like he puts it on his first finger. The movie could and probably is, wrong.

BeardofPants · 08-18-2002, 08:44 PM

First finger is called the index finger.

I always thought that it was the middle finger, not the ring finger that was bitten off. I don't know why.

(Better late than never.

)

BeardofPants · 08-18-2002, 08:46 PM

The movie is wrong, what else is new.

As I replied to the other, more ancient thread

, I always thought it was the middle finger, not the ring finger. But I guess it makes more sense having it on the ring finger...

Rána Eressëa · 08-18-2002, 09:43 PM

Hey, CBG, maybe you should merge this thread with the "which finger?" thread.

I still think it would be his middle finger, because I count the thumb as a finger. After all, you have five fingers on each hand - not four, right?

BeardofPants · 08-18-2002, 11:09 PM

No.

Technically, you have four fingers and one opposable thumb. Different phalangeal make up and all.

Rána Eressëa · 08-18-2002, 11:17 PM

Stop getting technical. It's a finger.

An extension of the hand is a finger.

Tolkien should've just said "ring finger" and everyone would have been happy.

BeardofPants · 08-18-2002, 11:52 PM

Technically... no.

An extention of the meta-tarsals is the phalanges. And fingers and thumbs have different morphological structures. So, no. Again.

Rána Eressëa · 08-19-2002, 05:17 PM

We've been lied to as children then.

BeardofPants · 08-19-2002, 05:28 PM

Yes. And they lied about Santa Claus as well. He isn't really the king of the jungle!

But anyway, back on topic, I think that Tolkien probably was talking about the Ring Finger, it would make more sense. But then again, there's the whole problem of the ring changing sizes. Perhaps Frodo used his middle finger because it was the fattest?

olsonm · 08-19-2002, 05:46 PM

The ring finger is the third finger.

BeardofPants · 08-19-2002, 05:50 PM

Yes, we know that.

But was he counting his thumb or not?

olsonm · 08-19-2002, 05:53 PM

BeardofPants · 08-19-2002, 05:58 PM

So speaketh the fount of wisdom.

Rána Eressëa · 08-19-2002, 08:03 PM

But no one here is Tolkien so we can't say so for sure - unless Tolkien said it himself.

entss89 · 08-19-2002, 08:59 PM

DEFINITLY THE RING FINGER.

katya · 10-09-2002, 08:09 PM

i always thought the ring finger but i don't know. notice sometime earlier in the book i dont remember where it mentions someone putting the ring on their forefinger. which is the forefinger anyway? i dont know where it was but i think in book 1. as in book one, not fotr. book 1 in fotr...yeah...

Sminty_Smeagol · 10-09-2002, 09:37 PM

Oh my GOSH... how can you people be so silly?!?! It's on the RINGfinger... DUH!

J/k LOL!

-~*Sminty*~-

08-18-2002, 08:39 PM	#44
Elbereth Elven Warrior Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Rivendell Posts: 122	I believe that elsewhere in the book it stated the Frodo slipped the Ring onto his ring finger. I would count the thumb as a thumb. Though in the movie at one point it looks like he puts it on his first finger. The movie could and probably is, wrong. __________________ A! Elbereth Gilithoniel! 'Fate goes ever as fate must.' Beowulf (Seamus Haney's translation) FRODO LIVES!!!

08-18-2002, 08:44 PM	#45
BeardofPants the Shrike Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: San Francisco, CA <3 Posts: 10,647	First finger is called the index finger. I always thought that it was the middle finger, not the ring finger that was bitten off. I don't know why. (Better late than never. ) __________________ "Binary solo! 0000001! 00000011! 0000001! 00000011!" ~ The Humans are Dead, Flight of the Conchords

08-18-2002, 08:46 PM	#46
BeardofPants the Shrike Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: San Francisco, CA <3 Posts: 10,647	The movie is wrong, what else is new. As I replied to the other, more ancient thread , I always thought it was the middle finger, not the ring finger. But I guess it makes more sense having it on the ring finger... __________________ "Binary solo! 0000001! 00000011! 0000001! 00000011!" ~ The Humans are Dead, Flight of the Conchords

08-18-2002, 11:09 PM	#48
BeardofPants the Shrike Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: San Francisco, CA <3 Posts: 10,647	No. Technically, you have four fingers and one opposable thumb. Different phalangeal make up and all. __________________ "Binary solo! 0000001! 00000011! 0000001! 00000011!" ~ The Humans are Dead, Flight of the Conchords

08-18-2002, 11:52 PM	#50
BeardofPants the Shrike Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: San Francisco, CA <3 Posts: 10,647	Technically... no. An extention of the meta-tarsals is the phalanges. And fingers and thumbs have different morphological structures. So, no. Again. __________________ "Binary solo! 0000001! 00000011! 0000001! 00000011!" ~ The Humans are Dead, Flight of the Conchords

08-18-2002, 06:34 PM	#43
Urksnik the Sleek Hobbit Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: under the misty mountains Posts: 33	I don't know about Tolkien, but I've always thought of the third finger as the ring finger on the right hand, but then I tend to count the thumb as a thumb!

08-18-2002, 09:43 PM	#47
Rána Eressëa The Rogue Elf Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 1,722	Hey, CBG, maybe you should merge this thread with the "which finger?" thread. I still think it would be his middle finger, because I count the thumb as a finger. After all, you have five fingers on each hand - not four, right?

08-18-2002, 11:17 PM	#49
Rána Eressëa The Rogue Elf Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 1,722	Stop getting technical. It's a finger. An extension of the hand is a finger. Tolkien should've just said "ring finger" and everyone would have been happy.

08-19-2002, 05:17 PM	#51
Rána Eressëa The Rogue Elf Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 1,722	We've been lied to as children then.

08-19-2002, 05:28 PM	#52
BeardofPants the Shrike Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: San Francisco, CA <3 Posts: 10,647	Yes. And they lied about Santa Claus as well. He isn't really the king of the jungle! But anyway, back on topic, I think that Tolkien probably was talking about the Ring Finger, it would make more sense. But then again, there's the whole problem of the ring changing sizes. Perhaps Frodo used his middle finger because it was the fattest? __________________ "Binary solo! 0000001! 00000011! 0000001! 00000011!" ~ The Humans are Dead, Flight of the Conchords

08-19-2002, 05:46 PM	#53
olsonm Elf Lord Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: minneapolis MN Posts: 920	The ring finger is the third finger. __________________ Gandalf lives...oh and Frodo too. Haldir Lives!!!

08-19-2002, 05:50 PM	#54
BeardofPants the Shrike Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: San Francisco, CA <3 Posts: 10,647	Yes, we know that. But was he counting his thumb or not? __________________ "Binary solo! 0000001! 00000011! 0000001! 00000011!" ~ The Humans are Dead, Flight of the Conchords

08-19-2002, 05:53 PM	#55
olsonm Elf Lord Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: minneapolis MN Posts: 920	No. __________________ Gandalf lives...oh and Frodo too. Haldir Lives!!!

08-19-2002, 05:58 PM	#56
BeardofPants the Shrike Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: San Francisco, CA <3 Posts: 10,647	So speaketh the fount of wisdom. __________________ "Binary solo! 0000001! 00000011! 0000001! 00000011!" ~ The Humans are Dead, Flight of the Conchords

08-19-2002, 08:03 PM	#57
Rána Eressëa The Rogue Elf Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 1,722	But no one here is Tolkien so we can't say so for sure - unless Tolkien said it himself.

08-19-2002, 08:59 PM	#58
entss89 lord of the ents Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: nc Posts: 539	HI DEFINITLY THE RING FINGER.

10-09-2002, 08:09 PM	#59
katya Elven Maiden Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 3,309	i always thought the ring finger but i don't know. notice sometime earlier in the book i dont remember where it mentions someone putting the ring on their forefinger. which is the forefinger anyway? i dont know where it was but i think in book 1. as in book one, not fotr. book 1 in fotr...yeah...

10-09-2002, 09:37 PM	#60
Sminty_Smeagol Manic Cardboard-Box Dweller Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: In a house Posts: 1,071	Oh my GOSH... how can you people be so silly?!?! It's on the RINGfinger... DUH! J/k LOL! -~Sminty~-

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