Smaug vs. Gollum

Yeah, the theme of loss.

Bluebottle wrote: I would still say that Smaug brought his end on himself though. He stormed out of the lonely mountain in a fit of rage because someone had stolen a small trinket from his vast treasure intent on destroying Laketown. That the people in Laketown defended themselves in those circumstances I don't think they can be blamed for.

I agree Blue I think Smaug's own vanity was his downfall, he felt himself invincible when against men. He was arrogant and vain and felt that humans (dwarfs and elves for that matter too) were beneath him. He felt NOTHING could bring him down and since at least film wise Girrion failed with the black arrows, Smaug had become cocky. Similar to David and Goliath, the larger opponent felt they could not be beaten, and the smaller foe won due to the larger foes arrogance.

As far as being sad Smaug was the last of his kind I really don't think that was ever in Tolkien's mind when he wrote the conclusion. At least he didn't give us wheel barrels on rivers of molten gold and relighting of forges by way of dragon fire. Wait never mind I think that was in the appendices part I forgot to read