Answer to Gollum’s riddle in “The Hobbit,” which starts “This thing all things devours — birds, beasts, trees, flowers” NYT crossword clue

Clue: Answer to Gollum’s riddle in “The Hobbit,” which starts “This thing all things devours — birds, beasts, trees, flowers” NYT crossword clue
Answer: TIME

In J.R.R. Tolkien’s *The Hobbit*, Gollum presents a riddle to Bilbo that describes something that consumes all living and nonliving things: “This thing all things devours — birds, beasts, trees, flowers…” The answer to this haunting riddle is “TIME.” Time is portrayed as the ultimate force of erosion and decay—it wears down mountains, slays kings, and brings an end to all.

The NYT crossword clue nods to one of the most iconic moments in fantasy literature. By referencing the riddle, it challenges solvers to recall the literary source and think metaphorically. “TIME” fits both the riddle and the puzzle perfectly—it’s a word loaded with meaning and universal relevance, making it a clever and timeless crossword entry.