Question about Bombadil, and who climbed the gate in Bree.

[Michel Delving]

Stop me if you think you've heard this one before.

Having read TLOTR about 20 years ago I'm back again (PJ movies inspired) and setting off again. What strikes me now is how incredibly visual and absorbing it really is. I know Middle Earth is real. So as Questions occur I wouldn't mind sticking them in here if anyone would like to comment. I'm sure they've probably been discussed before but I am only an Apprentice.

Firstly, why do you think Tom Bombadil finds the Ring so amusing and doesn't disappear when he slips it on his little finger?

Secondly, do you reckon it's Gollum or a Ringraith that slips over the gate when the Hobbits arrive at Bree?

 

[lossenandunewen]

i'm not sure about bombadil, i could be completely wrong on this, but i think the ring only affects those who have humanish will powers or such. Tom Bombadil is happy where he is, he has all he needs and he doesn't want more, let alone want to rule. Those who want it, but will not use it will be able to wield it i'm guessing (so sorry for the harry potter reference, it just works in my opinion)

but then again, i'm pretty sure i don't know what i'm talking about, so i'd love to hear other ideas on that

 

[Confusticated]

Hello, and Welcome to the forum!

I think it's Strider that slips over the gate in Bree.
About Tom B not becoming invisible - I think he was either too potent of a spirit or that he has no spirit. This has no proof it's just an idea of mine. I haven't ever thought about why he finds it amusing.

 

[lossenandunewen]

maybe he doesn't believe in it's power. or that it'll actually cause a war like there was. i don't remember, is he around during the first sauron war/

 

[Beorn]

Originally posted by Nóm
Hello, and Welcome to the forum!

I think it's Strider that slips over the gate in Bree.

Yuppers

'Too much; too many dark things,' said Strider grimly. 'But as for your business -' He got up and went to the door, opened it quickly and looked out. Then he shut it quietly and sat down again. 'I have quick ears,' he went on, lowering his voice, 'and though I cannot disappear, I have hunted many wild and wary things and I can usually avoid being seen, if I wish. Now, I was behind the hedge this evening on the Road west of Bree, when four hobbits came out of the Downlands. I need not repeat all that they said to old Bombadil or to one another, but one thing interested me. Please remember, said one of them, that the name Baggins must not be mentioned. I am Mr. Underhill, if any name must be given. That interested me so much that I followed them here. I slipped over the gate just behind them. Maybe Mr. Baggins has an honest reason for leaving his name behind; but if so, I should advise him and his friends to be more careful.'

 

[BlackCaptain]

Welcome to the Forum! Best forum on the web!

good call Beorn. I remembered that i knew once i saw that quote... ummm... ya...

As for Tom Bombadil...
For being a first timer here, you ask better questions than me. haha. Anyhoo, very little is known about Tom Bombadil, and your guess is as good as anyones. He's a strange character indeed, and unless someone has a solid quote we can look at, we dont have a solid answer.

 

[Mablung]

Sauron also probably didn't take into account the ring having to affect a creature such as Tom.

 

[gandalfthegreat]

Well this is all too confusing to me. Because I thought Tom Bombadil is along the same lines as characters like well lets say Gandalf or Sauruman. But Gandalf wants no part of being tempted by the ring, and doesn't even like it being offered to him. But Bombadil wastes no time slipping it on his little finger. Maybe it is just because Tom Bombadil is such a very powerful, wise character. Honestly it is beyond me!

-*Gandalf*-

 

[Mablung]

No Bombadil is much more than a Maiar no one knows what or who he is not even Tolkien so most questions relating to him are answered sketchy at best.

 

[Wulf of Dunland]

Re: Stop me if you think you've heard this one before.

Originally posted by Michel Delving
Firstly, why do you think Tom Bombadil finds the Ring so amusing and doesn't disappear when he slips it on his little finger?

Secondly, do you reckon it's Gollum or a Ringraith that slips over the gate when the Hobbits arrive at Bree?

I think Tom B is much more powerfull than Frodo/Bilbo. So he can control the ring better (as can Sauron).

And I thought it was Strider.

 

[Eriol]

Maybe Tom is amused by Sauron's folly... check the thread "What idiot would make a ring?", I think it is on the Bag End forum.

 

[Aulë]

It definately wasn't Gollum slipping over the gate, as he was trapped in the Mines Of Moria. Anyway, as it was already stated, it was Aragorn.

 

[Wulf of Dunland]

Originally posted by Pippin_Took
It definately wasn't Gollum slipping over the gate, as he was trapped in the Mines Of Moria. Anyway, as it was already stated, it was Aragorn.

Wasnt he trapped in Mordor?

 

[Mrs. Maggott]

Tom exhibits a type of almost "mindless" purity. At one point in the Council of Elrond - after having discovered that the Ring has no hold over him - some suggest that the Ring be sent to Bombadil for "safe keeping". But Gandalf tells them that he would soon lose interest in the Ring and probably lose it; that he would be a most "unsafe" guardian thereby.

Bombadil is very strong, but his strength is not the strength of will exhibited by any of the wise: not Gandalf or Elrond or Aragorn or Galadriel. His strength is passive as the earth itself and like the earth itself, he has no desire for power, the Ring's primary source of temptation. But Gandalf notes that Sauron is capable of tormenting and destroying even the earth and that if he regains the Ring, all of Middle-earth will fall under his sway, Tom, last of all. So although Bombadil is very strong, his strength is both too narrow in its scope and too limited in its power to overcome the Ring on the hand of Sauron.

 

[Michel Delving]

Yes you're right it was Strider slipping over the Bree gate. He says so in the next chapter (DOH!)

As for Tom he says he's been around for thousands of years long before Sauron came from "Outside" and I think is somewhat like the Green Man of myth - Nature personified. I think he laughs at the ring because he laughs at everything. I think he has the perspective of the eternal and even Frodo's quest is only a minor significance in the bigger History of the world/universe.

Up to Flight To The Ford now. At the risk of saddling myself with a spoiler a few more things have cropped up that I don't remember from last time I read it:-

Do we get to hear more about Angmar (Sauron's master) and if not what do you lot know of him?

What do you think Tom meant about Sauron being from Outside ?

And do we get to hear the rest of the Gil-galad story that Strider put a halt to on Weathertop? If not, again, do you know it? Is Gil-galad Sauron before the fall?

 

[lossenandunewen]

i think it didn't influence tom because he wasn't afriad of it. Goldberry said herself, tom is afraid of nothing. And the ring seemingly attracts the owner to wear it in times where he feels fearful. So maybe those who hold absolutely no fear, aren't affected because fear can do strange things to people