Tom Bombadil

[Lantarion]

Yes I think it's in a volume of HoME that Tom was originally not connected to M-e at all. Like 'Roverandom' and 'The Fathre Christmas Letters', Tom Bombadil was created for the enjoyment of JRRT's own children, IIRC.

 

[Red Istar]

Originally posted by MorgothsBane
Bombadil, Tolkien said, is the "embodiment of the (now fading) oxford countryside" or something like that. Tom is as old as the World. Also, BC, Bombadil cannot be one with Moddle-Earth because he has no power outside of his realm.


--MB

Oh yeah, I forgot about that. Maybe he is just the embodiment of the Old Forest?

 

[aturina]

I'm on my second reading of LOTR and recently finished the chapter with Tom Bombadil. I find that he is so much more fascinating reading about him the second time.

Since its the holiday season, I can't help but think of him as a Santa Claus figure or a Sagittarian personality. But, definitely, I can see him appealing to a child.

He seems to me to be very much a part of middle-earth and yet, he is also not a part of it and thats why the ring (and other horrible things) don't seem to affect him. And, that also may be why he didn't play a part in the destruction of the ring. He seems to be above it all. To him, it was almost a big joke.

And what about Goldberry? She seems to also be an enigma. I think of her as a Goddess.......immortal like elves but not an elf. Her domain is the river or waters of middle-earth. And is she married to Tom? or exactly what is their relationship?

 

[jallan]

Tom and Goldberry are definitely married.

Their wedding is even described in the poem “The Adventures of Tom Bombadil” in the book The Adventures of Tom Bombadil. The poem even includes a description of what the bride wore:

Old Tom Bombadil had a merry wedding,
crowned all with buttercups, hat and feather shedding;
his bride with forgetmenots and flag-lillies for garland
was robbed all in silver-green. He sang like a starling,
hummed like a honey-bee, lilted to the fiddle,
clasping his river-maid round her slender middle.​

Your interpretation of Tom is so exactly what Tolkien provides in his letters.

 

[aturina]

Thank you, jallan, for that great piece of information!

I thought I read somewhere that "The Adventures of Tom Bombadil" was never published?

 

[Maerbenn]

The Adventures of Tom Bombadil

“The Adventures of Tom Bombadil” (the poem) was first published in The Oxford Magazine vol. 52, no. 13 on February 13th, 1934.

The Adventures of Tom Bombadil (the book) was first published by George Allen & Unwin on November 22nd, 1962.

Source: A Chronological Bibliography of the Writings of J.R.R. Tolkien compiled by Åke Bertenstam

 

[Warrior]

I've always thought of him as some kind of spirit, an embodiment of nature.

Red Istar

Then maybe that's why he 'saw' through the magic of the Ring. When Tom gave Frodo back the Ring, to make sure it was the One Ring Frodo put it on his finger and disapeared:
'Hey there!' cried Tom, glancing towards him with a most seeing look in his shining eyes. 'Hey! come Frodo....Where be you a-going? Old Tom Bombadil's not as blind as that yet. Take off your golden ring!....Come back! Leave your game and sit down beside me!.....'

 

[Barliman Butterbur]

Maybe, its never been put to the test

But something tells me that nothing could touch him, like an entire army of Orcs wouldnt be able to kill him. . .

In LOTR, it's said that if Sauron attacked Middle-earth, Bombo would be the last to go...

Lotho

 

[Belegmacar]

I know that this is a stupid suggestion, but maybe Tom Bombadil is Eru Himself!!!

 

[Maerbenn]

I know that this is a stupid suggestion, but maybe Tom Bombadil is Eru Himself!!!

From letter #211:

The One does not physically inhabit any part of Eä.

 

[jimmyboy]

Maybe Bombadill was not originally meant to be a part of M-e, but in the Adventures of Tom Bombadill he is certainly connected with it. He goes to Bree IIRC, through part of the Shire, and meets up with Farmer Maggot and his family for an evening of eating and fellowship. He also speaks of the future return of the King, which indicates that he knows of the past, present, and possible future history of the Numenoreans and their descendants.

Most definitely connected with M-e...

 

[Arvedui]

Tom Bombadil is, according to Tolkien, the spirit of the Oxford and Berkshire countryside (Letters, #19).
So, as Middle-earth is Tolkien's image of the nature he was very fond of, Tom Bombadil certainly is a part of it.

And, imo, this explains why Tom Bombadil (i.e. the green hills, flowers and trees) would be the last to go. It would take Sauron some time before it all would be destroyed, but destroyed it would be all the same.

 

[Flame of Udûn]

He goes to Bree IIRC, through part of the Shire, and meets up with Farmer Maggot and his family for an evening of eating and fellowship.

How could he go through the Shire to go to Bree, when he lived between them? And Maggot lives in the Shire anyway, not Bree.

 

[Inderjit S]

Bombadil was said to be known to some of the Bucklanders.

We also get expansion of some of his adventures in the Old Forest, some of which are briefly mentioned in LoTr. (i.e when he tells Frodo and co. about badgers and their ridiculous ways, we hear about the time he was dragged down a badger hole, we also get to hear about his first meeting with Goldberry and their marriage and other encounters, with Old Man Willow and a barrow-wight.)

 

[jimmyboy]

How could he go through the Shire to go to Bree, when he lived between them? And Maggot lives in the Shire anyway, not Bree.

Sorry if that was unclear. I didn't mean that he went through the Shire to get to Bree. I meant that among his adventures, he went to Bree, and at another time went through the Shire. See? Clear as mud.

 

[Lantarion]

Tom Bombadil is, according to Tolkien, the spirit of the Oxford and Berkshire countryside (Letters, #19).
So, as Middle-earth is Tolkien's image of the nature he was very fond of, Tom Bombadil certainly is a part of it.

Yes absolutley; that has indeed been put forward and accepted long before.
What I think that some people want to know is what Tom actually is in terms of categorization within Eä, or Arda rather.
To which I can only add a theory I have expressed before: that Tom Bombadil is some higher form of Ainu, not only sent forth into Arda before anything else but actually Sung into it and set as a part of Arda's very texture. In the end I believe that the Valar, or all the Ainur who had part in the Ainulindalë, perceived or envisioned some inherent being or soul that was to inhabit, or rather be Arda itself; its nature, its beauty, its very essense. As I see it, the Ainur sung him in, and the potency of his spirit (far more than that of a Vala, IMO) caused him to Be. That would be one theory for Goldberry's cryptic answer, "He is".

 

[Khazad]

If Tom is a earth spirit, what is Goldberry? A Maia? If she is maiar, how their relationship started? If Goldberry is also a earth spirit, who is (was she called) River Lady? Yavanna? Ilu? Another earth spirit?

Its not only about Tom, but also about Goldberry.

 

[Inderjit S]

We get some info. on how Goldberry and Tom met in the 'Adventures of Tom Bombadil' but whether (in context) you can take it seriously is up to you.

I don't think either are Vala.

 

[Khazad]

In Silmarillion forum, under were the dwarfs oldest tread has one message where is pointed that because one ring did not have any effect on Tom, he should be something different then Gandalf, Sauron or Saruman.

Now why ring should have been some dramatic effect on Gandalf for instance? He did not what to take a risk to use it and try if he was strong enough to resist it, but there is no any direct info that it would have been dangerous for maiar to wield it. The one ring do not count out that Tom could not be a maia. Maia is as spiritual being as any other and ring do not neccesarily have any direct or immediate effect on them.

Now is he a earth spirit? Might be, I still prefer to count him as a maia.

 

[Arvedui]

Tolkien once stated that Tom Bombadil was an Enigma.

I can't find the exact quote right now, but I guess that someone will soon arrive and tell where it can be found, if I don't find it first.

So neither Tom nor Goldberry can really be counted among any of the peoples that Tolkien invented to take place in his mythological world.