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Balfrog
07-22-2018, 10:59 AM
Was there meaning attributed by Tolkien to the words 'fal, lal, derry & dol' in Bombadil's poetry?

Ms. Seth seems to think so:

https://priyasethtolkienfan.wordpress.com/2018/07/15/the-final-stage/

A potential linkage back to Michael Tolkien's Dutch Doll is an interesting idea. But, for me, just as intriguing is the willow-wren character from the Bombadil Goes Boating poem, and how buried in her notes that the 'happy day' of the poem might have been our St. Stephen's day – December 26th!

Rune Son of Bjarne
05-23-2024, 01:11 PM
Was there meaning attributed by Tolkien to the words 'fal, lal, derry & dol' in Bombadil's poetry?

Ms. Seth seems to think so:

https://priyasethtolkienfan.wordpress.com/2018/07/15/the-final-stage/

A potential linkage back to Michael Tolkien's Dutch Doll is an interesting idea. But, for me, just as intriguing is the willow-wren character from the Bombadil Goes Boating poem, and how buried in her notes that the 'happy day' of the poem might have been our St. Stephen's day – December 26th!

I like overanalyzing things as much as the next fellow, but to try to find a deeper meaning with nonsensical songs of Tom Bombadil is probably stretching it. No doubt Tolkien had a specific reason for writing as he did, but anything beyond "contributing to the whimsical nature of Tin Bombadil", is bound to be speculative in the extreme.