Who/What was Tom Bombadil
 

Who/What was Tom Bombadil

An enigma.

Everything you ever wanted to know about Bombadil is right here: http://www.barrowdowns.com/Themes_Bombadil.asp

Except that the links are still to the old board. [img]smilies/wink.gif[/img]

At least they still exist... Phew.

It is debated widely over countless boards that Tom was a manifestation of England, a Vala, the spirit of the earth, or even a hobbit. And the list goes on. And of course no one will ever agree, but some thing I read in Letters, was that even Tolkien didn't know who Tom was. He said, 'Tom is Tom,' and he went on to say that it was a mystery and that was the beauty of it all, but I don't have the exact quote.

Colubra

From what i have read and heard, I think he is a maia, one of the people of the Valar.

Tom isn't Tolkien's only enigma. For example, Gandalf tells us that there were evil things in the deep places beneath the mountains that were older than Sauron! Stir up any curiosity? Well, sorry, he doesn't elaborate. They remain enigmatic.

Yes! Ive allways wondered about "the nameless and shapeless things beneath the mountains". I think they were made by Morgoth, who else, or they were flaws in the song of the Ainur, or maybe something like ungoliant, maybe something that descended from the void? I bet the dwarves would have found them sooner or later if the balrog hadnt caused so much trouble.

If memory serves me correctly, Gandalf was talking about the Balrog, so there is one of those evil things.

Here's the exact quote: I don't think he was speaking of the Balrog.

If people have read The Letters, they know better the answer is "Tom is Tom", and Tom is not a Vala, nor Maia.

I do not understand why some people would wanna say "I think...", then give buncha quotes that would mislead newbies to wrong answers.

Tom is just Tom. Dont ask too much. That is not fun.

I know a lot of people who think that Tom is a maia or the spirit of England and I've even heard someone theorize that Tom was the incarnation of Tolkien in Middle Earth. "Tom is Tom" is the idea I like best, it makes the most sense to me.

That's probably because it's the only one of the opinions you mentioned that has any textual support. [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img]

I agree with you.

Indeed, sometimes the most obvious answer is the right one. Occam's razor and all that.

Who's Tom Bombadil? He wasn't in the Movie. [img]smilies/evil.gif[/img]

Tom is Tom he was the first as he will be the last that is all u need to know for that is all we know and the best answer is mostly the simplesest so dont ask why or how it just is as he just is

Only because Peter Jackson wouldn't do anything more than a cameo!
[img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img]

If he was the first, then wouln't he have been Eru himself?

he was first in middle-earth not first over all he has existed since the world has

Tom's Character was based on a doll that one of his childern played with. I cant remember where i heard that.

Tom Bombadil was the first in middle earth, not the first in creation. he might be an elf. the only problem is elves weren't created when he was. he takes the description of a dwarf or maybe a hobbit. but we know that he wasn't either of those. so we have to conclude that he was a screw up. he was probably the first elf ever made, and Eru didn't like him, so he discarded him. Tom probably went off into the forest, found a nice place to live, and never grew older, (much like the elves). he didn't here of any other life until he ran into it in his own forest. when he found the being he was surprised and realized he wasn't alone, and adapted. time is endless for Tom, and he is probably as powerful as the Valor. This is why he was a screw up, the Valor didn't want a race of super beings, so the said something like "let him go and live on his own," and thats what he did.

okay may i ask where u found this out? just courious.

okay may i ask where u found this out? just courious.

tom is a miar very much like gandalf. he owns one of the rings and is very powerful. [img]smilies/evil.gif[/img]

read one of the books methadan. and i don't want you to ask who was tom bombadel again

sorry i spelled maiar wrong. MY BAD!! [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img]

I didnt know Tom had a ring, what kind was it, what was its power. It seems that he wasnt very interested in The Master Ring when Frodo was there. And it seemed that the ring had no power over him, when he put it on, or even the desire to have it. I think he actually laughed at it! It seems to me that Tom didnt really need a ring, all he had to do was sing a little song to get the job done.

Bombadil owns no Ring,That isn't in any of Tolkiens books, nor the Histories of Middle Earth. And Mithadan is a well respected, and very knowledgable member/leader round here.
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Dont' get upset Elrian. Orc999 obviously didn't realise that Mithadans post was sarcastic. I myself found the post irritating until I looked up to see Mithadans name, than I cracked up right in the middle of the computer room in college. It was very embarrasing and I'd thank you not to ensnare me like that again Mithadan. [img]smilies/wink.gif[/img]

Elrian - Thanks for defending my "honor". [img]smilies/rolleyes.gif[/img]

Kin-strife - Whoops. Sorry. [img]smilies/wink.gif[/img]

Bombadil theories I have heard, Tom is:

1. An enigma (JRRT says this himself, but in an early draft in HoME, Tom is described as an "aborigine" - check the definition for additional cannon-fodder for arguments).

2. A Maia (if LoTR and the Sil. must be internally consistent, this is the only theory that really works).

3. Iluvatar (sorry, JRRT in Letters expressly says Iluvatar has never physically entered Arda).

4. Aule (the smith of the Valar now wanders in the woods singing nonsense songs and picking lilies? Not!).

5. Beren (there's some visceral appeal to this one, but Beren was mortal).

6. The embodied spirit of Arda/or of the Imperishable Fire (hard to disprove but not really consistent with the mythos).

7. The spirit of "unfallen" man (assumes a "fall" resulted in man's mortality which is likely not consistent with the mythos).

8. A repentant Witch-King (see the Tolkien Sarcasm page).

9. The spirit of the English countryside.

Theories I've not seen discussed, Tom is: one of the original firstborn Elves; Maglor; the real "Shepard of the Trees"; Peter Pan; Jim Morrison.

Tom REALLY is a doll which was the favorite toy of one of JRRT's kids, the subject of various bedtime tales, which he decided to work into the story.

Mithadan, when I first read your post, I thought you was a newbie that just had found this place because you had seen the movie, or something, but then I realised your membernumber was very low, so I guessed you was being sarcastic.. ^_^ I have no clue what Tom is (duh) and I will not even pick a guess.. the first elf theory sounds quite interesting, but I don't really think it could be right, because the elves first awoke at the same time as the stars where made, right? Oh well, ignore me.. I'm just an Animated Skeleton..

Now all you need to do, Mith, is disprove everything that can be and then we will have some real good theories. I am intrigued about this Jim Morrison theory, tell me more [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img]

I know Tolkien says he is an enigma. What he really means is "I'll let you find out for yourselves!". You know Tolkien purposely left some things unexplained. Very good idea if you ask me.

I have always thought that Tom was kindof like the enbodiment of Arda. When Eru made Ea, he sent the 'Imperishable Flame'. What I think is that when he did that, Tom was made. Good old Tom who knows the earths pains and joy. Quite a weird old man, but Tom is one of my favorite characters. [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img]

The only thing I dont know is if the Valar ever saw him. You would think in the time uncounted during which the Valar made the lands and waters and everything, they would have noticed a small person hopping along with a blue feather in his hat singing Merry Dol Merry Dee Good day to the Valar! [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img]

I am being silly, but that is really what I Think.

I was more stunned than upset when I seen that post about Mithadan, I'd read his fan fiction long before I'd joined the board, I found it unbelievable anyone would say something like that. And your welcome Mithadan! [img]smilies/wink.gif[/img] Those are some interesing speculations on who else Bombadil could be: A young Santa Claus or maybe Jimmy Hoffa too. [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img]

* as she stares at the discussion, trying to take it all in, her eyes begin to take on a glazed look*

Oh dear, oh dear oh dear oh dear.... my head hurts. I have so much to read, so much to read... All the mythos and everything else.

Erm, my current vote (until I read everything) is that Tom is Tom, used for JRRT's own pleasure for putting in personals in his novel.

Now, let me finish reading everything, and then I'll come back and see what else there is...

oh...my head...

I think that Tom Bombadil is included (in LoTR at least) to provide some light relief and a short rest for Frodo et al, not to mention the reader. This would explain why he disappears, apart from a necessary mention at the Council of Elrond, after they leave the Barrow Downs.
As such, there's not really much need to explain a great deal about him; in fact the enigma makes him more compelling than he would be if we knew the whole story. I do wish he'd associated a name with that brooch, though... ;)

My question would be: Do we really want to pin Bombadil down? Surely he's more interesting as an enigma and there is a saying that we lessen what we define.

Bombadil disappears? That's not in my book. Is this in the new revised edition?

I agree with the Squatter's second paragraph...and we will continue debating this subject because any "sensible" opinion cannot really be proven wrong, can it??
*tho anyone suggesting that Tom is Michael Jackson WILL be shot down*
and all because Tom's an enigma
[img]smilies/wink.gif[/img]

Also I doubt you would catch MJ in a outfit like Bombadils with a feather in his cap! [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img]
Besides it has already been cleared up Bombadil was a doll [img]smilies/wink.gif[/img]

Elrian would you put anything past him???