Quite a few months back – I suggested the topic of 'Tom and allegory' would reappear when new information came to light. Ms. Seth's latest essay discusses how Tom Bombadil may have been envisaged as equivalent to the Archangel Michael.
https://priyasethtolkienfan.wordpres...d-fairy-story/
There are many interesting details buried in the
TLotR text indicating Tom and the 29th September Barrow rescue are related to Michaelmas tradition and folklore in England. At this stage she hasn't outright called Tom an 'allegory' in this essay. Though, I must say, she seems to be leaning that way!