Who do you think Tom Bombadil really was

[Bêthberry]

Originally Posted by Nogrod

Someone probably has said this already (and I'm not going back to see if one of you did like five years ago ), but Tom is JRRT himself naturally...

And I mean it. It's the obvious solution.

Beat ya too it, kid, and not like five years ago, but merely on the previous page: The Author in His Works by Bethberry

Note too that Pitchwife, al and Morth subsequently admired the theory as they thought it could tidily be incorporated into their own. I must say I think I'll go and work on Pitchwife's anagram idea a bit . . . .

[Morsul the Dark]

Tolkien says Bombadil doesn't fit into middle-earth so only one true answer remains;

Eru creator of ME would fit in
Any Vlar or Maiar samething.
Tolkien himself fits in.
Witchking
Crazy Hobbit Hobo- even that works


Tom Bombadil after process of elimination ;
"When you eliminate the impossible that which is left, however improbable, is true"-Spock

An Alien!

[Rhugga II]

I think it most likely that Tom is a Melian-like being. However, he is deeply in touch with the Earth and nothing else really - kind of like uber Radagast. Tom is a traditional woodland spirit out of mythology and his wife is a fairy - perhaps an intrusion or throwback to concepts featured The Book of Lost Tales. This helps to explain Tom's actions visa vi the One Ring. He is so enamored with the green things and growing things, like the extrapolation of Hobbitness, that he does not desire power over others and therefore the Ring cannot sway him or even make him invisible. Tolkien's ultimate fantasy may have been a Wizard Hobbit - it certainly is a great combination.

[Nogrod]

Originally Posted by Bêthberry

Beat ya too it, kid, and not like five years ago, but merely on the previous page

Well, I knew someone had to have come up with that already...

Kudos! As one tends to think the idea he got himself and was pleased with as a great idea anyway!