Fattest of the Dwarves

[Nerwen]

Originally Posted by Squatter

I did say "all-but knocked down". The hart clears Bombur, but the shock of it makes him lose his balance. However, it's possible that it was rather an unfit hart, which would make it slower and easier for Thorin to shoot in a hurry.

This may be getting OT, but it seems unlikely that a wild hart, particularly one living in so inhospitable an environment as Mirkwood, would have much opportunity to become fat and unfit. Is it possible, then, that the beast was in fact a tame one, a member of a herd of pampered, overfed deer kept by the Wood Elves and released whenever the King and his courtiers felt like playing at "hunting"?

[Mithalwen]

Searching the History of the Hobbit forsomething about Radagast I have fpound the appendix on dwarf names Bomburr in the Voluspa is translated as tubby.

[Aganzir]

Originally Posted by Legate of Amon Lanc

If Tolkien wanted it to be really hilarious, he might have let the hart be knocked out by knocking Bombur. But it simply ran him over - so is it actually possible that the poor animal was, in fact, even fatter than Bombur?
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If we are talking about character development - Bilbo becoming braver, the Dwarves becoming more appreciative of him and so on - here is a different way of character development, Bombur becoming, not perhaps fatter (even though one might have expected that after what we've seen*), but more conscious about his fatness.
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However, we can see that Tolkien did not let his dream disappear completely, and led it to an eucatastrophe with the remark in LotR, where Bombur, finally in the place of peace and plenty, has the room to become as fat as he can get.

Consider yourself repped till I've been to eight more people's scales.

Originally Posted by Boromir88

I would think his fingers were too fat to play such instruments, having small keyholes and requiring inhaling/exhaling to play, don't want Bombur to faint from it.

But then, many opera singers (who obviously have huge lungs) are fat too!

[Kath]

Originally Posted by Aganzir

But then, many opera singers (who obviously have huge lungs) are fat too!

He can play the tuba!

[Lalwendë]

Originally Posted by Aganzir

But then, many opera singers (who obviously have huge lungs) are fat too!

Careful now, or Katherine Jenkins and Alfie Boe will be on your case

What I like best about Bombur is that his existence means they have made a unique Lego minifigure that has a little belly as an accessory you can attach. Course this means Bombur can go on a miracle diet, or you can also make Fili and Kili (or any of the policemen in Lego City, or well, any minifigure...) look pregnant.

[Aganzir]

Originally Posted by Lalwendë

Careful now, or Katherine Jenkins and Alfie Boe will be on your case

Hey hey I said some, not all!

or you can also make Fili and Kili (or any of the policemen in Lego City, or well, any minifigure...) look pregnant.

This is amazing. I may have to get some Hobbit Lego figures now, just to prove what Thorin's penetrating gaze can do to the unwary.

[Lalwendë]

Originally Posted by Aganzir

This is amazing. I may have to get some Hobbit Lego figures now, just to prove what Thorin's penetrating gaze can do to the unwary.

I now have some unsavoury ideas of things to do with Lego and davem's stop-motion film camera android app thingie...

Really not so true these days since they are required to act rather than just stand and deliver, of course there isn't the same pressure as on actresses to be abnormally thin since the prerequisite is to be able to sing the role. They wouldnt tolerate someone eandering off mid duet for a glass of water like Pavarotti. And I hate to think what would have happened if Pavarotti had tried this
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQeX...e_gdata_player

And you need something to stick to your ribs if you're going to stick out one of Wagner's epics. More than a bowl of watercress soup! And that's just the audience

[Mithalwen]

Well, as a great Wagnerian responded when asked what was the secret to singing Wagner, comfortable shoesì

[Aganzir]

Originally Posted by Mithalwen

Really not so true these days since they are required to act rather than just stand and deliver

Fair enough. I was just trying to disprove Boro's point about Bombur's size leading to his incapability to breathe well enough to play a wind instrument.

Originally Posted by Zigûr

Is it worth mentioning, however, the notion in the 1960 Hobbit that Bombur and his brother and cousin were Thorin's "attendants"? I've always had the impression that these three who were not of Durin's Line (and therefore seemingly a bit more "common" and "working class" than the majority of the company) were potentially present in something of a more professional capacity.

You're quite right - Bifur, Bofur and Bombur were descended from the dwarves of Moria. I wasn't aware of that addition before - do you have the exact quote anywhere? Also, as I believe Squatter mentioned, he and Bifur (and Thorin) were the only dwarves who managed to fight the trolls even a little bit, and he also caused some damage to the spider that tried to eat him.

Originally Posted by Lalwendë

I now have some unsavoury ideas of things to do with Lego and davem's stop-motion film camera android app thingie...

Please. Do.

[Eönwë]

Originally Posted by Lalwendë

I now have some unsavoury ideas of things to do with Lego and davem's stop-motion film camera android app thingie...

How much custard does it involve?

[Mithalwen]

But then, many opera singers (who obviously have huge lungs) are fat too!


Really not so true these days since they are required to act rather than just stand and deliver, of course there isn't the same pressure as on actresses to be abnormally thin since the prerequisite is to be able to sing the role. They wouldnt tolerate someone eandering off mid duet for a glass of water like Pavarotti. And I hate to think what would have happened if Pavarotti had tried this
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQeX...e_gdata_player