Tom and Goldberry. . . ? - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

07-06-2002, 06:43 PM

Since this thread has come back, I'll add my two cents.

Every living, intelligent thing in Tolkien's universe can be divided into several groups:

1) Iluvatar
2) Ainur
3) Children of Iluvatar
4) Creations of the Valar, sanctioned by Iluvatar
5) Perversions of preexisting creatures

I believe Tom and Goldberry are Ainur. Ainur can be divided into:

a) Valar
b) Maiar
c) Melkor (sometimes accounted a Vala)
d) Unclassified Ainur

Note the following, from the Silm: With the Valar came other spirits whose beings also began before the World, of the same order of the Valar but of less degree. These are the Maiar, the people of the Valar, and their servants and helpers.

Tom has the basic characteristics of an Ainu; immortality and he existed before Arda was made. However, he cannot be a Maia; the Maiar came with the Valar, and as someone has pointed out above, Tom was in Arda before the Valar. Nor is Tom a helper of the Valar. He cannot be a Vala, , so that leaves unclassified Ainu. Exactly what he is doing there, why he is there, remains unknown; as Tolkien said, he's an enigma.

BTW, one person of the Valar is a Maia, several are Maiar. Note that adding an -r makes it plural.

07-06-2002, 06:43 PM	#1
Valedain Guest Posts: n/a	Since this thread has come back, I'll add my two cents. Every living, intelligent thing in Tolkien's universe can be divided into several groups: 1) Iluvatar 2) Ainur 3) Children of Iluvatar 4) Creations of the Valar, sanctioned by Iluvatar 5) Perversions of preexisting creatures I believe Tom and Goldberry are Ainur. Ainur can be divided into: a) Valar b) Maiar c) Melkor (sometimes accounted a Vala) d) Unclassified Ainur Note the following, from the Silm: With the Valar came other spirits whose beings also began before the World, of the same order of the Valar but of less degree. These are the Maiar, the people of the Valar, and their servants and helpers. Tom has the basic characteristics of an Ainu; immortality and he existed before Arda was made. However, he cannot be a Maia; the Maiar came with the Valar, and as someone has pointed out above, Tom was in Arda before the Valar. Nor is Tom a helper of the Valar. He cannot be a Vala, , so that leaves unclassified Ainu. Exactly what he is doing there, why he is there, remains unknown; as Tolkien said, he's an enigma. BTW, one person of the Valar is a Maia, several are Maiar. Note that adding an -r makes it plural.