Revealing Tom Bombadil - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Kaiserin · 08-09-2003, 02:50 AM

I'm sure that a lot of you are still wondering about what and who Tom Bombadil is, and why he's even in the LOTR stories. I'd like to hear your own crazy explanations as to why Tolkien created and included such an odd character.

Just a note to remember -this thread is under "mirth" and I'm not really looking for a logical, analytiacal explanation, so thy smarter-than-thou image can put your references and quotations aside for a while [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img]

Anyway, here are my thoughts:

1 - Tolkien needed a place to publish his silly-sounding songs.
2 - Bombadil is a symbol of the writer's uncle' wife's half-brother's longing for his lost childhood.
3- He was designed to discredit all things magical.

Let's hear your opinions...

dancing spawn of ungoliant · 08-09-2003, 05:18 AM

whoa, fun,fun,fun...let's see.
Bombadil's in the book 'cause Tolkien wanted some character to use yellow boots and he didn't want to humiliate any other character like that...

Nilpaurion Felagund · 08-09-2003, 05:29 AM

I've always wanted to tease ol' Tom..let's see...how about...someone needs to feed those silly hobbits! They'll starve in the middle of the Old Forest! Or maybe not. Maybe the silly songs thing is right. Some childish fantasy of Tolkien, I think. [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img]

Eruwen · 08-09-2003, 09:01 AM

Who else could he get to prance around like a leprechaun while he hits trees and sings something about a merry dol? Oh, come on, even Pippin wouldn't do that.

Lyta_Underhill · 08-09-2003, 09:44 AM

Quote:

Oh, come on, even Pippin wouldn't do that.

Give him a few pints and he just might! Maybe Tom is a projected figment of Pippin's alter ego...uh, ego! Or worse, maybe its one of the more embarrassing members of the Took family who actually beat the Bullroarer long ago but was exiled because of said silly yellow boots! [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img]

Cheers,
Lyta

Oddwen · 08-09-2003, 11:25 AM

Yeah! Hobbits rarely, if ever wore boots, so they must've banished him from the Shire for that.

Amarantha_Daisy · 08-09-2003, 03:50 PM

Quote:

Bombadil is a symbol of the writer's uncle' wife's half-brother's longing for his lost childhood.

[img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img] Oh, I definatly agree. Either that or he was a representation of the invisible friend that Tolkien had and never truely got rid of. [img]smilies/wink.gif[/img]

Well, Tom could have also been put in there to introduce a fashion statement: Yellow boots, of course! I don't think they were ever too popular, so maybe Tolkien added Tom in there to make subliminal messages telling us to wear them... [img]smilies/eek.gif[/img] Paranoia!

the guy who be short · 08-10-2003, 02:39 PM

Quote:

Well, Tom could have also been put in there to introduce a fashion statement: Yellow boots, of course! I don't think they were ever too popular, so maybe Tolkien added Tom in there to make subliminal messages telling us to wear them... Paranoia!

You think Tolkien got rich writing books? The real money's in the boot business!

I think he wanted someone who looks like a walnut in there, but didn't want a talking walnut. Hey presto, Tom Bombadil was born!

Morai · 08-10-2003, 02:48 PM

Hm, I think Tolkien created Tom Bomadil for the sheer randomness. Really, Sings goofy songs, has yellow boots, talks and sings to trees, and has a sweet Wife named Goldberry.
That's random! I think if he lived in modern days, he'd reside in Oregon. (now nicknamed the tree-hugger state)

Amarantha_Daisy · 08-10-2003, 11:01 PM

Maybe Tolkien has split personality disorder, and Tom was just his other half... Dude, I wish my other half were like Tom Bombadil... [img]smilies/cool.gif[/img] Don't we? Yes, we do...

08-09-2003, 02:50 AM	#1
Kaiserin Wight Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Cair Paravel Posts: 150	Revealing Tom Bombadil I'm sure that a lot of you are still wondering about what and who Tom Bombadil is, and why he's even in the LOTR stories. I'd like to hear your own crazy explanations as to why Tolkien created and included such an odd character. Just a note to remember -this thread is under "mirth" and I'm not really looking for a logical, analytiacal explanation, so thy smarter-than-thou image can put your references and quotations aside for a while [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img] Anyway, here are my thoughts: 1 - Tolkien needed a place to publish his silly-sounding songs. 2 - Bombadil is a symbol of the writer's uncle' wife's half-brother's longing for his lost childhood. 3- He was designed to discredit all things magical. Let's hear your opinions... __________________ The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.

08-09-2003, 05:18 AM	#2
dancing spawn of ungoliant Mischievous Candle Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: So near to Russia, so far from Japan, quite a long way from Cairo, lots of miles from Vietnam. Posts: 1,267	whoa, fun,fun,fun...let's see. Bombadil's in the book 'cause Tolkien wanted some character to use yellow boots and he didn't want to humiliate any other character like that... __________________ Fenris Wolf

08-09-2003, 05:29 AM	#3
Nilpaurion Felagund Scion of The Faithful Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: The brink, where hope and despair are akin. [The Philippines] Posts: 5,430	I've always wanted to tease ol' Tom..let's see...how about...someone needs to feed those silly hobbits! They'll starve in the middle of the Old Forest! Or maybe not. Maybe the silly songs thing is right. Some childish fantasy of Tolkien, I think. [img]smilies/biggrin.gif[/img] __________________ フェンリス鴨 (Fenrisu Kamo) The plot, cut, defeated. I intend to copy this sig forever - so far so good...

08-09-2003, 11:25 AM	#6
Oddwen Drummer in the Deep Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Next Sunday A.D. Posts: 2,246	Yeah! Hobbits rarely, if ever wore boots, so they must've banished him from the Shire for that. __________________ But all the while I sit and think of times there were before I listen for returning feet and voices at the door

08-10-2003, 02:48 PM	#9
Morai Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: May 2002 Location: Where young people go to retire Posts: 747	Hm, I think Tolkien created Tom Bomadil for the sheer randomness. Really, Sings goofy songs, has yellow boots, talks and sings to trees, and has a sweet Wife named Goldberry. That's random! I think if he lived in modern days, he'd reside in Oregon. (now nicknamed the tree-hugger state) __________________ "So why the safe distance, this curious look? Why tear out single pages when you can throw away the book? Why pluck one string when you can strum the guitar? MeWithoutYou http://fortyfifthparadox.com

08-09-2003, 09:01 AM	#4
Eruwen Registered User Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 901	Who else could he get to prance around like a leprechaun while he hits trees and sings something about a merry dol? Oh, come on, even Pippin wouldn't do that.

08-10-2003, 11:01 PM	#10
Amarantha_Daisy Wight Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Bag End... On Frodo's laptop. Shhhh! Don't tell! Posts: 240	Maybe Tolkien has split personality disorder, and Tom was just his other half... Dude, I wish my other half were like Tom Bombadil... [img]smilies/cool.gif[/img] Don't we? Yes, we do... __________________ "I did not see the Balrog until I saw the film! He was -- it was -- just a yellow tennis ball on top of a pole for me to shout at. I felt like screaming 'You shall not bounce!'" ~Sir Ian McKellen October 20, 2005 - 1st Annual Golden Ring Marathon! Spread the Word!