I know it’s disproved, but I always liked to think about Tom Bombadil as Eru Ilúvatar.
Oldest and Fatherless: The Terrible Secret of Tom Bombadil (2011)
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Re: Oldest and Fatherless: The Terrible Secret of Tom Bombadil (2011)
#12Is this popping up because of Elden Ring coming out in the fall?
Re: Oldest and Fatherless: The Terrible Secret of Tom Bombadil (2011)
#13To me, Tom Bombadil is the introduction of natural magic. He is nature, indicating to the reader that there is a source of magic beyond the elves, Wizards, and Sauron. There are many magical creatures in Middle-Earth without a described source, which to me makes the whole story feel more magic. The Ents probably being the chief example. Another important role of Tom’s is his introduction of magic and power outside of…
Some researchers consider Tom to be the 'reader'
Please expand on this.
Re: Oldest and Fatherless: The Terrible Secret of Tom Bombadil (2011)
#14To me, Tom Bombadil is the introduction of natural magic. He is nature, indicating to the reader that there is a source of magic beyond the elves, Wizards, and Sauron. There are many magical creatures in Middle-Earth without a described source, which to me makes the whole story feel more magic. The Ents probably being the chief example. Another important role of Tom’s is his introduction of magic and power outside of…
Some researchers consider Tom to be the 'reader'
Really? Thats actually a super interesting theory that I had never considered before. Any more info, I'd love to look into this.
Re: Oldest and Fatherless: The Terrible Secret of Tom Bombadil (2011)
#15this is the best thing ever posted on HN..... going to restart the lord of the rings podcast now.
Re: Oldest and Fatherless: The Terrible Secret of Tom Bombadil (2011)
#16Who the hell is Tom Bombadil?
A character from Lord of the Rings. He's a hermit living in nature, and one of the more notable things omitted in the movies. Probably because apart from saving the Hobbits from some dangers early in their journey he doesn't play much of a role.
Re: Oldest and Fatherless: The Terrible Secret of Tom Bombadil (2011)
#17Interesting ideas but having listened to a mountain of Tolkien Professor podcasts, I don’t think this is a canonical view of Bombadil. My impression is that he is not evil, he is just so old and powerful that he doesn’t care about power anymore.
You mean like a Lovecraftian horror as described in the last quote on the article?
Re: Oldest and Fatherless: The Terrible Secret of Tom Bombadil (2011)
#18I find the classic take that Tom Bombadil was intended by Tolkien to be god persuasive. But he is definitely creepy
Re: Oldest and Fatherless: The Terrible Secret of Tom Bombadil (2011)
#19Who the hell is Tom Bombadil?
A character from Lord of the Rings. He's a hermit living in nature, and one of the more notable things omitted in the movies. Probably because apart from saving the Hobbits from some dangers early in their journey he doesn't play much of a role.
Sorry, lame joke. Peter Jackson cut Tom Bombadil from the movies, and it was a meme 20 years ago.
Re: Oldest and Fatherless: The Terrible Secret of Tom Bombadil (2011)
#20To me, Tom Bombadil is the introduction of natural magic. He is nature, indicating to the reader that there is a source of magic beyond the elves, Wizards, and Sauron. There are many magical creatures in Middle-Earth without a described source, which to me makes the whole story feel more magic. The Ents probably being the chief example. Another important role of Tom’s is his introduction of magic and power outside of…
Sounds indeed more in line with what Tolkien said, although everyone can create their own version of the story of course.
Tolkien: "But Tom Bombadil is just as he is. Just an odd ‘fact’ of that world. He won’t be explained, because as long as you are (as in this tale you are meant to be) concentrated on the Ring, he is inexplicable. But he’s there – a reminder of the truth (as I see it) that the world is so large and manifold that if you take one facet and fix your mind and heart on it, there is always something that does not come in to that story/argument/approach, and seems to belong to a larger story. But of course in another way, not that of pure story-making, Bombadil is a deliberate contrast to the Elves who are artists. But B. does not want to make, alter, devise, or control anything: just to observe and take joy in the contemplating the things that are not himself. The spirit of the [deleted: world > this earth] made aware of itself. He is more like science (utterly free from technological blemish) and history than art. He represents the complete fearlessness of that spirit when we can catch a little of it. But I do suggest that it is possible to fear (as I do) that the making artistic sub-creative spirit (of Men and Elves) is actually more potent, and can ‘fall’, and that it could in the eventual triumph of its own evil destroy the whole earth, and Bombadil and all."