There are at least two bands called Bombadil.

1. Bombadil is a conte… Read Full Bio ↴There are at least two bands called Bombadil.

1. Bombadil is a contemporary folk-pop band from North Carolina, United States. The members have been playing music together since 2006. The group is composed of four mild-manner gentlemen who agree on everything except how to make music. Bombadil went into suspended animation in 2009 after an injury forced the band to stop touring indefinitely. In 2011, the band reformed, and has been active ever since. The sound is steeped in folk and possesses an almost classical air in its arrangements. Lyrics play a central and weighty role in every tune - telling stories of the mundane parts of life we all experience sometimes and the tragic or comic actions we take to redeem ourselves. The band hopes listeners will be able to find a bit of themselves in Bombadil, and come to realize it's the music they've had in their heads all along.

Bombadil has released 5 albums:

Self-titled ep - 2006
A Buzz, A Buzz - 2008
Tarpits and Canyonlands - 2009
All That The Rain Promises - 2011
Metrics of Affection - 2013

2. Bombadil was a spoof moniker used by British rock band Barclay James Harvest. Nick Mobbs, an A&R man at progressive rock label Harvest Records, formed Bombadil in 1974 to record the song "Breathless" and "When the City Sleeps" as a spoof of the glam rock that had just become trendy. Although the songs were supposedly written by "Terry Bull" and "Lester Forrest" they were in fact written by Woolly Wolstenholme and played by his Barclay James Harvest.

Faces
Bombadil Lyrics

Jump to: Line by Line Meaning ↴

Everybody wants to change you
Make sure you're not too different
Everybody wants to shame you
Make sure you're cold and distant

Put on the same clothes and put on the same faces
Write the same name with all the right spaces

Everybody wants to change you
Make sure you're not too different
Everybody wants to blame you
Make sure you keep your distance

Put on the same clothes and put on the same faces
Write the same name with all the right spaces

Line by Line Meaning

Everybody wants to change you
Everyone desires to alter your essence or character.

Make sure you're not too different
Ensure that you do not deviate too much from societal expectations or norms.

Everybody wants to shame you
Everyone aims to disgrace or criticize you.

Make sure you're cold and distant
Ensure that you appear emotionally detached or aloof.

Put on the same clothes and put on the same faces
Adopt the identical attire and assume identical personas or identities.

Write the same name with all the right spaces
Render your identity by utilizing the conventional name format without any variations or unconventional alterations.

Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: DARBY CADE PHILLIPS, TASHA BAXTER

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

kingbeauregard

47w↑28

There's another video where someone observed, and I quote:

---

In LOTR universe there are 5 kinds of people : No powers, hero powers, magic powers, overpowered and hilariously godly overpowered.

And then... there's Tom bombadil, who could have just simply walked/danced into mordor, punch sauron in the face, kick melkor in the nuts and be back before lunch time all while wearing the ring as a piercing on his dick.

If only he gave a fuck.

Kevin Hatry

45w↑1

I think the answer is on several levels.
On the first "basic" level, as a writer, Tolkien, had this character he wanted to include for sentimental reasons but it was also a way to send a different message than the book's.
As mentioned in the video, the book, and the universe, evolves around the good vs the evil battle but Tom brings a more detached approach to life : live in peace with Nature. Also from the narrative side, he gives a much needed respite to the hobbits who are close to be overwhelmed by everything happening to them : leaving home, escaping the riders, nearing death several times, being almost killed by a tree when they always lived close to nature ... This gives them the strength to reach the next point in their adventure : Aragorn.

The other level of answer is considering the universe Tolkien created with its history, rules, people and gods. In such a universe there must be rules and coherence, so Tom must fit into its lore and his existence must be tied to the creation flow of this universe.

Can he be Iluvatar ? There doesn't seem to be a reason why he would choose to have a physical presence in Middle Earth just to stay in his cottage.

The lore tells us that all things and people were created by Iluvatar's Song. Some were non sentient, like the earth itself, and some were, first the Valar and Maiar, then the elves, dwarves and men.
So it makes sense that Tom was also born from/part of the Song but it must be in a different way than the Valar or else they would have more knowledge of him, and thus Gandalf, being a Maiar.
As they don't have any clue about his origin we could assume that it is because he is part of a portion of the Song that the Valar never understood.

And there we cycle to a theme developed in this video : from the beginning the Valar show a will to change things, one could say to "dominate" : Manwë being "the king" master of the air, Ulmo master of water and the oceans ... and Melkor wanting to put everything and everyone under his dominion feeling he is the most able of the Valar. They are obviously from a part of the Song about creation, control and dominance (which is useful to create the world in the first place and to make it evolve through the ages).
The Song being whole it must include another part, not understood by the other as it is so different, the part of just "being" : living in harmony without ambition or will to control or dominate. And this is Tom Bombadil.

Craig Wadley

44w

Young lady, your insight into this much loved character is extraordinary. Thank you for sharing your thoughts with the rest of us!

Regarding translating Bombadil into a movie, TV show, etc... honestly I'm going to say that I hope they never try, at least not as anything more than the enigma he appears to be in LOTR. Maybe as a onetime appearance in an episode of the Amazon show or something like that, but they should never attempt to make Bombadil the focus of a longer storyline. It would inevitably ruin the mystery of the character, which is one of the best things about him.

Unless...

Imagine our hobbit heroes relaxing around a fire with a smoke and some ale, speculating about life, the universe, and everything... when one of them mentions old Tom. Each episode would be an impromptu speculation by one of half-inebriated hobbits, saying WHAT IF....

Now THAT would be about the only way I could see it happening. It would be undoubtedly hilarious, and any story you like could be proposed, but not one of them would be definitive.

I would pay a subscription to see that.

Jim A. Parks

45w

At 11 years old I first read the Hobbit and LotR. The encounter with Bombadil seemed very cool to me - one of Frodo and Company’s instances of respite on their way to Rivendell. These breaks always included delicious food, by the way. Yet it never occurred to me to seriously question who Tom really was.

Later when I started reading ancillary material, I saw that people took Tom’s true nature more seriously that I did. They had interesting theories and speculations. Tolkien’s frustrating answer was that Tom was an old fictional character if his, and he wanted to include him in the growing story. And he wanted to give the hobbits an adventure on their way.

It also seems like Tolkien had the idea of the Old Forest being a relict of a greater primeval forest. Elrond talks about this vast forest at the great Council. Having put Tom in the story, it seems like Tolkien had to figure out other things about Tom’s history in Middle Earth. After all, it was a story that “grew in the telling.”

As far as inclusion in the movie, I saw the wisdom in not including Tom. Though the absence of the Barry’s Downs meant that tTim didn’t (perhaps presciently) gifted the hobbits with their blades of lineage and magic. Merry helped Eowyn kill the Witch King with one of these blades. In the movie, Aragorn has been carrying around little swords for the hobbits, which was necessary due to the omission of Tom and the Barrows.

I conclude with the question: Why does everyone ask about who Tom is and not Goldberry. She is equally if not more mysterious.

All comments from YouTube:

dlseller

45w↑585

It’s worth mentioning that Tom isn’t completely separate from main narrative. Eowyn didn’t slay the witch-king by herself. He was first stabbed by Merry with a knife crafted years before specifically to break the witch-kings evil spells. That knife was taken from the barrow and given to Merry by Tom.

Steven Schroeder

45w↑126

Wasn't he mentioned too in the Council of Elrond, briefly as an option to keep the ring safe, and idea that was immediately discarded because Tom would be just as likely to lose track of it, as he would to keep it safe.

Paul Gillespie

44w↑66

Indeed. Seeing Tom reduced to Aragorn saying "Here are these knives" at Weathertop was disappointing

Roberto Gatti

44w↑37

@Steven SchroederTom is the only living being on which the ring has no power, so he would forget it and loose it.

valhoundmom

44w↑29

Yes, that is completely true, not Tom, no slain wraith. Because it was said he could not be killed by man and neither Merry nor Eowyn was a " man"..
I always loved how Tolkien just had these little things that became big things later.

richard clark

44w↑13

Exactly, when she said Tom doesn't advance the narrative I wondered what book she read. 3 things came to my mind almost instantly.

37 More Replies...

Preston Opp

45w↑46

Originally I was really disappointed that he wasn’t included in the movies, but with more consideration I’m glad they didn’t. I think for a screen adaptation they would have needed to make a decision as to how he should be interpreted, which would have killed the magic of his character. He was always my favorite and I love that he is an enigma.

David P.

39w↑2

I was the same way. After I thought about it Tom really didn't have much of anything to do with the story. Of course, he did save the Hobbits from the Wrights and the old tree.

RobBCactive

38w↑1

Reading takes far longer than watching, having another horror and unexpected rescue, followed by a safe break adds to the possibilities in the world.
A film, even a long one has to focus and cannot afford what is essentially a digression.
They do use Willow to introduce Trebeard, the Ents are similarly ancient powers but inactive.

K S

37w↑1

I wanted him cut and was glad they did it. I love The Eldest, but he doesn't advance the narrative at all, he's super confusing and mysterious, and nothing, from his look to his dialogue, translates well to film. Not to mention at this point they are just beginning to build up the power and lure of the Ring. Having Tom just casually dismiss it would destroy that.... and rather than listening to morons say "WhY dIdN't ThEy JuSt FlY tHeRe On ThE eAgLeS!" we'd also have to hear the same idiots asking "Why not just give it to that forest pimp dude from earlier?"

A

43w↑2

He’s the wise grandfather who’s unaffected by your situation and your journey, his journeys are over and he’s unable to help you, but he’s always there by your side, a mental safe haven, like a song that gives you hope. Songs can’t be killed, just unplayed.

Johannes Gnocchi

46w↑328

I like how when Tolkien gets asked questions about his work, he always answers as if he had not written them himself but rather as if he was telling us about a story he has heard at a point

Robert Schneider

46w↑16

Yeah it’s called The Holy Bible, many of Tolkien’s writings are influenced by The Holy Bible and even other writings like Homers Iliad, The Odyssey, or even Viking Norse mythologies. Tolkien was a Christian so it’s no surprise that you see themes of faith, friendship, loyalty, perseverance, and self sacrifice in a world of his own creation.

All My Friends Are Meme! :D

45w↑34

@Robert Schneider Not one single human ever thought of these types of things before someone invented religion. :D

Gib59er

45w↑19

Yes. Tolkien , when responding to letters speaks to the people like he is pondering on the same questions he is asked about. Like a man wondering about a true history. He invites you in and speaks as if he is right there with you posing guesses and trying to find a real truth or history. He NEVER is "the professor " with fans. He is one of the fans. As far as Bombadil, I think I know exactly what is going on. I will never know if I am right, or if there even IS a right or wrong to it. Iarwain Ben-adair, (sp?) Eldest and fatherless, is his name to the Elves. He is a being that the oldest Elves have known from their own awakening under the stars in Lake Cuivienen, in the age of The Lamps. He holds a Power my brother. What that power is , I think was great at one time. By the Third Age it has removed from all else save his tiny nook of the world by the Old Forest, and he will not pass that border willingly. He has turned his back on the wide world.

Phil W

45w↑7

@Robert Schneider If Tom Bombadil is connected to the bible he could be the god that created the first things and then stepped back. So he is or was immensely powerful, but nowadays he gave up, doesn't use or lost his power. Instead he is stil around to observe and live with his creation.

Robert Schneider

45w↑1

@All My Friends Are Meme! :D Can you prove your claim? Show me the proof.

11 More Replies...

K S

37w↑2

"Don't you know my name yet? That's the only answer." I love that line so much lol and it tells us that Tom truly unique. He's not a nature spirit or a Maia or an elf or man, those races all have names... there is only one Tom, so his answer to "What are you?" is always Tom Bombadil.

Paul Komarek

46w↑92

Somewhere I recall Tom explaining that Frodo cannot become invisible to him using The Ring because The Ring has no power over him (Tom). This helped me understand that not seeing Frodo might be a command from The Ring, rather than a change to Frodo. This video made me ponder whether all of The Ring's power stems from everyone's (except Tom) desire for power.

Jeffris (Suspicious Manifold)

45w↑9

That comment about Bombadil and the ring being irrelevant to him comes from Gandalf during the Council of Elrond chapter, when the question is raised whether they could give it to Bombadil. :)

LIFE… with Yogiji

43w↑8

I like that idea. It darkens the whole narrative even more.

occam raiser

43w↑5

In Tolkien's world age was power. That fact-oid was put in to demonstrate T.B.'s deep history and disconnection from the issues even of the pretty damn ancient Sindar (Elves).

TyroPirate

43w↑14

The ring is able to put the wearer into the “wraith world”, or into the “unseen”. Things in the Unseen world are visible to others in the Unseen.…
That’s why the ring wraiths can see Frodo when he puts in the ring, and Frodo can see them clearly (instead of just that showy figure that they appear to be in the Seen world).

It seems more like Tom is in both the Seen and Unseen worlds at the same time? or he can clearly see both… ? or who knows… maybe he exists outside of both of them but projects himself? He just, IS

With you

42w↑1

I think Tom might be an unnamed Maiar or one of the unrecognized/lost blue Istari.

3 More Replies...

Richard B

47w↑725

Tom Bombadil is a truly ancient being who pre-dates most of the major events that occurred in Middle Earth; I place his coming roughly contemporaneous with the earliest accounts of Keith Richards.

Bill Grigg

47w↑32

Surely not that ancient!

Cyclingnerd Delux

47w↑8

Beautiful.😅😅

MicMc

47w↑4

The Worlds Most Elegantly Wasted Man.
They don't make 'em . . . . . . . . .

Xensonar

47w↑13

In the beginning there was Tom Bombadil, Keith Richards and Jesse Ventura.

Brian Ford-Coates

47w

Or Joe Biden.

25 More Replies...

nautifella

33w

Listening to you explain Tom Bombadil was just what I needed to hear on B-day.
I have subscribed for more moments that cut through the layer of protection I wear outside of my sphere.
(The Caterpillar) is a reincarnated English Lit teacher serving her time in hell grading poorly written, first year essays.
On your page she found a much needed respite from the drivel she normally encounters. Complete sentences, flowing prose, a line, a phrase.
Deliver her from her torment and let her stay and read your scripts.

Carlo M. Marcello

45w↑116

It's incredible. I have been part of this fandom for so long, and I clicked on this video expecting to hear the same old things I've heard and read countless times. I am so pleasently surprised. Your view on it was interesting and your way of expressing it was so passionate and natural.
You made me wanna read the books again.
Thank you. I have just subscribed and cannot wait to see more content from you.

4ThLineManiac

44w

Agree and perhaps a virtual walk of the Malvern Hills which Tolkien Based Weather Top on would be interesting?

HaykoSchmidt

44w

Same here 😁

Clockwork Thoughts

42w↑2

While many people find the Tom Bombadil section of the Fellowship to be kind of pointless, I have always enjoyed it. Not necessarily because it does have some deep point, but simply because I find it enjoyable in and of itself. The hobbits' time in Bombadil's house has such cozy, ASMR vibes. It does feel like a break from the rest of the novel, a separate little corner of reality tucked away to the side, and I love things like that. It feels like you just get to take a break in this other world. And that kind of jives with everything that you said about Bombadil in this video? So, maybe that really is just the point. I kind of reject the notion that you get from so many critics (particularly film critics) that a work of fiction needs be lean and to the point, a work of stringent efficiency, where every single little thing must serve a greater purpose. It can be a little side note attached to the larger story, something that just expands the depth of the worldbuilding and can be enjoyed for its own sake (the way Bobadil himself enjoys everything for its own sake).

T S

34w

I agree. I could have spent weeks with Bombadil and Goldberry. When I read that section I can smell the rain.

Rory Bre

44w↑1

What a pleasant treat to run across your video tonight. It’s been over 40 years since my first encounter with Tom, as the hobbits seek refuge with him and Goldberry after their encounter with Old Man Willow, as they flee the Black Riders after leaving the Shire. I must have re-read those sections three or four times before proceeding with the story the first time through it. Of course Bombadil advances the LOTR plot. Beyond freeing them from the willow and the refuge he gives the hobbits from the Black Riders, he rescues them from the barrow-wight and gives Merry and Pippin the swords from the treasure hoard that they would carry into battle later In the story. Three times the story would have ended before it started without Tom’s intervention. He is dark, in his ancient and shape-shifty ways, but he is a classic “good” character in the story. Later, when we meet Radagast the Brown, for me it is Tom that helps me make sense of him, as they shared that deep connection to nature that makes me feel they are natural friends, made of a similar substance. A little long winded, but I was once a full time hobbit and you drew me in. Cheers!

Scott McLaughlin

46w↑33

I've always considered the character to represent how nature is neither good nor evil and is beyond the control of any power. I first read the books in the early 80s and I think your explanation is the most complete analysis I've come across. Well done!

4ThLineManiac

44w↑2

There is a great video lecture on ArchtypalView channel The Red Book and The Red Book,Jung,Tolkien,and the Convergence of Images on you tube.

Daniel Sank

44w↑4

I had the same interpretation, that Tom is Nature and hence entirely uninterested in the ring.

intzbk1

43w↑2

At first I thought he was one of the wizards sent over along with Gandalf, the blue wizards, etc but years later after re-reading the story I came to the conclusion that he and Goldberry were like nature made manifest. Goldberry reminded me of a daughter of Gaia archtype and Tom the manifestation of the power of nature in a neutral way.

The Real James Pickering

47w↑230

I have always loved the fact that Tolkien seemed not to know a lot of what happened in Middle Earth; almost like it was a history he had studied extensively, rather than a story he had created.

The Real James Pickering

46w↑26

@stephen Laing My comment said that he created the story, not that he invented everything himself.

dimwoo

46w↑15

Deliberately done for effect. His middle-earth has misty borders that fade out, hinting at unknown lands beyond. He constantly hints at and lets us glimpse things we barely understand or know little of to create the impression of vast spaces and deep histories.
Outside of the Lord of the Rings and the Silmarillion he left a large number of other essays and stories concerning middle-earth (all of which are in the History of Middle-Earth books), often in different modes of poetry or prose, some fully worked out and others incomplete or just snippets; and he did so consciously to mirror the way the literature of old lost cultures, like anglo-saxon or old Norse, has been lost and/or preserved in real life i.e. tantalising fragments that give us part of a lost whole, or works that regularly reference others that no longer exist.

JustWasted3HoursHere

46w↑6

As a matter of fact that's not far off from what really happened. That is, Tolkien spent a good deal of time writing the "bible" for Middle Earth before writing the stories themselves. Much of this has been published posthumously by his son. Anyway, it makes for a very detailed world that almost seems real. He even created the full elven language: He was a linguist by trade after all, and there are actually people in the world who can speak it fluently.

Jarl William

46w↑6

@stephen Laingost of the spiritual and theological framework of Tolkien comes from his very own Christian faith. It has mythological and Norse pagan tropes but bent toward a Christian world view.

Tom Bombadil, Ungoliant, the Nameless things where all created by Eru the one and only God of Tolkien’s Legendarium.

That is they aren’t just random spirits that came into being but where deliberately created by Eru.

The Lion's Share

46w↑6

@stephen Laing and let's not forget his best friend, C.S Lewis, who provided an enthusiastic encouragement, as well as many, many conversations about mythology, theology, and philosophy.

4 More Replies...

Danny Dowling

33w

The idea that Tom was a way out from the obligation that the hobbits felt as they had this impending doom of what they should do. That, in war, often countries are in a similar circumstance and Tolkien believed that bravery was in doing the thing needed. That’s how I see Tom. An escapist opportunity.

Carsonian The Great

45w↑2

I’ve heard a very convincing theory that Tom Bombadil is a loose allegory for the Pre-Incarnate Logos (God the Son). This makes a lot of sense when you factor in Tolkien’s devout Catholicism and his understanding of Eru’s creation through music

Allison Gliot

46w↑36

I almost wonder if Tolkien himself is asking Tom who he is through the mouth of Frodo—he feels like one of those characters who makes his way into the story and has a will of his own regardless of the author’s plans.

Electric Rune Games

43w

Tom is Tolkien.

Fortescue Gimlet

43w

Fortescue Gimlet

43w

@Electric Rune Games BS

Electric Rune Games

43w

@Fortescue Gimlet Incorrect.

Fortescue Gimlet

43w

@Electric Rune Games Tolkien was an Oxford Professor who would at no time have seen himself as a prancing Bombadil.

3 More Replies...

Bennyboy087

42w↑7

I loved Tolkien's writing for that very reason. Not everything or everyone needs to have an ultimate purpose and sometimes a mystery give it long legs and eternal life for people to ponder about long after the author is gone. Tolkien's writing was like how his experiences were like in real life: You get separated in battle, where are your friends now? What are they feeling? And sometimes, some people you meet briefly in life, you never see them again. That's not bad writing, that's life. Tom is a mystery and I think that mystery give the book charm and realism rather than all the characters needing to be pieces that fit neatly into a final picture of a grand puzzle.

T S

34w

This! So different to cunningly contrived plots where every piece will come back in its appointed time. Tolkien's pieces have their own agendas which the reader may never know and half the time I don't think he did either. Unique work.

adam davidson

46w↑32

I saw some video essay somewhere that Tom is the embodiment of Joy in that he is pervasive in the moment but is easily forgotten about when not in it. He also helps to remind us that even when things appear to be at there darkest, light and joy can still be found even in a small pocket. The Essayist went on to say that this was what Tolkien wanted to convey when choosing to place him in the story

Edo Pronk

45w↑5

I like this.
Better than the idea that he would be Eru or Tolkien himself.
An untouchable concept personified is what I experience with Tom, and Joy is a good candidate.

adam davidson

44w

I believe the video is: Who is Tom Bombadil by In Deep Geek for those interested

occam raiser

43w

I disagree. I think it was just a bit of fluff in a period when he was writing before WW II and he was basically still in a 'the hobbit' mindset rather than a WW II holocaust mindset - like most of the rest of the book.

1 More Replies...

Palomita

47w↑353

Tom Bombadil makes me think of an all-knowing nature spirit. He reminds me of a Green Man of sorts. To me Tom Bombadil symbolizes the natural world and English countryside of old that Tolkien wrote about so beautifully in the Lord of the Rings. Both him and Goldberry are unchanging natural forces in a world that Tolkien saw changing rapidly after the horrors of World War Two. He is a force uncorrupted by greed and hate. He is a force that in unexplainable, above good and evil. When I feel sad I like to imagine myself as a tiny hobbit in Tom Bomadil's house learning about the lore of the world and eating delicious dinner with small forest animals -- my cottage core dreams.

Jess of the Shire

47w↑28

I think that's definitely an aspect of the character! Tolkien loved the natural world so much.

TheAlamadu

47w↑17

I was coming to say something similar. He is nature and isn't bothered with humans or elves or their Gods. Not that he is bad in anyway. He's just so big and primal that humans are insignificant. He couldn't even benefit from the ring because he doesn't want anything. He just is.

kingbeauregard

47w↑28

Palomita

47w↑2

@kingbeauregard Hah hah, that is brilliant!

Yggdra sild

47w↑4

Tolkien was a heathen at heart.

28 More Replies...

Yu-ger-bloob-highway

45w↑18

I love the idea that he is Eru Iluvatar in a form just randomly offering encouragement, wisdom and JUST the items the fellowship needs to be successful. I mean without his gifts, they would not have gotten as far and even the armies of man would have fallen to the Witch King of Angmar if not for the blade wielded by Mary. I know it’s probably not accurate, but I enjoy the idea that The One takes forms of enigmatic characters providing help to guide.

K S

37w

Tolkien never said what Tom was, but he did say what he wasn't, and one of those things he wasn't was Eru Illuvatar. Its a fun theory though.

The Lost Wanderer

43w↑1

Great video. In my Lord of the Rings podcast episode, I delved into Tom a bit. I truly believe the importance of the Ring having no impact on him was a vital lesson that many did not pick up on. To know there is a power, even greater than the control of Middle Earth, was an important lesson for the 'ignorant' hobbits. There are so many aspects of the impact of Tom Bombadil that are left unexplored. Besides Farimir, Tom is my favorite character.

James Morton

46w↑35

There is a line in the first book. During the council of Elrond. One of the Elves suggest that Tom could take the ring and hide it. Gandalf basically explains why it would a terrible idea. The he drops the line that Tom would the "Last to fall, just as he was the first to rise" - It begs the question as to who Tom is. My thought was that he was some aspect of Middle Earth itself. We know Gandalf goes to see Tom when he parts ways with the hobbits at the end. He is very vague about what they spoke about. Tolkien just left it there for us to ponder and wonder.

LegoMaster91

45w↑3

I ones heard a theory that Tom Bombadill is actually the creator, Eru Ilúvatar, in a form of that looks that of a man. While it has some potential, I'm not entirely convinced of this either. Maybe it is as the saying goes. "Some mysteries are better left unsolved."

MrBlaktoe

45w↑7

The ring has no meaning to Tom. He would be just as likely to leave it on the ground somewhere as anything else.

Penultimate H

45w

Vala.

Travis Doomguide of Kelemvor

45w↑4

It’s also possible that Tom IS Middle Earth in an Avatar form.

Jonny Blamey

44w↑3

I think he was one of those who sung world into being. A metaphysics Tolkien shared with Moondog, the world is song made flesh.

1 More Replies...

Etienne Porras

43w↑1

This is by far the best answer to this question I have ever heard. This is truely marvelous, and honestly brought a tear to my eye.

Markus Robinson

46w↑21

When asked why he had placed Bombadil in the Lord of the Rings, Tolkien responded that he was not sure (for many of the reasons you articulate RE pushing the story forward), but that he had felt compelled to include him in the Trilogy. Other Tolkien analysts have cast Bombadil as the spirit of nature, Eru Illúvatar, personification of the Song of Creation, Tolkien himself, etc. I found your approach compelling and refreshing (and so you got one of my rather rare subscriptions). The only thing I would add, is that I don't find Bombadil inconsistent with the comprehensive world Tolkien creates in his works of Middle Earth. At the same time as most of us are (like Gandalf) stones doomed to rolling, Bombadil is Tolkien's reminder that the world outside of our (puny) concerns is all around us and continues on (with or without us choosing to be aware of it.)

Tommy Roc

42w

As a child, I used to find him a wistful & eternal wizard of sorts. As I grew older, I found him to be a wise sage within the whole story arc that seems part of the whole. These days...as I grew wiser & read more Tolkien works; I saw Tom Bombadil as a character within the story who was a personification of JRR Tolkien himself...as he wrote his story.🤔😎

Hardcore "Ringer" here🤓

canoli 62

47w↑69

I think Tom does two other things that many overlook.

First he introduces the Hobbits and the reader for the first time to the truth that as big as their struggle seems, as powerful as the elves and men and wizards and dragons and black riders and even Sauron seem, the world holds greater wonders. This is both the simple truth that you mention briefly, about nature and the world itself being bigger than the wars of Middle Earth, and also the grand truth that Tolkien's fantasy world is one of gods and eternal powers that are well beyond the comprehension of most involved in this story. While we can also read the appendices and the Silmarilion, in the course of the story, Tom is the introduction to all of this.

Tom is also Tolkien breaking the fourth wall and reaching into the story to remind a young reader that the terrors of this story don't signify worrying over. He is the grandfather in the Princess Bride stopping mid sentence to say that Buttercup won't be eaten by eels. He is that moment when you are telling ghost stories around a fire that you step back and make a joke to break the tension. It drives me crazy when people categorize Tom as extraneous or unimportant to the story. This role is crucial.

Derrick Claar

45w↑8

I like the way you present this and your way of looking at it. I've always felt something very similar. Gandalf and Sauron for me were always the two sides of the Yin and Yang, and Bombadil was the line in between. Not unmoving, but definitely at the interface between the active, opposites.

Kim Horton

36w↑1

I read the Fellowship in 1965 when I was in School in New Mexico. I thought Gandalf was weary, tired of fighting and struggling. When, at the end of the Return of the King he told his hobbit friend he was going to have a long talk with Tom Bombadill, I was happy for him to be able to set his toils to the side and sit with someone who didn’t see him as a force of nature but a person who had carried a great weight for a long time.

Serai3

46w↑2

If they could have gotten Tom into the movies, the perfect performer would have been Robin Williams.

SKI

41w

Tom brings music to the world. Granted this is different from the music of the Ainur but his message is one of happiness, that joy and gaiety can chase away the shadows, which he demonstrates eloquently with his actions with Old Man Willow and the barrow wights. The Lord of the Rings Online game takes this concept further with the idea that music can heal the body as well as the mind.

J Graves

46w↑11

This is the best analysis of his thematic function in the story I've heard yet, and it gives a solid reason why he does contribute a lot to the story's themes, even if he isn't as plot important
And I will say though i have no idea how to categorize bombadil within a hard worldvuilding framework in the context of LOTR fandom, I can give a good guess about what he seems to have been to Tolkien: a pre-existing but beloved OC, that was likely deeply meaningful to him (if only for his thematic elements) that he couldn't resist inserting into this more solidified and serious story. I write only for fun despite an English degree, but I've done more or less the same in stories with my characters. I have an enigmatic wood god that frequently appears in my stories, who is inspired by the god pan as depicted in wind in the willows mixed with my own experiences playing alone in the woods as a young child, and those who see him have a mystical experience and feel both fear and awe, and feel like a frightened animal and a sage seeing beyond the pale. And anytime this horned god can be slotted into my stories, a manifestation of him will inevitibly appear, simply bc he captures something about nature and life that I haven't been able to grapple with or represent as directly or meaningfully through any other means. I imagine Bombadil could be similar to Tolkien, and (barring all else) Tom being a part of the LOTR world takes him from being a whimsical figure that could exist anywhere and anywhen to being a mysterious but canonical part of LOTR lore, slotted vaguely into its history and world

Penn Taylor

43w↑1

Ah, someone else who sees The Piper at the Gates of Dawn in Bombadil's character! I see both as representing direct contact with The Mystery of life. Even the gods of Tolkien's world have a mechanistic, cause-and-effect existence, but Tom Bombadil simply *is*.

Frogger

47w↑141

The first time I read the part where Gandalf says he is going to have a talk with Bombadil like he's never had in his time it really filled me with joy and I cried some happy tears. The fact that Gandalf has such simple plans after their victory over Sauron and just intends to go have a chat with a character I had almost forgotten about after the epic tale that unfolded after the Hobbits left the Old Forest, somehow really tickled me and is to this day (about 20 years later) still one of my favorite parts of the books.

dain6492

46w

That made you cry, jesus

Frogger

46w↑9

@dain6492 yeah? Couple of tears of joy? So?

Edo Pronk

45w↑1

I agree with you, it's a great moment. After all that happened, a well deserved rest.

Lillia53

43w↑3

@dain6492I hate how some people get joy from diminishing other peoples feelings. There must be something ugly inside them. My hope is that they will find the reason and become better persons one day.

Jon Hummel

45w↑5

I always believed Tom was simply his own master and because of that, can control his domain but never leaves it. I would have loved to have Yom Bombadil in the movies because that also means we see the barrow wights.

JHS Savedby grace

41w

Tom is absolutely important to the epic story. A moss point that exemplifies peace and quiet, a refuge from the noise of the world, from the terror and fears, from the flowing of time itself. We all need a refuge of Peace itself.

free4fire

46w↑14

Tom has always been such a fun character to theorize about, my personal theory is that he and his little realm were actually created by Eru Ilúvatar himself when Eru showed the Ainur how to make the music to create the world and living beings.
Tom has traits of both Elves and Men so I believe the Ainur took inspiration from him when creating those two races.
And for me it also explains as to why the ring had no effect on him (besides the ring being created by a clearly lesser being), or as to why he has so little interest in the happenings of the world, he simply wasn't really planned to be part of hit as he was not created alongside.
And him saying that he was there before the first stone makes also sense here, if Eru first showed the Ainur how to create life by creating Tom, than he would have been there before the creation of Arda and thus be "the eldest".

Michael Cooper

45w↑2

The Ainur did not create elves and men. They were created directly by Iluvatar. The Dwarves were created by a member of the Ainur but Iluvatar did not allow them to "awaken" till the elves had.

free4fire

45w↑2

@Michael Cooper True, I've worded what I wanted to say it kinda badly.
Because from what I remember Eru instructed the Ainur to create elves and men but they still helped to sing/play them into existence following Eru's lead (might be wrong on this one though).
Either way my headcanon still works since Iluvatar did show them how to create the music before they all went on to create Arda and the races in it.
It also works in the sense that if we consider Eru to be a kind of stand in for Tolkien himself that he would create Tom before anything else since in real life the character of Tom also existed before the rest of the legendarium. :)

Kevin Hatry

45w↑1

Wesley Bateman

46w↑1

Tom Bombadil is one of my favorite characters! I just learned so much!
I would love to see that seen in a new updated animated version. Ralph Bakshi’s animated adaptation is what got me interested in the Lord of the Rings and the world Tolkien created; however, it’s a dated. If someone was to make a new animated series they could probably capture his character.

Ivor O'Shea

47w↑360

I think there is an additional aspect to Tom's character : as a very practical plot device.

Yes, his chapter with the hobbits has an air of deep unreality and even whimsy that's tonally way out of sorts with the slow-burning fuse of dread present throughout The Fellowship of The Ring. However, later in the Council of Elrond, Gandalf and Elrond very logically and matter-of-factly debate the pros and cons of giving The Ring to Tom. They come to a clear and blunt conclusion it would be a bad plan. To me, this is Tolkien spelling out to readers that - despite the vast complexity of Middle Earth and the awesome supernatural powers of some of its inhabitants - there simply is no 'deus ex machina' available that can neatly dispose of The Ring. Instead, the only viable path forward is one of immense risks, tragic losses and highly uncertain reward. By taking the time and patience to flesh out such a potential 'deus ex machina' earlier in the story (and paying a price in terms of breaking the narrative and tone of the story), Tolkien's subsequent dismissal of this potential plot outcome is all the more real and jarring to readers. Very few writers would take such a storytelling gamble - but that's why he's JRR Tolkien.

Jess of the Shire

47w↑80

Wow, this is a fantastic point! I hadn't thought of that, thanks so much for sharing.

Alan Beaumont

47w↑34

The point is made that to Bombadil the Ring was irrelevant; his magic isn't connected with that wielded by the forces of light and darkness, his is the force of nature itself, without ego.

Oojimaflip

47w↑53

The central motif of the Lord of the Rings is that "some weapons CANNOT be used for any cause". The act of using them destroys the cause itself.
Tom IS nature. The One Ring is quite literally useless to him; Nature needs no weapons. Tom is just as likely to leave the Ring somewhere as he is to place it on his Wife's finger.
I respectfully also suggest that Part Time Hobbit is quite wrong about Tolkien's view on nature; He spent a lot of time in rural Birmingham ensconced in nature and ever fearful of the damaging effects of industrialisation - another fairly central theme to LotR. To claim that nature was as alien as outer space to Tolkien is preposterous!
Sincerely - A Full Time Hobbit.
(An Englishman and a Worcestershire man)

Major Malfunction

47w↑22

I believe he is somewhat of a self-insert. But it's also an important step in the hero's journey. It is a moment of peace and refection before the main struggle, allowing the heroes time to rest, to realise what it is they are fighting for, and to gather the resolve and fortitude to go forth. He literally arms them with the weapons they'll need to succeed.

A. Van Toor

47w↑8

...and then the birds came.

30 More Replies...

Li-la-lo Meyutar

43w

I really enjoyed this.
Your background is lovely and interesting, so I don't mind the lighting.
Your description of the control issues, of good and evil, is great. Thought provoking. Indeed, Bombadil's stance, on knowledge and control of his environment, is very existential.
Thank you for this video!

Matthew Olwell

45w

I think an “Adventures of Tom Bombadil” animated spinoff would be the best way to explore his character further. He’s too whimsical to adapt easily to the visual and storytelling style that the films and show have used thus far, but an animated series could make space for musical numbers, humor, weird one-off subplots, etc.

voodoochild1975az

45w↑4

This is by far the best interpretation of Tom I have heard. Others take it to literal, is Maiar etc....

You cut right through to the truth what Tolkien was saying with this character and why this odd adventure even exists within and outside of the narrative.

Of all the explanations I've heard or read, this has been the best.

dbateman

44w

I definitely missed seeing Tom Bombadil in the movies. I found a lot of Fellowship of the Ring looked even better than my imagination while reading the books. So seeing Tom would have been a treat, if he could indeed be portrayed decently in a movie. I would see the scene as both pastoral and frantic, him bouncing about and befuddling the hobbits. The songs could work if they were accompanied by enough visual delights to keep the audience entertained.

Michael Darmody

46w↑1

I recall when I read LOTR back in college and decided that Tom Bombadil was actually the most interesting character in the book. He alone was not caught up in the struggle for Power, whether Good or Evil. I was impressed that the Ring of Power had no effect on him and I seem to remember that Frodo was both amazed and alarmed by this. I thought that maybe this is Tolkien's version of God. Or, if not God exactly, then the personification of Life itself or something like that. Sauron is portrayed as the embodiment of Evil but there is no equivalent counter character of Good (right?), and is still a created being, not a god, right? (as a non-Tolkien academic I don't know all of the other characters and stories affiliated with LOTR so others may know better than me). So, maybe Tom is Good (God)? The counter to Evil is not necessarily a warrior figure but someone/something not interested in power. More like a Buddha than a Jesus? Reminds me of passage from NT - He causes the sun to shine on the good and bad alike....Anyway.... I also wish that the movies had featured him because it would have been a useful counter to the premise of the story, this apparently existential struggle for power, whether for good or evil.

Stella Shepherd

44w

When I first read LOTR when I was 13 I had a similar feeling about Tom Bombadil. I had also already been reading The Chronicles of Narnia for years and sort of melded the stories in my mind. Tom Bombadil seemed to me like the soul of Middle Earth who had been there first and
and was intimately connected to nature while the hobbits, humans, elves and dwarves were outsiders, maybe even newcomers compared to Tom, playing out their dramas in his world and he was just an observer outside and beyond all that drama and striving.

Josh J

46w↑202

There are a lot of interesting theories on who Tom is: spirit of nature, Eru Illúvatar, or even Tolkien himself. I've always liked the idea of Tom being the Song of Creation personified. He was before all things and understands creation because he was a part of it being made. Either way, its pretty dope that Tolkien left something that would never be fully explained.

Stanislav Kostarnov

46w↑15

My theory also hold to Tom being the Song of Creation,
but, not so much personified, as a medium by which it can enter into the world... not a moving stone (which is action), but the gatherer of moss, through whom the theories take hold into the world,
he consorts with Goldberry, who is the crystalized personification/avatar of life that's within nature, but himself, he is beyond time and even living...
he understands creation not because he was part of it being made (though he was), but because understanding is his nature, he understands nature in thesame way fish understand swimming, in thesame way we breath...
Aidh fa Vm'naes Mn'ningvlo!

Mandy Flame

46w↑7

My personal take too. We first meet Tom as a song.

Fausto Faria

46w↑8

In Letters, Tolkien said he is not Erú, if Im not mistaken.

Hulda Herna

46w↑3

The Bunagaya spirits of red hair might have connection to this

stolenlaptop

46w↑2

Tom was a character he created before LOTR and he just stuck him in the story

17 More Replies...

Grant Sears

45w↑11

I like that you circled back to the ending where Gandalf talks of speaking with Bombadil, too few do, but I haven't ever heard anyone ever talk about his departure from the Hobbits and his return in their time of need, summoned and yet not summoned to drive away and destroy the wights in the barrows.
Even as a representation of nature, a "moss gatherer," he is still an agent of change.

Dorit Bergen

38w

One of the things that draws me into Middle Earth so deeply is the glimpse we get of how much there is to this world, not all of which is explained. I appreciate that Bombadil is only tangential to the plot line. It's like our primary world, where almost nothing is neatly tied up.

Star Dust

45w↑3

the fact that he was part of the storyline was enough like a meditation in some ways it acentuates the story by not rushing along with it and pulls us back like a rubber band flinging us back in with a rush toodles !

Martin Wilson

43w

I’ve always thought of Tom Bombadil as a representation of nature itself. This explains why he would be older than elves, indifferent to the ring of power, yet ultimately vulnerable to a lust for it, as we see outside mythology that lust for control has absolutely no qualms with destroying nature. It also explains Elrond’s foretelling that while Tom could unknowingly protect the ring for awhile, he would ultimately be destroyed by the pursuit of it. And why Tom would of course be husband to another representation of nature in the River daughter.

Patraic

45w↑14

I've always taken Tom as the last glimpse of the creation of Arda. A Maia almost as old as Arda itself woven into the tapestry of the world when the world was becoming in the song of the Valar and a part of that song as well.

Diego Rodríguez

44w

nope, not a Maiar for two reasons: the ring has no power on him and he was on Arda before the Valar and Mair

Patraic

44w↑2

@Diego Rodríguez Was he? I've no reason to think that he was there before them. A being who was in the chorus that refined Eru's song is more likely.

Tibor Bulanyi

44w

@Diego Rodríguez I doubt that the ring would have any power over Eonwe either. Arda was created but the Valar and Maia still had to enter the world to make the trees, rivers and bend the seas. For Example, Melkor created the Misty Mountains. Considering that the topic is the one ring, the darkness would be a reference to Sauron. Oldest and Fatherless? Compared to whom? Are we to take that line literally? It's unclear. If he was older than Arda, why doesn't he claim to be older than the stars which Varda placed? In my opinion, Tom is a Maiar.

Pasquale Sorrentino

44w↑4

Yes he is a maia ! For your infos it is writting in the books of I C E for merp games in the 80 s !!! He is THE maia of earth and his wife a maia of water ! And the ring has no power on him simply because Sauron, who create it, he s less powerful than him in comparison !

AndyTheCornbread

47w↑11

I read the book to my kids when they were young and the movies came out later and the first thing my kids asked after seeing the movie was "Where was Tom Bombadil?" and for years until they were much older they didn't like the movie because Tom wasn't in it. They like it now that they are grown but they still vastly prefer the books as there is too much missing from the movies for their taste, especially Tom Bombadil. Because, he was hands down their favorite part of the book when I first read it to them.

Crossharp

41w

Thank you! for the insights into Bombadil found in letters 144 & 153. He was a nonsequitur to me. Now I see how he fits in the moral debate that frames the whole work. Abandoning strife for power and control (egotism), makes our lives joyous. It's ancient wisdom. All the characters and situations deal with these issues throughout the legendarium.

florian79fg

44w↑6

You're interpretation gave me goose bumps and almost made me cry! Brilliant! Love it and the whole presentation! And I'm a 43 year old man running a business. Shows that Tolkien's genius is still relevant in this age!

cargilekm

46w↑1

I am new to this young lady, I love her enthusiasm of the subject. I fell for the world of Tolkien 50 years ago and would have loved to find a woman that loved it as much as she does. I subscribed to see more of her take on this subject. Thankyou and Cheers

YourXavier

43w

Old Tom Bombadil, he was a merry fellow. Bright blue his jacket was and his boots were yellow.
The poems of Tolkien are rather underrated. There's a lot of good stuff there.

Robert Easton

46w↑1

Thank you for this thoughtful and delightful video. Tom Bombadil has long been a favorite character of mine. I think, if he ever were to be adapted to the screen, it would need to be in a TV / streaming service series where time could be allowed to slow down to focus on him for an episode or two. I agree that he wouldn't have fit in the flow of the movie adaptation.

1dullgeek

47w↑108

I remember the first time I read Fellowship. And I was comforted that Tom Bombadil existed. I liked the idea that there was something which the evil of the world couldn't infect. I get why Jackson left him out of the movies, but I also really missed him. The movies were way more dread than hope - which obviously struck a chord with viewers. But I liked knowing that Tom existed.

The Lion's Share

47w↑22

Years before, I had always pictured Tom Bombadil being played by Robin Williams.

Presidion11 Guy

47w↑5

@The Lion's Share Oh, wow. You are correct. That could have been brilliant.

Michael Randall

47w↑4

I thought it to be such weak sauce that Jackson left Tom out of the movie. Somehow make AN ENTIRE MOVIE out of an appendage but completely avoid a major presence from the book. Oh well...

Boomer Dell

47w↑4

Superbly said! I had that same response to the character as soon as I encountered him for the first time when I read the books, and my admiration for and fascination with him grew as I finished the trilogy. That he and Goldberry could exist peacefully and fruitfully completely unaffected by all the forces whirling around them...I just loved that image.

Matthew Sands

47w↑4

@The Lion's Share I always thought Brian Blessed would have been perfect. But I can see Robin Williams doing it justice too

7 More Replies...

Lazy Jester

44w

Very astutely explored topic. The older I get the more I realise that Tom is not a mystery but a pause for reflection. He needs not and wants not, he is completely fulfilled and unimpeded by regrets. He simply enjoys and apreciates being in the moment. Why would he be concerned about anything else? Even the end of his own existance could not rob him of what he achieved.

knotsbygordion

40w

Tom is whole in and of himself. He uses music to interact with the world. He understands and curbs the dangerous aspects of nature, (Old Man Willow) but does not harm them. He exerts Authority over the unnatural, (the Wight) and annihilates it. From the song he sings, it indicates casting it into the Outer Dark. He does not leave his small space, as if not claim authority over the free peoples. For my efforts at figuring it out, Tom is an incarnation of Illuvitar himself, and Goldberry that of Arda.

An Erudite Adventure

46w↑2

There’s been a lot of Tom Bombadil videos made this year, and I love it. Tom is such a wonderful character, and feels so out of place in many ways, but the more you learn about Tolkien and his works, the more he fits perfectly. Great video.
-T

craigvdodge

44w

I think the fact that Tom doesn’t fall into a neat preexisting category with LOTR is part of his charm. He’s not Maiar, Valar, Eldar or Man. He’s this loose thread that makes the story more interesting and a little more believable because everything isn’t wrapped up exactly so.

Matt C

46w↑5

Great sources : ) Good take! I'm convinced Tolkien had Tom in mind for the LotR, and by the time he wrote them through Moria, he realized he had gone beyond the Faerie world of Tom, and that he left Tom in the story to make sure that we all know it's ultimately a faerie story. This helps the reader to know that the horrors in bree, Weathertop, Moria, Isengard, and Mordor, will ultimately end well. It keeps us from feeling those traumatic events too heavily, and always look ahead to a good ending. At least that's where I am with him : )

The Davidtollah

47w↑5

If Tom is as old as he says he is, he is either Eru or one of his creations. Not a Valar, but possibly as powerful. But it seems Gandalf considered him an equal. When he speaks of Bombadil, there is respect, but not reverence. He considers Tom an old friend, not a mentor or a superior. This would point to him being a Maiar, possibly one of the first beings to enter world before its shaping by the Valar. This could also explain his profound knowledge of the world and all that's in it - he was there, observing, at its shaping. There may have never been any other resident of Middle Earth with such knowledge (as the Elves had not yet been awakened, and the Valar never permanently dwelled there).

Frog Butts

46w

Maiar are affected by the ring though. Tom is not. Whatever the nature of his power is, he clearly is not at the same level of Maiar, he is something else entirely.

Lemuria GameDev

46w

Or it could be that even Gandalf doesn't know who, exactly, Tom Bombadil is. That everyone asks who he is, but nobody even ATTEMPTS an answer - maybe it's exactly what she says at the end: It's not a question that is meant to be answered. He just is.

Cannock Chase Paranormal Investigations GayleTV

45w

I was born about a 100 metres from where Tolkien lived before he went off to Oxford, and I guess from the perspective of frequenting areas as a child like Sutton Park and more recently Cannock Chase, it's easy to imagine the difference between the ever evolving/moving landscape of concrete and steel in comparison to the static but alive forests and woods, and being out in those areas, feels like you are apart from the good or bad narrative of modern life in a place without agenda.

I love this video x

Concerned Citizen

44w

I think the parallel between Tom and Sam shouldn't be overlooked. Tom, a man of the woods and nature was utterly unaffected by the ring. Sam, a gardener and one whose personality was more grounded and simple in an uninsulting way, wasn't impervious to the ring, as it did make him invisible, but he was the only other character who touched and used the ring and was able to give it back without hesitation (in the book, that is). Yes, the phrase "he felt reluctant to give up the ring" but that's literally immediately followed by "and burden his master with it again." His reluctance, to my reading at least, isn't the ring having power over him, but rather his love for Frodo. I see a direct line between Tom and Samwise, in terms of their connections to nature and their lack of interest in controlling others. I think the movie suffered for that loss, and Tom could've been in the movie, at least in the extended version. Then again, those movies were insulting to the audience in so many other ways that i don't particularly care one way or the other, but I will always defend Tom's inclusion in the story.

Andrew Willmore

46w↑6

Great video. Tom has always been one of my favorite characters in Middle Earth, and I love his little interlude in the story. I do agree that it was a wise call not to include him in the movies for pretty much the reasons you outlined. But a part of me has always secretly wanted an adaptation of Tom as a giant Henson-style Muppet interacting with human actors, not unlike the Ghost of Christmas Present in Muppet Christmas Carol (who has always reminded me very much of Tom).

Edo Pronk

45w↑1

Oh yes! The Muppet Ghost of Christmas Present indeed!
That would somehow do my experience of Tom more justice than any human representation.

rmsgrey

44w

I was thinking animation - not Gollum-style realistic CGI, but a straight up cartoon, but a muppet hits a similar idea.

JM

45w↑1

Thanks for the video - I love the Bombadil chapter. and it’s so nice to hear you speak about him like this. I’ll look for your other videos :)

Mark Barlow

45w

I really enjoyed your thoughts here! Tom has always been one of my favorite characters. My feeling is that he is so ancient, powerful, and wise that he simply doesn’t care about conflict, power, and fear driven by insecurity and greed. Maybe Sauron is simply a playground bully to Bombadil. Which may explain why Sauron never went after him. Also that Bombadil had nothing that Sauron wanted.

Something that I feel many people don’t account for with Tolkien’s stories and characters is that he served in WWI. He witnessed the horrors of warfare. The fear, depravity, and rage against people you don’t even know driven by power mongers. It’s just a thought I have but I wonder if Bombadil was the exposition of a coping mechanism for Tolkien. An escape from the insanity of the world. A reference to our truest nature and who we all want to be. Or as master Yoda put it, “…not this crude matter. Luminous beings are we.”

We all want to live in peace. Maybe Bombadil is peace personified. Maybe he was put in the story and showed up when he did as a reminder that family, friendships and relationships are hugely important. Possibly he was an example to the hobbits as they moved forward on their dangerous adventure to remember whats important in life. Home… family… relationships… not hate and fear. Bilbo could have killed Gollum. And he didn’t. Sam could have abandoned Frodo. And he didn’t.

Eric Kelley

46w↑53

You wouldn't get this from watching the movies, but Tom DID advance the plot a little. It was when Tom rescued the Hobbits from the Barrow Wights that they came by the swords they used for defense throughout the rest of the story. It was one of those swords that Merri used to make the Witch-King vulnerable to Eowyn's fatal blow.

Thoronder

42w

I have always wondered why Tom Bombadil was in LOTR as he did not fit the narrative. Your explanation that he is an enigma that defies explanation is a brilliant concept that I had never considered.

Shortlivedglory

37w

To me, Tom represents a refuge in the midst of conflict. It's a break in the narrative, but it's also a break for the characters. This sort of thing can happen in real life. In the midst of horrors, we sometimes find a refuge and it can be tempting to get sucked into the world of the refuge. I'm reminded of events like the Christmas Truce. Sometimes in the midst of unimaginable turmoil, life gives us just enough of a break that we allow ourselves to forget for a moment the awful situation we find ourselves in.

demonscarecrow91

46w

I actually LOVE this video. I've seen so many videos and heard so many theories about Bombadil but you've provided information about Tolkien and by extension Tom Bombadil that I've never heard and I kind of feel like he makes sense now. Well done 👏👏👏

Morgana

44w

this is hands down the best analysis ever made about the character of Tom Bombadil 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

writerious

46w↑4

There was a point, early in drafting The Fellowship, that Tolkein envisioned Tom Bombadill leading the hobbits on their journey. But then came the scene in the Prancing Pony, and a hooded stranger in the corner who arrived with a story of his own that changed everything the author had originally envisioned.

Paul Crawford

47w↑3

I have always thought Tom to be the living embodiment of Arda and that was why the ring didn't affect him as the only being that could actually affect Arda was Illuvitar himself, either directly (as in the destruction of Numenor) or through his agents the Valar. Morgoth and Sauron had no power over the world and neither did the ring. I always loved the idea of Bombadil living through those 3 ages (especially the first age) unconcerned over Morgoth then Sauron.

Hossak 2014

43w

The council of the ring contemplated giving him the ring and decided against it based on Gandalf's advice. Also Tom actually put on the ring and did not disappear as the ring had no power over him. Great video.

Mark van Dyk

43w

Tom is, essentially, a Zen Master. Or more precisely, a Taoist sage. Or a bit of both. In other words, Tom is the revelation and embodiment of Tolkien's own enlightenment.

Victor Hayes

46w↑1

Maybe I missed it, but I am honestly surprised that you did not talk about the discussions of Tom Bombadil at the great counsel. We learn a surprising amount of information about Tom from that meeting. The Dwarves and Elves know him under a different name. We also learn, at least in my opinion, that Gandolf does not know "everything". Gandolf says something to the effect of "I would not say that but would say instead that the ring has no power over him." when someone says that Tom has a power over the ring. The problem there is we do see that Tom does actually have a power over the ring and even over the ring holder. Tom asks for the ring, Frodo hands it to Tom without so much as a hint of suspicion. Yet we say Frodo scramble to get the ring out of a fire that would not have harmed the ring at all, so we know the ring was having some effect on him. We also see that the ring, when handed to Tom, did make itself so Tom could wear it. We also see that Tom almost mocks the eye of Sauron using the ring. I do think Tom has a power over the ring and I think that Tolkien does show us that. I would also point out, what another author once pointed out, is that "while the author of a book can't be wrong about a world he or she created, that does not mean the people that live in that world are always going to come to the correct conclusions."

LordAlisdare

43w↑1

Tom is the singer of songs. Tolkien is too meticulous to have Tom be a throw away character. I always thought of him like Odin, traveling as an old man seeking hospitality. Though in Toms case he stays put and offers hospitality.

William Wood

46w↑1

I love Tom, and missed him profusely in the movie. It was one of my favourite parts of the first book. I have not read the book in over e0 years though, so,would need to reacquaint myself with it. So many book’s so little time to reread any!

JD80

47w↑36

I first read of Tom in the early 70s. At the time I was suffering from a traumatic brain injury (and still do). Tom embodied the peace that I didn’t have in life. I wanted so, so much to emulate him, if not be him. The thought of the peace embodied by Tom in his realm still brings tears to my eyes. God bless you Tom Bombadil.

Joshua Windus

47w↑3

I like that. It’s almost like he’s a still pool, a little bit of peace amongst the chaos.

Julie A.

47w↑4

Just a kind wish for you. I suffered a TBI (serious brain tumor and surgery) a few years ago, and will never fully recover. One doctor reassured me that "You have tremendous cognitive reserve." At which point my niece, serving as recorder and explainer of the appointment, leaned over and said "That means you're really smart." Not a day goes by a don't thank my love of reading for that cognitive reserve! Sending you continued healing and peace.

Louise Gogel

46w↑1

⁠@Julie A. and JD80 To both of you, I wonder if you’ve explored homeopathy for help healing!? Please, it would be worth going to an experienced classical homeopath for help. I’ve seen it work well with these injuries.

My very best to you both!

Julie A.

46w

@Louise Gogel Thanks - I’ll look into it!

Glenndalf The Magician

39w

What a wonderful commentary! T.B. is one of my favorite Tolkien characters and for me the most memorable part of the Trilogy.

Evan Jones

43w

Thank you for putting into words why I love Tom ... He's always been my favorite character, but I never quite knew why, this analysis kinda helped me figure out why I was drawn in

42ndLife

41w

Imagine an anthology series depicting many stories, myths & lengeds from Tolkien's Legendarium. In each episode Tom would make but a brief cameo or appear in the background of a single scene. Then this series would be called "The Adventures of Tom Bombadil". That is how I'd like to see Tom be adapted.

Craig Wadley

44w

Twinkie McCream

45w

This is an interesting take, but I still feel that Tom IS Tolkien himself, inserting himself in the story to watch along, without being able to intervene. He’s simply along for the ride in his own story, preserving himself eternally in a world that he created. The ring has no control over him because he doesn’t belong to that world… he’s simply observing and living.

Joe Hebert

47w↑45

In my opinion, Tom's role in the story is to teach the hobbits, and especially Frodo, that with proper discernment they can trust non-hobbits to have the morals and character to do the right thing. It helped set the stage for meeting and trusting Aragorn in Bree.

Jibninjah

46w↑4

This is a good take. Also I think it plays well in showing how unique hobbits are on there ability to rest and find joy in any opportunity to do so, drinking in the moments as they come. Its hard to imagine any other race of middle earth finding the same rest and carefree moments in the house of Tom. Habits truly are amazing creatures.

Turnip Society

46w↑3

but Tom does not seem to have universal ideas - he seems nice and protective but very whimsical. Aragorn looks very different to Tom. Frodo already trusts elves and Gandalf; and has Bilbo's stories

Ron King

42w

For me personally, I've always treated the character as the seed of the world. The daydreamer whose ideology projects through the entire series as a representation of the nature of reality. The gleeful indifference of a world. Not a harsh or cruel universe, not an uncaring one. Just one that is indifferent to our plight. Nature isn't cruel, even if we find cruelty. It's just the indifference that allows us to sing one day, and weep the next. Eat, Drink, Be Merry understanding that nature always provides. Until it doesn't.

Angelangel3

43w

It is nice to hear your ideas of what Tom Bombadil means. I, myself, think Tom is Tolkien's insert of himself into the tale, as well as Tom and Goldberry. :D

Ray Suchow

41w

What a delight it was to find your video, listen to your insightful commentary, and subscribe! Thank you for outlining and supporting the 'Why?' of Tom Bombadil--many of my longtime questions have been answered. I look forward to more of your posts!

Gregory Peyton

44w

My favorite of the various interpretations of Bombadil is that he's a living remnant of the First Music of the Ainur, a tiny fragment of the song that birthed creation.

I really love Tom as an inclusion in the books, and am completely fine with him being removed from the films. They gave a number of his moments to Treebeard instead, which works well for me, and the narrative would have ground to a halt with his inclusion.

Wandering Poet

44w

This illustrates that no matter how bad things are, there are always good, safe places, however, the bad things still exist. When his country sent kids to the countryside during WWII to save them. The children were removed from the danger, but the danger was still there. We see the correlations with Tolkien and the world around him, particularly war and politics. It shows the contrast of horror

Jacob Charles Zimmerman

47w↑24

When Tom says that he's the oldest, I think it was a meta comment from Tolkien about how he's his oldest writing creation. So in a way, Tom is like Gopher from Winnie the Pooh. He's an interloper from outside the story.

MrFun

42w

I feel that Tom came when Arda was made with the music of the Ainur, I feel he was created unintentionally as just a part of the world, through love and music. Since he is such a musical fellow full of love and is one with middle earth...Tom called himself "the eldest", he saw the first raindrop, first acorn".

Jasper H.

44w↑1

Excellent analysis imo. 😊 Tom has long been maybe my favorite character in tLoTR. I think he's very important to everything, and yet almost completely unimportant. The Divine mystery. 😁 Perfect filming location too. I keep wondering what that is to your left. Mud with leaves on it? A stagnant muddy pond/puddle? Lol. No idea.

Jim A. Parks

45w

News Coulomb

39w

Even on my first reading of Fellowship, Tom was by far my favorite character. He resonated with me because of his relation to nature, but also because of his absence of a drive or desire for power and control. We see elements of that reflected in Samwise as well, and in hindsight, Tom might have been Tolkien's attempt at representing a neuroatypical individual. Tom is very much the John the Savage of the Lord of the Rings universe.

As for adapting Tom's character to film, I think it could be done. However, I think the writer and director would need to fully understand the character in order to do so properly, and I don't feel that Peter Jackson understood Tom well enough. I think that's also the reason the movies also omitted the barrow-wight, which would have been right on theme. Without understanding Tom's character, the encounter with the wight and subsequent rescue would have felt like a deus ex machina.

valhoundmom

45w↑2

I read LOTR for the 1st time when I was 11. I love Tom Bombadill and I think it did a few things. Gave a respite from dark tension, emphasized how big the world was the world building is great. It also deepened the relationships of tge Hobbits and let us know their personalities better on there own not through the eyes of " the big folk"
So I think he's awesome and the mystery is fabulous!

occam raiser

43w

There was almost no 'dark tension' up to tom Bombadil - even the black riders are about 1% as scary/powerful/perceptive/dangerous as those at Gondor.

theeddorian

47w↑52

Some of the history of Tom Bombadil, as you recount it, shows a subtle humour on Tolkien's part. Tom is not just "oldest" within the world of LOTR, but actually within the personal sphere of Tolkien's creativity. He's one of Tolkien's own oldest creations. The suggestion that Tom is a counter to the broader "good vs. evil" narrative in LOTR and represents a form of nature that does not recognize human constructions of value also seems very well taken.

Dan'l Danehy-Oakes

46w↑1

Not, however, as old as (some of) the tales which would become the Silmarillion proper: those go back to his illness during his service in WWI, when he wrote the first version of (at least) "The Fall of Gondolin;" long before the Dutch doll entered the Tolkien household -- before, indeed, the children were born -- the "Book of Lost Tales," as it was originally called, was very much a thing in its own right.

William Neal

46w

Perhaps one day all of us will be so blessed as to move beyond the duality to that view of his as well. Maybe then peace will be.

Arthur Dent

42w

I will always believe Bombadil is the embodiment of Tolkien himself

Hardstyle Life

44w

Very nicely explained….despite already knowing such information I’ll keep this video handy since it’s so nicely summarized and good for future references. Thanks for sharing it, very cool channel :) ps: I would love an adaptation of Tom bombadil’s stories but I’m equally worried it would be spoiled by the actual market

Shane King

46w

I was so glad Tom wasn’t in the movies, it was a thought I had going in to the cinema. There was no way to translate that chapter and it becomes a gem for people who have read the books.

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