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squire
Half-elven
Jan 31 2013, 1:27am
Views: 2248
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"None has yet defined him, for Tom is an enigma"
[In reply to]
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Can't Post
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I did enjoy your essay, but the conclusion feels forced and "heightened". I feel it tends to contradict Tolkien's own explanation, however inconsistent that is with the very idea of Middle-earth. To the author's definitive statement that Tom is "the spirit of the (vanishing) Oxford and Berkshire countryside." (Letters, #19), the obvious rejoinder is: what the heck does Oxfordshire have to do with Middle-earth? And the obvious if somewhat Zenlike answer is: exactly! I put my thoughts into verse, in homage to Tom, back in 2005:
Old Tom Bombadil is a merry fellow; Bright blue his jacket is, and his boots are yellow. None has yet defined him, for Tom is an enigma All those who try to do it fail and soon they feel the stigma. By water, wood and hill, by the reed and willow He seems to be the countryside, does old Tom Bombadillo Is he a Nature Spirit, dancing through the seasons? Tolkien seemed to say so, though he did not give his reasons. He cannot be a Hobbit though for sure he is so jolly. No kind of Elf is Tom, you will not hear him sing fa-lally! Nor mortal Man of Middle-earth, by Ring-lust made the bolder, Nor Ent of ancient forest realms, for Tom is even older. Of the dwarvish folk the father was the Vala known as Aulë And some propose that Tom is he, a guess of utter faulë. Like any of the Valar, he would fear no wraiths of Sauron! To use my favorite rhyme, that is the theory of a mauron. And do not even mention the All-father, Ilúvatar Though Goldberry declares “He Is”, the phrase holds little water. Tolkien said that merely is a comment about naming, For Eru will not walk the Earth until the End a-flaming. Who’s left? the evil Witch-King, of Angmar lord of old, Has been slyly suggested but the humor soon grows cold. For many the all-purpose term of Maia fits the bill But such a being would surely rate a mention in the Sil. By fire, sun and moon, harken now and hear us! Come, Tom Bombadil, our need to know is near us! Who are you Master? “Don’t you know my name yet? Tell me, who are you, alone, yourself and nameless?” Old Tom Bombadil is a merry fellow; Bright blue his jacket is, and his boots are yellow. None has yet defined him, for Tom is an enigma All those who try to do it fail and soon they feel the stigma.
squire online: RR Discussions: The Valaquenta, A Shortcut to Mushrooms, and Of Herbs and Stewed Rabbit Lights! Action! Discuss on the Movie board!: 'A Journey in the Dark'. and 'Designing The Two Towers'. Footeramas: The 3rd (and NOW the 4th too!) TORn Reading Room LotR Discussion; and "Tolkien would have LOVED it!" squiretalk introduces the J.R.R. Tolkien Encyclopedia: A Reader's Diary = Forum has no new posts. Forum needs no new posts.
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Time
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Tom Bombadil As the Spirit of the Music of the Ainur
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rangerfromthenorth
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Jan 17 2013, 4:27pm
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Thanks for this!
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Radagast-Aiwendil
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Jan 17 2013, 8:57pm
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Great Theory
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Lost_istari
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Jan 18 2013, 7:56pm
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Thank you much
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rangerfromthenorth
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Jan 22 2013, 2:07pm
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Agreed
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CuriousG
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Jan 23 2013, 5:53pm
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A quick thought on children of Ainur
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Lost_istari
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Jan 24 2013, 6:46am
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Excellent theory!
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FlyingSerkis
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Jan 23 2013, 9:13pm
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Thank You
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rangerfromthenorth
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Jan 23 2013, 9:33pm
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Regarding Bombadil's boundedness
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Plurmo
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Jan 28 2013, 5:59am
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I Know
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Tolkien Forever
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Jan 30 2013, 8:38pm
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"None has yet defined him, for Tom is an enigma"
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squire
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Jan 31 2013, 1:27am
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Great poem/
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CuriousG
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Jan 31 2013, 1:34am
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Great Poem Indeed
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rangerfromthenorth
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Jan 31 2013, 2:29am
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It is certainly a great topic to debate
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squire
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Feb 1 2013, 3:14am
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a "most" dangerous discussion
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rangerfromthenorth
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Feb 1 2013, 3:32pm
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ATB was published after LOTR.
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N.E. Brigand
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Feb 1 2013, 5:55pm
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yes yes it was
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rangerfromthenorth
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Feb 1 2013, 6:14pm
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thats where the confusion came from
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rangerfromthenorth
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Feb 1 2013, 6:22pm
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Tolkien did alter the poem for its 1962 re-publication.
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N.E. Brigand
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Feb 1 2013, 7:51pm
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Very nicely stated
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squire
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Feb 1 2013, 8:38pm
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This may interest you.
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N.E. Brigand
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Feb 1 2013, 5:46am
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