Tom Bombadil

nevik45 · Mar 8, 2014

Hi! This thread is slightly self-explanatory. Discuss who you think Tom Bombadil is. Don't have arguments. Debating, yes, but no angry arguments.
Personally, I think Tom couldn't be Eru. In the Lord of the Rings, it says that he couldn't withstand all of Sauron's power (who, when you think about it, if Tom was Eru, would be his son). I think he's some very old spirit, who has enough power to maintain his land. But, that's just my opinion.

Malkizid · Mar 8, 2014

I don't need to say a word, people know my stance on Bombadil discussions.

Aandolaf2 · Mar 9, 2014

This was posted somewhere on the forums before, really liked it so I'll post it again. Doesn't talk about who he is exactly, more about his motives. http://km-515.livejournal.com/1042.html

Olwe · Mar 9, 2014

I personally, like lots of people, think that he is Aule.

spike010 · Mar 9, 2014

I think that he is a Maia, more powerful than Sauron. Possibly one of Yavanna.

Stokie · Mar 9, 2014

Tom Bombadil is actually Gloin, think about it. You've never seen the both of them in the same room..

Fireinferno13 · Mar 9, 2014

Stokie said:
Tom Bombadil is actually Gloin, think about it. You've never seen the both of them in the same room..

pourtugueseguy · Mar 9, 2014

Fireinferno13 said:

I know this is off-topic but where did this gif originate

Ardelenia · Mar 9, 2014

Ancient Aliens, the best history channel show EVER

djax74 · Mar 10, 2014

I think he's just a forest spirit

Ardelenia · Mar 10, 2014

Well he's pretty obviously supposed to represent nature gods (specifically celtic, i've heard), and I'm fine with that. But if we want an in-lore explanation, I like to think of him as the first experiment with life made by illuvatar, after the ainur. After all, he's oldest.
Also, not that I'm saying this thread should be deleted, but we've discussed this rather many times on the forums.

spike010 · Mar 11, 2014

He wore the Ring and was not affected, nor did he turn invisible. Therefore, he has much power. Probably form the Undying Lands

djax74 · Mar 11, 2014

He is the First and he will be the Last.

KatieElisa · Mar 11, 2014

I think he's Father Time.

There is a theory that Tom Bombadil is an Ainur governing the "time" of Middle Earth. He and Gandalf both state that he is the "eldest" and assuming this is true, no one person could possibly be older than time itself, save for perhaps Eru Ilúvatar. The ring has no effect on him because the ring has nothing to offer him; time is already immortal, and neither good nor evil. He has no real concern because his existence will still be around whether or not Sauron gets the ring back. Another hint to this idea of him being or governing time is his wife is said to govern the nature in Middle Earth. This could be a reference to Mother Nature and Father Time, with Goldberry and Bombadil occupying their roles, respectively. His wife describes him as being "Master of wood, water and hill." Time does effect all these, and even in the riddle battle between Gollum and Bilbo one of Gollum's riddles involves something that has dominion over many things with "trees" and "mountain" included, the correct answer that Bilbo gives is time.

Found that here:
http://lotr.wikia.com/wiki/Theories_about_Tom_Bombadil

_Shen · Mar 12, 2014

Tom Bombadil may be a jolly, old fellow...but is he really? Or is he Darkness itself?
http://km-515.livejournal.com/1042.html

nevik45 · Mar 13, 2014

Aandolaf2 said:
This was posted somewhere on the forums before, really liked it so I'll post it again. Doesn't talk about who he is exactly, more about his motives. http://km-515.livejournal.com/1042.html

I quit reading on the first paragraph when it said that bombadil wasn't very much liked. I like tom enough for about fifty people.
Correction: I read further, and probably will later. However, this guy is taking things too far. He's acting like he knows who tom is, and no one does. I doubt Tolkien did. He's saying that his whole goal is to defeat sauron, and he called Tom's land more dangerous than Mordor. Like, woah. I mean, I think if Tom wanted to defeat Sauron, he wouldn't send four hobbits to do it. I don't care how smart he is, no one would make a bet like that unless they were incredibly desperate. My new decision is that that guy is just...I don't know. He's making too many assumptions and acting like they're true.
I just finished. He thinks he knows that Tom is evil, and ruled Middle-Earth before Morgoth was there. He thinks he's bound to his land by the Valar, but nothing in the book says that. So...I think this guy assumes too much.

spike010 said:
I think that he is a Maia, more powerful than Sauron. Possibly one of Yavanna.

The Lord of the Rings specifically states that he's less powerful than Sauron.

nevik45 · Mar 13, 2014

spike010 said:
I think that he is a Maia, more powerful than Sauron. Possibly one of Yavanna.

Tom is less powerful than SAuron, LOTR specifically states it.

MattTheLegoman · Mar 13, 2014

Goldberry knows who he is. =p

spike010 · Mar 14, 2014

nevik45 said:
Tom is less powerful than SAuron, LOTR specifically states it.

He could still be a Maia

djax74 · Mar 14, 2014

I don't think he's a maia because ring would have power as on Gandalf, Saroumane or Sauron for example.

Welcome to MCME!

Joining the server

IP: build.mcmiddleearth.com

Tom Bombadil

Worthy of Mordor

Sneaky Anvil Dropper

Is going on an adventure!

Worthy of Mordor

Worthy of Mordor

Moria Hall Professional

One Of Us, One of Us

Slab Fanatic

One Of Us, One of Us

Moria Hall Professional

One Of Us, One of Us

Worthy of Mordor

Moria Hall Professional

Expert Stream Digger

Former Community & Mod Manager

Worthy of Mordor

Worthy of Mordor

Worthy of Mordor

Worthy of Mordor

Moria Hall Professional

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency