LOTR Debate: Identity of Tom Bombadil

[Brickjectivity]

If you are new to fantasy literature you may be unaware of the legendary stature of author J.R. Tolkien and his famous work: The Lord of the Rings and its associated other writings. These altogether form a consistent universe though we sometimes cannot workout how parts of it are consistent. Hence this debate. Tolkien casts a long shadow and completely reinvents and transforms fantasy. In works of fantasy time is divided in half. There is Before Tolkien and there is After Tolkien. If you write after Tolkien your fantasy work must stack up against Tolkien and be measured in percentages of LOTR's greatness. It can never be as great, unless of course you transform Fantasy again and take us into The Third Age of Fantasy.

The Debate about the identity of Tom Bambadil arises from Tolkien's refusal to explain seeming contradictions about him, which are actually not contradictions but a mystery to be solved. Bombadil is ancient, yet he's not a an elf or this or that...etc. The excellent youtube channel "Nerd of the Rings" tries to crack his identity but still falls short.

Spoiler: Nerd of the rings 5 theories of bombadil

So. If you feel you are up to it I have a 6th theory, and perhaps you have a 7th, or perhaps you are a fan of one of the famous five. Let us establish the truth in this matter, the secret which J.R. Tolkien himself withheld and perhaps swore to himself to forget.

 

[Revoltingest]

Nerd!

 

[Kenny]

I did love the trilogy... alas, it has been buried in the Misty Mountains of my memory banks.

 

[Brickjectivity]

Nerd!

Quitter!

 

[ChristineM]

I did a little work on lake town and was presented with a boxed trilogy set for my efforts. I did begin reading it, honestly. The books gave me the same impression of the film's, i e. The detailed story of a long walk. I gave up before encountering Mr Bombadil.

 

[Revoltingest]

Quitter!

Aye, tis been so long since I read the books
that I can only remember the movies now.

 

[Revoltingest]

I did a little work on lake town and was presented with a boxed trilogy set for my efforts. I did begin reading it, honestly. The books gave me the same impression of the film's, i e. The detailed story of a long walk. I gave up before encountering Mr Bombadil.

See post #4.

 

[ChristineM]

See post #4.

I know, it's not usual for me but in this case i honestly think is justified... That's only my opinion of course so not worth the paper it's written on...

 

[Samael_Khan]

I did a little work on lake town and was presented with a boxed trilogy set for my efforts. I did begin reading it, honestly. The books gave me the same impression of the film's, i e. The detailed story of a long walk. I gave up before encountering Mr Bombadil.

I stopped reading in the middle of the long walk, and then started reading again a year later because I wanted to finish the book. I did the same with the Bible except that, instead of a long walk, the chapters consisted of begats.

 

[Revoltingest]

I know, it's not usual for me but in this case i honestly think is justified... That's only my opinion of course so not worth the paper it's written on...

Some books do that to me too.
Gravity's Rainbow....never made it very far in that one.

Trivia....
Pynchon originated the fictional aerospace company, Yoyodyne.
It inhabits the Star Trek universe, Buckaroo Banzai, & others.

 

[exchemist]

If you are new to fantasy literature you may be unaware of the legendary stature of author J.R. Tolkien and his famous work: The Lord of the Rings and its associated other writings. These altogether form a consistent universe though we sometimes cannot workout how parts of it are consistent. Hence this debate. Tolkien casts a long shadow and completely reinvents and transforms fantasy. In works of fantasy time is divided in half. There is Before Tolkien and there is After Tolkien. If you write after Tolkien your fantasy work must stack up against Tolkien and be measured in percentages of LOTR's greatness. It can never be as great, unless of course you transform Fantasy again and take us into The Third Age of Fantasy.

The Debate about the identity of Tom Bambadil arises from Tolkien's refusal to explain seeming contradictions about him, which are actually not contradictions but a mystery to be solved. Bombadil is ancient, yet he's not a an elf or this or that...etc. The excellent youtube channel "Nerd of the Rings" tries to crack his identity but still falls short.

Spoiler: Nerd of the rings 5 theories of bombadil

So. If you feel you are up to it I have a 6th theory, and perhaps you have a 7th, or perhaps you are a fan of one of the famous five. Let us establish the truth in this matter, the secret which J.R. Tolkien himself withheld and perhaps swore to himself to forget.

I think Tom Bombadil is probably an unkind representation of the most boring don at Oxford. I've tried to read Lord of the Rings twice, but could never get past Tom bloody Bombadil, even with my eyelids propped open with matchsticks.

 

[ChristineM]

I stopped reading in the middle of the long walk, and then started reading again a year later because I wanted to finish the book. I did the same with the Bible except that, instead of a long walk, the chapters consisted of begats.

I read the bible without quitting. Does that say something?

 

[Audie]

I think Tom Bombadil is probably an unkind representation of the most boring don at Oxford. I've tried to read Lord of the Rings twice, but could never get past Tom bloody Bombadil, even with my eyelids propped open with matchsticks.

I couldnt read it either.

What is the worst best seller you tried to read

 

[RestlessSoul]

One of my favourite characters in the book, and not even in the film. It's over 40 years since I read it now, but Peter Jackson managed to render everything on the screen almost exactly as I visualised it from the books. A tribute to both his and Tolkein's truly remarkable creative powers.

For the record, Tolkein cautioned against reading too much into any of the story or characters. It was an epic fantasy, intended to be taken as exactly that; and why not?

 

[RestlessSoul]

I couldnt read it either.

What is the worst best seller you tried to read

Absolutely anything by James Joyce.

 

[Audie]

Absolutely anything by James Joyce.

I attempted " clan of the cave bear"

 

[Samael_Khan]

I read the bible without quitting. Does that say something?

That you are more of a theist than you wish to admit, traitor

 

[exchemist]

Absolutely anything by James Joyce.

I enjoyed "Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man". But after that he gets very difficult.

 

[exchemist]

I couldnt read it either.

What is the worst best seller you tried to read

The toughest thing I've succeeded in reading, cover to cover, is Ishiguro's "The Unconsoled." That was a struggle. So unlike his other books. I've recently finished "Klara and the Sun" which I rather enjoyed.

But as for books I've started and given up, I think the absolute worst was Dan Brown's ludicrous and appallingly written "Da Vinci Code". What an unreadable pile of crap that was.

 

[sun rise]

I did a little work on lake town and was presented with a boxed trilogy set for my efforts. I did begin reading it, honestly. The books gave me the same impression of the film's, i e. The detailed story of a long walk. I gave up before encountering Mr Bombadil.

I see high adventure against impossible odds for the good of the world against looming evil where people's imperfections are in full display is not your thing.