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So I’ve been thinking about Tom Bombadil.
A diachronic explanation is simple: In earlier versions of the story, the Nazgul were Barrow Wights. Tom is how Frodo and the reader learn who their enemy is. Getting trapped in a Barrow isn’t a distraction, it’s the central conflict! https://twitter.com/evandeneykel/status/1277224226685169665
A diachronic explanation is simple: In earlier versions of the story, the Nazgul were Barrow Wights. Tom is how Frodo and the reader learn who their enemy is. Getting trapped in a Barrow isn’t a distraction, it’s the central conflict! https://twitter.com/evandeneykel/status/1277224226685169665
At this point, LOTR isn’t part of Tolkien’s Legendarium. Tom, like Roverandam, is a toy of Tolkien’s children.
But when Glorfindel came to rescue Aragorn and the Hobbits, Tolkien realized it was all one story and the villain needed an upgrade.
But Tolkien kept Bombadil.
But when Glorfindel came to rescue Aragorn and the Hobbits, Tolkien realized it was all one story and the villain needed an upgrade.
But Tolkien kept Bombadil.
So why didn’t Tolkien erase or more substantially re-write the Bombadil episode?
Obviously, I don’t know. But here is my defense of his place in the story.
Obviously, I don’t know. But here is my defense of his place in the story.
The most important thing Tom does for the story is make Tolkien’s ethic of deontic endurance and eucatastrophy explicit in relatively low stake situations.
If you don’t know what “ethic” I’m referring to, go click through to my old thread in the OP.
If you don’t know what “ethic” I’m referring to, go click through to my old thread in the OP.
Frodo is trapped in the Barrow and believes it is hopeless. “He thought he had come to the end of his adventure, and a terrible end, but the thought hardened him.” He is momentarily tempted to put on the ring and flee, but sees a skeletal hand walking toward Sam.
Without hope of salvation, Frodo grabs a sword and defends Sam. This act of bravery without hope of victory allows him to remember Tom’s song — and Tom appears to save him.
“...but the thought hardened him.” This is what makes Tolkien’s heroes heroic.
You have here the full pattern.
Frodo chooses to oppose evil without any hope of victory, but this is followed by eucatastrophe.
You have here the full pattern.
Frodo chooses to oppose evil without any hope of victory, but this is followed by eucatastrophe.
The rescue of the Hobbits from Old Man Willow follows a similar pattern. Here, however, the emphasis is placed on providence (following immediately upon Gildor’s comments to the same effect). Still, I think Sam’s assault on the tree shows us something of the same.
I can’t say I’m a huge fan of this detour through faerie in the Fellowship — but it’s kinda programmatic for (or, at least, is thematically coherent with) the rest of the epic.
