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Tom Bombadil

2008-11-13T21:25:53Z

85.74.132.82: /* Tom Bombadil's Nature */

[[Image:Brothers Hildebrandt - Tom Bombadil.jpg|thumb|300px|''Tom Bombadil'' by [[Brothers Hildebrandt]].]]
<center>{{quote|Eldest, that's what I am... Tom remembers the first raindrop and the first acorn... he knew the dark under the stars when it was fearless – before the Dark Lord came from Outside.|Tom Bombadil, ''[[In the House of Tom Bombadil]]''.}}</center>

'''Tom Bombadil''' was an enigmatic figure that lived throughout the history of [[Arda]]. He was known to the [[Hobbits]]. He seemed to possess an unequaled power in the land around his dwelling. Although seemingly benevolent, he was not allied to the [[Free peoples]].

His existence passed into Hobbit lore and was referenced in poems such as ''[[The Adventures of Tom Bombadil]]''.

==History==
The origins of Tom Bombadil are unknown, however he already existed when the [[Dark Lord]] came to [[Arda]]<ref name="house">''[[The Fellowship of the Ring]]'', [[In the House of Tom Bombadil]]</ref>, signifying he was alive even before the coming of the [[Valar]].

His role and nature in the [[Elder Days]] is unknown but he must have witnessed most of the major events and battles. He also witnessed the reducing of the great forests that covered all [[Middle-earth]], and perhaps of his powers.<ref name="CoE"/>

According to [[Gandalf]] and [[Elrond]], Tom Bombadil was perhaps not fully aware of the struggle of Light and Darkness and could not comprehend it.<ref name="CoE"/> However since he is presented as benevolent, it is possible that he allied himself to the Elves and Men if he ever chose to take a role.

The level of his interactions is also unclear, however he seemed to have a name among many peoples and perhaps became a folkloric figure in the traditions and legends of Elves, Dwarves and Men.<ref name="CoE"/>

During the [[Third Age]], Tom Bombadil lived in a little house by the river [[Withywindle]] in the [[Old Forest]], together with his lovely wife [[Goldberry]]. He had contact with the [[Bucklanders]]<ref name="Adv">''[[The Adventures of Tom Bombadil]]'', Preface</ref> and [[Farmer Maggot]] and perhaps he owed his jolly and whimsical attitude by that contact.

==War of the Ring==
On [[September 26]], [[Third Age 3018|T.A. 3018]], he encountered [[travellers|four hobbits]] while he was searching for water-lilies for his wife. Two of those Hobbits, [[Meriadoc Brandybuck|Merry]] and [[Peregrin Took|Pippin]], had been captured by [[Old Man Willow]]. Tom, who was the master of the Old Forest, rescued them, and took all four of them to his house<ref name="OldF">''[[The Fellowship of the Ring]]'', [[The Old Forest]]</ref>.

The four hobbits stayed two nights, and he told them many tales and songs. Apparently, [[Gildor Inglorion]] had been to Tom's house, as he knew the hobbits were fleeing the [[Shire]]. With cunning questions, he made [[Frodo Baggins|Frodo]] tell him of the [[One Ring|Ring]]. When Tom tried it on, nothing happened, and when Frodo put it on, Tom could still see him.

The following morning, Tom warned his guests of the [[Barrow Downs]], and advised them to pass any barrow on the western side. He also tought them a song, should they come to peril<ref name="house"/>.

And they did come to peril. Tom chased off a [[Barrow-wight|wight]] with song, and broke the spells on the barrow in which the four hobbits were captured. While he sent the Hobbits into calm down, he went for provisions. He also brought the ponies, that had belonged to Merry. After that, he broke the spells of the barrow. From the barrow's mighty hoard, he took a brooch for Goldberry, and gave a [[Daggers of Westernesse|dagger]] to each of the hobbits. He then advised them to make for ''[[The Prancing Pony]]'' in [[Bree]]<ref> ''[[The Fellowship of the Ring]]'', [[Fog on the Barrow-downs]]</ref>.

The peril of the hobbits was not over; an attack on their lives was carried out, and their ponies were set loose. The ponies apparently remembered the care they were given in the house of Tom Bombadil, and returned to stay beside Tom's own pony, [[Fatty Lumpkin]]. He returned them to [[Barliman Butterbur]], the proprietor of ''The Prancing Pony''. Since he had paid eighteen pence as compensation for the loss, he was now the owner of five fine ponies<ref>''[[The Fellowship of the Ring]]'', [[A Knife in the Dark]]</ref>.

== Tom Bombadil's Nature ==
[[Image:John Howe - Tom Bombadil.jpg|thumb|left|''Tom Bombadil'' by [[John Howe]].]]
Tom Bombadil's mythological origins in the cosmology of [[Middle-earth]] have puzzled even erudite fans. Speculative ideas about his true nature range from simply a wise [[Elves|Elven]] hermit to an angelic being (a [[Maiar|Maia]] or [[Valar|Vala]]), to the creator God, [[Eru Ilúvatar]].
===Tom as Eru===
{{sources}}
When Goldberry was asked by [[Frodo Baggins]] who he was, she simply said "He is" which parallels the scriptural name of God "ho On" (the One who is). Goldberry also said that Tom is simply "the Master", and the theory that Tom is an incarnation, embodiment or "avatar" of Eru has been favored by the fans.

Tolkien however explicitly said that the idea of God's Incarnation was too large to fit in his work. In any case, Tolkien experimented with this idea in the ''[[Athrabeth Finrod ah Andreth]]'' about a future incarnation or Eru into the world.
===Tom as an Ainu===
{{sources}}
If we reject the Eru theory, the most common possible explanation is that Tom is an [[Ainu]] such a Vala. Tom seems to have unlimited power inside the boundaries that he set for himself and perhaps the reason of why he has such powers might be the fact that he set himself limits in which he is master.

However since all the Valar are accounted are well known by names, one has to associate one with Tom. Furthermore, it is nowhere referred that a Vala abandoned Valinor to leave on [[Middle-earth]]. The most common theory is therefore that Bombadil is just a "rogue" Maia who perhaps stayed behind and did not follow the other Ainur at the [[Breaking of the World]]. The number of the Maiar is unknown, so it's easy to associate Tom with them, unlike the Valar.

Tom remembers to be the "[[Eldest]], that's what I am... Tom remembers the first raindrop and the first acorn... He knew the dark under the stars when it was fearless – before the Dark Lord came from Outside".

However the Dark Lord that Bombadil refers to, is probably [[Melkor]] and not [[Sauron]]. But in that case, Tom was already there even before the [[Valar]] entered the world, dismissing the theory that he is a Vala or a Maia. Furthermore his Elvish name 'Eldest Fatherless' does not fit to the Maiar because they have a father, [[Eru]].

===Tom as a nature sprite===
{{sources}}
A more radical and abstract theory is that he is possibly the embodiment of [[Arda]] itself, a "Father Nature", or some kind of non-spiritual 'sprite' which (unlike the Ainur) was of non-divine nature. Not only does the Ring have no effect on him, Tom himself seems unable to affect the Ring in return which shows that Tom was outside the divine plan and struggle and had no position in it. Bombadil could be part of the [[Music of the Ainur]] and that would explain why he was there in the beginning, as well as his name "Fatherless": since he is only a part of creation, he has no "father".

The problem with this explanation is that no such beings are mentioned elsewhere in the mythos, nor is it supported in other essays of the cosmology (for example, the ''[[Valaquenta]]'').

===Beings like him===
{{sources}}
Whatever his nature, another question about Bombadil is whether he is one-of-a-kind being, or if he has other colleagues in other parts of Arda. Bombadil could be for example the "spirit of Arda" in general, or just the "spirit of the Old Forest" with other such beings in other forests.

The nature of Goldberry (and [[River-woman]]) is also obscure. They could be the same kind of being like himself, or his female counterpart(s). If we had more knowledge about them, we could partially answer the question about Tom as well.

Gandalf, when narrating his fight with [[Durin's Bane]], mentions tunnels made by [[Nameless Things|dark nameless things]]. He also mentions that Sauron knows not the existence of those beings, since they are "older than him".

==Etymology and other names==
Tom Bombadil went by many names:
* ''Tom Bombadil'' is said to be a [[Buckland|Bucklandish]] name, added by Hobbit chroniclers to his many older ones. It is, like many names of the Bucklanders, untranslatable<ref name="Adv"/>.
* To the [[Elves]] and [[Dúnedain]], he was known as ''Iarwain Ben-adar'', which translated to "oldest and fatherless"<ref name="CoE">''[[The Fellowship of the Ring]]'', [[The Council of Elrond]]</ref>.
* To [[Men]] (of [[Rohan]] and [[Bree]]), he was known as ''Orald''. This is an Old English word meaning "very ancient<ref name="nomen">[[J.R.R. Tolkien]], "[[Nomenclature of The Lord of the Rings]]", published in ''[[The Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion]]'' (by [[Wayne G. Hammond]] and [[Christina Scull]]), page 761</ref>.
* The Dwarves knew him as ''Forn''. This too is a reference too his age: it is Old Norse for "(belonging to) ancient (days)"<ref name="nomen"/>. In some imprints of ''[[The History of Middle-earth Index]]'', this name was accidentally spelled with a "P" as the first letter<ref>''[[The History of Middle-earth: Index]]'', "Tom Bombadil (VII)", page 435 <small>([[HarperCollins]] [[2000]] Paperback)</small></ref>.

==Portrayal in Adaptions==
[[Image:BFME2 - Tom Bombadil 03.jpg|right|thumb|200px|Tom Bombadil, as he appeared in ''[[EA's The Battle for Middle-earth II]]'']]
Because he is left out of the three major adaptations ([[Ralph Bakshi's The Lord of the Rings|Ralph Bakshi]], [[The Lord of the Rings (1981 radio series)|BBC's 1981 series]] and [[Peter Jackson's The Fellowship of the Ring|Peter Jackson's]]), Tom Bombadil's main role (providing the [[Daggers of Westernesse|Barrow-blades]]) is omitted or retold in all. He does have several appearances in other adaptations, though.

'''1955: ''[[The Lord of the Rings (1956 radio series)|BBC Radio's The Lord of the Rings]]'':'''
:One of the few things known about this radio series is that [[Norman Shelley]] voiced Bombadil, and Tolkien thought his portrayal "dreadful". [[Goldberry]] was portrayed as his daughter, rather than his wife<ref>''[[The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien]]'', [[Letter 175]] ([[November 30]], [[1955]])</ref>.

'''1979: ''[[The Lord of the Rings (1979 radio series)|Mind's Eye's The Lord of the Rings]]'':'''
:In this series, Tom was voiced by [[Bernard Mayes]]. Like Norman Shelley before him, he also voiced [[Gandalf]].

'''1992: ''[[Tales from the Perilous Realm (1992 radio series)|BBC Radio's Tales from the Perilous Realm]]'':'''
:When he adapted the 1981 [[The Lord of the Rings (1981 radio series)|radio series]], [[Brian Sibley]] deeply regretted cutting Bombadil from the radio series<ref>[[Brian Sibley]], ''[http://briansibleytheworks.blogspot.com/2008/01/this-page-is-still-under-construction_23.html The Ring Goes Ever On]''</ref>. When he made ''[[Tales from the Perilous Realm]]'' into a radio series, he decided to change the section "[[The Adventures of Tom Bombadil]]". Rather than several (unadaptable) Hobbitish poems, Sibley adapted the chapters from ''[[The Fellowship of the Ring]]''. Bombadil is voiced by [[Ian Hogg]].

'''2002: ''[[Vivendi's The Fellowship of the Ring (game)|Vivendi's The Fellowship of the Ring]]'':'''
:[[Daran Norris]] portrayed Bombadil with a Scottish accent. His role is much like that in the book, and as one of the few characters in this video game, he keeps most of his songs.

'''2002: ''[[Peter Jackson's The Two Towers]]'':'''
:In the [[The Two Towers Extended Edition|extended edition]], some of Bombadil's poems are transferred to [[Treebeard]], and so is his encounter with [[Old Man Willow]].

'''2006: ''[[EA's The Battle for Middle-earth II]]'':'''
:Bombadil is a character in this video game. Unlike his nature in the book, he is shown strong and battleready, and plows through enemy lines whilst merrily singing. His most powerful weapon is a "Sonic Song", and all his other weapons are inspired by song and dance.

===Collectibles===
In [[April]] [[2008]], [[Gentle Giant]] released the [[Tom Bombadil Mini Bust]].

==Inspiration==
Tom Bombadil may have been inspired by the character Väinämöinen (spelt 'Wainamoinen' in English) in the Finnish national epic [[Kalevala]], or Father [[Francis Xavier Morgan]] at the [[Birmingham Oratory]]:
{{quote|... Father Francis Xavier Morgan, then aged forty-three, who shortly after the Tolkiens moved into the district [Edgbaston] took over the duties of parish priest and came to call. In him Mabel soon found not only a sympathetic priest but a valuable friend. Half Welsh and half Anglo-Spanish (his mother’s family were prominent in the sherry trade), Francis Morgan was '''not a man of great intellect, but he had an immense fund of kindness and humour and a flamboyance''' that was often attributed to his Spanish connections. Indeed '''he was a very noisy man, loud and affectionate, embarrassing to small children at first but hugely lovable when they got to know him.'''|[[J.R.R. Tolkien: A Biography]]}}

==See also==
*[[:Category:Images of Tom Bombadil|Images of Tom Bombadil]]

==References==
<references/>

== External Links ==
* [http://www.glyphweb.com/arda/t/tombombadil.html Entry in the Encyclopedia of Arda] (a concise overview of the discussion)
* [http://tolkien.slimy.com/essays/Bombadil.html ''What is Tom Bombadil?''] by Steuard Jensen (a detailed explanation)
* [http://www.cas.unt.edu/~hargrove/bombadil.html ''Who is Tom Bombadil?''] by Gene Hargrove (a somewhat unorthodox but well-presented essay)
* [http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/4786/76065 Count, Count, Weigh, Divide] discusses Tom Bombadil's moral aspects at length

[[Category:Characters]]
[[Category:Ring-bearers]]
[[Category:Characters in The Lord of the Rings]]

Wizards

2008-11-13T20:44:29Z

85.74.132.82: /* Controversy */

{{cleanup}}{{sources}}{{expansion}}
[[Image:Enis Cisic - Gandalf and Frodo.jpg|thumb|''Gandalf and Frodo'' by [[Enis Cisic]].]]{{quote|Do not meddle in the affairs of wizards, for they are subtle and quick to anger.|[[Gildor Inglorion]], "[[Three is Company]]"}}

The '''Wizards''' of [[Middle-earth]], also known as the '''[[Istari]]''' in [[Quenya]] and the '''Ithryn''' in [[Sindarin]], were a small group of beings outwardly resembling [[Men]] but possessing much greater physical and mental power.

==History==
They were of the [[Maiar]], spirits of the same order of the [[Valar]], but lesser in power ([[Sauron]] himself was one of the most powerful of the Maiar), sent by the Valar to help and assist the peoples against Sauron. While many were sent out, only five are known to have been sent to the north. Their [[Quenya]] names were [[Curumo]], meaning "Skilled One"; [[Olórin]], meaning "Rememberer", "Dreamer", or "Thinker"; [[Aiwendil]], meaning "Bird-friend"; [[Pallando]] and [[Alatar]].

They came to Middle-earth roughly around the year 1000 of the [[Third Age]]. It seems that each was assigned with a colour for his clothes, white being indicative of the chief. Two of them were blue. It is not known if the colour had a special meaning concerning their rank, abilities or nature.

The wizards already appeared old when they entered Middle-earth. They were deliberately "clothed" in the bodies of old Men, as the Valar wished them to help the inhabitants of Middle-earth by persuasion and encouragement, not by force or fear. However, they aged very slowly and were in fact immortal. Thus, they were, physically speaking, "real" Men, and felt all the urges, pleasures and fears of flesh and blood. While in this form, although immortals by age, their physical form could be by violence — thus, Gandalf truly dies in the fight with the [[Balrogs|Balrog]], but is "reborn" as his mission is not yet complete.

[[Image:John Howe - Gandalf 01.jpg|thumb|left|''Gandalf'' by [[John Howe]]]]
Very few of Middle-earth's inhabitants knew who the Wizards really were; the Wizards did not share this information. Most thought they were Elves or wise Men (''Gandalf'' represents this interpretation, meaning ''Wand-elf'', because the Men who gave him the nickname believed he was an Elf). They attracted few questions due to their gentle nature and dislike of direct interference with other people's affairs. In spite of their specific and unambiguous goal, the Wizards are nevertheless capable of human feelings; thus [[Gandalf]] feels great affection for the [[Hobbits]]. On the flip side, they could feel negative human emotions like greed, jealousy, and lust for power. It is hinted in the essay in ''[[Unfinished Tales]]'' that the Blue Wizards (see below) may have fallen prey to these temptations.

Two of these, the [[Blue Wizards]], went into the East and do not come into the stories of Middle-earth. Their [[Quenya]] names were Morinehtar, ''Darkness-slayer'' and Romestamo, ''East-helper'', respectively (in ''Unfinished Tales'' their names were Alatar and Pallando). The other three were called [[Saruman]], also known as Curunír; [[Gandalf]], or [[Mithrandir]]; and [[Radagast]].

Saruman originally had the greatest power of the five Istari and was the head of the White Council. In the year 2759 of the Third Age, he was invited by the rulers of Gondor and Rohan to settle in [[Isengard]]. Saruman was learned in the lore of the [[Rings of Power]], gradually becoming corrupted by the desire for the Rings and by Sauron's direct influence on him through the ''[[Palantíri|palantír]]'' of [[Orthanc]]. Eventually he became ensnared in Sauron's power, and assisted him in the War of the Ring until he was defeated by the [[Ents]] and Gandalf, who broke his staff and cast him out of the White Council. Saruman's death came at the hands of his servant [[Wormtongue]] in [[The Shire]], after the destruction of the [[One Ring]].

During the [[War of the Ring]], it was Gandalf who led the Free Peoples to victory over Sauron. He also defeated Saruman. After the destruction of Sauron, Gandalf left Middle-earth and went over the Sea, along with the [[Ring-bearer]]s and many of the Elves.

In the course of ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'', it is never made clear what exactly Gandalf and Saruman are (though Treebeard informs Merry and Pippin that they landed in the Grey Havens from across the Great Sea 2,000 years ago, little else is revealed in the narrative). In a certain point, Pippin seems to wonder what his friend Gandalf really was, and notices that it was the first time in his life he did so. The essay given in ''Unfinished Tales'' was originally begun in order to be included in the appendices of ''The Lord of the Rings'', but was not completed in time.

== Choice of the word ==
Conservative Christians tend to object to fantasy literature because it features [[magic]], and ''The Lord of the Rings'' is no exception since it features ''wizards'', or 'casters of spells.' However, Tolkien's Istari were not wizards in that common sense of the word, but rather more like 'wise men' or even 'messengers.' [[J.R.R. Tolkien|Tolkien]], a lifelong philologist and devoted Catholic, deliberately used the word wizard, as it connoted 'wisdom' and conveniently conveyed to the reader the 'other worldly' powers of the characters. These sentiments were best worded by Tolkien himself in the first paragraph of the essay ''The Istari'' in the [[Unfinished Tales]]:

<blockquote>Wizard ''is a translation of Quenya istar (Sindarin ''ithron''): one of the members of an "order" (as they call it), claiming to possess, and exhibiting, eminent knowledge of the history and nature of the World. The translation (through suitable in its relation to "wise" and other ancient words of knowing, similar to that of ''istar'' in Quenya) is not perhaps happy, since ''Heren'' Istarion or "Order of Wizards" was quite distinct from "wizards" and "magicians" of later legend; they belonged solely to the Third Age and then departed, and none save maybe Elrond, Círdan and Galadriel discovered of what kind they were or whence they came.''</blockquote>
{{wizards}}
[[Category:Maiar]]
[[Category:Characters in The Hobbit]]