/lit/ - Literature

the thing with Tom Bombadil is that he's ridiculous, childish (which, granted, fits the beginning of LoTR) and is there just because Tolkien wanted to give his old character (inspired by his son's toys, no less) a cameo
also doesn't help the fact that the clown is implied to be one of the most powerful beings in Arda

Funnily enough, that's EXACTLY where I am. Basically, what I was told, and what made sense for me, was that he was supposed to represent that their was far more ancient and powerful things in Middle Earth then then Sauron and the Ring, and those things are far less petty then them, and just enjoy life and nature.

A lot of modern readers can't take anything seriously unless it's grimdark and srs bsns. Because we're used to melodramatic heroes and villains yelling at each DBZ style before having a climactic battle. The notion that the most powerful being in creation is a happy midget who would rather sing than take over the world goes against everything we've ever learned about powerful beings.

Personally I thought he was a cool character and that whole scene with the trees forcing them deeper and deeper into the forest was interesting. And the tales of the moving forest etc.

I remember skipping past most of the singing when i read LOTR years ago. If i read it again i'd probably take the time to read it properly.

Tom Bombadil just seems like a happy old hippy to me, I don't understand all the hate, though I guess he's a bit of a faggot.

>>760920
>faggot

He's tapping that river bitch.

>>760923
This. He's fucking the daughter of the River, the hottest woman in the world.

>>760923
He gives them swords, the swords are representative of his PENIS
Just kidding though, I don't mean faggot in an entirely homosexual way, just like he's flowery and goofy and kind of annoying

After seeing the movies, and now reading the books, I really do think Frodo and Sam are gay. Not in the "LOLFAGS" way, but in the sense that's legitimately how I interpret the charecters. I doubt that's what Tolkein intended, but it's what I can't help but take out of it.

>>760917
while you may have a point about modern fiction becoming John Woo movie rip-offs, Bombadil is just stupid. He dresses, talks and acts like a pot-headed clown, and him being that powerful fucked the plot in a way that Tolkien himself needed to address and to me sounded quite the lame excuse

>>760927

From what I read Sam is supposed to be like an officer's assistant in the British military. His entire purpose in life is so help his master and to be absolutely loyal to the end. From our point of view, we see that as being subserviently homosexual. But from the British point of view in Tolkien's time, that was a thing of great honor.

>>760928
I don't think you read it very carefully. Tolkien addressed it and it worked in the context of the story.

>>760937
Or he just disagrees.

>>760931
Yeah, I felt it'd be something like that. Still, when your talking about total subservience and loyalty to another man, homosexual undertones have to exist, even if not expressed.

>>760899

omg u totally wont believe this its like insane dude http://tinyurl.com/26ly2dn i lullzed several hours on dat thang lulzzzz 2383b013c3b189d88819c4b6903b3fbe

>>760899

omg u totally wont believe this its like insane dude http://tinyurl.com/26ly2dn i lullzed several hours on dat thang lulzzzz 1a66ada2cac1075bdbff5ebe7d5dc8bb

>>760898

omg u totally wont believe this its like insane dude http://tinyurl.com/26ly2dn i lullzed several hours on dat thang lulzzzz 2de447854f33014ff586cd74d7c64d49

Tom Bombadail was a sort of pagan god or personification of forces of the nature.
He say he not elf and not mayar, but ancient too. He was a Wilderness,
Also, if you dont know, Tolkien was catolic (or something), and this apart with Tom sends the reader to erler west-christian pagan-to-christ work like a "Song of Nibhelung".
And beacos of all of this Tom was not good and not bad. BUT, probably In outlook of heroes, he was too wild and furry to be good and reliable camrad. He dont love humans or any race, he love and save only one thing - his woods.
And in future he can kill humans or hobbits as easy as hi kill orcs and vargens.

>>760900

omg u totally wont believe this its like insane dude http://tinyurl.com/26ly2dn i lullzed several hours on dat thang lulzzzz 40f75284311e13d4442c024262300fe5

>>760997

Do spambot owners really think we talk like this?

>>761000
look at b.

he isnt too far off.

>>761000
Spam bot dont think.

>>760898

omg u totally wont believe this its like insane dude http://tinyurl.com/26ly2dn i lullzed several hours on dat thang lulzzzz 1b57a6d127cef676f70d82de69f1623f

o rly

bump

this shit is great, thanks OP

TOM BOMBADILL, TOM BOMBADILL-O

>>764927
what's great?

THAT IS ONE OF MY MAH FAVORITE PARTS.

Tom Bombadil is like the Middle Earth version of Tommy Chong.

The haters probably hate The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe too because it's for children.

Tom is actually Eru Illuvatar.

>>766704

I hate TLTWATW because it's loaded with Christian Allegories.

LotR sucks.
Read The Mabinogion, Fafhrd & the Gray Mouser stories, The Broken Sword & Three Hearts and Three Lions, etc

>>766712
That's a really interesting take. Does Tolkien say anything to that effect anywhere?

Arise chicken, arise.

Because I couldn't take the rest of the series into any
serious consideration. One ring to rule them all and one
hippie in the forest to completely nullify it's importance.

I love imagining Goldberry getting absolutely fucking SLAMMED by Tom Bombadil.

Tom Bombadill was a character from some earlier story he used to tell his children, and is the LOTOR only as an inside joke to his kids. As a serious reader, you should skip his part like the trash they are.

Also he is not Eru Illuvatar. although a lot of people think that because of some weird turn of phrase Tolkien used, but it was just a mistake that came over from importing it from the earlier childrens story about Tom.

Theres articles everywhere explaining this, i just cant be bothered to find them for you. Sorry.

>>767705
u mad