>Sings Songs>Is a completely unknown race >Has a fairy wife>Can hold a demonic ring and shrink it>He doesn't give af>Doesn't fit in the story>Defies logicIs he Eru Illuvatar or Tolkien taking the piss? whatever he is reminds me of a Leprechaun that's based
It is stated that he sneaked into Erú's creation just like Ungoliant, so the implication is that he precedes the world.
Tom Bombadil feels like a fan fiction character written by a 10 year old
>>24958855he's meant to add texture to the world. a lot of things in middle-earth are well-documented and understood, but not everything, and there's always a fey magic inside old forestsyou are meant to obsess over him
>>24960000Checked
>>24958877IIRC Tolkien had actually read the trinity of American weird: Howard, Lovecraft, and Smith. He liked Howard and detested Smith.I scent some Lovecraft influence in his comments about the roots of the Earth being "gnawed by nameless things".
>>24958855He's just a powerful Maia
At night demonic trees besiege his house but can not enter.When his name is spoken or a melody is played he arrives.If tolkien didn't have the guy rescue the protagonist he would be seen as controller of the horrors of root and leaf.
>A redbearded colossus of pure muscle charges out of the wilderness, booming "HEY DOL! MERRY DOL! RING A DONG DILLO!">1950s readers: glorious>2020s readers: what the fuck is going on
It’s unfortunate that Tolkien is read to children. Tom Bombadil is a self insert that makes 12 year olds think it’s ok to insert yourself as an all powerful redditlord in your story. That’s why all fanfiction written by teenagers online is so dogshit. Pre-Tolkien writers would have produced higher quality work, forced to consider carefully their characters, motivations, and plot without relying on a deus ex machina.
>>24958855I look like this and do this
>>24958855I just finished the first book and thought the whole thing was kind of surreal and strange compared to the movies.
>>24960077>"gnawed by nameless things".I always assumed that they are supposed to be Leviathans and other monsters birthed by Tiamat.
>>24960627Also the World Serpent.
>>24958855read fairy stories this stuff used to be normal people would talk about seeing this shit irl (i actually believe this)
>>24958855He is a noted war criminal if you read his tales. A general psychopath, Faustian really.
>>24960641The story of Arda is just the story of the ancient history of our world.
>>24960077> Lovecraft influence in his comments about the roots of the Earth being "gnawed by nameless things".It’s Yggdrasil being poisoned by Nidhögg you dingus. He lived and breathed the sagas and Welsh and Norman myths. He’s mined it explicitly for creatures and names, places and stories.
>>24961236>being a war criminal before the concepts of war crimes are formulatedJesus Christ anon.
>>24958855>cottagecore that just wants to be left aloneWhat is this unrealistic fantasy doing in a fantasy novel?
>>24960641I also believe this. At least in some capacity. This shit doesn’t just pop out of nowhere
