Who is Tom Bombadil?

This is a revised and updated version of a video first published in March 2020

Buddy, your narration is so pleasing. Your tone of voice, your vocabulary and intonation... it's all spot on!

That moment when you realize that Tom Bombadil is ‘older than old’ simply because the character was developed before the story of middle earth itself XD.

My implicit take on Tom Bombadill is that he is an ideal or principle, perhaps the opposite of Ungoliant. Both are living manifestations of an ideals. One of the void, darkness, greed and gluttony/hinger. The other of joy, delight, contentedness, and singing.

So - in this explanation- Bombadil is something like a fully enlightened Buddha. Beyond desire, simply enjoying existence in a sort of benign compassion.

He's a merry fellow.

Tom bombadil is the Avatar of the music of the Ainur. that's why he can say he was there before anything else in Middle Earth. He's always singing, and his power is revealed in verse and Rhyme.

While it is a shame we don’t ever get to see him in film form- in a way, I feel that is a great positive. I fear all directors would do him little justice, and would present him as something either heavily inaccurate, or embarrassingly misinterpreted.

Thanks for making these Robert. Brilliant insight into LoTRs

Thank you for enriching my experience of this world of Tolkien Robert. Been a pleasure reacquainting myself with Middle Earth after many years away, helped along by your thoughtful commentary

In all my years of loving the Legendarium and pondering the enigma of Bombadil, this is perhaps the most satisfying exploration of the character I’ve heard. Thanks for sharing these thoughts!

From my perspective, as I read the various books, he came off to me as the essence of Whimsy. He did because he desired to, but without goal or malice.

Notice everthing that crosses your path. If they have need, help them to the best of your ability. And never forget to enjoy your path as often as you can.

a silly thought just popped up while watching the video, Gandalf bringing Pipe Weed to the undying lands, and becoming a farmer of sorts just to have a good smoke here and there.

Everyone always asks; "Who is Tom Bombadil?", never "How is Tom Bombadil?"

Tom Bombadil, just seems like 'Brother Nature' to me. The Green Man of the Woods is maybe the inspiration for this character. 😊

Best take I've ever heard on this enigma. The framing of LOTR as "two factions, one good one evil, seeking control" and TB as a being uninterested in control, is brilliant.

I guess I missed the old video, but I've been binging everything and was literally wondering, just yesterday, where he was! I watched the movies before I read the Lord of the Rings. I absolutely fell in love with the book through Tom. I've read that he is the physical representation of the world itself. "Old Tom Bombadil is a merry fellow, Bright blue his jacket is, and his boots are yellow. None has ever caught him yet, for Tom, he is the master: His songs are the stronger songs, and his feet are faster."

Man, among many excellent analyses, this one of yours stands tall among them.

BEST video I've seen on Tom Bombadil. Well done!