Linked Questions
20 questions linked to/from Who or what was Tom Bombadil?
6
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What was the out-of-universe purpose of Tom Bombadil? [duplicate]
While reading this answer on who/what Tom Bombadil was, I started wondering what Tolkien's intention for him was and why he was created the way he was? So, specifically
What did Tom represent?
Why ...
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3
votes
0
answers
139
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Is Bombadil a maiar like Gandalf? [duplicate]
In Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King on the way to returning to the Shire Gandalf tells the hobbits that:
But if you would know, I am turning aside soon. I am going to have a long talk with ...
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58
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13
answers
35k
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Who or what is the oldest sentient being in Tolkien's lore?
The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, The Silmarillion, The Histories of Middle Earth, all lore related to this universe is acceptable fodder. Regardless of their power, susceptibility to The One Ring, ...
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80
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In Tolkien's opinion, does Tom Bombadil (and the concept of pacifism) actually hold any power?
Before you read and reply to my musings, please bear in mind as I want to make clear, I am not trying to debate whether pacifism is good or bad in the real world, I am just putting out my ...
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66
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9
answers
11k
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Are there any more races in Middle-earth?
Not counting orcs, Balrogs, and the like. Are there any more diplomatic races found in the history of Middle-earth? Any singular or group of historical significance?
The ones we're obviously aware of:
...
- 6,338
65
votes
5
answers
15k
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Who's older: Treebeard or Tom Bombadil?
Tom Bombadil says this to the hobbits, in reply to the question "who are you?":
(...) But you are young and I am old. Eldest, that’s what I am. Mark my words, my friends: Tom was here before the ...
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22
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4
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Is there any hint that some of the beings in Tolkien's lore may have survived into "our" times?
In Tolkien's lore, they are many very old beings. Is there any indication that some or even one would have been truly immortal and survived into what we would call "our" history or Age? Galadriel, ...
- 8,009
36
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3
answers
5k
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What was the first sentient race that awoke on Arda?
Some background: Tolkien's history of elves singing and ents walking and talking.
One of the foundations of Tolkien's mythology is the Elves being the Firstborn. The Dwarves are even put back to ...
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13
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4
answers
4k
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Who is the older of the two, Goldberry or Tom Bombadil?
Who is the older of two, Goldberry or Tom Bombadil? Tom found her long ago,but she was there for him to find, couldn't she be older than him?
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18
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4
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Did Tom Bombadil deliberately and specifically choose the Barrow weapons given to the Hobbits?
Did he set the stage ahead of time so that Merry could use his Barrow dagger to break the spell that made the Witch King invulnerable to mortal men?
Tom went up to the mound, and looked through the ...
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28
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1
answer
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What was the purpose of the creation of the Ents?
The Ents were walking and talking tree-like beings who dwelled in Forests, most famously Fangorn Forest. What was the original purpose for Ents in Middle-Earth?
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21
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2
answers
5k
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What are the powers shown by the Rings of Power?
We all know that "almost every creature" who puts on the One ring became invisible and that the creator (Sauron) can use it to control the other rings.
But the other rings:
The Nine
The Seven
The ...
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9
votes
3
answers
3k
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How did Tom Bombadil respond to Frodo's call so fast?
When Frodo was in the Barrow, He sang Bombadil's rhyme. This rhyme summoned Bombadil to help them. How was Bombadil able to come within a moments notice? If Bombadil was at his house wouldn't it take ...
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21
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1
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Were there Gnomes in any of Tolkien's works?
Based on these questions/answers, 1, 2, 3, 4, it appears that the Sindarin language was originally called Gnomish, which implies that Gnomes were an intended race or creature for the Middle-earth ...
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7
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3
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Why did Eru in LOTR create so many species?
In looking at this question it brings to mind, in-universe (all of JRT writings) did he ever say why Eru created multiple species that can communicate?
Elves, Hobbits, Dwarfs?
Was it just to make the ...
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