Well I have some questions about this Tom Bombadil character.

a) When Frodo and co. come to his house he knows a bit about them already and he says that he owes his knowledge to Farmer Maggot and the Elves. But how could he have gotten information from Farmer Maggot who had only spoken to Frodo and co. a few days before. I'm probably overthinking this, well I know that I'm overthinking it but I just don't see how he could have spoken to him in that short time span.

b) Why doesn't Tom dissapear when he puts on the ring??? And why does it seem like he can see Frodo when he's wearing the ring?? What's so special about him. Sure he's a Maia but so is Gandalf so I'm very confused about this. Tolkien never gives an explanation for this which frustrates me.

Does anyone have any theories?

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((Well, we don't even know for sure he's a Maia, do we? Though the evidence does seem to point that way))
I don't know about (a), but for (b), Gandalf (I think...) says that the Ring has no power over him. He is his own master, so the Ring neither gives him power or turns him invisible. (By the way, I think the fact that he isn't even tempted by the Ring points to maybe him not even being a Maia, since Gandalf was a Maia too and he was tempted to take it. I doubt we'll ever know for sure. )

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Good point Gloredhel, I agree. BTW, I don't think Tom is a Maia, but evidence does seem to suggest that he is. To answer a)It states in FotR that Frodo used to live near Farmer Maggot, and would get into mischief there, so maybe that is why Farmer Maggot knows a bit about them. Plus, the Baggins had become pretty famous in the Shire ever since Bilbo came back after his adventure with Gandalf and the dwarves. News probably spread about Bilbo and all his close relations including Frodo, Bilbo's "nephew" so to speak.

Yes, the evidence does point to his being something great like a Maia, as you've pointed out. Interesting points you've all laid out - I've never even thought about anything like this before.

How strange.

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My question was more how Tom had gotten information from Farmer Maggot so soon after about Frodo leaving the Shire. It's not possible that inbetween the time Frodo, Sam, Merry and Pippin arrived at Farmer Maggot's and the time they arrived at Tom Bombadil's the two of them could have spoken. Lol it doesn't actually matter it was a stupid question. I get frustrated over stupid little things.

Yes I forgot that Tom might not be a Maia. I don't get what else he could be though. He came before the elves we know that (he says so when Frodo is there). And he wasn't affected by the ring. So he's not a Maia, he's not an elf, he's not a dwarf or a hobbit obviously, or a human.....so I guess he's a....Tom?

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lol, so it seems

I'm quite courious about him, he's so different, a bit of that Tolkien randomness that appears in all his stories

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There is only one thing that I dread: not to be worthy of my sufferings.

So sorry about the answer I gave. I just got on the whole how does Tom know about Frodo and stuck with it. To answer the question you actually asked..........I don't know. Tom can be anywhere at anytime it seems like so he could have visited Farmer Maggot and then as he was coming back home, came upon Frodo,Sam,Merry, and Pippin by the stream. Really, that isn't an answer just a kind of idea.

I just think Tom is a very cool guy





Look at me! I'm a dwarf!

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hmmmm.....that's what I think! he's a Tom. Interestingly put!
Well, Maggot I seem to remember something about Tom being friends with Maggot, and I think Maggot realises more than he says, maybe, and he realises that Tom is improtant and wise, so he goes directly to Maggot's house in the morning. Remember the hobbits were lost in the forest for a while, weren't they?
((I have been doing some thinking about this, so that's why I didn't come out with this answer at first...)

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Merry had a bit trouble finding the path now and then and the Willow Tree sorta held them up but they exacty get lost. Tom could've easily went and saw Maggot and returned to his house before he found Frodo and Co. atleast I figure he would be able to and that he probably knows secrets of the forest as well. I think Tom wasn't something that J.R.R. Tolkien futered in his stories. He might even wanted us to wonder and come up with our own opinons. I think Tom was one of the few First people on Middle Earth. I think he's a human but immortal. He's suppose to be his own master though so in some ways I don't think he's suppose to be in any catagories.

Yes good point, I kinda forgot about how long they were in the forest. And it makes sense cause Tom seemed to have known Farmer Maggot before so yeah I got it now



That's the feeling that I'm getting the more that I think about it. Tom isn't meant to be in any category. He's clearly been around for a long time but he doesn't seem to fit in with the Maiar and the Valar. Tolkien sure put enough unclear things in the books to keep fans debating for years lol.

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I don't think I'd like it any other way though. (It's fun debating these type of thing with other Tolkien fans!)

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There is only one thing that I dread: not to be worthy of my sufferings.

That's true! If we knew what exactly Tom was and a few other things in the story that are still mysteries to us I don't think it would be as insquisitet (sorry I'm not sure what the right word is let alone the spelling) and you would probably know to much of what was to happen. I like how the stories never really turned how you expected them to.

Oh me too! Definately. I didn't mean to sound annoyed about it or anything before.

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I haven't been to this thread before. Thank you all for sharing such varied and interesting views on Tom!
I've always seen Tom as ... well, out of category as someone stated, and I agree that Tolkien made him this way on purpose! I see him as some kind of 'spirit' in a physical way.... I mean, it bugs me too that I don't know more of Tom but at the same time I have the feeling that I'm not allowed....as if all the mystery that surrounds him also is him, makes him what he is....so if we knew everything about him, he wouldn't be Tom...or anything else.... Maybe it's like he is supposed to be 'created' or living within each persons imagination....we all have different opinions on him and that's what makes him become what he is.... it's really hard to explain and I'm rambling.... To answer the question. I think Tom knows everything because he's not 'real'. He's so close connected to the earth that he can 'blend in' with it and be everywhere at the same time as well as only one place a a time... sounds wierd?

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No it doesn't sound weird at all! I completely get what you're saying and I agree with you. I don't really have anything to add. I think we basically have him covered...we don't know what he is, we'll never know what he is, and that's what makes him what he is.

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{Beri}