Post by twilight on Oct 15, 2005 21:50:51 GMT -5
Here are correspondances for Tom Bombadil, as I see it. As you see I've tried to imitate Laurasia's style in the form so it is clear. I would love to hear what other associations people have with this character.
Ranking
Tom lives in the Old Forest in the Withywindle Valley with Goldberry, the Riverdaughter. He is eldest in Middle Earth, and saw the Elves and Men awake, and their cities rise and fall, and the land change. Gandalf says he will be the LAST TO LEAVE, or FALL. He saves the Hobbits from a spell of fatigue and Old Man Willow, who had trapped Merry and Pipin. He gives the Hobbits refuge in his house for a few days and nights. Here they are safe from harm. Tom tells them stories of ancient times, of kings, of the land, and of trees, whose hearts he understands. He teaches the Hobbits a A SONG TO CALL FOR AID, so long as they are in the boarders of his land
“Ho Tom Bombadil, Tom Bombadillo!
By water ,wood and hill, by the reed and willow
By fire, sun and moon, harken now and hear us!
Come, Tom Bombadil, for our need is near us!”
Frodo calls out to him using this song when he, Sam, Merry, and Pippin and trapped by wights on the Barrow-downs. Tom comes and RESCUES THEM once again and sees them SAFELY TO THE BOARDERS OF HIS LAND.
Correspondances
Tom is carefree and content in his land. He knows all about the FOREST and can curtail the malice of the trees. THE RING WHICH PROMISES POWER TO ITS POSSESSOR HAS NO POWER OVER HIM. Tom is a GUARDIAN in a sense, but he does not seek us out. If we call him, he may come, but he reminds us also that we must take our journeys on our own, and HE CAN ONLY HELP US GET SO FAR. A song can call him, if we are still within his reach, but it is not a fancy, polished song, but one of his own kind: SIMPLE, yet DIRECT, almost like a children’s nursery rhym that holds a HIDDEN POWER. Tom himself is a hidden power living in the forest with only Goldberry; even Elrond forgets him. But somehow he knows about the world outside, and remembers the history of the Kings and the Elves and the Land. He is a symbol of MEMORY, and KNOWLEDGE. He has the power of ENDURANCE, and INDEPENDANCE; “he is his own master” (says Gandalf at the Council of Elrond). His Element is, of course EARTH.
Ranking
Tom lives in the Old Forest in the Withywindle Valley with Goldberry, the Riverdaughter. He is eldest in Middle Earth, and saw the Elves and Men awake, and their cities rise and fall, and the land change. Gandalf says he will be the LAST TO LEAVE, or FALL. He saves the Hobbits from a spell of fatigue and Old Man Willow, who had trapped Merry and Pipin. He gives the Hobbits refuge in his house for a few days and nights. Here they are safe from harm. Tom tells them stories of ancient times, of kings, of the land, and of trees, whose hearts he understands. He teaches the Hobbits a A SONG TO CALL FOR AID, so long as they are in the boarders of his land
“Ho Tom Bombadil, Tom Bombadillo!
By water ,wood and hill, by the reed and willow
By fire, sun and moon, harken now and hear us!
Come, Tom Bombadil, for our need is near us!”
Frodo calls out to him using this song when he, Sam, Merry, and Pippin and trapped by wights on the Barrow-downs. Tom comes and RESCUES THEM once again and sees them SAFELY TO THE BOARDERS OF HIS LAND.
Correspondances
Tom is carefree and content in his land. He knows all about the FOREST and can curtail the malice of the trees. THE RING WHICH PROMISES POWER TO ITS POSSESSOR HAS NO POWER OVER HIM. Tom is a GUARDIAN in a sense, but he does not seek us out. If we call him, he may come, but he reminds us also that we must take our journeys on our own, and HE CAN ONLY HELP US GET SO FAR. A song can call him, if we are still within his reach, but it is not a fancy, polished song, but one of his own kind: SIMPLE, yet DIRECT, almost like a children’s nursery rhym that holds a HIDDEN POWER. Tom himself is a hidden power living in the forest with only Goldberry; even Elrond forgets him. But somehow he knows about the world outside, and remembers the history of the Kings and the Elves and the Land. He is a symbol of MEMORY, and KNOWLEDGE. He has the power of ENDURANCE, and INDEPENDANCE; “he is his own master” (says Gandalf at the Council of Elrond). His Element is, of course EARTH.