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To: The Drowning Witch
He's like a pan-dimensional being who just "is".

I'm not sure what you mean by this... but I got a strange vision of white mice. Brockian Ultra Cricket, anyone?

And since that is totally off-subject, let me justify my post a little. Tom, according to Tolkien, is the "manifestation of the Oxford countryside" but I'm not really sure what that means. Or how it relates to Middle-Earth, really. While I might argue that he seems to best fit the Maia category, in reality he doesn't quite fit any box, which is probably exactly what Tolkien intended. Why don't we just say that Tom is - he's one of a kind, not entirely understandable by human - or hobbit! - standards, and he's got his own purpose, plans, and destiny. After all, in a world with Elves, Dwarves, dragons and Balrogs, why is Bombadil weird?

Does anyone know exactly what a 'Green Man' is? I've read a few different description of these folklore creatures, and they might be sort of Bombadilesque beasties.

Oh, and as for Goldberry, she is the River-daughter, probably a minor Maia (my belief) but possibly some sort of nymph. There aren't any indications of nymphs or fauns in Tolkien, but as I said before, why not?

102 posted on 03/16/2002 5:04:43 PM PST by JenB
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To: JenB
I hope D. Witch is a Hitchhikers Guide fan, because that was a good line.

The rest of your interpretation is great too. As a lover of Bombadil, and the River-Daughter, I am comfortable with just letting him be whatever he is. But I am impressed with your ability to allow for vagueness! Your reputation as a strict historian now has to make room for "I don't know and it doesn't really matter". Hi! Ho! Merry Dol!

104 posted on 03/16/2002 5:19:13 PM PST by HairOfTheDog
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To: JenB
Description of Green Man here; sounds like a human head surrounded by, or growing out of, leaves........does sound a bit Bombadillesque (Bombadillion? Bombadillionish? Bombastic?)

I've been searching for images of Ol' Tom......sketches, artist's renderings, whatever.....but no luck. Closest I came was a painting of Goldberry and another of Tom's house (which looked exactly as I picture it.)

114 posted on 03/17/2002 5:39:18 PM PST by MozartLover
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