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***Mithadan*** · 12-05-2000, 08:50 AM

<font face="Verdana"><table><TR><TD><FONT SIZE="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Shade of Carn Dûm
Posts: 370</TD><TD></TD></TR></TABLE>
<img src="http://www.barrowdowns.com/images/posticons/bluepal.jpg" align=absmiddle> Re: Tom Bombadil

There's an old joke from a Woody Allen movie, where Allen is speaking to a date in line at a movie theater about the hidden meaning of something written by Marshall MacCluen (sp?) when the man steanding in front of them contests Allen's interpretation. Allen responds with something along the lines of "who the hell are you?" and the man responds "But I am Marshall MacCluen." Woody answers "You don't know what you're talking about." Similar joke, a fan is telling Bob Dylan how deep and inspiring his music is and Dylan responds "I just wanted it to rhyme."

Yes. JRRT said Tom's an "enigma". But his writing is deep and inspiring and people will tend to interpret his work and fill in the gaps. Tom's one of the gaps (although, as I argued above, he didn't have to be). I am perfectly satisfied to read and accept what's written and let Tom be. Until I started frequenting these boards I didn't really care who Tom was (and still really don't). But when others start suggesting that Tom is what he really can't be (JRRT in Letters expressly states that Eru never entered Arda; Tom can't be Aule because their personalities and purposes are different, etc.) I can't resist weighing in with a simple solution consonant with JRRT's mythos.

In the past I've tried sticking with "Tom's an enigma, just leave him be" but its like telling someone not to think about pink elephants. <img src=smile.gif ALT="

">

BTW, does a Balrog have wings? <img src=tongue.gif ALT=":b">

--Mithadan--
"The Silmarils with living light
were kindled clear, and waxing bright
shone like stars that in the North
above the reek of earth leap forth." </p>

12-05-2000, 08:50 AM	#31
*Mithadan* Spirit of Mist Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Tol Eressea Posts: 3,314	<font face="Verdana"><table><TR><TD><FONT SIZE="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Shade of Carn Dûm Posts: 370</TD><TD></TD></TR></TABLE> <img src="http://www.barrowdowns.com/images/posticons/bluepal.jpg" align=absmiddle> Re: Tom Bombadil There's an old joke from a Woody Allen movie, where Allen is speaking to a date in line at a movie theater about the hidden meaning of something written by Marshall MacCluen (sp?) when the man steanding in front of them contests Allen's interpretation. Allen responds with something along the lines of "who the hell are you?" and the man responds "But I am Marshall MacCluen." Woody answers "You don't know what you're talking about." Similar joke, a fan is telling Bob Dylan how deep and inspiring his music is and Dylan responds "I just wanted it to rhyme." Yes. JRRT said Tom's an "enigma". But his writing is deep and inspiring and people will tend to interpret his work and fill in the gaps. Tom's one of the gaps (although, as I argued above, he didn't have to be). I am perfectly satisfied to read and accept what's written and let Tom be. Until I started frequenting these boards I didn't really care who Tom was (and still really don't). But when others start suggesting that Tom is what he really can't be (JRRT in Letters expressly states that Eru never entered Arda; Tom can't be Aule because their personalities and purposes are different, etc.) I can't resist weighing in with a simple solution consonant with JRRT's mythos. In the past I've tried sticking with "Tom's an enigma, just leave him be" but its like telling someone not to think about pink elephants. <img src=smile.gif ALT=""> BTW, does a Balrog have wings? <img src=tongue.gif ALT=":b"> --Mithadan-- "The Silmarils with living light were kindled clear, and waxing bright shone like stars that in the North above the reek of earth leap forth." </p> __________________ Beleriand, Beleriand, the borders of the Elven-land.