bombadils influence on our reading of the narrative

[Essex]

I also love the old forest / bombadil chapters, and have already given my point on this thread a few months back. But I can't let Boromir's point lie

Where they are different is Treebeard does something to help out in the War, Bombadil doesn't.

Bombadil indirectly saves Middle-earth. I've said this about a million times already so sorry if you've already read this dirge.....

Hobbits get caught by Wight

Bombail saves the hobbits (saves middle-earth for the first time - the wights had been woken up by the Witch King's presence. what would happen when the wight got the Ring? I'll leave the math to you....)

Bombadil gives Merry his Sword from the barrow

Merry helps slay the Witch King with the sword (bombadil has indirectly possible saved Minas Tirith as an aside)

No death of Witch King - no argument between the two Orc trackers who would have then undoubtedly found Frodo and Sam. Capture of Frodo, capture of Ring, end of Middle-earth as we know it.

Well done Bombadil - You helped save Middle-earth.....