bombadils influence on our reading of the narrative

[Lalwendë]

but then I don't go much for magic and old religion either (apart form a fondness for the Cerne Giant ...

Perhaps the purpose of the Cerne Giant was to make you think in exactly that way...

Essex makes a good point about Merry's sword coming from the Barrow. I wonder if Tolkien had this in mind all along, or if it was a happy coincidence arising from the story?