Art!

[Inziladun]

While I don't mind ruminating over whether Balrogs have wings, or what Tom Bombadil really was, I draw the line at imparting metaphor and allegory to these works. That's the reason I insist on an 'in-story' explanation for Tom. Breaking down a story while trying to figure out a 'hidden' meaning or intent by the author has always seemed to me a Sarumanish thing to do. And Gandalf didn't care much for such activity.

'And he that breaks a thing to find out what it is has left the path of wisdom.'

I very much enjoy talking about in-story topics, such as the trade-route questions, the origins of Barrow-wights, and whether Thingol was a wise king.
I get no insight from prying into the author's head looking for all the answers though. The text usually has answers enough, and when it doesn't, that's where individual interpretations, which are virtually limitless in their variety, come into play to keep things interesting. Any one seen the movie Dead Poet's Society?