Goldberry

[Haradrim]

I didnt mean that he created her by "creating" her I meant that his love for the land and his care for it cause the land to give something back to him. SO he "created" her in a really indrect way.

[HLGStrider]

Is there any example of that happening in Tolkien, however? It seems foreign to the entire world.

[Attalus]

Originally Posted by HLGStrider

Is there any example of that happening in Tolkien, however? It seems foreign to the entire world.

Nope, there's not, and yep, it is.

[Manveru]

for those of you that know how tolkien wrote the lotr (im too lazy to explain it now), perhaps he created tom and goldberry when he still had no idea where his story was going. but he liked them so much he kept them in the later drafts and decided to leave them as mysterious beings

[Attalus]

Originally Posted by Manveru

for those of you that know how tolkien wrote the lotr (im too lazy to explain it now), perhaps he created tom and goldberry when he still had no idea where his story was going. but he liked them so much he kept them in the later drafts and decided to leave them as mysterious beings

This is definitely supported in the Letters.

[Haradrim]

ya know since there is no actual proof of what Tom and GOldberry is I dont think there is a right or wrong answer. Im just telling what I think. And just for my own reference who wrote Letters? Christopher or J.R.R?

[Olmer]

Originally Posted by Manveru

for those of you that know how tolkien wrote the lotr (im too lazy to explain it now), perhaps he created tom and goldberry when he still had no idea where his story was going. but he liked them so much he kept them in the later drafts and decided to leave them as mysterious beings

He created Tom ( without perhaps) much earlier than LOTR and, yes, he liked him much. " I put him in becauseI had already "invented" him independedly and wanted an "adventure" on the way."(Lett.#153)

Originally Posted by Haradrim

And just for my own reference who wrote Letters? Christopher or J.R.R?

If the book titled "The Letters of J.R.R.Tolkien", whose letters, do you think,in it?
But commentaries and annotations to this letters made by Humphrey Carpenter with an assistance of Christopher Tolkien. Fo your own reference I would highly recommend to read the book.You will find a lot of revelations in it.

[Attalus]

You will also find, in Letter 144, Tolkien's statement:

And even in a mythical Age, there must be some enigmas, as there always are. Tom Bombadil is one (intentionally).

[Haradrim]

I have a lot more to read before letters. I have to finish Sil. Almost done! Then I want to read the big long series of books by christopher tolkien. I think they are called HoME. Then I will read letters. OS I expect by the time I am 50 they will be done.

[Manveru]

ya when im done the history of middle-earth ill read the letters. but right now im still finishing the book of lost tales part 1, so it'll probably be a couple years.

[Olmer]

IMHO the best way is to read "The Letters" right after the "LOTR" and "Silmarills" because it contains a lot of explanations about events in the books and its characters.This way it much easier to grasp the whole idea of the history of Middle -earth, which helps you without difficulty to follow a quite confusing narrative of the latter work of Tolkien edited by Christopher.

[Attalus]

I agree with Olmer. *Faints* The Letters are much, much more important and informative than the HoME.

[Last Child of Ungoliant]

you know, when i first read fotr, i thought that goldberry was an elf























please don't laugh at me

[LickTheEnvelope]

I think HLGStrider said it best with:

They were created simultaneously as a working pair.

That's the way I saw the two, more as a cohesive 'one.' This, I beleive, is represented when they dance and sing etc. during the Dinners.

Therefor, someone was saying that Tom keeps Goldberry alive. I beleive this is true, but I think it's reasonable to assume that Goldberry may play a huge role in keeping Tom 'alive.'

[Pytt]

that is the way I see them too, as a working pair. I can't realy get used to the thought about Tom created her. that don't seem right to me. but what Merrygold is, I have no idea about. I think she is some personification of nature. and that she and Tom are indivudal from each other, yet they are tied togheter.

[Manveru]

merrigold eh?

[Pytt]

oh damn
a little norwegian hope you let it pass...

[Attalus]

Originally Posted by LickTheEnvelope

I think HLGStrider said it best with:


That's the way I saw the two, more as a cohesive 'one.' This, I beleive, is represented when they dance and sing etc. during the Dinners.

Therefor, someone was saying that Tom keeps Goldberry alive. I beleive this is true, but I think it's reasonable to assume that Goldberry may play a huge role in keeping Tom 'alive.'

The poem says that he found her. "The land" cannot create anything, especially not a rational being. Goldberry was, as were we all, created by Iluvatar.

[ItalianLegolas]

I think that Bombadil was the embodiment of 'Father Earth', so then Goldberry, would be the embodiment of 'Mother Earth'

[inked]

An inversion then of the "Sky Father" and "Earth Mother" motif? That would have been a very Tolkien-ish touch at that!