Tolkien Gateway - User contributions [en]

Dolmed

2026-07-05T16:15:02Z

Jwc31: Wording

{{sources}}{{cleanup}}
{{location infobox
| name=Mount Dolmed
| image=Peter Xavier Price - Mount Dolmed.jpg
| caption="Mount Dolmed" by [[Peter Xavier Price]]
| pronun=
| othernames=
| location=In the central parts of the [[Blue Mountains]]
| type=Mountain
| description=
| regions=
| towns=[[Belegost]] and [[Nogrod]] were built on Dolmed's slopes
| inhabitants=[[Firebeards]] [[Broadbeams]]
| created=
| destroyed=
| events=
}}
'''Mount Dolmed''' was a mountain in the [[Blue Mountains|Ered Luin]].

==History==
Mount Dolmed loomed over the only known pass from [[Eriador]] into [[Beleriand]]. According to the [[Dwarves]], it was here that the founders of the [[Broadbeams]] and the [[Firebeards]] established the Dwarven cities of [[Nogrod]] and [[Belegost]].

The two cities were established on the eastern side of the mountain. A little to the northeast of Dolmed was Belegost, and a little to the southeast was Nogrod.

In {{YT|1497}}, the [[First Battle of Beleriand]] was fought between the [[Elves]] and the forces of [[Morgoth]]. In the end, the Elves were victorious, and the surviving [[Orcs]] fled east toward the Ered Luin. There they were met and annihilated by the Dwarves.

Almost five hundred years later, the [[battle in the Thousand Caves]] occurred between the [[Elves of Doriath]] and the [[Dwarves of Nogrod]]. In {{FA|503}}, after returning from their victory in [[Menegroth]], the Dwarves were [[Battle of Sarn Athrad|ambushed]] and slaughtered at [[Sarn Athrad]]. After the battle, surviving Dwarves climbed the slopes of Mount Dolmed and were waylaid and slain by [[Ents]].

==Fate==
Some [[Tolkienists]] such as [[Robert Foster]] and [[Karen Fonstad]] speculate that after the [[War of Wrath]], Dolmed was destroyed when the Ered Luin were broken and the [[Gulf of Lune]] broke through it.<ref>[[Robert Foster]], ''[[The Complete Guide to Middle-earth]]'', page 89</ref><ref>[[Karen Wynn Fonstad]], ''[[The Atlas of Middle-earth]]'', p. 37</ref>

However, [[Ronald Kyrmse|Ronald E. Kyrmse]]<ref>[[Ronald Kyrmse]], "The Geographical Relation between Beleriand and Eriador" in ''[[Mallorn (journal)|Mallorn]]'' no. [[Mallorn 26|26]], September 1989, pp. 25–27</ref> and later [[Didier Willis]]<ref>[[Didier Willis]], Bulletin de géographie ''Hiswelóce'', special issue no. 1, Winter 1994 (French); [https://web.archive.org/web/20130314054356/http://www.jrrvf.com/hisweloke/site3/articles.php?lng=en&pg=41 Mystères géographiques n°1 : Mont Dolmed & cités naines] (c. 2000), [http://www.jrrvf.com/hisweloke/site3/index.php?lng=fr Hiwelokë], accessed March 23rd, 2011 (French); revised and augmented in "Du Beleriand aux confins de Rhûn" in ''[[Tolkien, le façonnement d'un monde]]'', vol. 2, 2014, pp. 197-230.</ref> independently noted a prominent unidentified mountain exactly on the location of Dolmed in the map of Beleriand as well as Mount [[Rerir]] to the north. This, coupled with a reinterpretation of Tolkien's maps, shows that Dolmed at least partially survived the devastation.

==Etymology==
''Dolmed'' contains the [[Sindarin]] words ''[[dol]]'' ("head") and ''mêd'' (wet)<ref>{{Cite web|articleurl=https://eldamo.org/content/words/word-342487273.html|articlename="Mêd"|author=Paul Strack|accessed=22 October 2024}}</ref>. The word ''dol'' is used often in Sindarin to refer to hills.

==Other versions of the legendarium==

In an early version, the mountain was called ''Mount Dolm''<ref>{{SM|4f}}, p.232.</ref>.

{{references}}
[[Category:Beleriand]]
[[Category:Mountains]]
[[Category:Sindarin locations]]
[[de:Dolmed]]
[[fi:Dolmedin vuori]]
[[fr:encyclo/geographie/reliefs/beleriand/mont dolmed]]

Musical chapters from The Lord of the Rings after the mythology of J. R. R. Tolkien, Op. 73

2026-07-05T13:07:46Z

Jwc31: Jwc31 moved page Musical chapters from The Lord of the Rings after the mythology of J. R. R. Tolkien, Op. 73 to Musical Chapters from The Lord of the Rings after the Mythology of J.R.R. Tolkien, Op. 73: Title needs corrected capitalization and italics.

#REDIRECT [[Musical Chapters from The Lord of the Rings after the Mythology of J.R.R. Tolkien, Op. 73]]

Musical Chapters from The Lord of the Rings after the Mythology of J.R.R. Tolkien, Op. 73

2026-07-05T13:07:46Z

''Musical Chapters from The Lord of the Rings after the mythology of J. R. R. Tolkien'' is an operatic cycle by composer [[Paul Corfield Godfrey]], written between the years 1967-2023. The composer originally planned a cycle of eleven compositions, two of which were to be devoted to ''The Hobbit.'' Initially, Godfrey completed only a few of the planned eleven pieces. When the recordings of [[The Fall of Gondolin, Op.49 (Opera)]], [[Beren and Lúthien, Op. 47 (Opera)]], and [[The Children of Húrin, Op. 48 (Opera)]] were released and the recordings of [[Fëanor, Op. 46 (Opera)]] and [[The War of Wrath, Op. 71 (Opera)]] were being prepared by Volante Opera Productions, Godfrey resumed his work and completed the cycle. The final work included six compositions, rather than the planned eleven, with three dedicated to ''The Lord of the Rings'' and two to ''The Hobbit''.

In 2024, the Tolkien Estate granted the rights to the composer to use the Tolkien texts from [[The Lord of the Rings|''The Lord of the Rings'']] and [[The Adventures of Tom Bombadil|''The Adventures of Tom Bombadil'']] to write a version of "[[The Sea-Bell]]."

This cycle is connected to Godfrey's other works, most notably [[Epic Scenes from The Silmarillion after the mythology of J. R. R. Tolkien (Complete)|''Epic Scenes from The Silmarillion after the mythology of J. R. R. Tolkien (Complete)'']] and [[Musical Chapters from The Hobbit after the mythology of J. R. R. Tolkien, Op. 8|''Musical Chapters from The Hobbit after the mythology of J. R. R. Tolkien, Op. 8'']].
[[Category:Classical music]]
[[Category:Albums]]
[[Category:Opera]]

Musical Chapters from The Lord of the Rings after the Mythology of J.R.R. Tolkien, Op. 73

2026-07-05T13:06:15Z

Jwc31: Article was overly detailed, shortened for clarity

First Age 545

2026-07-05T12:48:44Z

Jwc31:

{{ardayearheader|538|540|542|545|587|590|Second Age 1}}
*The [[War of Wrath]] - The [[Host of the Valar]], led by [[Eönwë]], reach [[Beleriand]] aboard ships made by the [[Teleri]]. The Great Battle against [[Morgoth]] begins.<ref>{{S|Earendil}}</ref><ref>{{WJ|Years}}, p. 346</ref>
*The [[Orcs]] are defeated and driven from the [[Falas|shores]] of [[West Beleriand]] by the [[Vanyar]], led by [[Ingwion]], son of King [[Ingwë]], at the [[Battle of Eglarest]].<ref>{{LR|AB}}, p. 144</ref>
{{references}}
[[Category:First Age years|0, First Age 0545]]

Kristine Larsen

2026-07-05T12:46:36Z

Jwc31: /* Bibliography */

'''Kristine Larsen''' is an American astronomer who teaches at Central Connecticut State University. She regularly presents and writes about the works of [[J.R.R. Tolkien]], often with an emphasis on the astronomy and cosmology of [[Middle-earth]]. Her articles have appeared in numerous journals including ''[[Mallorn]]'', ''[[Amon Hen]]'' and the ''[[Journal of Tolkien Research]]''.

==Bibliography==
===Articles===
*[[2005]]: [[Tolkien Studies: Volume 2|''Tolkien Studies'': Volume 2]]
**"A Definitive Identification of Tolkien's 'Borgil', An Astronomical and Literary Approach"
*[[2005]]: [[Mallorn 43|''Mallorn'' 43]]
**"Tolkien's Burning Briar - an astronomical explanation"
*[[2006]]: [[Mallorn 44|''Mallorn'' 44]]
**"Swords and sky stones: Meteoric iron in ''The Silmarillion''"
*[[2007]]: [[Tolkien Studies: Volume 4|''Tolkien Studies'': Volume 4]]
**"Sauron, Mount Doom, and Elvish Moths: The Influence of Tolkien on Modern Science"
*[[2008]]: [[Amon Hen 209|''Amon Hen'' 209]]
**"Rose-stained in the Sunset"
*[[2008]]: [[Mallorn 45|''Mallorn'' 45]]
**"(V)Arda Marred - The Evolution of the Queen of the Stars"
*[[2008]]: ''[[The Ring Goes Ever On: Proceedings of the Tolkien 2005 Conference]]''
**"A Little Earth of His Own: Tolkien's Lunar Creation Myths"
*[[2009]]: [[Mallorn 48|''Mallorn'' 48]]
**"The Stone of Erech and the Black Stone of Ka'aba: meteorite or 'meteor-wrong'?"
*[[2010]]: [[Mallorn 49|''Mallorn'' 49]]
**"The words of Húrin and Morgoth: microcosm, macrocosm and the later legendarium"
*[[2010]]: ''[[Music in Middle-earth]]''
**"'Behold Your Music!': The Themes of Ilúvatar, the Song of Aslan, and the Real Music of the Spheres"
*[[2010]]: [[Silver Leaves 3|''Silver Leaves'' 3]]
**"Silmaril or Simulacrum? Simulations of the Heavens in Middle-Earth"
*[[2010]]: [[Tolkien Studies: Volume 7|''Tolkien Studies'': Volume 7]]
**"Myth, Milky Way, and the Mysteries of Tolkien's Morwinyon, Telumendil, and Anarríma"
*[[2011]]: [[Amon Hen 229|''Amon Hen'' 229]]
**"And the Stars Were Hidden"
*[[2011]]: [[Amon Hen 230|''Amon Hen'' 230]]
**"The Lunacy of ''The Hobbit''"
*[[2011]]: ''[[Tolkien and the Study of His Sources]]''
**"Sea Birds and Morning Stars: Ceyx, Alcyone, and the Many Metamorphoses of Eärendil and Elwing"
*[[2011]]: [[Mallorn 52|''Mallorn'' 52]]
**"We hatesses those tricksy numbers: Tolkien, Lewis and maths anxiety"
*[[2012]]: [[Mallorn 53|''Mallorn'' 53]]
**"An Elrond by any other name" (guest editorial)
**"From Dunne to Desmond: disembodied time travel in Tolkien, Stapledon and ''Lost''"
*[[2013]]: [[Mallorn 54|''Mallorn'' 54]]
**"'That sickle of the heavenly field': celestial motifs in ''[[The Lay of Leithian]]''"
*[[2014]]: [[The Hobbit and Tolkien's Mythology|The Hobbit ''and Tolkien's Mythology'']]
**"'It passes our skill in these days': Primary World Influences on the Evolution of [[Durin's Day]]"
*[[2014]]: ''[[Tolkien in the New Century|Tolkien in the New Century: Essays in Honor of Tom Shippey]]''
**"'Alone Between the Dark and Light': "The Lay of Aotrou and Itroun" and Lessons from the Later ''Legendarium''"
*[[2015]]: ''[[Perilous and Fair|Perilous and Fair: Women in J.R.R. Tolkien's Work and Life]]''
**"The Power of Pity and Tears: The Evolution of Nienna in the Legendarium"
*[[2015]]: ''[[Lembas Extra 2015]]''
**"'A Creature of an Older World': Tolkien and the Mythology of the Prehistoric"
**"A 'Perilous, Lonely Venture': Tolkien, Lewis, and the Theological Implications of Extraterrestrial Life"
*[[2016]]: ''[[Journal of Tolkien Research]]'': Volume 3
**"[https://scholar.valpo.edu/journaloftolkienresearch/vol3/iss1/5/ Medieval Cosmology and Middle-earth: A Lewisian Walk Under Tolkienian Skies]"
*[[2016]]: [[Amon Hen 260|''Amon Hen'' 260]]
**"Death to [[Bree]] Creek Quadrangle"
*[[2016]]: [[Amon Hen 261|''Amon Hen'' 261]]
**"Do [[Dwarves]] Wear Their Sunglasses at Night?"
*[[2017]]: ''Journal of Tolkien Research'': Volume 4
**"[https://scholar.valpo.edu/journaloftolkienresearch/vol4/iss2/8/ Guinevere, Grímhild, and the Corrigan: Witches and Bitches in Tolkien’s Medieval Narrative Verse]"
*[[2017]]: [[Amon Hen 263|''Amon Hen'' 263]]
**"Haldane's Rule and the Half-Elven"
*[[2017]]: [[Amon Hen 264|''Amon Hen'' 264]]
**"Medieval Fostering...Part One"
*[[2017]]: [[Amon Hen 265|''Amon Hen'' 265]]
**"Medieval Fostering...Part Two"
*[[2017]]: [[Amon Hen 268|''Amon Hen'' 268]]
**" The (Nearly) Discarded Image o"
*[[2018]]: ''[[Poetry and Song in the works of J.R.R. Tolkien]]''
**"'Diadem the Fallen Day': Astronomical and Arboreal Motifs in the Poem 'Kortirion Among the Trees'"
*[[2018]]: [[Amon Hen 270|''Amon Hen'' 270]]
**"'Linguistic Ghosts'... "
*[[2018]]: ''Journal of Tolkien Research'': Volume 6
**"[https://scholar.valpo.edu/journaloftolkienresearch/vol6/iss2/2/ Magic, Matrimony, and the Moon: Medieval Lunar Symbolism in J.R.R. Tolkien’s 'The Lay of Aotrou and Itroun' and 'The Fall of Arthur']
*[[2019]]: ''[[Sub-creating Arda]]''
**"A Mythology for Poland: Andrzej Sapkowski's Witcher Fantasy Series as a Tolkienian Subcreation"
*[[2019]]: [[Amon Hen 276|''Amon Hen'' 276]]
*[[2019]]: ''Journal of Tolkien Research'': Volume 7
**"[https://scholar.valpo.edu/journaloftolkienresearch/vol7/iss1/4 'While the World Lasted': Eschatology in Tolkien’s 1930s Writings]"
**"[https://scholar.valpo.edu/journaloftolkienresearch/vol7/iss1/9 A Journey Down the Rabbit Hole of the OED in Search of the Meaning of 'Master' Elrond]"
**"Darkness Amid the Day: Eclipses in the Works of J.R.R. Tolkien"
*[[2019]]: [[Amon Hen 279|''Amon Hen'' 279]]
**"...Butterflies & Moths in the Primary & Secondary Worlds of J.R.R. Tolkien"
*[[2019]]: ''Journal of Tolkien Research'': Volume 8
**"[http://scholar.valpo.edu/journaloftolkienresearch/vol8/iss1/3 Deconstructing Durin’s Day: Science, Scientific Fan Fiction, and the Fan-Scholar]"
*[[2020]]: ''Journal of Tolkien Research'': Volume 9
**"[http://scholar.valpo.edu/journaloftolkienresearch/vol9/iss1/6 Ladies of the Forest: Melian and Mielikki]"
*[[2020]]: ''Journal of Tolkien Research'': Volume 10
**"[https://scholar.valpo.edu/journaloftolkienresearch/vol10/iss1/5 'They’re something nightmares are from': The Notion Club Papers and The Cabin in the Woods]"
**"[https://scholar.valpo.edu/journaloftolkienresearch/vol10/iss1/1 Introduction to Special issue: J.R.R. Tolkien and the Works of Joss Whedon]" (with [[Janet Brennan Croft]])
*[[2021]]: ''Journal of Tolkien Research'': Volume 11
**"[https://scholar.valpo.edu/journaloftolkienresearch/vol11/iss2/5 Númenor and the 'Devouring Wave': Literary, Historical, and Psychological Sources for Tolkien’s Self-Described 'Atlantis Complex']"
*[[2021]]: ''Journal of Tolkien Research'': Volume 12
**"[https://scholar.valpo.edu/journaloftolkienresearch/vol12/iss2/4 Signum Draco Magno Scilicet, or, Eärendel and the Dragon: Heavenly Warfare in Medieval European and Tolkienian Annals]"
**"[https://scholar.valpo.edu/journaloftolkienresearch/vol12/iss1/5 'I Am No Man': Éowyn and Game of Thrones’ Lyanna Mormont]"
*[[2021]]: ''Journal of Tolkien Research'': Volume 13
**"[https://scholar.valpo.edu/journaloftolkienresearch/vol13/iss1/2 Cynewulf, Copernicus, and Conjunctions: The Problems of Cytherean Motions in Tolkien’s Cosmology]"
**"[https://scholar.valpo.edu/journaloftolkienresearch/vol13/iss1/3 The Walls of the World and the Voyages of the Evening Star: The Byzantine Borders of Tolkien’s Biblical/Classical/Medieval/Geocentric/Heliocentric Complicated Cosmology]"
**"[https://scholar.valpo.edu/journaloftolkienresearch/vol13/iss1/4 Carry on My Wayward Sonne (and Moon): Common Cosmological Quirks in the Norse Fimbul-winter and Tolkien's Early Legendarium]"
**"[https://scholar.valpo.edu/journaloftolkienresearch/vol13/iss2/2 Who Maketh Morwinyon, and Menelmacar, and Remmirath, and the Inner Parts of the South (Where the Stars are Strange): Tolkien’s Astronomical Choices and the Books of Job and Amos]"
**"[http://scholar.valpo.edu/journaloftolkienresearch/vol13/iss2/5 Smaug's Hoard, Durin’s Bane, and Agricola’s De Re Metallica: Cautionary Tales Against Mining in Tolkien’s Legendarium and the Classical Tradition]"
**"[https://scholar.valpo.edu/journaloftolkienresearch/vol13/iss2/6 'Ore-ganisms': The Myth and Meaning of ‘Living Rock’ in Middle-earth]"
*[[2022]]: ''Journal of Tolkien Research'': Volume 14
**"[https://scholar.valpo.edu/journaloftolkienresearch/vol14/iss2/4 'O’er the Moon, Below the Daylight': Tolkien’s Blue Bee, Pliny, and the Kalevala]"
**"[https://scholar.valpo.edu/journaloftolkienresearch/vol14/iss2/9 'Pearls' of Pearl: Medieval Appropriations in Tolkien’s Mythology]"
*[[2022]]: ''Journal of Tolkien Research'': Volume 15
**"[https://scholar.valpo.edu/journaloftolkienresearch/vol15/iss1/4 Moons, Maths, and Middle-earth: Misconceptions about Tolkien’s Scientific and Mathematical Prowess]"
**"[http://scholar.valpo.edu/journaloftolkienresearch/vol15/iss1/5 Nailing Jell-O to the Wall: Canonicity in Middle-earth]"
**"[http://scholar.valpo.edu/journaloftolkienresearch/vol15/iss1/6 Half-Elven and Half-Orphans: The Choices and Consequences of 'Crossing Over']"
**"[http://scholar.valpo.edu/journaloftolkienresearch/vol15/iss2/3 'I am Primarily a Scientific Philologist': J.R.R. Tolkien and the Science/Technology Divide]"
*[[2023]]: ''Journal of Tolkien Research'': Volume 16
**"[http://scholar.valpo.edu/journaloftolkienresearch/vol16/iss1/6 Medieval Automata and J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Fall of Gondolin]"
**"[http://scholar.valpo.edu/journaloftolkienresearch/vol16/iss2/2 Arda Remade (and Remade, and Remade…); or, Entropy, Einstein’s Blackboard, and...]"
**"[http://scholar.valpo.edu/journaloftolkienresearch/vol16/iss2/3 'Following the Star': Eärendil, Númenor, and the Star of Bethlehem]"
**"[https://scholar.valpo.edu/journaloftolkienresearch/vol16/iss2/7/ Falling Stars: Canonicity and 'Meteor Man' in Amazon Prime Video’s The Rings of Power]"

===Reviews===
*[[2012]]: [[Tolkien Studies: Volume 9|''Tolkien Studies'': Volume 9]]
**''[[The Ecological Augury in the Works of JRR Tolkien]]'' (2011 book by [[Liam Campbell]])
*[[2017]]: ''[[Journal of Tolkien Research]]'': Volume 4
**''Tolkien, Self and Other: "This Queer Creature"'' (2016 book by [[Jane Chance]])
*[[2021]]: ''Journal of Tolkien Research'': Volume 12
**''[[The Science of Middle-earth (2021 book)|The Science of Middle-earth]]'' (2021 book edited by Lehoucq et al.)
*[[2023]]: ''Journal of Tolkien Research'': Volume 16
**''Twenty-first Century Receptions of Tolkien'' (2022 book edited by Will Sherwood)
**''Tolkien and Diversity '' (2023 book edited by Will Sherwood)

==Awards==
*[[2020]]: '''[[Tolkien Society Awards|Tolkien Society Award]]: Best Article''', "[http://scholar.valpo.edu/journaloftolkienresearch/vol8/iss1/3 Deconstructing Durin’s Day: Science, Scientific Fan Fiction, and the Fan-Scholar]" in [[Journal of Tolkien Research]]: Volume 8

==External links==
*[https://www.physics.ccsu.edu/larsen/ Kristine Larsen's website]
*[https://www.physics.ccsu.edu/larsen/tolkien.html Kristine Larsen's "The Astronomy of Middle-earth"]
*[https://www.ccsu.edu/person/kristine-larsen Kristine Larsen] at [https://www.ccsu.edu/ Central Connecticut State University]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Larsen, Kristine}}
[[Category:Academics]]
[[Category:American people]]
[[Category:Authors]]
[[Category:People by name]]
[[Category:Tolkien Society members]]
[[fi:Kristine Larsen]]

Peter Howell

2026-07-05T12:45:45Z

Jwc31:

'''Peter Howell''' ([[1919]] - [[20 April]] [[2015]]) voiced the part of [[Saruman]] in [[The Lord of the Rings (1981 radio series)|The Lord of the Rings 1981 radio series]] broadcasted on BBC 4.
==External links==
*[http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0398032/ Peter Howell] at IMDb
[[Category:Actors and actresses|Howell, Peter]]
[[Category:British people|Howell, Peter]]
[[Category:People by name|Howell, Peter]]

Asterisk

2026-07-05T10:48:39Z

Jwc31: Wording improved, clarified

{{cleanup}}

The '''asterisk''' is a symbol used in historical linguistics. [[J.R.R. Tolkien|Tolkien]] made use of asterisks in his texts about [[Elvish]] languages.
==Usage==
In historical linguistics, an asterisk immediately before a word indicates that the word is not directly attested, but has been reconstructed on the basis of other linguistic material (see also: [[Wikipedia:comparative method|comparative method]]). The asterisk shows that this form of the word is hypothetical and lacks historical validation.

Asterisks are therefore used mostly in the reconstruction of unwritten or prehistoric languages, deduced by comparison between other languages.

For example, the [[Old English]] word ''endleofan'' suggests a Proto-Germanic form was *''ainlif''. The Proto-Germanic people did not have a writing system. Therefore ''ainlif'' is unattested, which is indicated with an asterisk.
==Elvish==
Tolkien used asterisks when writing about the history of his [[Elvish]] languages to show that some forms are unattested and existed before the established alphabets of, for example, [[Tengwar]] or the [[Cirth]]. As such, an asterisk placed before a word indicates that the form is hypothetical. As noted by [[Christopher Tolkien]], such a marking means that the form is "''deduced to have existed from later, recorded forms''". Asterisks are used most usually in [[Primitive Quendian]].<ref>{{LR|Etymologies}}, p. 347</ref>

For example, Tolkien gives *''[[luktiênê]]'' as the ancient form of the name ''[[Lúthien]]''.

In [[fandom]], even the asterisked forms of Tolkien's invented words are considered "valid" and as canonical as the un-asterisked words.

==Fandom==
Students of Tolkien's languages use asterisks when the form and meaning of a word can be deduced from Tolkien's existing writings.

For example the word *''corma'' is a hypothetical word believed to mean "ring". It can be seen only as part of the word ''[[cormacolindo]],'' which means "[[Ring-bearer]]". The longer word's form makes it reasonable to assume that the word "corma" exists in [[Quenya]]. Since the word is never written clearly by Tolkien, however, it is considered hypothetical and marked with an asterisk.

Asterisks are also used to show ancient forms of attested words. The [[Sindarin]] word ''[[hobas]]'' from [[Sundocarmë|Root]] [[KHOP]] points to an [[Old Sindarin]] intermediate *''khopasse''. Tolkien never wrote this word, but the rules of Sindarin etymology makes this form the only possibility. Proper referencing requires an asterisk to make clear that it is not a word given by Tolkien.

Students also sometimes employ a double asterisk ** to indicate a mistaken hypothetical form. A mistaken form would be the proposed Primitive Quendian word **''aladâ'' meaning "tree", instead of the correct form of the word *''galadâ''. They both use [[Quenya]] ''[[alda]],'' but the former uses [[Sindarin]] *''aladh'' instead of the proper ''[[galadh]]''. In this instance, the double asterisk could also clarify the behavior of ''g'' in the two languages.

[[Tolkien Gateway]] has entries only for attested canonical words. Asterisked forms will be given as examples but will not have links to their own entries.
{{references}}
[[Category:Linguistic terms]]

Tom Bombadil

2026-07-05T10:22:10Z

Jwc31: /* Tom Bombadil in adaptations */ Capitalization

{{disambig-more|Tom|[[Tom (disambiguation)]]}}
{{infobox character
| people=[[Tom Bombadil/Nature|Unknown]]
| image=John Howe - Tom Bombadil.jpg
| caption="Tom Bombadil" by [[John Howe]]
| name=Tom Bombadil
| pronun=
| othernames=''Iarwain Ben-adar'' ([[Sindarin|S]]) ''Orald'' ([[Old English]]) ''Forn'' ([[Old Norse]])
| titles=The [[Eldest]], [[Master]]
| position=
| location=[[Underhill (house)|Underhill]], [[Old Forest]]
| affiliation=[[Forest-folk]]<ref>{{AB|2}}</ref>
| language=[[Westron]]
| birth=
| birthlocation=
| rule=
| death=
| deathlocation=
| age=
| notablefor=saving [[Frodo]], [[Sam]], [[Merry]] and [[Pippin]] from [[Old Man Willow]] and the [[Barrow-wights]]
| parentage=
| siblings=
| spouse=[[Goldberry]]
| children=
| race=[[Tom Bombadil/Nature|Unknown]]
| gender=Male
| height=Short
| hair=
| eyes=Bright Blue<ref name="OldF">{{FR|Forest}}</ref>
| clothing=Blue jacket and hat, boots
| weapons=Song
| steed=[[Fatty Lumpkin]]
}}
{{quote|Eldest, that's what I am... Tom remembers the first raindrop and the first acorn... he knew the dark under the stars when it was fearless – before the Dark Lord came from Outside.|Tom Bombadil in ''[[The Fellowship of the Ring]]'', "[[In the House of Tom Bombadil]]"}}

'''Tom Bombadil''' was an enigmatic figure who lived throughout the history of [[Arda]]. Living a short distance east of the [[Old Forest]], he seemed to possess unequaled power in the land around his dwelling. Although seemingly benevolent, he took no stance against the [[Dark Lord]]s.

==Appearance and traits==
{{quote|Old Tom Bombadil is a merry fellow; Bright blue his jacket is, and his boots are yellow.|Tom Bombadil}}

Tom looked like an old man who was taller and heavier than a [[Hobbits|Hobbit]], but not quite tall enough for a [[Men|man]].<ref name="OldF" />

His face was creased and red as a ripe apple with blue and bright eyes.<ref name="OldF" /> His hands were brown-skinned.<ref name="house" /> He had thick brown hair<ref name="house" /> and a long brown beard.<ref name="OldF" />

Tom wore a blue coat and an old tall hat with a long blue feather and yellow boots.<ref name="OldF" /> Earlier he wore a [[swans|swan]] feather, which he later replaced with a blue one from a [[kingfishers|kingfisher]].<ref>{{AB|2}}</ref>

He lived in a [[Underhill (house)|house]] just outside the eastern edge of the [[Old Forest]] by the river [[Withywindle]],<ref name="OldF" /> together with his lovely wife [[Goldberry]].<ref name="house" /> According to him<ref name="FR|Barrow">{{FR|Barrow}}</ref> and to [[Gandalf]] as well,<ref name="CoE" /> he would not leave his country. The only known location on the border of his country is where he makes that statement, on the south side of the [[East Road]], north of the [[Barrow-downs]] and about four miles northwest of [[Bree]]. His country must have included the Barrow-downs and the [[Old Forest]], and according to the poem "[[Bombadil Goes Boating]]," he visited villages in [[Buckland]] and [[Farmer Maggot]]'s farm in the [[Marish]], which would mean that his country included them as well.

The [[Bucklanders]] had little understanding of his powers and nature. They saw him as mysterious and unpredictable, but benevolent and comic, more or less as the [[Shire-folk]] thought of [[Gandalf]].<ref name="Adv" />

==History==
===Origins===
[[Image:Olanda Fong-Surdenas - Tom Bombadil.jpg|thumb|left|''Tom Bombadil'' by [[Olanda Fong-Surdenas]]]]
{{quote|He is a strange creature.|[[Elrond]], ''[[The Council of Elrond]]''}}
The origins and [[Tom Bombadil/Nature|nature of Tom Bombadil]] are unknown. He claims to have existed when the [[Morgoth|Dark Lord]] came "from the Outside",<ref name="house">{{FR|Bombadil}}</ref>{{rp|131}} perhaps meaning he was alive at least as far back as the [[Spring of Arda]].<ref>{{RS|Tom}}, p. 122</ref> Bombadil calls himself the "Eldest", [[Glorfindel]] calls him the "First", and his Sindarin name ''Iarwain Ben-adar'' means "Oldest and fatherless."

His role and nature in the [[Elder Days]] and later is unknown. He was in Arda "before the river and the trees" and before the first rain. He "made paths" before the [[Great March]] of the [[Eldar]], and saw the [[Middle Men]] and their [[Barrow Downs|tombs]]. He witnessed the [[Changing of the World]], the reducing of the great forests that covered all [[Middle-earth]], the arrival of the [[Exiles of Númenor]] and of the [[Barrow-wights]].<ref name="house" /><ref name="CoE" />

The nature of his interactions with the outside world is unclear. He had contact with the [[Bucklanders]] throughout the [[Third Age]].<ref name="Adv" /> He was familiar with Frodo, his companions and their families when they visit him. He attributed most of this knowledge to [[Farmer Maggot]].<ref name="house" /> He had names among the Elves, Dwarves and Northern Men. [[Elrond]] knew of him when he ventured in his lands. However, most of the [[Council of Elrond]] were unfamiliar with him, and Elrond admitted to having forgotten about him from long ago.<ref name="CoE" /><ref name="Adv">{{AB|Preface}}</ref>

===War of the Ring===
[[Image:Ted Nasmith - The Willow Man is Tamed.jpg|thumb|''The Willow Man is Tamed'' by [[Ted Nasmith]]]]
On [[26 September]], {{TA|3018}}, he encountered [[travellers|four hobbits]] while he was searching for water-lilies for his wife. Two of those Hobbits, [[Meriadoc Brandybuck|Merry]] and [[Peregrin Took|Pippin]], had been captured by [[Old Man Willow]]. Tom, who was the master of the Old Forest, rescued them, and took all four of them to his house.<ref name="OldF"></ref>

The four hobbits stayed two nights, and he told them many tales and songs. With cunning questions, he made [[Frodo Baggins|Frodo]] tell him of the [[The One Ring|Ring]]. When Tom tried it on, nothing happened, but he then took it off and flipped it in the air and made the ring itself disappear, showing that indeed within his realm Tom was master. However, when Frodo put the ring on, Tom could still see him. He bade the Hobbit to come back and sit down; his hand was fairer without the ring.

Before his guests went to sleep, Tom warned them of the [[Barrow-downs]], and advised them to pass any barrow on the western side. He also taught them a song, should they come to peril.<ref name="house" />{{rp|134}}

And they did come to peril. Tom chased off a [[Barrow-wights|wight]] with song, and broke the spells on the barrow in which the four hobbits were captured. While he sent the Hobbits to calm down, he went for provisions. He also brought the ponies that had belonged to Merry. After that, he broke the spells of the barrow. From the barrow's mighty hoard, he took a blue-jewelled brooch for Goldberry (probably belonging to the spouse of the [[last prince of Cardolan]] he seemingly met long ago),<ref>{{HM|RC}}, "Fog on the Barrow-downs", pp. 146-7</ref><ref>{{RS|Wight}}, p. 127-8</ref> and gave a [[Daggers of Westernesse|dagger]] to each of the hobbits. He then advised them to make for ''[[The Prancing Pony]]'' in [[Bree]].<ref name="FR|Barrow" />

The peril of the hobbits was not over; an attack on their lives was carried out, and their ponies were set loose. The ponies apparently remembered the care they were given in the house of Tom Bombadil, and returned to stay beside Tom's own pony, [[Fatty Lumpkin]]. He returned them to [[Barliman Butterbur]], the proprietor of ''The Prancing Pony''. Since he had paid eighteen pence as compensation for the loss, he was now the owner of five fine ponies.<ref>{{FR|Knife}}</ref>

As he was merry and benevolent, some of the [[Free Peoples]] considered him a potential ally against [[Sauron]] during the [[War of the Ring]]. [[Elrond]] and [[Erestor]] considered that he should be present at the [[Council of Elrond]]. However, according to [[Gandalf]], Tom Bombadil was perhaps not fully aware of the struggle of Light and Darkness and could not prove useful to their causes.<ref name="CoE" />

After the [[fall of Sauron]] at the end of the War, the [[Travelers]] returned to the Shire, but Gandalf left them and went to talk to Tom.<ref>{{RK|Homeward}}</ref>{{rp|996}}

Eventually the defeat of Sauron and the victory of the [[West]] allowed Tom to continue and "survive" in the [[later Ages]].<ref>{{L|144}}</ref>

===Legacy===
Tom Bombadil’s existence passed into Hobbit lore and was referenced in poems such as ''[[The Adventures of Tom Bombadil]]'' and ''[[Bombadil Goes Boating]]''. The Hobbit, [[Samwise Gamgee]], based and modeled his protagonist in ''[[The Stone Troll]]'', [[Tom (The Stone Troll)|Tom]], after Bombadil, considering that Sam composed the poem soon after their meeting.<ref name="RF">{{HM|Guide}}, p. 385</ref> In the poem, Tom encounters an old [[Stone-trolls|troll]], gnawing for years on the shinbone of Tim, his [[Unusual words|nuncle]], and Tom demands for the troll to let it down.<ref>{{FR|I12}}</ref><ref>{{AB|7}}</ref> It is likely that Tim was only an invention by Sam rather than actually being Tom Bombadil's nuncle.<ref name="RF" />

==Other names==
He also went by other names:
*The [[Elves]] called him '''''[[iaur|Iar]]<nowiki/>wain [[penadar|Ben-adar]]'''''<ref name="CoE">{{FR|Council}}, p. 265</ref> in [[Sindarin]]<ref>{{PE|17}}, entry S ''pen-'', p. 34</ref>, which translates to "Oldest and Fatherless"<ref name="CoE" />. ''Iarwain'' literally means "Old-young", presumably because he had always appeared to be much the same: "old, but very vigorous"<ref>{{HM|RC}}, p. 128; quoting an unpublished letter from late 1968 by J.R.R. Tolkien from a private collection</ref>
*The "[[Northmen|Northern Men]]" gave him the name '''''Orald'''''.<ref name="CoE" /> ''Orald'' is an [[Old English]] word meaning "very ancient". Old English represents "the [[Rohanese|language of the Rohirrim and their kin]]".<ref name="nomen">{{HM|N}}, entry '''Orald''', p. 761</ref>
*The Dwarves gave him the name '''''Forn'''''.<ref name="CoE" /> ''Forn'' is [[North Germanic languages|Scandinavian]] for "(belonging to) ancient (days)".<ref name="nomen" /> Since all the dwarf names are in Old Norse, which represents "a [[Northern Mannish|northern language of Men]]"<ref name="nomen" /> and the Dwarves from the region of Dale took their "outer" names in the [[language of Dale]]<ref>{{App|Translation}}, p. 1137</ref>, it is possible that the name ''Forn'' came from the [[language of Dale]]. In some imprints of ''[[The History of Middle-earth Index]]'', this name was accidentally spelled with a "P" as the first letter: {{HM|IX}}, "Tom Bombadil (VII)", p. 435<nowiki></ref></nowiki>

==Etymology==
The name ''Bombadil'' is [[Bucklandish]] in form. It is probable that the [[Bucklanders|Hobbits from Buckland]] gave him this name.<ref name="Adv" />

[[Paula Marmor]] notes that ''bobadil'' is an archaic word meaning "braggart", as seen in the character "Captain Bobadill" in the English play ''[[Wikipedia:Every Man in His Humour|Every Man in His Humour]]''. Because of its Bucklandish form, ''[[An Introduction to Elvish]]'' lists the name ''Bombadil'' under the "[[Celtic]]-sounding names". However, it is said that the word derives from '''[[Wikipedia:Boabdil|Boabdil]]''', the Spaniard name of [[Wikipedia:Muhammad XII of Granada|'''Abu Abdillah''' Muhammad XII]], the last Moorish ruler of Granada.<ref>{{HM|IE}}, Giving of Names</ref>

==Other versions of the legendarium==
[[Treebeard]] knew Tom Bombadil in an earlier manuscript version of the chapter ''Treebeard'', but this was later struck out.<ref>{{TI|Treebeard}}, p. 416</ref> According to Christopher Tolkien it is conceivable that the contrast between Tom Bombadil and the Ents confused the conflict between the Ents and the Entwives or that the struck out passage initiated the idea of a conflict between the Ents and the Entwives.<ref>{{TI|Treebeard}}, note 4 p. 419-420</ref>

==Inspiration==
Tom Bombadil was inspired primarily from a [[Wikipedia:Peg wooden doll|dutch doll]] Tolkien's child(ren) toyed with.<ref name="intro" /> The doll had a feathered hat. One time they found it in the lavatory, being stuffed there by little [[John Tolkien]], who perhaps didn't like it much.<ref>{{HM|Bio}}, p. 165</ref>

Tolkien began (probably in the 1920s) writing a story entitled ''Tom Bombadil'' set during the reign of "King Bonhedig" in the British prehistory, far before any recorded events or invasions. The protagonist Tombombadil is mentioned as one of the oldest inhabitants of Bonhedig's kingdom, which spanned many miles on either side of the Thames. Only the 3 opening paragraphs survive of the shortly-abandoned, story, and the fragment ends at the description of Tombombadil who "wore a tall hat with a blue feather; his jacket was blue, and his boots were yellow".<ref>{{AB|Prose}}</ref>

Around the 1930s or earlier Tolkien wrote a poem about some Tom Bombadil rowing down a River, a poem which Tolkien later identified as his "germ of Tom Bombadil".<ref>{{RS|1VT}}</ref> Later in [[1934]] he put him into [[The Adventures of Tom Bombadil (poem)|a poem]], again described according to the appearance of the aforementioned doll (something that he did with other toys of his children, like [[Rover]]).<ref name="intro">{{AB|Intro}}</ref> At one time he described him as a "spirit of the (vanishing) [[Oxford]] and Berkshire countryside"<ref name="L19">{{L|19}}</ref>

When asked to make a sequel for ''[[The Hobbit]]'', Tolkien briefly considered making that figure of his poem the central character.<ref name="L19" /> Although it didn't happen, he eventually [[The Old Forest|appeared]] in the narrative as a supporting character. Tolkien wrote Bombadil as a direct contrast to the artistry and (sub)creative force of the [[Elves]]; whereas they seek to create, devise, alter and control, Bombadil only observes and contemplates the world outside him and takes joy in it. He is the fearless theoretical study of the world, and history.<ref name="coghill">[[Letter to Nevill Coghill]] (Excerpt reproduced [http://wayneandchristina.wordpress.com/2014/12/30/tom-bombadil-addenda-corrigenda/ here])</ref>

Justin Noetzel in his paper "Beorn and Tom Bombadil: Mythology, Narrative, and The Most (Non) Essential Characters in Middle-earth", suggests an association of Tom Bombadil with the [[Wikipedia:Celtic Otherworld|Celtic Otherworld]] and tales of the [[Wikipedia:Tuatha Dé Danann|Tuatha Dé Danann]].<ref>{{webcite|author=[[John D. Rateliff]]|articleurl=http://sacnoths.blogspot.se/2013/03/valparaiso-day-three.html|articlename=Valparaiso, Day Three|dated=12 March 2013|website=Sac|accessed=14 March 2013}}</ref>

David Elton Gay compares Tom to the demigod [[Wikipedia:Väinämöinen|Väinämöinen]] from the ''[[Kalevala]]'': both are extremely old and powerful immortal figures who express their power in rhymes, and both have control over their small forested country.<ref>Gay, David Elton (2004). Chance, Jane (ed.). ''J.R.R. Tolkien and the Kalevala. Tolkien and the invention of myth : a reader''. University Press of Kentucky. pp. 295–304.</ref>

==Outside the legendarium==
In addition to the aforementioned earlier works written independently to the [[Legendarium]], a figure that hints at Bombadil appears in the much later poem ''[[Once upon a Time]]''. Tolkien wrote it around [[1964]] and reused the names of "Tom" and "Goldberry" (although the epithet "Bombadil" is not mentioned, the association can be made as he appears with Goldberry). Hammond & Scull note that in this poem Tom appears less omnipotent; while he is known to talk to all creatures, who always obey him, the mysterious ''[[lintips]]'' are the only ones who refuse to talk to him and hide away.<ref>{{AB|Once}}, p. 283</ref> No specific events are mentioned that can connect it to Tom Bombadil or the legendarium of Arda.

==Portrayal in adaptations==
Because he is left out of the three major adaptations ([[The Lord of the Rings (1978 film)|Ralph Bakshi]], [[The Lord of the Rings (1981 radio series)|BBC's 1981 series]] and [[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring|Peter Jackson's]]), Tom Bombadil's main role (providing the [[Daggers of Westernesse|Barrow-blades]]) is omitted. He does have several appearances in other adaptations, though.

===Images of Tom Bombadil in adaptations===
<gallery mode="traditional" widths="200" heights="150">
File:Sagan om Ringen - Tom Bombadil.png|''[[Sagan om Ringen (1971 film)|Sagan om Ringen]]''
File:War in Middle Earth - Tom Bombadil.png|''[[J.R.R. Tolkien's War in Middle Earth]]''
File:Hobitit - Tom Bombadillo.png|Esko Hukkanen in ''[[Hobitit]]''
File:The Lord of the Rings Trading Card Game - Tom Bombadil, The Master.jpg|''[[The Lord of the Rings Trading Card Game]]''
File:The Lord of the Rings - The Fellowship of the Ring (video game) - Tom Bombadil.JPG|[[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (video game)|''The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring'' (video game)]]
File:BFME2 - Tom Bombadil 03.jpg|''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth II]]''
File:The Lord of the Rings Online - Tom Bombadil.jpg|''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]''
File:Tom Bombadil in Rings of Power.jpeg|[[Rory Michael Kinnear]] as Tom Bombadil in [[Rhûn]] within [[The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power]]
</gallery>
'''1955: ''[[The Lord of the Rings (1956 radio series)|BBC Radio's The Lord of the Rings]]'':'''
:[[Norman Shelley]] voiced Bombadil, and Tolkien thought his portrayal "dreadful". [[Goldberry]] was portrayed as his daughter, rather than his wife.<ref>{{L|175}}</ref>

'''1979: [[The Lord of the Rings (1979 radio series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1979 radio series)]]:'''
:In this series, Tom was voiced by [[Bernard Mayes]]. Like Norman Shelley before him, he also voiced [[Gandalf]].

'''1988: ''[[J.R.R. Tolkien's War in Middle Earth]]'':'''
:Tom Bombadil can be found outside his house in the Old Forest.

'''1990: ''[[J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings, Vol. I (1990 video game)|J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings, Vol. I]]'':'''
:Tom Bombadil rescues the party from the Willow Man, and provides information, supplies, shelter, and side-quests for the party. He later rescues the party from the Barrow Wights, and very briefly joins as a temporary playable character while inside the barrow. His role runs almost directly parallel to the original, with some related passages of ''[[The Fellowship of the Ring]]'' quoted directly. However, [[Goldberry]]'s role is significantly changed to provide a quest for the party.

'''1992: [[Der Herr der Ringe (1992 German radio series)|''Der Herr der Ringe'' (1992 German radio series)]]:'''
:Tom Bombadil is played by Peter Ehrlich.

'''1992: [[Tales from the Perilous Realm (1992 radio series)|''Tales from the Perilous Realm'' (1992 radio series)]]:'''
:When he adapted the 1981 [[The Lord of the Rings (1981 radio series)|radio series]], [[Brian Sibley]] deeply regretted cutting Bombadil from the radio series.<ref>[[Brian Sibley]], ''[http://briansibleytheworks.blogspot.com/2008/01/this-page-is-still-under-construction_23.html The Ring Goes Ever On]''</ref> When he made ''[[Tales from the Perilous Realm]]'' into a radio series, he decided to change the section "[[The Adventures of Tom Bombadil]]". Rather than several (unadaptable) Hobbitish poems, Sibley adapted the chapters from ''[[The Fellowship of the Ring]]''. Bombadil is voiced by [[Ian Hogg]].

'''1993: ''[[Hobitit]]'':'''
:Tom Bombadil is portrayed by Esko Hukkanen. It is the only screen adaptation that featured him before 2024.

'''2001-2007: ''[[The Lord of the Rings Trading Card Game]]'':'''
:Although Tom Bombadil does not appear in [[The Lord of the Rings (film series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' film series]], Decipher produced a card for the character. He was portrayed by Harry Weller-Chew.

'''2001–present: ''[[The Lord of the Rings Strategy Battle Game]]'':'''
:Despite not appearing in the films the game is based on, Tom Bombadil and Goldberry were given several models by [[Games Workshop]], which has held rights for tabletop games since 1980.

'''2001: [[Pán prsteňov (2001-2003 Slovak radio series)|''Pán prsteňov'' (2001-2003 Slovak radio series)]]:'''
:The voice of Tom Bombadil is provided by Milan Lasica. He appears in the final third of the first episode, helping the four hobbits with Old Man Willow, guiding them to his house and taking them in as his guests for the night, along with his wife Goldberry. After they depart and get lost on the Barrow Downs, he once again aids in their rescue, and provides them with barrow-blades from the barrow of the defeated barrow-wight.

'''2002: [[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (video game)|''The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring'' (video game)]]:'''
:[[Daran Norris]] portrayed Bombadil with a Scottish accent. His role is much like that in the book, and as one of the few characters in this video game, he keeps most of his songs.

'''2002: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers]]'':'''
:In the [[The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (extended edition)|extended edition]], some of Bombadil's poems are transferred to [[Treebeard]], and so is his encounter with [[Old Man Willow]].

'''2006: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth II]]'':'''
:Bombadil is a summonable power. Once summoned, he can plow through enemy lines. His most powerful weapon is a "Sonic Song". As soon as [[Electronic Arts|EA]] secured the rights to the books, it was decided that Tom Bombadil should be in it; his appearance is kept close to his description in the book.<ref>[http://www.gamespot.com/pc/strategy/battleformiddleearth2/news.html?sid=6139678 The Lord of the Rings, The Battle for Middle-earth II Q&A - Enter Tom Bombadil], [http://www.gamespot.com/ GameSpot.com]</ref>

'''2007: ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]'':'''
:Tom can be found either inside or outside his house in the Old Forest. He helps the player track down crebain scouts possessing important information, and later arrives to rescue the player from the Barrow-Downs when (s)he gets himself in more than (s)he is prepared for, much like the Hobbits in the Book. He later aids the player against agents of the Barrow-downs when the latter attempts to corrupt Old Man Willow with a [[Morgul-blade]].

'''2012: ''[[Lego The Lord of the Rings: The Video Game]]'':'''
:Bombadil is a playable character. He uses a trowel as a weapon and for digging in certain spots. Tom can be found in his house on the road to the north of [[Bucklebury Ferry]] in the forested area between [[Bree]] and the Shire. It is unclear if this forest is meant to be the Old Forest or not; it is in the right location, but the game never specifically names it and its physical appearance does not fit the book's description.

'''2014: ''[[Lego The Hobbit: The Video Game]]'':'''
:Bombadil also appears as a playable character, and again wields a trowel. This time, Tom is found in a forest southwest of Bree, near a house atop a hill (likely his house in the Old Forest).

'''2024: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power]]'':'''
:Tom Bombadil will be portrayed by [[Rory Michael Kinnear]], whose headwear and outfit was made by costume designer Luca Mosca to look similar to J.R.R. Tolkien's description of Tom Bombadil. The production designer of the show, [[Kristian Milstead]], incorporated a star map on the ceiling of Tom's cottage to imply that Bombadil "has been watching the constellations for signs—and for the Stranger’s arrival", thereby connecting Tom to the larger story. The showrunners mention that they have given him a second home besides [[Underhill (house)|Underhill]] which he uses as a "summer cottage" on the outskirts of the once "green and beautiful" [[Rhûn]] "which...now is...a dead wasteland". At the time of the show, Bombadil "has gone out to...Rhûn...to see what's happened" to the region in order to prevent the desolation from spreading westwards.<ref>{{webcite|author=Anthony Breznican|articleurl=https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/story/tom-bombadil-the-rings-of-power-first-look|articlename=Tom Bombadil Finally Steps Forth in ''The Rings of Power'' - An Exclusive First Look|dated=29 May 2024|website=[https://www.vanityfair.com Vanity Fair]|accessed=29 May 2024}}</ref>

===Collectibles===
In [[April]] [[2008]], [[Gentle Giant]] released the Tom Bombadil Mini Bust.

==See also==
*'''[[Tom Bombadil/Nature|The Nature of Tom Bombadil]]'''

==External links==
*[http://www.glyphweb.com/arda/t/tombombadil.html Entry in the Encyclopedia of Arda] (a concise overview of the discussion)
*[http://middle-earth.xenite.org/2012/08/27/count-count-weigh-divide/ Count, Count, Weigh, Divide] by [[Michael Martinez]] (discusses Tom Bombadil's moral aspects at length)
*[http://www.whoistombombadil.blogspot.com/2013/01/tom-bombadil-as-music-of-ainur_9.html Tom as the Music of the Ainur] discusses the major theories of Tom's origins and proposes a new theory.
*[http://www.cas.unt.edu/~hargrove/tombomb.html Who Is Tom Bombadil?] (an essay by Gene Hargrove)

{{References|Notes}}
{{Ringbearers}}

[[Category:Characters in The Lord of the Rings]]
[[Category:Characters in The Adventures of Tom Bombadil]]
[[Category:Enigmas]]
[[Category:First Age characters]]
[[Category:Forest-folk]]
[[Category:Second Age characters]]
[[Category:Spirits]]
[[Category:Third Age characters]]
[[de:Tom Bombadil]]
[[fr:encyclo/personnages/tom bombadil]]
[[fi:Tom Bombadil]]

Tom Bombadil

2026-07-05T10:21:43Z

Jwc31: /* Outside the Legendarium */ Capitalization

{{disambig-more|Tom|[[Tom (disambiguation)]]}}
{{infobox character
| people=[[Tom Bombadil/Nature|Unknown]]
| image=John Howe - Tom Bombadil.jpg
| caption="Tom Bombadil" by [[John Howe]]
| name=Tom Bombadil
| pronun=
| othernames=''Iarwain Ben-adar'' ([[Sindarin|S]]) ''Orald'' ([[Old English]]) ''Forn'' ([[Old Norse]])
| titles=The [[Eldest]], [[Master]]
| position=
| location=[[Underhill (house)|Underhill]], [[Old Forest]]
| affiliation=[[Forest-folk]]<ref>{{AB|2}}</ref>
| language=[[Westron]]
| birth=
| birthlocation=
| rule=
| death=
| deathlocation=
| age=
| notablefor=saving [[Frodo]], [[Sam]], [[Merry]] and [[Pippin]] from [[Old Man Willow]] and the [[Barrow-wights]]
| parentage=
| siblings=
| spouse=[[Goldberry]]
| children=
| race=[[Tom Bombadil/Nature|Unknown]]
| gender=Male
| height=Short
| hair=
| eyes=Bright Blue<ref name="OldF">{{FR|Forest}}</ref>
| clothing=Blue jacket and hat, boots
| weapons=Song
| steed=[[Fatty Lumpkin]]
}}
{{quote|Eldest, that's what I am... Tom remembers the first raindrop and the first acorn... he knew the dark under the stars when it was fearless – before the Dark Lord came from Outside.|Tom Bombadil in ''[[The Fellowship of the Ring]]'', "[[In the House of Tom Bombadil]]"}}

'''Tom Bombadil''' was an enigmatic figure who lived throughout the history of [[Arda]]. Living a short distance east of the [[Old Forest]], he seemed to possess unequaled power in the land around his dwelling. Although seemingly benevolent, he took no stance against the [[Dark Lord]]s.

==Appearance and traits==
{{quote|Old Tom Bombadil is a merry fellow; Bright blue his jacket is, and his boots are yellow.|Tom Bombadil}}

Tom looked like an old man who was taller and heavier than a [[Hobbits|Hobbit]], but not quite tall enough for a [[Men|man]].<ref name="OldF" />

His face was creased and red as a ripe apple with blue and bright eyes.<ref name="OldF" /> His hands were brown-skinned.<ref name="house" /> He had thick brown hair<ref name="house" /> and a long brown beard.<ref name="OldF" />

Tom wore a blue coat and an old tall hat with a long blue feather and yellow boots.<ref name="OldF" /> Earlier he wore a [[swans|swan]] feather, which he later replaced with a blue one from a [[kingfishers|kingfisher]].<ref>{{AB|2}}</ref>

He lived in a [[Underhill (house)|house]] just outside the eastern edge of the [[Old Forest]] by the river [[Withywindle]],<ref name="OldF" /> together with his lovely wife [[Goldberry]].<ref name="house" /> According to him<ref name="FR|Barrow">{{FR|Barrow}}</ref> and to [[Gandalf]] as well,<ref name="CoE" /> he would not leave his country. The only known location on the border of his country is where he makes that statement, on the south side of the [[East Road]], north of the [[Barrow-downs]] and about four miles northwest of [[Bree]]. His country must have included the Barrow-downs and the [[Old Forest]], and according to the poem "[[Bombadil Goes Boating]]," he visited villages in [[Buckland]] and [[Farmer Maggot]]'s farm in the [[Marish]], which would mean that his country included them as well.

The [[Bucklanders]] had little understanding of his powers and nature. They saw him as mysterious and unpredictable, but benevolent and comic, more or less as the [[Shire-folk]] thought of [[Gandalf]].<ref name="Adv" />

==History==
===Origins===
[[Image:Olanda Fong-Surdenas - Tom Bombadil.jpg|thumb|left|''Tom Bombadil'' by [[Olanda Fong-Surdenas]]]]
{{quote|He is a strange creature.|[[Elrond]], ''[[The Council of Elrond]]''}}
The origins and [[Tom Bombadil/Nature|nature of Tom Bombadil]] are unknown. He claims to have existed when the [[Morgoth|Dark Lord]] came "from the Outside",<ref name="house">{{FR|Bombadil}}</ref>{{rp|131}} perhaps meaning he was alive at least as far back as the [[Spring of Arda]].<ref>{{RS|Tom}}, p. 122</ref> Bombadil calls himself the "Eldest", [[Glorfindel]] calls him the "First", and his Sindarin name ''Iarwain Ben-adar'' means "Oldest and fatherless."

His role and nature in the [[Elder Days]] and later is unknown. He was in Arda "before the river and the trees" and before the first rain. He "made paths" before the [[Great March]] of the [[Eldar]], and saw the [[Middle Men]] and their [[Barrow Downs|tombs]]. He witnessed the [[Changing of the World]], the reducing of the great forests that covered all [[Middle-earth]], the arrival of the [[Exiles of Númenor]] and of the [[Barrow-wights]].<ref name="house" /><ref name="CoE" />

The nature of his interactions with the outside world is unclear. He had contact with the [[Bucklanders]] throughout the [[Third Age]].<ref name="Adv" /> He was familiar with Frodo, his companions and their families when they visit him. He attributed most of this knowledge to [[Farmer Maggot]].<ref name="house" /> He had names among the Elves, Dwarves and Northern Men. [[Elrond]] knew of him when he ventured in his lands. However, most of the [[Council of Elrond]] were unfamiliar with him, and Elrond admitted to having forgotten about him from long ago.<ref name="CoE" /><ref name="Adv">{{AB|Preface}}</ref>

===War of the Ring===
[[Image:Ted Nasmith - The Willow Man is Tamed.jpg|thumb|''The Willow Man is Tamed'' by [[Ted Nasmith]]]]
On [[26 September]], {{TA|3018}}, he encountered [[travellers|four hobbits]] while he was searching for water-lilies for his wife. Two of those Hobbits, [[Meriadoc Brandybuck|Merry]] and [[Peregrin Took|Pippin]], had been captured by [[Old Man Willow]]. Tom, who was the master of the Old Forest, rescued them, and took all four of them to his house.<ref name="OldF"></ref>

The four hobbits stayed two nights, and he told them many tales and songs. With cunning questions, he made [[Frodo Baggins|Frodo]] tell him of the [[The One Ring|Ring]]. When Tom tried it on, nothing happened, but he then took it off and flipped it in the air and made the ring itself disappear, showing that indeed within his realm Tom was master. However, when Frodo put the ring on, Tom could still see him. He bade the Hobbit to come back and sit down; his hand was fairer without the ring.

Before his guests went to sleep, Tom warned them of the [[Barrow-downs]], and advised them to pass any barrow on the western side. He also taught them a song, should they come to peril.<ref name="house" />{{rp|134}}

And they did come to peril. Tom chased off a [[Barrow-wights|wight]] with song, and broke the spells on the barrow in which the four hobbits were captured. While he sent the Hobbits to calm down, he went for provisions. He also brought the ponies that had belonged to Merry. After that, he broke the spells of the barrow. From the barrow's mighty hoard, he took a blue-jewelled brooch for Goldberry (probably belonging to the spouse of the [[last prince of Cardolan]] he seemingly met long ago),<ref>{{HM|RC}}, "Fog on the Barrow-downs", pp. 146-7</ref><ref>{{RS|Wight}}, p. 127-8</ref> and gave a [[Daggers of Westernesse|dagger]] to each of the hobbits. He then advised them to make for ''[[The Prancing Pony]]'' in [[Bree]].<ref name="FR|Barrow" />

The peril of the hobbits was not over; an attack on their lives was carried out, and their ponies were set loose. The ponies apparently remembered the care they were given in the house of Tom Bombadil, and returned to stay beside Tom's own pony, [[Fatty Lumpkin]]. He returned them to [[Barliman Butterbur]], the proprietor of ''The Prancing Pony''. Since he had paid eighteen pence as compensation for the loss, he was now the owner of five fine ponies.<ref>{{FR|Knife}}</ref>

As he was merry and benevolent, some of the [[Free Peoples]] considered him a potential ally against [[Sauron]] during the [[War of the Ring]]. [[Elrond]] and [[Erestor]] considered that he should be present at the [[Council of Elrond]]. However, according to [[Gandalf]], Tom Bombadil was perhaps not fully aware of the struggle of Light and Darkness and could not prove useful to their causes.<ref name="CoE" />

After the [[fall of Sauron]] at the end of the War, the [[Travelers]] returned to the Shire, but Gandalf left them and went to talk to Tom.<ref>{{RK|Homeward}}</ref>{{rp|996}}

Eventually the defeat of Sauron and the victory of the [[West]] allowed Tom to continue and "survive" in the [[later Ages]].<ref>{{L|144}}</ref>

===Legacy===
Tom Bombadil’s existence passed into Hobbit lore and was referenced in poems such as ''[[The Adventures of Tom Bombadil]]'' and ''[[Bombadil Goes Boating]]''. The Hobbit, [[Samwise Gamgee]], based and modeled his protagonist in ''[[The Stone Troll]]'', [[Tom (The Stone Troll)|Tom]], after Bombadil, considering that Sam composed the poem soon after their meeting.<ref name="RF">{{HM|Guide}}, p. 385</ref> In the poem, Tom encounters an old [[Stone-trolls|troll]], gnawing for years on the shinbone of Tim, his [[Unusual words|nuncle]], and Tom demands for the troll to let it down.<ref>{{FR|I12}}</ref><ref>{{AB|7}}</ref> It is likely that Tim was only an invention by Sam rather than actually being Tom Bombadil's nuncle.<ref name="RF" />

==Other names==
He also went by other names:
*The [[Elves]] called him '''''[[iaur|Iar]]<nowiki/>wain [[penadar|Ben-adar]]'''''<ref name="CoE">{{FR|Council}}, p. 265</ref> in [[Sindarin]]<ref>{{PE|17}}, entry S ''pen-'', p. 34</ref>, which translates to "Oldest and Fatherless"<ref name="CoE" />. ''Iarwain'' literally means "Old-young", presumably because he had always appeared to be much the same: "old, but very vigorous"<ref>{{HM|RC}}, p. 128; quoting an unpublished letter from late 1968 by J.R.R. Tolkien from a private collection</ref>
*The "[[Northmen|Northern Men]]" gave him the name '''''Orald'''''.<ref name="CoE" /> ''Orald'' is an [[Old English]] word meaning "very ancient". Old English represents "the [[Rohanese|language of the Rohirrim and their kin]]".<ref name="nomen">{{HM|N}}, entry '''Orald''', p. 761</ref>
*The Dwarves gave him the name '''''Forn'''''.<ref name="CoE" /> ''Forn'' is [[North Germanic languages|Scandinavian]] for "(belonging to) ancient (days)".<ref name="nomen" /> Since all the dwarf names are in Old Norse, which represents "a [[Northern Mannish|northern language of Men]]"<ref name="nomen" /> and the Dwarves from the region of Dale took their "outer" names in the [[language of Dale]]<ref>{{App|Translation}}, p. 1137</ref>, it is possible that the name ''Forn'' came from the [[language of Dale]]. In some imprints of ''[[The History of Middle-earth Index]]'', this name was accidentally spelled with a "P" as the first letter: {{HM|IX}}, "Tom Bombadil (VII)", p. 435<nowiki></ref></nowiki>

==Etymology==
The name ''Bombadil'' is [[Bucklandish]] in form. It is probable that the [[Bucklanders|Hobbits from Buckland]] gave him this name.<ref name="Adv" />

[[Paula Marmor]] notes that ''bobadil'' is an archaic word meaning "braggart", as seen in the character "Captain Bobadill" in the English play ''[[Wikipedia:Every Man in His Humour|Every Man in His Humour]]''. Because of its Bucklandish form, ''[[An Introduction to Elvish]]'' lists the name ''Bombadil'' under the "[[Celtic]]-sounding names". However, it is said that the word derives from '''[[Wikipedia:Boabdil|Boabdil]]''', the Spaniard name of [[Wikipedia:Muhammad XII of Granada|'''Abu Abdillah''' Muhammad XII]], the last Moorish ruler of Granada.<ref>{{HM|IE}}, Giving of Names</ref>

==Other versions of the legendarium==
[[Treebeard]] knew Tom Bombadil in an earlier manuscript version of the chapter ''Treebeard'', but this was later struck out.<ref>{{TI|Treebeard}}, p. 416</ref> According to Christopher Tolkien it is conceivable that the contrast between Tom Bombadil and the Ents confused the conflict between the Ents and the Entwives or that the struck out passage initiated the idea of a conflict between the Ents and the Entwives.<ref>{{TI|Treebeard}}, note 4 p. 419-420</ref>

==Inspiration==
Tom Bombadil was inspired primarily from a [[Wikipedia:Peg wooden doll|dutch doll]] Tolkien's child(ren) toyed with.<ref name="intro" /> The doll had a feathered hat. One time they found it in the lavatory, being stuffed there by little [[John Tolkien]], who perhaps didn't like it much.<ref>{{HM|Bio}}, p. 165</ref>

Tolkien began (probably in the 1920s) writing a story entitled ''Tom Bombadil'' set during the reign of "King Bonhedig" in the British prehistory, far before any recorded events or invasions. The protagonist Tombombadil is mentioned as one of the oldest inhabitants of Bonhedig's kingdom, which spanned many miles on either side of the Thames. Only the 3 opening paragraphs survive of the shortly-abandoned, story, and the fragment ends at the description of Tombombadil who "wore a tall hat with a blue feather; his jacket was blue, and his boots were yellow".<ref>{{AB|Prose}}</ref>

Around the 1930s or earlier Tolkien wrote a poem about some Tom Bombadil rowing down a River, a poem which Tolkien later identified as his "germ of Tom Bombadil".<ref>{{RS|1VT}}</ref> Later in [[1934]] he put him into [[The Adventures of Tom Bombadil (poem)|a poem]], again described according to the appearance of the aforementioned doll (something that he did with other toys of his children, like [[Rover]]).<ref name="intro">{{AB|Intro}}</ref> At one time he described him as a "spirit of the (vanishing) [[Oxford]] and Berkshire countryside"<ref name="L19">{{L|19}}</ref>

When asked to make a sequel for ''[[The Hobbit]]'', Tolkien briefly considered making that figure of his poem the central character.<ref name="L19" /> Although it didn't happen, he eventually [[The Old Forest|appeared]] in the narrative as a supporting character. Tolkien wrote Bombadil as a direct contrast to the artistry and (sub)creative force of the [[Elves]]; whereas they seek to create, devise, alter and control, Bombadil only observes and contemplates the world outside him and takes joy in it. He is the fearless theoretical study of the world, and history.<ref name="coghill">[[Letter to Nevill Coghill]] (Excerpt reproduced [http://wayneandchristina.wordpress.com/2014/12/30/tom-bombadil-addenda-corrigenda/ here])</ref>

Justin Noetzel in his paper "Beorn and Tom Bombadil: Mythology, Narrative, and The Most (Non) Essential Characters in Middle-earth", suggests an association of Tom Bombadil with the [[Wikipedia:Celtic Otherworld|Celtic Otherworld]] and tales of the [[Wikipedia:Tuatha Dé Danann|Tuatha Dé Danann]].<ref>{{webcite|author=[[John D. Rateliff]]|articleurl=http://sacnoths.blogspot.se/2013/03/valparaiso-day-three.html|articlename=Valparaiso, Day Three|dated=12 March 2013|website=Sac|accessed=14 March 2013}}</ref>

David Elton Gay compares Tom to the demigod [[Wikipedia:Väinämöinen|Väinämöinen]] from the ''[[Kalevala]]'': both are extremely old and powerful immortal figures who express their power in rhymes, and both have control over their small forested country.<ref>Gay, David Elton (2004). Chance, Jane (ed.). ''J.R.R. Tolkien and the Kalevala. Tolkien and the invention of myth : a reader''. University Press of Kentucky. pp. 295–304.</ref>

==Outside the legendarium==
In addition to the aforementioned earlier works written independently to the [[Legendarium]], a figure that hints at Bombadil appears in the much later poem ''[[Once upon a Time]]''. Tolkien wrote it around [[1964]] and reused the names of "Tom" and "Goldberry" (although the epithet "Bombadil" is not mentioned, the association can be made as he appears with Goldberry). Hammond & Scull note that in this poem Tom appears less omnipotent; while he is known to talk to all creatures, who always obey him, the mysterious ''[[lintips]]'' are the only ones who refuse to talk to him and hide away.<ref>{{AB|Once}}, p. 283</ref> No specific events are mentioned that can connect it to Tom Bombadil or the legendarium of Arda.

==Portrayal in adaptations==
Because he is left out of the three major adaptations ([[The Lord of the Rings (1978 film)|Ralph Bakshi]], [[The Lord of the Rings (1981 radio series)|BBC's 1981 series]] and [[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring|Peter Jackson's]]), Tom Bombadil's main role (providing the [[Daggers of Westernesse|Barrow-blades]]) is omitted. He does have several appearances in other adaptations, though.

===Tom Bombadil in adaptations===
<gallery mode="traditional" widths="200" heights="150">
File:Sagan om Ringen - Tom Bombadil.png|''[[Sagan om Ringen (1971 film)|Sagan om Ringen]]''
File:War in Middle Earth - Tom Bombadil.png|''[[J.R.R. Tolkien's War in Middle Earth]]''
File:Hobitit - Tom Bombadillo.png|Esko Hukkanen in ''[[Hobitit]]''
File:The Lord of the Rings Trading Card Game - Tom Bombadil, The Master.jpg|''[[The Lord of the Rings Trading Card Game]]''
File:The Lord of the Rings - The Fellowship of the Ring (video game) - Tom Bombadil.JPG|[[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (video game)|''The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring'' (video game)]]
File:BFME2 - Tom Bombadil 03.jpg|''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth II]]''
File:The Lord of the Rings Online - Tom Bombadil.jpg|''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]''
File:Tom Bombadil in Rings of Power.jpeg|[[Rory Michael Kinnear]] as Tom Bombadil in [[Rhûn]] within [[The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power]]
</gallery>
'''1955: ''[[The Lord of the Rings (1956 radio series)|BBC Radio's The Lord of the Rings]]'':'''
:[[Norman Shelley]] voiced Bombadil, and Tolkien thought his portrayal "dreadful". [[Goldberry]] was portrayed as his daughter, rather than his wife.<ref>{{L|175}}</ref>

'''1979: [[The Lord of the Rings (1979 radio series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1979 radio series)]]:'''
:In this series, Tom was voiced by [[Bernard Mayes]]. Like Norman Shelley before him, he also voiced [[Gandalf]].

'''1988: ''[[J.R.R. Tolkien's War in Middle Earth]]'':'''
:Tom Bombadil can be found outside his house in the Old Forest.

'''1990: ''[[J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings, Vol. I (1990 video game)|J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings, Vol. I]]'':'''
:Tom Bombadil rescues the party from the Willow Man, and provides information, supplies, shelter, and side-quests for the party. He later rescues the party from the Barrow Wights, and very briefly joins as a temporary playable character while inside the barrow. His role runs almost directly parallel to the original, with some related passages of ''[[The Fellowship of the Ring]]'' quoted directly. However, [[Goldberry]]'s role is significantly changed to provide a quest for the party.

'''1992: [[Der Herr der Ringe (1992 German radio series)|''Der Herr der Ringe'' (1992 German radio series)]]:'''
:Tom Bombadil is played by Peter Ehrlich.

'''1992: [[Tales from the Perilous Realm (1992 radio series)|''Tales from the Perilous Realm'' (1992 radio series)]]:'''
:When he adapted the 1981 [[The Lord of the Rings (1981 radio series)|radio series]], [[Brian Sibley]] deeply regretted cutting Bombadil from the radio series.<ref>[[Brian Sibley]], ''[http://briansibleytheworks.blogspot.com/2008/01/this-page-is-still-under-construction_23.html The Ring Goes Ever On]''</ref> When he made ''[[Tales from the Perilous Realm]]'' into a radio series, he decided to change the section "[[The Adventures of Tom Bombadil]]". Rather than several (unadaptable) Hobbitish poems, Sibley adapted the chapters from ''[[The Fellowship of the Ring]]''. Bombadil is voiced by [[Ian Hogg]].

'''1993: ''[[Hobitit]]'':'''
:Tom Bombadil is portrayed by Esko Hukkanen. It is the only screen adaptation that featured him before 2024.

'''2001-2007: ''[[The Lord of the Rings Trading Card Game]]'':'''
:Although Tom Bombadil does not appear in [[The Lord of the Rings (film series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' film series]], Decipher produced a card for the character. He was portrayed by Harry Weller-Chew.

'''2001–present: ''[[The Lord of the Rings Strategy Battle Game]]'':'''
:Despite not appearing in the films the game is based on, Tom Bombadil and Goldberry were given several models by [[Games Workshop]], which has held rights for tabletop games since 1980.

'''2001: [[Pán prsteňov (2001-2003 Slovak radio series)|''Pán prsteňov'' (2001-2003 Slovak radio series)]]:'''
:The voice of Tom Bombadil is provided by Milan Lasica. He appears in the final third of the first episode, helping the four hobbits with Old Man Willow, guiding them to his house and taking them in as his guests for the night, along with his wife Goldberry. After they depart and get lost on the Barrow Downs, he once again aids in their rescue, and provides them with barrow-blades from the barrow of the defeated barrow-wight.

'''2002: [[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (video game)|''The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring'' (video game)]]:'''
:[[Daran Norris]] portrayed Bombadil with a Scottish accent. His role is much like that in the book, and as one of the few characters in this video game, he keeps most of his songs.

'''2002: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers]]'':'''
:In the [[The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (extended edition)|extended edition]], some of Bombadil's poems are transferred to [[Treebeard]], and so is his encounter with [[Old Man Willow]].

'''2006: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth II]]'':'''
:Bombadil is a summonable power. Once summoned, he can plow through enemy lines. His most powerful weapon is a "Sonic Song". As soon as [[Electronic Arts|EA]] secured the rights to the books, it was decided that Tom Bombadil should be in it; his appearance is kept close to his description in the book.<ref>[http://www.gamespot.com/pc/strategy/battleformiddleearth2/news.html?sid=6139678 The Lord of the Rings, The Battle for Middle-earth II Q&A - Enter Tom Bombadil], [http://www.gamespot.com/ GameSpot.com]</ref>

'''2007: ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]'':'''
:Tom can be found either inside or outside his house in the Old Forest. He helps the player track down crebain scouts possessing important information, and later arrives to rescue the player from the Barrow-Downs when (s)he gets himself in more than (s)he is prepared for, much like the Hobbits in the Book. He later aids the player against agents of the Barrow-downs when the latter attempts to corrupt Old Man Willow with a [[Morgul-blade]].

'''2012: ''[[Lego The Lord of the Rings: The Video Game]]'':'''
:Bombadil is a playable character. He uses a trowel as a weapon and for digging in certain spots. Tom can be found in his house on the road to the north of [[Bucklebury Ferry]] in the forested area between [[Bree]] and the Shire. It is unclear if this forest is meant to be the Old Forest or not; it is in the right location, but the game never specifically names it and its physical appearance does not fit the book's description.

'''2014: ''[[Lego The Hobbit: The Video Game]]'':'''
:Bombadil also appears as a playable character, and again wields a trowel. This time, Tom is found in a forest southwest of Bree, near a house atop a hill (likely his house in the Old Forest).

'''2024: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power]]'':'''
:Tom Bombadil will be portrayed by [[Rory Michael Kinnear]], whose headwear and outfit was made by costume designer Luca Mosca to look similar to J.R.R. Tolkien's description of Tom Bombadil. The production designer of the show, [[Kristian Milstead]], incorporated a star map on the ceiling of Tom's cottage to imply that Bombadil "has been watching the constellations for signs—and for the Stranger’s arrival", thereby connecting Tom to the larger story. The showrunners mention that they have given him a second home besides [[Underhill (house)|Underhill]] which he uses as a "summer cottage" on the outskirts of the once "green and beautiful" [[Rhûn]] "which...now is...a dead wasteland". At the time of the show, Bombadil "has gone out to...Rhûn...to see what's happened" to the region in order to prevent the desolation from spreading westwards.<ref>{{webcite|author=Anthony Breznican|articleurl=https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/story/tom-bombadil-the-rings-of-power-first-look|articlename=Tom Bombadil Finally Steps Forth in ''The Rings of Power'' - An Exclusive First Look|dated=29 May 2024|website=[https://www.vanityfair.com Vanity Fair]|accessed=29 May 2024}}</ref>

===Collectibles===
In [[April]] [[2008]], [[Gentle Giant]] released the Tom Bombadil Mini Bust.

==See also==
*'''[[Tom Bombadil/Nature|The Nature of Tom Bombadil]]'''

==External links==
*[http://www.glyphweb.com/arda/t/tombombadil.html Entry in the Encyclopedia of Arda] (a concise overview of the discussion)
*[http://middle-earth.xenite.org/2012/08/27/count-count-weigh-divide/ Count, Count, Weigh, Divide] by [[Michael Martinez]] (discusses Tom Bombadil's moral aspects at length)
*[http://www.whoistombombadil.blogspot.com/2013/01/tom-bombadil-as-music-of-ainur_9.html Tom as the Music of the Ainur] discusses the major theories of Tom's origins and proposes a new theory.
*[http://www.cas.unt.edu/~hargrove/tombomb.html Who Is Tom Bombadil?] (an essay by Gene Hargrove)

{{References|Notes}}
{{Ringbearers}}

[[Category:Characters in The Lord of the Rings]]
[[Category:Characters in The Adventures of Tom Bombadil]]
[[Category:Enigmas]]
[[Category:First Age characters]]
[[Category:Forest-folk]]
[[Category:Second Age characters]]
[[Category:Spirits]]
[[Category:Third Age characters]]
[[de:Tom Bombadil]]
[[fr:encyclo/personnages/tom bombadil]]
[[fi:Tom Bombadil]]

Lindo

2026-07-04T22:04:41Z

Jwc31: Capitalization

{{infobox character
| people=[[Elves|Elf]]
| image=
| name=Lindo
| pronun=
| othernames=''Glinda'' ([[Gnomish|G]])
| titles=
| position=Keeper of the [[Cottage of Lost Play]]
| location=[[Tol Eressëa]]
| affiliation=
| language=
| birth=
| birthlocation=
| rule=
| death=
| deathlocation=
| age=
| notablefor=
| house=
| parentage=[[Valwë]]
| siblings=
| spouse=[[Vairë (wife of Lindo)|Vairë]]
| children=
| gender=Male
| height=
| hair=
| eyes=
| clothing=
| weapons=
| steed=
}}
'''Lindo''' was the wise keeper of the [[Cottage of Lost Play]] in [[Tol Eressëa]] according to the early version of the [[legendarium]] in ''[[The Book of Lost Tales]]''. His wife was [[Vairë (wife of Lindo)|Vairë]], and his father was [[Valwë]].<ref name="Cottage">{{LT1|I}}</ref>{{rp|14}}

==History==
The mariner [[Eriol]], who searched for strange lands, eventually came to the isle of Tol Eressëa. There he wandered, until reaching the center of the isle and the city of [[Kortirion]]. Growing tired as the night drew in, he sought for a place to rest. He spotted The [[Cottage of Lost Play]], with its many small windows curtained snugly, filled with a warm light. He knocked on the door as was greeted by the Lord of the Cottage, Lindo and his wife Vairë.

After introductions, Lindo explained that the dwelling was called Mar Vanwa Tyaliéva, or the Cottage of Lost Play. Alongside him there were many other elves, and mannish children of various sizes. He perceived Eriol's curiosity and said: "''Small is the dwelling, but smaller still are they that dwell here - for all who enter must be very small indeed, or of their own good wish become as very little folk even as they stand upon the threshold''."<ref name="Cottage" />{{rp|13–4}}

Lindo and Vairë accepted Eriol's request for entrance and lodging, and invited him in. Soon after, they made their way to the great hall, where an evening meal was set out. [[Gong of the Children|Tombo]], the Gong of Children rang out and all the children of the dwelling joined them for supper, including [[Littleheart]], the Gong-warden. They sang the song of the [[Bringing in of the Meats]] and Lindo blessed the food and company.

During dinner, Eriol asked Lindo and his wife about the isle of Tol Eressëa. Lindo explained Eriol had come into the region of [[Alalminórë]], or the Land of Elms at the center of the isle, which was the fairest of the realms of Tol Eressëa, and then to the city above it of Kortirion. He told of the isle's leader [[Meril-i-Turinqi]], who was a descendant of [[Ingwë|Inwë]], the King of all the Eldar when they dwelt in [[Kôr]]. At this isle is where many of the wisest and fairest of all the Eldar gathered, including Lindo's father [[Valwë]], and his wife's father [[Tulkastor]].<ref name="Cottage" />{{rp|14–6}}

All but Eriol filled their cups with [[limpë]], which was a special drink that would give youth, but that only Meril-i-Turinqi could give to one who was not Eldar or that already dwelt with them. The gong sounded again, and the company moved to the [[Room of Logs]] where a magic fire burnt endlessly. There they would gather often for story time and now Vairë told him the history of the land. She spoke of [[Olórë Mallë]], or the Path of Dreams, and of a white cottage that stood in its fairest garden. None knew of what it was built or when. This was then called the Cottage of Children and the Eldar guarded it fiercely, goading the children of men to play there. This was to protect them from straying into Valinor and abandoning their parents or returning and being unsatisfied with the world ever after. After the elves left Kôr, the Cottage of Children was abandoned and blocked off forever.<ref name="Cottage" />{{rp|17–9}}

Meril-i-Turinqi chose Lindo and Vairë to care for the remainder of the children who had been to Kôr. The two built the new Cottage of Lost Play where the children then lived, though some would depart to the [[Middle-earth|Great Lands]], and stay, becoming lost in the wonderous lands there. The rest return and bring stories to Lindo and Vairë.<ref name="Cottage" />{{rp|20}}

==Etymology==
''Lindo'' is a [[Qenya]] name, probably meaning "Singer". The [[Gnomish]] version of the name was '''''Glinda''''' (probably related to ''glin'' "sound, voice, utterance").<ref>{{PE|15}}, pp. 6-7, 9</ref>

==Genealogy==
{{familytree/start}}
{{familytree| | | WOD | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |WOD=[[wikipedia:Odin|Wóden]]}}
{{familytree| | | |:| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |}}
{{familytree| | | |:| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |}}
{{familytree| | | HED | | | | | | | | TUL | | | | VAL |HED=[[Heden]]|TUL=[[Tulkastor]]|VAL=[[Valwë]]}}
{{familytree| |,|-|^|-|.| | | | | |,|-|^|-|.| | | |!| |}}
{{familytree| BEO | | EOH | | | | SIB | | VAI |~| LIN |BEO=[[Beorn (son of Heden)|Beorn]]|EOH=[[Eoh]]|SIB=''unknown sibling''|VAI=[[Vairë (wife of Lindo)|Vairë]]|LIN='''LINDO'''}}
{{familytree| | | | | |!| | | | | |!| | | | | | | | | |}}
{{familytree| CWE |y| ERI |~|~|y| NAI | | | | | | | | |CWE=[[Cwén]]|ERI=[[Eriol]]|NAI=[[Naimi]]}}
{{familytree| |,|-|^|-|.| | | |!| | | | | | | | | | | |}}
{{familytree| HEN | | HOR | | HEO | | | | | | | | | | |HEN=[[wikipedia:Hengist and Horsa|Hengest]]|HOR=[[wikipedia:Hengist and Horsa|Horsa]]|HEO=[[Heorrenda]]}}
{{familytree/end}}

{{references}}
[[Category:Characters in The Book of Lost Tales]]
[[Category:Elves]]
[[Category:Qenya names]]
[[de:Lindo]]

The Nature of Tom Bombadil

2026-07-04T18:41:44Z

Jwc31: Wording improved, clarified

Talk:Tom Bombadil/Nature

2026-07-04T18:10:57Z

Jwc31: Jwc31 moved page Talk:Tom Bombadil/Nature to Talk:The Nature of Tom Bombadil: Clarification of title

#REDIRECT [[Talk:The Nature of Tom Bombadil]]

Talk:The Nature of Tom Bombadil

2026-07-04T18:10:57Z

Jwc31: Jwc31 moved page Talk:Tom Bombadil/Nature to Talk:The Nature of Tom Bombadil: Clarification of title

==Sources==
Is this article exempt from having sources, or do we just add individuals' theories to it? --{{User:Mith/sig}} 10:06, 15 February 2020 (UTC)
:I don't think any theory can be referenced beyond Robert Foster or David Day. As long as a theory is objectively and properly explained, I think it would be fine to include it. (For example, the theory of Tom being Tolkien should remain out, as there is no clue about that in any text and cannot be explained beyond fandom ideas). What really concerns me is that both Tom articles include almost nothing of what Tolkien said about him. I include that in my to-do list. --[[User:LorenzoCB|LorenzoCB]] 19:09, 27 May 2020 (UTC)

Tom Bombadil/Nature

2026-07-04T18:10:57Z

Jwc31: Jwc31 moved page Tom Bombadil/Nature to The Nature of Tom Bombadil: Clarification of title

#REDIRECT [[The Nature of Tom Bombadil]]

The Nature of Tom Bombadil

2026-07-04T18:10:57Z

Jwc31: Jwc31 moved page Tom Bombadil/Nature to The Nature of Tom Bombadil: Clarification of title

{{Cleanup}}
[[File:Anke Eißmann - Tom Bombadil.jpg|250px|thumb|''Tom Bombadil'' by [[Anke Eißmann]]]]
{{quote|He is a strange creature.|[[Elrond]] in ''[[The Fellowship of the Ring]]'', "[[The Council of Elrond]]"}}
[[Tom Bombadil]]'s mythological origins in the internal cosmology of [[Middle-earth]] have puzzled even erudite fans. For example, the fact that the Ring had no power on Tom would either suggest that Tom existed in both the [[Seen]] and the [[Unseen]] realms or that the Unseen had no effect on him since "He is his own [[master]]".

Speculative ideas about his true nature range from simply a wise [[Elves|Elven]] hermit to a [[Maiar|Maia]] or [[Valar|Vala]], to even [[Ilúvatar]] himself.
==Tolkien's words==
Even during his lifetime, [[J.R.R. Tolkien]] was asked directly about Tom, but he dismissed these questions, clearly indicating that Tom is a living enigma, part of a wider, incomprehensible world:
{{quote|Even in a mythical Age there must be some enigmas, as there always are. Tom Bombadil is one (intentionally)|J.R.R. Tolkien<ref>{{L|144}}</ref>}}

{{quote|I don't think Tom needs philosophizing about, and is not improved by it. But many have found him an odd or indeed discordant ingredient|J.R.R. Tolkien<ref name="L153"/>}}

{{quote|... Bombadil is just as he is. Just an odd ‘fact’ of that world. He won't be explained, because as long as you are [...] concentrated on the Ring, he is inexplicable. [A reminder] that the world is so large and manifold that if you take one facet and fix your mind and heart on it, there is always something that does not come in to that story/argument/approach, and seems to belong to a larger story.|J.R.R. Tolkien<ref name=coghill/>}}

Tolkien suggests that even in the [[Secondary World]], the characters (Hobbits) who interacted with him, were not fully aware of his nature.
{{quote|The [[Bucklanders]] knew Bombadil, though, no doubt, they had as little understanding of his powers as the [[Shire-folk]] had of [[Gandalf]]'s: both were regarded as benevolent persons, mysterious maybe and unpredictable but nonetheless comic.|''[[The Adventures of Tom Bombadil]]'', Preface}}

==Tom as Eru==
When Goldberry was asked by [[Frodo Baggins]] who he was, she simply said "''He is''" which parallels the scriptural name of God in Christianity, "''ὁ ὤν''" (The Being - the One who is). Goldberry also said that Tom is simply "the [[Master]]",<ref name="Council">{{FR|Council}}</ref> and the theory that Tom is an incarnation, embodiment or "avatar" of Eru has been favored by the fans.<ref name="FAQ">[http://tolkien.slimy.com Tolkien Meta-FAQ], "[http://tolkien.slimy.com/essays/Bombadil.html What is Tom Bombadil?]", last updated 27 October 2002 (accessed 23 October 2010)</ref>

However Tolkien later remarked that this dialogue was not a reference to God, the way that priests called "Father" does not allude to God.<ref name="L153">{{L|153}}</ref>

In the [[Council of Elrond]] it was mentioned that Tom has limited knowledge and understanding of the powers of the Ring, a limitation that the creator God arguably would not have.

Also Elrond calls Bombadil "a strange ''creature''" which is not fit to describe the Creator who wasn't created by anyone; unless Elrond can be credited with ignorance about Bombadil's nature.

It must be added that Tolkien was a devout Roman Catholic, so the idea of an incarnation of the Creator being married may not have been well received by him; he explicitly said that the idea of God's Incarnation was too large to fit in his work.<ref name="L181">{{L|181}}</ref><ref name="L211">{{L|211}}</ref> (in any case however, Tolkien experimented with this idea in the ''[[Athrabeth Finrod ah Andreth]]'' about a future incarnation or Eru into the world.)

Tolkien specifically hinted that Tom (unlike Eru) is a part of this world, and he would be destroyed along with everything else, if evil would triumph.<ref name="coghill" />

==Tom as an Ainu==
If we reject the Ilúvatar theory, the most common possible explanation is that Tom is an [[Ainur|Ainu]] such as a Vala.<ref name="FAQ" /> Tom seems to have unlimited power inside the boundaries that he set for himself and perhaps the reason of why he has such powers might be the fact that he set himself limits in which he is master.

However since all seven Valar are accounted and known by their names,<ref name="Val">{{S|Vala}}</ref> one has to associate one with Tom. For instance, a theory identifies Tom with [[Aulë]] (and Goldberry with [[Yavanna]]).<ref>[http://www.cas.unt.edu/~hargrove/index.html Gene Hargrove], "[http://www.cas.unt.edu/~hargrove/bombadil.html Who is Tom Bombadil?]" (accessed 23 October 2010)</ref> Furthermore, it is nowhere referred that Aulë or any other Vala abandoned Valinor to live on [[Middle-earth]] and such an explanation becomes risky and radical. The most common theory is, therefore, that Bombadil is just a "rogue" Maia who perhaps stayed behind and did not follow the other Ainur at the [[Breaking of the World]]. In contrast to the seven Valar, the Maiar are an unknown number,<ref name="Val" /> so it's easy to associate Tom with them.

Tom remembers himself to be the ''"[[Eldest]], that's what I am... Tom remembers the first raindrop and the first acorn... He knew the dark under the stars when it was fearless – before the Dark Lord came from [[Timeless Halls|Outside]]"''. Eldest is also a title given to [[Treebeard]].

If Tom refers to the original arrival of [[Morgoth|Melkor]], who was the first Vala to enter [[Arda]], Tom was already there even before all the [[Valar]],<ref name="Days">{{S|Days}}</ref> dismissing the theory that he is a Vala or a Maia. However, it is possible that Tom had been a Maia that was sent to "test" the newly-created world, or ventured there on his own accord before the Valar themselves visited it. Alternatively, Tom might have referred to Morgoth's return to Ea after he had fled from Tulkas. This would still make him mythologically old and not contradict the theory of him being a Maia. Also, if Tom was referring to Sauron as the Dark Lord, then being a Maia would not be as far fetched too.

Something else that might indicate his association with the Maiar is Gandalf's visit. At the end of the Third Age, after Sauron was defeated, Gandalf's mission was done and he had nothing left to do in Middle-earth. Having fulfilled his divine quest, even helping the Hobbits against the ruffians in the Shire did not matter to him anymore, but talking with Tom Bombadil did. Thus, Bombadil must have been immensely important to Gandalf. Assuming that they were of the same species and that Gandalf might have offered him a place on the [[White Ship]] would be one of the easiest ways to explain why.

One possible drawback to this theory is his relationship to Good and Evil and the [[Unseen]] realm, which is evident on the effect of [[the One Ring]] on him. The Ring (containing Sauron's essence) had no effect on him although it had some effect on [[Saruman]] and [[Gandalf]]. Also, Gandalf in the Council of Elrond said that Tom is "neutral" and would not understand the cause of the [[Free peoples]], while all other known Maiar had their sides.

[[Robert Foster]] in ''[[The Complete Guide to Middle-earth]]'' indeed identifies Tom, [[Goldberry]] and the [[River-woman]] as Maiar.

==Tom as a nature sprite==
{{quote|The spirit of this earth made aware of itself.|J.R.R. Tolkien explaining Tom to [[Nevill Coghill]]<ref name=coghill>[[Letter to Nevill Coghill]] (Excerpt reproduced [http://wayneandchristina.wordpress.com/2014/12/30/tom-bombadil-addenda-corrigenda/ here]</ref>}}
A more radical and abstract theory is that he is possibly the embodiment of [[Arda]] itself, a "Father Nature", or some kind of '[[sprites|sprite]]' which (unlike the greater [[Ainur|Ainu]] spirits) were of non-divine nature. Not only does the Ring have no effect on him, Tom himself seems unable to affect the Ring in return which shows that Tom was outside the divine plan and Good vs Evil struggle and had no position in it.<ref name="Council" /> Bombadil could have been created as a side-effect of the [[Music of the Ainur]] and that would explain why he was there in the beginning.

His Elvish name "Eldest Fatherless" can support this notion: since he is only a part of creation, he has no "father", while the Ainur have ([[Ilúvatar|Eru]]).

This also would be consistent with his neutrality: Nature is neutral and has no morality.

One problem with this theory is the One Ring not having power over him. It is clear that the three elvish rings possess power over nature so one has to wonder: if Tom is a type of nature-spirit, why would the One Ring not have power over him?

Another problem with this explanation is that no such beings are mentioned elsewhere in the later [[legendarium]] (although one could argue that the [[sprites|sprites and fays]], found in such early writings as ''[[The Book of Lost Tales]]'', would fit this description).

==Tom as the Spirit of the Music of the Ainur==
This theory is a variant of the nature spirit theory, asserting that in his essence Tom is the Spirit of the [[Music of the Ainur]]. According to its proponent, this would explain his unique power and its limitations, his timelessness, his disposition, his affinity to song, his power via song over trees and barrow-wights and many of the other oddities found in his character.

This theory operates with the understanding that any spirit must be understood to be what they are personally most related to. The argument is that Tom, though close to nature, ultimately separates himself from the Forest by battling against Old Man Willow and by having a different disposition than that of the Old Forest which is described as dark and full of hate for everything that goes about freely. Tom on the other hand, points to song constantly even when fighting the barrow-wight: ''"None has ever caught him yet, for Tom, he is the Master: His songs are stronger songs, and his feet are faster"''.<ref>{{webcite|author=Unknown (alias: "Ranger From the North")|articleurl=http://www.whoistombombadil.blogspot.com |articlename=Who is Tom Bombadil?|dated=|website=|accessed=12 January 2013}}</ref>

==Beings like him==
Whatever his nature, another question about Bombadil is whether he is one-of-a-kind being, or if he has other colleagues in other parts of Arda. Bombadil could be for example the one and single "spirit of all Arda", or just the "spirit of the Old Forest" with other such beings in other forests.

The nature of Goldberry (and [[River-woman]]) is also obscure. They could be the same kind of being like himself, or his female counterpart(s). If we had more knowledge about them, we could partially answer the question about Tom as well.

Gandalf, when narrating his fight with [[Durin's Bane]], mentions tunnels made by [[nameless things]] whose existence Sauron knows not, since they are "older than he".<ref>{{TT|White}}</ref>

{{references}}
==External links==
*[http://www.glyphweb.com/arda/t/tombombadil.html Entry in the Encyclopedia of Arda] (a concise overview of the discussion)
*[http://tolkien.slimy.com/essays/Bombadil.html ''What is Tom Bombadil?''] by Steuard Jensen (a detailed explanation)
*[http://www.cas.unt.edu/~hargrove/bombadil.html ''Who is Tom Bombadil?''] by Gene Hargrove (a somewhat unorthodox but well-presented essay)
*[http://www.whoistombombadil.blogspot.com "Who is Tom Bombadil?"] by Ranger from the North (an extensive argument for the Music Theory) [[Category:Debates]]
*[https://middle-earth.xenite.org/love-in-the-trees/ ''Love in the Trees''] by Michael Martinez

Tom Bombadil

2026-07-04T18:09:49Z

Jwc31: /* Outside the legendarium */

{{disambig-more|Tom|[[Tom (disambiguation)]]}}
{{infobox character
| people=[[Tom Bombadil/Nature|Unknown]]
| image=John Howe - Tom Bombadil.jpg
| caption="Tom Bombadil" by [[John Howe]]
| name=Tom Bombadil
| pronun=
| othernames=''Iarwain Ben-adar'' ([[Sindarin|S]]) ''Orald'' ([[Old English]]) ''Forn'' ([[Old Norse]])
| titles=The [[Eldest]], [[Master]]
| position=
| location=[[Underhill (house)|Underhill]], [[Old Forest]]
| affiliation=[[Forest-folk]]<ref>{{AB|2}}</ref>
| language=[[Westron]]
| birth=
| birthlocation=
| rule=
| death=
| deathlocation=
| age=
| notablefor=saving [[Frodo]], [[Sam]], [[Merry]] and [[Pippin]] from [[Old Man Willow]] and the [[Barrow-wights]]
| parentage=
| siblings=
| spouse=[[Goldberry]]
| children=
| race=[[Tom Bombadil/Nature|Unknown]]
| gender=Male
| height=Short
| hair=
| eyes=Bright Blue<ref name="OldF">{{FR|Forest}}</ref>
| clothing=Blue jacket and hat, boots
| weapons=Song
| steed=[[Fatty Lumpkin]]
}}
{{quote|Eldest, that's what I am... Tom remembers the first raindrop and the first acorn... he knew the dark under the stars when it was fearless – before the Dark Lord came from Outside.|Tom Bombadil in ''[[The Fellowship of the Ring]]'', "[[In the House of Tom Bombadil]]"}}

'''Tom Bombadil''' was an enigmatic figure who lived throughout the history of [[Arda]]. Living a short distance east of the [[Old Forest]], he seemed to possess unequaled power in the land around his dwelling. Although seemingly benevolent, he took no stance against the [[Dark Lord]]s.

==Appearance and traits==
{{quote|Old Tom Bombadil is a merry fellow; Bright blue his jacket is, and his boots are yellow.|Tom Bombadil}}

Tom looked like an old man who was taller and heavier than a [[Hobbits|Hobbit]], but not quite tall enough for a [[Men|man]].<ref name="OldF" />

His face was creased and red as a ripe apple with blue and bright eyes.<ref name="OldF" /> His hands were brown-skinned.<ref name="house" /> He had thick brown hair<ref name="house" /> and a long brown beard.<ref name="OldF" />

Tom wore a blue coat and an old tall hat with a long blue feather and yellow boots.<ref name="OldF" /> Earlier he wore a [[swans|swan]] feather, which he later replaced with a blue one from a [[kingfishers|kingfisher]].<ref>{{AB|2}}</ref>

He lived in a [[Underhill (house)|house]] just outside the eastern edge of the [[Old Forest]] by the river [[Withywindle]],<ref name="OldF" /> together with his lovely wife [[Goldberry]].<ref name="house" /> According to him<ref name="FR|Barrow">{{FR|Barrow}}</ref> and to [[Gandalf]] as well,<ref name="CoE" /> he would not leave his country. The only known location on the border of his country is where he makes that statement, on the south side of the [[East Road]], north of the [[Barrow-downs]] and about four miles northwest of [[Bree]]. His country must have included the Barrow-downs and the [[Old Forest]], and according to the poem "[[Bombadil Goes Boating]]," he visited villages in [[Buckland]] and [[Farmer Maggot]]'s farm in the [[Marish]], which would mean that his country included them as well.

The [[Bucklanders]] had little understanding of his powers and nature. They saw him as mysterious and unpredictable, but benevolent and comic, more or less as the [[Shire-folk]] thought of [[Gandalf]].<ref name="Adv" />

==History==
===Origins===
[[Image:Olanda Fong-Surdenas - Tom Bombadil.jpg|thumb|left|''Tom Bombadil'' by [[Olanda Fong-Surdenas]]]]
{{quote|He is a strange creature.|[[Elrond]], ''[[The Council of Elrond]]''}}
The origins and [[Tom Bombadil/Nature|nature of Tom Bombadil]] are unknown. He claims to have existed when the [[Morgoth|Dark Lord]] came "from the Outside",<ref name="house">{{FR|Bombadil}}</ref>{{rp|131}} perhaps meaning he was alive at least as far back as the [[Spring of Arda]].<ref>{{RS|Tom}}, p. 122</ref> Bombadil calls himself the "Eldest", [[Glorfindel]] calls him the "First", and his Sindarin name ''Iarwain Ben-adar'' means "Oldest and fatherless."

His role and nature in the [[Elder Days]] and later is unknown. He was in Arda "before the river and the trees" and before the first rain. He "made paths" before the [[Great March]] of the [[Eldar]], and saw the [[Middle Men]] and their [[Barrow Downs|tombs]]. He witnessed the [[Changing of the World]], the reducing of the great forests that covered all [[Middle-earth]], the arrival of the [[Exiles of Númenor]] and of the [[Barrow-wights]].<ref name="house" /><ref name="CoE" />

The nature of his interactions with the outside world is unclear. He had contact with the [[Bucklanders]] throughout the [[Third Age]].<ref name="Adv" /> He was familiar with Frodo, his companions and their families when they visit him. He attributed most of this knowledge to [[Farmer Maggot]].<ref name="house" /> He had names among the Elves, Dwarves and Northern Men. [[Elrond]] knew of him when he ventured in his lands. However, most of the [[Council of Elrond]] were unfamiliar with him, and Elrond admitted to having forgotten about him from long ago.<ref name="CoE" /><ref name="Adv">{{AB|Preface}}</ref>

===War of the Ring===
[[Image:Ted Nasmith - The Willow Man is Tamed.jpg|thumb|''The Willow Man is Tamed'' by [[Ted Nasmith]]]]
On [[26 September]], {{TA|3018}}, he encountered [[travellers|four hobbits]] while he was searching for water-lilies for his wife. Two of those Hobbits, [[Meriadoc Brandybuck|Merry]] and [[Peregrin Took|Pippin]], had been captured by [[Old Man Willow]]. Tom, who was the master of the Old Forest, rescued them, and took all four of them to his house.<ref name="OldF"></ref>

The four hobbits stayed two nights, and he told them many tales and songs. With cunning questions, he made [[Frodo Baggins|Frodo]] tell him of the [[The One Ring|Ring]]. When Tom tried it on, nothing happened, but he then took it off and flipped it in the air and made the ring itself disappear, showing that indeed within his realm Tom was master. However, when Frodo put the ring on, Tom could still see him. He bade the Hobbit to come back and sit down; his hand was fairer without the ring.

Before his guests went to sleep, Tom warned them of the [[Barrow-downs]], and advised them to pass any barrow on the western side. He also taught them a song, should they come to peril.<ref name="house" />{{rp|134}}

And they did come to peril. Tom chased off a [[Barrow-wights|wight]] with song, and broke the spells on the barrow in which the four hobbits were captured. While he sent the Hobbits to calm down, he went for provisions. He also brought the ponies that had belonged to Merry. After that, he broke the spells of the barrow. From the barrow's mighty hoard, he took a blue-jewelled brooch for Goldberry (probably belonging to the spouse of the [[last prince of Cardolan]] he seemingly met long ago),<ref>{{HM|RC}}, "Fog on the Barrow-downs", pp. 146-7</ref><ref>{{RS|Wight}}, p. 127-8</ref> and gave a [[Daggers of Westernesse|dagger]] to each of the hobbits. He then advised them to make for ''[[The Prancing Pony]]'' in [[Bree]].<ref name="FR|Barrow" />

The peril of the hobbits was not over; an attack on their lives was carried out, and their ponies were set loose. The ponies apparently remembered the care they were given in the house of Tom Bombadil, and returned to stay beside Tom's own pony, [[Fatty Lumpkin]]. He returned them to [[Barliman Butterbur]], the proprietor of ''The Prancing Pony''. Since he had paid eighteen pence as compensation for the loss, he was now the owner of five fine ponies.<ref>{{FR|Knife}}</ref>

As he was merry and benevolent, some of the [[Free Peoples]] considered him a potential ally against [[Sauron]] during the [[War of the Ring]]. [[Elrond]] and [[Erestor]] considered that he should be present at the [[Council of Elrond]]. However, according to [[Gandalf]], Tom Bombadil was perhaps not fully aware of the struggle of Light and Darkness and could not prove useful to their causes.<ref name="CoE" />

After the [[fall of Sauron]] at the end of the War, the [[Travelers]] returned to the Shire, but Gandalf left them and went to talk to Tom.<ref>{{RK|Homeward}}</ref>{{rp|996}}

Eventually the defeat of Sauron and the victory of the [[West]] allowed Tom to continue and "survive" in the [[later Ages]].<ref>{{L|144}}</ref>

===Legacy===
Tom Bombadil’s existence passed into Hobbit lore and was referenced in poems such as ''[[The Adventures of Tom Bombadil]]'' and ''[[Bombadil Goes Boating]]''. The Hobbit, [[Samwise Gamgee]], based and modeled his protagonist in ''[[The Stone Troll]]'', [[Tom (The Stone Troll)|Tom]], after Bombadil, considering that Sam composed the poem soon after their meeting.<ref name="RF">{{HM|Guide}}, p. 385</ref> In the poem, Tom encounters an old [[Stone-trolls|troll]], gnawing for years on the shinbone of Tim, his [[Unusual words|nuncle]], and Tom demands for the troll to let it down.<ref>{{FR|I12}}</ref><ref>{{AB|7}}</ref> It is likely that Tim was only an invention by Sam rather than actually being Tom Bombadil's nuncle.<ref name="RF" />

==Other names==
He also went by other names:
*The [[Elves]] called him '''''[[iaur|Iar]]<nowiki/>wain [[penadar|Ben-adar]]'''''<ref name="CoE">{{FR|Council}}, p. 265</ref> in [[Sindarin]]<ref>{{PE|17}}, entry S ''pen-'', p. 34</ref>, which translates to "Oldest and Fatherless"<ref name="CoE" />. ''Iarwain'' literally means "Old-young", presumably because he had always appeared to be much the same: "old, but very vigorous"<ref>{{HM|RC}}, p. 128; quoting an unpublished letter from late 1968 by J.R.R. Tolkien from a private collection</ref>
*The "[[Northmen|Northern Men]]" gave him the name '''''Orald'''''.<ref name="CoE" /> ''Orald'' is an [[Old English]] word meaning "very ancient". Old English represents "the [[Rohanese|language of the Rohirrim and their kin]]".<ref name="nomen">{{HM|N}}, entry '''Orald''', p. 761</ref>
*The Dwarves gave him the name '''''Forn'''''.<ref name="CoE" /> ''Forn'' is [[North Germanic languages|Scandinavian]] for "(belonging to) ancient (days)".<ref name="nomen" /> Since all the dwarf names are in Old Norse, which represents "a [[Northern Mannish|northern language of Men]]"<ref name="nomen" /> and the Dwarves from the region of Dale took their "outer" names in the [[language of Dale]]<ref>{{App|Translation}}, p. 1137</ref>, it is possible that the name ''Forn'' came from the [[language of Dale]]. In some imprints of ''[[The History of Middle-earth Index]]'', this name was accidentally spelled with a "P" as the first letter: {{HM|IX}}, "Tom Bombadil (VII)", p. 435<nowiki></ref></nowiki>

==Etymology==
The name ''Bombadil'' is [[Bucklandish]] in form. It is probable that the [[Bucklanders|Hobbits from Buckland]] gave him this name.<ref name="Adv" />

[[Paula Marmor]] notes that ''bobadil'' is an archaic word meaning "braggart", as seen in the character "Captain Bobadill" in the English play ''[[Wikipedia:Every Man in His Humour|Every Man in His Humour]]''. Because of its Bucklandish form, ''[[An Introduction to Elvish]]'' lists the name ''Bombadil'' under the "[[Celtic]]-sounding names". However, it is said that the word derives from '''[[Wikipedia:Boabdil|Boabdil]]''', the Spaniard name of [[Wikipedia:Muhammad XII of Granada|'''Abu Abdillah''' Muhammad XII]], the last Moorish ruler of Granada.<ref>{{HM|IE}}, Giving of Names</ref>

==Other versions of the legendarium==
[[Treebeard]] knew Tom Bombadil in an earlier manuscript version of the chapter ''Treebeard'', but this was later struck out.<ref>{{TI|Treebeard}}, p. 416</ref> According to Christopher Tolkien it is conceivable that the contrast between Tom Bombadil and the Ents confused the conflict between the Ents and the Entwives or that the struck out passage initiated the idea of a conflict between the Ents and the Entwives.<ref>{{TI|Treebeard}}, note 4 p. 419-420</ref>

==Inspiration==
Tom Bombadil was inspired primarily from a [[Wikipedia:Peg wooden doll|dutch doll]] Tolkien's child(ren) toyed with.<ref name="intro" /> The doll had a feathered hat. One time they found it in the lavatory, being stuffed there by little [[John Tolkien]], who perhaps didn't like it much.<ref>{{HM|Bio}}, p. 165</ref>

Tolkien began (probably in the 1920s) writing a story entitled ''Tom Bombadil'' set during the reign of "King Bonhedig" in the British prehistory, far before any recorded events or invasions. The protagonist Tombombadil is mentioned as one of the oldest inhabitants of Bonhedig's kingdom, which spanned many miles on either side of the Thames. Only the 3 opening paragraphs survive of the shortly-abandoned, story, and the fragment ends at the description of Tombombadil who "wore a tall hat with a blue feather; his jacket was blue, and his boots were yellow".<ref>{{AB|Prose}}</ref>

Around the 1930s or earlier Tolkien wrote a poem about some Tom Bombadil rowing down a River, a poem which Tolkien later identified as his "germ of Tom Bombadil".<ref>{{RS|1VT}}</ref> Later in [[1934]] he put him into [[The Adventures of Tom Bombadil (poem)|a poem]], again described according to the appearance of the aforementioned doll (something that he did with other toys of his children, like [[Rover]]).<ref name="intro">{{AB|Intro}}</ref> At one time he described him as a "spirit of the (vanishing) [[Oxford]] and Berkshire countryside"<ref name="L19">{{L|19}}</ref>

When asked to make a sequel for ''[[The Hobbit]]'', Tolkien briefly considered making that figure of his poem the central character.<ref name="L19" /> Although it didn't happen, he eventually [[The Old Forest|appeared]] in the narrative as a supporting character. Tolkien wrote Bombadil as a direct contrast to the artistry and (sub)creative force of the [[Elves]]; whereas they seek to create, devise, alter and control, Bombadil only observes and contemplates the world outside him and takes joy in it. He is the fearless theoretical study of the world, and history.<ref name="coghill">[[Letter to Nevill Coghill]] (Excerpt reproduced [http://wayneandchristina.wordpress.com/2014/12/30/tom-bombadil-addenda-corrigenda/ here])</ref>

Justin Noetzel in his paper "Beorn and Tom Bombadil: Mythology, Narrative, and The Most (Non) Essential Characters in Middle-earth", suggests an association of Tom Bombadil with the [[Wikipedia:Celtic Otherworld|Celtic Otherworld]] and tales of the [[Wikipedia:Tuatha Dé Danann|Tuatha Dé Danann]].<ref>{{webcite|author=[[John D. Rateliff]]|articleurl=http://sacnoths.blogspot.se/2013/03/valparaiso-day-three.html|articlename=Valparaiso, Day Three|dated=12 March 2013|website=Sac|accessed=14 March 2013}}</ref>

David Elton Gay compares Tom to the demigod [[Wikipedia:Väinämöinen|Väinämöinen]] from the ''[[Kalevala]]'': both are extremely old and powerful immortal figures who express their power in rhymes, and both have control over their small forested country.<ref>Gay, David Elton (2004). Chance, Jane (ed.). ''J.R.R. Tolkien and the Kalevala. Tolkien and the invention of myth : a reader''. University Press of Kentucky. pp. 295–304.</ref>

==Outside the Legendarium==
In addition to the aforementioned earlier works written independently to the [[Legendarium]], a figure that hints at Bombadil appears in the much later poem ''[[Once upon a Time]]''. Tolkien wrote it around [[1964]] and reused the names of "Tom" and "Goldberry" (although the epithet "Bombadil" is not mentioned, the association can be made as he appears with Goldberry). Hammond & Scull note that in this poem Tom appears less omnipotent; while he is known to talk to all creatures, who always obey him, the mysterious ''[[lintips]]'' are the only ones who refuse to talk to him and hide away.<ref>{{AB|Once}}, p. 283</ref> No specific events are mentioned that can connect it to Tom Bombadil or the legendarium of Arda.

==Portrayal in adaptations==
Because he is left out of the three major adaptations ([[The Lord of the Rings (1978 film)|Ralph Bakshi]], [[The Lord of the Rings (1981 radio series)|BBC's 1981 series]] and [[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring|Peter Jackson's]]), Tom Bombadil's main role (providing the [[Daggers of Westernesse|Barrow-blades]]) is omitted. He does have several appearances in other adaptations, though.

===Tom Bombadil in adaptations===
<gallery mode="traditional" widths="200" heights="150">
File:Sagan om Ringen - Tom Bombadil.png|''[[Sagan om Ringen (1971 film)|Sagan om Ringen]]''
File:War in Middle Earth - Tom Bombadil.png|''[[J.R.R. Tolkien's War in Middle Earth]]''
File:Hobitit - Tom Bombadillo.png|Esko Hukkanen in ''[[Hobitit]]''
File:The Lord of the Rings Trading Card Game - Tom Bombadil, The Master.jpg|''[[The Lord of the Rings Trading Card Game]]''
File:The Lord of the Rings - The Fellowship of the Ring (video game) - Tom Bombadil.JPG|[[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (video game)|''The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring'' (video game)]]
File:BFME2 - Tom Bombadil 03.jpg|''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth II]]''
File:The Lord of the Rings Online - Tom Bombadil.jpg|''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]''
File:Tom Bombadil in Rings of Power.jpeg|[[Rory Michael Kinnear]] as Tom Bombadil in [[Rhûn]] within [[The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power]]
</gallery>
'''1955: ''[[The Lord of the Rings (1956 radio series)|BBC Radio's The Lord of the Rings]]'':'''
:[[Norman Shelley]] voiced Bombadil, and Tolkien thought his portrayal "dreadful". [[Goldberry]] was portrayed as his daughter, rather than his wife.<ref>{{L|175}}</ref>

'''1979: [[The Lord of the Rings (1979 radio series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (1979 radio series)]]:'''
:In this series, Tom was voiced by [[Bernard Mayes]]. Like Norman Shelley before him, he also voiced [[Gandalf]].

'''1988: ''[[J.R.R. Tolkien's War in Middle Earth]]'':'''
:Tom Bombadil can be found outside his house in the Old Forest.

'''1990: ''[[J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings, Vol. I (1990 video game)|J.R.R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings, Vol. I]]'':'''
:Tom Bombadil rescues the party from the Willow Man, and provides information, supplies, shelter, and side-quests for the party. He later rescues the party from the Barrow Wights, and very briefly joins as a temporary playable character while inside the barrow. His role runs almost directly parallel to the original, with some related passages of ''[[The Fellowship of the Ring]]'' quoted directly. However, [[Goldberry]]'s role is significantly changed to provide a quest for the party.

'''1992: [[Der Herr der Ringe (1992 German radio series)|''Der Herr der Ringe'' (1992 German radio series)]]:'''
:Tom Bombadil is played by Peter Ehrlich.

'''1992: [[Tales from the Perilous Realm (1992 radio series)|''Tales from the Perilous Realm'' (1992 radio series)]]:'''
:When he adapted the 1981 [[The Lord of the Rings (1981 radio series)|radio series]], [[Brian Sibley]] deeply regretted cutting Bombadil from the radio series.<ref>[[Brian Sibley]], ''[http://briansibleytheworks.blogspot.com/2008/01/this-page-is-still-under-construction_23.html The Ring Goes Ever On]''</ref> When he made ''[[Tales from the Perilous Realm]]'' into a radio series, he decided to change the section "[[The Adventures of Tom Bombadil]]". Rather than several (unadaptable) Hobbitish poems, Sibley adapted the chapters from ''[[The Fellowship of the Ring]]''. Bombadil is voiced by [[Ian Hogg]].

'''1993: ''[[Hobitit]]'':'''
:Tom Bombadil is portrayed by Esko Hukkanen. It is the only screen adaptation that featured him before 2024.

'''2001-2007: ''[[The Lord of the Rings Trading Card Game]]'':'''
:Although Tom Bombadil does not appear in [[The Lord of the Rings (film series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' film series]], Decipher produced a card for the character. He was portrayed by Harry Weller-Chew.

'''2001–present: ''[[The Lord of the Rings Strategy Battle Game]]'':'''
:Despite not appearing in the films the game is based on, Tom Bombadil and Goldberry were given several models by [[Games Workshop]], which has held rights for tabletop games since 1980.

'''2001: [[Pán prsteňov (2001-2003 Slovak radio series)|''Pán prsteňov'' (2001-2003 Slovak radio series)]]:'''
:The voice of Tom Bombadil is provided by Milan Lasica. He appears in the final third of the first episode, helping the four hobbits with Old Man Willow, guiding them to his house and taking them in as his guests for the night, along with his wife Goldberry. After they depart and get lost on the Barrow Downs, he once again aids in their rescue, and provides them with barrow-blades from the barrow of the defeated barrow-wight.

'''2002: [[The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (video game)|''The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring'' (video game)]]:'''
:[[Daran Norris]] portrayed Bombadil with a Scottish accent. His role is much like that in the book, and as one of the few characters in this video game, he keeps most of his songs.

'''2002: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers]]'':'''
:In the [[The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (extended edition)|extended edition]], some of Bombadil's poems are transferred to [[Treebeard]], and so is his encounter with [[Old Man Willow]].

'''2006: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Battle for Middle-earth II]]'':'''
:Bombadil is a summonable power. Once summoned, he can plow through enemy lines. His most powerful weapon is a "Sonic Song". As soon as [[Electronic Arts|EA]] secured the rights to the books, it was decided that Tom Bombadil should be in it; his appearance is kept close to his description in the book.<ref>[http://www.gamespot.com/pc/strategy/battleformiddleearth2/news.html?sid=6139678 The Lord of the Rings, The Battle for Middle-earth II Q&A - Enter Tom Bombadil], [http://www.gamespot.com/ GameSpot.com]</ref>

'''2007: ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]'':'''
:Tom can be found either inside or outside his house in the Old Forest. He helps the player track down crebain scouts possessing important information, and later arrives to rescue the player from the Barrow-Downs when (s)he gets himself in more than (s)he is prepared for, much like the Hobbits in the Book. He later aids the player against agents of the Barrow-downs when the latter attempts to corrupt Old Man Willow with a [[Morgul-blade]].

'''2012: ''[[Lego The Lord of the Rings: The Video Game]]'':'''
:Bombadil is a playable character. He uses a trowel as a weapon and for digging in certain spots. Tom can be found in his house on the road to the north of [[Bucklebury Ferry]] in the forested area between [[Bree]] and the Shire. It is unclear if this forest is meant to be the Old Forest or not; it is in the right location, but the game never specifically names it and its physical appearance does not fit the book's description.

'''2014: ''[[Lego The Hobbit: The Video Game]]'':'''
:Bombadil also appears as a playable character, and again wields a trowel. This time, Tom is found in a forest southwest of Bree, near a house atop a hill (likely his house in the Old Forest).

'''2024: ''[[The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power]]'':'''
:Tom Bombadil will be portrayed by [[Rory Michael Kinnear]], whose headwear and outfit was made by costume designer Luca Mosca to look similar to J.R.R. Tolkien's description of Tom Bombadil. The production designer of the show, [[Kristian Milstead]], incorporated a star map on the ceiling of Tom's cottage to imply that Bombadil "has been watching the constellations for signs—and for the Stranger’s arrival", thereby connecting Tom to the larger story. The showrunners mention that they have given him a second home besides [[Underhill (house)|Underhill]] which he uses as a "summer cottage" on the outskirts of the once "green and beautiful" [[Rhûn]] "which...now is...a dead wasteland". At the time of the show, Bombadil "has gone out to...Rhûn...to see what's happened" to the region in order to prevent the desolation from spreading westwards.<ref>{{webcite|author=Anthony Breznican|articleurl=https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/story/tom-bombadil-the-rings-of-power-first-look|articlename=Tom Bombadil Finally Steps Forth in ''The Rings of Power'' - An Exclusive First Look|dated=29 May 2024|website=[https://www.vanityfair.com Vanity Fair]|accessed=29 May 2024}}</ref>

===Collectibles===
In [[April]] [[2008]], [[Gentle Giant]] released the Tom Bombadil Mini Bust.

==See also==
*'''[[Tom Bombadil/Nature|The Nature of Tom Bombadil]]'''

==External links==
*[http://www.glyphweb.com/arda/t/tombombadil.html Entry in the Encyclopedia of Arda] (a concise overview of the discussion)
*[http://middle-earth.xenite.org/2012/08/27/count-count-weigh-divide/ Count, Count, Weigh, Divide] by [[Michael Martinez]] (discusses Tom Bombadil's moral aspects at length)
*[http://www.whoistombombadil.blogspot.com/2013/01/tom-bombadil-as-music-of-ainur_9.html Tom as the Music of the Ainur] discusses the major theories of Tom's origins and proposes a new theory.
*[http://www.cas.unt.edu/~hargrove/tombomb.html Who Is Tom Bombadil?] (an essay by Gene Hargrove)

{{References|Notes}}
{{Ringbearers}}

[[Category:Characters in The Lord of the Rings]]
[[Category:Characters in The Adventures of Tom Bombadil]]
[[Category:Enigmas]]
[[Category:First Age characters]]
[[Category:Forest-folk]]
[[Category:Second Age characters]]
[[Category:Spirits]]
[[Category:Third Age characters]]
[[de:Tom Bombadil]]
[[fr:encyclo/personnages/tom bombadil]]
[[fi:Tom Bombadil]]

The Etymologies

2026-07-04T12:49:51Z

Jwc31: /* Synopsis */ Wording improved, clarified

{{Expansion}}
{{Cleanup}}
{{HoME5chapters}}
'''The Etymologies''' is the third part of ''[[The Lost Road and Other Writings]]''. In his preface to that volume, [[Christopher Tolkien]] describes ''The Etymologies'' as "a kind of historical dictionary", and associates the work with the years [[1937]]-[[1938]], prior to [[J.R.R. Tolkien|his father]]'s work on ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]''.

==Synopsis==
[[Image:Etymologies folio 93.png|thumb|left|175px|''Etymologies'' folio 93]]
In ''The Etymologies'', Tolkien provides a series of [[Elvish]] linguistic root syllables, or "bases". He then shows how each base evolved into the vocabularies of approximately twelve variations of the Elvish languages, primarily [[Qenya]] and [[Noldorin]]. Although the derived words were not necessarily in their final forms, as Tolkien's invented languages continued to evolve throughout his life, Christopher Tolkien stated that this document "''enormously increases the known vocabularies of the Elvish tongues''".

==Addenda and corrigenda==
In [[2003]] and [[2004]], [[Vinyar Tengwar 45|''Vinyar Tengwar'' issues 45]] and [[Vinyar Tengwar 46|46]] provided addenda and corrigenda to the original published text of ''The Etymologies'', with previously unknown entries and roots. In [[2007]], ''[[Parma Eldalamberon]]'' issue [[Parma Eldalamberon 17|17]] provided even more entries.

==External links==
*[[Helge Fauskanger]], ''[http://www.uib.no/People/hnohf/errors.htm Probable Errors in the Etymologies]'', [[Ardalambion]]

[[fi:Etymologies]]

A Hobbit, a Wardrobe, and a Great War

2026-07-04T12:43:12Z

Jwc31: /* From the Publisher */

{{book
|title=A Hobbit, a Wardrobe, and a Great War
| image = A hobbit a wardrobe and a great war.jpg
|author=Joseph Loconte
|publisher=Thomas Nelson
|date=[[30 June]] [[2015]]
|format=Paperback
|pages=256
|isbn=
}}
'''''A Hobbit, a Wardrobe, and a Great War: How J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis Rediscovered Faith, Friendship, and Heroism in the Cataclysm of 1914-18''''', written by Joseph Loconte, is a biographical book about [[J.R.R. Tolkien]] and [[C.S. Lewis]].

==From the publisher==
{{blockquote|The untold story of how the [[First World War]] shaped the lives, faith, and writings of J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis. The First World War laid waste to a continent and permanently altered the political and religious landscape of the West. For a generation of men and women, it brought the end of innocence—and the end of faith. Yet for J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis, the Great War deepened their spiritual quest. Both men served as soldiers on the Western Front, survived the trenches, and used the experience of that conflict to ignite their Christian imagination. Had there been no Great War, there would have been no Hobbit, no Lord of the Rings, no Narnia, and perhaps no conversion to [[Christianity]] by C.S. Lewis. Unlike a generation of young writers who lost faith in the God of the Bible, Tolkien and Lewis produced epic stories infused with the themes of guilt and grace, sorrow and consolation. Giving an unabashedly Christian vision of hope in a world tortured by doubt and disillusionment, the two writers created works that changed the course of literature and shaped the faith of millions. This is the first book to explore their work in light of the spiritual crisis sparked by the conflict.}}

{{title|italic}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hobbit, a Wardrobe, and a Great War}}
[[Category:Biography books]]
[[Category:Publications by title]]

A Hobbit's Travels

2026-07-04T12:42:49Z

Jwc31: /* From the Publisher */

{{book
|title=A Hobbit's Travels
| image = A Hobbit's Travels.jpg
|author=[[Michael Green]]
|publisher=Running Press Book Publishers
|date=[[January]] [[1978]]
|format=Paperback
|pages=96
|isbn=0762413085
}}
'''''A Hobbit's Travels''''' is a book with blank pages decorated by illustrations depicting various scenes (of mostly landscapes) from ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'', intended to be used as a note-book. It also contains a one-page introductory text by "Sam Gamgee".

==From the publisher==

Printed on deluxe recycled parchment paper, this journal celebrating [[J.R.R. Tolkien|J. R. R. Tolkien's]] classic tales makes a lovely gift, and is just as nice to keep! With magical two-color illustrations throughout (drawings made by [[Frodo Baggins|Frodo Baggins's]] devoted companion, [[Samwise Gamgee]], on their travels throughout [[Middle-earth]]), it provides ample space for recording personal thoughts, reflections on Tolkien's masterpiece, or fantasies of your own creation.

==See also==

*''[[A Hobbit's Journal]]''
*''[[A Tolkien Journal]]''
*''[[A Walk Through the Shire]]''
{{title|italics}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hobbit's Travels, A}}
[[Category:Art books]]
[[Category:Publications by title]]

A Hobbit's Journal

2026-07-04T12:42:23Z

Jwc31: /* See Also */

{{book
|title=A Hobbit's Journal
| image = A Hobbit's Journal.gif
|author=[[Michael Green]]
|publisher=Running Press Book Publishers
|date=[[1979]]
|format=Paperback
|pages=96
|isbn=0762409541
}}
'''''A Hobbit's Journal''''' is a book with blank pages decorated by illustrations depicting various scenes from ''[[The Lord of the Rings]]'', intended to be used as a notebook. It also contains a one-page introductory text.

==See also==

*''[[A Hobbit's Travels]]''
*''[[A Tolkien Journal]]''
*''[[A Walk Through the Shire]]''
{{title|italics}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hobbit's Journal, A}}
[[Category:Art books]]
[[Category:Publications by title]]

A Guide to Playing The Hobbit

2026-07-04T12:41:59Z

Jwc31: /* External Links */

{{book
|title=A Guide to Playing The Hobbit
|image=A Guide to Playing The Hobbit.png
|author=[[David Elkan]]
|publisher=[[Melbourne House|Melbourne House Publishers, Limited.]]
|date=[[1984]]
|format=Paperback
|pages=76
|isbn=0861611616
|}}
'''''A Guide to Playing The Hobbit''''' is a book by [[David Elkan]] with the aim of helping and guiding players of [[The Hobbit (1982 video game)|the video game adaptation of ''The Hobbit'']] through the game.<ref>[http://books.google.com/books?id=ynFQAQAACAAJ&dq=isbn:0861611616&hl=nl&ei=fL06ToB8iIb7BqHJgOQN&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CCkQ6AEwAA A Guide to Playing the Hobbit], [http://books.google.com/books?hl=en Google Books] (accessed at [[4 August]], [[2011]])</ref><ref>[http://www.worldofspectrum.org/infoseekid.cgi?id=2000171 Guide to Playing The Hobbit, A] at [[wikipedia:World of Spectrum|World of Spectrum]] (accessed at [[4 August]], [[2011]])</ref>

{{references}}

==External links==
*{{Amazon}}
{{title|italics}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Guide to Playing The Hobbit, A}}
[[Category:Books about video games]]
[[Category:Publications by title]]

A Good Omen

2026-07-04T12:40:26Z

Jwc31: /* See Also */

{{Aujsoundtrack}}
'''A Good Omen''' is the eleventh track of disc two of ''[[The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack]]'' and the [[The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack - Special Edition|special edition soundtrack]], by [[Howard Shore]].

==See also==
*Soundtracks:
**''[[The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack]]''
**''[[The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack - Special Edition]]''
*[[The Hobbit (film series)|''The Hobbit'' (film series)]]:
**''[[The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey]]''
**''[[The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug]]''
**''[[The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies]]''

[[Category:The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack|211]]
[[Category:The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack - Special Edition|211]]

A Gateway to Sindarin

2026-07-04T12:39:47Z

Jwc31:

{{book|
title=A Gateway to Sindarin|
image=A Gateway to Sindarin.jpg|
author=[[David Salo]]|
isbn=0874808006|
publisher=University of Utah Press|
date=October [[2004]]|
format=Hardcover|
pages= 550|
amazon=http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0874808006/ref=sr_11_1/102-6025778-4717761?%5Fencoding=UTF8|
amazonprice=out of stock
}}
'''''A Gateway to Sindarin: A Grammar of an Elvish Language from J.R.R. Tolkien's''''' '''Lord of the Rings''' is a 2004 book by linguist [[David Salo]]. It reproduces all extant [[Sindarin]] fragments from published sources, including both the easily available ones and the more obscure ones from linguistic journals such as ''[[Vinyar Tengwar]]'' and ''[[Parma Eldalamberon]]''. It follows other linguistic books like [[Ruth S. Noel]]'s ''[[The Languages of Tolkien's Middle-earth]]'' and [[Jim Allan]]'s ''[[An Introduction to Elvish]]'', although the book's initial popularity was largely due to Salo's involvement in [[The Lord of the Rings (film series)|''The Lord of the Rings'' (film series)]].

==From the publisher==
{{blockquote| From the 1910s to the 1970s, author and linguist [[J.R.R. Tolkien]] worked at creating plausibly realistic languages to be used by the creatures and characters in his novels. Like his other languages, Sindarin was a new invention, not based on any existing or artificial language. By the time of his death, he had established fairly complete descriptions of two languages, the "elvish" tongues called [[Quenya]] and [[Sindarin]]. He was able to compose poetic and prose texts in both, and he also constructed a lengthy sequence of changes for both from an ancestral "proto-language," comparable to the development of historical languages and capable of analysis with the techniques of historical linguistics.

In ''A Gateway to Sindarin'', David Salo has created a volume that is a serious look at an entertaining topic. Salo covers the grammar, morphology, and history of the language. Supplemental material includes a vocabulary, Sindarin names, a glossary of terms, and an annotated list of works relevant to Sindarin. What emerges is homage to Tolkien's scholarly philological efforts.}}

==Cover design==
The cover features a gateway, styled like the [[Doors of Durin]]. On the bow, Tengwar in [[Tengwar|Beleriandic mode]] read "Annon na Edhellen", which is a Neo-Sindarin translation of the book's title. On the bottom, an altered version of [[:File:J.R.R._Tolkien_-_Elwë_heraldic_device.jpg|Elu Thingol's heraldic device]] is shown.

==Critical reception==
When released, [[Thorsten Renk]] described ''A Gateway to Sindarin'' as "''currently the best English book available on Sindarin''". However, he also noted that the work on the one hand might be inaccessible to learners of Sindarin (since Salo uses a very technical language), and on the other hand not very usable by linguists (because of Salo's "''lack of distinction between Tolkien-made and Salo-made historic forms'')".<ref>{{webcite|author=[[Thorsten Renk]]|articleurl=http://www.science-and-fiction.org/elvish/salo_discussion.html|articlename=David Salo: ''A Gateway to Sindarin''|dated=|website=[http://www.science-and-fiction.org/elvish/index.html Parma Tyelpelassiva]|accessed=29 July 2020}}</ref>

There has been some criticism that the language described is not Sindarin, but an arbitrary fabrication of "[[Neo-Elvish|Neo-Sindarin]]". (see [[#Reviews by other linguists|reviews]])

==Reviews by other linguists==
*[https://tolkienlistsearch.herokuapp.com/message/5e9c3604acad32fd587a3920 Review] by [[Carl F. Hostetter]]
*[https://tolkienlistsearch.herokuapp.com/message/5e9c3604acad32fd587a3925 Review] by [[Patrick H. Wynne]]
*[https://tolkienlistsearch.herokuapp.com/message/5e9c3604acad32fd587a3934 Review] by [[Bertrand Bellet]]
{{references}}

==External links==
*[[Elfling]] [https://tolkienlistsearch.herokuapp.com/message/5e9c3600df6700ce9c85c075 message] by David Salo about unattested words and corrigenda (archived).


{{title|italics}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gateway to Sindarin, A}}
[[Category:Linguistic books]]
[[Category:Publications by title]]
[[fi:A Gateway to Sindarin]]

A Fan's Guide to Neo-Sindarin

2026-07-04T11:23:06Z

Jwc31: /* From the Publisher */

{{book
| title=A Fan's Guide to Neo-Sindarin A Textbook for the Elvish of Middle-earth
| image = A Fan Guide to Neo-Sindarin.jpg
| author=[[Fiona Jallings]]
| illustrator=
| publisher=Nemvus
| date=[[27 May]] [[2017]]
| format=Hardback, paperback, digital book
| pages=358
| isbn=9781546961253
}}
'''''A Fan's Guide to Neo-Sindarin: A Textbook for the Elvish of Middle-earth''''' is a 2017 book by linguist [[Fiona Jallings]]. Jallings's text presents an iteration of [[Neo-Sindarin]] that, as of 2017, incorporates all information available from sources such as ''[[Vinyar Tengwar]]'' and ''[[Parma Eldalamberon]]''.

==From the publisher==
{{blockquote|Enchanted with Elvish? This is Neo-Sindarin, the language as it has flourished on the Internet using Tolkien’s creation as a roadmap. This book functions as a friendly introduction to the Neo-Sindarin community. Included is the most current information available to fans. Within explore Neo-Sindarin academics, learn simple linguistic concepts, practice useful phrases while studying grammar, and look at the world through Elven eyes: from how they count on their fingers to how they organize the cosmos. Govano ven! (Join us!)}}

==External links==
*[https://store.realelvish.net/product/a-fans-guide-to-neo-sindarin-a-textbook-for-the-elvish-of-middle-earth-by-fiona-jallings-hardcover/ Official book page]
*[https://www.lulu.com/shop/fiona-jallings/a-fans-guide-to-neo-sindarin-a-textbook-for-the-elvish-of-middle-earth/hardcover/product-189negnw.html Purchase on Lulu]

==See also==
*''[[A Gateway to Sindarin]]''

{{title|italics}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Fan's Guide to Neo-Sindarin}}
[[Category:Linguistic books]]
[[Category:Publications by title]]

A Dialogue: Discussion by Humphrey Carpenter, Professor George Sayer and Dr. Clyde S. Kilby

2026-07-04T11:22:22Z

Jwc31: /* External Links */

'''A Dialogue: Discussion by Humphrey Carpenter, Professor George Sayer and Dr. Clyde S. Kilby; recorded Sept. 29, 1979, Wheaton, Illinois''' is the title of an article published in ''[[Minas Tirith Evening-Star]]'' 9, no. 2 (January 1980), on pages 16–17.

The article is a transcription of a seminar held by [[Humphrey Carpenter]], [[George Sayer]] and [[Clyde S. Kilby]], at Wheaton College, Illinois, on [[29 September]] [[1979]].

==Excerpts==

{{quote|[Tolkien] very much objected to the view that he wrote his books as Christian propaganda or anything like it. He wrote them as stories. He would sometimes pull a bunch of American letters or reviews towards him and say, 'You know, they're telling now telling me that...' and then he would say some things they'd told him about ''The Lord of the Rings''. He'd say, 'You know, I never thought of that. I thought I was writing it as pure story'. He came gradually to believe some of the things that, well, you were telling him.|George Sayer}}

{{quote|In a 1979 transcription of a discussion on J. R. R. Tolkien and C. S. Lewis, George Sayer tells a remarkable story about Tolkien describing Ireland as 'naturally evil.' He could 'feel,' Sayer relates, 'evil coming up from the earth, from the peat bogs, from the clumps of trees, even from the cliffs, and this evil was only held in check by the great devotion of the southern Irish to their religion.'"|George Sayer, quoted by [[Marjorie J. Burns]] in ''Perilous Realms''}}

==External links==

*[http://sacnoths.blogspot.se/2009/12/evil-emanating-tolkien-on-ireland.html Evil Emanating (Tolkien on Ireland)] by [[John D. Rateliff]]

[[Category:Published articles]]

A Description of the Island of Númenor

2026-07-04T11:21:59Z

Jwc31: /* See Also */

{{ut-chapters}}
'''A Description of the Island of Númenor''' is a chapter in ''[[Unfinished Tales]]'', written by [[J.R.R. Tolkien]] and published posthumously by his son, [[Christopher Tolkien]]. As the title indicates, it contains a description of the island of [[Númenor]], also called [[Elenna]], comprising its geography, flora, fauna and people.

==Synopsis==
After a short introduction detailing the sources for the account itself, the author describes the shape of the island, a star with five promontories, called as follows:

*[[Forostar]], the Northlands
*[[Andustar]], the Westlands
*[[Hyarnustar]], the Southwestlands
*[[Hyarrostar]], the Southeastlands
*[[Orrostar]], the Eastlands

The middle region of the island was the largest province and the most populated area:

*[[Mittalmar]], the Inlands

Here was [[Armenelos]], the City of Kings, as well as the sacred mountain [[Meneltarma]], where religious processions took place three times a year. On its southern slope was [[Noirinan]], the Valley of the Graves. It was guarded by the eagles of [[Manwë]], one of the two species of birds mentioned in the chapter, the other being the ''[[Kirinki]]''.

[[File:Christopher Tolkien - Numenore.png|200px|left|thumb|"[[Númenórë (map)|Númenorë]]" by [[Christopher Tolkien]]]]
Starting with the Northlands, each promontory is described in turn: Forostar, where the [[Eagles of Manwë]] dwelt and where the mountain [[Sorontil]] stood next to the sea. Andustar, which had three bays on its western side, the first being [[Andúnië]], which held the city with the same name, largest of the island and harbor for the [[Elves]] of [[Tol Eressëa|Eressëa]]. Here, the beauty of [[Eldalondë]] is described, and its greatest treasures were the majestic trees: [[Oiolairë]], [[Lairelossë]], [[Nessamelda]], [[Vardarianna]], [[Taniquelassë]], [[Yavannamírë]] and [[Malinornë]]. The two rivers of the island, [[Nunduinë]] and [[Siril]], flowed on each side of Hyarnustar, while in Hyarrostar grew [[Laurinquë]], a tree whose only purpose was to charm the people with its beauty. Of Orrostar little is told, only that grains could be cultivated in this cold part of the island.

A description of the people follows, mostly [[Edain]] skilled in riding; the shaping of terrible weapons of war, especially bows; and in the building of ships used to sail towards [[Middle-earth]]. The first of these ships to cross the sea was [[Vëantur]]. Many of the legendary weapons were kept here, among them [[Dramborleg|Tuor's axe]] and the bow of [[Bregor]], as well as the [[Ring of Barahir]], the only artifact to survive the [[Downfall of Númenor]].

==See also==
*''[[Akallabêth]]''
{{numenor}}
[[fi:Númenorin saari (KTK)]]
[[Category:Books and documents within the legendarium]]

A Critical Companion to J.R.R. Tolkien

2026-07-04T11:21:14Z

Jwc31:

{{book
| title=A Critical Companion to J.R.R. Tolkien: A Literary Reference to His Life and Works
| image = Critical Companion to J.R.R. Tolkien.png
| author=[[Jay Ruud]]
| editor=
| illustrator=
| publisher=InfoBase Publishing: Facts on File
| date=[[1 September]] [[2011]]<ref name=Info/>
| format=Hardcover
| pages=674<ref name=Info>[http://www.infobasepublishing.com/Bookdetail.aspx?ISBN=0816077940&Ebooks=0 Critical Companion to J.R.R. Tolkien] at [http://www.infobasepublishing.com/Default.aspx Infobasepublishing.com] (accessed 17 October 2011)</ref>
| isbn=0816077940
| series=Critical Companion
| precededby=
| followedby=
}}
'''''A Critical Companion to J.R.R. Tolkien: A Literary Reference to His Life and Works''''' is a [[2011]] [[J.R.R. Tolkien|Tolkien]] encyclopedia (mainly intended for libraries and students<ref>[http://sacnoths.blogspot.com/2011/10/new-arrival-ruuds-companion.html The New Arrival: Ruud's Companion] at [http://sacnoths.blogspot.com/ Sacnoth's Scriptorium] (accessed 17 October 2011)</ref>).

==From the publisher<ref name="Info" />==

'''Summary'''

J.R.R. Tolkien is one of the most popular writers of the 20th century. His two most famous works of fiction, ''The Lord of the Rings'' and ''The Hobbit'', have sold hundreds of millions of copies and completely transformed modern fantasy fiction. In addition, Tolkien was a celebrated scholar, a professor at Oxford, and the author of the most influential article on the great Anglo-Saxon epic Beowulf ever written.

The new ''Critical Companion to J.R.R. Tolkien'' provides a reliable, up-to-date, and encyclopedic source of information on this influential writer for high school and college-level students, teachers, and the general public.

Coverage includes:

*A concise but thorough biography of Tolkien
*Entries on all the novels, stories, and poems Tolkien published in his lifetime; all his published scholarly essays and lectures; and important posthumously published works, such as ''The Silmarillion'', ''Roverandom'', and ''The Children of Húrin'', as well as the 12 volumes of ''The History of Middle-earth'', published by his son between 1983 and 1996
*Entries on related people, places, and topics, including places and concepts related to Tolkien's fictional world Middle-Earth, such as Balrog, Gondor, and Wood-Elves; influential literary works, such as Beowulf; friends and family, such as C.S. Lewis and Christopher Tolkien; and much more
*Appendixes, including a chronology, a list of Internet sources, a bibliography of Tolkien's works, and a secondary source bibliography.

'''Specifications'''

Black-and-white photographs and illustrations, index, appendices, bibliographies, cross-references, and chronology.

'''About the Author(s)'''

Jay Ruud is chair of the department of English at the University of Central Arkansas and is the former dean of the College of Arts and Sciences of Northern State University. He is the author of Facts On File's ''Encyclopedia of Medieval Literature'' and ''Critical Companion to Dante''. He has also written ''Many a Song and Many a Lecherous Lay: Traditional and Individuality in Chaucer's Lyric Poetry''.

==External links==

*[http://wayneandchristina.wordpress.com/2012/12/19/a-critical-companion-to-tolkien/ A Critical Companion to Tolkien], review by [[Christina Scull]] and [[Wayne G. Hammond]]
*[http://sacnoths.blogspot.com/2011/10/new-arrival-ruuds-companion.html The New Arrival: Ruud's Companion] at [http://sacnoths.blogspot.com/ Sacnoth's Scriptorium]
{{references}}
{{title|italics}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Critical Companion to J.R.R. Tolkien, A}}
[[Category:Publications by title]]
[[Category:Reference books]]

A Conspiracy Unmasked

2026-07-04T11:20:31Z

Jwc31: /* A Short History of Buckland */

{{short_description|5th chapter of the first book of The Fellowship of the Ring}}
{{Disambig-two|the fifth chapter of the first book in The Fellowship of the Ring.|Soundtrack|[[A Conspiracy Unmasked (soundtrack)]]}}{{chapter
| image=Abe Papakhian - A Conspiracy Unmasked.jpg
| title=A Conspiracy Unmasked
| book=The Fellowship of the Ring
| number=5
| event=[[Meriadoc Brandybuck|Merry]] and [[Peregrin Took|Pippin]] reveal that they knew [[Frodo Baggins|Frodo]]'s plan all along; they decide that they should continue their journey through the [[Old Forest]].
| date=[[25 September]] {{TA|3018|n}}
| location=[[Crickhollow]]
| previous=A Short Cut to Mushrooms
| next=The Old Forest
}}

{{quote|You must go – and therefore we must, too.|[[Peregrin Took]]}}

'''A Conspiracy Unmasked''' is the fifth chapter of the first book in ''[[The Fellowship of the Ring]]''. The main characters are [[Frodo Baggins]], [[Meriadoc Brandybuck]], [[Peregrin Took]] and [[Samwise Gamgee]]. [[Fatty Bolger]] is introduced.

The chapter tells of Frodo's revelation of his intention to continue out of [[The Shire]] on his own, his friends' confessions that they had known this all along, and how Merry and Pippin would accompany Frodo and Sam all the way to [[Rivendell]] while Fatty Bolger would remain behind to keep up appearances.

The chapter reveals the loyalty and determination of Frodo’s friends - Sam, Merry and Pippin - to accompany him on his dangerous journey.

==Overview==

The chapter begins where the [[A Short Cut to Mushrooms|preceding chapter]] ends, after the Hobbits had been taken to the [[Bucklebury Ferry]] by [[Farmer Maggot]]. Frodo, Sam, Pippin and Merry boarded the ferry and commenced their crossing of the river [[Brandywine]].

===A short history of Buckland===

At this point of the chapter, a short history of [[Buckland]] is given, describing how [[Gorhendad Oldbuck]] settled there, changed his name to Brandybuck, built [[Brandy Hall]], and sired a great family. Bucklanders are described as peculiar among other Hobbits, mostly for their love of boats; and also because they locked their doors at night (unusual elsewhere in the Shire) due to their proximity to the [[Old Forest]].

===A tense landing===
The chapter returns to the main story. The Hobbits had just disembarked on the eastern shore when Sam spotted something moving on the western shore. The Hobbits observed a dark figure behaving similarly to the [[Black Riders]] they had encountered before, as it examined the landing and then slunk off into the darkness. When Frodo asked Merry whether horses can cross the river, Merry said he did not think so, but added that the nearest solid crossing was the [[Brandywine Bridge]], twenty miles to the north. Merry rode ahead towards [[Crickhollow]] to get [[Fatty Bolger]] and the house ready for second supper.

===Arrival and supper at Crickhollow===
After a long walk from the ferry, the other three Hobbits reached Frodo's secluded new house at Crickhollow, where Fatty Bolger welcomed them. Frodo congratulated Merry and Fatty for successfully arranging his furniture to resemble [[Bag End]]. Secretly, he dreaded having to tell them that he planned to leave immediately, alone.

Merry had prepared baths for the weary travelers. Pippin sang [[The Bath Song]] as he washed himself. Merry and Fatty served a late supper of [[Mrs. Maggot]]'s basket of mushrooms. We are told that Hobbits have a special appetite for mushrooms.

{{quote|They're mine! Given to ''me'' by Mrs. Maggot, a queen among farmers' wives. Take your greedy hands away, and I'll serve them.|[[Frodo Baggins]]}}

===The conspiracy===
After supper, Merry asked the others to explain the Black Riders to him. Frodo fell silent, so Pippin retold their entire adventure thus far. Pippin and Merry beseeched Frodo to explain the rest of his plan, but then revealed that they already knew his intention to continue out of [[The Shire]] on his own. Frodo was surprised, having previously thought he had successfully convinced everyone that he had simply moved his home to Crickhollow.

Merry explained that he had long suspected that Frodo would follow [[Bilbo Baggins|Bilbo]] sooner or later. He listed several obvious signs that Frodo was leaving The Shire for good. Merry reassured Frodo that only the present company had figured it out, and that his secret was safe with them.

{{quote|The secret won't keep long, of course; but at present it is, I think, only known to us conspirators. After all, you must remember that we know you well, and are often with you. We can usually guess what you are thinking.|[[Meriadoc Brandybuck]]}}

Frodo apologized for his plans to leave the others behind, explaining that he was going into mortal danger. Merry responded by announcing that he and Pippin had already decided to come along and would hear no arguments to the contrary.

{{quote|You must go – and therefore we must, too. Merry and I are coming with you. Sam is an excellent fellow, and would jump down a dragon's throat to save you, if he did not trip over his own feet; but you will need more than one companion in your dangerous adventure.|[[Peregrin Took]]}}

Merry revealed that he had known about [[The One Ring]] for a very long time. A year before Bilbo's birthday party, he happened to spot Bilbo vanishing into thin air to avoid the [[Sackville-Bagginses]]. Once they were gone, Merry observed Bilbo reappearing and putting something shiny into his pocket. The curious Merry continued spying on Bilbo, eventually learning his secret. Merry also managed to briefly read from Bilbo's secret book, ''[[There and Back Again]]''. Due to the book's absence from Frodo's inheritance, Frodo and Merry concluded that Bilbo must have taken it with him [[A Long-expected Party|when he left]].

Merry revealed that the Hobbit conspirators received much of their information from Sam, who had told them everything he had heard from Frodo's [[The Shadow of the Past|conversation]] with Gandalf at Bag End. Therefore, all Hobbits present at Crickhollow knew of the Ring, of [[Sauron]], and the rest of the story. Frodo was at first indignant about this conspiracy, but quickly realized that his friends had conspired only for his protection.

{{quote|You are a set of deceitful scoundrels! But bless you! I give in. I will take Gildor's advice. If the danger were not so dark, I should dance for joy. Even so, I cannot help feeling happy; happier than I have felt for a long time. I had dreaded this evening.|[[Frodo Baggins]]}}

===Preparations to leave Crickhollow===
With this reassurance, their spirits were lifted, and the Hobbits sang a version of [[Farewell We Call to Hearth and Hall!]] written by Merry and Pippin specifically for the occasion.

Frodo wanted to leave Crickhollow as soon as possible. Merry revealed that he had already prepared six ponies, laden with gear and provisions. He estimated that the Black Riders would find it very difficult to enter Buckland at night, but would eventually find a way in during the next morning at the latest. Frodo considered waiting for [[Gandalf]], but finally resolved to leave at dawn. With no better option available, he decided to avoid attention by traveling into the [[Old Forest]].

Fatty objected to this idea, but Merry posited that it must be safer than facing the Black Riders. Merry explained that the Brandybucks sometimes ventured into the Old Forest, especially during daytime when the trees were calmer. In any case, Fatty's task was to stay behind, wearing some of Frodo's old clothes, pretending that Frodo still lived at Crickhollow. Staying behind would also allow him to deliver a message to Gandalf, should he appear.

===Frodo's dream===
That night, Frodo had trouble sleeping. When he finally fell asleep, he dreamed that he was looking out a high window over a dark forest. He heard creatures crawling among the trees below. Suddenly, he heard the sound of the sea in the distance, which he had never heard before. He found himself on a barren heath, looking at a tall white tower on a ridge line. He felt an urge to climb the tower to get a view of the sea, but when he tried to climb he suddenly saw a bright flash in the sky and heard loud thunder.

[[Category:The Fellowship of the Ring chapters|Conspiracy Unmasked]]
[[fi:Salaliitto paljastuu (TSH)]]

A Companion to J.R.R. Tolkien

2026-07-04T11:19:46Z

Jwc31:

{{book
|title=A Companion to J.R.R. Tolkien
| image = A Companion to J.R.R. Tolkien 2014.jpeg
|editor=[[Stuart D. Lee]]
|publisher=Wiley-Blackwell
|date=[[15 April]] [[2014]]
|format=Hardcover; paperback
|pages=608
|isbn=978-0470659823
}}
'''''A Companion to J.R.R. Tolkien''''' is a scholarly book about [[J.R.R. Tolkien]] edited by [[Stuart D. Lee]], published in [[2014]]. It is a part of the ''Blackwell Companions to Literature'' series, which have been praised as prestigious reference works.

The book presents 36 essays, featuring a number of well-known Tolkien authors. The essays are arranged into five parts, with coverage of his life, work, dominant themes, influences, and the critical reaction to his writing.

A second edition was published in [[2022]], keeping up-to-date new publications, adaptations, and original scholarship. Five new essays have been added to bring in new views and insights.

==From the publisher==
{{blockquote|A Companion to J.R.R. Tolkien provides readers with an in-depth examination of the author's life and works, covering Tolkien's fiction and mythology, his academic writing, and his continuing impact on contemporary literature and culture. Presenting forty-one essays by a panel of leading scholars, the Companion analyzes prevailing themes found in The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, posthumous publications such as The Silmarillion and The Fall of Arthur, lesser-known fiction and poetry, literary essays, and more.

This second edition of the Companion remains the most complete and up-to-date resource of its kind, encompassing new Tolkien publications, original scholarship, The Hobbit film adaptations, and the biographical drama Tolkien. Five entirely new essays discuss the history of fantasy literature, the influence of classical mythology on Tolkien, folklore and fairytales, diversity, and Tolkien fandom. This Companion also:

* Explores Tolkien's impact on art, film, music, gaming, and later generations of fantasy fiction writers
* Discusses themes such as mythmaking, medieval languages, nature, war, religion, and the defeat of evil
* Presents a detailed overview of Tolkien's legendarium, including Middle-earth mythology and invented languages and writing systems
* Includes a brief chronology of Tolkien's works and life, further reading suggestions, and end-of-chapter bibliographies}}

==Contents==
<div style="-moz-column-width: 400px; -webkit-column-width: 400px; column-width: 400px; -moz-column-gap: 15px; -webkit-column-gap: 15px; column-gap: 15px; -webkit-column-rule: 1px solid #cccccc; -moz-column-rule: 1px solid #cccccc; column-rule: 1px solid #cccccc;">
*Acknowledgments
*Brief Chronology of the Life and Works of J.R.R. Tolkien
*Introduction to the Second Edition

*'''Part I: Life'''
**1. A Brief Biography

*'''Part II: The Academic'''
**2. Academic Writings
**3. Tolkien as Editor
**4. Manuscripts: Use and Using

*'''Part III: The Legendarium'''
**5. Myth-making, Sub-creation, and World-building
**6. Middle-earth Mythology: An Overview
**7. ''The Silmarillion'': Tolkien's Theory of Myth, Text, and Culture
**8. ''The Hobbit'': A Turning Point
**9. ''The Lord of the Rings''
**10. ''Unfinished Tales'' and the History of Middle-earth: A Lifetime of Imagination
**11. "The Lost Road" and "The Notion Club Papers": Myth, History, and Time-travel
**12. Poetry
**13. "Minor" Works
**14. Invented Languages and Writing Systems

*'''Part IV: Context'''
**15. Fantasy: An Introduction
**16. Classical Literature
**17. "On Fairy-stories" and Folktale Research
**18. Old English
**19. Middle English
**20. Old Norse
**21. Finnish: The Land and Language of Heroes
**22. Celtic: "Celtic Things" and "Things Celtic" – Identity, Language, and Mythology
**23. The English Literary Tradition: Shakespeare to the Gothic
**24. Earlier Fantasy Fiction: Morris, Dunsany, and Lindsay
**25. The Inklings and Others: Tolkien and His Contemporaries
**26. Later Fantasy Fiction: Tolkien's Legacy
**27. Periodizing Tolkien: The Romantic Modern

*'''Part V: Critical Approaches'''
**28. The Critical Response to Tolkien's Fiction
**29. Style and Intertextual Echoes
**30. The Hero's Journey
**31. Evil
**32. Nature
**33. Religion: An Implicit Catholicism
**34. War
**35. Women
**36. Difference and Otherness
**37. Art
**38. Music
**39. Film Adaptations: Theatrical and Television Versions
**40. Games: Playable Arda
**41. Fandom

*General Bibliography
*Index
</div>

==Publication history and gallery==
<gallery mode="traditional" widths="125px" heights="125px">
File:A Companion to J.R.R. Tolkien 2014.jpeg |2014 first edition harcover
File:A Companion to J.R.R. Tolkien 2020.jpeg |2020 first edition paperback
File:A Companion to J.R.R. Tolkien 2022.jpeg |2022 second edition
</gallery>
*First edition
**Wiley-Blackwell, hardcover ([[2014]]), pp. 608. ISBN 978-0470659823
**Wiley-Blackwell, paperback ([[2020]]), ISBN 978-1119656029

*Second edition
**Wiley-Blackwell, hardcover ([[2022]]), pp. 592. ISBN 978-1119691402
**Wiley-Blackwell, paperback ([[2025]]), ISBN 978-1119691426

==External links==
*[https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/book/10.1002/9781119691457 ''A Companion to J.R.R. Tolkien''] on Wiley Online Library

*[https://scholar.valpo.edu/journaloftolkienresearch/vol2/iss1/2/ Book review] by Andrew Higgins, ''Journal of Tolkien Research''. vol. 2
*[https://muse.jhu.edu/article/605105 Book review] by Jorge Luis Bueno-Alonso, [[Tolkien Studies: Volume 12|''Tolkien Studies''. vol. 12]]

{{title|italics}}
{{Publishedmajorbooks}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Companion to J.R.R. Tolkien}}
[[Category:Publications by title]]
[[Category:Scholarly books]]
[[Category:Reference books]]

A Closed Letter to Andrea Charicoryides Surnamed Polygrapheus, Logothete of the Theme of Geodesia in the Empire, Bard of the Court of Camelot, Malleus Malitiarium, Inclinga Sum Sometimes Known as Charles Williams

2026-07-04T11:18:56Z

Jwc31: /* Poem Excerpts */

{{Poem infobox
| title=A Closed Letter to … Charles Williams
| written=likely November, [[1943]]
| published=''[[The Inklings (book)|The Inklings: C. S. Lewis, J. R. R. Tolkien, Charles Williams and Their Friends]]'' ''[[The Collected Poems of J.R.R. Tolkien]]''
| subject=[[Charles Williams]]
}}

'''''A Closed Letter to Andrea Charicoryides Surnamed Polygrapheus, Logothete of the Theme of Geodesia in the Empire, Bard of the Court of Camelot, Malleus Malitiarium, Inclinga Sum Sometimes Known as Charles Williams''''' is an eight-stanza poem written by [[J.R.R. Tolkien]] "in the grand classical tradition of the verse epistle"<ref name="Holmes">{{webcite |author= John R. Holmes|articleurl= https://scholar.valpo.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1450&context=journaloftolkienresearch|articlename= The Collected Poems of J.R.R. Tolkien (2024), edited by Christina Scull and Wayne G. Hammond.|dated= 2024|website= [https://scholar.valpo.edu/ ValpoScholar] - [https://www.valpo.edu/ Valparaiso University]|accessed= 19 January 2026|archiveurl= |archivename= |archivedate=}}, ''[https://scholar.valpo.edu/journaloftolkienresearch/ Journal of Tolkien Research]'': [https://scholar.valpo.edu/journaloftolkienresearch/vol20/ Volume 20], [https://scholar.valpo.edu/journaloftolkienresearch/vol20/iss1/ Issue 1], [https://scholar.valpo.edu/journaloftolkienresearch/vol20/iss1/8/?utm_source=scholar.valpo.edu%2Fjournaloftolkienresearch%2Fvol20%2Fiss1%2F8&utm_medium=PDF&utm_campaign=PDFCoverPages Article 8]</ref> possibly in [[November]] of [[1943]]. The poem expresses Tolkien's admiration for [[Charles Williams]], but also difficulty with his works. The typescript with the only title of the poem is kept in the [[Marion E. Wade Center]] of [[Wheaton College]] in Illinois.<ref name="History">{{CG|2RGI}}, entry "''A Closed Letter to Andrea Charicoryides Surnamed Polygrapheus, Logothete of the Theme of Geodesia in the Empire, Bard of the Court of Camelot, Malleus Malitiarium, Inclinga Sum Sometimes Known as Charles Williams''"</ref>

==Poem excerpts==
===First stanza===
<poem style="font-style:italic; margin-left:20px;">
:'Our dear Charles Williams many guises shows:
:the novelist comes first. I find his prose
:obscure at times. Not easily it flows;
:too often are his lights held up in brackets.
:Yet error, should he spot it, he'll attack its
:sources and head, exposing ramps and rackets,
:the torturous byways of the wicked heart
:and intellect corrupt. Yea, many a dart
:he crosses with the fiery ones! The art
:of minor fiends and major he reveals —
:when Charles is on his trail the devil squeals,
:for cloven feet have vulnerable heels.<ref name="Inklings">''[[The Inklings (book)|The Inklings: C. S. Lewis, J. R. R. Tolkien, Charles Williams and Their Friends]]'', ch. 2: "'We had nothing to say to one another'", pp. 123-6</ref></poem>

===Third stanza===
<poem style="font-style:italic; margin-left:20px;">
::'Geography indeed! Here he again
:exerts a subtle mind and labouring pen.
:Geodesy say rather; for many a 'fen'
:he wrote, and chapters bogged in tangled rhymes,
:and has survived Europa's lands and climes,
:dividing her from P'o-L'u's crawling slimes,
:to her diving buttocks, breast, and head
:(to say no fouler thing), where I instead,
:dull-eyed, can only see a watershed,
:a plain, an island, or a mountain-chain.
:In that gynecomorphical terrain
:History and Myth are ravelled in a skein
:of endless interchange. I do not hope
:to understand the deeds of king or pope,
:wizard or emperor; beyond my scope
:is that dark flux of symbol and event,
:where fable, faith, and faërie are blent
:with half-guessed meanings to some great intent
:I cannot grasp. For Mount Elburz to me
:is but a high peak far beyond the sea
:(and high and far I'd ever have it be).<ref name="Inklings"/></poem>

===Last stanza===
<poem style="font-style:italic; margin-left:20px;">
::'A truce to this! I never meant to do it,
:thus to reveal my folly. Now I rue it.
:Farewell (for now) beloved druid-poet!
:Farewell to Logres, Merlin, Nimue,
:Galahad, Arthur! Farewell land and tree
:heavy with fates and portents not for me!
:I must pass by all else you wrote:
:play, preface, life, short verse, review or note
:(rewarded less than worth with grudging groat).
::'When your fag is wagging and spectacles are twinkling,
:when tea is brewing or the glasses tinkling,
:then of your meaning often I've an inkling,
:your virtues and your wisdom glimpse. Your laugh
:in my heart echoes, when with you I quaff
:the pint that goes down quicker than a half,
:because you're near. So, heed me not! I swear
:when you with tattered papers take the chair
:and read (for hours maybe), I would be there.
:And ever when in state you sit again
:and to your car imperial give rein,
:I'll trundle, grumbling, squeaking, in the train
:of the great rolling wheels of Charles' Wain.<ref name="Inklings"/></poem>

==Background==
The poem was first published in [[1978]] in ''[[The Inklings (book)|The Inklings: C. S. Lewis, J. R. R. Tolkien, Charles Williams and Their Friends]]'' on pages 123-6.<ref name="History" /> In his commentary, [[Humphrey Carpenter]] explains that the word "fen" in line 22 is "the name of a section in Avicenna's ''Canon of Medicine''" that was "also used by Chaucer in ''The Pardoner's Tale''".<ref>''[[The Inklings (book)|The Inklings: C. S. Lewis, J. R. R. Tolkien, Charles Williams and Their Friends]]'', ch. 2: "'We had nothing to say to one another'", p. 124 (note 1)</ref> Carpenter also notes that the "king or pope, wizard or emperor" in lines 33-4 are Arthur, the pope, Merlin, and the emperor, "four of the principal characters in the ''Taliessin'' poems".<ref>''[[The Inklings (book)|The Inklings: C. S. Lewis, J. R. R. Tolkien, Charles Williams and Their Friends]]'', ch. 2: "'We had nothing to say to one another'", p. 124 (note 2)</ref> He also explains that "Mount Elburz" in line 38 refers to a "Caucasian mountain" mentioned in several of Charles Williams's poems.<ref name="Inklings3">''[[The Inklings (book)|The Inklings: C. S. Lewis, J. R. R. Tolkien, Charles Williams and Their Friends]]'', ch. 2: "'We had nothing to say to one another'", p. 124 (note 3)</ref> Williams described the mountain as being the "type of the lowness and height, fertility and chastity, verdure and snow, of the visible body".<ref name="Inklings3" /> In a note to line 88, Carpenter noted that the phrase "beloved druid-poet" refers to "Taliessin from Celtic legend"<ref>''[[The Inklings (book)|The Inklings: C. S. Lewis, J. R. R. Tolkien, Charles Williams and Their Friends]]'', ch. 2: "'We had nothing to say to one another'", p. 126 (note 1)</ref>, associating him "with druidical origins".<ref>''[[The Inklings (book)|The Inklings: C. S. Lewis, J. R. R. Tolkien, Charles Williams and Their Friends]]'', ch. 2: "'We had nothing to say to one another'", p. 126 (note 2)</ref> In a note to line 107, Carpenter pointed out that the phrase "Charles' Wain" is "a name for the constellation more commonly called the Great Bear" or "Arthur's Plough".<ref>''[[The Inklings (book)|The Inklings: C. S. Lewis, J. R. R. Tolkien, Charles Williams and Their Friends]]'', ch. 2: "'We had nothing to say to one another'", p. 126 (note 3)</ref>

In [[September]] of [[2024]], the poem was republished in September as entry 174 in ''[[The Collected Poems of J.R.R. Tolkien]]''.<ref name="collectedpoems">{{CP|174}}, pp. 1260-4</ref> In their commentary, [[Wayne G. Hammond]] and [[Christina Scull]] explain that ''Geodesy'' in line 22 refers to "the mathematical study of the figures and areas of the [[Earth]]". <ref name="collectedpoems" /> In a note to line 107, they speculated that Tolkien may have used the phrase "Charles' Wain" as a play on the word ''wain'' ("wagon").<ref>{{CP|174}}, p. 1264 (note "107:")</ref> In a review of ''[[The Collected Poems of J.R.R. Tolkien]]'' in the ''Journal of Tolkien Research'', John R. Holmes notes that the poem<ref name="Holmes" />{{Blockquote|is in the grand classical tradition of the verse epistle, like Horace's ''Epistles'', Ovid's ''Heroides'', or Pope's ''Moral Epistles''. In form the verse is iambic pentameter triplets, which forces Tolkien to find ''two'' fellows for each rhyme. There are three exceptions to the pattern: two quadruplets, lines 16-19 and the last four lines, 104-107; and one couplet beginning at line 62, though the dropped second rhyme may be a result of the antilabe, or split line (which in fact causes the editors to misnumber the lines at this point: “O, buttocks to Caucasia!” and “Tolkien, please!" constitute a single metrical line, split between two speakers).<ref name="Holmes"/>}} As a comment to Hammond and Scull's last note, Holmes suggested that Tolkien was not playing with the words ''wain'' and "wagon" since that "is the ''primary'' meaning of "Charles' Wain" (OE ''carles'' ''wægn'') as an English name for Ursa Major".<ref name="Holmes" /> He instead suggested that "Charles" is the pun, at that plays on the name of Charles Williams.<ref name="Holmes" />

{{references}}

{{poems}}

[[Category:Poems by J.R.R. Tolkien]]

A Casual Stroll to Mordor

2026-07-04T11:18:23Z

Jwc31: /* External Links */

'''''A Casual Stroll to Mordor''''' was a podcast about ''[[The Lord of the Rings Online]]''. It was produced by [[Middle-earth Network|Middle-earth Network Radio]].
==External links==
*''[http://cstm.libsyn.com/ CSTM]'' (Podcasts archive)
*''[http://www.casualstrolltomordor.com/ A Casual Stroll to Mordor]'' (Current web)
{{title|italics}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:A Casual Stroll to Mordor}}
[[Category:Podcasts]]

A Campaign and Adventure Guidebook for Middle-earth

2026-07-04T11:18:05Z

Jwc31: /* Book Cover and Jacket Text */

{{book
|title=A Campaign and Adventure Guidebook for Middle-earth
| image = merp_A Campaign.jpg
|author=[[Pete Fenlon|Peter C. Fenlon]]
|contributors=[[Coleman Charlton|S. Coleman Charlton]] (production)
|illustrator= Charles Peale, [[Terry K. Amthor]], [[Pete Fenlon|Peter C. Fenlon]] (interior)
|isbn=0-915795-05-1
|publisher=[[Iron Crown Enterprises]]
|date=[[1982]] (Second Edition: 1983)
|format=Softcover
|pages=25
|ice=2200
}}
'''''A Campaign and Adventure Guidebook for Middle-earth''''' is a campaign guide for roleplaying, which would ultimately develop into ''[[Middle-earth Role Playing]]''. The cover art is a still from the 1978 movie ''[[The Lord of the Rings (1978 film)|The Lord of the Rings]]''.

==Book cover and jacket text==

INCLUDES:

*A full-color 24" x 36" poster map of Middle-earth, including the wild lands - north, south, and east - and a superimposed reference grid.
*Descriptions of the principal inhabitants of Middle-earth, including: a language tree and linguistic data; cultural notes; and an in depth time line.
*Maps and notes on Middle-earth's topography, climate, trade routes, and population centers.
*Guidelines for incorporating Middle-earth into any major role playing system.

==See also==

*''[[Middle-earth Adventure Guidebook II]]''
*''[[Middle-earth Campaign Guide]]''
{{title|italics}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Campaign and Adventure Guidebook for Middle-earth, A}}
[[Category:MERP]]
[[Category:Publications by title]]

A Brief History of The Hobbit

2026-07-04T11:17:24Z

Jwc31: /* From the Publisher */

{{book
| title=A Brief History of The Hobbit
| image = A Brief History of the Hobbit.jpeg
| author=[[J.R.R. Tolkien]]
| editor=[[John Rateliff]]
| illustrator=
| publisher=[[HarperCollins]]
| date=[[15 January]] [[2015]]
| format=Paperback
| pages=592
| isbn=9780007557257
}}
'''''A Brief History of The Hobbit''''' is a book edited by [[John Rateliff]]. The work reproduces [[J.R.R. Tolkien]]’s complete draft manuscript of ‘[[The Hobbit]]’.

==From the publisher==

{{blockquote|This brand new, shorter edition of the critically acclaimed work includes J.R.R. Tolkien’s complete draft manuscript of ‘The Hobbit’, together with notes about its history, and is perfect for readers of all ages wishing to know more about how he came to write his beloved masterpiece.
J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit is a tale that 'grew in the telling', and many character and story threads present in the published book were completely different when Tolkien first read the story to his young sons as part of their 'fireside reads'.
A Brief History of The Hobbit presents that original manuscript version of The Hobbit, and this is accompanied by John D. Rateliff’s lively and informative commentary, which looks at the story behind Tolkien’s tale. As well as recording the numerous changes made both before and after publication, it examines – chapter-by-chapter – why those changes were made and how they reflect Tolkien’s ever-growing concept of Middle-earth.
The original account of where Bilbo meets Gollum and steals the ring from him is reprinted here, as are little-known illustrations and maps that Tolkien produced for his own reference when drafting the story, together with his later attempt to recast The Hobbit into the style of The Lord of the Rings.
This invaluable companion to one of the most treasured stories in English literature offers fascinating new insights to those who have grown up with this enchanting tale, and will delight those who are about to enter Bilbo’s round door for the first time.}}

==See also==

*''[[The History of The Hobbit]]''

==External links==

*[http://sacnoths.blogspot.com.br/2014/02/a-brief-history-of-hobbit.html A Brief History of The Hobbit]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Brief History of The Hobbit, A}}
{{title|italics}}
[[Category:Books by J.R.R. Tolkien]]
[[Category:Books by John D. Rateliff]]
[[Category:The Hobbit editions]]
[[Category:Publications by title]]
[[Category:Scholarly books]]

AYAK

2026-07-04T11:16:58Z

Jwc31: /* Derivatives */

'''AYAK''' is a [[Primitive Quendian]] [[Sundocarme|root]] signifying "sharp, pointed".<ref name="Ety">{{LR|Etymologies}}, p. 349 (root appearing as "AYAK-")</ref>

==Derivatives==

*[[Quenya]]: ''aika'' ("sharp"); ''aikale'' ("a peak"); ''[[aikasse]]'' ("mountain peak")<ref name="Ety" />
*[[Noldorin]]: ''oeg'' ("sharp, pointed, piercing"); ''oegas'' ("mountain peak")<ref name="Ety" />

==Related words<ref group="note">Note that Tolkien wrote "?Related", indicating an uncertainty.</ref>==

*[[Quenya]]: ''aiqa'' ("steep")<ref name="Ety" />
*[[Ilkorin]]: ''taig'' ("deep")<ref name="Ety" />

{{references|note}}
[[Category:Roots]]

AYA(R)

2026-07-04T11:16:37Z

Jwc31: /* Other Versions of the Legendarium */

'''AYA(R)''' is a [[Primitive Quendian]] [[Sundocarme|root]] signifying "sea".<ref>{{PE|Eldarin}}, p. 149 (form appearing as "√AYA(R)")</ref>

==Other versions of the Legendarium==

In the ''[[The Etymologies|Etymologies]]'' appears the root ÁYAR/AIR (with an [[Wikipedia:Inverted breve|inverted breve below]] on the "I") signifying "sea, only used of the inner seas of Middle-earth", derived from root [[AY|AY]]. The root yields the [[Quenya]] derivatives ''ear (earen)'', ''aire (airen)'', and [[Noldorin]] ''oear, oer''.<ref name="Ety">{{LR|Etymologies}}, p. 349</ref><ref>{{VT|45a }}, p. 6</ref>

==See also==

*[[AY]]
*[[LINI]]
*[[NEN]]

{{references}}
[[Category:Roots]]

AYA

2026-07-04T11:16:17Z

Jwc31: /* Other Versions of the Legendarium */

'''AYA''' is a [[Primitive Quendian]] [[Sundocarme|root]] signifying reverence and holiness. AYA-N is given the meaning "treat with awe/reverence", AYA is given the meaning "revere", and AYA/AYA is given the meaning "blessed".<ref name="Eldarin">{{PE|Eldarin}}, p. 149 (roots appearing as "√AYA-N", "√AYA-" and "√AYA; AYA-")</ref>

Roots of opposite meaning are [[SKŪ|SKŪ, KHŪ]] ("curse"), [[OKO]] ("wicked, evil"), and [[UK|UK, UKLA]].<ref name="Eldarin" />

==Derivatives==

*[[Quenya]]: ''[[ainur]]''; ''[[Airë|aire (airē)]]''; ''airëa'' ("holy", applied to persons); ''[[aina|aina (ayanā)]]''; ''ainima'' ("blessed, holy", applied to things); ''ainas'' ("a hallow, a fane"); ''áyan, aian'' ("a holy thing or object or place"); ''[[aiya|aia, aiya!]]''<ref name="Eldarin" />

==Other versions of the Legendarium==

In the ''Quenya Lexicon'' appears the root AYA, signifying "honour, revere".<ref>{{PE|12}} (root appearing with an [[Wikipedia:Inverted breve|inverted breve below]] on the "Y")</ref> In the ''[[The Etymologies|Etymologies]]'' appears the roots AYAN (yielding Common Eldarin ''ayan-'', "holy") and YAN (yielding Quenya ''yána'', [[Noldorin]] ''iaun'', "holy place, fane, sanctuary").<ref>{{LR|Etymologies}}, pp. 350, 400</ref>

{{references}}
[[Category:Roots]]

AY

2026-07-04T11:15:38Z

Jwc31: /* See Also */

'''AY''' is a [[Primitive Quendian]] [[Sundocarme|root]] without any given signification, except for yielding the derivative root [[AYA(R)|ÁYAR, AIR]].<ref name="Ety">{{LR|Etymologies}}, p. 349 (form appearing as "AY-")</ref><ref>{{VT|45a }}, p. 6</ref>
==Derivatives==

*[[Common Eldarin]]: ''ai-lin-'' ("pool, lake")<ref name="Ety" />
**[[Quenya]]: ''[[ailin]]''<ref name="Ety" />
**[[Noldorin]]: ''[[oel]]''<ref name="Ety" />

==See also==

*[[AYA(R)]]
*[[LINI]]
*[[NEN]]

{{references}}
[[Category:Roots]]

AWA

2026-07-04T11:15:18Z

Jwc31: /* Other Versions of the Legendarium */

'''AWA''' is a [[Primitive Quendian]] [[Sundocarme|root]] signifying "away, forth; out"<ref name="Ety">{{LR|Etymologies}}, p. 349 (form appearing as "AWA-")</ref> or "go, move (from speaker), go away, depart", "go, depart, pass away; go away".<ref name="Eldarin">{{PE|Eldarin}}, p. 148 (form appearing as "√AWA, WĀ")</ref> Its meaning is also given as referring to "movement away, viewed from the point of view of the thing, person, or place left" or "away from the speaker or the place of his thought".<ref name="WJ">{{WJ|A}}, pp. 360f., 364-7 (form appearing as "*AWA")</ref>

==Derivatives==

*[[Common Eldarin]]: ''au-''; ''awā''<ref name="WJ" />

*[[Quenya]]: ''[[auta-|auta]]'';<ref name="Eldarin" /><ref name="WJ" /> ''ava'' ("outside, beyond");<ref name="Ety" /><ref name="VT">{{VT|45a}}, p. 6</ref> ''öa, öar'';<ref name="WJ" /> ''aukiri'' ("cut of, so that a portion is lost or no longer available")<ref name="WJ" />
*[[Sindarin]] ''[[gwaen]]''<ref name="Eldarin" />
*[[Telerin]]: ''au-, avad''; ''auta-''; ''[[vanua]]''<ref name="WJ" />

*[[Noldorin]]: ''ar-''<ref name="Ety" /><ref name="VT" />

==Other versions of the Legendarium==

In the ''Qenya Lexicon'' appears the root AVA, signifying "go away, depart, leave".<ref>{{PE|12}}</ref>

==See also==

*[[WĀ]]
*[[WAN]]

{{references}}
[[Category:Roots]]

AT

2026-07-04T09:55:15Z

Jwc31: /* See Also */

'''AT''' or '''AT(AT)''' is an [[Elvish]] [[Sundocarme|root]] signifying "back, again". '''AT(A)''' signifies "re-".<ref name="Elda">{{PE|Eldarin}}, p. 148</ref><ref name="Ety349">{{LR|Etymologies}}, p. 349</ref>

==Derivatives==

*[[Quenya]]: ''[[ata]]'' ("again"); ''[[at-]]'' ("back, again, re-")<ref name="Ety349" />
*[[Noldorin]] ([[Sindarin]]): ''[[ad-]]''<ref name="Ety349" /><ref>{{VT|45a}}, p. 6</ref>

*Root [[AT-TA]] ("[number] 2")<ref name="Elda" />

==See also==

*Root [[NDAN]]

{{references}}
[[Category:Roots]]

AS

2026-07-04T09:54:56Z

Jwc31: /* See Also */

'''AS''' is an [[Elvish]] [[Sundocarme|root]] meaning "warmth".<ref name="Elda">{{PE|Eldarin}}, p. 148</ref>

==Derivatives==
*[[Primitive Elvish]]: *āsi
**[[Quenya]]: [[áre|''āze'', ''āre'', ''ārĭ-'']] ("warmth, especially of the sun, sunlight"); ''[[Árien]]''; ''[[arma]]'' ("a ray of sunlight"); ''[[asta-]]'' ("to heat, bake"); ''[[ar]]'' ("day")<ref name="Elda" />
**[[Sindarin]]: ''[[as]]''

==See also==

*Root [[AP]]
*Root [[ÁS-AT]]
*Root [[UR]]

{{references}}
[[Category:Roots]]

AR

2026-07-04T09:54:31Z

Jwc31: /* Other Versions of the Legendarium */

'''AR''' is an [[Elvish]] [[Sundocarme|root]] meaning "beyond, further than".<ref>{{PE|Eldarin}}, p. 147</ref><ref>{{S|Appendix}}, entry ''ar-'' ("outside, beside")</ref>

==Derivatives==

*Root [[ARI|ARI/ARAN/ARAT]]
*[[Quenya]] ''[[ar#Quenya|ar]]''
*[[Sindarin]] ''[[ar#Sindarin|ar-]]''

==Other versions of the Legendarium==

In [[the Etymologies|the ''Etymologies'']] there are two homophonous roots: AR1 is a root which signifies "day" and it seems to have been redefined by Tolkien (cf. [[AS]]); the root AR2 has no exact signification although its derivatives relate to "outsideness"; the general sense seems to be somewhat retained for the root AR as given in ''Eldarin Roots and Stems'').<ref name="LR348">{{LR|Etymologies}}, p. 348</ref>

{{references}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:AR}}
[[Category:Roots]]

AP

2026-07-04T09:54:13Z

Jwc31: /* See Also */

'''AP''' is an [[Elvish]] [[Sundocarme|root]] of an unknown signification.<ref>{{LR|Etymologies}}, p. 348</ref> A rejected signification was "cook(?)".<ref>{{VT|45a}}, p. 6</ref>
*[[Primitive Quendian]]: *''apsā''
**[[Quenya]] (?):<ref>No language abbreviation is given for the gloss ''[[apsa]]'', but it is likely supposed to be Quenya; cf. [[Helge Fauskanger]], ''Quettaparma Quenyallo'' (accessed 10 December 2010)</ref> ''[[apsa]]'' ("cooked food, meat")
**[[Noldorin]] ([[Sindarin]]): ''[[aes]]'' ("cooked food, meat")
**[[Ilkorin]]: ''[[ass]]'' ("cooked food, meat")
==See also==

*Root [[AS]]

{{references}}
[[Category:Roots]]

ANÁR

2026-07-04T09:53:58Z

Jwc31: /* See Also */

'''ANÁR''' is an [[Elvish]] [[Sundocarme|root]] signifying "sun". It is a derivative of [[NAR|NAR1]].<ref>{{LR|Etymologies}}, pp. 348</ref> The stem is also glossed as (A)NAR.<ref>{{PE|Eldarin}}, p. 147</ref>

*[[Primitive Quendian]]: ''anār-''
**[[Quenya]]: ''[[Sun|Anar]]''
**[[Noldorin|Exilic Noldorin]] ([[Sindarin]]): ''[[Sun|Anor]]''

==See also==

*[[PHAY]]

{{references}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:ANAR}}
[[Category:Roots]]

ANGWA

2026-07-04T09:53:38Z

Jwc31: /* See Also */

'''ANGWA''' or '''ANGU''' are [[Elvish]] [[Sundocarme|roots]] signifying "snake".<ref name="LR349">{{LR|Etymologies}}, p. 349</ref>

*[[Quenya]]: ''[[ango]]'';<ref name="LR349" /> ''[[angulóke]]'' ("dragon")<ref>{{LR|Etymologies}}, p. 370</ref>
*[[Noldorin]] ([[Sindarin]]): ''am-'' (as in ''[[amlug]]'', "dragon")<ref name="LR349" />

==See also==

*[[LOK]]

{{references}}
[[Category:Roots]]

AM

2026-07-04T09:53:12Z

Jwc31: /* Obsolete Forms */

'''AM''' is an [[Elvish]] [[Sundocarme|root]], with two different meanings.<ref>{{LR|Etymologies}}, p. 348</ref>

==AM1==

Meaning: "mother"

*[[Quenya]]: ''amil'' or ''amme''
*[[Ilkorin]]: ''aman'' (pl. ''emnin''<ref name="VT">{{VT|45a}}, p. 5</ref>)
*[[Exilic Noldorin]] poetic: ''emil''<ref name="VT" />

==AM2==

Meaning: "up" (usually in form ''amba-'') or "go up"<ref name="PE17">{{PE|17}}, p. 146</ref>

*[[Quenya]]: ''am-'' ("up", prefix); ''[[amba]]'' ("up(wards)", adverb); ''ambon''<ref name="VT" /> ("upward slope, hill-side"); ''ambo'' ("hill")<ref name="VT" />
*[[Noldorin]] ([[Sindarin]]): ''[[am]]'' ("up"); ''am-bend'', ''amben'' ("uphill"); ''[[amon]]'' ("hill"); ''[[Amrûn|am-rún]]''<ref name="VT" /> ("uprising, sunrise"; hence Quenya ''ambaron'', "Orient" [cf. ''[[Ambaróna]]''])
===Obsolete forms===
In the ''Qenya Lexicon'', the [[Qenya]] form is AM(U) ("up(wards)").<ref>{{PE|12}}</ref>
{{references}}
[[Category:Roots]]

AIWĒ

2026-07-04T09:52:50Z

Jwc31: /* See Also */

'''AIWĒ''' is an [[Elvish]] [[Sundocarme|root]] signifying "(small) [[birds|bird]]".<ref>{{LR|Etymologies}}, p. 348</ref>

*[[Quenya]]: ''[[aiwe]]''
*[[Noldorin]] ([[Sindarin]]): ''[[aew]]''

==See also==

*''Aiwenor'', ''Aiwenorë'' ("Bird-land" = lower air)
*''[[maiwë]]''

{{references}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:AIWE-}}
[[Category:Roots]]

ADC Art and Books

2026-07-04T09:52:14Z

Jwc31: /* External Links */

[[Image:adc.jpg|frame]]

'''ADC Art & Books''' is a British dealer in books, specialising in the works of [[J.R.R. Tolkien]] and Middle-earth inspired artwork. Under the name ''ADC Publications Ltd'', they also publish books and other media related to Tolkien and his legendarium.

ADC Art & Books is the agent for the following Tolkien-inspired artists: [[Ted Nasmith]], [[Ruth Lacon]], [[Jef Murray]], and [[Peter Pracownik]].

==Publications==

*[[2005]]: ''[[The Art of Ruth Lacon]]''
*[[2007]]: ''[[The Hidden Door|The Hidden Door: Songs in the Key of Enchantment]]'' (cd)
*[[2009]]: ''[[Black & White Ogre Country|Black & White Ogre Country: The Lost Tales of Hilary Tolkien]]''
*[[2009]]: ''[[The Epic Realm of Tolkien]]''
*(Cancelled): ''[[Wheelbarrows at Dawn|Wheelbarrows at Dawn: Memories of Hilary Tolkien]]''

==Collectibles==

Furthermore, ADC Art and Books has manufactured a framed giclee of the battle between [[Éowyn]] and the [[Witch-king]]:

{| class="TGtable" style="width:80%;text-align:center;margin-left:auto;margin-right:auto;"
|-
! style="width:150px;" |Image
! style="width:200px;" |Name
! style="width:80px;" |Artist(s)
! style="width:80px;" |Product Type
! style="width:150px;" |Product Size
! style="width:150px;" |Weight
! style="width:100px;" |Note(s)
|-
|[[File:Ted Nasmith - Éowyn and the Nazgûl.jpg|200px]]
|Eowyn and the Nazgul fine art print
|[[Ted Nasmith]]
|Fine art print
|22.75" H (577.85mm) x 20.5" W (520.7mm)
|5.00 lbs (2.27 kg)
|Price: $449.99 Edition size: 100
|}

==External links==

*[http://www.adcbooks.co.uk/index.html ADC Art & Books website]

[[Category:Businesses]]
[[Category:British businesses]]

AB language

2026-07-04T09:51:49Z

Jwc31: /* See Also */

{{Unnamed}}
The '''AB language''' refers to a medieval literary dialect first identified by [[J.R.R. Tolkien]] in the article "[[Ancrene Wisse and Hali Meiðhad]]" (published in [[Essays and Studies (1929)|''Essays and Studies by Members of the English Association'', 14]]).

==History==
Tolkien had found that the [[Middle English]] spelling habits of the manuscript ''[[Ancrene Wisse (manuscript)|Ancrene Wisse]]'' (i.e., "A") showed great similarities to the manuscripts of the [[Katherine Group]] (i.e., "B"). This lead Tolkien to propose the existence of a standard literary language (the AB language) in the West Midland area of England in the 13th century. Tolkien's further investigations of the AB language led him to publish his [[Ancrene Wisse]] in 1962.

According to [[Arne Zettersten]], Tolkien's research on the AB language was perhaps his most important academic contribution, influencing the work of his student and colleague [[Simonne d'Ardenne]] and Zettersten himself, as well as contemporary research on Middle English.<ref>''[[J.R.R. Tolkien Encyclopedia: Scholarship and Critical Assessment]]'', pp.1-2</ref>

==See also==
*"[[Gerald of Wales on the Survival of Welsh]]"

==External links==
*{{WP|AB language}}

{{references}}

{{languages}}

[[Category:Languages (real-world)]]

ABA

2026-07-04T09:51:24Z

Jwc31: /* See Also */

'''AB'''/'''ABA''' is an [[Elvish]] [[Sundocarmë|Root]] related to refusal.

*[[Quenya]]: ''ava- ([[avaquétima]]), [[ava]], [[avanir]], [[apsenë]]''
*[[Telerin]]: ''aba- ([[abapétima]], [[aplat]]), [[aba]]''

*[[Adûnaic]]: ''[[bâ]]''

==ABAR==
'''ABAR''' is a related root having to do with one who refuses, directly related to the [[Avari]].
*[[Common Eldarin]]: ''[[ábārō]]''
*[[Quenya]]: ''[[Avari]], avar''
*[[Telerin]]: ''[[abar]], [[Abari]]''
*[[Old Noldorin]]: ''[[abóro]]''
*[[Sindarin]]: ''[[Afor]]'', ''[[Baravorn]]''
==See also==
*[[BA]]/[[BA3]]
*[[AWA]]
[[Category:Roots]]