"What do we know about Tom Bombadil? He lies." The author fundamentally misunderstands Tom Bombadil, both in terms of where he fits (or doesn't) into Tolkien's

"What do we know about Tom Bombadil? He lies." The author fundamentally misunderstands Tom Bombadil, both in terms of where he fits (or doesn't) into Tolkien's mythology, and in terms of Tom's literary purpose. Tolkien deliberately made Tom an enigma: "And even in a mythical Age there must be some enigmas, as there always are. Tom Bombadil is one (intentionally)" (The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien, No 144, dated 1954). The following are three suggested articles that are far more intelligent, subtle, well-researched, and balanced in comparison to km-515's rant. Mark Fischer, The Riddle of Tom Bombadil: http://www.glyphweb.com/arda/t/tombombadil.html http://www.glyphweb.com/arda/t/tombombadil.html Steuard Jensen, What is Tom Bombadil?: http://tolkien.slimy.com/essays/Bombadil.html http://tolkien.slimy.com/essays/Bombadil.html Gene Hargrove, Who is Tom Bombadil?: http://www.cas.unt.edu/~hargrove/bombadil.html http://www.cas.unt.edu/~hargrove/bombadil.html