Tag: SummerReading

Random Dracula rant: Jonathan Harker sees Dracula barefoot and climbing down the dilapidated castle wall.

Chapter VII: IN THE HOUSE OF TOM BOMBADIL

So Frodo, Sam, Merry and Pippin end up at Tom Bombadil’s house.

When they get to Tom Bombadil’s house they meet Goldberry, daughter of the River. She is so beautiful and the hobbits just find her dazzling. It’s like when Randy first sees Julie in Valley Girl (1983). Goldberry is described as wearing living flowers and “she seemed to be enthroned in the midst of a pool.”

Goldberry is clearly Tom’s wife. She lets them know he’s tending to their ponies as she flutters around.

Frodo is so charmed and he’s so sweet to her that even he’s surprised he’s acting that way. Frodo even sings to her. Anyways, Goldberry points out he’s friends with elves based on how he sounds and his shiny eyes.

Lets put that in our notes: Contact with elves leaves lasting effects.

Frodo takes the opportunity to ask Goldberry who the heck Tom Bombadil is and she’s so vague with her answer. She just says he’s the master of everything but he’s not the owner of the land.

Tom Bombadil pops back in and Goldberry instructs him to show his new friends where to wash up and dinner.

Frodo tries to chat about what happened previously with the Willow-Man and Pippin & Marry stop him. Because it’s a theme in this book that you should not speak of scary things after dark otherwise you’ll Beetlejuice it into existence.

Afterwards as they all turn in, Goldberry lets the boys know not to worry that they are safe from everything. Under Tom Bombadil’s roof these hobbits are safe and they shouldn’t worry about the outside noises.

So we come to the part of the DnD campaign where the squad has dreams/realizations, except for Sam.

Frodo dreams of a white tower, eagles and sounds. Clearly he’s channeling into something or someone. He could be mentally connected to them or a place. Is the Ring trying to tell him something? Because I’m pretty sure this ring has its own agenda.

Pippin wakes up to squeaking sounds and is scared. I think that he has figured out it’s not safe out there. Also it sounds like a tree tapping. The willow tree is probably just tapping on his window ya know asking Pippin to come out and play.

Merry was falling asleep when he started hearing a bunch of water and freaks out. Then he thinks about Goldberry assured him was safe and sound. And he just goes with it. Sure the house sounds like it’s about to flood and he’s gonna drown but Goldberry said he was was gonna be fine.

And Sam…well he just slept.

The next day they wake up and Tom Bombadil is creeping about the room and even implies they’re heavy sleepers. Goldberry feeds them and they just relax. Tom Bombadil does encourage them to forget about the nightly noses.

I swear there probably was a damn tree at the window in the middle of the night tapping.

It’s an odd place they find themselves in. Goldberry seems like a river sprite and is doing whatever those do. The day is rainy and cozy. Not much happens aside from them relaxing and listening to Tom Bombadil’s stories.

Now these stories don’t really sound made up. He’s telling stories of the past, things that happened that have been long forgotten. It’s almost like a hint to the hobbits and what has been and what’s to come. A mini history lesson on a cozy rainy day. Tom Bombadil is over there trying to give them a crash course and rewire their brain.

Time and days flow and it doesn’t say how long the hobbits stay there. Frodo asks Tom Bombadil who he is and Tom is vague about it and says he was there before everything.

Tom Bombadil is something old and powerful. This moment is a little dark and I’m only saying this because we got a jump scare. When he thens them he’s been around before everyone and everything, shadow passed by the window. Then Goldberry just pops up in the doorway with good vibes.

They eat and they dance and forget about it. Later that evening though Tom gives a little info away.

Tom Bombadil pretty much lets them know he actually knows a lot about them and The Shire. He even knows Farmer Maggot and regards Farmer Maggot as an important figure. So this Tom Bombadil dude is in on it, whatever Frodo is out to do he’s down with the plan. He has even heard of Frodo from the elves. He was waiting for Frodo and the ring.

And Frodo well just starts chatting and talking about Bilbo and the ring.Tom Bombadil even asks to see the ring and Frodo just hands it to him. The ring is odd but so far it seems to be difficult to hand over to anyone but Frodo just gives it to Tom. Just hands this ring over like nothing.

Tom plays with the ring and even puts it on. This ring changes sized by the way based on the wearer.

So Frodo freaks out a bit about the whole thing, but old Bombadil just hands it back casually. This Ring holds zero power over Tom Bombadil.

Frodo is annoyed and even puts the ring on, disappears and decides to sneak out of the house. But he’s stopped by Tom Bombadil, this man can see Frodo clear as day.

But Tom totally covers for Frodo’s odd behavior with humor and brushes it off. It’s pretty clear that the Ring did not like being toyed with and wanted to leave. So when Frodo was annoyed, when he wanted to disappear and leave…that was the Ring. All those feelings he’s channeling in that moment don’t belong to him.

Frodo comes back after Tom calls him back and even tries to laughs it off. After this Tom gives just them tips, instructions and a song for their journey out of the forest and then it’s off to bed.

This entire chapter was interesting. This man tells the hobbits he just happens to find them but he was also aware of them. Not only is he aware of them he is even buddies with Farmer Maggot. The Ring can’t control him and the trees are afraid of him. Whatever lurks around after dark can’t come into his home and he’s all seeing.

Tom Bombadil can probably even destroy the ring ya know but he’s gonna step back and let the hobbits do it.

So odd. I’ll have to do some research on this. I know I was gonna read up on Tom Bombadil but I got distracted.

Well thats it for now. I’ll start on the next chapter later today or tomorrow and updated within a day or two of that.

Thanks y’all!