A comical yet powerful and ancient figure who reigns over the domain of the Old Forest bordering the Shire. He is the husband of Goldberry and is partial to bursting into song. He saves Frodo, Sam, Merry, and Pippin from Old Man Willow, and aids them in their flight to the elf-haven Rivendell. Interestingly, the Ring has no power over Bombadil, but he refuses to leave his realm to make a stand against Sauron.
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Tom Bombadil Character Timeline in The Fellowship of the Ring
The timeline below shows where the character Tom Bombadil appears in The Fellowship of the Ring. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Book 1, Chapter 6
...calling frantically for help. He is surprised to be answered by the comical character of Tom Bombadil.
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Bombadil approaches the distressed hobbits while loudly singing nonsensical songs. He is quite a sight, dressed...
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The relieved hobbits follow Tom Bombadil back to his home, which is perhaps the only abode in the Old Forest....
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Book 1, Chapter 7
Frodo, Sam, Pippin, and Merry find cheer and comfort at the house of Tom Bombadil. Meeting Goldberry, they are struck by her elegance and beauty, but she soon makes...
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The hobbits wake the next morning to Tom’s whistling as he moves about the house. Because it is raining, they gladly accept his...
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...hobbits’ quest that Goldberry appears in the house, drawing their attention to the improved weather. Tom says they should have supper, and somehow it is even better than the fare they...
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Tom seems to know much about the individual hobbits’ backgrounds and the history of the Shire...
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Tom ends the night by offering advice for their journey around weather and routes. He also...
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Book 1, Chapter 8
The next morning, Frodo, Merry, Sam, Pippin, and their ponies leave the house of Tom Bombadil and travel north into the hills of the Barrow-downs—a series of burial mounds crowned...
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Tripping over Merry, Frodo suddenly remembers Tom Bombadil’s song that he taught to the hobbits in case of emergency. Frodo nervously begins...
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Tom leads the hobbits out of the Barrow-downs and accompanies them to the road. He takes...
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Book 2, Chapter 2
...to do with the dangerous weapon. The elf-lord Erestor suggests they should take it to Tom Bombadil, for it holds no corruptive sway over him. Gandalf and Glorfindel reject the idea,...
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