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Tom is completely unaffected by the ring's "magic" and seemingly its evil.

Makes you wonder all over again just who is Tom Bombadil.

Another thing I found interesting (that I hadn't noticed before) is that when Tom asks Frodo to show him the ring, Frodo does so without hesitation:

...and Frodo, to his own astonishment, drew out the chain from his pocket, and unfastening the Ring handed it at once to Tom.

I had a movie flashback when Tom was playing with the Ring.

For a second the hobbits had a vision, both comical and alarming, of his bright blue eyes gleaming through a circle of gold.

It is as if he really is completely apart and unaffected by circumstances, concerns and events of all other races of Middle Earth. Looking at it in light of a Christian perspective, which undoubtedly influenced Tolkien profoundly, Tom seems almost like the quintessential innocent, one who has never been spoiled by sin and who, therefore, is neither tempted nor effected by the conditions of human weaknesse and lust for power. While the hobbits themselves are innocents in one sense, they are more like children. Although they are by nature guileless, they can be tempted and they are certainly into certain "creature comforts." Any time that is a factor, you can be certain that there will be temptation. Tom, on the other hand, just seems to take those "comforts" for granted and it seems that there is no need for concern that he would ever lose them, because "he is the master." It is almost as if his very nature of perfect innocence has MADE him the master. After all, what is a master other than one who is mastered by none?

Is there any info on Tom in the books outside of LOTR? Why couldn't he have gotten rid of the Ring? Or why couldn't he at least have put it permanently out of Sauron's reach, thus saving our friends from having to complete their dangerous journey? Other than introducing us to someone who helps them out later, what is the purpose of Tom Bombadil?

I agree with whoever it was that said that these are two chapters to generally be skimmed over.

Mushroom anyone?

-ksen