Robert Shaw would have been awesome as Bombadil. Too bad. The actor that played the nutjob Irishman in Braveheart would make a decent Bombadil as well. No need to even think of Nathan Lane (*shudder*).
(I should say though I find the debate over what or who Tom is to be fascinating).
Yep. He is a singularity. There is nothing in any of Tolkein's contributory or related works that even hints at what or who Bombadil might be. My pet theory has always been that he was a corporeal embodiment of Iluvatar. Very Druidic, very much in keeping with Tokein's mythological and literary roots.
Steven?! Never thought of him. Could work!
Yep. He is a singularity. There is nothing in any of Tolkein's contributory or related works that even hints at what or who Bombadil might be. My pet theory has always been that he was a corporeal embodiment of Iluvatar. Very Druidic, very much in keeping with Tokein's mythological and literary roots.
I agree. Mainly by firmly concluding what he is not, I think Bombadil is none other than Iluvatar himself.
Tom Bombadil was a bedtime story character that Tolkien had made up long before for his boys. He seems out of sync with the rest of Middle Earth because . . . he is. His origins were different.