"Bombadil Goes Boating" is a poem by J.R.R. Tolkien included in The Adventures of Tom Bombadil and Other Verses from the Red Book. It is the second poem concerning Tom Bombadil in this collection, and the sequel to The Adventures of Tom Bombadil. The poem is split into thirty-four stanzas, detailing roughly seven subsections.[1]
The poem was composed in Buckland after the War of the Ring as part of the Shire-lore recorded in the Red Book of Westmarch. The poet displays knowledge of the geography around that land.[2] However it is possible that the poem refers to a time before September 22 of the year 3018[3] when troublesome news reached the Shire from around its borders.[4]
Synopsis[]
Tom Bombadil decides to leave on an adventure on his boat down the Withywindle river, to no particular destination. A bird called Willow-wren overhears his decision, and threatens to tell Old Man Willow. Tom says that if the bird tells Old Man Willow, he will burn him, and roast him on a willow-spit to end his prying. The Willow-wren responds by saying he'll tell Old Man Willow that Tom will be at the Mithe, and after he leaves Tom decides to go that direction anyway. Tom fixes his boat, and makes it ready to leave.[1]
After Tom Bombadil leaves, he meets a King-fisher called Fisher Blue, who requests that Tom bring him back tidings of his kin, and where the fish are hiding. Tom responds by saying that he will not; and the King-fisher threatens to tip his boat. Tom is angered, and tells him to return home, or he will slice off the King-fisher's beak and use it as a weather-vane. The King fisher left, and in the process dropped a feather, which Tom keeps. He keeps it, saying "Blue now for Tom, a merry hue and lasting".[1]
A sentient otter called Whisker-lad paddles along, and threatens to tip Tom's boat. Tom replies by saying that he will ride him down the river, as his boat. Whisker-lad says that he will bring his family, and they will all drown him. Tom then says that he will take Whisker-lad to the Barrow-wights, and they will cover him with so many rings that his mother will never recognize him. Whisker-lad swims away.[1]
A swan called Old Swan from Elvet-isle swims up next to Tom, and gives 'Tom a black look, snorted at him loudly.' Tom laughs, and says that he would love the Swan dearer if he could say a nice word. He says that if the King returns, he hopes the King will brand his bill. The Swan swims away.[1]
Tom Bombadil arrives at the Withy-weir, near The Shire. The Bounders demand that Tom leave or they'll kill him. Tom calls them 'Fatbellies', and names them to be cowards; and he threatens to call Orks on them. The Bounders shoot him thrice in the hat, and tell him again to leave; but Tom simply continues moving.[1]
Tom Bombadil comes ashore at Grindwall, and arrives near the Causeway. He approaches Rushey, and Farmer Maggot, his friend, hails him. Farmer Maggot does not recognize him in the dark, calling him a beggar and a sneak. He thinks that Tom came for Shire-ale, and threatens to tell everyone to lock their door so he won't get any. Tom calls him Muddy-feet, and jestingly scolds him for not recognizing his friend; he says that a beggar can't be a chooser, and that Maggot owes him for the insult. Farmer Maggot is happy to see his friend, and takes him home with him. Maggot sets out a feast, and Tom stays for a night of merriment and cheer, and Tom leaves back for his home in the night, after they are all asleep. In the morning it rains, and Tom's footprints are watched away.[1]
The Otter-folk show up, and loose Tom's boat from where it was stationed. The boat flows down the Withywindle, and Willow-wren, Fisher Blue, and the Old Swan wait there for Tom Bombadil to return and find them.[1]
In other versions[]
Ho! Tom Bombadil[]
In the mid-1930s, Tolkien wrote a short poem that he labeled as the "germ of Tom Bombadil". The poem included names such as "John Pompador", "Bill Willoughby", and "Harry Larraby" which suit the rhythm, but otherwise have no significance. Though Christopher Tolkien identified the name "Stoke Canonicorum" as being the medieval name of Stoke Canon,[5] the names "Long Congleby", "King's Singleton", and "Bumby Cocalorum" have not been identified. Despite this, these names all appear as genuine English place-names, incorporating common elements such as "Long from Old English lang,…-by from Old Norse býr, boer, Old Danish or Old Swedish by".[6]
In revising the poem, Tolkien extended the dialogue of the first three stanzas before replacing them with a whole new stanza.[6]
The Fliting of Tom Bombadil[]
Tolkien gave the drafts of the second version of the poem various names such as The Fliting of Tom Bombadil, The Merry Fliting of Tom Bombadil, and The Adventures of Tom Bombadil II: The Merry Fliting, before deciding on Fliting, an Old English word meaning "strive" or "quarrel". The term refers to teasings and insults exchanged in good-humor. Such contests often appear in Norse and medieval poetry.[6]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 The Adventures of Tom Bombadil and Other Verses from the Red Book, No. 2: "Bombadil Goes Boating", pgs. 17-23
- ↑ The Adventures of Tom Bombadil and Other Verses from the Red Book, "Preface"
- ↑ The Letters of J. R. R. Tolkien, Letter 240, pg. 319
- ↑ The Lord of the Rings, Vol. I: The Fellowship of the Ring, Prologue: "Of the Ordering of the Shire
- ↑ The History of Middle-earth, Vol. VI: The Return of the Shadow, The First Phase, V: "The Old Forest and the Withywindle", pgs. 115-6 (note 3: Note on Tom Bombadil, footnote to second stanza)
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 The Adventures of Tom Bombadil and Other Verses from the Red Book, Commentary: "Bombadil Goes Boating"