Academy Of Motion Pictures And Sciences’ 2009 Governors Awards Gala – Arrivals

I’ll admit that the first 3rd of the Fellowship of the Ring always seeemd like slow meandering to me and I thought it was going to be a struggle to get through it, but I am enjoying it in a whole new way. I find that Tolkien is seducing me with his atmosphere and images. Instead of being impatient of the Great Woods, Tom Bombadil and the barrow wights, I am now immersing myself in those scenes. I can feel the woods crouching over me, see the fluttering willow leaves golden in the dell, taste the cold, damp mist on the barren hills. And Tom Bombadil I never cared for his character and was bored with his poetry and songs. I have changed my mind. I am still perplexed and intrigued with who he is, how old he is, what powers he has, but now I am falling into the rhythm of his speech patterns and wishing I could spend time with him and Goldberry. What are your thoughts on Old Tom? Is he the life force, is he an ancient nature god, or is he god come to earth? Could he survive if Sauron won the war and held the One Ring? Could he protect his patch of nature even against that dark onslaught? And who is Goldberry is she mother nature? I know she is called the river king’s daughter but she seems to reflect the passing of seasons and weather too, so I can’t accept that she is affiliated with water alone. And why has Tolkien almost stopped the forward action of the book the journey of the One Ring eastward, to play for days among the woods, and hills and downs with Old Man Willow, Tom and Goldberry and the barrow wights. They don’t have any place in the overall story. I’d like to know Tokien’s reason for including them, other than just to show us more of his mythopedia.