strangest character written by Tolkien

J.R.R. Tolkien Forum

Who do you believe was the strangest character written by J.R.R. Tolkien? Was it Beorn, Tom Bombadil, who?

hmmm

i'd say Tom Bombadil, because Tolkien purposefully had him remain an anomolous character. he has no true race, and nothing seems to bother him, on his own grounds. Not even The One Ring had a hold on him. Beorn was a shapeshifter.

Very true Shadow, although Beorn was strange in his own right, Tom was the one character that stands out. The mystery guy.

Actually Shadow if you read the Encyclopedia he is given a race along with Goldberry. That of the MIddle-Earth Maiar, Non-Istari along with Huan and Melian.............. He is still one of my VERY favoite characters that should have at least been shown briefly in the movies...........

~Erika~

the Encyclopedia gives him a race, Tokien, however, never did.

Who is the author of the Encyclopedia?

Since I have only read LOTR and the Hobbit I can only take from those books. I know Silm... probably has many fascinating characters, but I have to say Tom Bombadil. There is so much mystery about him. I think best character he created however was Gollum. He made Gollum an evil character that people could related to on some levels. You like him at some points and even feel sorry for him. Even if you know he is evil.

Sometimes you really wonder what kind of conflict is going on in Gollum's mind.

i think beorns the weirdest

Beorn's from Silm?

beorns the due that can change into bears and stuff from the hobbit

Sorry, it's been many years since I read the hobbit.

mmmmmm...i dont know....either beorn or gollum or Tom Bombadil...which is basically everyone that you have mentioned! i cant choose!

I would say Luthien Tinuviel as the most mysterious character..not much is written about her except her origin ext...but for the strangest i would say Beorn takes the cake hehe or honey and cream

Well there is a list of them really. theres: Tom Bombadil, Gollum, Radagast the brown, Beorn,Mim from the Silmarillion and a few more I cant remember. But I think probably Tom Bombadil is the strangets

oh Mim...he's an odd ball now isn't he, not to mention a cowardly traitor...

Yeah Mim sort of reminds me of Grima Wormtounge. Their both traiters and both wierd.

I suppose I never saw Tom as being strange... mysterious, yes, not strange.

Too me, Gollum wasn't strange either. Pathetic, sure... nutcase, oh yeah. But not strange.

Beorn wasn't that strange either... He was a shapeshifter... whoopdee do.

Mim takes the strange-cake for me!

I agree. I loved Tom! How can he be strange?!?

Tom Bombadil is one of the most beloved of Tolkiens creations, along with Gandalf but he is an enigma, and so he is strange to us.