Tom Bombadil

Tom Bombadil is an enigma who lives in the Old Forest, singing and enjoying days with his wife Goldberry. He has been in Middle-earth before the Dark Lord and is unaffected by the One Ring, treating it as a toy. Known by names like Iarwain Ben-adar, Forn, and Orald, he is a strange creature.

Strength

• Makes paths, presumably alone. (source)
• Carries three hobbits out of a barrow with Frodo’s help. (source)
• Carries a whole bunch of treasure out of the barrow. (source)
• Carries his boat to the river. (source)

Speed

• Moves so fast he disappears from the hobbits’ view. (source)
• Catches a feather out of the air. (source)

Speech/Music

• Awakens Merry from an enchanted sleep. (source)
• Frees Merry and Pippin from Old Man Willow. (source) ([Scaling] Old Man Willow is the most powerful and malicious of the trees in the Ancient Forest.)
• Enraptures the Hobbits so much they fail to notice what may be a week pass by. (source)
• Convinces Frodo to give him the One Ring. (source) ([Scaling] Frodo struggles to lend Gandalf the Ring when he knows he’ll get it back.)
• Maybe creates a door-like opening in a barrow. (source)
• Scares away a Barrow-wight. (source)
• Awakens three hobbits from a wight-induced sleep. (source)
• Merry’s horses only respond to the names Tom gave them. (source)
• It is implied that he has the power to repel the Nazgûl. (source)
• Makes Old Man Willow release him. (source)
• Sends a hostile Barrow-wight running away. (source)
• Understands (and is understood) by a bird. (source)

Weird Mind Stuff

• Everyone except Sam has strange, prophetic dreams when they sleep in his house. (source)
• Unaffected by the One Ring. (source) ([Scaling] Even Gandalf fears the lure of Ring.)
• In Bombadil’s house, Frodo has a dream of his arrival in Valinor. (source)
• Drives fear from the hearts of hobbits. (source)

Other

• No one has caught Bombadil in the places where he is master. (source)
• Prevents rain from falling on him by waving his hands. (source)
• Sees Frodo while he’s invisible. (source)
• Hears Frodo singing his tune in a distant barrow. (source)
• Glorfindel and Galdor doubt Bombadil has the power to defeat Mordor single-handedly. (source) ([Anti-Feat])