October 3, 2003

To Jarrickson
Matt McNabb

Where'd you get the idea that Bombadil and Goldberry are Maiar? Tolkien never stated that, nor did he ever say just exactly who Bombadil was. In "Letters" he described him as an intentional enigma. I have read many essays and articles on the subject- only speculative, of course- which have equated Bombadil with Maiar, Valar, Nature Sprites, and even Eru himself.