Who's the oldest? - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

the mortal elf · 09-19-2002, 07:12 PM

I've got three contestants for the oldest person/creature in middle earth, and each has pretty solid evidence.

Tom Bombadil: he told the hobbits about the old forest, and basically told them that he could remember when they were "fathers and lords of all trees." He can remember what was there before the barrow downs. He remembers and talks about "ancient starlight, when only the elf sires were awake." When Frodo asks him "who are you master?" he replies "eldest, that's what I am. Mark my words, Tom was here before the river and the trees. Tom remembers the first raindrop and the first acorn..." and does that speech. Pretty firm evidence that he's the oldest, right?

Treebeard: Pippin felt that his eyes had "an enormous well behind them filled with ages of memory and long, slow, steady thinking." When Gandalf is talking to Theoden and asks him to go see Treebeard he says, "...and when you speak with him you will hear the speech of the oldest of all living things." Here, my friends, we have a contradiction. Tom Bombadil is the oldest, but Treebeard is the oldest too. How does that work. Next, to confuse you even more...

Elves: Treebeard gives them the most evidence. When he's recalling parts of the old lists to the hobbits he says: "Eldest of all, the elf children." Later on, he says, "Elves began it of course, waking trees up and teaching them to speak and learning their tree talk." Okay, now I'm confused.

I haven't read the Silmarillion yet...*winces as all the fans who have the right to call themselves diehard gasp*...so all the answers may be in there. I promise, I will read it eventually, but right now I'm really curious. Who's the oldest?

09-19-2002, 07:12 PM	#1
the mortal elf Wight Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away... Posts: 201	Who's the oldest? I've got three contestants for the oldest person/creature in middle earth, and each has pretty solid evidence. Tom Bombadil: he told the hobbits about the old forest, and basically told them that he could remember when they were "fathers and lords of all trees." He can remember what was there before the barrow downs. He remembers and talks about "ancient starlight, when only the elf sires were awake." When Frodo asks him "who are you master?" he replies "eldest, that's what I am. Mark my words, Tom was here before the river and the trees. Tom remembers the first raindrop and the first acorn..." and does that speech. Pretty firm evidence that he's the oldest, right? Treebeard: Pippin felt that his eyes had "an enormous well behind them filled with ages of memory and long, slow, steady thinking." When Gandalf is talking to Theoden and asks him to go see Treebeard he says, "...and when you speak with him you will hear the speech of the oldest of all living things." Here, my friends, we have a contradiction. Tom Bombadil is the oldest, but Treebeard is the oldest too. How does that work. Next, to confuse you even more... Elves: Treebeard gives them the most evidence. When he's recalling parts of the old lists to the hobbits he says: "Eldest of all, the elf children." Later on, he says, "Elves began it of course, waking trees up and teaching them to speak and learning their tree talk." Okay, now I'm confused. I haven't read the Silmarillion yet...winces as all the fans who have the right to call themselves diehard gasp...so all the answers may be in there. I promise, I will read it eventually, but right now I'm really curious. Who's the oldest? __________________ My imaginary friend says you have problems.