Tsuki Z
Winddriven_dreamer
Although I haven't read them all of them, my brother loves Middle Earth's books. According to him, there is a huge back story. From The Children of Huran or The Hobbit, there is more to the world than just the Fellowship. Tom Bombadil is an ancient character. I believe his story comes from a different area of the world. As for his significance to the fellowship... well I think he needed to be there to start them on their way. He was the man who got them through their first trials and he provided a way for Mary to obtain the sword with which he killed the wraith king.
I've done the Hobbit but he was never really mentioned. I haven't read the other books because when I tried The Silmarillion, I couldn't really understand it.
Why didn't he play a bigger role though? I mean, he played an idiot but he seems to be all-knowing and not to mention all-powerful.
I think you have to start with a different book to really understand The Silmarillion. As it is, Tom is one of those characters like Gandalf, from a time before time if you will. I believe somewhere it says that Tom is even older than the elves or something. He's one of the people who knew the dark lord before he was evil and what not. I don't know all that much about it, but he was all-knowing cause he was so old. I suppose it comes with age and experience. You can't help but know a lot that way. As for not playing a bigger role, who can say why Tolkien didn't include him more? I feel as though it's simply to follow Bombadil's personality. The way he's written, he is one of those powerful characters that is simply content to sit back and enjoy life, I mean, he has his lady and his home. He is wise enough to know that the world will not end, and powerful enough to not have to worry about anyone disturbing his little paradise. This doesn't have to contradict his helping the hobbits because he is also a man with a kind and helpful heart, one who enjoys the little things in life. So, in essence, I believe he has such a simple part because he has already had his story and is content to let the hobbits have theirs.