Goldberry

Goldberry is a supporting character from J. R. R. Tolkien's "The Lord of the Rings". Also known as the "River-woman's daughter," she was the wife of Tom Bombadil.

Although her origins are uncertain, it has been speculated that she is not a mortal human being, but rather a spirit of the river Withywindle in the Old Forest of Tolkien's Middle-earth, similar to the many named river spirits of traditional English folklore such as Peg Powler of the River Tees, although noticeably gentler. Otherwise, she and Bombadil are enigmas in Tolkien's Middle-earth legendarium. Her name may be a Westron derivative of the Sindarin "Golodh-bereth", meaning "Flower Queen".Another explanation offered up for her is that she was originally a Maia spirit who "went native", binding herself to the river, perhaps somewhat like Melian binding herself to Elu Thingol. [ [http://tolkien.slimy.com/essays/Bombadil3Maia.html#Support Tolkien Essays: What is Tom Bombadil?, p3] Steuard Jensen 2002] Others have speculated that she may even be Yavanna herself, but this is not widely accepted.

In Tolkien's "The Adventures of Tom Bombadil" the first poem tells the tale of her "capture" by Tom Bombadil.

References

* "The Adventures of Tom Bombadil", J. R. R. Tolkien
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Footnotes