Gandalf

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Gandalf
Maia
Donato Giancola - Gandalf- Shadow of the Past.jpeg
Biographical Information
Other namesThe Grey, The White, Olórin, Mithrandir, Incánus, Tharkûn, The White Rider, Gandalf Greyhame, Stormcrow, Wand-elf, Láthspell
DeathDied/Reborn Third Age 3019, sailed back to Aman Third Age 3021
Physical Description
GenderMale
Hair colorWhite
GalleryImages of Gandalf
"Gandalf was shorter in stature than the other two; but his long white hair, his sweeping beard, and his broad shoulders, made him look like some wise king of ancient legend. In his aged face under great snowy brows his eyes were set like coals that could suddenly burst into fire."
The Fellowship of the Ring, "Many Meetings"

Gandalf was one of the five Istari sent to Middle Earth by the Valar in the Third Age to assist the free peoples in opposing Sauron. Gandalf was instrumental in bringing about the end of Sauron in 3019, primarily by encouraging others and dispensing his wisdom at pivotal times. Gandalf was originally robed in grey, and second to Saruman in the Order of wizards. After his fall in Moria, Gandalf returned to Middle Earth as head of the Order, robed in white. He was a primary character in The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings. Gandalf was noteworthy for his keen interest in Hobbits.

History

Coming to Middle-earth

Gandalf was originally a Maia named Olórin, who dwelt in the gardens of Irmo in Valinor. As a pupil of Nienna, Olórin was said to be the wisest of the Maiar, and he learned pity and patience from his teacher. When the Valar chose five messengers (“Istari”) from among the Maiar to go to Middle-earth during the Third Age, Manwë selected Olórin. These messengers were to assist the free peoples in opposing Sauron, who still existed as a 'dark spirit of malice' despite his body's destruction in the downfall of Númenor. Furthermore, the One Ring, the source and location of much of Sauron's power, possibly still existed somewhere in Middle-earth. Olórin submitted to the will of Manwë, and departed Valinor to Mithlond in the year T.A. 1000. He arrived after the others at about the same time the Necromancer appeared in Mirkwood.

At Mithlond he was welcomed by Glorfindel, his friend from Valinor, sent earlier on a similar mission, and Círdan the shipwright, who possessed Narya, one of the Three Elven Rings of power. Círdan divined in Gandalf a sense of strength and power and noted that though he had come last, and appeared bent and aged as an old man, within him he possessed perhaps the greatest will and ability of all the Istari. Círdan gave Narya to Olórin, with a prediction of his future struggles with evil, and a promise that it would support and aide him in his labors. Then Círdan said “But as for me, my heart is with the Sea, and I will dwell by the grey shores until the last ship sails. I will await you.

Olórin then began his sojourn in Middle-earth. He was known by many names during the long years he remained in Middle-earth: Elves named him Mithrandir (S: "gray pilgrim"), while the men of Arnor named him Gandalf, which became his most common name. He was also known as 'Gandalf Grayhame,' 'The White Rider,' 'Incánus' (in the south), and 'Tharkún' to the dwarves.

Gandalf the Grey by John Howe

Gandalf, like the other Wizards, took the shape of an old man. He was robed in gray and went about as a wanderer and counselor. Unlike Saruman, Gandalf did not go east and did not take up a single permanent residence. Gandalf apparently restricted his activities to the North-west of Middle-earth, where the remnants of the Dúnedain and the Eldar remained to oppose Sauron.

Early Vigilance

Around 1100, the Istari and the Eldar discovered that some evil entity resided at Dol Guldur in Mirkwood. Dark shapes moved in the forest and evil began to multiply in the woods. They supposed it was possibly a Nazgûl returned to torment the world, or some new evil arising. Gandalf was unsure, and feared that perhaps Sauron himself might have returned.

Over the next two hundred years the evil continued to grow, as well as the source directing it. Orcs were multiplying in the Misty Mountains and elsewhere. The Witch-king, the mightiest of the Nazgúl, had built a fortress in Angmar in the Northern wastelands and waged unending war against the Kingdom of Arnor. Meanwhile Moria and Minas Ithil fell under a shadow, while other wars, plagues, and catastrophes occurred across Middle-earth. Gandalf went to Dol Guldur in 2063 to discover its secret. An entity known only as the 'Necromancer' fled before him and Gandalf could not discover his identify. Afterwards, the evil there seemed to desist, and the era of the Watchful Peace began.

This peace lasted for almost four hundred years, but the Necromancer again returned to Dol Guldur in 2460. In response, the Wise formed the White Council three years later. Though Galadriel, bearer of one of the Three Elven Rings and mighty among the Eldar, wished Gandalf to be the chief of the Council, it was in the end Saruman who took this place-- because of his vast knowledge, and also because Gandalf refused this position, wishing to set down no roots and to maintain his independence.

Pass the Doors of Dol Guldur by John Howe

In 2850, Gandalf again entered Dol Guldur, this time in secrecy. There he found out many things. First and foremost, the Necromancer was no Nazgûl – it was Sauron himself. Also, Gandalf found Thráin, a dwarf of the royal line of Erebor, in the dungeons. The last of the Seven Rings of the Dwarves had been taken from him; Sauron was gathering the remaining Rings of Power and possibly searching for his lost One Ring.

Gandalf escaped Dol Guldur and returned to the White Council. After relating his discoveries, he urged the council to attack Sauron while the One Ring was still lost and Sauron's power immature. But Saruman said that it was better to watch and wait; that the One Ring had long ago rolled from Anduin to the Sea. The majority of the council agreed with Saruman. Elrond later privately told Gandalf he had a foreboding that the Ring would be found, and that the war to end the age was coming. Indeed, he added, he feared that it would end in darkness and despair. Gandalf encouraged him, saying there were many “strange chances," and that, “help oft shall come from the hands of the weak”. Gandalf did not yet realize that Saruman now wanted the ring for himself and was secretly searching for it along the banks of river Anduin.

The Hobbit

In 2941 Gandalf happened across the dwarf lord Thorin Oakenshield while staying the night in Bree. Thorin initiated conversation; he had been having a strange feeling urging him to seek Gandalf. Gandalf was intrigued, for he had thought to seek Thorin as well. They found they were taking the same road for a while (Thorin passing through the Shire on his way to the Ered Luin), and they agreed to travel together. Thorin wanted advice, and Gandalf wanted to discuss the dragon Smaug with Thorin.

Ultimately, Gandalf concocted a plan wherein Thorin could destroy Smaug and recover his family fortune, albiet with a 'burglar' of Gandalf's own choosing. Gandalf had a feeling that a Hobbit should be involved, and he remembered an adventuresome Hobbit named Bilbo Baggins he had met some years before. By this time, however, Bilbo was far from 'adventuresome.' In the end Gandalf convinced the reluctant Baggins to become a burglar for Thorin. Gandalf then accompanied Thorin and Company to Rivendell. During the journey Gandalf obtained a sword known as Glamdring from a troll-hoard; Gandalf bore it for the rest of his life.

Gandalf helped Thorin and Company through the Misty Mountains, saving them several times from Orcs and other calamities. It was during this time that Bilbo obtained a 'magic ring.' Bilbo initially claimed he 'won' it from the creature 'Gollum' while the company was under the Misty Mountains. The ring conferred invisibility on Bilbo when he wore it, and he kept it secret from Gandalf for some time. Gandalf, for his part, found himself amazed by the hobbit; until then the wise had paid no attention to hobbits and knew little of them. For the rest of his sojourn in Middle-earth, Gandalf took a special interest in hobbits, and particularly in the Baggins family.

Gandalf left the quest prior to its completion, yet the quest was successful: Smaug was killed and the Orcs and Wargs of the Misty Mountains were defeated by an alliance of the Dwarves of Erebor, the men of Dale, and the Nandor Elves of Mirkwood in the Battle of Five Armies. Gandalf had accomplished his immediate goal, which was to destroy Smaug, who could have been used to disasterous effect by Sauron. A large number of Orcs and Wargs also were killed in the North, removing threats to Rivendell and Lothlorien.

The War of the Ring

Return of the Shadow

Gandalf had left Thorin and Company before reaching the edge of Mirkwood to attend a White Council meeting in the South. The Council was meeting under the gravest of circumstances: Sauron's vast power was returning, even without his ring. Gandalf at last convinced the Council to attack Dol Guldur. Even Saruman was willing by this time, for now he feared Sauron as a rival, and wished to delay Sauron's search for the Ring. The Council put forth its strength and drove Sauron from Mirkwood.

Despite the Council's hopes, Sauron was not weakened by this attack. He had foreseen the move that drove him from Mirkwood, and his retreat was but a feint. Ten years after he was driven out of Mirkwood, Sauron declared himself openly in Mordor in 2951 and rebuilt the Barad-dûr. Sauron then began reassembling his forces for the final blow against the hated remnants of Númenor and the Eldar still in Middle-earth. Sauron ordered armies of Easterlings from Khand and beyond the Sea of Rhûn to reinforce his stronghold in Mordor; they were further reinforced by armies of men from South Harad. Orcs, trolls, and other foul beasts were multiplying in Mordor; Sauron's minions also were searching the Anduin for any sign of his precious One Ring. Despite the terror they induced, in 3018 Sauron sent the Nazgúl north to search for his ring as well.

The Arrival of Gandalf by Darrell Sweet

During this period Gandalf visited the Shire frequently, especially his friend Bilbo Baggins, and Baggins’s nephew, Frodo. He noted Bilbo’s unusual youthfulness, despite his advancing age; the suspicious 'magic ring' that Bilbo had acquired during his adventure began to weigh on his mind. Gandalf recalled the deceit Bilbo used in originally claiming it for his own-- Bilbo had later admitted to stealing it from Gollum. Gandalf could see that Bilbo was now very preoccupied with the ring. Such un-hobbitlike behaviour aroused his suspicions; he convinced Bilbo to pass the ring on to Frodo. He then emphatically warned Frodo not to use it; Gandalf had begun to suspect that the 'magic ring' was indeed a ring of power.

Gandalf met Aragorn, the hidden heir of Arnor, in 2956, and soon became friends with him. From that point on Aragorn and Gandalf often worked together towards a common end-- the defeat of Sauron. Keen now to find out more about Gollum, he went to Aragorn, and with his help captured Gollum. With Gollum’s tale, and the records in Minas Tirith, he pieced together the missing history of the One Ring in 3017. A great fear came over him when he learned that Gollum had been to the Barad-dûr. Sauron's had personally tortured Gollum and learned not only of the 'magic ring,' but also the names 'Shire' and 'Baggins.' Gandalf now returned in haste to the Shire, certain that Frodo's ring was not simply a ring of power: it was the One Ruling Ring of Sauron.

The Treachery of Saruman

Gandalf escapes upon Gwaihir by Ted Nasmith

After Gandalf’s fears were confirmed, he returned to the Shire and advised Frodo to leave as soon as possible, promising to return before a farewell party for Bilbo in autumn of that year (3018), and to escort him to Rivendell. He then decided to seek Saruman's counsel. At their meeting, Saruman at last revealed his desire for the One Ring. He offered to his “old friend and helper” that they take the Ring for themselves and seize power from Sauron. Gandalf rejected this with horror, and was imprisoned by Saruman on the pinnacle of Orthanc. Gwaihir, chief of the Eagles, soon arrived and helped Gandalf escape. Gandalf knew he must return quickly to the Shire, as Frodo (and the ring) were in grave danger from both Sauron's Nazgûl and now Saruman's treacherous desire for the ring.

Gandalf hurriedly went to Rohan, desiring to find a strong steed; there he obtained Shadowfax from King Théoden, who later resented the gift. This lord of horses and Gandalf forged a special bond, and Gandalf made quick use of Shadowfax's incredible strength and endurance.

Gandalf sped to the Shire. Fortunately, Frodo had already left the Shire without waiting for Gandalf, and was seeking the refuge of Rivendell. Upon arrival Gandalf learned that the Nazgûl, arrayed as Black Riders, had been searching the area. Dismayed, he set out for Bree, but fortunately found there that Frodo had recently left the town with 'Strider,' the local name for Aragorn: a hope which far exceeded his expectations. Gandalf then made for Weathertop, a high point in the region, to observe the surrounding area. There he was assaulted at night by the Nazgûl, but drove them off after a great battle of light and flame. He then went directly to Rivendell, where he welcomed Glorfindel, Aragorn and Frodo's arrival several days later, with Frodo sorely wounded but still in possession of the ring.

The Fellowship of the Ring

Elrond Half-elven, Lord of Rivendell and great among the wise, soon called a council to consider the momentous decision regarding the ring. Representatives of most of the free peoples attended. Elrond and Gandalf advised that the Ring should be destroyed in the fires of Orodruin, where it was made. Others dissented or objected, but eventually submitted to Gandalf's plan. Ultimately, the Fellowship of the Ring was appointed by Elrond as nine companions, ostensibly to counter Sauron's nine Nazgul. In reality the wise realized that the quest of Mt. Doom would not rely on strength of arms, but on stealth and good fortune. Gandalf was to lead the company at least as far as the Misty Mountains and then Lothlórien.

Gandalf decided to take the Redhorn Pass over Caradhras. This attempt failed miserably, and he urged the rest of the Fellowship to agree to go through the ruins of Moria. Gimli, the dwarf, agreed, and Aragorn less eagerly. The Fellowship was still undecided when they were attacked by Wargs. Gandalf set the forest ablaze, playing the primary role in the defense against their attackers. They escaped the Wargs, and set their course to the West-gate.

At the Bridge by Ted Nasmith

There at the Doors of Durin, Gandalf figured out the password (after Merry figured out the riddle), then urged the rest of the Fellowship through the doors when the Watcher in the Water attacked. Having been through Moria on one of his other perilous errands, he was the guide of the Fellowship, stumped at only one intersection. Eventually they came to the Chamber of Mazarbul, where Gandalf read the Book of Records, and was the first to learn of the fate of Balin and his ill-fated and short-lived colony. When the Orcs attacked, Gandalf aided in the defense, and detected the presence of another great being of power. He tried to put a spell of shutting on the door, but in the battle between the two wills the door cracked, and Gandalf was thrown down the stairs.

When Durin's Bane was sighted at the Bridge of Khazad-dûm, Gandalf muttered “What an evil fortune! And I am already weary.” He knew he had to face the demon; and he did. In a spectacular display of power he broke the bridge and threw the balrog into the chasm. But the whip of Durin’s Bane grasped him by the ankle and pulled him down. He vanished before the horrified eyes of the Fellowship.

Zirak-zigil by John Howe

He plunged down through the unfathomable depths into the deep places of the earth. Gandalf was badly burned in the fall, for they fell together for miles and miles. At last they struck the cold, black water; yet Gandalf had the strength somehow to escape the waters. There at the base of the foundations of the earth he battled with the balrog, whose fire had been quenched, yet who was still strong. Having retrieved Glamdring somehow, Gandalf managed to drive away the balrog after a battle spanning time uncounted. Gandalf pursued it for days through the dark tunnels without rest, and witnessed many wonders and horrors in the depths of the earth, where nameless things gnawed at the bowels of Arda. He pursued the Balrog up the Endless Stair to the peak of Zirakzigil, where he fought Durin’s Bane for two days and nights. The balrog burst into new flame, and ice, wind, and smoke swirled about them. At last Gandalf slew Durin’s Bane, and threw him down from the mountain. Then he lay down and died.

Gandalf the White

But Olórin’s spirit was sent back to mortal lands by Eru, and he became Gandalf once more. As he lay naked on the mountain-top, Gwaihir came up and bore him away to Lothlórien, where he was clothed and given a new staff. Then Gandalf went south to Fangorn Forest, where he encountered the Three Hunters and gave them messages from Galadriel. Then he called forth Shadowfax, and rode with Aragorn, Legolas, and Gimli to Edoras. There he deposed Wormtongue, and removed the cloud from Théoden’s eyes. He then encouraged Théoden to ride west to the war against Saruman. Yet he himself departed, hoping to find Erkenbrand and bring him to the relief of the King’s Rohirrim.

He did indeed find Erkenbrand, and, hailed as the White Rider, brought him back to Helm's Deep. Thus was the day again turned into victory by the appearance of Gandalf. After the battle, Gandalf took some of his friends with him to Isengard, the Ents having destroyed his power, where he formally deposed Saruman as the head of the Order, denouncing him as a traitor. Saruman refused to help mend the hurts he had caused, and Gandalf ordered a strict watch be kept by Treebeard. As he was about to depart, Wormtongue threw a Palantír at him. Gandalf picked it up, but later Pippin, one of the Hobbits, tried to look in it and inadvertently conversed with Sauron.

The White Rider by Donato Giancola

To protect Pippin, Gandalf took him on Shadowfax to Minas Tirith, which was soon under siege. Gandalf confronted Denethor II, Ruling Steward, and Pippin saw that there was much tension between them, especially when the issue of Boromir’s death was raised. Gandalf promptly went about inspecting the defenses of the city, and encouraging the soldiers. When Faramir, the Steward’s son, returned from Osgiliath and was attacked by Nazgûl, Gandalf drove them off with his staff. He was quite interested in Faramir’s story about meeting with Frodo and Sam, and it gave him hope.

Throughout the rest of the waiting before the attack, Gandalf spent much time warding off the Ringwraiths, who gave him room (the Witch-king, the only one powerful enough to challenge him, had not yet come). When the attack came, Denethor despaired, and the defense of the city was left to Gandalf. The wizard went about in the company of Imrahil, and valiantly stood up to the Witch-king in the broken gate of the city. The Witch-king displayed his power, and threatened Gandalf, but the ancient Istar did not move. The result of a combat between the two is debated, but shall never be known, as the Rohirrim began the attack. The Witch-king, realizing that the attack of the Rohirrim was more pressing (and defeating Gandalf would take time, if indeed the Witch-king’s show of power was not more than a bluff), split away and returned to the battle. So by Gandalf’s deeds the enemy never entered Minas Tirith.

Gandalf did not, however, pursue his foe as he pursued the balrog. For Pippin gave him the message that Denethor was about to kill himself and Faramir. Gandalf was able to save Faramir, but not Denethor. Gandalf heard the sound of the end of the Witch-king as he carried away the bier of Faramir, and was glad. After the battle he led Aragorn to the Houses of Healing, and attended the Last Debate, where he counseled that they should advance on the Black Gate. The council accepted this, and his strategy was played out.

At the Battle of the Morannon, Gandalf spoke with the Mouth of Sauron, and took back the Mithril-coat of Frodo and the elf-blade. Then he fought with his friends against the overwhelming army of Orcs that Sauron sprang on them. He witnessed the fall of the Dark Tower, and declared first of all living things that the end of the age had come, that Sauron was felled, and that the Ring-bearer had fulfilled his quest. Then he mounted on Gwaihir for a third time, and rode him to save Frodo and Samwise from the magma of Doom. In the Coronation of Elessar, Gandalf (at Aragorn’s request) set the crown on the King’s head, and declared “Now come the days of the King, and may they be blessed while the thrones of the Valar endure!

End of the Order

After the coronation and wedding of Elessar, Gandalf left with the rest of the remaining Fellowship on the journey home. For Gandalf it was his last real journey. His purpose had been fulfilled; Sauron would no longer threaten Middle-earth. He said farewell to his friends one by one until at last only the four Hobbits remained at his side. At the borders of the Shire he, too, turned away. He left the Hobbits to settle Saruman in the Shire, for the shattered pieces of evil still remaining in the world were no longer his concern, and went to talk to Tom Bombadil.

What Gandalf did during the next two years is unknown; it is possible that his “long talk” with Bombadil was quite that. At any rate, on September 29, 3021, he met Frodo at Mithlond, ready to take the White Ship over the sea to Aman. He wore Narya openly on his finger, and Shadowfax was beside him (perhaps even to take ship with him). His mission was over, and his homecoming after more than 2000 years was nigh. He bade farewell to Samwise, Merry, and Pippin (the latter two of which he had forewarned of the passage), then mounted the Grey Ship beside Frodo, Elrond, and Galadriel. He rode the ship west over the sea, and became Olórin once more. There, presumably, he dwells still in the gardens of Irmo, the wisest of the Maiar, and the greatest motivator of Middle-earth in the dark times. In a large way, it was his victory.

Personality

Gandalf is often described in The Lord of the Rings as quick to anger, quick to laugh. He is often shown veiling a hidden power, revealed usually only in his eyes, which were deep and wise. He could be both affectionate and brusque; he could be kind at times and very blunt at others. The Hobbits somehow appealed to him more than to the other Wizards, and he went often to them for vacations from his work. It may be he was amused by their nature, as he shows in The Hobbit with Bilbo Baggins. It may also be because they were innocent and naïve, untouched by the great evils of the world. Whatever the reason, it is now for his association with Hobbits that he is best known.

Appearance

Gandalf by John Howe

Gandalf initially appears as an old man with a grey beard, a grey cloak and a large, pointed blue hat. Although some of the Wise know his true nature, others mistake him for a simple conjurer. After he is resurrected the change of his signature colour from grey to white is significant, for he has been sent back to replace the corrupt Saruman as the chief of the Wizards. In the book he says that he has himself become what Saruman should have been.

Círdan the Shipwright seemed to have foreseen this, for he entrusted the care of Narya, the ring of Fire, one of the Three Rings of the Elves to Gandalf rather than Saruman.

Powers & Abilities

In The Hobbit, Gandalf demonstrated extensive knowledge of the land and an assortment of magical abilities. He could blow glowing smoke rings that moved around a room at his direction, and Bilbo remembered him for his fantastic fireworks displays. More usefully, he created blinding flashes and other pyrotechnics to distract the goblins of the Misty Mountains, aiding the dwarves in their escape from Goblin-town. On the eastern slopes, he turned pine cones into flaming projectiles that threw hot sparks and started fires that would not easily go out. He was also able come and go from the presence of Thorin and Company without anyone noticing.

In The Lord of the Rings, he again displayed his proficiency with pyrotechnics at Bilbo's Farewell Party. He was also able to start fires under blizzard conditions, create light of varying intensity for the journey through Moria, magically secure doors, and break the Bridge of Khazad-dûm. When angered or aroused for battle, he seemed to grow in height and assume a terrifying aspect. He also fought the Balrog of Moria and killed his opponent, although he did not survive the battle himself.

Sent back to Middle-earth as Gandalf the White, he possessed greater charisma and a limited degree of clairvoyance, although he was unable to peer into the land of Mordor to see the progress of Frodo and Sam. His power and authority had increased so that he could break Saruman's staff with a spoken command, showing his authority to throw the treacherous wizard out of the order.

Special Equipment

Like all wizards, Gandalf carried a staff which sometimes served as a focus for his powers (like creating light). Exactly how much it aided him in the use of magic is unknown, but Grima Wormtongue tried to forbid Gandalf from bringing it into Edoras.

When he arrived in Middle Earth, Gandalf received the Elven ring Narya from Cirdan the Shipwright.

In 2941, Gandalf acquired the sword Glamdring from the treasure hoard of a band of trolls.

Names and Titles

  • Olórin, his name in Valinor and in very ancient times. "Olórin was my name in my youth in the West that is forgotten." It is Quenya and its meaning is associated with dreams (perhaps "dreamer" or "of dreams"), from the root ÓLOS-
  • Mithrandir, his Sindarin name, used in Gondor and meaning "Grey Pilgrim"
  • Incánus, his name in the South, of unclear language and meaning. Tolkien several times changed his mind about it, varying between the Latin word Incanus meaning Grey, a possible Westron invention meaning Greymantle, or even an Elvish word Ind-cano meaning "Mind Ruler"
  • Tharkûn, his name to the Dwarves, probably meaning "Staff Man"
  • The White Rider, his name while riding the great horse Shadowfax
  • Gandalf Greyhame, given to him by Gríma Wormtongue
  • Stormcrow, a reference to his arrival being associated with times of trouble
  • Láthspell, a name given to him by Gríma Wormtongue.


Wand-elf

Within the legendarium, "Gandalf" translates an unknown name of the meaning "Elf-of-the-wand (or cane/staff)", or more literary "Wand-elf", in old northern Mannish. Most denizens of Middle-earth incorrectly assumed Gandalf was a Man (human), although he was really a Maia spirit (approximately equivalent to an angel). However, a less common misconception that occurred during the beginning of his career in Middle-earth was that for someone to be immortal and use as much magic as he did, he must have been an Elf. Although it soon became apparent to all that he couldn't be an Elf, as he was old and Elves don't generally age, the nickname stuck with him. He later gave it as his name to others he met who didn't know its original meaning.

Inspiration

File:Der Berggeist (Origin of Gandalf) by J. Madelener.gif
This painting on a postcard is rumored to be how J.R.R. Tolkien got his inspiration for the character known as "Gandalf"

Gandalfr appears in the list of dwarves in the Völuspá of the Elder Edda, the name means "Cane-elf". Tolkien took the name along with the other dwarves' names when he wrote The Hobbit in the 1930s. He came to regret the creation of this "rabble of eddaic-named dwarves [...] invented in an idle hour" (HoME 7:452), since it forced him to come up with an explanation of why Old Norse names should be used in Third Age Middle-earth. He solved the dilemma in 1942 by the explanation that Old Norse was a translation of the language of Dale. The figure of Gandalf has other influences from Germanic mythology, particularly Odin in his incarnation as "the Wanderer", an old man with one eye, a long white beard, a wide brimmed hat, and a staff: Tolkien states that he thinks of Gandalf as an "Odinic wanderer" in a letter of 1946 (Letters no. 107).

Tolkien had a postcard labelled Der Berggeist ("the mountain spirit"), and on the paper cover in which he kept it, he wrote "the origin of Gandalf" at some point. The postcard reproduces a painting of a bearded figure, sitting on a rock under a pine tree in a mountainous setting. He wears a wide-brimmed round hat and a long cloak and white fawn is nuzzling his upturned hands. Humphrey Carpenter in his 1977 biography said that Tolkien had bought the postcard during his 1911 holiday in Switzerland. However, Manfred Zimmerman (1983) discovered that the painting was by German artist Josef Madlener and dates to the late 1920s. Carpenter concluded that Tolkien was probably mistaken about the origin of the postcard himself. Tolkien must have acquired the card at some time in the early 1930s, at a time when The Hobbit had already begun to take shape.

The original painting was auctioned at Sotheby's in London on July 12, 2005 for 84,000 GBP. The previous owner had been given the painting by Madlener in the 1940s and recalled that he had stated the mountains in the background of the painting were the Dolomites.

The first description of Gandalf, then, is preserved in the first pages of The Hobbit, dating to the early 1930s. Gandalf's fame is alluded to even before his physical description ("Tales and adventures sprouted up all over the place wherever he went, in the most extraordinary fashion"), directed by the author to the reader, while the protagonist's ("unsuspecting Bilbo") impression is that of:

...an old man with a staff. He had a tall pointed blue hat, a long grey cloak, a silver scarf over which a white beard hung down below his waist, and immense black boots.

Portrayals in Adaptations

John Huston provided the voice of Gandalf in two animated television features by Rankin/Bass.

In Ralph Bakshi's The Lord of the Rings Gandalf was voiced by William Squire. It is not known whether Squire played him in the live-action filming used for rotoscoping.

In the BBC radio dramatisations, Heron Carvic played him in The Hobbit and Sir Michael Hordern played him in The Lord of the Rings.

At Chicago's Lifeline Theatre, Gandalf was played by Charles Picard in The Two Towers (1999).

Gandalf was portrayed by Tom Stiver in productions of The Two Towers (2002), and The Return of the King (2003) for Clear Stage Cincinnati.

In the Toronto stage adaptation of The Lord of the Rings in 2006, Gandalf was played by Brent Carver.

Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings

In Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings, Sir Ian McKellen was cast as Gandalf. McKellen was nominated for an Academy Award for his portrayal of the character in Peter Jackson's The Fellowship of the Ring.

Early on in the casting process Sean Connery was approached for the role but he turned it down as he did not understand the books. It was the role of Gandalf which Christopher Lee hoped to win but was chosen for the role of Saruman instead.

See Also

References

  • Manfred Zimmerman, The Origin of Gandalf and Josef Madlener, Mythlore 34 (1983).

External Links

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Members of the Fellowship of the Ring
Frodo · Sam · Merry · Pippin · Gandalf · Aragorn · Legolas · Gimli · Boromir
Ainur
Valar Lords Manwë · Ulmo · Aulë · Oromë · Mandos · Irmo · Tulkas · Melkor
Valier Varda · Yavanna · Nienna · Estë · Vairë · Vána · Nessa
Maiar Arien · Blue Wizards · Eönwë · Gandalf · Ilmarë · Melian · Ossë · Radagast · Salmar · Saruman · Tilion · Uinen
Úmaiar Sauron · Balrogs (Gothmog · Durin's Bane) · Boldogs
Concepts and locations Almaren · Aratar (indicated in italics) · Creation of the Ainur · Fana · Máhanaxar · Ainulindalë · Order of Wizards (indicated in bold) · Second Music of the Ainur · Timeless Halls · Valarin · Valinor · Valimar
Members of Thorin and Company
Thorin · Balin · Dwalin · Fíli · Kíli · Dori · Nori · Ori · Óin · Glóin · Bifur · Bofur · Bombur · Gandalf · Bilbo Baggins