Timeline for In Return of the King has there been any explanation for the role of the third eagle?
Current License: CC BY-SA 4.0
7 events
| when toggle format | what | by | license | comment | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 31, 2023 at 6:36 | comment | added | RedBaron | In the book, the eagle "lifted" Gandalf, which to my mind, implies that Eagle carried Gandalf in its talons. Hence need for 3 eagles. | |
| May 30, 2023 at 21:23 | comment | added | Dosco Jones | Gandalf was concerned about 'outmatching the wings of the Nazgûl', so it makes sense that Tolkien would imply one eagle per passenger so as to best distribute the load. None the less, the question is about the film, and in the film Eagle 3 went home without a passenger. | |
| May 30, 2023 at 21:14 | comment | added | Nuclear Hoagie | @Valorum I mean, that's the whole question. I find that conclusion reasonable, but I don't think that this passage supports it very well. Gandalf does not provide any justification whatsoever here for why a third eagle needs to come, nor do I see any indication that Gandalf, Frodo, and Sam actually each get their own eagle. This passage neither indicates the intent nor the result that Gandalf, Frodo, and Sam each get their own eagle. | |
| May 30, 2023 at 20:50 | comment | added | Dosco Jones | In the film, Gwaihir carries both Gandalf and Frodo, Eagle 2 grabs Sam, and Eagle 3 carries no one. | |
| May 30, 2023 at 20:47 | comment | added | Valorum | @NuclearHoagie - One for him, and one each for the two hobbits | |
| May 30, 2023 at 20:45 | comment | added | Nuclear Hoagie | This passage doesn't really shed any light on why Gandalf specifically asks to travel with more than two eagles. | |
| May 30, 2023 at 20:37 | history | answered | DavidW | CC BY-SA 4.0 |