Questions tagged [gandalf]
Gandalf is a major character in the Lord Of The Rings and Hobbit novels by J.R.R. Tolkien (and their film adaptations). Use this tag for questions about this character, not those that merely mention him. Use with the [tolkiens-legendarium] tag.
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What does Gandalf mean by "Secret Fire", "Flame of Anor" and "Flame of Udûn"?
In Moria, when Gandalf confronts the Balrog on the bridge of Khazad-dûm, Gandalf says the following:
I am a servant of the Secret Fire, wielder of the flame of Anor. You cannot pass! The dark fire ...
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Why was Gandalf afraid of the Balrog of Morgoth?
As depicted in the film, Gandalf appeared to be shaken and in fear of the Balrog of Morgoth, even just as Saruman mentioned it. Why was this so? Did they have any previous encounters?
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Why didn't Saruman take Narya from Gandalf?
We know that Gandalf was given Narya, the Ring of Fire (one of the Elven three), by Círdan the Shipwright.
When Saruman imprisoned Gandalf, why did he not attempt to take the ring from him? It would ...
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What are Gandalf's powers?
Gandalf is a wizard. He is also the Tolkien equivalent of a mortal angel (if I understand what the Maiar are correctly.) What are his powers though? Specifically what magics does he use in The Hobbit ...
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How is Gandalf the White a "significantly more powerful figure" than Gandalf the Gray?
After his fight with the Balrog of Moria, Gandalf changed:
Gandalf was sent back as a significantly more powerful figure; Gandalf the White.
- "Gandalf - Gandalf the White", Wikipedia
What are ...
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What does Gandalf intend to chat with Tom Bombadil about?
Close to the end of The Return of the King, Gandalf tells one of the Hobbits that it's time for him to go and have a long talk with Tom Bombadil. Was there anything significant to this talk? Does ...
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Where does Gandalf Live?
Does Gandalf have his own home or does he just live where he goes?
Is there a place that he prefers to live and calls home most of all?
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Why didn't Gandalf just fight Smaug directly?
So if memory serves right, the premise of the Hobbit is that Gandalf gets this rag-tag team together to retrieve the Arkenstone, so that the Dwarves can reunite, so that they can take back their ...
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Was Gandalf "meant" to confront the Balrog?
We know Frodo was meant to have the Ring, but did Tolkien ever discuss Gandalf traveling through Moria and having his confrontation with the Balrog?
We know he initially pushed the Fellowship to go ...
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Why didn't Gandalf know what the Palantir was?
In the book The Two Towers, Gandalf is puzzled as to how Saruman had been communicating with Sauron. Grima Wormtongue, rather conveniently, then throws Saruman's Palantir out the window of Orthanc, ...
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Why did Gandalf chase the Balrog down?
From the Fellowship of the Ring:
From LotrWikia:
Neither he nor the Balrog was killed by the fall, and Gandalf pursued the creature for eight days until they climbed to the peak of Zirakzigil. ...
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Was Sauron aware of what Gandalf was?
Is there any evidence that Gandalf's maia origin was known to Sauron. Not many of the elves even knew (Cirdan, Galadriel and Elrond maybe)
This quote makes me think not.
'So!' said the Messenger. '...
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Why did Gandalf not return to help Frodo and Sam?
It says on the Lord of the Rings wiki:
Gandalf returned as the White Wizard (named anew "Gandalf the White"), and he claimed leadership of the order of Wizards. Gandalf's power and wisdom ...
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Why was Gandalf so concerned for Gollum's well-being?
In The Lord of the Rings, Gandalf seems to be particularly sensitive to Gollum's wretched state. When explaining his recent activities to Frodo, Gandalf says things like:
'Unless [the evil part of ...
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Why does Gandalf the White not remember his original name?
'Gandalf,' the old man repeated, as if recalling from old memory a long disused word. 'Yes, that was the name. I was Gandalf.'
Why wouldn't he remember being Gandalf right away? Why would Eru send ...
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Why did Saruman not kill Gandalf?
Gandalf travels to Orthanc to take advice from Saruman, at which point Saruman reveals himself as a traitor. Why does he then simply imprison Gandalf on top of Orthanc instead of killing him? Clearly ...
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Why didn't Saruman break Gandalf's staff on Orthanc as Gandalf broke Saruman's?
In The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers after becoming Gandalf the White, Gandalf cast Saruman from the Order and the Council. He also got the power to break Saruman's staff, which was very powerful. ...
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How does Galadriel know that Gandalf 'survives' his encounter with the Balrog?
In The Two Towers, when Gandalf meets Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli for the first time since the Balrog encounter, he briefly gives some details of the encounter which to me are (perhaps intentionally) ...
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Would Gandalf have been promoted to the White if he had not fought the Balrog?
Gandalf was promoted to a White wizard after his body was destroyed in the battle with the Balrog.
This was done mainly to replace Saruman as he had joined Sauron (or at least swayed significantly ...
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What happened to Gandalf the Grey's body when he was sent back as Gandalf the White?
So Gandalf and the Balrog of Moria have a little fisticuffs and they both died. Presumably dead bodies lie on the mountain side somewhere.
Gandalf "strayed out of thought and time", gets a can of ...
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How did Gandalf get each of his various names?
Gandalf goes by many names in Tolkien's works. Gandalf himself says in The Two Towers:
"Many are my names in many countries. Mithrandir among the elves, Tharkûn to the dwarves; Olórin I was in my ...
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What exactly happened during Gandalf’s fight with the Balrog?
When Gandalf fights with the Balrog they begin by falling through an abyss. After reaching an underground lake, they seem to fight their way on top of a tower.
Is there a description of the events ...
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Could Gandalf not have made his own One Ring?
Sauron created The One Ring to gain control over the other ring-bearers, but it also amplified his power. Since it's a bad idea for anyone to claim The One Ring, wouldn't it be possible for Gandalf to ...
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How did Gandalf get his staff back after being captured by Saruman in Orthanc?
In the books, it doesn't explicitly describe Gandalf's staff being taken or broken during his imprisonment in/on Orthanc, but in the film, Saruman is shown with Gandalf's staff, and Gandalf is shown ...
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When does Gandalf learn the nature of Durin’s Bane?
Durin's Bane, the Balrog of Moria, was unearthed at some time in the Third Age.
Shortly afterwards, the city was abandoned, and no one with any sense came that way again for a long time.
As stated ...
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How is the name "Gandalf" pronounced?
I've been reading answers to the question asking how "Smaug" should be pronounced and I was wondering, is there an authoritative answer to the pronunciation of "Gandalf"?
I first read The Hobbit ...
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What is the purpose of the "Good Morning" dialogue from The Hobbit?
In the novel The Hobbit, towards the start of the story Bilbo wishes Gandalf a good morning:
"Good Morning!" said Bilbo, and he meant it. The sun was shining, and the grass was very green. ...
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What does Gandalf the White mean by his strange speech about Boromir?
In The Two Towers, chapter five, soon after Gandalf has returned as Gandalf the White, he says something very peculiar to Aragorn, Gimli and Legolas in Fangorn:
‘You have not said all that you know ...
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Why did Gandalf use a sword against the Balrog?
Shortly after Gandalf first sees the balrog, he orders Aragorn to lead the fellowship to the bridge. Aragorn hesitates, fearing to leave Gandalf alone against such a fearsome enemy, until Gandalf ...
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Why does Gandalf think he's not strong enough to reveal himself to Sauron via the palantir?
We know Aragorn is strong enough to reveal himself (due to being rightful owner of the palantir) but why is it that Gandalf does not think he could endure Sauron? Does he, in the back of his mind, ...
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Is Gandalf the Gray's power actually limited or did he merely promise to not use it?
We know that the Maiar sent to Middle-earth as Istari are not using their full Maiar power. Gandalf the Gray is more than a human power wise, but not nearly equal to his full real power.
Is it known (...
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How old is Gandalf?
In the Lord of The Rings trilogy, does anyone know how old Gandalf is? I remember reading that Gandalf was much older than he looked. Do the books ever say how old he is?
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Does Gandalf smell?
Gandalf seems to be wearing the same grey robes all the time*. Through rain and snow, while he rides, while he smokes, he is, as his name moniker suggests, wearing grey. In addition, hygiene in ...
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Why does Theoden call Gandalf "Stormcrow"?
In the movie The Two Towers, Theoden calls Gandalf "Gandalf Stormcrow". Where does that name come from?
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Could Gandalf have killed the Witch-king?
There was a prophecy about the Witch-king of Angmar saying that 'No man could kill him'.
The actual quote:
"He will not return to this land. Far off yet is his doom, and not by the hand of a man ...
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Did Gandalf have a teacher/mentor?
Did Gandalf have a teacher/mentor?
If yes, who was his teacher/mentor?
If no, from where did he get his knowledge? How did he became so wise?
This question doesn't ask if he had a teacher to learn ...
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Is Gandalf's origin discussed in the books but just excluded from the movies?
Solely from reading questions and answers here, I've learned a lot about the lore of Middle Earth, mainly to do with Maia, Valinor, Aman, Eldar, etc...
According to this answer, Gandalf is a 11,000+ ...
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Who made the decision for Gandalf's promotion from 'grey' to 'white'?
In the first book of the LoTR, after his fight with the Balrog of Moria, Gandalf the Grey changed to Gandalf the White.
My question is, who made the decision to 'promote' him from grey to white? Was ...
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Why does Gandalf seek counsel from Saruman about the One Ring after leaving Frodo in the Shire?
We know that Saruman bore ill-will toward Gandalf for millennia before the events of The Lord of the Rings. It began with their arrival in Middle Earth when Cirdan gives Narya to Gandalf, or at least ...
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What version of the LoTR film shows Gandalf breaking Saruman's staff?
In the book version, Gandalf confronts Saruman and declares "Your staff is broken," at which point Saruman's staff shatters.
I just re-watched the movie version on DVD, and that scene isn't shown. ...
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Would Gandalf be invisible if he wore the One Ring?
If Gandalf wears the One Ring, will he be invisible? Or will he master it and be visible?
Maybe I should ask: is there a chance that the "invisibility" effect of the Ring is a side effect of weakness?...
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What was Gandalf's motivation to help the dwarves with their quest? [duplicate]
Gandalf is charged to aid the world in their fight against Sauron, Smaug had been peacefully sleeping for a very long time. Why would he encourage the dwarves to go and risk waking him?
Once ...
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Why does Cirdan give Narya to Gandalf instead of Saruman?
In the Lord of the Rings I recall some mention of when Cirdan gives Narya to Gandalf when the Istari arrive in Middle Earth. I think it is in the appendices but I cannot recall exactly, but I remember ...
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How much of Gandalf's power is tied to his staff?
Before Gandalf freed Théoden from Saruman/Gríma's hold, he refused to give away his staff.
Háma: I cannot allow you before Théoden King so armed, Gandalf Greyhame... by order of Gríma Wormtongue.
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The Hobbit: Why did Gandalf insist that Bilbo go with the dwarves?
I wonder if Tolkien ever explained why Gandalf insisted that Bilbo should go with the dwarves on their journey to reclaim Erebor. Gandalf didn't know about the One Ring and Gollum at that time. Did ...
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Why didn't Gandalf say anything when he saw Bilbo's ring?
I don't know how the story is in the book (I would like to know), but in the movie The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, Thorin asks Bilbo why he came back, and Gandalf tries to evade the question after ...
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Why didn't the fellowship know that Gandalf was a maia and therefore immortal?
When he falls on the bridge of Khazad Dum, why didn't the fellowship know he was a maia and immortal and therefore return?
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Why does Gandalf act in this way in the Houses of Healing?
The Istari were sent to "advise and persuade Men and Elves to good" and they were forbidden to fight Sauron directly.
But apparently they are not forbidden to fight creatures which are not ...
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Did Tolkien create Gandalf the White out of regret for killing off Gandalf the Grey?
Are there any notes from Tolkien hinting at the possibility that Gandalf the Grey being killed was in fact the end of Gandalf, but was brought back out of regret (or even necessity)? I'm particularly ...
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Did Gandalf’s ring Narya preserve the Shire?
Throughout the books we find that Elrond and Galadriel both have rings (Nenya and Vilya respectively), but then later we find that Gandalf has Narya, the final of the three rings.
We see in the ...
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