103-528: The cosmology of J. R. R. Tolkien 's legendarium combines aspects of Christian theology and metaphysics with pre-modern cosmological concepts in the flat Earth paradigm, along with the modern spherical Earth view of the Solar System . The created world, Eä , includes the planet Arda, corresponding to the Earth . It is created flat, with the dwelling of the godlike Valar at its centre. When this
206-414: A Ring of Power are destined to "fade" more rapidly, as the rings unnaturally preserve their life-span turning them into wraiths . Invisibility is a side-effect of this, as the wearer is temporarily pulled into the spirit-world. Men live only in the world (Arda), are able to die from it, have souls, and may ultimately go to a kind of Heaven, though this is left vague in the legendarium . The case of Elves
309-575: A staff ". Yet the Elf Círdan who met him on arrival nevertheless considered him "the greatest spirit and the wisest" and gave him the Elven Ring of Power called Narya , the Ring of Fire, containing a "red" stone for his aid and comfort. Tolkien explicitly links Gandalf to the element fire later in the same essay: Warm and eager was his spirit (and it was enhanced by the ring Narya), for he
412-465: A "final cataclysmic battle". Readers may, she writes, consider interpreting the Ainulindalë metaphorically, so that Melkor's attempts to destroy Arda, "raising the valleys, throwing down the mountains, spilling the seas—could be read as a symbolic representation of geological forces", but there is no suggestion of this in the text. Cosmology Too Many Requests If you report this error to
515-479: A "present" from Gollum . During this period, he befriended Aragorn and became suspicious of Saruman . He spent as much time as he could in the Shire , strengthening his friendship with Bilbo and Frodo , Bilbo's orphaned cousin and adopted heir. Gandalf returns to the Shire for Bilbo's "eleventy-first" (111th) birthday party, bringing many fireworks for the occasion. After Bilbo, as a prank on his guests, puts on
618-474: A desire to create and control things of his own. Melkor creates Orcs in mockery of Elves, or by corrupting Elves he had captured in his northern Middle-earth fortress of Udûn. Shippey writes that Tolkien's Middle-earth writings embody the ancient Christian debate on the nature of evil . Shippey notes Elrond 's Boethian statement that "nothing is evil in the beginning. Even [the Dark Lord] Sauron
721-475: A moral sense (though they are unable to keep to it), they cannot be described as wholly evil or lacking sentience . All of this implies, as various scholars have commented, a hierarchy of races comparable with the Medieval great chain of being . Several scholars have likened the implied cosmology of Tolkien's legendarium to that of his religion, Roman Catholicism , and that of Medieval poetry. Tolkien used
824-576: A name for Jupiter. A few individual stars have been identified as names of real stars, whether by Tolkien, his son Christopher, or by scholars. Tolkien indicates in "Three is Company" in The Fellowship of the Ring that Borgil is a red star which appears between Remmirath (the Pleiades) and before Menelvagor (Orion). Larsen and others write that Aldebaran is the only major red star to fit the description. Helluin (also Gil, Nielluin and Nierninwa)
927-497: A new category, "monotheistic polytheism", for the theological basis of Tolkien's cosmology, insofar as it combines a polytheistic pantheon with the Valar, Maiar, and beings such as Tom Bombadil , alongside an evidently monotheistic cosmos created by one god, Eru Ilúvatar. In his view, the Valar "cannot be reduced either to spirit-beings or earth-forces; they encompass both simultaneously". McBride shows how Eru's actions can be seen in
1030-531: A postcard entitled Der Berggeist ("the mountain spirit"), which he labelled "the origin of Gandalf". It shows a white-bearded man in a large hat and cloak seated among boulders in a mountain forest. Carpenter said that Tolkien recalled buying the postcard during his holiday in Switzerland in 1911. Manfred Zimmerman, however, discovered that the painting was by the German artist Josef Madlener and dates from
1133-733: A sketch of the idea of historical continuity connecting the Elvish mythology of the First Age with the classical Atlantis myth, the Germanic migrations , Anglo-Saxon England and the modern period, presenting the Atlantis legend in Plato and other deluge myths as a "confused" account of the story of Númenor. The cataclysmic re-shaping of the world would have left its imprint on the cultural memory and collective unconscious of humanity, and even on
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#17327834899831236-740: Is Alone" and Ilúvatar signifies " Allfather ". Eru first created a group of godlike or angelic beings, the Ainur , consisting of the powerful Valar and their assistants, the Maiar . These assisted in the creation of the universe through a holy music and chanting called the Ainulindalë or "Music of the Ainur". "I am a servant of the Secret Fire, wielder of the flame of Anor. You cannot pass. The dark fire will not avail you, flame of Udûn. Go back to
1339-781: Is different. They may inhabit the "undying lands" of Valinor, home of the Valar, effectively, according to the Tolkien scholar Tom Shippey , an " Earthly Paradise " as envisaged for Elves in the Middle English South English Legendary . Other Elves are in Middle-earth; the Elf-queen Galadriel indeed is expelled from Valinor, much like the fallen Melkor, though she is clearly good, and much like an angel. Shippey considers whether Elves have souls. He reasons that since they can not leave
1442-682: Is distinguished by the colour of his cloak. For most of his manifestation as a wizard, Gandalf's cloak is grey, hence the names Gandalf the Grey and Greyhame, from Old English hama , "cover, skin". Mithrandir is a name in Sindarin meaning "Grey Pilgrim" or "Grey Wanderer". Midway through The Lord of the Rings , Gandalf becomes the head of the order of Wizards, and is renamed Gandalf the White . This change in status (and clothing) introduces another name for
1545-636: Is found in at least one more place in Norse myth, in the semi-historical Heimskringla , which briefly describes Gandalf Alfgeirsson , a legendary Norse king from eastern Norway and rival of Halfdan the Black . Gandalf is also the name of a Norse sea-king in Henrik Ibsen 's second play, The Burial Mound . The name "Gandolf" occurs as a character in William Morris ' 1896 fantasy novel The Well at
1648-586: Is marred by the evil Vala Melkor , the world is reshaped, losing its perfect symmetry, and the Valar move to Valinor , but the Elves can still sail there from Middle-earth . When Men try to go there, hoping for immortality, Valinor and its continent of Aman are removed from Arda, which is reshaped as a round world. Scholars have compared the implied cosmology with that of Tolkien's religion, Catholicism , and of medieval poetry such as Pearl or Dante 's Paradiso , where there are three parts, Earth, Purgatory or
1751-550: Is not taken away, they could refuse the summons. If allowed by Mandos, the fëa may be re-embodied into a new body identical to the previous hröa . The situation of Men is different: a Mannish fëa is only a visitor to Arda, and when the hröa dies, the fëa , after a brief stay in Mandos, leaves Arda completely. In The Lord of the Rings , Tolkien justifies the nature of the Ring by explaining that Elves and other immortal beings dwell in "both worlds" at once (the physical and
1854-510: Is said that in the ending of the task for which he came he suffered greatly, and was slain, and being sent back from death for a brief while was clothed then in white, and became a radiant flame (yet veiled still save in great need). In Valinor , Gandalf was called Olórin . He was one of the Maiar of Valinor, specifically, one of the people of the Vala Manwë ; he was said to be the wisest of
1957-632: Is sure that Bilbo's ring is the One Ring that Sauron needs to dominate the whole of Middle-earth. The Council of Elrond creates the Fellowship of the Ring, with Gandalf as its leader, to defeat Sauron by destroying the Ring. He takes them south through the Misty Mountains, but is killed fighting a Balrog , an evil spirit-being, in the underground realm of Moria . After he dies, he is sent back to Middle-earth to complete his mission as Gandalf
2060-570: Is the dog star, Sirius , while Morwinyon is Arcturus . As with the planets, a few major constellations are named in the Legendarium, and can be equated with real constellations seen in the Northern hemisphere. Eksiqilta (also Ekta) is Orion's Belt . Menelvagor (also Daimord, Menelmacar, Mordo, Swordsman of the Sky, Taimavar, Taimondo, Telimbektar, Telimektar, Telumehtar) is Orion the hunter and
2163-563: Is the material universe as a realisation of the vision of the Ainur. The Quenya word is from the existential to be in its aorist form. Eä was the word spoken by Eru Ilúvatar to bring the universe into actuality. The Void ( Kúma , the Outer Dark) is the nothingness outside Arda. From Arda, it is accessible through the Doors of Night. The Valar exiled Melkor to the Void after his defeat in
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#17327834899832266-594: Is then that Gandalf meets the great horse Shadowfax , who will be his mount and companion. Gandalf rides hard for the Shire, but does not reach it until after Frodo has set out. Knowing that Frodo and his companions will be heading for Rivendell, Gandalf makes his own way there. He learns at Bree that the Hobbits have fallen in with Aragorn. He faces the Nazgûl at Weathertop , but escapes after an all-night battle, drawing four of them northward. Frodo, Aragorn and company face
2369-471: The Qenya Lexicon . Christopher Tolkien included extracts from this in an appendix to The Book of Lost Tales , with mentions of specific stars, planets, and constellations. The Sun was called Anor or Ur. The Moon was called Ithil or Silmo. Eärendil's Star denotes the light of a Silmaril, set on Eärendil 's ship Vingilot as it flew across the sky, identified as the planet Venus . The English use of
2472-830: The Earthly Paradise , and Heaven or the Celestial Paradise . Scholars have debated the nature of evil in Middle-earth , arguing whether it is the absence of good – the Boethian position, or equally as powerful as good – the Manichaean view. Eru is introduced in The Silmarillion as the supreme being of the universe, creator of all existence, including the world, Arda, and its central continent, Middle-earth . In Tolkien's invented Elvish language Quenya , Eru means "The One", or "He that
2575-617: The First Age , Eru alone created Elves and Men , the "Children of Ilúvatar". The race of the Dwarves was created by Aulë , and given sapience by Eru. Animals and plants were fashioned by Yavanna during the Music of the Ainur after the themes set out by Eru. Arda ends in the apocalyptic battle of Dagor Dagorath , which Tolkien stated owed something to the Norse myth of Ragnarök . In
2678-639: The Norse god Odin in his "Wanderer" guise. Others have described Gandalf as a guide-figure who assists the protagonists, comparable to the Cumaean Sibyl who assisted Aeneas in Virgil 's The Aeneid , or to the figure of Virgil in Dante 's Inferno . Scholars have likened his return in white to the transfiguration of Christ ; he is further described as a prophet , representing one element of Christ's threefold office of prophet, priest, and king, where
2781-621: The Prancing Pony , and heads towards Isengard. There, Saruman horrifies Gandalf by asking him to help him to obtain and use the Ring. Gandalf refuses, and Saruman imprisons him at the top of his tower . Gandalf is rescued by Gwaihir the Eagle , who comes to him as requested via Radagast. In Rohan , Gandalf appeals to King Théoden for a horse. Théoden, under the evil influence of Gríma Wormtongue , Saruman's spy and servant, tells Gandalf to take any horse he pleases, but to leave quickly. It
2884-514: The Ring . Returning to the Shire , Gandalf confirms his suspicion by throwing the Ring into Frodo's hearth-fire and reading the writing that appears on its surface. He tells Frodo the history of the ring, and urges him to take it to Rivendell , warning of grave danger if he stays in the Shire. Gandalf says he will attempt to return for Frodo's 50th birthday party, to accompany him on the road; and that meanwhile Frodo should arrange to leave quietly, as
2987-696: The Second Age , Eru buried King Ar-Pharazôn of Númenor and his army when they invaded Aman , trying to reach the Undying Lands , which they wrongly supposed would give them immortality . He caused the Earth to take a spherical shape, drowned Númenor, and caused the Undying Lands to be taken "outside the spheres of the earth". When Gandalf died in the fight with the Balrog in The Fellowship of
3090-963: The Two Trees of Valinor . These gave rise to the Ages of the Lamps and the Years of the Trees , however the Ages of the Stars did not conclude until the creation of the Sun. During the Years of the Trees, shortly before the Awakening of the Elves , Varda created the Great Stars: "new stars and brighter" and constellations. Ilúvatar created Arda according to a flat Earth cosmology. This disc-like Arda has continents and
3193-582: The War of Wrath . Legend foretells that Melkor will return to Arda just before the apocalyptic battle of Dagor Dagorath. The void is not to be confused with the state of non-being that preceded the creation of Eä. When Arda (the Earth) was created, "innumerable stars " were already in existence. To provide greater light, the Valar later created the Two Lamps in Middle-earth, and when these were destroyed they created
Cosmology of Tolkien's legendarium - Misplaced Pages Continue
3296-524: The genetic memory of individuals. The "Atlantis" part of the legendarium explores the theme of the memory of a 'straight road' into the West, which now only exists in memory or myth, because the physical world has been changed. The Akallabêth says that the Númenóreans who survived the catastrophe sailed as far west as they could in search of their ancient home, but their travels only brought them around
3399-469: The palantír to Aragorn and takes the chastened Pippin with him to Minas Tirith to keep the young Hobbit out of further trouble. Gandalf arrives in time to help to arrange the defences of Minas Tirith. His presence is resented by Denethor , the Steward of Gondor ; but when his son Faramir is gravely wounded in battle, Denethor sinks into despair and madness. Together with Prince Imrahil, Gandalf leads
3502-509: The Balrog falls, it wraps its whip around Gandalf's legs, dragging him over the edge. Gandalf falls into the abyss, crying "Fly, you fools!". Gandalf and the Balrog fall into a deep lake in Moria's underworld. Gandalf pursues the Balrog through the tunnels for eight days until they climb to the peak of Zirakzigil . Here they fight for two days and nights. The Balrog is defeated and cast down onto
3605-471: The Chasm of Ilmen on its return. Tolkien's legendarium addresses the spherical Earth paradigm by depicting a catastrophic transition from a flat to a spherical world, in which Aman, the continent where Valinor lay, was removed "from the circles of the world". The only remaining way to reach Aman was the so called Old Straight Road , a hidden route leaving Middle-earth's curvature through sky and space which
3708-531: The Dark Lord Sauron by destroying the One Ring . He is associated with fire; his ring of power is Narya , the Ring of Fire. As such, he delights in fireworks to entertain the hobbits of the Shire , while in great need he uses fire as a weapon. As one of the Maiar , he is an immortal spirit from Valinor , but his physical body can be killed. In The Hobbit , Gandalf assists the 13 dwarves and
3811-462: The Elven Rings out of a desire to preserve the physical world unchanged; as if it were in the Undying Lands of Valinor, home of the Valar. Without the rings they are destined to eventually "fade", eventually becoming shadows in the physical world, prefiguring the concept of Elves as dwelling in a separate and often-underground (or overseas ) plane in historical European mythology. Mortals who wear
3914-597: The Fellowship (comprising nine representatives of the free peoples of Middle-earth , "set against the Nine Riders"), Gandalf and Aragorn lead the Hobbits and their companions south. After an unsuccessful attempt to cross Mount Caradhras in winter, they cross under the mountains through the Mines of Moria under the Misty Mountains, though only Gimli the Dwarf is enthusiastic about that route. In Moria, they discover that
4017-787: The Grey Pilgrim, and reports Gandalf as saying, "Many are my names in many countries. Mithrandir among the Elves , Tharkûn to the Dwarves , Olórin I was in my youth in the West that is forgotten, in the South Incánus, in the North Gandalf ; to the East I go not." In an early draft of The Hobbit , he is called Bladorthin , while the name Gandalf is used by the dwarf who later became Thorin Oakenshield . Each Wizard
4120-427: The Hobbits back to the borders of the Shire , before leaving to visit Tom Bombadil . Two years later, Gandalf departs Middle-earth forever. He boards the Ringbearers' ship in the Grey Havens and sets sail to return across the sea to the Undying Lands ; with him are his horse Shadowfax and his friends Frodo, Bilbo , Galadriel , and Elrond . Tolkien's biographer Humphrey Carpenter relates that Tolkien owned
4223-425: The Hobbits' equipment. Gandalf rejects Mordor's terms of surrender, starting the Battle of the Morannon . The forces of the West face the full might of Sauron's armies, until the Ring is destroyed in Mount Doom. Gandalf leads the Eagles to rescue Frodo and Sam from the erupting mountain. After the war, Gandalf crowns Aragorn as King Elessar, and helps him find a sapling of the White Tree of Gondor . He accompanies
Cosmology of Tolkien's legendarium - Misplaced Pages Continue
4326-433: The King After the battle, Gandalf counsels an attack against Sauron's forces at the Black Gate , in an effort to distract the Dark Lord's attention from Frodo and Sam ; they are at that moment scaling Mount Doom to destroy the Ring. Gandalf, Aragorn and the other leaders of the West lead an army to the Black Gate, meeting the nameless lieutenant of Mordor , who shows them Frodo's mithril shirt and other items from
4429-461: The Maiar. He was closely associated with two other Valar: Irmo, in whose gardens he lived, and Nienna , the patron of mercy, who gave him tutelage. When the Valar decided to send the order of the Wizards (Istari) across the Great Sea to Middle-earth to counsel and assist all those who opposed Sauron , Olórin was proposed by Manwë. Olórin initially begged to be excused, declaring he was too weak and that he feared Sauron, but Manwë replied that that
4532-517: The Necromancer was indeed Sauron. The following year a White Council was held, and Gandalf urged that Sauron be driven out. Saruman, however, reassured the Council that Sauron's evident effort to find the One Ring would fail, as the Ring would long since have been carried by the river Anduin to the Sea; and the matter was allowed to rest. But Saruman began actively seeking the Ring near the Gladden Fields where Isildur had been killed. " The Quest of Erebor " in Unfinished Tales elaborates upon
4635-419: The Ring , it was beyond the power of the Valar to resurrect him; Eru himself intervened to send Gandalf back. Discussing Frodo's failure to destroy the Ring in The Return of the King , Tolkien indicates in a letter that "the One" does intervene actively in the world, pointing to Gandalf's remark to Frodo that " Bilbo was meant to find the Ring , and not by its maker", and to the eventual destruction of
4738-441: The Ring despite Frodo's failure to complete the task. Fëa and hröa are the " soul " and "body" of Elves and Men. Their hröa is made out of the matter of Arda ; for this reason hröar are marred or as Tolkien wrote, contain a " Melkor ingredient". When an Elf dies, the fëa leaves the hröa , which then dies. The fëa is summoned to the Halls of Mandos in Valinor, where it is judged; however as with death their free-will
4841-406: The Ring-bearer—in his quest. He persuades Elrond to let Frodo's cousins Merry and Pippin join the Fellowship . The Balrog reached the bridge. Gandalf stood in the middle of the span, leaning on the staff in his left hand, but in his other hand Glamdring gleamed, cold and white. His enemy halted again, facing him, and the shadow about it reached out like two vast wings. It raised the whip, and
4944-406: The Rings told from the hobbits' point of view, Madsen writes, cosmology is pushed still further into the background: the hobbits know even less of the Valar than Men do, and Eru is not mentioned at all. Scholars have noted that Tolkien seems in later life to have hesitated and drawn back from the flat earth cosmology of Arda in favour of a round world version , but that it was so deeply embedded in
5047-410: The White Council and the Order of Wizards ; Gandalf takes Saruman's place as head of both. Wormtongue tries to kill Gandalf or Saruman with the palantír of Orthanc, but misses both. Pippin retrieves the palantír , but Gandalf quickly takes it. After the group leaves Isengard, Pippin takes the palantír from a sleeping Gandalf, looks into it, and comes face to face with Sauron himself. Gandalf gives
5150-424: The White. He reappears to three of the Fellowship and helps to counter the enemy in Rohan , then in Gondor , and finally at the Black Gate of Mordor, in each case largely by offering guidance. When victory is complete, he crowns Aragorn as King before leaving Middle-earth for ever to return to Valinor. Tolkien once described Gandalf as an angel incarnate; later, both he and other scholars have likened Gandalf to
5253-409: The Wikimedia System Administrators, please include the details below. Request from 172.68.168.226 via cp1108 cp1108, Varnish XID 229422462 Upstream caches: cp1108 int Error: 429, Too Many Requests at Thu, 28 Nov 2024 08:44:50 GMT Gandalf Gandalf is a protagonist in J. R. R. Tolkien 's novels The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings . He is a wizard , one of the Istari order, and
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#17327834899835356-442: The World's End , along with the horse "Silverfax", adapted by Tolkien as Gandalf's horse "Shadowfax". Morris' book, inspired by Norse myth, is set in a pseudo- medieval landscape; it deeply influenced Tolkien. The wizard that became Gandalf was originally named Bladorthin . Tolkien came to regret his ad hoc use of Old Norse names, referring to a "rabble of eddaic -named dwarves, ... invented in an idle hour" in 1937. But
5459-405: The bait, though his jaws should close on us... We must walk open-eyed into that trap, with courage, but small hope for ourselves. For, my lords, it may well prove that we ourselves shall perish utterly in a black battle far from the living lands; so that even if Barad-dûr be thrown down, we shall not live to see a new age. But this, I deem, is our duty." J. R. R. Tolkien , The Return of
5562-419: The boats of Ulmo. The ships of the Númenóreans that tried to sail on it sank, drowning the sailors. The Sun passes through Ekkaia on its way around the world, warming it as it passes. Ilmen is a region of clean air pervaded by light, before the cataclysm at the end of the Second Age. The stars and other celestial bodies are in this region. The Moon passes through Ilmen on its way around the world, plunging down
5665-492: The columns, where the light of the lamps mingled, the Valar dwelt on the island of Almaren in the midst of a Great Lake. When Melkor destroyed the lamps, two vast inland seas (Helcar and Ringil) and two major seas (Belegaer and the Eastern Sea) were formed, but Almaren and its lake were destroyed. The Valar left Middle-earth, and went to the newly formed continent of Aman in the west, where they created their home called Valinor . To discourage Melkor from assailing Aman, they thrust
5768-410: The continent of Middle-earth to the east, thus widening Belegaer at its middle, and raising five major mountain ranges in Middle-earth: the Blue, Red, Grey, and Yellow Mountains, plus the Mountains of the Wind. This act disrupted the symmetrical shapes of the continents and seas. Ekkaia, also called the Enfolding Ocean and the Encircling Sea, is a dark sea that surrounds the world before the cataclysm at
5871-579: The council to evict Sauron, since quite evidently Sauron did not require the One Ring to continue to attract evil to Mirkwood. Then the Council "put[s] forth its power" and drives Sauron from Dol Guldur . Sauron had anticipated this, and had feigned a withdrawal, only to reappear in Mordor . Gandalf spent the years between The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings travelling Middle-earth in search of information on Sauron 's resurgence and Bilbo Baggins 's mysterious ring , spurred particularly by Bilbo's initial misleading story of how he had obtained it as
5974-405: The creation of the world (Eä) and the Valar through which he acts, and more ambiguously in the Third Age where the divine will is at most hinted at. The theologian Catherine Madsen writes that Tolkien found it impossible to make his many drafts and revisions of The Silmarillion consistent with The Lord of the Rings , leaving it unpublished at his death. Its cosmology is glimpsed: she notes that
6077-442: The decision to use Old Norse names came to have far-reaching consequences in the composition of The Lord of the Rings ; in 1942, Tolkien decided that the work was to be a purported translation from the fictional language of Westron , and in the English translation Old Norse names were taken to represent names in the language of Dale . Gandalf , in this setting, is thus a representation in English (anglicised from Old Norse) of
6180-503: The defenders during the siege of the city. When the forces of Mordor break the main gate, Gandalf, alone on Shadowfax, confronts the Lord of the Nazgûl. At that moment the Rohirrim arrive, causing the Nazgûl to withdraw. Gandalf is about to pursue, but is stopped by Pippin, who requests his intervention to save Faramir – Denethor in desperation was seeking to burn himself and his son on a funeral pyre. Gandalf saves Faramir (but not Denethor, who immolates himself), and plays no further part in
6283-412: The dwarf colony established there by Balin has been annihilated by orcs . The Fellowship fights with the orcs and trolls of Moria and escapes them. At the Bridge of Khazad-dûm , they encounter "Durin's Bane," a fearsome Balrog from ancient times. Gandalf faces the Balrog to enable the others to escape. After a brief exchange of blows, Gandalf breaks the bridge beneath the Balrog with his staff . As
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#17327834899836386-420: The early drafts, and through to the first edition of The Hobbit , Bladorthin/Gandalf is described as being a "little old man", distinct from a dwarf, but not of the full human stature that would later be described in The Lord of the Rings . Even in The Lord of the Rings , Gandalf was not tall; shorter, for example, than Elrond or the other wizards. When writing The Hobbit in the early 1930s Tolkien gave
6489-432: The end of the Second Age. During this flat-Earth period, Ekkaia flows completely around Arda, which floats on it like a ship on a sea. Above Ekkaia is a layer of atmosphere. Ulmo the Lord of Waters dwells in Ekkaia, underneath Arda. Ekkaia is extremely cold; where its waters meet the waters of the ocean Belegaer on the northwest of Middle-earth, a chasm of ice is formed: the Helcaraxë . Ekkaia cannot support any ships except
6592-408: The entire Legendarium that recasting it in what Deirdre Dawson, writing in Tolkien Studies , calls "a more rational, scientifically plausible, global shape", proved unworkable. The Tolkien scholar Janet Brennan Croft states in Mythlore that the races of Middle-earth, Hobbits, Men, Elves, and Dwarves, all believe that there is "a literal cosmological battle between Good and Evil", all expecting
6695-480: The first part of The Silmarillion , the Ainulindalë or creation account, to describe his thoughts on the origin of evil in his fictional world, which he took pains to comport with his own beliefs on the subject, as accounted in his Letters . In the Ainulindalë , evil represents a rebellion against the creative process set in motion by Eru. Evil is defined by its original actor, Melkor, a Luciferian figure who falls from grace in active rebellion against Eru, out of
6798-464: The hobbit Bilbo Baggins with their quest to retake the Lonely Mountain from Smaug the dragon, but leaves them to urge the White Council to expel Sauron from his fortress of Dol Guldur . In the course of the quest, Bilbo finds a magical ring. The expulsion succeeds, but in The Lord of the Rings , Gandalf reveals that Sauron's retreat was only a feint, as he soon reappeared in Mordor . Gandalf further explains that, after years of investigation, he
6901-433: The king to join in the fight against Sauron. Gandalf sets off to gather warriors of the Westfold to assist Théoden in the coming battle with Saruman. Gandalf arrives just in time to defeat Saruman's army in the battle of Helm's Deep . Gandalf and the King ride to Isengard , which has just been destroyed by Treebeard and his Ents , who are accompanied by Merry and Pippin. Gandalf breaks Saruman's staff and expels him from
7004-414: The leader of the Company of the Ring . Tolkien took the name "Gandalf" from the Old Norse "Catalogue of Dwarves" ( Dvergatal ) in the Völuspá . As a wizard and the bearer of one of the Three Rings , Gandalf has great power, but works mostly by encouraging and persuading. He sets out as Gandalf the Grey, possessing great knowledge and travelling continually. Gandalf is focused on the mission to counter
7107-399: The mid-1920s. Carpenter acknowledged that Tolkien was probably mistaken about the origin of the postcard. An additional influence may have been Väinämöinen , a demigod and the central character in Finnish folklore and the national epic Kalevala by Elias Lönnrot . Väinämöinen was described as an old and wise man, and he possessed a potent, magical singing voice. Throughout
7210-705: The mountainside. Gandalf also dies, and his body lies on the peak while his spirit travels "out of thought and time". Gandalf is "sent back" as Gandalf the White, and returns to life on the mountain top. Gwaihir carries him to Lothlórien , where he is healed of his injuries and re-clothed in white robes by Galadriel . He travels to Fangorn Forest, where he encounters Aragorn , Gimli , and Legolas (who are tracking Merry and Pippin ). They mistake him for Saruman , but he stops their attacks and reveals himself. They travel to Rohan , where Gandalf finds that Théoden has been further weakened by Wormtongue's influence. He breaks Wormtongue's hold over Théoden, and convinces
7313-429: The name Gandalf to the leader of the Dwarves , the character later called Thorin Oakenshield . The name is taken from the same source as all the other Dwarf names (save Balin ) in The Hobbit : the " Catalogue of Dwarves " in the Völuspá . The Old Norse name Gandalfr incorporates the words gandr meaning "wand", "staff" or (especially in compounds) " magic " and álfr " elf ". The name Gandalf
7416-497: The name the Dwarves of Erebor had given to Olórin in the language they used "externally" in their daily affairs, while Tharkûn is the (untranslated) name, presumably of the same meaning, that the Dwarves gave him in their native Khuzdul language. Gandalf's role and importance was substantially increased in the conception of The Lord of the Rings , and in a letter of 1954, Tolkien refers to Gandalf as an " angel incarnate". In
7519-573: The oldest and least in stature, but Círdan the Shipwright felt that he was the greatest on their first meeting in the Havens, and gave him Narya , the Ring of Fire. Saruman , the chief Wizard, learned of the gift and resented it. Gandalf hid the ring well, and it was not widely known until he left with the other ring-bearers at the end of the Third Age that he, and not Círdan, was the holder of
7622-481: The other two roles are taken by Frodo and Aragorn . The Gandalf character has been featured in radio, television, stage, video game, music, and film adaptations, including Ralph Bakshi 's 1978 animated film . His best-known portrayal is by Ian McKellen in Peter Jackson 's 2001–2003 The Lord of the Rings film series, where the actor based his acclaimed performance on Tolkien himself. McKellen reprised
7725-405: The quest was born. Gandalf meets with Bilbo in the opening of The Hobbit . He arranges for a tea party, to which he invites the thirteen dwarves, and thus arranges the travelling group central to the narrative. Gandalf contributes the map and key to Erebor to assist the quest. On this quest Gandalf acquires the sword, Glamdring , from the trolls' treasure hoard. Elrond informs them that
7828-518: The remaining five on Weathertop a few nights later. Gandalf reaches Rivendell just before Frodo's arrival. In Rivendell, Gandalf helps Elrond drive off the Nazgûl pursuing Frodo, and plays a leading role in the Council of Elrond as the only person who knows the full history of the ring. He reveals that Saruman has betrayed them and is in league with Sauron. When it is decided that the Ring has to be destroyed, Gandalf volunteers to accompany Frodo—now
7931-433: The ring and disappears, Gandalf urges his old friend to leave the ring to Frodo, as they had planned. Bilbo becomes hostile, accusing Gandalf of trying to steal the ring. Alarmed, Gandalf tells Bilbo that is foolish. Coming to his senses, Bilbo admits that the ring has been troubling him, and leaves it behind for Frodo as he departs for Rivendell . Over the next 17 years, Gandalf travels extensively, searching for answers on
8034-468: The ring. He finds some answers in Isildur's scroll, in the archives of Minas Tirith . Gandalf searches long and hard for Gollum, often assisted by Aragorn, who eventually succeeds in capturing Gollum. Gandalf questions Gollum, threatening him with fire when he proves unwilling to speak. Gandalf learns that Sauron had imprisoned Gollum in his fortress of Barad-dûr , and tortured him to reveal what he knew of
8137-614: The role in Jackson's 2012–2014 film series The Hobbit . Tolkien derived the name Gandalf from Gandálfr, a dwarf in the Völuspá 's Dvergatal , a list of dwarf-names. In Old Norse , the name means staff-elf . This is reflected in his name Tharkûn , which is "said to mean 'Staff-man'" in Khuzdul , the language Tolkien invented for his Dwarves . Gandalf is given several names and epithets in Tolkien's writings. Faramir calls him
8240-416: The same letter Tolkien states he was given the form of an old man in order to limit his powers on Earth. Both in 1965 and 1971 Tolkien again refers to Gandalf as an angelic being. In a 1946 letter, Tolkien stated that he thought of Gandalf as an "Odinic wanderer". Other commentators have similarly compared Gandalf to the Norse god Odin in his "Wanderer" guise—an old man with one eye, a long white beard,
8343-484: The seas, and the moon and the stars revolve around it. Arda was created to be the "Habitation" ( Ambar ) for Elves and Men. This world was lit by two lamps created by the Valar: Illuin ('Sky-blue') and Ormal ('High-gold'). To support the lamps, Aulë forged two enormous pillars of rock: Helcar in the north of the continent Middle-earth, and Ringil in the south. Illuin was set upon Helcar and Ormal upon Ringil. Between
8446-540: The servants of Sauron will be searching for him. Outside the Shire, Gandalf encounters the wizard Radagast the Brown , who brings the news that the Nazgûl have ridden out of Mordor—and a request from Saruman that Gandalf come to Isengard . Gandalf asks him to send out animals to observe the Nazgûl, and to report to him at Isengard. Gandalf leaves a letter to Frodo (urging his immediate departure) with Barliman Butterbur at
8549-610: The shadow! You cannot pass." – Gandalf , speaking to the Balrog Tolkien stated that the "Flame Imperishable" or "Secret Fire" represents the Holy Spirit in Christian theology, the creative activity of Eru, inseparable both from him and from his creation. In the interpretation of Christopher Tolkien , it represents "the mystery of authorship ", the author both standing outside of his work and indwelling in it. In
8652-418: The spiritual, or Unseen world) and have great power in both, especially those who have dwelt in the light of the Two Trees before the Sun and Moon; and that the powers associated with "magic" were spiritual in nature. The Elves who stayed in Middle-earth where Melkor once was dominant, being in bodies and surrounded by things that are themselves marred and subject to decay by the influence of Melkor, created
8755-522: The story behind The Hobbit . It tells of a chance meeting between Gandalf and Thorin Oakenshield , a Dwarf -king in exile, in the Prancing Pony inn at Bree . Gandalf had for some time foreseen the coming war with Sauron , and knew that the North was especially vulnerable. If Rivendell were to be attacked, the dragon Smaug could cause great devastation. He persuaded Thorin that he could help him regain his lost territory of Erebor from Smaug, and so
8858-644: The sword was made in Gondolin , a city long ago destroyed, where Elrond's father lived as a child. After escaping from the Misty Mountains pursued by goblins and wargs , the party is carried to safety by the Great Eagles . Gandalf then persuades Beorn to house and provision the company for the trip through Mirkwood . Gandalf leaves the company before they enter Mirkwood, saying that he had pressing business to attend to. He turns up again before
8961-543: The tale of Earendil is recited, and it serves as background to Frodo and Sam's use of the Phial of Galadriel , which contains some of the light of Earendil's star. In contrast, the creation myth of the Ainulindalë is not even mentioned in The Lord of the Rings , though she notes that it could have been: Beowulf offered a suitable model familiar to Tolkien, in the minstrel's telling of a creation story. By having The Lord of
9064-578: The third of the Elven-rings . Gandalf's relationship with Saruman, the head of their Order, was strained. The Wizards were commanded to aid Men , Elves , and Dwarves , but only through counsel; they were forbidden to use force to dominate them, though Saruman increasingly disregarded this. Gandalf suspected early on that an evil presence, the Necromancer of Dol Guldur , was not a Nazgûl but Sauron himself. He went to Dol Guldur to discover
9167-589: The thongs whined and cracked. Fire came from its nostrils. But Gandalf stood firm. "You cannot pass," he said. The orcs stood still, and a dead silence fell. "I am a servant of the Secret Fire , wielder of the flame of Anor. You cannot pass. The dark fire will not avail you, flame of Udûn . Go back to the Shadow! You cannot pass." J. R. R. Tolkien , The Fellowship of the Ring Taking charge of
9270-552: The truth, but the Necromancer withdrew before him, only to return with greater force, and the White Council was formed in response. Galadriel had hoped Gandalf would lead the council, but he refused, declining to be bound by any but the Valar who had sent him. Saruman was chosen instead, as the most knowledgeable about Sauron's work in the Second Age . Gandalf returned to Dol Guldur "at great peril" and learned that
9373-477: The unfolding Battle of the Pelennor Fields . "This, then, is my counsel," [said Gandalf.] "We have not the Ring. In wisdom or great folly it has been sent away to be destroyed, lest it destroy us. Without it we cannot by force defeat [Sauron's] force. But we must at all costs keep his Eye from his true peril... We must call out his hidden strength, so that he shall empty his land... We must make ourselves
9476-538: The walls of Erebor disguised as an old man, revealing himself when it seems the Men of Esgaroth and the Mirkwood Elves will fight Thorin and the dwarves over Smaug's treasure. The Battle of Five Armies ensues when hosts of goblins and wargs attack all three parties. After the battle, Gandalf accompanies Bilbo back to the Shire , revealing at Rivendell what his pressing business had been: Gandalf had once again urged
9579-650: The wizard: the White Rider. However, characters who speak Elvish still refer to him as Mithrandir . At times in The Lord of the Rings , other characters address Gandalf by insulting nicknames: Stormcrow, Láthspell ("Ill-news" in Old English ), and "Grey Fool". Tolkien describes Gandalf as the last of the wizards to appear in Middle-earth , one who "seemed the least, less tall than the others, and in looks more aged, grey-haired and grey-clad, and leaning on
9682-475: The wizards was to advise and counsel but never to attempt to match Sauron's strength with their own. It might be, too, that the kings and lords of Middle-earth would be more receptive to the advice of a humble old man than a more glorious form giving them direct commands. The wizards arrived in Middle-earth separately, early in the Third Age ; Gandalf was the last, landing in the Havens of Mithlond. He seemed
9785-788: The word "earendel" in the Old English poem Christ I was found by 19th century philologists to be some sort of bright star, and from 1914 Tolkien took this to mean the morning-star ; he still thought so late in his life, in 1967. The line éala éarendel engla beorhtast "Hail, Earendel, brightest of angels" was Tolkien's inspiration. Tolkien created Sindarin names for the other planets in the solar system, as recorded in Morgoth's Ring , but these were not used elsewhere. The names were Silindo for Jupiter , Carnil for Mars , Elemmire for Mercury , Luinil for Uranus , Lumbar for Saturn , and Nenar for Neptune . The Book of Lost Tales lists Morwen as
9888-494: The world back to their starting points. A few years after publishing The Lord of the Rings , in a note associated with the story " Athrabeth Finrod ah Andreth ", Tolkien equated Arda with the Solar System; because Arda by this point consisted of more than one heavenly body, with Valinor on another planet, while the Sun and Moon were celestial objects in their own right. Tolkien developed a list of names and meanings called
9991-593: The world, the answer would have to be no; but given that they do not disappear completely on death, the answer must be yes. In Shippey's view, the Silmarillion resolves the puzzle, letting Elves go not to Heaven but to the halfway house of the Halls of Mandos on Valinor. The problem arises again with apparently wholly evil beings such as Orcs . Since evil cannot make, only mock, Orcs cannot have an equal and opposite morality to that of Men; but since they speak and have
10094-469: Was all the more reason for him to go. As one of the Maiar, Gandalf was not a mortal Man but an angelic being who had taken human form. As one of those spirits, Olórin was in service to the Creator ( Eru Ilúvatar ) and the Creator's ' Secret Fire '. Along with the other Maiar who entered into Middle-earth as the five Wizards, he took on the specific form of an old man as a sign of his humility . The role of
10197-444: Was exclusively known and open to the Elves, who were able to navigate it with their ships. This transition from a flat to a spherical Earth is at the centre of Tolkien's " Atlantis " legend. The Númenóreans, growing arrogant, tried to reach Valinor, thinking that being there would confer immortality; but Eru destroyed their island and reshaped the world to prevent Men from ever reaching it. Tolkien's unfinished The Lost Road suggests
10300-768: Was meant to represent Túrin Turambar . Remmirath (also Itselokte or Sithaloth), "the Netted Stars", is the Pleiades or Seven Sisters. Valacirca, "the Sickle of the Valar ", is Ursa Major (the Plough or Big Dipper) which Varda set in the Northern sky as a warning to Melkor. Wilwarin, meaning "Butterfly", is taken to be Cassiopeia . In his 2020 book Tolkien's Cosmology , the scholar of English literature Sam McBride suggests
10403-656: Was not proud, and sought neither power nor praise ... Mostly he journeyed tirelessly on foot, leaning on a staff, and so he was called among Men of the North Gandalf 'the Elf of the Wand'. For they deemed him (though in error) to be of Elven-kind, since he would at times work wonders among them, loving especially the beauty of fire; and yet such marvels he wrought mostly for mirth and delight, and desired not that any should hold him in awe or take his counsels out of fear. ... Yet it
10506-577: Was not so", in other words all things were created good; but this is set alongside the Manichean view that good and evil are equally powerful, and battle it out in the world. Tolkien's personal war experience was Manichean: evil seemed at least as powerful as good, and could easily have been victorious, a strand which Shippey notes can also be seen in Middle-earth. Brian Rosebury , a humanities scholar, interprets Elrond's statement as implying an Augustinian universe, created good. Eä , "that which is",
10609-455: Was the Enemy of Sauron , opposing the fire that devours and wastes with the fire that kindles, and succours in wanhope and distress; but his joy, and his swift wrath, were veiled in garments grey as ash, so that only those that knew him well glimpsed the flame that was within. Merry he could be, and kindly to the young and simple, yet quick at times to sharp speech and the rebuking of folly; but he
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