Как правильно пишется гэндальф

Давно хотела об этом написать, лет 15, наверное. Очередной наезд на священную корову опубликованных переводов Толкина и мнение широких слоев публики.

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Как правильно: Гэндальф или Гандальв?

Анариэль Р.

За помощь в работе над статьей я хотела бы поблагодарить Маэлора и Дмитрия Браткина

«By some curious chance one morning long ago in the quiet of the world, when there was less noise and more green, and the hobbits were still numerous and prosperous, and Bilbo Baggins was standing at his door after breakfast smoking an enormous long wooden pipe that reached nearly down to his woolly toes (neatly brushed) — Gandalf came by. Gandalf!»
Так в первой главе «Хоббита» в толкиновском легендариуме возникает Серый Странник. Существуют разные мнения, как должно выглядеть его имя в русских переводах Толкина – Гэндальф или Гандальв? Давайте разберемся.
Имя «Gandalf» Толкин придумал не сам, а, как имена большинства карл в «Хоббите» и ВК, взял из «Старшей Эдды», из 12 строфы «Прорицания вёльвы». Переводится «Gandálfr» с древнеисландского как «эльф с посохом». На полях можно заметить, что в древнеисландской литературе известен еще один персонаж с таким именем – на сей раз человек, ярл из Норвегии: например, он упоминается в «Круге земном» — в «Саге о Харальде Прекрасноволосом» (читать здесь: http://norse.ulver.com/src/konung/heimskringla/harald-harf/ru.html) и в саге «О Форньоте и его родичах» (http://norse.ulver.com/src/forn/frafornjoti/ru1.html).
И вот так – абсолютно как у Толкина – выглядит это имя в английском переводе «Эдды»: Gandalf (отсюда: http://ru.scribd.com/doc/40146250/Poetic-Edda-Old-Norse-English-diglot). По-английски это имя действительно произносится примерно как «Гэндалф» (что мы слышим в аудиокнигах и фильмах). Казалось бы, вопрос решен. Очевидно, что John Lennon – это Джон Леннон, не так ли? Но, однако, Gospel of John – это никак не «Евангелие Джона», а «Евангелие от Иоанна».
В чем же разница, почему одни Джоны будут Джонами, а другие – Иоаннами? Нетрудно ответить на этот вопрос. John the Apostle (он же St. John the Theologian, John the Divine) – это не персонаж английского фольклора, это персонаж (и один из авторов) Нового Завета – произведения, появившегося задолго до возникновения русского и английского языка. Имя его, если передавать его звуковую оболочку, было «Иоханнес» или «Иоаннес» — от этого имени произошли и английское «John», и русские «Иоанн» и «Иван». И в русской традиции этот апостол именуется Иоанном. И коль скоро John the Apostle – это то же самое лицо, то логично, что в русском переводе он оказывается именно Иоанном, а не Джоном и не Иваном.
Так же восстанавливаются по изначальной традиции, откуда было сделано заимствование, и другие имена: Plato в русском переводе с английского будет не Плейтоу, а Платон, Caesar будет не Сизэ(р), а Цезарь, а два французских короля, которых по-английски называют John, будут снова Иоаннами.
Это называется принципом этимологического соответствия при передаче имен собственных: он заключается в том, что «имена собственные в разных языках, которые различаются по форме, но имеют общее лингвистическое происхождение, используются для передачи друг друга» (цит. по Ермолович Д.И. «Имена собственные на стыке культур», с.24).
Поскольку имя «Gandalf» Толкином не придумано, а заимствовано, причем не из английской традиции, а из скандинавской, то и в русском переводе «Хоббита» это имя должно быть передано так, как оно передается в русских переводах «Старшей Эдды».
Хотя из принципа этимологического соответствия имеются исключения, я полагаю, что в данном случае применить надо именно его, а не практическую транскрипцию, которая дала бы нам «Гэндалф» (кстати, без мягкого знака). Мне представляется, что очень важно сохранить связь этого персонажа с традицией «Старшей Эдды»: в конце концов, это «неподлинное» имя Олорина-Митрандира, а прозвание и впервые с ним мы сталкиваемся в книге, которая является своего рода прологом, дверью в Средиземье. «Хоббит» — это со всей отчетливостью посредник, с точки зрения темы книги, движения сюжета и главного ее героя.
Мне кажется важным подчеркнуть этот переходный момент в творчестве Толкина, когда он экспериментировал с разными способами подачи собственного мира во многих произведениях этого периода, в диапазоне от «Мистера Блисса» до «Утраченного пути». Например, в «Хоббите» в качестве сравнения фигурируют паровоз и рождественская елка; в «Роверандоме» упоминается кит Уин из «Утраченных сказаний», лунный маг похож на Человека-с-Луны, упоминаются Тенистые моря и Залив Волшебной Страны (из традиции «Сильмариллиона»); в «Письмах Рождественского деда» опробованы некоторые сюжетные ходы и элементы «Хоббита» и ВК; и даже в «Мистере Блиссе» при желании можно углядеть связки с Ардой: имя «папаша Гэмджи» впервые появляется именно там, а мясник All-bone – «Одни кости» – практически тезка Альбоина Эррола из «Утраченного пути», которого так дразнили одноклассники. Явно имена карлов в «Хоббите» взяты из «Эдды» с примерно той же целью — соединить тот и этот миры.
Впоследствии Толкин жалел, что связался с эддическими именами, но назад пути не было. Работая над ВК, Толкин решил, что подаст свой труд как перевод с вестрона на английский, где вестронские имена собственные как бы заменены на английские аналоги, в то время как имена карлов и Гандальва в силу своего неанглийского, северного происхождения должны отражать происхождение имен своих владельцев из земель около Дейла. Это означает, что и в русском переводе это имя должно оставаться не вполне английским, а должно быть взято из русских переводов «Эдды» и саг.
Давайте посмотрим, как выглядит это имя в русских переводах первой песни «Старшей Эдды» – их четыре. Первый, перевод Свириденко, был сделан в начале ХХ века и считается устаревшим. Второй перевод — первый полный перевод «Старшей Эдды» — это перевод А.Корсуна под редакцией крупнейшего отечественного скандинависта М.Стеблина-Каменского. Он был опубликован в 1963 году (запомните эту дату).
Вот как выглядит здесь 12-ая строфа (отсюда: http://e-libra.ru/read/248879-starshayaya-yedda-perevod-a.-i.-korsuna.html):

12
Гандальв и Вейг,
Виндальв, Торин,
Трор и Траин,
Текк, Вит и Лит,
Нюр и Нюрад —
вот я карликов —
Регин и Радсвинн —
всех назвала.

Третий перевод «Прорицания вёльвы» принадлежит Е.М.Мелетинскому, видному отечественному филологу, но не скандинависту. Опубликован перевод в 1980 году (читать здесь: http://norse.ulver.com/src/edda/voluspa/ru2.html).

12
Гандольв и Вейг, Виндольв, Траин,
Тенк и Торин, Трор, Вит и Лит,
Нар и Нюрад — названы все
Регин и Радсвин — цверги верно.

Последний, четвертый, перевод принадлежит В.Г.Тихомирову (читать здесь: http://norse.ulver.com/src/edda/voluspa/rut.html). Хотя Тихомиров и не являлся профессиональным германистом, над переводом «Беовульфа» он работал вместе с германистом Анатолием Либерманом (на всякий случай: замысловатая история комментариев к «Беовульфу» изложена здесь — http://old.russ.ru/krug/20030122_kalash.html), а над книгой «Древнеанглийская поэзия» — с О.А.Смирницкой, еще одним крупнейшим отечественным германистом (у которой я имела счастье учиться). Итак, последняя версия 12-ой строфы «Прорицания вёльвы»:

12
Вейг и Гандальв,
Виндальв и Траин,
Текк и Торин,
Трор, Вит и Лит,
Нар и Нирад
(ныне всех цвергов),
Регин и Радсвинн
(разом поименую),

Итак, два варианта из трех, поддержанные германистами, – «Гандальв».
Но как же так, скажете вы, ведь во всех русских переводах – «Гэндальф», начиная с самого первого, публикации отрывка из «Хоббита» в журнале «Англия» в 1969 году, и у Рахмановой так, и у Кистяковского с Муравьевым…
Что можно ответить на это? Наверное, только напомнить, что уже в школе Толкин знал несколько живых и мертвых языков; что он сначала учился, а потом был профессором англосаксонского и позже — профессором английского языка и литературы в одном из самых прославленных университетов мира. Все это не могло не отразиться на его творчестве, и в итоге получается, что для перевода Толкина, по крайней мере – основных его произведений — требуется практически такой же уровень знаний и добросовестности, как для перевода ранней литературы германских народов, т.е. переводчик должен быть не просто англистом, а германистом (человеком, разбирающимся в истории, литературе и языках германских народов) или работать в тесной связке со специалистом, чтобы хотя бы не путать древнеисландский с древнеанглийским, Альфреда с Артуром, а Гренделя – с Гренландией. Обычному переводчику, пусть даже он хорошо справляется с более простыми авторами (или даже таким не самым простым, как К.С.Льюис), Толкин вряд ли будет зубам. Скорее всего, бОльшая часть авторов опубликованных переводов Толкина просто не опознала в имени «Gandalf» отсылку к «Старшей Эдде», несмотря на то, что к тому времени уже существовало целых два перевода «Прорицания вёльвы».
Поэтому если вы видите в русском переводе «Гэндальф», то вы можете твердо быть уверены в одном из трех: либо у этого переводчика недостаточная квалификация для перевода такого сложного автора, как Толкин, а с германистами он почему-то, в отличие от А.Корсуна и В.Г.Тихомирова, не советовался; либо ему наплевать на Толкина, читателей и качество своей работы; либо он идет на поводу у «широкой публики». Четвертого, увы, не дано.
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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 the leader of the Fellowship 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 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 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 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 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 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 Virgil himself 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 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 the role in Jackson’s 2012–2014 film series The Hobbit.

Names[edit]

Etymology[edit]

Tolkien derived the name Gandalf from Gandálfr, a dwarf in the Völuspá’s Dvergatal, a list of dwarf-names.^[1] In Old Norse, the name means staff-elf. This is reflected in his name Tharkûn, which is «said to mean ‘Staff-man'» in Khuzdul, one of Tolkien’s invented languages.^{[T 1]}

In-universe names[edit]

Gandalf is given several names and epithets in Tolkien’s writings. Faramir calls him the Grey Pilgrim, and reports Gandalf as saying, «Many are my names in many countries. Mithrandir^[a] 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.»^{[T 2]} 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.^[2]

Each Wizard 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 hame, «cover, skin». Mithrandir is a name in Sindarin meaning «the Grey Pilgrim» or «the 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 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».^{[T 1]}

Characteristics[edit]

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 a staff».^{[T 1]} 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:^{[T 1]}

Warm and eager was his spirit (and it was enhanced by the ring Narya), for he 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 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 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).^{[T 1]}

Fictional biography[edit]

Valinor[edit]

In Valinor, Gandalf was called Olórin.^{[T 1]} 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 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 was all the more reason for him to go.^{[T 1]}

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 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.^{[T 1]}

Middle-earth[edit]

The wizards arrived in Middle-earth separately, early in the Third Age; Gandalf was the last, landing in the Havens of Mithlond. He seemed 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 the third of the Elven-rings.^{[T 1]}

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.^{[T 1]}

The White Council[edit]

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^{[T 3]} to discover the truth, but the Necromancer withdrew before him, only to return with greater force,^{[T 3]} and the White Council was formed in response.^{[T 3]} 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.^{[T 4][T 1]}

Gandalf returned to Dol Guldur «at great peril» and learned that the Necromancer was indeed Sauron. The following year a White Council was held, and Gandalf urged that Sauron be driven out.^{[T 3]} 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.^{[T 4][T 1]}

The Quest of Erebor[edit]

«The Quest of Erebor» in Unfinished Tales elaborates upon 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 the quest was born.^{[T 5]}

The Hobbit[edit]

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.^{[T 6]} On this quest Gandalf acquires the sword, Glamdring, from the trolls’ treasure hoard.^{[T 7]} Elrond informs them that the sword was made in Gondolin, a city long ago destroyed, where Elrond’s father lived as a child.^{[T 8]}

After escaping from the Misty Mountains pursued by goblins and wargs, the party is carried to safety by the Great Eagles.^{[T 9]} 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.^{[T 10]}

He turns up again before 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.^{[T 11]} After the battle, Gandalf accompanies Bilbo back to the Shire, revealing at Rivendell what his pressing business had been: Gandalf had once again urged the council to evict Sauron, since quite evidently Sauron did not require the One Ring to continue to attract evil to Mirkwood.^{[T 12]} 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.^{[T 13]}

The Lord of the Rings[edit]

Gandalf the Grey[edit]

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 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.^{[T 13]}

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 the ring and disappears, Gandalf strongly encourages his old friend to leave the ring to Frodo, as they had planned. Bilbo becomes hostile and accuses Gandalf of trying to steal the ring. Alarmed, Gandalf impresses on Bilbo the foolishness of this accusation. Coming to his senses, Bilbo admits that the ring has been troubling him, and leaves it behind for Frodo as he departs for Rivendell.^{[T 14]}

Over the next 17 years, Gandalf travels extensively, searching for answers on the ring. He finds some answers in Isildur’s scroll, in the archives of Minas Tirith. He also wants to question Gollum, who had borne the ring for many years. Gandalf searches long and hard for Gollum, often assisted by Aragorn. Aragorn eventually succeeds in capturing Gollum. Gandalf questions Gollum, threatening him with fire when he proves unwilling to speak. Gandalf learns that Sauron has forced Gollum under torture in his fortress, Barad-dûr, to tell what he knows of the ring. This reinforces Gandalf’s growing suspicion that Bilbo’s ring is the One Ring.^{[T 13]}

Returning to the Shire, Gandalf confirms his suspicion by throwing the Ring into Frodo’s hearth-fire and reading the writing that appears on the Ring’s surface. He tells Frodo the history of the Ring, and urges him to take it to Rivendell, saying that he would be in grave danger if he stayed 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 the servants of Sauron will be searching for him.^{[T 15]}

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 leaves a letter to Frodo (urging his immediate departure) with Barliman Butterbur at the Prancing Pony, and heads towards Isengard. There Saruman reveals his true intentions, urging Gandalf to help him obtain the Ring for his own use. Gandalf refuses, and Saruman imprisons him at the top of his tower. Eventually Gandalf is rescued by Gwaihir the Eagle.^{[T 13]}

Gwaihir sets Gandalf down in Rohan, where 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 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.^{[T 13]} Frodo, Aragorn and company face the remaining five on Weathertop a few nights later.^{[T 16]} Gandalf reaches Rivendell just before Frodo’s arrival.^{[T 13]}

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 the Ring-bearer—in his quest. He persuades Elrond to let Frodo’s cousins Merry and Pippin join the Fellowship.^{[T 13]}

Taking charge of 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.^{[T 17]} 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 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.^{[T 18]}

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 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!».^{[T 19]}

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 the mountainside. Gandalf too dies, and his body lies on the peak while his spirit travels «out of thought and time».^{[T 20]}

Gandalf the White[edit]

Gandalf is «sent back»^[b] 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.^{[T 20]}

They travel to Rohan, where Gandalf finds that king Théoden has been further weakened by Wormtongue’s influence. He breaks Wormtongue’s hold over Théoden, and convinces the king to join in the fight against Sauron.^{[T 21]} 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.^{[T 22]} Gandalf and the King ride to Isengard, which has just been destroyed by Treebeard and his Ents, who are accompanied by Merry and Pippin.^{[T 23]} Gandalf breaks Saruman’s staff and expels him from the White Council and the Order of Wizards; Gandalf takes Saruman’s place as head of both. Wormtongue makes an attempt to kill Gandalf or Saruman with the palantír of Orthanc, but misses both. Pippin retrieves the palantír, but Gandalf quickly takes it.^{[T 24]} 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 the palantír to Aragorn and takes the chastened Pippin with him to Minas Tirith to keep the young hobbit out of further trouble.^{[T 25]}

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 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, compelling the Nazgûl to withdraw to fight. Gandalf is required to save Faramir from Denethor, who seeks in desperation to burn himself and his son on a funeral pyre.^{[T 26]}

Aragorn and Gandalf lead the final campaign 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 One Ring. In a parley before the battle, Gandalf and the other leaders of the West meet the nameless lieutenant of Mordor, who shows them Frodo’s mithril shirt and other items from the Hobbits’ equipment. Gandalf rejects Mordor’s terms of surrender, and the forces of the West face the full might of Sauron’s armies, until the Ring is destroyed in Mount Doom.^{[T 27]} Gandalf leads the Eagles to rescue Frodo and Sam from the erupting mountain.^{[T 28]}

After the war, Gandalf crowns Aragorn as King Elessar, and helps him find a sapling of the White Tree of Gondor.^{[T 29]} He accompanies the Hobbits back to the borders of the Shire, before leaving to visit Tom Bombadil.^{[T 30]}

Two years later, Gandalf departs Middle-earth for ever. 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 friends Frodo, Bilbo, Galadriel, and Elrond, and his horse Shadowfax.^{[T 31]}

Concept and creation[edit]

Appearance[edit]

Tolkien’s biographer Humphrey Carpenter relates that Tolkien owned a postcard entitled Der Berggeist («the mountain spirit»), which he labelled «the origin of Gandalf».^[3] 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 the mid-1920s. Carpenter acknowledged that Tolkien was probably mistaken about the origin of the postcard.^[4]

An additional influence may have been Väinämöinen, a demigod and the central character in Finnish folklore and the national epic Kalevala by Elias Lönnrot.^[5] Väinämöinen was described as an old and wise man, and he possessed a potent, magical singing voice.^[6]

Throughout 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^{[T 32]} or the other wizards.^{[T 1]}

Name[edit]

When writing The Hobbit in the early 1930s Tolkien gave 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.^[7] The Old Norse name Gandalfr incorporates the words gandr meaning «wand», «staff» or (especially in compounds) «magic» and álfr «elf». The name Gandalf 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.^[8] 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 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.^[9][10]

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.^{[T 33]} But 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.^[11] Gandalf, in this setting, is thus a representation in English (anglicised from Old Norse) of 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.^{[T 34]}

Guide[edit]

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».^{[T 35]} In 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.^{[T 36][T 37]}

In a 1946 letter, Tolkien stated that he thought of Gandalf as an «Odinic wanderer».^{[T 38]} 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, a wide brimmed hat, and a staff,^[12][13] or likened him to Merlin of Arthurian legend or the Jungian archetype of the «wise old man».^[14]

The Tolkien scholar Charles W. Nelson described Gandalf as a «guide who .. assists a major character on a journey or quest .. to unusual and distant places». He noted that in both The Fellowship of the Ring and The Hobbit, Tolkien presents Gandalf in these terms. Immediately after the Council of Elrond, Gandalf tells the Fellowship:^[15]

Someone said that intelligence would be needed in the party. He was right. I think I shall come with you.^[15]

Nelson notes the similarity between this and Thorin’s statement in The Hobbit:^[15]

We shall soon .. start on our long journey, a journey from which some of us, or perhaps all of us (except our friend and counsellor, the ingenious wizard Gandalf) may never return.^[15]

Nelson gives as examples of the guide figure the Cumaean Sibyl who assisted Aeneas on his journey through the underworld in Virgil’s tale The Aeneid, and then Virgil himself in Dante’s Inferno, directing, encouraging, and physically assisting Dante as he travels through hell. In English literature, Nelson notes, Thomas Malory’s Le Morte d’Arthur has the wizard Merlin teaching and directing Arthur to begin his journeys. Given these precedents, Nelson remarks, it was unsurprising that Tolkien should make use of a guide figure, endowing him, like these predecessors, with power, wisdom, experience, and practical knowledge, and «aware[ness] of [his] own limitations and [his] ranking in the order of the great».^[15] Other characters who act as wise and good guides include Tom Bombadil, Elrond, Aragorn, Galadriel—who he calls perhaps the most powerful of the guide figures—and briefly also Faramir.^[15]

Nelson writes that there is equally historical precedent for wicked guides, such as Edmund Spenser’s «evil palmers» in The Faerie Queene, and suggests that Gollum functions as an evil guide, contrasted with Gandalf, in Lord of the Rings. He notes that both Gollum and Gandalf are servants of The One, Eru Ilúvatar, in the struggle against the forces of darkness, and «ironically» all of them, good and bad, are necessary to the success of the quest. He comments, too, that despite Gandalf’s evident power, and the moment when he faces the Lord of the Nazgûl, he stays in the role of guide throughout, «never directly confront[ing] his enemies with his raw power.»^[15]

Christ-figure[edit]

The critic Anne C. Petty, writing about «Allegory» in the J.R.R. Tolkien Encyclopedia, discusses Gandalf’s death and reappearance in Christian terms. She cites Michael W. Maher, S.J.: «who could not think of Gandalf’s descent into the pits of Moria and his return clothed in white as a death-resurrection motif?»^[16][17] She at once notes, however, that «such a narrow [allegorical] interpretation» limits the reader’s imagination by demanding a single meaning for each character and event.^[16] Other scholars and theologians have likened Gandalf’s return as a «gleaming white» figure to the transfiguration of Christ.^[18][19][20]

The philosopher Peter Kreeft, like Tolkien a Roman Catholic, observes that there is no one complete, concrete, visible Christ figure in The Lord of the Rings comparable to Aslan in C. S. Lewis’s Chronicles of Narnia series. However, Kreeft and Jean Chausse have identified reflections of the figure of Jesus Christ in three protagonists of The Lord of the Rings: Gandalf, Frodo and Aragorn. While Chausse found «facets of the personality of Jesus» in them, Kreeft wrote that «they exemplify the Old Testament threefold Messianic symbolism of prophet (Gandalf), priest (Frodo), and king (Aragorn).»^[21][22][23]

Adaptations[edit]

In the BBC Radio dramatisations, Gandalf has been voiced by Norman Shelley in The Lord of the Rings (1955–1956),^[26] Heron Carvic in The Hobbit (1968), Bernard Mayes in The Lord of the Rings (1979),^[27] and Sir Michael Hordern in The Lord of the Rings (1981).^[28]

John Huston voiced Gandalf in the animated films The Hobbit (1977) and The Return of the King (1980) produced by Rankin/Bass. William Squire voiced Gandalf in the animated film The Lord of the Rings (1978) directed by Ralph Bakshi. Ivan Krasko played Gandalf in the Soviet film adaptation The Hobbit (1985).^[29] Gandalf was portrayed by Vesa Vierikko in the Finnish television miniseries Hobitit (1993).^[30]

Ian McKellen portrayed Gandalf in The Lord of the Rings film series (2001–2003), directed by Peter Jackson, after Sean Connery and Patrick Stewart both turned down the role.^[31][32] According to Jackson, McKellen based his performance as Gandalf on Tolkien himself:

We listened to audio recordings of Tolkien reading excerpts from Lord of the Rings. We watched some BBC interviews with him—there’s a few interviews with Tolkien—and Ian based his performance on an impersonation of Tolkien. He’s literally basing Gandalf on Tolkien. He sounds the same, he uses the speech patterns and his mannerisms are born out of the same roughness from the footage of Tolkien. So, Tolkien would recognize himself in Ian’s performance.^[33]

McKellen received widespread acclaim^[34] for his portrayal of Gandalf, particularly in The Fellowship of the Ring, for which he received a Screen Actors Guild Award^[35] and an Academy Award nomination, both for best supporting actor.^[36] Empire named Gandalf, as portrayed by McKellen, the 30th greatest film character of all time.^[37] He reprised the role in The Hobbit film series (2012–2014), claiming that he enjoyed playing Gandalf the Grey more than Gandalf the White.^[38][39] He voiced Gandalf for several video games based on the films, including The Two Towers,^[40] The Return of the King,^[41] and The Third Age.^[42]

Charles Picard portrayed Gandalf in the 1999 stage production of The Two Towers at Chicago’s Lifeline Theatre.^[43][44] Brent Carver portrayed Gandalf in the 2006 musical production The Lord of the Rings, which opened in Toronto.^[45]

Gandalf appears in The Lego Movie, voiced by Todd Hanson.^[46] Gandalf is a main character in the video game Lego Dimensions and is voiced by Tom Kane.^[47]

Gandalf has his own movement in Johan de Meij’s Symphony No. 1 «The Lord of the Rings», which was written for concert band and premiered in 1988.^[48] The Gandalf theme has the note sequence G-A-D-A-F, «Gandalf» as far as can be formed with the notes A to G. The result is a «striving, rising theme».^[49]

Notes[edit]

References[edit]

Primary[edit]

This list identifies each item’s location in Tolkien’s writings.

Secondary[edit]

Sources[edit]

• Carpenter, Humphrey, ed. (1981). The Letters of J. R. R. Tolkien. Boston: Houghton Mifflin. ISBN 978-0-395-31555-2.
• Tolkien, J. R. R. (1937). Douglas A. Anderson (ed.). The Annotated Hobbit. Boston: Houghton Mifflin (published 2002). ISBN 978-0-618-13470-0.
• Tolkien, J. R. R. (1954a). The Fellowship of the Ring. The Lord of the Rings. Boston: Houghton Mifflin. OCLC 9552942.
• Tolkien, J. R. R. (1954). The Two Towers. The Lord of the Rings. Boston: Houghton Mifflin. OCLC 1042159111.
• Tolkien, J. R. R. (1955). The Return of the King. The Lord of the Rings. Boston: Houghton Mifflin. OCLC 519647821.
• Tolkien, J. R. R. (1977). Christopher Tolkien (ed.). The Silmarillion. Boston: Houghton Mifflin. ISBN 978-0-395-25730-2.
• Tolkien, J. R. R. (1980). Christopher Tolkien (ed.). Unfinished Tales. Boston: Houghton Mifflin. ISBN 978-0-395-29917-3.
• Tolkien, J. R. R. (1988). Christopher Tolkien (ed.). The Return of the Shadow. Boston: Houghton Mifflin. ISBN 978-0-395-49863-7.

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 the leader of the Fellowship 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 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 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 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 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 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 Virgil himself 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 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 the role in Jackson’s 2012–2014 film series The Hobbit.

Names[edit]

Etymology[edit]

Tolkien derived the name Gandalf from Gandálfr, a dwarf in the Völuspá’s Dvergatal, a list of dwarf-names.^[1] In Old Norse, the name means staff-elf. This is reflected in his name Tharkûn, which is «said to mean ‘Staff-man'» in Khuzdul, one of Tolkien’s invented languages.^{[T 1]}

In-universe names[edit]

Gandalf is given several names and epithets in Tolkien’s writings. Faramir calls him the Grey Pilgrim, and reports Gandalf as saying, «Many are my names in many countries. Mithrandir^[a] 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.»^{[T 2]} 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.^[2]

Each Wizard 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 hame, «cover, skin». Mithrandir is a name in Sindarin meaning «the Grey Pilgrim» or «the 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 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».^{[T 1]}

Characteristics[edit]

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 a staff».^{[T 1]} 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:^{[T 1]}

Warm and eager was his spirit (and it was enhanced by the ring Narya), for he 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 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 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).^{[T 1]}

Fictional biography[edit]

Valinor[edit]

In Valinor, Gandalf was called Olórin.^{[T 1]} 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 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 was all the more reason for him to go.^{[T 1]}

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 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.^{[T 1]}

Middle-earth[edit]

The wizards arrived in Middle-earth separately, early in the Third Age; Gandalf was the last, landing in the Havens of Mithlond. He seemed 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 the third of the Elven-rings.^{[T 1]}

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.^{[T 1]}

The White Council[edit]

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^{[T 3]} to discover the truth, but the Necromancer withdrew before him, only to return with greater force,^{[T 3]} and the White Council was formed in response.^{[T 3]} 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.^{[T 4][T 1]}

Gandalf returned to Dol Guldur «at great peril» and learned that the Necromancer was indeed Sauron. The following year a White Council was held, and Gandalf urged that Sauron be driven out.^{[T 3]} 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.^{[T 4][T 1]}

The Quest of Erebor[edit]

«The Quest of Erebor» in Unfinished Tales elaborates upon 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 the quest was born.^{[T 5]}

The Hobbit[edit]

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.^{[T 6]} On this quest Gandalf acquires the sword, Glamdring, from the trolls’ treasure hoard.^{[T 7]} Elrond informs them that the sword was made in Gondolin, a city long ago destroyed, where Elrond’s father lived as a child.^{[T 8]}

After escaping from the Misty Mountains pursued by goblins and wargs, the party is carried to safety by the Great Eagles.^{[T 9]} 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.^{[T 10]}

He turns up again before 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.^{[T 11]} After the battle, Gandalf accompanies Bilbo back to the Shire, revealing at Rivendell what his pressing business had been: Gandalf had once again urged the council to evict Sauron, since quite evidently Sauron did not require the One Ring to continue to attract evil to Mirkwood.^{[T 12]} 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.^{[T 13]}

The Lord of the Rings[edit]

Gandalf the Grey[edit]

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 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.^{[T 13]}

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 the ring and disappears, Gandalf strongly encourages his old friend to leave the ring to Frodo, as they had planned. Bilbo becomes hostile and accuses Gandalf of trying to steal the ring. Alarmed, Gandalf impresses on Bilbo the foolishness of this accusation. Coming to his senses, Bilbo admits that the ring has been troubling him, and leaves it behind for Frodo as he departs for Rivendell.^{[T 14]}

Over the next 17 years, Gandalf travels extensively, searching for answers on the ring. He finds some answers in Isildur’s scroll, in the archives of Minas Tirith. He also wants to question Gollum, who had borne the ring for many years. Gandalf searches long and hard for Gollum, often assisted by Aragorn. Aragorn eventually succeeds in capturing Gollum. Gandalf questions Gollum, threatening him with fire when he proves unwilling to speak. Gandalf learns that Sauron has forced Gollum under torture in his fortress, Barad-dûr, to tell what he knows of the ring. This reinforces Gandalf’s growing suspicion that Bilbo’s ring is the One Ring.^{[T 13]}

Returning to the Shire, Gandalf confirms his suspicion by throwing the Ring into Frodo’s hearth-fire and reading the writing that appears on the Ring’s surface. He tells Frodo the history of the Ring, and urges him to take it to Rivendell, saying that he would be in grave danger if he stayed 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 the servants of Sauron will be searching for him.^{[T 15]}

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 leaves a letter to Frodo (urging his immediate departure) with Barliman Butterbur at the Prancing Pony, and heads towards Isengard. There Saruman reveals his true intentions, urging Gandalf to help him obtain the Ring for his own use. Gandalf refuses, and Saruman imprisons him at the top of his tower. Eventually Gandalf is rescued by Gwaihir the Eagle.^{[T 13]}

Gwaihir sets Gandalf down in Rohan, where 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 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.^{[T 13]} Frodo, Aragorn and company face the remaining five on Weathertop a few nights later.^{[T 16]} Gandalf reaches Rivendell just before Frodo’s arrival.^{[T 13]}

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 the Ring-bearer—in his quest. He persuades Elrond to let Frodo’s cousins Merry and Pippin join the Fellowship.^{[T 13]}

Taking charge of 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.^{[T 17]} 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 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.^{[T 18]}

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 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!».^{[T 19]}

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 the mountainside. Gandalf too dies, and his body lies on the peak while his spirit travels «out of thought and time».^{[T 20]}

Gandalf the White[edit]

Gandalf is «sent back»^[b] 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.^{[T 20]}

They travel to Rohan, where Gandalf finds that king Théoden has been further weakened by Wormtongue’s influence. He breaks Wormtongue’s hold over Théoden, and convinces the king to join in the fight against Sauron.^{[T 21]} 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.^{[T 22]} Gandalf and the King ride to Isengard, which has just been destroyed by Treebeard and his Ents, who are accompanied by Merry and Pippin.^{[T 23]} Gandalf breaks Saruman’s staff and expels him from the White Council and the Order of Wizards; Gandalf takes Saruman’s place as head of both. Wormtongue makes an attempt to kill Gandalf or Saruman with the palantír of Orthanc, but misses both. Pippin retrieves the palantír, but Gandalf quickly takes it.^{[T 24]} 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 the palantír to Aragorn and takes the chastened Pippin with him to Minas Tirith to keep the young hobbit out of further trouble.^{[T 25]}

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 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, compelling the Nazgûl to withdraw to fight. Gandalf is required to save Faramir from Denethor, who seeks in desperation to burn himself and his son on a funeral pyre.^{[T 26]}

Aragorn and Gandalf lead the final campaign 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 One Ring. In a parley before the battle, Gandalf and the other leaders of the West meet the nameless lieutenant of Mordor, who shows them Frodo’s mithril shirt and other items from the Hobbits’ equipment. Gandalf rejects Mordor’s terms of surrender, and the forces of the West face the full might of Sauron’s armies, until the Ring is destroyed in Mount Doom.^{[T 27]} Gandalf leads the Eagles to rescue Frodo and Sam from the erupting mountain.^{[T 28]}

After the war, Gandalf crowns Aragorn as King Elessar, and helps him find a sapling of the White Tree of Gondor.^{[T 29]} He accompanies the Hobbits back to the borders of the Shire, before leaving to visit Tom Bombadil.^{[T 30]}

Two years later, Gandalf departs Middle-earth for ever. 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 friends Frodo, Bilbo, Galadriel, and Elrond, and his horse Shadowfax.^{[T 31]}

Concept and creation[edit]

Appearance[edit]

Tolkien’s biographer Humphrey Carpenter relates that Tolkien owned a postcard entitled Der Berggeist («the mountain spirit»), which he labelled «the origin of Gandalf».^[3] 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 the mid-1920s. Carpenter acknowledged that Tolkien was probably mistaken about the origin of the postcard.^[4]

An additional influence may have been Väinämöinen, a demigod and the central character in Finnish folklore and the national epic Kalevala by Elias Lönnrot.^[5] Väinämöinen was described as an old and wise man, and he possessed a potent, magical singing voice.^[6]

Throughout 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^{[T 32]} or the other wizards.^{[T 1]}

Name[edit]

When writing The Hobbit in the early 1930s Tolkien gave 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.^[7] The Old Norse name Gandalfr incorporates the words gandr meaning «wand», «staff» or (especially in compounds) «magic» and álfr «elf». The name Gandalf 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.^[8] 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 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.^[9][10]

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.^{[T 33]} But 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.^[11] Gandalf, in this setting, is thus a representation in English (anglicised from Old Norse) of 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.^{[T 34]}

Guide[edit]

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».^{[T 35]} In 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.^{[T 36][T 37]}

In a 1946 letter, Tolkien stated that he thought of Gandalf as an «Odinic wanderer».^{[T 38]} 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, a wide brimmed hat, and a staff,^[12][13] or likened him to Merlin of Arthurian legend or the Jungian archetype of the «wise old man».^[14]

The Tolkien scholar Charles W. Nelson described Gandalf as a «guide who .. assists a major character on a journey or quest .. to unusual and distant places». He noted that in both The Fellowship of the Ring and The Hobbit, Tolkien presents Gandalf in these terms. Immediately after the Council of Elrond, Gandalf tells the Fellowship:^[15]

Someone said that intelligence would be needed in the party. He was right. I think I shall come with you.^[15]

Nelson notes the similarity between this and Thorin’s statement in The Hobbit:^[15]

We shall soon .. start on our long journey, a journey from which some of us, or perhaps all of us (except our friend and counsellor, the ingenious wizard Gandalf) may never return.^[15]

Nelson gives as examples of the guide figure the Cumaean Sibyl who assisted Aeneas on his journey through the underworld in Virgil’s tale The Aeneid, and then Virgil himself in Dante’s Inferno, directing, encouraging, and physically assisting Dante as he travels through hell. In English literature, Nelson notes, Thomas Malory’s Le Morte d’Arthur has the wizard Merlin teaching and directing Arthur to begin his journeys. Given these precedents, Nelson remarks, it was unsurprising that Tolkien should make use of a guide figure, endowing him, like these predecessors, with power, wisdom, experience, and practical knowledge, and «aware[ness] of [his] own limitations and [his] ranking in the order of the great».^[15] Other characters who act as wise and good guides include Tom Bombadil, Elrond, Aragorn, Galadriel—who he calls perhaps the most powerful of the guide figures—and briefly also Faramir.^[15]

Nelson writes that there is equally historical precedent for wicked guides, such as Edmund Spenser’s «evil palmers» in The Faerie Queene, and suggests that Gollum functions as an evil guide, contrasted with Gandalf, in Lord of the Rings. He notes that both Gollum and Gandalf are servants of The One, Eru Ilúvatar, in the struggle against the forces of darkness, and «ironically» all of them, good and bad, are necessary to the success of the quest. He comments, too, that despite Gandalf’s evident power, and the moment when he faces the Lord of the Nazgûl, he stays in the role of guide throughout, «never directly confront[ing] his enemies with his raw power.»^[15]

Christ-figure[edit]

The critic Anne C. Petty, writing about «Allegory» in the J.R.R. Tolkien Encyclopedia, discusses Gandalf’s death and reappearance in Christian terms. She cites Michael W. Maher, S.J.: «who could not think of Gandalf’s descent into the pits of Moria and his return clothed in white as a death-resurrection motif?»^[16][17] She at once notes, however, that «such a narrow [allegorical] interpretation» limits the reader’s imagination by demanding a single meaning for each character and event.^[16] Other scholars and theologians have likened Gandalf’s return as a «gleaming white» figure to the transfiguration of Christ.^[18][19][20]

The philosopher Peter Kreeft, like Tolkien a Roman Catholic, observes that there is no one complete, concrete, visible Christ figure in The Lord of the Rings comparable to Aslan in C. S. Lewis’s Chronicles of Narnia series. However, Kreeft and Jean Chausse have identified reflections of the figure of Jesus Christ in three protagonists of The Lord of the Rings: Gandalf, Frodo and Aragorn. While Chausse found «facets of the personality of Jesus» in them, Kreeft wrote that «they exemplify the Old Testament threefold Messianic symbolism of prophet (Gandalf), priest (Frodo), and king (Aragorn).»^[21][22][23]

Adaptations[edit]

In the BBC Radio dramatisations, Gandalf has been voiced by Norman Shelley in The Lord of the Rings (1955–1956),^[26] Heron Carvic in The Hobbit (1968), Bernard Mayes in The Lord of the Rings (1979),^[27] and Sir Michael Hordern in The Lord of the Rings (1981).^[28]

John Huston voiced Gandalf in the animated films The Hobbit (1977) and The Return of the King (1980) produced by Rankin/Bass. William Squire voiced Gandalf in the animated film The Lord of the Rings (1978) directed by Ralph Bakshi. Ivan Krasko played Gandalf in the Soviet film adaptation The Hobbit (1985).^[29] Gandalf was portrayed by Vesa Vierikko in the Finnish television miniseries Hobitit (1993).^[30]

Ian McKellen portrayed Gandalf in The Lord of the Rings film series (2001–2003), directed by Peter Jackson, after Sean Connery and Patrick Stewart both turned down the role.^[31][32] According to Jackson, McKellen based his performance as Gandalf on Tolkien himself:

We listened to audio recordings of Tolkien reading excerpts from Lord of the Rings. We watched some BBC interviews with him—there’s a few interviews with Tolkien—and Ian based his performance on an impersonation of Tolkien. He’s literally basing Gandalf on Tolkien. He sounds the same, he uses the speech patterns and his mannerisms are born out of the same roughness from the footage of Tolkien. So, Tolkien would recognize himself in Ian’s performance.^[33]

McKellen received widespread acclaim^[34] for his portrayal of Gandalf, particularly in The Fellowship of the Ring, for which he received a Screen Actors Guild Award^[35] and an Academy Award nomination, both for best supporting actor.^[36] Empire named Gandalf, as portrayed by McKellen, the 30th greatest film character of all time.^[37] He reprised the role in The Hobbit film series (2012–2014), claiming that he enjoyed playing Gandalf the Grey more than Gandalf the White.^[38][39] He voiced Gandalf for several video games based on the films, including The Two Towers,^[40] The Return of the King,^[41] and The Third Age.^[42]

Charles Picard portrayed Gandalf in the 1999 stage production of The Two Towers at Chicago’s Lifeline Theatre.^[43][44] Brent Carver portrayed Gandalf in the 2006 musical production The Lord of the Rings, which opened in Toronto.^[45]

Gandalf appears in The Lego Movie, voiced by Todd Hanson.^[46] Gandalf is a main character in the video game Lego Dimensions and is voiced by Tom Kane.^[47]

Gandalf has his own movement in Johan de Meij’s Symphony No. 1 «The Lord of the Rings», which was written for concert band and premiered in 1988.^[48] The Gandalf theme has the note sequence G-A-D-A-F, «Gandalf» as far as can be formed with the notes A to G. The result is a «striving, rising theme».^[49]

Notes[edit]

References[edit]

Primary[edit]

This list identifies each item’s location in Tolkien’s writings.

Secondary[edit]

Sources[edit]

• Carpenter, Humphrey, ed. (1981). The Letters of J. R. R. Tolkien. Boston: Houghton Mifflin. ISBN 978-0-395-31555-2.
• Tolkien, J. R. R. (1937). Douglas A. Anderson (ed.). The Annotated Hobbit. Boston: Houghton Mifflin (published 2002). ISBN 978-0-618-13470-0.
• Tolkien, J. R. R. (1954a). The Fellowship of the Ring. The Lord of the Rings. Boston: Houghton Mifflin. OCLC 9552942.
• Tolkien, J. R. R. (1954). The Two Towers. The Lord of the Rings. Boston: Houghton Mifflin. OCLC 1042159111.
• Tolkien, J. R. R. (1955). The Return of the King. The Lord of the Rings. Boston: Houghton Mifflin. OCLC 519647821.
• Tolkien, J. R. R. (1977). Christopher Tolkien (ed.). The Silmarillion. Boston: Houghton Mifflin. ISBN 978-0-395-25730-2.
• Tolkien, J. R. R. (1980). Christopher Tolkien (ed.). Unfinished Tales. Boston: Houghton Mifflin. ISBN 978-0-395-29917-3.
• Tolkien, J. R. R. (1988). Christopher Tolkien (ed.). The Return of the Shadow. Boston: Houghton Mifflin. ISBN 978-0-395-49863-7.

Цитата из: Shurix on 09-06-2006, 15:55:49
Я знаю, что рядовые англичане все равно прочитают «Gandalf» как «ГЭндальф», французы — «ГандАльф» и т.д. Да и сам Толкин обычно «англицизировал» имена: Gandalf -Гэндальф, Maedros — Майдрос. Меня интересует, как все-таки правильно читать это имя, если (подчеркиваю) доподлино известно, что оно скандинавское.

Всё зависит от того, что понимать под «правильно». На данном сайте висят аудиозаписи, в которых Толкин читает отрывки из «Властелина Колец». Имя Gandalf в этих отрывках встречается дважды и произносит его Толкин примерно как «Гэндалф» (хотя в последнем звуке нет уверенности — «ф» или «в»).

В приложении к ВК Толкин пишет довольно чётко:
Цитата:
The ‘outer’ or Mannish names of the Dwarves have been given Northern forms, but the letter-values are those described. So also in the case of the personal and place-names of Rohan (where they have not been modernized), except that here e’a and e’o are diphthongs, which may be represented by the ea of English bear, and the eo of Theobald; y is the modified u. The modernized forms are easily recognized and are intended to be pronounced as in English. They are mostly place-names: as Dunharrow (for Du’nharg), except Shadowfax and Wormtongue.

Т.е. «северные» и роханские имена произносятся, как пишутся, а вот их «осовремененные» формы (Dunharrow, Shadowfax, Wormtongue) произносятся по английским правилам. Вопрос в том, в какую из двух категорий мы заносим имя Gandalf. Судя по тому, что пишет Толкин в Unfinished Tales, всё-таки во вторую, так что произносится оно должно по правилам английского языка, т.е. как-то вроде «Гэндалф»:

Цитата:
Since the name is attributed to «the North» in general, Gandalf must be supposed to represent a Westron name but one made up of elements not derived from Elvish tongues.

Who better to ask than the professor himself, here he is reading the opening to the Fellowship of the Ring. At 00:23 he says «‘No’ said Gandalf…»

Tolkien seems to pronounce it as most would expect (or at least as always seemed obvious to me), «gand» as in gander and «alf» as in Alfred or alpha. However, Tolkien seems to split the two syllables as «gan» and «dalf», with the syllable break on the ‘d’ as opposed to the ‘a’.

According to the UK IPA (taken from the words Gander and alpha) it would be something like /’ɡæn.dælf/ (Source for lettering from here)

Similarly, this clip from an interview with Sir Christopher Lee (who had met with Tolkien) shows that he pronounces it the same.

Wikipedia claims the IPA to be /ˈɡændɑːlf/, however this seems to be taken from Appendix E — «Writing and Spelling». Which people have identified as not necessarily being accurate because they refer mostly to the ancient scripts as opposed to Westron. However from there it would suggest the following pronunciation:

“has only the sound of g in give, get”

_{NB: The below has been amended due to a massive oversight by myself and the help from @Emil in the comments.}

For the vowels they would’ve been pronounced as the ‘a’ in machine father which wikitionary suggest is an /ə/ /ɑ/ (note these are still purely for Sindarin names):

That is, the sounds were approximately those represented by i, e, a, o, u in English machine, were, father, for, brute, irrespective of quantity.

As for the «L»

represents more or less the sound of English initial l, as in let.

The suggestion for «F» has been proven wrong by Tolkien as well as Sir Christopher and most other accounts.

represents f, except at the end of words, where it is used to represent the sound of v (as in English of): Nindalf, Fladrif.

Who better to ask than the professor himself, here he is reading the opening to the Fellowship of the Ring. At 00:23 he says «‘No’ said Gandalf…»

Tolkien seems to pronounce it as most would expect (or at least as always seemed obvious to me), «gand» as in gander and «alf» as in Alfred or alpha. However, Tolkien seems to split the two syllables as «gan» and «dalf», with the syllable break on the ‘d’ as opposed to the ‘a’.

According to the UK IPA (taken from the words Gander and alpha) it would be something like /’ɡæn.dælf/ (Source for lettering from here)

Similarly, this clip from an interview with Sir Christopher Lee (who had met with Tolkien) shows that he pronounces it the same.

Wikipedia claims the IPA to be /ˈɡændɑːlf/, however this seems to be taken from Appendix E — «Writing and Spelling». Which people have identified as not necessarily being accurate because they refer mostly to the ancient scripts as opposed to Westron. However from there it would suggest the following pronunciation:

“has only the sound of g in give, get”

_{NB: The below has been amended due to a massive oversight by myself and the help from @Emil in the comments.}

For the vowels they would’ve been pronounced as the ‘a’ in machine father which wikitionary suggest is an /ə/ /ɑ/ (note these are still purely for Sindarin names):

That is, the sounds were approximately those represented by i, e, a, o, u in English machine, were, father, for, brute, irrespective of quantity.

As for the «L»

represents more or less the sound of English initial l, as in let.

The suggestion for «F» has been proven wrong by Tolkien as well as Sir Christopher and most other accounts.

represents f, except at the end of words, where it is used to represent the sound of v (as in English of): Nindalf, Fladrif.

Что означает имя Гэндальф? Что обозначает имя Гэндальф? Что значит имя Гэндальф для человека? Какое значение имени Гэндальф, анализ, происхождение, судьба и характер его носителя? Какой национальности имя Гэндальф? Как переводится имя Гэндальф? Как правильно пишется имя Гэндальф? Совместимость c именем Гэндальф — подходящий цвет, камни и талисманы, планета покровитель и знак зодиака. Полная характеристика имени Гэндальф и его подробное описание вы можете прочитать онлайн в статье про имя Гэндальф совершенно бесплатно.

Анализ имени Гэндальф

Имя Гэндальф состоит из 8 букв. Восемь букв в имени означают, что это кто угодно, только не прирожденный «семьянин». Такие люди постоянно недовольны существующим положением вещей и всегда находятся в поиске чего-то нового, яркого и достойного восхищения. Они сами являются воплощением очарования в самом прямом смысле этого слова: способны околдовать, пленить, лишить разума. Проанализировав значение каждой буквы в имени Гэндальф можно понять его тайный смысл и скрытое значение.

Происхождение имени Гэндальф

Имя, даваемое при рождении человеку, в нашем случае имя — Гэндальф, обычно дается при рождении на всю жизнь. Имена люди имели во все времена во всех цивилизациях. У каждого народа они связаны с его культурой и бытом. Для того, чтобы какое-либо имя появилось у данного народа, необходимы определённые культурно-исторические условия. Любое слово, которым именовали человека, окружающие начинали воспринимать как его личное имя. Впервые имя Гэндальф встречается в исторических документах с 1743 года. Имя Гэндальф в русской транслитерации образовано путем сложения 2 сложных частиц: «ГЭН + ДАЛЬФ». Обладатели кириллической версии имени Гэндальф в 63% случаев родились и проживают на территории России, и в 37% случаев являются гражданами других стран.

Значение имени Гэндальф

Нумерология имени Гэндальф может подсказать не только главные качества и характер человека. Но и определить его судьбу, показать успех в личной жизни, дать сведения о карьере, расшифровать судьбоносные знаки и даже предсказать будущее. Число имени Гэндальф в нумерологии — 4. Девиз имени Гэндальф и четверок по жизни: «Комфорт, стабильность и порядок!»
«Четверка» среди Главных чисел нумерологической карты – это непоколебимая устойчивость жизненной позиции, стабильность и уверенность в будущем. Это налаженный быт, прочные родственные и дружеские связи, надежный, постоянный доход и неизменное уважение окружающих.
Позитивное значение числа 4 для имени Гэндальф можно было бы связать с чисто мужскими достоинствами, если бы ими не обладали тысячи женщин. Это – высокий уровень выносливости, исключительная трудоспособность, методичность, принципиальность и невозмутимость. Ценят порядок и практичность, стабильность и спокойствие. Материалисты «до мозга костей», четверки не любят шумные сборища и острые ощущения. Их главная забота – благополучие в финансовом плане, постоянство комфорта. Это люди с принципами, им можно доверить свои тайны и не волноваться за их сохранность. Друзей у таких людей немного, но те, что есть – преданные и проверенные годами товарищи.
Четверка материальна, имеет врожденный талант конструктора и инженера, ее отличает креативность, но и стремление к стабильности. Четверка по имени Гэндальф должна быть уверена в завтрашнем дне, много работает на будущее. Те Четверки, которым не хватает уверенности в собственных силах, могут быть слишком чувствительны и упрямы. Четверке важна материальная сторона жизни, это человек действия. Ранима и обидчива. Четверка может разделять интеллектуальное от эмоционального. Четверка сложно принимает решение, долго колеблется и сомневается, делая выбор, нуждается в тишине. Помочь Четверке можно, не принимая решения за нее. Четверка увлекается эзотерикой. Человек с именем Гэндальф может добиться всего в жизни. Главное — это вера в свои силы. Ребенок в душе, Четверка умеет хранить верность, любит популярность, обладает актерским талантом. Четверка всегда ищет нестандартные решения. Иногда обладает ярко выраженными способностями к целительству. Ярко выражен талант к коммерции. В семейных отношениях — авторитарная и властная из-за своей неуверенности. Порадовать Четверку по имени Гэндальф можно, дав ей стабильность, уверенность и ограничения.

• Влияние имени Гэндальф на профессию и карьеру. Профессию людей с «четверкой» в нумерологическом ядре часто определяют внешние обстоятельства. Подходящие профессии: архитектор, организатор мероприятий, финансист.
• Влияние имени Гэндальф на личную жизнь. Число четыре сулит личную жизнь, далекую от романтики и воздушных замков. Четверки очень трудолюбивы, стрессоустойчивы и терпеливы. Партнер такого человека должен уметь развеселить его, заставить поверить в себя, но при этом быть таким же терпеливым, как и он сам. Для людей с этим числом идеально подойдут восьмерки, двойки и единицы.

Характер имени Гэндальф

Носители имени Гэндальф рационалистичны, не одарены богатым воображением, но практичны и трудолюбивы. И хотя сами они не обладают творческими порывами, но способны руководить творческими людьми, группируя их по своему усмотрению и используя их талант, как администраторы — людьми на своем месте. Обладатели имени Гэндальф наделены высоким чувством долга, любят справедливость, ценят материальную сторону жизни — хорошую еду, отдых, и всегда стремятся к стабильности и процветанию. В то же время им не хватает широты взглядов, они часто испытывают стресс, могут быть суетливыми, нервными, скучающими и хандрящими. Вокруг стоит многому поучиться у людей с именем Гэндальф, ведь они — самые организованные и методичные люди в мире. Носители имени Гэндальф любят свободу действий и легко предоставляют ее другим — уважение к частной территории для этих людей всегда стоит на первом месте. В то же время люди с именем Гэндальф очень доверчивы, щедры и дарят свою любовь только тем, кто ее действительно заслуживает.

Судьба имени Гэндальф

Риск не является чертой характера для людей с именем Гэндальф. Они всегда очень осторожны и воздержанны. Поэтому прежде, чем приступить к какому-либо проекту или просто действию, обладателю имени Гэндальф необходимо все досконально изучить и обдумать. Но, если они приняли решение, то уже никакие обстоятельства не смогут сбить их с избранного пути. Любая работа у человека с именем Гэндальф выполняется последовательно и аккуратно. Благодаря выдержке они со временем достигают успеха во всех сферах жизни. Люди с именем Гэндальф нередко болеют непонятными болезнями, которые трудно продиагностировать. У них бывают анемия, меланхолия, головные боли. Принести пользу может гипноз и психотерапия. В отношениях партнерам с именем Гэндальф не хватает романтичности. Кажется, что они холодны и равнодушны, но свои чувства они подтверждают больше делами, чем словами. В финансовом вопросе очень консервативны. Деньги играют очень важную роль в их жизни, потому что они служат для них залогом стабильности и уверенности в завтрашнем дне!

Совместимость имени Гэндальф

Для каждого имени, в том числе и для имени Гэндальф может быть рассчитана степень совместимости с другими именами. Совместимость имен позволяет определить, насколько эти имена, благодаря своим особенностям и характеристикам, позволяют строить коммуникативные, дружеские, любовные отношения между людьми. Имя как зеркало человека — в нем отражается его характер и судьба. И понятно желание любого человека окружить себя единомышленниками, с которыми чувствуешь себя спокойно и безопасно. Напротив, борьба характеров, противостояние темпераментов приводят к спорам, раздорам и конфликтам. Наилучшую cовместимость имя Гэндальф показывает со следующими именами: Тамара, Алефтина, Лариса, Яна, Виталий, Хая, Лия, Агафья, Венера.

День имени Гэндальф

День имени Гэндальф отмечают 21 февраля.

Характеристика имени Гэндальф

• Планета-покровитель для имени Гэндальф — Уран.
• Знак зодиака для имени Гэндальф — Телец, Дева и Козерог.
• Камни-талисманы для имени Гэндальф — аметрин, красный железняк, данбурит, изумруд, стекло, мочи, лунный камень, пемза, прозрачный кварц, черный сапфир, белый сапфир, желтый сапфир, серебро, содалит, стромболит, тигровый глаз, черный турмалин, цирконий.
• Число (цифра) имени Гэндальф в нумерологии — 4.
• Цвет имени Гэндальф — зеленый.

В результате фоносемантическиго анализа имени Гэндальф и опроса фокус-группы были выявлены следующие характеристики: безопасный, угловатый, могучий, шероховатый, тяжёлый, длинный, быстрый. Именно такие характеристики и ассоциации возникают в голове у людей, когда они слышат имя Гэндальф.

Планета покровитель имени Гэндальф

Люди с именем Гэндальф, чьей планетой-покровителем является Уран очень упрямы и своевольны. У них есть свои представления о мире и жизненные принципы, которым они следуют, пренебрегая общепринятыми нормами поведения. Главное качество людей с именем Гэндальф — независимость. Они ответственны, любят природу и ищут друзей с такими же качествами. Носители имени Гэндальф имеют много друзей и всегда рады общению с ними. Люди этого типа подвижны, общительны, трудолюбивы. У них отличная память, но они часто бывают раздражительными и нервными. Кроме всего прочего, у них отличные организаторские способности.

Знаки зодиака имени Гэндальф

Для имени Гэндальф подходят следующие знаки зодиака:

Камни и талисманы для имени Гэндальф

Амулеты, как и обереги, выполняют защитную функцию, но предназначены для конкретного человека. Носить их нужно открыто в виде бус, колец, серег, браслетов, брошей или кулонов. Талисманы не должны выставляться напоказ. У них более широкие функции. Они привлекают деньги, приносят удачу, дарят любовь, добавляют здоровья. Определим подходящий список талисманов для имени Гэндальф. Носителям имени Гэндальф подходят нефрит и сапфир. Нефриту приписывают способность давать жизненную силу. А сапфир помогает своему владельцу отличать ложь от правды и привлекать противоположный пол.

Цвет имени Гэндальф

Зеленый цвет имени Гэндальф. Люди с именем Гэндальф, носящие зеленый цвет, добры и сердечны, готовы отдать последнее. Обладатели имени Гэндальф не боятся перемен в жизни, легко идут на риск ради материального благополучия. Однако деньги редко остаются в их кармане — зеленые люди по имени Гэндальф любят веселиться большой и шумной компанией, угощая всех подряд. Носители имени Гэндальф очень ранимы и чувствительны, поэтому часто обижаются на членов семьи, чувствуя себя непонятыми и нелюбимыми, однако, прощают они так же быстро, как и обижаются. Положительные черты характера имени Гэндальф — доброта и оптимизм. Отрицательные черты характера имени Гэндальф — ранимость и обидчивость.

Как правильно пишется имя Гэндальф

В русском языке грамотным написанием этого имени является — Гэндальф. В английском языке имя Гэндальф может иметь следующий вариант написания — Gendalf.

Склонение имени Гэндальф по падежам

Видео про имя Гэндальф

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