🧙Gandalf: A Tribute

[elithraniel]

Thrice he cried. Thrice the great ram boomed. And suddenly upon the last stroke the Gate of Gondor broke. As if stricken by some blasting spell it burst asunder; there was a flash of searing lightning, and the doors tumbled in riven fragments to the ground.
In rode the Lord of the Nazgul. A great black shape against the fires beyond, he loomed up, grown to a vast menace of despair. In rode the Lord of the Nazgul, under the arch that no enemy ever yet had passed, and all fled before his face. All save one. There waiting silent and still in the space before the Gate, sat Gandalf upon Shadowfax, Shadowfax who alone among the free horses of the earth endured the terror, unmoving, steadfast as a graven image in Rath Dinen.
"You cannot enter here," said Gandalf, and the huge shadow halted. "Go back to the abyss prepared for you! Go back! Fall into the nothingness that awaits you and your Master. Go!"

Vedui' Devoted Gandalf Fans,
I have only been at The Tolkien Forum for a short time. But, during my stay it has come to my attention that something was missing: a thread for devoted Gandalf fans. I'm not sure how many more there are out there, but no matter how many more Gandalf fans there are I am proud to count myself among them.
Though, fan is not quite the word. I don't know what we call ourselves: fans, admirers... we are people that look up to him and can see him in everything. His wisdom and bravery have taught us something and made us who we are today. On the Bridge of Khazad-dum, in Fangorn Forest, Gondor and before the Black Gate: these, along with so many others, are places that portray his bravery, wisdom and light. He is "a servant of the Secret Fire, wielder of the flame of Anor."
There is too much to sit down and put in one post: and that is why I hope we can help to capture a ray of his light and a glimpse of his greatness in this thread.
Vanya sulie,
Elithraniel

 

[BlackCaptain]

Perhaps you didnt get the end of that quot?

The Black Rider flung back his hood, and behold! he had a kingly crown; and yet upon no head visible was it set. The red fires shone between it and the mantled shoulders vast and dark. From a mouth unseen there came a deadly laughter.
'Old fool!' he said. 'Old fool! This is my hour. Do you not know death when you see it? Die now and curse in vain!' And with that he lifted high his sword and flames ran down the blade.

Yummy.

Anyhoo I always was a fan of Gandalf. Great character, reminds me of me in many ways, or at least the person I want to be.

 

[Flammifer]

I agree elithraniel!

Gandalf is probably my favourite character, although his scorning of Pippin made me a bit mad !

But yeah he has some of the cooooooolest lines! Like this one:

"Many that live deserve death. And some that die deserve life. Can you give it to them? Then do not be too eager to deal out death in judgement. For even the very wise cannot see all ends."

Yeah I think he has the coolest lines and probably the most exciting stuff to do. E.g. fighting a Balrog, sneaking into Dol Guldur, shooting white light at Nazgul, and somehow managing to pursue the fastest horse in ME across the plains of Rohan.

 

[Niniel]

I always liked Gandalf a lot, and you are right that he is a bit overlooked here on TTF. How he defied the Mouth of Sauron... and of course the Balrog: 'You cannot pass!!!' *shudders*

 

[elithraniel]

The Balrog was awesome! I have to admit I cried when he fell off the bridge: 'Fly you fools.' And I have to agree with Flammifer:

But yeah he has some of the cooooooolest lines! Like this one:

"Many that live deserve death. And some that die deserve life. Can you give it to them? Then do not be too eager to deal out death in judgement. For even the very wise cannot see all ends."

I really love that quote! But, if I had to pick my favorite one it would be the one in my signature:

 

[Rangerdave]

I believe his best line was

... it is not our part to master all the tides of the world, but to do what is in us for the succour of those years wherein we are set, uprooting the evil in the fields that we know, so that those who live after may have clean earth to till. What weather they shall have is not ours to rule.

I tend to use that one quite often




RD

 

[Ithrynluin]

I'm a fan of all the Maiar, which of course includes Gandalf. He is a highly detailed character, surrounded by an aura of mystery (especially if one hasn't read anything except the LOTR!). He holds great power, but rarely shows it openly, which makes him even more intriguing to me. Altogether a wonderful character.

 

[BlackCaptain]

I agree... I can't remember hearing of a time when he used his power in full. He's almost got a Jedi thing going on... Using all of your power for destruction leads to evil thigns.... something like that

 

[elithraniel]

Thanks for bringing that one up as well, Ranger Dave. It seems that no matter how hard I try I always leave out one of my favorite quotes! I'm not goign to type this one: but in the end of The Bridge of Khazad-dum in the Fellowship of the Ring is a very gripping part as well! I agree with ithrynluin as well. He never really displays all of his power!
One thing that really interests me is how Saruman feared him; knew all along that Gandalf was greater. In Lost Tales of Middle earth and Numenor I become so fascinated! How Saruman tried the Halflings leaf because when he insulted Gandalf about it in a council Gandalf replied with such surety! Does anyone else enjoy the whole story about Saruman secretely fearing him and all?

 

[YayGollum]

Is there room for an evil person who doesn't enjoy this character? *holds back all kinds of evil comments he'd love to toss, then reminisces when he remembers the old Gollum Fan Club*

 

[elithraniel]

Well, um, there's always room for another person! But, remember this is "Gandalf: A Tribute." This is supposed to be a tribute to him!
In the movie, if I may say so; I really enjoyed when the Three Hunters first see Gandalf the White in Fangorn. It was a wodnerful interpretation of the book! But, of course, the book beat it a billion: to one!

 

[BlackCaptain]

"It was nine years after Thrain had left his people that I found him, and he had then been in the pits of Dol Guldur for five years at least. I do not know how he endured so long, nor how he had kept these things hidden through all his torments. I think that the Dark Power had desired nothing from him except the Ring only, and when he had taken that he troubled no further, but just flung the broken prisoner into the pits to rave until he died. A small oversight; but it proved fatal. Small oversights often do"
From Unfinished Tales; The Quest of Erebor

Small oversights often do... wow... That makes all too much sense. He oversaw Thrain, and allowed him to keep the Map and the Key (which was passed on to Thorin, which established the whole quest of Erebor, which caused Bilbo to find the Ring, which caused Sauron's destruction), and he oversaw Frodo's power and resilliance to the Ring. That quote is what got me thinking how great these books really are, and just made me think.

 

[YayGollum]

Got it. I'll take that as a no. I wouldn't want to offend people. just stir things up.

 

[elithraniel]

Oh my goodness, Black Captain! That's really all I can say, you are too right! That quote does make all too much sense.

That quote is what got me thinking how great these books really are...

You're right! That quote is one thing (among many) that really makes you realize that.

 

[Thorondor_]

About using one's full power, there is one argument I like:
It seems that the Valar took their lesson with intervening in the matters of Middle-Earth; I mean, inviting the elves to Valinor and giving great gifts to Numenoreans proved to turn up real bad at some point. So they finnally resorted to being what greeks call "deus otiosus", hidden god, which cannot be seen and doesn't visibly intervene. In my opinion, Gandalf's (and Istari's) primary mission was to "stir up the hearts", bring courage in the soul of humans, so that they have the strength to do their part in the Great Plan. I would say Gandalf is kind of a protective angel, (which rather councils) than an archangel (which rather shapes things/events with his power).

 

[Thorondor_]

A helpful quote:

And this the Valar did, desiring to amend the errors of old, especially that they had attempted to guard and seclude the Eldar by their own might and glory fully revealed; whereas now their emissaries were forbidden to reveal themselves in forms of majesty, or to seek to rule the wills of Men and Elves by open display of power, but coming in shapes weak and humble were bidden to advise and persuade Men and Elves to good, and to seek to unite in love and understanding all those whom Sauron, should he come again, would endeavour to dominate and corrupt.

Unfinished Tales: Part 4.2

 

[ingolmo]

Go Gandalf. Gandalf is the hero of the Third Age. My favorite quote of his is my signature. Check it out.