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- Jun 28, 2022
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Previously we discussed the Rings, specifically the One Ring, and what hand they may have been worn on.
Let's discuss Staffs. What do we know about them? How exactly do they channel power? What is that power's source?
From what I can find:
Of Gandalf's Staff:
1. We only know it is called a 'thorny staff' in Sam's poem.
2. It is just called a 'rugged staff' when he returns as the White.
3. It seems apparently very little different than the staff he had as 'the Grey', as no one ever remarks "what a marvelous staff you have there, Gandalf.' (In fact, Gandalf himself looked so much the same few recognized any difference. Even Saruman did not, until Gandalf advised him of it just before he broke Saruman's staff.)
4. Light came 'from its tip'.
Of Saruman's Staff:
1. We know it was "a thick black staff" when Gandalf broke it at Orthanc.
2. We know the 'head of it fell at Gandalf's feet' implying something about the head of staffs perhaps, but nothing concrete.
3. There is no reference to any other color of Saruman's staff before he fashioned himself 'Saruman of many colours'... only his robe is mentioned.
Of the other Wizards:
1. I find no direct reference to Radagast having a staff with him at any point.
2. However, Saruman mentions "the staffs of all 5 wizards" when he's about to be beaten up by Gandalf... so we know they all had them.
PJ, lacking a certain integrity to text and creativity in movie, gave Saruman a white staff (oops..!), and both Gandalf and Saruman a Gem, Gandalf stuffing his in the top when needed, Saruman's an integral part of the staff's structure. But this is all unfounded.
SO... what else do we know about staffs I'm missing, and how/why do we think they were such remarkable things in the hands of Wizards?
(At one point we see a reference to 'the staff Gandalf wielded' so clearly in more places than one we do see it as their focal 'weapon'. How and why?)
If there's nothing I'm missing then there we have it... it's part of the Great Halls of Speculation.
Thank you.
Let's discuss Staffs. What do we know about them? How exactly do they channel power? What is that power's source?
From what I can find:
Of Gandalf's Staff:
1. We only know it is called a 'thorny staff' in Sam's poem.
2. It is just called a 'rugged staff' when he returns as the White.
3. It seems apparently very little different than the staff he had as 'the Grey', as no one ever remarks "what a marvelous staff you have there, Gandalf.' (In fact, Gandalf himself looked so much the same few recognized any difference. Even Saruman did not, until Gandalf advised him of it just before he broke Saruman's staff.)
4. Light came 'from its tip'.
Of Saruman's Staff:
1. We know it was "a thick black staff" when Gandalf broke it at Orthanc.
2. We know the 'head of it fell at Gandalf's feet' implying something about the head of staffs perhaps, but nothing concrete.
3. There is no reference to any other color of Saruman's staff before he fashioned himself 'Saruman of many colours'... only his robe is mentioned.
Of the other Wizards:
1. I find no direct reference to Radagast having a staff with him at any point.
2. However, Saruman mentions "the staffs of all 5 wizards" when he's about to be beaten up by Gandalf... so we know they all had them.
PJ, lacking a certain integrity to text and creativity in movie, gave Saruman a white staff (oops..!), and both Gandalf and Saruman a Gem, Gandalf stuffing his in the top when needed, Saruman's an integral part of the staff's structure. But this is all unfounded.
SO... what else do we know about staffs I'm missing, and how/why do we think they were such remarkable things in the hands of Wizards?
(At one point we see a reference to 'the staff Gandalf wielded' so clearly in more places than one we do see it as their focal 'weapon'. How and why?)
If there's nothing I'm missing then there we have it... it's part of the Great Halls of Speculation.
Thank you.
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