Why does 🧙Gandalf sleep with his eyes open?

[Manwe]

Is that something common for Wizards and mentioned in the books? Or was it one of PJ's artistic interpretations?

 

[buckleburyferry]

Well it didn't help him keep track of the palantir 😆 which would suggest he's really sleeping plus he was sent as a mortal to aid the peoples of middle earth so he needed sleep.

Artistic license by Mr. Jackson i'd say, for a visual medium it helps raise the tension when pippin is deciding if he's going to take the palantir or not, not really being sure if he's asleep or still awake. Compared to the eyes being slightly open which the viewer might not pick up on.

 

[Squint-eyed Southerner]

one of PJ's artistic interpretations

On second thought, I think I won't comment. 😄

 

[Tyelkormo the Fair]

Elves are said to sleep with their eyes open. I think Jackson did it show as much as Gandalf might look like a mortal old man, he's still an otherworldly being like the elves are pictured to be. I'm unaware if there is something mentioned about it in the books.

 

[Ent]

The only reference to sleeping with eyes open in SIL, TH, and LoTR is to Smaug sleeping "with half an eye open."

I cannot find where it is said Elves sleep with their eyes open either... must be external to what some call 'the canon.' (Others, of course, don't include SIL in the canon.)

Entish current perspective/conclusion: An invention for the movies.

 

[Vorondil]

Is that something common for Wizards and mentioned in the books? Or was it one of PJ's artistic interpretations?

Actually it is in the books: ''The wizard seemed asleep, but with lids not fully closed: there was a glitter of eyes under his long lashes''. So there you go, Gandalf does in fact sleep with his eyes slightly open.

 

[Eljorahir]

cannot find where it is said Elves sleep with their eyes open either.

Tolkien gives us a beautiful description of Elvish sleep in Rohan a few pages before the meeting with Eomer:

"Only Legolas still stepped as lightly as ever, his feet hardly seeming to press the grass, leaving no footprints as he passed; but in the way bread of the Elves he found all the sustenance that he needed, and he could sleep , if sleep it could be called by Men, resting his mind in the strange paths of Elvish dreams, even as he walked open-eyed in the light of this world."

 

[Ent]

as he walked open-eyed in the light of this world.

Interesting... I suspect this one didn't show up in my searches because I failed in use of the dash.
And, I failed in use of my memory.
And, I failed.... oh skip it.

At least we know elves can sleep-walk open-eyed.
Thanks for the reminder..!!! 😃