Gandalf

Gandalf (/ˈɡændɑːlf/) is a fictional character and a protagonist in J. R. R. Tolkien's novels The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings and The Silmarillion He is a wizard, member of the Istari order, as well as leader of the The Fellowship of the Ring and the army of the West. In The Lord of the Rings, he is initially known as Gandalf the Grey, but he returns from death as Gandalf the White. Although mainly known as Gandalf, the character has a number of names in Tolkien's writings. Gandalf himself says, 'Many are my names in many countries. Mithrandir among the Elves, Tharkûn to the Dwarves, Olórin I was in my youth in the West that is forgotten, in the South Incánus, in the North Gandalf; to the East I go not.' Tolkien derived the name Gandalf from Norse mythology. In Norse the name means wand-elf or staff-elf. This is reflected in his name Tharkûn, which is 'said to mean 'Staff-man' ' in Khuzdul, one of Tolkien's invented languages. In Middle-earth the colour of a Wizard's cloak distinguishes him from other Wizards. For most of his manifestation as a wizard, Gandalf's cloak is famously grey, and from this derive a number of his appellations: hence Gandalf the Grey, and Greyhame. Mithrandir is a name in Sindarin (another language invented by Tolkien), the translation of which gives rise to further names for Gandalf: the Grey Pilgrim and the Grey Wanderer. Midway through The Lord of the Rings, Gandalf is promoted to the head of the order of Wizards, and is thus named Gandalf the White instead of Gandalf the Grey. This change in status (and clothing) also introduces yet another name for the wizard: the White Rider. However even after this transformation, characters who speak Elvish still refer to the wizard as Mithrandir. At times in The Lord of the Rings, other characters address Gandalf by nicknames, usually disparaging: hence Stormcrow, Láthspell, and Grey Fool. Láthspell means 'Ill-news' in Old English. Tolkien discusses Gandalf in his essay on the Istari, which appears in the work Unfinished Tales. He 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'. 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: As one of the Maiar, Gandalf would have participated in the Music of the Ainur at the creation of the world. However he does not attain any prominence until the Valar settle in Valinor.