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Help[Facts] Re: Sauron, Saruman, Gandalf
in reply to a message by Sauron
Gandalf and Saruman are names inspired by Old English. Gandalf means "wand elf" and Saruman means "skillful man". Tolkien explained that these names were translations of the true Westron names, which were not given. He often used Old English to translate archaic Westron names, just as he used modern English to translate Westron.
Sauron on the other hand is elvish, meaning "abhorred".
Sauron on the other hand is elvish, meaning "abhorred".
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Correction
Gandalf is Old Norse, though the Old English form would have been almost identical. In the Old Norse epic the Poetic Edda there is a dwarf named Gandalf, apparently Tolkien's influence for the name of his wizard. Several other character names from the Hobbit were taken from the Prose Edda.
Gandalf is Old Norse, though the Old English form would have been almost identical. In the Old Norse epic the Poetic Edda there is a dwarf named Gandalf, apparently Tolkien's influence for the name of his wizard. Several other character names from the Hobbit were taken from the Prose Edda.
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Yes this is correct. Not only several dwarf names, all of them.
Actually, GandalfR was also a dwarf, Gandr is old norse for staff or stick ( wand )and this makes sense. I am sure that Tolkien was quite aware of this.
Actually, GandalfR was also a dwarf, Gandr is old norse for staff or stick ( wand )and this makes sense. I am sure that Tolkien was quite aware of this.
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Gandalf was the last king of the AlfR-clan which ruled over Alfheim, what is now the westcoast of Sweden. His sons were killed by Halvdan the Black, and later Gandalf was killed by the same person.
A note upon this king of small power can be found in the poetic Edda, where he is said to be a dwarf, i e with small power. You can learn more about the original Gandalf from "The Saga of Halvdan the Black".
I am sure that Tolkien had this priest-king in mind.
A note upon this king of small power can be found in the poetic Edda, where he is said to be a dwarf, i e with small power. You can learn more about the original Gandalf from "The Saga of Halvdan the Black".
I am sure that Tolkien had this priest-king in mind.
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Hi
I always thought that the name gandalf was meant as a sort of joke from tolkein concerning a famous footballer of the time - 'Alf Gand'. I think this is why psueds insist the name be pronounced Gand-Alf not gandalf.
would love to know if it is true
smokey
I always thought that the name gandalf was meant as a sort of joke from tolkein concerning a famous footballer of the time - 'Alf Gand'. I think this is why psueds insist the name be pronounced Gand-Alf not gandalf.
would love to know if it is true
smokey
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