January 23, 2004

More Gandalf
Tuor

Don’t worry about it, Brett C. I’m not one to take things personally. Anyway, I do see that would be the only explanation why Gandalf no longer has his staff at and after the pyre scene. However it is obvious that Gandalf did something to keep himself and Pippin from getting killed. I find it hard to believe the witch-king would give up a chance to kill the biggest perceived threat to his master. I think the most likely scenario is that Gandalf pulls out some sort of magic like he did to finish off the Balrog on the peak. He didn’t have his staff then, and a bolt of lightning hit his sword, and then he thrust it into the Balrog. And since he is the White, he can probably do much more without a staff than when he was Grey.

Also, the possibility exists that his staff isn’t broken by magical force. Maybe the Fell Beast chomps it in half, or Angmar swings his ridiculously huge flail into the staff. Or, maybe the force needed to drive off Angmar and his steed is what made the staff break. Who knows for sure?

Here’s another somewhat related fact that I’ve only recently noticed. I may be wrong, though I know I’m not, but Gandalf’s sword, Glamdring, is supposed to glow in the presence of orcs like Sting does. I’ll check the Moria segment in FOTR again to be sure, but I’m pretty sure there’s no glowing on Glamdring throughout the mines scene, which was definitely filled with orcs. I’m sure it’s something to do with pacing that they didn’t make it glow as well.

Tuor