Radagast: Difference between revisions

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| image=[[Image:Radagast (Decipher).JPG|250px]]
| image=[[Image:Radagast (Decipher).JPG|250px]]
| name= Radagast
| name= Radagast
| othernames= The Brown, [[Radagast|Aiwendil]], Bird Friend, Tender of Beasts, [[Bird-tamer]]
| othernames= The Brown, [[Radagast#Aiwendil|Aiwendil]]
| coming={{TA|1000}}
| coming={{TA|1000}}
| duty=[[Istari]]
| duty=[[Istari]]
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==Titles==
==Titles==
[[Image:Angelo Montanini - Radagast.jpg|thumb|right|''Radagast'' by [[Angelo Montanini]]]]
[[Image:Angelo Montanini - Radagast.jpg|thumb|right|''Radagast'' by [[Angelo Montanini]]]]
* The Brown
* [[The Brown]]
* Radagast the Bird-tamer - a name mockingly given to Radagast by Saruman.<ref name=II2>{{FR|II2}}</ref>
* Radagast the [[Bird-tamer]] - a name mockingly given to Radagast by Saruman.<ref name=II2>{{FR|II2}}</ref>
* Radagast the Simple - a name mockingly given to Radagast by Saruman.<ref name=II2/>
* Radagast [[the Simple]] - a name mockingly given to Radagast by Saruman.<ref name=II2/>
* Radagast the Fool - a name mockingly given to Radagast by Saruman.<ref name=II2/>
* Radagast [[the Fool]] - a name mockingly given to Radagast by Saruman.<ref name=II2/>


== Etymology ==
== Etymology ==

Revision as of 22:55, 8 October 2011

"Who told you, and who sent you?" — Gandalf
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Template:Istari infobox

"Radagast the Brown! ... Radagast the Bird-tamer! Radagast the Simple! Radagast the Fool! Yet he had just the wit to play the part that I set him."
― Saruman, The Council of Elrond

Radagast the Brown was one of the Wizards, a good friend of Gandalf, and had a strong affinity for animals. He lived at Rhosgobel, on the western eaves of Mirkwood, near the Gladden Fields on the Great River.

History

Radagast, like the other Wizards, came from Valinor around the year 1000 of the Third Age and was one of the Maiar of the Valië Yavanna. His original name was Aiwendil (pron. [aɪˈwendil]). Yavanna forced Curumo to accept Radagast as a companion, which may have been one of the reasons Saruman was contemptuous of him.

The wizard's home was in Rhosgobel on the western borders of Mirkwood. He was a friend of Beorn as well as a friend to the forest's many creatures, especially birds whom he communicated with. Despite this, Gandalf was still more knowledgeable of the animals, and more respected by them than Radagast. Radagast spent most of his time with the wildlife instead of Men and Elves, whom he found more difficult to deal with. Radagast grew neglectful and easygoing, and he lacked courage, however he remained of good will.

In the summer of 3018 Radagast was unwittingly used by Saruman to lure Gandalf to Orthanc, sending him to Bree with a message for Gandalf. In this message Saruman asked Gandalf to come to Orthanc, where Saruman trapped and captured him. Luckily, Radagast didn't mean any harm to Gandalf, and wasn't aware of Saruman's plan. So Radagast also helped rescue the grey wizard by alerting the Eagles of Gandalf's journey there.

Radagast is without a doubt a mysterious character. While there is little doubt that his heart was in the right place, he did not possess that same selflessness that allowed Gandalf to fulfil the task set to him by the Valar, to aid the free people. Deigning to leave his wooded home, Radagast remained in Northern Mirkwood with the birds and the beasts and the trees.

So in the end, it seems that Radagast was among the four wizards who failed in their tasks to help fight against Sauron. He was not ambitious and cruel like Saruman, but there is no record of him contributing to the downfall of Sauron.

What became of Radagast the Brown in the Fourth Age is left to speculation.

Titles

Radagast by Angelo Montanini

Etymology

Radagast

In a manuscript written by Tolkien in 1954, the name Radagast is said to mean "tender of beasts" in Adûnaic, the language of Númenor.[2] However, in a later note Tolkien said that the name is in the language of the Men of the Vales of Anduin, and that its meaning is not interpretable.[3]

As stated by Hammond and Scull, several theories have appeared concerning the inspiration of the name Radagast.[4] One such theory has been proposed by Douglas A. Anderson, who notes the name Redigast in Slavic mythology.[5]

Aiwendil

The name Aiwendil is likely Quenya, perhaps derived from aiwe ("(small) bird") and ndil ("devoted to").[4][6]

Portrayal in adaptations

1981: BBC Radio's The Lord of the Ring:

Donald Gee provided the voice of Radagast. He is however not the person who sends the Eagle to save Gandalf from Orthanc.

1987-: Mithril Miniatures:

Radagast has been issued in a couple of different versions: figure LR3 "Radagast the Brown" is seen with a cat and an owl;[7] an older version of the figure portrays Radagast without beard and with a different bird.[8] There is also a "Radagast Mounted" (MS539), where Radagast (again without beard) is portrayed mounted on a horse.[9]

1988: J.R.R. Tolkien's War in Middle Earth:

Radagast is a non-playable character in this game.

2001: The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring:

The character Radagast and virtually all references to him were removed. He was originally to appear in a background scene, but this was removed because it was thought it would only confuse people.[source?] He later appeared on a Decipher Card, played by Weta's John Harding.

2001-: The Lord of the Rings Strategy Battle Game:

The hero figure Radagast the Brown, although less powerful than Gandalf and Saruman, has some unique powers.[10]

2007: The Lord of the Rings Online:

Radagast is a non-playable character, who gives various quests. He resides at Ost Guruth and Agamaur, keeps in the Lone-lands.

2011: The Lord of the Rings: War in the North:

Radagast can be used as an ally by players.[11]

2012-13: The Hobbit films:

Radagast is played by Sylvester McCoy.[12]

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring, "The Council of Elrond"
  2. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "The Istari"
  3. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "The Istari", note 4
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Wayne G. Hammond and Christina Scull (eds), The Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion, pp. 240-1
  5. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien; Douglas A. Anderson, (ed.), (2002) The Annotated Hobbit: Revised and Expanded Edition, p. 167
  6. ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Lost Road and Other Writings, Part Three: "The Etymologies", pp. 348, 378 (entries AIWĒ- and NIL-, NDIL-)
  7. ↑ Mithril Wizards Miniatures at Mithril.ie (accessed 8 October 2011)
  8. ↑ Lord of the Rings (Mithril) at TwilightTangents.com (accessed 8 October 2011; cf. Radgast (image))
  9. ↑ 32mm Fellowship Figures - MS539 Radagast Mounted at Mithril.ie (accessed 8 October 2011)
  10. ↑ Radagast the Brown at Games-Workshop-com (accessed 8 October 2011)
  11. ↑ Allies at WarintheNorth.com (accessed 8 October 2011)
  12. ↑ TORN EXCLUSIVE: CATE BLANCHETT, KEN STOTT, SYLVESTER MCCOY, MIKAEL PERSBRANDT JOIN CAST OF PETER JACKSON’S “THE HOBBIT” at TheOneRing.net (accessed 8 October 2011)
Ainur
Valar Lords Manwë · Ulmo · Aulë · Oromë · Mandos · Irmo · Tulkas · Melkor
Valier Varda · Yavanna · Nienna · Estë · Vairë · Vána · Nessa
Maiar Arien · Blue Wizards · Eönwë · Gandalf · Ilmarë · Melian · Ossë · Radagast · Salmar · Saruman · Tilion · Uinen
Úmaiar Sauron · Balrogs (Gothmog · Durin's Bane) · Boldogs
Concepts and locations Almaren · Aratar (indicated in italics) · Creation of the Ainur · Fana · Máhanaxar · Ainulindalë · Order of Wizards (indicated in bold) · Second Music of the Ainur · Timeless Halls · Valarin · Valinor · Valimar

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