Gandalf/Names
Gandalf acquired many names from the people he met whilst he was in Middle-earth. This article explains each one in full.
Olórin[edit | edit source]
Olórin, his original name in Valinor. It is Quenya, and its meaning is associated with the Quenya word olos or olor, meaning "dream" or "vision / of mind".[1][2] In a draft manuscript of The Lord of the Rings, occurs the spelling Olórion.[3]
Mithrandir[edit | edit source]
Mithrandir, ([miˈθrandir]), his Sindarin name, used in Gondor and meaning "Grey Pilgrim" or "Grey Wanderer" (mith "grey" + randir "pilgrim, wandering man").[4][5]
Portrayal in adaptations[edit | edit source]
2003: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King:
- The people of Gondor call Gandalf "Mithrandir".
2003: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King:
- Denethor II, son of Ecthelion II, and 26th Steward of Gondor is the first person from Gondor to call Gandalf, “Mithrandir”.
2012: The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey:
- Lindir and Galadriel refer to Gandalf as "Mithrandir".
2014: The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies:
- Thranduil and Galadriel call Gandalf "Mithrandir".
Incánus[edit | edit source]
Incánus, his name "in the south" (probably meaning no further south than Gondor or the Near Harad[1]), gained during his long travels in Middle-earth in the mid-Third Age.[6]
Etymology[edit | edit source]
Although Incánus seems to be of unclear language and meaning, a note in the Thain's Book says it is a Quenya form simply adapted from a word in the tongue of the Haradrim: Inkā-nūsh (or possibly Inkā-nūs), meaning "North-spy".[1]
Other versions of the legendarium[edit | edit source]
J.R.R. Tolkien several times changed his mind about the meaning of Incánus. Besides the etymology given above, his other variations were:
- Archaic Quenya word meaning "Mind-ruler", from in(id)- ("mind") and cáno ("ruler, governor, chieftain")[1]
- An adaptation from Quenya incānus(se), meaning "mind mastership"[2]
- A possible Westron invention meaning Greymantle[1]. In a draft manuscript of The Lord of the Rings, different names used were Forlong>>Fornold>>Incânus.[3]
Inspiration[edit | edit source]
Incánus in Latin means "grey-haired". Although Christopher Tolkien has noted that the "coincidence in form" might be an "accident",[1] his father wrote "Incánus Latin" in a later published manuscript,[2] suggesting that the similarity was perhaps more than a coincidence.
Tharkûn[edit | edit source]
Tharkûn, the name given to Gandalf by the Dwarves.[6] Tharkûn is Khuzdul, meaning either "Grey-man"[2] or "Staff-man"[1]. The word possibly derives from the unattested word thark "staff" + a nominal ending -ûn.[7] In a draft manuscript of The Lord of the Rings, occurs the spelling Sharkûn.[3]
The White Rider[edit | edit source]
The White Rider, his name while riding the great horse Shadowfax.[8]
Greyhame[edit | edit source]
Greyhame or Gandalf Greyhame was one of Gandalf's many titles and surnames, used particularly in the country of Rohan.[9]
Etymology[edit | edit source]
It was the equivalent in the tongue of the Rohirrim of "Greymantle" or "Greycloak" which would have been grēg-hama.[10]
The name is perhaps a rendering of Incánus, the Westron name for Gandalf (though this is only but one of several competing explanations of the name "Incánus").
Stormcrow[edit | edit source]
Stormcrow was a name given to Gandalf by King Théoden in Rohan, a reference to his arrival being associated with times of trouble.[11]
Láthspell[edit | edit source]
Láthspell I name you, Ill-news; and ill news is an ill guest they say.
—Gríma Wormtongue[11]
Láthspell was a name given to Gandalf by Gríma Wormtongue when the former arrived at Meduseld.
History[edit | edit source]
Attempting to keep Théoden weak, Gríma pointed out that Gandalf always seemed to appear in the land of Rohan at times of hardship or war, bearing ill tidings. Gríma's strategy - to get Gandalf denied access to the King - did not succeed, for Gandalf broke his hold over Théoden, and he soon found himself exiled from Edoras.[11]
Other versions of the legendarium[edit | edit source]
In earlier drafts, it is actually Théoden who refers to Gandalf as Láthspell.[12]
Etymology[edit | edit source]
Láthspell translates to "ill news" in Old English and comes from láð, meaning "causing hate, evil, injury" (whence Modern English loath), and spell, meaning "story, message".[13] Compare with gospel, or gōdspell in its Old English form, which means the opposite: "good news", literally translating the Greek term euangelion.
Portrayal in adaptations[edit | edit source]
2002: The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers:
- Wormtongue uses the quote "Lathspell I name him. Ill news is an ill guest".
The supposed Westron "G-" name[edit | edit source]
According to the chapter A Long-expected Party[14] it is possible to deduce that the true initial of Gandalf in Westron was actually the letter G-.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "The Istari"
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 J.R.R. Tolkien, "Words, Phrases and Passages in Various Tongues in The Lord of the Rings", in Parma Eldalamberon XVII (edited by Christopher Gilson), p. 88
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The War of the Ring, "Part Two: The Ring Goes East", "V. Faramir"
- ↑ Wayne G. Hammond and Christina Scull (eds), The Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion, p. 320
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, "Words, Phrases and Passages in Various Tongues in The Lord of the Rings", in Parma Eldalamberon XVII (edited by Christopher Gilson), p. 60
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Two Towers, "The Window on the West"
- ↑ Mellonath Daeron, "An analysis of Dwarvish" (accessed 11 October 2010)
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Two Towers, "The White Rider"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Two Towers, "The Riders of Rohan"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, "Nomenclature of The Lord of the Rings" in Wayne G. Hammond and Christina Scull (eds), The Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion, p. 758
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 J.R.R. Tolkien, The Lord of the Rings, The Two Towers, "The King of the Golden Hall"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Treason of Isengard, "The King of the Golden Hall", p. 444
- ↑ Wayne G. Hammond and Christina Scull (eds), The Lord of the Rings: A Reader's Companion, p. 404
- ↑ there were great bundles of fireworks of all sorts and shapes, each labelled with a large red G and the elf-rune. That was Gandalf’s mark, [...] Hence the excitement of the hobbit-children. ‘G for Grand!’ they shouted, and the old man smiled
