Characterization Project

ByAndrew Stewart

Gandalf

The Lord of the Rings

Gandalf

• He is from the series of novels, the Lord of the Rings, which is also a film trilogy.

• Gandalf is first introduced as the friendly wizard that everyone in the Shire has been acquainted with. His first scene is a conversation on his horse wagon talking to the protagonist, Frodo. The way they talk to each other shows that they have been very good friends for quite some time.

• Gandalf acts as one of the many confidants in the “Lord of the Rings.” He is one of the nine chosen (The Fellowship of the Ring) to aid Frodo on his quest to destroy the ring of power in the fires of Mount Doom. He is one of Frodo’s closest and most trustworthy friends.

Character Development

• Gandalf is a dynamic character. At the beginning of the trilogy, Gandalf is known to all as “Gandalf the Grey.” As the films progress, Gandalf turns into “Gandalf the White,” a more ‘holy’ version of his past self. This changed Gandalf has a stronger will and is able to fight with incredible stamina and endurance. Gandalf the Grey was initially a somewhat weak figure who became fatigued after doing simple magic.

Character Dimension

• Gandalf’s dimension would be described as mostly stock, but also sometimes round. From the second you meet Gandalf on screen or reading the novel, you can tell that he is one of the main heroes and will stay true to that trait throughout. But Gandalf is also very mysterious at times, with all of his secret knowledge that he sometimes keeps from the rest of the Fellowship.

Archetypes

• Gandalf can be described as two different archetypes: The Professor, and The Warrior. When a problem arises, Gandalf is always the one that Frodo and his

friends turn to for the best possible solution. Even if Frodo feels that Gandalf’s decision on something to do (such as a path to take, a place to hide in, etc.) seem uncertain, those decisions almost always end up in a positive outcome.

Gandalf can also be classified as The Warrior, even though he technically does not carry a sword. Gandalf is the most noble character in the film. An example of his nobility is that once he is distinguished as Gandalf the White, almost everyone who meets him bows to him as a sign of courtesy. He is also very principled, and does not like to mess around; he goes by the method of working first, relaxing second.

The End