Gandalf in the Hobbit - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Arathiriel · 07-15-2002, 01:31 PM

Is it me or did Gandalf's character seem....well "off" in The Hobbit?

I mean I read LOTR first and since then I have made an attempt to read The Hobbit. I stopped reading about mid-way as it didn't grab me in the way LOTR did because:

1) I already knew too much of the story for The Hobbit by reading LOTR and

2) Gandalf's character seemed a little "off"...He didn't seem quite himself to me!

Eruwen · 07-15-2002, 01:38 PM

Ya know, you're right. he did seem alot different in the Hobbit. But so did Tolkien's writing styles. It could have just been that "The Hobbit" was written as a children's fairy tale type thing and LOTR was alot more deep.

Child of the 7th Age · 07-15-2002, 01:39 PM

Remember the Hobbit is written from a completely different perspective than the LotR. It is a children's book, and a very good one, written years before. The trick is to accept it on its own terms; don't try to consciously connect it with the LotR and demand consistency, or you will never appreciate it.

And don't forget that, if you look in the Silm, you'll see a few more passages describing Gandalf or "Olorin". Here you'll get another picture of him thats also quite different from LotR or the Hobbit.

The amazing thing about Tolkien is that he produced three major works with totally different writing styles and tones. Don't approach one and demand it be the other, or you'll come away disappointed. LotR is my favorite, but I love both Hobbit and Silm as well. And my appreciation of the latter is growing as I begin to understand HoMe a bit more.

sharon, the 7th age hobbit

piosenniel · 07-15-2002, 01:40 PM

Here is a link to another thread discussing the point of view of the story and writing style used in it - perhaps it can account for some of the discrepancies you found:

Hobbit

*Varda* · 07-15-2002, 01:42 PM

<font colot=white> Well bear in mind that the Hobbit was written for a younger age. Therefore Gandalf's character didn't seem to have the same amount of depth to it - He was just a wizard - we knew nothing of the more important aspects of his work apart from a brief mention of his 'other business' to do with the Necromancer. He had an air of mystery to him but it was different - He wasn't regarded as quite so important to the workings of Middle Earth.

~*Varda Elentari*~

Arathiriel · 07-15-2002, 02:36 PM

You know I may have to give The Hobbit another try as I didn't realize that it was written in style as to be fairytale for children!

And after I have finished The Hobbit I think I shall try to read The Silmarillion... [img]smilies/tongue.gif[/img]

07-15-2002, 01:31 PM	#1
Arathiriel Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: The Blessed Realm Posts: 284	Gandalf in the Hobbit Is it me or did Gandalf's character seem....well "off" in The Hobbit? I mean I read LOTR first and since then I have made an attempt to read The Hobbit. I stopped reading about mid-way as it didn't grab me in the way LOTR did because: 1) I already knew too much of the story for The Hobbit by reading LOTR and 2) Gandalf's character seemed a little "off"...He didn't seem quite himself to me! __________________ 'I love him. He's like that, and sometimes it shines through, somehow. But I love him, whether or no.' - Samwise Gamgee

07-15-2002, 01:39 PM	#3
Child of the 7th Age Spirit of the Lonely Star Join Date: Mar 2002 Posts: 5,133	Remember the Hobbit is written from a completely different perspective than the LotR. It is a children's book, and a very good one, written years before. The trick is to accept it on its own terms; don't try to consciously connect it with the LotR and demand consistency, or you will never appreciate it. And don't forget that, if you look in the Silm, you'll see a few more passages describing Gandalf or "Olorin". Here you'll get another picture of him thats also quite different from LotR or the Hobbit. The amazing thing about Tolkien is that he produced three major works with totally different writing styles and tones. Don't approach one and demand it be the other, or you'll come away disappointed. LotR is my favorite, but I love both Hobbit and Silm as well. And my appreciation of the latter is growing as I begin to understand HoMe a bit more. sharon, the 7th age hobbit __________________ Multitasking women are never too busy to vote.

07-15-2002, 01:40 PM	#4
piosenniel Desultory Dwimmerlaik Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Pickin' flowers with Bill the Cat..... Posts: 7,779	Here is a link to another thread discussing the point of view of the story and writing style used in it - perhaps it can account for some of the discrepancies you found: Hobbit __________________ Eldest, that’s what I am . . . I knew the dark under the stars when it was fearless - before the Dark Lord came from Outside.

07-15-2002, 01:42 PM	#5
Varda Maiden of Tears Join Date: May 2002 Location: Valinor. Posts: 571	<font colot=white> Well bear in mind that the Hobbit was written for a younger age. Therefore Gandalf's character didn't seem to have the same amount of depth to it - He was just a wizard - we knew nothing of the more important aspects of his work apart from a brief mention of his 'other business' to do with the Necromancer. He had an air of mystery to him but it was different - He wasn't regarded as quite so important to the workings of Middle Earth. ~Varda Elentari~ __________________ 'It must often be so, Sam, when things are in danger: someone has to give them up, lose them, so that others may keep them' ~Frodo "Life is hard. After all, it kills you." - Katharine Hepburn

07-15-2002, 02:36 PM	#6
Arathiriel Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: The Blessed Realm Posts: 284	You know I may have to give The Hobbit another try as I didn't realize that it was written in style as to be fairytale for children! And after I have finished The Hobbit I think I shall try to read The Silmarillion... [img]smilies/tongue.gif[/img] __________________ 'I love him. He's like that, and sometimes it shines through, somehow. But I love him, whether or no.' - Samwise Gamgee

07-15-2002, 01:38 PM	#2
Eruwen Registered User Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 892	Ya know, you're right. he did seem alot different in the Hobbit. But so did Tolkien's writing styles. It could have just been that "The Hobbit" was written as a children's fairy tale type thing and LOTR was alot more deep.