on lord of the rings the two towers and return of the kings, it says gandalf came back from the dead. Is this literall, or is this just a metaphor thing?
2006-10-30 10:52:14 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Arts & Humanities ➔ Books & Authors
It is a fantasy story. If the book says he came back from the dead, he did. Also if read the Silmarillion (sp?), you find out that none of the wizards are mortal, so technically they can't die.
2006-10-30 10:54:17 · answer #1 · answered by jakethekarr 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
In both the book and the movie it appears that Gandalf died when he fell in the fiery abyss. But later when Gandalf reappeared he tells of a journey in which he did not die but was taken captive by the Evil Sorcerer.
Since the story is in the genre of fantasy it can not be literal. Many many people try to find metaphorical meaning in the entire Trilogy but I am just content to enjoy the story and what a story Tolkien has weaved.
A number of books in the sci-fi/fantasy genre deal in some way with immortality. Some notable examples are 2001: A Space Odyssey; The Dune series; The Spellsinger series; and off course there is Frankenstien. In all of these depictions of immortality life is allowed to continue by some method of human scientific endeavor or some external force.
2006-10-30 19:16:00 · answer #2 · answered by barrettins 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, technically he didn't die in the first place. Everyone assumes he dies, because he is dragged into a bottomless pit by the Balrog. But later you find out that he fought with the monster all the way down, till they landed in a lake in the deepest part of Middle-Earth. Then Gandalf kicks the Balrog's butt all the way up this staircase, till they're on top of a high mountain peak and Gandalf kills the monster.
Then Gandalf, exhausted, passes out for awhile. He wanders in and out of time and space, gets in touch with his wizard nature, communes with the gods, all that good stuff, and comes back revived and with greater powers than ever. It's debatable as to whether or not his physical body actually dies for awhile, or just goes into some transcendant coma-state, or whatever.
But from the point of view of his mortal friends, he does seem to "die" and come back to life.
why not read the book and/or watch the movie? you're cheating yourself of a great experience!
2006-10-30 19:24:25 · answer #3 · answered by teresathegreat 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
He did die, he was reborn as the white wizard
Gandalf mentions he was brought back_because his time in middle earth was not over
Galadriel says also that she cannot feel his presence on earth...so that leads me to believe he was dead for a bit there...
2006-10-30 23:37:01 · answer #4 · answered by suan_tian 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
He never died, so he can't have come back from the dead.
2006-10-30 19:10:54 · answer #5 · answered by BAJ 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
not really.... some wierd happened and he came back as the white wizard. so i guess u can count that as coming back
2006-10-30 18:55:31 · answer #6 · answered by Reese 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
yes i know i got all three books and movies.
2006-10-30 19:00:41 · answer #7 · answered by Cassie P. 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I don't believe he ever died.
2006-10-30 18:53:23 · answer #8 · answered by Starla_C 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋