A few questions regarding the wizards in The Lord of the Rings. I’ll say right here that some of this might constitute spoilers if you’ve never read the books ro seen the movies. If you have gotten at least to the Two Towers (book or movie) I think you’re ok.
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How many wizards are there in Middle Earth? I always thought of Isengard as a sort of wizard hangout but all you ever hear about are Sarumon and Gandalf. Can people go there to study to become wizards or do you have to be like Gandalf who was created very early on when Middle Earth itself came about (or at least a short while after)?
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How old is Gandalf by the time of the books? Is Sarumon just as old or older? I assume Sarumon came about the same way as Gandlaf did early on in middle earth history since Sarumon is the head of the wizards but frankly I don’t know.
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If Sarumon is the ‘White’ and Gandalf is the ‘Grey’ what other colors are there (assuming there are more wizards than just these two)? Does the color denote rank with white being the highest?
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I assume Sarumon is more powerful than Gandalf (at least before Gandalf ascends to the White). Is this so? Once Gandalf becomes Gandalf the White is he Sarumon’s equal or better?
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Speaking of ascending to the white it would seem there is more to it than a vote of who rules Isengard. Am I correct in assuming the wizard needs to achieve something or be granted more power to wear the white?
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More on ascending to the white. Just what happened between Gandalf killing the Balrog and coming back as Gandalf the White? I am of the impression that he actually died but was sent back. Certainly to Gandalf’s mind a helluva lot of time passed for him whereas to everyone else a few days passed. Does Gandalf even remember or know what he was up to between killing the Balrog and returning to Middle Earth?
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Why is it that Gandalf uses a sword? Actually I think it’s kinda cool he’s a bad ass with a sword and useful for this and that but he’s a wizard and a powerful one. Powerful enough to be one of the few single entities on Middle Earth that can go mano-y-mano with a Balrog and kill it. 99% of the time though Gandalf does nothing especially magical beyond creating light. Surlely he’s had occasion where things were bleak in the books (such as fighting a zillion orcs in Moria) that it would be suitable to start in with the lightning or fireballs or teleportation or something. Is there some restrictions to his use of power? I can see that he might be exceedingly careful in its use but c’mon…Moria, Helm’s Deep…the list goes on. I keep waiting for him to open a can of Whoop-Ass and he never does. What gives?
I think that’s good for starters…