Friday, 25 February 2022

Gandalf & Rupert ?

 The picture and caption on my Rupert calendar has intrigued me throughout February-


Gandalf ? Rupert? This is from a 1937 story about Rupert. Can you shed any light on this…

6 comments:

  1. Wikipedia - Gandalf entry first introduced The Hobbit 1937
    Tolkien took the name "Gandalf" from the Old Norse "Catalogue of Dwarves" (Dvergatal) in the Völuspá. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Völuspá#Dvergatal

    Etymology
    Tolkien derived the name Gandalf from Gandálfr, a dwarf in the Völuspá's Dvergatal, a list of dwarf-names.[1] In Old Norse, the name means staff-elf. This is reflected in his name Tharkûn, which is "said to mean 'Staff-man'" in Khuzdul, one of Tolkien's invented languages.[T 1]

    In-universe names
    Gandalf is given several names and nicknames in Tolkien's writings. Faramir calls him the Grey Pilgrim, and reports Gandalf as saying, "Many are my names in many countries. Mithrandir[a] among the Elves, Tharkûn to the Dwarves, Olórin I was in my youth in the West that is forgotten, in the South Incánus, in the North Gandalf; to the East I go not."[T 2]
    https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gandalf

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  2. Can't help with this mystery, but I did love Rupert as a child. The slightly strange otherwordly feel of his adventures and the beautiful colouring on the illustrations. I'm still looking for a real life Nutwood.

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    Replies
    1. Rupert is set in a fascinating world which is indeed colourfully illustrated.

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  3. Sounds suspiciously like Merry and Pippin's pranks at a long expected party (was that only in the movie or was it also in the books?). If it's a coincidence it's a mighty curious one.

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