Questions about Gandalf
 

Hello!

I'm something of a LOTR novice when it comes to this, so I was hoping someone could help me out.

Two things I want to know:

1) Is Gandalf (or Radagast, or any of the wizards) vulnerable to wounds by ordinary weapons, like swords and arrows? Could he be hurt by them, or could they kill him?

2) Can Gandalf do magic without his staff?

Thanks for any help you can give me! [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img]

1-Yes he Was an incarnate, so he oculd be slain by weapons, like Morgoth and the other Istari.

I think, for the second question, it really depends on what one defines "magic" as. Because, what we call magic may be normal to someone like Gandalf. I think he can do rather "weak" magic (for him; for us it would be very great) with no staff and very great magic with it.
[img]smilies/smile.gif[/img]

I agree with Inderjit on the first point: you only have to think what happened to Saruman in the end...
But the Istari were Maiar and that is to say they are immortal spirits SO weapons can wound and/or kill only their incarnate part but the spirit still "lives". Most likely its weakened but this isn't always the case consider for example Gandalf after he defeated the balrog and "died". What happened to Sauron's spirit after the Ring was destroyed is also an interesting guestion...
2. -Yes, I believe so. He was a great spirit as mentioned above and must have possessed many magical skills (naturally depending on how you define the term 'magical'), e.g. some sort of limited foresight and so on. But his physical form seems to limit his powers or something. (Can't think straight now, I have a pounding headache [img]smilies/frown.gif[/img] )
So, that's what I thought. Hope it helps even a bit. Most likely though someone will point some major flaw(s) in my conclusions. [img]smilies/smile.gif[/img]

[ March 02, 2003: Message edited by: Annunfuiniel ]