Move aside Balrogs-wings for...Gandalf's boots - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

Hilde Bracegirdle · 09-10-2010, 11:00 AM

And if Gandalf had to go off and figuratively fill a bigger pair of boots, it was because Saruman literally had become the carbuncle on Gandalf's big toe.

narfforc · 09-10-2010, 05:54 PM

Now we have established the ambiguity of these psuedo-boots, were they wedge soled or have the traditional instep.......... I go for the wedge....because Tolkien mentions a wedge somewhere else in the book.

P.S I also wonder.....when Gandalf the White was sent back........... did his boots have wings to enable him to get back from Valinor.

P.P.S Only a thought!

narfforc · 09-11-2010, 02:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by narfforc

....because Tolkien mentions a wedge somewhere else in the book.

Or was it an hedge?

Pitchwife · 09-11-2010, 03:33 AM

I think we can safely rule out hedge soles, as they would have made walking rather thorny.

As for the wings, the fact that he still relied on Gwaihir for aerial transportation seems to indicate the contrary; also note that when the time for him to return had come, he went home by ship, not by air. So if there were any wings at all on his boots, they would have been purely decorative.

Or maybe his boots were so highly polished that the highlights from the shoeshine created an illusion of white wings?

Eomer of the Rohirrim · 09-11-2010, 04:58 AM

It makes the rendering, in the films, of Sauron as a giant flaming eyeball, next to Saruman's non-rendering of a large white hand, even more perplexing -- for I had always pictured Gandalf as an imposing pair of boots.

narfforc · 09-11-2010, 05:55 AM

As Huan was allowed to talk three times, Gandalf's boots were allowed to turn into eagles six times..... but something went wrong once and one turned into a Landrover.

SamwiseGamgee · 09-15-2010, 09:51 AM

I rather feel that it is not so much the actual size of the boots but the perceived size that is the key here- as can clearly be seen from Saruman's use of the word 'purchased'.

As a mighty Istari Gandalf had many strange powers, not least of which was the ability to grow his feet. In fact, some claim this is how he first befriended Bilbo- by putting him at ease by brandishing his disproportionately large, hairy feet in Baggins's face. Of course, the Good Professor said as much in that famous letter which I shan't insult you all by mentioning here- it's assumed knowledge.

Therefore, taking the argument to its next logical step, there is no reason that Gandalf could not have purchased and utilised a large pair of boots any time he'd fancied. He did not do this previously (he didn't, of course, have shoes on when brandishing his feet at Bilbo (mentioned above)- otherwise Bilbo could have quite easily levelled the claim of empty shoes at him) and therefore the fact that Saruman, who- despite his many shortcomings- was one of the wise, mentions the boots here indicates that they must be purely metaphorical. And if they are then it is, surely, the perceived size which matters.

So simple, really.

Galadriel55 · 03-24-2011, 08:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by narfforc

P.S I also wonder.....when Gandalf the White was sent back........... did his boots have wings to enable him to get back from Valinor.

No, but he stole a pair of unexistent wings from the Balrog just before he threw the poor guy off the mountain cliff.

As for the boots... why do you think Gandalf was always so nice to Aragorn?

09-10-2010, 11:00 AM	#1
Hilde Bracegirdle Relic of Wandering Days Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: You'll See Perpetual Change. Posts: 1,480	The better to wade through all Saruman's ..... And if Gandalf had to go off and figuratively fill a bigger pair of boots, it was because Saruman literally had become the carbuncle on Gandalf's big toe. Last edited by Hilde Bracegirdle; 09-15-2010 at 10:24 AM.

09-10-2010, 05:54 PM	#2
narfforc Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Muddy-earth Posts: 1,297	Now we have established the ambiguity of these psuedo-boots, were they wedge soled or have the traditional instep.......... I go for the wedge....because Tolkien mentions a wedge somewhere else in the book. P.S I also wonder.....when Gandalf the White was sent back........... did his boots have wings to enable him to get back from Valinor. P.P.S Only a thought! __________________ [B]THE LORD OF THE GRINS:THE ONE PARODY....A PARODY BETTER THAN THE RINGS OF POWER. Last edited by narfforc; 09-10-2010 at 06:02 PM.

09-11-2010, 03:33 AM	#4
Pitchwife Wight of the Old Forest Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Unattended on the railway station, in the litter at the dancehall Posts: 3,329	I think we can safely rule out hedge soles, as they would have made walking rather thorny. As for the wings, the fact that he still relied on Gwaihir for aerial transportation seems to indicate the contrary; also note that when the time for him to return had come, he went home by ship, not by air. So if there were any wings at all on his boots, they would have been purely decorative. Or maybe his boots were so highly polished that the highlights from the shoeshine created an illusion of white wings? __________________ Und aus dem Erebos kamen viele seelen herauf der abgeschiedenen toten.- Homer, Odyssey, Canto XI

09-11-2010, 04:58 AM	#5
Eomer of the Rohirrim Auspicious Wraith Join Date: May 2002 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 4,859	It makes the rendering, in the films, of Sauron as a giant flaming eyeball, next to Saruman's non-rendering of a large white hand, even more perplexing -- for I had always pictured Gandalf as an imposing pair of boots. __________________ Los Ingobernables de Harlond

09-11-2010, 05:55 AM	#6
narfforc Ghost Prince of Cardolan Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Muddy-earth Posts: 1,297	As Huan was allowed to talk three times, Gandalf's boots were allowed to turn into eagles six times..... but something went wrong once and one turned into a Landrover. __________________ [B]THE LORD OF THE GRINS:THE ONE PARODY....A PARODY BETTER THAN THE RINGS OF POWER.

09-15-2010, 09:51 AM	#7
SamwiseGamgee Shade of Carn Dûm Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: In the warm bosom of a Warg Posts: 378	I hope I haven't put my foot in it... :groan: I rather feel that it is not so much the actual size of the boots but the perceived size that is the key here- as can clearly be seen from Saruman's use of the word 'purchased'. As a mighty Istari Gandalf had many strange powers, not least of which was the ability to grow his feet. In fact, some claim this is how he first befriended Bilbo- by putting him at ease by brandishing his disproportionately large, hairy feet in Baggins's face. Of course, the Good Professor said as much in that famous letter which I shan't insult you all by mentioning here- it's assumed knowledge. Therefore, taking the argument to its next logical step, there is no reason that Gandalf could not have purchased and utilised a large pair of boots any time he'd fancied. He did not do this previously (he didn't, of course, have shoes on when brandishing his feet at Bilbo (mentioned above)- otherwise Bilbo could have quite easily levelled the claim of empty shoes at him) and therefore the fact that Saruman, who- despite his many shortcomings- was one of the wise, mentions the boots here indicates that they must be purely metaphorical. And if they are then it is, surely, the perceived size which matters. So simple, really. __________________ -- Well, I'm back.