When I see the word wizard, I immediately think of somebody like Gandalf. I envision an old man with a long, flowing beard, pointed hat, and staff. And yes, it is someone with wisdom, someone learned in the magic arts and wise to the ways of the universe.
I know it's a bit of a cliched image, but Tolkien's works (via the animated Hobbit) were my very first introduction to the world of fantasy literature. And Gandalf is such an iconic wizardly character.
For me, D&D came later, and just reinforced the visual image. I never really gave the deeper stuff much thought. Most of my wizards died too swiftly to develop much character.
Of course, you also have the younger wizard, the apprentice or novice just learning his craft and lacking in wisdom, like Ged from A Wizard of Earthsea. Then the whole point of the story is the gaining of that wisdom However, that's not what I think of first, though it might be a close second.
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Date: 2008-06-18 02:57 am (UTC)I know it's a bit of a cliched image, but Tolkien's works (via the animated Hobbit) were my very first introduction to the world of fantasy literature. And Gandalf is such an iconic wizardly character.
For me, D&D came later, and just reinforced the visual image. I never really gave the deeper stuff much thought. Most of my wizards died too swiftly to develop much character.
Of course, you also have the younger wizard, the apprentice or novice just learning his craft and lacking in wisdom, like Ged from A Wizard of Earthsea. Then the whole point of the story is the gaining of that wisdom However, that's not what I think of first, though it might be a close second.