Yoda

Yoda is a fictional character from the Star Wars universe, who appears in all of the franchise's films except for Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope. Frank Oz provided his voice for these films, and in the original trilogy and The Phantom Menace his skills as a puppeteer. For the radio dramatizations of Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, he was voiced by veteran character actor John Lithgow. Tom Kane provided the voice in the Clone Wars animated series, as well as in several video game incarnations including Star Wars: Battlefront II and Star Wars: Galactic Battlegrounds. As with many names in Star Wars, the name "Yoda" may have been etymologically derived from an ancient language – in this case, possibly from the Sanskrit noun yoddha ("warrior"), or from the Hebrew verb yodea ("knows"). Other etymological theories exist as well (see Etymology below).

Yoda first appears in the saga in Empire Strikes Back as a mysterious and whimsical little critter who, as a Jedi Master, then goes on to offer ancient Jedi philosophies and timeless wisdom to Luke Skywalker. In the prequel trilogy, he serves as Grand Master of the Jedi Order. Additional fiction in the Expanded Universe fills in more details of his life, though not much more.

History

Character overview

In the films, Yoda is portrayed as the wisest and most powerful Jedi in the galaxy. The films and Expanded Universe reveal that he had trained several notable Jedi, including Count Dooku, Mace Windu, Obi-Wan Kenobi (partially, before Qui-Gon Jinn took over with Obi-Wan's training), Ki-Adi-Mundi and eventually Luke Skywalker. (In between here, during the animated series Star Wars: Clone Wars, he mentions that he trained another one of the leaders on the Jedi Council, Master Oppo Rancisis.) The Star Wars prequel films explain that he instructed all younglings in the Jedi Temple before they were assigned to a master.

George Lucas has intentionally kept the name of Yoda's race a secret. (Yoda, Yaddle, and Vandar Tokare are sometimes erroneously referred to as Whills, despite Lucas' insistence that they are not.) In fact, very little is reported of Yoda's life before the events of Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace. Following his training, Yoda is said to have spent 100 years in self-imposed solitude, attempting to attain a higher level of understanding of the Force. He was one of the Jedi Masters who ran the mobile academy aboard the starship Chu'unthor 200 years before the films' timeline began, leaving the ship's data tapes in the care of one of the natives when the vessel crashed on Dathomir.

The Phantom Menace

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The remastered CGI Yoda in Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace.

In the timeline of the films, Yoda first appears in Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace. In that film, Qui-Gon brings the young Anakin Skywalker to the Jedi Council, claiming that the boy is the "Chosen One" who will bring balance to the Force, and requests to train him once Obi-Wan has completed the trials necessary to become a Jedi Knight. Yoda plays a key role in that body's initial decision to deny the request; he believes that the boy is clearly affected by his years as a slave, and that he still clings too tightly to the memory of his mother to be trained safely. His future, Yoda thinks, is clouded.

After Qui-Gon's death at the hands of Darth Maul, however, the Jedi Council rescinds their previous decision, despite Yoda's misgivings.

Attack of the Clones

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Yoda battling Count Dooku in Attack of the Clones.

In Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones, set 10 years later, Yoda is a key Republic general at the Battle of Geonosis, when the clone trooper Army of the Republic is first deployed. He leads the group which rescues Obi-Wan Kenobi, Anakin Skywalker and Padmé Amidala from execution at the hands of the Confederacy of Independent Systems, aka the Separatists. At the climax of the battle, Yoda duels with Separatist leader and Sith Lord Count Dooku, who was once Yoda's Jedi apprentice. This confrontation ends with Dooku narrowly escaping by threatening Yoda's injured comrades, Anakin and Obi-Wan. Although seemingly frail, the ancient Yoda demonstrates a legendary mastery of lightsaber combat and acrobatics.

Revenge of the Sith

In Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith, Yoda leads the Jedi Council in seeking out the mysterious Sith Lord Darth Sidious. Yoda uses his incredible sensitivity and power with the Force to sense the Sith Lord's presence, finally concluding that Sidious is someone within Supreme Chancellor Palpatine's inner circle. Palpatine himself sidetracks the mission, however; by now, the Chancellor has amassed near-absolute power in the Galactic Senate, and begins interfering in Jedi affairs. He appoints Anakin as his personal representative on the Council, which would effectively grant the headstrong young man the rank of Jedi Master. The Council denies Anakin the promotion, however, fearing that giving Palpatine's representative the rank of Master would be the same as giving Palpatine himself a vote in the Council. Embittered by the perceived snub, Anakin begins to lose faith in the Jedi.

Earlier, Anakin seeks Yoda's counsel about his intense, prophetic visions that someone close to him will die (he does not tell the Jedi Master that the "someone" is Padmé, now his secret wife and pregnant with his child; emotional attachments are forbidden by the Jedi Code.) Yoda, unaware of the intensity of Anakin's love for Padmé, tells him to "Train yourself to let go... of everything you fear to lose." Unsatisfied, Anakin instead turns to Palpatine, who reveals himself as none other than Darth Sidious, and manipulates the young Jedi into becoming his Sith apprentice — Darth Vader — with the promise that, with powers only the dark side can give, he can save his wife.

When Palpatine, now self-appointed Emperor of the Galactic Empire, implements Order 66, Yoda is on Kashyyyk, overseeing the battle between the Separatist forces and a combined command of clone troopers and Wookiees. Through the Force, he feels the deaths of each of the Jedi as they are cut down by the very troops they commanded. He swiftly kills the clone troopers sent to dispatch him, escapes with the help of Wookiee leaders Tarfful and Chewbacca, and returns to Coruscant, where he and Obi-Wan fight their way into the Jedi Temple to stop a trap for any Jedi who also survived Order 66. Upon discovering a holographic recording revealing Anakin as the assassin, Yoda sends Obi-Wan to kill his former Padawan. Obi-Wan tells Yoda he cannot fight Anakin, but Yoda insists, saying, "To fight this Lord Sidious, strong enough you are not."

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Yoda deflecting Palpatine's Force lightning.

Subsequently, Yoda battles Palpatine in a titanic struggle that wrecks the Senate building. The fight seems evenly matched between the two patriarchs of both sides of the Force, neither able to overcome the other. Unable to defeat the Sith Lord, Yoda is forced to retreat and go into exile so that he may hide from the Empire and wait for another opportunity to destroy the Sith.

Meanwhile, Anakin is defeated by Obi-Wan, losing his limbs and nearly burning to death. The cybernetic enhancements Palpatine administers to save his life render him (seemingly) less than human. His transformation into a fearsome cyborg serves as a grim fulfillment to Yoda's words to Obi-Wan upon learning of Anakin's fall from grace: "The boy you trained, gone he is, consumed by Darth Vader."

At the end, it is revealed that Yoda has been in contact with Qui-Gon's spirit. Although this is given little attention in the film, the novelization revealed that Yoda actually becomes Padawan to the deceased Jedi Master's Force ghost, learning the secret of immortality from him and passing it on to Obi-Wan.

Yoda is also instrumental in deciding the fate of the Skywalker children after Padmé dies in childbirth, recommending that Luke and Leia be hidden from Darth Vader and Palpatine in remote locations. Other than the ancient Jedi Master, only the Organas, the Lars, and Obi-Wan know of their placement. Originally, Obi-Wan wants to have both Yoda and himself take one child each to separate spots and train the children in the ways of the Force, but Yoda realizes that there are other ways to learn discipline than just Jedi training, and that Luke and Leia will need to be trained differently if they are going to defeat the Empire. In addition, the twins' anonymity would be more difficult to protect if the Sith were to discover the remaining Jedi Knights before Luke and/or Leia were ready. Yoda then retreats to Dagobah.

The Empire Strikes Back

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Yoda trains Luke Skywalker on Dagobah.

In Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back, set 22 years after Revenge of the Sith, Luke Skywalker arrives on Dagobah to seek Yoda's guidance after being told to by the Force ghost of Obi-Wan Kenobi (Obi-Wan had sacrificed himself in a duel with Vader in A New Hope). After initial reluctance, Yoda agrees to teach Luke in the ways of the Force. Prior to finishing his training, however, Luke chooses to leave Dagobah in order to confront Darth Vader and save his friends from the Empire's grasp at Bespin. Yoda insists to Luke that he is being lured into a trap, and that he must stay to complete his training. However, Luke cannot forsake his friends who are in danger. He promises to return to complete his training.

Return of the Jedi

Yoda's final chronological appearance is in Return of the Jedi, set a year later. Yoda, sick and greatly weakened by old age, informs Luke that he has completed his training but will not be a Jedi until he confronts Darth Vader; he also confirms that Vader is Luke's father, which the Sith Lord had told a shocked Luke in the previous film. Yoda then dies at the age of 900 and becomes "one with the Force." He leaves Luke with the knowledge that "there is another Skywalker." Moments later, Obi-Wan's Force ghost tells Luke that the sibling Yoda spoke of is none other than Leia.

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Yoda, one with the Force after 900 years, looks upon Luke with pride, along with the spirits of Anakin Skywalker (left) and Obi-Wan Kenobi (right).

When the Emperor tries to kill Luke with Force lightning, Vader redeems himself and once again becomes Anakin Skywalker. By killing his master to save his son, he fulfills the prophecy and brings balance to the Force. Anakin dies in his son's arms as the Death Star crumbles around them. Later that night, Luke sees his father's spirit looking at him with pride and gratitude, in the company of Obi-Wan Kenobi and their once and future master, Yoda.

Powers and abilities

In the original trilogy, Yoda displays great wisdom and power in the Force; in The Empire Strikes Back, he imparts to Luke boundless knowledge of the Force, and effortlessly levitates Luke's sunken ship out of a swamp.

In the prequel trilogy, he shows himself to be an immensely powerful warrior as well as a sage philosopher. In both Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith, he employs gravity-defying acrobatics and Herculean strength. He is also an exceptional swordsman, displaying amazing speed and dexterity, leaping through the air and twirling as he batters at an opponent's defenses; he is portrayed as the equal of both Dooku and Palpatine, who are twice his size. He can dissipate and deflect Force lightning; telekinetically lift enormous objects; and use the Force to push huge objects long distances. He can also foresee events with great clarity and feel everything going on around him; in Attack of the Clones, he senses Anakin's murderous rampage through a Tusken Raider camp, while in Revenge of the Sith he feels the death of every Jedi cut down by Order 66.

Personality and traits

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Yoda performing a hip hop dance in an Easter egg from the Revenge of the Sith DVD

The films portray Yoda as a stern, but benevolent, teacher of the Jedi. Among the members of the Jedi Council, Yoda is known to have a penchant for mischief and practical jokes. In the prequel films, Yoda is competent and serious in all matters. By the time of the original trilogy he affects a lighter manner, joking casually in a way he earlier did not.

Yoda walks with the aid of his trademark wooden cane, called a gimer stick, which in the original trilogy he chewed on for sustenance. In the prequel films he used a hovering chair to keep pace with his companions.

Language

Yoda speaks "Galactic Basic" in a distinctive manner by placing verbs (and more frequently, auxiliary verbs) after the object and subject. In linguistic typology this is the "Object Subject Verb" format. A typical example of Yoda's speech pattern is from Return of the Jedi: "When 900 years old you reach, look as good you will not." This speech pattern has been the source of much parody.

Animating Yoda

Yoda's appearance was originally designed by British makeup artist Stuart Freeborn, who based Yoda's face partly on his own and partly on Albert Einstein's, as his eyes are supposedly inspired by the latter. Yoda is voiced by Frank Oz. In the original Star Wars trilogy, he is realized as a puppet (controlled by Oz).

In The Phantom Menace, he was redesigned to look younger. He was computer-generated for two distant shots, but remained mostly a puppet.

Rendered with computer animation in Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith, Yoda appeared in ways not previously possible, including his participation in elaborate fight scenes. In Revenge of the Sith his face appears in several big close-ups, demanding highly-detailed CGI work. Despite the use of advanced technology, his performance was deliberately designed to match the puppet version, with some "mistakes" made such as the occasional ear-jiggling.

According to many Lucasfilm reports, Yoda has been redone in CGI for a later release of The Phantom Menace. This edition will most likely be part of a 2007 DVD release of the Star Wars saga. A clip of the new CG Yoda from The Phantom Menace can be seen in the featurette The Chosen One, included in the DVD release of Revenge of the Sith.

Weird Al's Yoda song

Parody artist "Weird Al" Yankovic released the song "Yoda" on his 1985 album Dare to Be Stupid. The music was set to the tune of "Lola" by The Kinks, but with lyrics that roughly sketch Luke Skywalker's first meeting with the Jedi Master in The Empire Strikes Back ("I met him in a swamp down in Dagobah"). Along with "Star Wars Cantina," the song received significant radio airplay in the run-up to the 1997 release of the Star Wars Special Edition VHS box set and the 1999 release of The Phantom Menace, the first Star Wars film in more than 15 years.

Yoda at the MTV Movie Awards

Yoda appeared in person at the 2003 MTV Movie Awards. He heaped praise on Lucas: "A Mensch, you always are." As he went on too long, the orchestra tried to drown him out, but the Jedi Master quenched the orchestra with a simple Force gesture. "Play off Yoda, no one does," he scoffs.

Etymology

The real-world etymology of the name "Yoda" is unclear; however, various theories exist. Like many names in Star Wars, the name may have been derived from an ancient language: in this case, possibly from the Sanskrit noun yoddha ("warrior"), or from the Hebrew verb yodea ("knows"). Alternatively, it may be in reference to a being known as Jota that historian Jordon Maxwell claims is used by the Freemasons. This is highly speculative, however, as no such being appears in Masonic literature or ritual.

Another possible etymological derivation of Yoda's name derives directly from the Sanskrit and the more commonly known Hindu practice of yoga. As a master, Yoda leads Luke and others through spiritual and meditational practices in order to reach a greater understanding of life. In the book of Psalms in the bible, there is an author named Yodh.

Cultural References

• Wall Street Journal's Don Clark reported on MSNBC on March 24th 2007 on a mind control device being launched by a start-up company for video games machines. He called it is 'like Yoda saying "Use the Force, Luke'".

References

• The Jedi Apprentice series by Dave Wolverton and Jude Watson
• Episode I: The Phantom Menace, 1st edition paperback, 1999. Terry Brooks, George Lucas, ISBN 0-345-43411-0
• Episode III: Revenge of the Sith - Novelization, 1st edition hardcover, 2005. Matthew Woodring Stover, George Lucas, ISBN 0-7126-8427-1
• The Annotated Screenplays, softcover, 1997. George Lucas, Leigh Brackett, Lawrence Kasdan, Laurent Bouzereau, ISBN 0-345-40981-7
• The Courtship of Princess Leia, 1995. Dave Wolverton, ISBN 0-553-56937-6
• Mission from Mount Yoda, 1993. Paul Davids, Hollace Davids, ISBN 0-553-15890-2
• A Guide to the Star Wars Universe, 2nd edition, 1994. Bill Slavicsek, ISBN 0-345-38625-6
• The Essential guide to Characters (Star Wars), 1st edition, 1995. Andy Mangels, ISBN 0-345-39535-2
• The New Essential Guide to Characters, 1st edition, 2002. Daniel Wallace, Michael Sutfin, ISBN 0-345-44900-2
• Star Wars: The Visual Dictionary, hardcover, 1998. David West Reynolds, ISBN 0-7894-3481-4
• Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith: The Visual Dictionary, hardcover, 2005. James Luceno, ISBN 0-7566-1128-8
• Star Wars Roleplaying Game: Revised Core Rulebook, hardcover, 2002. Bill Slavicsek, Andy Collins, J.D. Wiker, ISBN 0-7869-2876-X
• Star Wars Roleplaying Game: Power of the Jedi Sourcebook, hardcover, 2002. Michael Mikaelian, Jeff Grubb, Owen K.C. Stephens, James Maliszewski, ISBN 0-7869-2781-X
• Yoda makes a short cameo in ''Excel Saga''.

External links

• Yoda in the StarWars.com Databank
• Yoda on Wookieepedia, a Star Wars wiki