Yoda

The Jedi Master known as Yoda (896 BBY–4 ABY), voiced by Frank Oz, is a fictional character in the Star Wars universe. He appears in all of the franchise's installments except for '. Like many names in Star Wars, the name "Yoda" may be etymologically derived from the Sanskrit yoddha ("warrior") and/or the Hebrew yodea ("one who knows"). Yoda's character is believed by some to have been inspired by the title character in the 1975 Russian-Japanese film Dersu Uzala directed by Akira Kurosawa.

History

Yoda, standing only 2' 2" (0.66 m) tall, is one of the senior members of the Jedi Council and arguably the wisest and most powerful Jedi Master in the Star Wars universe, even toward his demise, though the toll of his great age is noticeable. Over his lifetime, Yoda trains 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 Luke Skywalker.

Related Topics:
Jedi Council - Jedi Master - Star Wars - Count Dooku - Mace Windu - Obi-Wan Kenobi - Qui-Gon Jinn - Ki-Adi-Mundi - Luke Skywalker

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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 '. It is speculated from the Expanded Universe that he achieved the status of Jedi Knight at the age of 50 and the rank of Jedi Master at 100. 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 about 200 years before ', leaving the ship's data tapes in the care of one of the natives when the vessel crashes on Dathomir.

Related Topics:
George Lucas - Yaddle - Vandar Tokare - Expanded Universe - The Force - Chu'unthor - Dathomir

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In 32 BBY ('), Qui-Gon Jinn brings a young Anakin Skywalker to the Jedi Council, requesting to train him once Obi-Wan Kenobi has completed the trials necessary to become a Jedi Knight (Jedi can only have one apprentice at a time). Yoda, as the teacher of many of those on the Council, and its most venerable and respected member, plays a key role in that body's initial decision to deny the request. Yoda 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.

Related Topics:
32 BBY - Qui-Gon Jinn - Anakin Skywalker - Jedi Council - Obi-Wan Kenobi - Jedi Knight - Slave - His mother

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After Qui-Gon Jinn's death at the hands of Darth Maul, however, the Council rescinds its previous decision, though the reasons for this are unclear. Personally, Yoda somewhat disagrees with the decision. One possible explanation for this retraction is that Yoda trusts Kenobi more than his notoriously unorthodox teacher. Another reason suggested is that, with Anakin showing such strength in the Force by destroying the droid control ship, the Council feels that it would be a shame and a waste (perhaps also a danger) to not train someone so strong in the Force. Also, they are probably trying to do the right thing in honoring Qui-Gon's dying request that Obi-Wan train the boy.

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In 22 BBY ('), 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 the surrounded Jedi in the execution arena. At the climax of the Battle of Geonosis, Yoda duels with Count Dooku and saves Kenobi and his Padawan, Skywalker. Though seemingly frail, the ancient Yoda demonstrates a legendary mastery of lightsaber combat (Form IV lightsaber combat, known for using the Force to achieve extreme acrobatics - see the seven forms of lightsaber combat).

Related Topics:
22 BBY - Republic - Battle of Geonosis - Clone trooper - Army of the Republic - Jedi - Padawan - Lightsaber - Acrobatics - Seven forms of lightsaber combat

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In 19 BBY ('), Chancellor Palpatine appoints Skywalker to the Jedi Council as his own representative. Again, the Council is hesitant about Skywalker's temperament but acquiesces to the request. Yoda and Mace Windu continue to be powerful forces in the young Jedi's ascension in the order, as they deny him the rank of Jedi Master. They know that to give him the rank of Master will also give him a vote in all Council matters, and would be the same as giving Palpatine a vote in the Council - something they were not willing to allow.

Related Topics:
19 BBY - Palpatine

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When Order 66 is implemented, Yoda is on Kashyyyk, overseeing the battle between the Separatist forces and a combined command of clone troopers and Wookiees. He feels the deaths of each of the Jedi as they are cut down by the very troops they led. This gives him ample warning and allows him to swiftly kill the clone troopers sent to dispatch him (with the skill only a Jedi Master could possess), escape with the help of Wookiee leaders Tarfful and Chewbacca, and return to Coruscant, where he and Obi-Wan Kenobi fight their way into the Jedi Temple to stop a trap for any Jedi who also survived Order 66. Yoda then sends Kenobi to kill Skywalker, who is now corrupted into Darth Vader. Kenobi wants to switch opponents, as he would rather not have to fight with his beloved pupil. To this Yoda says, "Powerful enough to defeat Sidious, you are not... Twisted by the Dark Side, young Skywalker has become. The boy you trained, gone he is... Consumed by Darth Vader." Subsequently, Yoda battles Darth Sidious in a titanic struggle that wrecks the Senate building, and the fight seems evenly matched between the two patriarchs of both sides of the Force, but Yoda is forced to retreat when an explosion of Force powers hurls them apart. Both Masters are able to grasp the edge of nearby Senate pods, with Sidious barely managing to right himself and achieve the high ground. Yoda, unable to maintain his grasp, falls to the floor of the Senate chamber. Being weakened by using most of his powers to repulse Sidious' Force Lightning and the deaths of the numerous Jedi taking its toll on his resolve, he is unable to deal with both the Sith Lord and arriving Clone Troopers, causing his retreat. He goes into exile, knowing he cannot face Palpatine again on his own.

Related Topics:
Order 66 - Kashyyyk - Separatist - Wookiee - Tarfful - Chewbacca - Coruscant - Jedi Temple - Darth Vader - Darth Sidious - Senate

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

Related Topics:
Novelization - Immortality

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He is also instrumental in deciding the fate of the Skywalker children, recommending that Luke and Leia be hidden from Darth Vader and his Emperor in unsuspecting and remote locations. Other than the ancient Jedi Master, only the Organas, the Lars, and Kenobi know of their placement (it is unlikely that the Lars were fully aware of Leia's existence, however). 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 Palpatine and Vader. 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. As we know from ', this strategy certainly pays off.

Related Topics:
The Skywalker children - Leia - Organa - Lars

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During the Great Jedi Purge, Yoda eludes detection and eventually escapes to Dagobah, where he awaits the arrival of Luke Skywalker. When Luke arrives more than twenty years later (in '), Yoda, after initial reluctance, agrees to teach him in the ways of the Force. Prior to finishing his instruction, however, Luke chooses to leave Dagobah in order to confront Darth Vader and save his friends. Luke promises to return to complete his training, but on his arrival (in Return of the Jedi), Yoda, greatly weakened by old age and having become sick, informs Luke that he has completed his training but will not be a Jedi until he defeats his father, Darth Vader. Yoda then dies at the age of 900 and becomes "one with the Force."

Related Topics:
Great Jedi Purge - Dagobah

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Yoda's teachings eventually save Luke from giving in to his anger and falling to the Dark Side; he remembers to control his feelings just as he is seconds away from killing Vader and becoming the Emperor's new apprentice. 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. Anakin dies in his son's arms as the Empire 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.

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