Facts About Jedi Padawan's You Never Knew

Due to the destruction of the Jedi Order during the rise of Palpatine's Galactic Empire, the Jedi Order as an institution did not exist during the time of the original trilogy. In A New Hope, Grand Moff Tarkin casually commented to Darth Vader that he is "all that's left of their religion," at least until Vader senses the presence of Obi-Wan Kenobi onboard the Death Star. With Obi-Wan's self-sacrifice and Yoda's death in Return of the Jedi, Luke is left as the last fully realized Jedi Knight, although we also learn that Princess Leia is his twin sister and Force-sensitive as well. During the prequel trilogy, we are given a glimpse of the Jedi Order's final years as a galactic institution, including a look at the process by which a Force-sensitive person becomes a full-fledged Jedi Knight ready to serve the galaxy. This article examines this unique process.

1. Younglings to Padawans: Force-sensitive beings recruited, typically at a young age, into the Jedi Order are referred to as Younglings. They are taken away from their birth families to live at the Jedi Temple and are trained in the Force through small group and classroom activities before becoming Padawans and being assigned a master.

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2. Padawan Braids: As with Obi-Wan Kenobi in The Phantom Menace and Anakin Skywalker in The Phantom Menace and Attack of the Clones, Jedi Padawans wear a distinctive braid in their hair that designates them as Padawans or Jedi-in-training. It also helps to identify them in the heat of battle, a sort of "friend-or-foe" designator, if you will. However, the Jedi Order comprised beings from several species, and not all species grow fur or hair. In those cases, Padawans such as Ashoka Tano, a young Togrutan Padawan apprenticed to Anakin Skywalker, wore distinctive silka beads to distinguish herself as a Padawan. Other non-traditional ways also include other forms of body modification, braiding facial hair, or having distinctive markings.

3. Master and Apprentice: Jedi Knights are only allowed to have one Padawan to train at a time to enable Padawans to learn in a more personalized and focused environment, necessitating a one-on-one relationship. This creates solid and unforgettable relationships, such as the bond between Anakin Skywalker and Obi-Wan Kenobi or Anakin and Ashoka during The Clone Wars. This rule comes into play towards the end of The Phantom Menace when Qui-Gon asks permission of the Jedi Council to train young Anakin as a Jedi, a request that is rejected, not only because they are concerned about Anakin in general, but also because Qui-Gon is already actively training Obi-Wan. However, Qui-Gon tries to circumvent this rule by arguing that Obi-Wan is ready to face the Jedi Trials and become a Jedi Knight. After Qui-Gon is killed, Obi-Wan is granted the rank of Jedi Knight and, at Obi-Wan's insistence, immediately takes Anakin on as a Padawan learner.

4. General Padawans: Due to the size and scale of The Clone Wars and the Grand Army of the Republic, Padawans were also placed in command of military forces during the conflict, along with Jedi Knights and Jedi Masters "Generals." Ashoka Tano frequently leads Clone Troopers into battle against Separatist forces during The Clone Wars. The Jedi Council also gave Ashoka command of a Clone regiment to capture Darth Maul on Mandalore during the closing days of The Clone Wars.

5. Jedi Trials: Before a Padawan can become a Jedi Knight, they must prove their worthiness by passing several trials. These trials include Skill, Courage, Flesh, Spirit, and Insight. Once a Padawan successfully passes these trials, they are allowed to cut off their braid with their lightsaber, marking their transition to Jedi Knighthood. Additionally, if they leave the Order, a relatively rare occurrence, they must have their braid ripped out. Although cutting off the braid is not seen in the prequel trilogy, it is featured in the Clone Wars micro-series when Anakin is deemed to have passed the Trials and is elevated to the rank of Jedi Knight. Although unseen, by the time of Revenge of the Sith, Anakin has passed the Trials and achieved Knighthood.

Following the original trilogy, the last surviving Jedi Knight, Luke Skywalker, made a failed attempt to train a new Order of Jedi Knights after the fall of the Galactic Empire. Unfortunately, at this time, we know very little about it and how he structured his new Order in comparison to how the Jedi Order existed before its downfall in the prequel trilogy. Hopefully, someday we will get to learn more about his efforts to resurrect the Jedi Order, as well as how Rey Skywalker might, one day, rebuild the Jedi Order.

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Written by Mara Butler

Source(s): ScreenRant

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