Similarities between JK Rowling and Tolkien

[Colin Jacobs]

Having read all the HP books and now reading Lord of the Rings I cannot help noticing similarites between some of the characters in both books.

HP and Frodo, Death eaters and Dark Riders /Wraiths. Dumbledore and Gandalf and Dobby and Gollum. has anyone noticed this at all?

 

CJ

[Kylie]

Yes, I've noticed. There are some more similarities listed on the MuggleNet website.

[Colin Jacobs]

Aha so we must assume that Rowling was a big fan of Tolkien. BTW the book of LOR is much better than the films, the films seem to muddle each chapter up! I am reading the book then watching the DVD after each one and have found it to be a right muddle or should that be muggle.

 

Just looked at Mugglenet there are loads. Has Rowling commented on this at all?

Edited September 4, 2008 by Michelle
posts merged, please edit rather than posting in quick succession

[Kylie]

I can't recall reading if JK Rowling has said anything about it or not.

 

But then I suppose if you take any 2 epic novels and put them side by side there will always be elements that are the same.

[Echo]

Rowling even got the name "Dumbledore" from a poem Tolkien wrote years ago about Tom Bombadil. She was obviously very influenced by him!

 

I'm glad to hear you're enjoying The Lord of the Rings, Colin! It's my favorite book.

[Colin Jacobs]

But then I suppose if you take any 2 epic novels and put them side by side there will always be elements that are the same.

 

This is a bit worrying are there anymore books that are similar?

 

as for LOR I will be sorry to finish the book. I am enjoying it very much indeed.

[Sedge]

as for LOR I will be sorry to finish the book. I am enjoying it very much indeed.

 

Don't worry Colin, it's one of those excellent books that bears re-reading many times.

[Kylie]

This is a bit worrying are there anymore books that are similar?

 

Well, that's just my opinion, which probably isn't worth much I was making a bit of a generalisation I guess (naughty me). I'm not well-read enough in this genre to really make an informed opinion, but it just seems that some elements of fantasy are universal. I'm probably thinking more broadly rather than specific things like what Echo pointed out.

 

I don't think I'm making any sense at all now, so I'll stop.

[Nellie]

I would agree that many epic fantasy books are similar, as often they are based around a quest, with magic, and myths and so on. I think what separates them is the detail of the world in which they are set. Middle Earth couldn't be more different from the English 1950s-ish type world of Harry Potter.