Star Wars and Middle-Earth

[The Only Real Estel]

You could compare Anakin and Denethor.

Both of them started out quite well, but they were both proud and fearful (Denethor grew more fearful as Sauron grew, of course).

They both listened to lies from the main Enemy of their time and ended up turning against those that were trying to help them (Anakin against Obi-Wan & Denethor against Gandalf).

In the end they both eventually came to see their life and its surroundings through the twisted lens of the very Enemy they had been committed to fighting against.

[mormegil]

Truth is, as Boromir similarly stated, that these are two epic stories and those who look for parallels are bound to find something similar. Now if there was an all powerful "force" in Middle-earth or that to be the Sith Master you needed to posses a certain object that would complete your power, then you'd have some real parallels to analyze. As it is, we really have two stories of good and evil competing where some are lost to the evil and some evil come over to the good.

[Gurthang]

I once posted a thread (which got only one reply *sigh*) showing all the similarities between Anakin/Vader and Smeagol/Gollum.

First off, both characters come into view as being evil. Both are considered 'bad guys' when they first appear to the viewers/readers. But, as the story progresses, it is revealed that they were not always evil, but were good in their past. The past is then shown completely and that is followed by a confrontation between past and present; for instance Vader indecision between Luke and the Emporer(Return of the Jedi) and the Gollum/Smeagol debate (movie version is good in this). The characters then repent of their vileness and try to become good.

Also, I just thought of this. It's not really that fantastic, but:

Star Wars: A New Hope -----> Hope to destroy the Ultimate Weapon
The Fellowship of the Ring --> Hope to destroy the One Ring

The Empire Strikes Back ----> Empire's retaliation against the Rebels
The Two Towers -----------> League between the TT against Free Peoples

The Return of the Jedi ----> Jedi come back from 'extiction'
The Return of the King ---> King comes back to Minas Tirith


Hmmmmm...

[AragornII]

There are plenty of similarities between SW and LOTR. Jean Tang, a writer for the website Salon.com said,

Both movies feature mentors who duel bad guys atop narrow passageways, as well as secondary villains - Darth Vader and Saruman the White, both deserters to the dark side, both fond of telekinetic violence - who provide the more visible nemesis. Along the way, both heroes encounter women in white gowns, cynical older-brother types, sidekicks playing for laughs and faceless cannon fodder (storm troopers and orcs). Both make use of mystical languages, mystical spiritual beliefs and pivotal scenes in bars and in watery mucky - mucks (compare the swamp at the gates of Moria to the garbage chute in the Death Star.

If you think about it, all these are true.

There are also many other similarities:
1. Gollum - Yoda (greenish raggedy midget with speech impediment)
2. Magic swords (Sting, Glamdring, Anduril) - Lightsabers
3.Gandalf - Obi-Wan Kenobi
4. Eowyn - Princess Leia
5.Saruman - Darth Vader
6. Sauron - Palpatine
7.Bilbo digs his magic sword out of an old wooden box and gives it to Frodo.
Obi-Wan digs Anakin's lightsaber out of an old wooden box and gives it to Luke.
8. Gollum bites off Frodo's finger, which plunges into the abyss with the Ring.
Vader chops off Luke's hand, which plunges into the abyss with his lightsaber.
9.Galadriel foretells the future, and Sam must decide whether to help his friends or not. Yoda foretells the future and Luke must decide whether to help his friends or not. They both warn that they've only seen one possible future.
10. Saruman tries to convince Gandalf to join the evil wizards, thereby bringing order to ME. Darth Vader tries to get Luke to join the dark side, thereby bringing order to the galaxy.
11.Mundane name and special name (Strider and Aragorn, Ben and Obi-Wan0
12. Mysterious figure throws back hood of robe to reveal that he's Gandalf. Mysterious figure throws back hood to reveal he's Obi-Wan.

That's pretty cool, all those similarities.

[Lyta_Underhill]

Galadriel foretells the future, and Sam must decide whether to help his friends or not. Yoda foretells the future and Luke must decide whether to help his friends or not. They both warn that they've only seen one possible future.

One difference here: Luke acts on his fears, while Sam puts them in their place and reaffirms that his place is by Frodo's side. Also, Yoda counsels, and Galadriel merely chides, suggesting Sam's own thoughts on the matter, while Yoda and Obi-Wan tend to believe they know what is best and fear for Luke's own decision. (Now we know it is because Anakin did a bit of this in his time, and they were probably afraid!) Interesting point, though, is Luke's decision is quite Frodo-like. He chooses his friends' safety over his own spiritual safety, simply because he believes he can help them. No selfish motives there. Anakin, on the other hand, has some REAL issues! :P As Estel pointed out, there is some Denethor-mirroring in there, but I'd also say he's got a bit of Wormtongue characteristic too, choosing the person who seems strongest in order to further his own ambitions, only to have his fortunes intertwined with that person for good or ill, mostly ill. Vader was Palpatine's enforcer and "convincer," while Wormtongue, in a less overt way, was the "convincer" of Rohan...anyway, don't read too much into this crackpot analysis!

Cheers!
Lyta

Its undoubtable that StarWars and The Lord Of The Rings will go down as diffinitive icons of the 20th century, and it only seems right that these two great epics should share so much in story.

A large reason for this is the inspiration Lucas had for Star Wars.
Lucas looked towards classic fantasy (Vladamir Propp) and myths to create his narrative. He took the Ultimate evil villain, the wise old man and the struggeling hero and placed them in space.

It isn't known for certain if Lucas looked at Tolkien but as Tolkien IS fantasy it would only make sense. Especially as Darth Vader's apperance was based on Dr.Doom!

[Gil-Galad]

Morgoth and Emperor, both were supposedly good, but had a secret agenda

both Yoda and Gandalf realized what happened and tried to do something againest it (Yoda Vs. Emperor, Gandalf Vs. Saruman)