LOTR vs Harry Potter - The Barrow-Downs Discussion Forum

dragongirlG · 02-19-2002, 04:09 PM

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR> I think it's useless to pit Harry Potter against the LotR. Some people will prefer the latter, some the former, some both. I happen to be in that last category. I actually interchanged reading Tolkien with J.K. Rowling, and can't say it did me any harm. Potter is delightful, less deep, certainly more juvenile, but a great read nonetheless, and not without its share of seriousness. Makes me feel like a wee babe again. What I like most about Rowling is that she doesn't insult her young readers' intelligence. As for Tolkien, his writing is like a great, deep pool of image and thought. I am currently sitting at the at the bottom, and couldn't think of a better place to be.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE><BR>I couldn't have said it better myself You guys take the words right out of my mouth! I agree that Rowling did use mythological elements (Fluffy is a modified version of Cerberus) but she didn't mean to plaigiarize Tolkien. I think that anyone who reads [I}LOTR[/I] will most likely use some of its elements in their writing; I once wrote about a desolate landscape and then realized that it was similar to the description of Mordor that I had read. I personally hope that people don't try and compare Rowling and Tolkien because their novels are totally different. I believe that they are both geniuses and excellent authors. They may be similar because their series are both about emotional growth, both include dark evil creatures, traitors, wizards, and whatever else, but they are just as good as each other and it's not worth the time trying to figure out which series is better. The best thing is just to read them and enjoy them both, not to compare the two or try to insult one of the author's work. Both series DO have plots and are both great reads. Sit back, relax, and enjoy them! Don't compare.

02-19-2002, 04:09 PM	#11
dragongirlG Wight Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Stock, the Shire Posts: 151	<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR> I think it's useless to pit Harry Potter against the LotR. Some people will prefer the latter, some the former, some both. I happen to be in that last category. I actually interchanged reading Tolkien with J.K. Rowling, and can't say it did me any harm. Potter is delightful, less deep, certainly more juvenile, but a great read nonetheless, and not without its share of seriousness. Makes me feel like a wee babe again. What I like most about Rowling is that she doesn't insult her young readers' intelligence. As for Tolkien, his writing is like a great, deep pool of image and thought. I am currently sitting at the at the bottom, and couldn't think of a better place to be.<HR></BLOCKQUOTE><BR>I couldn't have said it better myself You guys take the words right out of my mouth! I agree that Rowling did use mythological elements (Fluffy is a modified version of Cerberus) but she didn't mean to plaigiarize Tolkien. I think that anyone who reads [I}LOTR[/I] will most likely use some of its elements in their writing; I once wrote about a desolate landscape and then realized that it was similar to the description of Mordor that I had read. I personally hope that people don't try and compare Rowling and Tolkien because their novels are totally different. I believe that they are both geniuses and excellent authors. They may be similar because their series are both about emotional growth, both include dark evil creatures, traitors, wizards, and whatever else, but they are just as good as each other and it's not worth the time trying to figure out which series is better. The best thing is just to read them and enjoy them both, not to compare the two or try to insult one of the author's work. Both series DO have plots and are both great reads. Sit back, relax, and enjoy them! Don't compare.