Stolen Dumbledore

[Encaitare]

Although Ms. Rowling did nick "Cockroach Clusters" from Monty Python

[dancing spawn of ungoliant]

This may be off topic - actually, I don't even know what this thread is about anymore, but I'm going to say this nonetheless.

Originally there was a question if Rowling had stolen the word "Dumbledore" from Tolkien. It was cleared that it's Old English and means a bumblebee. Fine. But I don't think there's need to accuse any writer so eagerly about lending words from others' works (especially with the attitude that Tolkien invented everything first).

I'm not going to repeat all the things about Tolkien getting inspiration from Beowulf and Kalevala. But just as a trivial question: did you know that In the Bible (Old Testament) there's a mountain called Moria and a man whose name is Eleasar? I don't know about you but I have this funny feeling that I've heard those names somewhere else... and I believe that the Bible was there first.

[Kath]

But Tolkien never made any secret of his influences whether they were from the old legends or the Bible.

[Feanor of the Peredhil]

Nor did Rowling. Many of her references are all but too obvious.

The werewolf named Remus (who, sadly, has no twin Romulus).

The werewolf Fenrir. Does that sound familiar?

Sirius Black who turns into a dog.

Her playful use of words and names is no crime. Did you know that Dumbledore's name was chosen because she imagines him walking down the halls humming? The humming reminded her of bumblebees.

That said, you cannot have a fantasy story without ripping off something that's already done. How many times have we seen the underdog become the hero (don't forget he's got dad issues), learn that he's got some sort of interesting abilities, and go on to attempt to vanquish his greatest enemy? Want me to name some of these heros? Harry Potter. Luke Skywalker. Frodo Baggins. Jesus. Are any of their stories less wonderful, just because you've seen the theme repeated over and over? No. So J.K. Rowling taking a few words or concepts from Tolkien (that he'd taken before) shouldn't bother people the way it does.

[Selmo]

JKR would not have to dig into Middle English or Tolkien's work for Dumbledore=bumblebee.
The word is still in common use in some parts of England.

[Imladris]

Yet another prime example of how there really is nothing new under the sun.

[Boromir88]

Very true Imladris, that has been an argument in the recent degades, that nothing is completely original. No story, novel, movie, is completely original, there's atleast one part that is taken from a previous work. Which is why I don't like the word "stealing."

If you want to put it as J.K. Rowling "stole," then you must say Tolkien "stole" from Beowulf, and other Anglo-Norman mythologies. It's a natural thing for authors, directors, painters...etc to do is to use things from previous experiences. There are two ways to explain why authors (or whoever) take from other authors. Either one they use what is called intertextuality, which is purposefully using a previous author's work to draw attention to it, or provide a point. The other is simply that the author (or director...etc) read/saw something previously and were influenced by it in either a positive (or negative) way and unconsciously wrote it into their story.

[yavanna II]

Originally Posted by Imladris

Yet another prime example of how there really is nothing new under the sun.

Absolutely right. It would be a real genious if you could create something you haven't borrowed from anything, even if it's unintentional.

But I do have that grudge about JKR having the dementors look and feel like the Ringwraiths.... doesn't she have the wit to make her characters look a bitdifferent from others'?

And about quidditch? It's just soccer on brooms, it's not original.