Spot the difference!!!

Being a huge fan of both Lord Of the Rings (LOTR) and Harry Potter (HP) I noticed that there were many similarities between the two epics! My mum was the one who started this discussion which I am now recollecting!

In terms of characters played:

1.) Mr. Know it Alls! Send the people closest to them on dangerous missions...without any apparent concern! Are full of secrets under the name of "Greater Good"!

Dumbledore of HP & Gandalf of LOTR!

DUMBLEDORE



GANDALF



Both seem to have supreme authority and magical powers but have someone almost equally powerful and evil (saruman and voldermort) who are working against them!



2.) Their Virtues: Bravery and Courage and Love
Their Curse: Being the chosen ones

Harry of HP & Frodo of LOTR

HARRY



FRODO


The seemingly hapless “little one” (one is a half ling and the other is a child) with special powers (love and astonishing resilience to the ring) who goes on his path to do good regardless of consequences. Both are kind of dragged into the picture and somewhat unwillingly do their task upon which the survival of the “age of men” or “wizarding world” exists! Both become committed to this task as the story advances!

3. ) Loyal Friends!

Sam Wise Gamgy & Ronald Wesley

SAM WISE GAMGY














RONALD WESLEY



Both are loyal friends without whom the heros would never have achieved the task! Both have potrayed shades of grey.... however short lived they were!







4. ) The Villans!

Sauron of LOTR & Voldermort of HP

SAURON



VOLDERMORT



Both are evil doers who want the destruction of mankind/muggles and ultimate power in their hands! Both are vanquished and their return is dreaded by the entire community. Both have deceived their followers and have figured out a way to cheat death! Both have been killed (hopefully forever)in the last part of the story to bring about the happily ever after ending! Both are referred to as the Lord!

5. Caste System!

HOUSE ELVES AND GOBLINS OF HP




Both of them initially do not care to be part of the war but later some members of their “breeds” join forces with Harry to destroy Voldermort! Both the breeds despise each other!

ELVES AND DWARFS LOTR!




Foster utter hatred for each other and are away from the battle(claim to have no role to play)... but end up becoming BOF with the main lead!

Oh...oh... another thing! Dobby (elf of HP) & Smeagel (crazy hobbit 0f LOTR) use the grammatically incorrect, yet sweet sounding phrase "Eats something", actually add a "s" after each verb like "he eats something!!"


6. Eye Candies!

HERMOINE of HP & ARAWIN of LOTR


HERMOINE



ARAWIN





Though the latter is mostly eye candy she does play a principal role in motivating not LOTR’s main lead Frodo but the ranger Aragon to be the king and embrace his destiny! The reason (I believe) behind a missing female lead is because LOTR was written long long ago.. when things were.... lets say Different!

Hermione plays a major role (apart from looking pretty) in assisting Harry.... goes to show the effect of having a female author....not to mention of the 21st century!


7. Scare factor!

Ring Wraiths of LOTR & Dementors of HP

DEMENTORS



RING WRAITHS



Similar looking cloaked monsters biding to the respective villains of the story! These creatures are introduced...banking on the fundamental concept of fear of the unknown..... It’s what’s hidden under the cloaks... the unknown which invokes more fear than a scary face! Both of them are (magical) devils with weird powers.... weird even for imaginary stories!

 As far as locations go:

1.The "F" Forests!

Fanghorn of LOTR & Forbidden of HP

FANGHORN



FORBIDDEN



Creepy forest hiding yet again the unknown creatures of the world!


 Plot:

Both stories are essentially about triumph of good over evil..... by someone unimaginable! Someone very small and young... who holds on somewhat unwillingly and then accepts it as destiny! This is what actually made the entire thing unique!! Kinda challenge the idea of “Size DOES matter”!!


This just goes to show how similar Harry Potter is to LOTR! After all imitation is the sincerest form of flattery... so Tolkien should be flattered and not annoyed with Rowling! BTW... did you know... both the author’s names are part of the dictionary of Microsoft's word! How impressive is that!