Rowling and Tolkien (Longbottom)

[c_voth312]

No: HPFGUIDX 39027

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., "anglinsbees" <anglinsbees at y...> wrote:
(snip)
> There are so many similarities between Tolkien and the Harry Potter 
> world- the obvious ones such as Gandalf/ Dumbledore, Peter 
Pettigrew 
> and Gollum (Both groveling whiners, who were placed in the heros 
> debt through acts of mercy.  Gandalfs words to Frodo, which he 
> remembers when he decides to spare Gollum as they travel to Mordor 
> are strikingly similar to those Rowling puts in Harry and 
> Dumbledores minds and mouths on the subject of Peter.)

I've heard Peter compared with Wormtongue as well: insinuated self 
into good guy's camp, toadys to abusive bad guy, generally weak and 
cowardly but with potential for real malice, etc. (Peter's 
nickname of "Wormtail" is phonetically similar, as well)
 
> Despite the similarities, I cannot help but note the huge 
> differences.  (Ron has very little in common with Samwise,lol!)  
Has 
> anyone noticed and  analyzed parelells?  While I do think that 
Peter 
> will have a decisive role in the overthrow of Voldemort, just as 
> Gollum did in the destruction of the ring, I do hope Harry comes 
> through with both hands intact!

I think JKR and JRRT tend to parallel each other (or seem to) because 
they both write in the same archetypes: the Everyman (or Everykid) 
hero, internal and external good-vs-evil struggles, references to 
myth/folklore/Bible/etc.  Similarities are bound to crop up from time 
to time.

~Christi