Did J.K. Rowling borrow heavily from J.R.R. Tolkien?

I have also noticed a similarity between the Dementors and the Ring Wraiths. Both look almost identical from the orignal drawings of Tolkien.

Also look at Terry Pratchett and the parrallels between Hogwartz and Unseen University in the Discworld series.

And if you have ever read Dahls The Worst Witch when you were a kid you will also see more similarities there too. Also in Dalhs Charlie and the Chocolate Factory there was a drink called Buttergin. And in Harry Potter the drink of choice for young Wizards is Butterbeer.

Over all Harry Potter is not a clever or fresh idea. In fact its a very simple idea and the books are boring and often inconsistant. The films it has to be said, when you forget about the plagiarism, are quite entertaining and nice to watch at Christmas and Halloween. But i dont think JK Rowling deserves all the hype, recognition and praise she has been given for Harry Potter. I also think her being a woman has alot to do with her being given this success beyond the books. Her ideas are very simple and some things in the films annoy me quite alot. Daniel Radcliffe is not a great actor. Rupert Grint gets on your nerves and that little Emma Watson is by far the worst young actor i have ever seen. I find it astounding how much she has earned from such terrible and annoying acting. Quite simply that girl cannot act to save her life!

I have also noticed that as the films go on they become increasingly more and more adult in nature and the most recent one was difficult to make sense of. For a series of films directed at children, they should stay directed at children. Not change them as they go on for adult entertainment.

All in there is alot of copied ideas in Harry Potter and the storyline is not fresh, original or majorly exciting.

Harry Potter is almost 100% copied from Lord of the Rings. There's hundreds more than that, right up to the last book and I couldn't stand how ridiculously obvious it was. The Horcruxes are The One Ring NO DOUBT, and there is thousands more! I no longer like the Harry Potter books.

A long time ago, way before the movies came out and I was reading Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings and the Hobbit, I couldn't believe how similar they were, not just the plot but also the characters. Even the names were so similar! I remember, there was this character Tom in "The Hobbit" which for some reason, reminded me of Tom Riddle in HP1. I am not about to read the books again to prove this but it was (and still is) just so frustrating! J.K. Rowling just disgusted me from then on. Yeah, those mythical creatures weren't orginal but the plot and characters?? Comon! A little bit more originality, PLEASE?!

Villian: I do agree that Voldemort and Sauron have some similarities (being a bodiless figure trying to return to power.) But LOTR is not the first book to introduce a defeated villian who is looking for a way to return. I also think the Sorceror's Stone in no way held the same weight as the ring. It was featured in one book, and it wasn't Voldermort's entire world either. He had many options to try and return, the stone was just one of them.

And unlikely heroes is not a new concept. I have read plenty of works that featured orphans as heroes, or someone that was commonly viewed as weak.

Special Object: Like I said, the stone was just ONE of many ways Voldermort could return. There were many special objects in the Harry Potter world. The Sorceror's Stone wasn't all that important in the scheme of things, and it was quickly destroyed after Harry kept it safe from Voldemort.

Mentor/ Protector: I do agree that Gandalf and Dumbledore are very similar in description. But almost always in stories like this there is a "guardian angel" of sorts. Do you not think that maybe Rowling chose an old man to describe Dumbledore just because being old in age usually signifies being wize and experienced? Usually if you ask someone to describe what they think a wizard looks like they will describe an older man, with a long beard, and a robe. Think "Merlin".

Tolkein did not invent trolls. She has no copyright on them that I am aware of. Just because both stories have a troll in it does not mean that Rowling ripped Tolkein off.

Giant spiders. I don't think Tolkein invented these either.

Giant raptor bird? Buckbeak was a hypogriff, the bird that saved Gandalf was an giant eagle. The idea of a hypogriff came from mythology.

A dragon and basilisk have nothing, but the fact they are mytholgical reptiles in common. There actually was a dragon in Harry Potter, I have no idea what you didn't list that but instead chose a totally different animal entirely to compare.

Goblins:Again one of your reasons is just because a mytholigical creatue is used that Rowling must be totally ripping off LOTR. The goblins in HP and the goblins in LOTR have nothing in common except that they are goblins! The goblins in HP are civilized, they run a bank for god sakes, and are very full of pride (basically I doubt they would be coerced into doing anyone's bidding). The goblins in LOTR are just henchmen for Sauron, they do his bidding and are very barbaric.

Gollum used to be a hobbit, he is the way he is now because he was consumed with the ring. Dobby is a house elf, a lowly and helpful creature who was only a hinderence because he wanted to protect Harry. He has no ulterior motives like Gollum. He has no split personalities like Gollum.

I feel like most of the things you listed were just reaching. Like you just using the fact that some of the same mythogical creatures were used, even if they do have very different characteristics entirely. I understand that Rowling was probably influenced by Tolkein, but Rowling was influenced by a lot of different things. I feel she was probably influenced by mythology a lot more than she was influenced by Tolkein Also, I have seen plenty of books that rip off LOTR, and Harry Potter is by no means even close to what some of those authors do.

now that I think about it you're right. I found this website when I thought that in "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Harry looked EXTREMELY like Bilbo Baggins when he took off his glasses. You can see this for yourself in the 2nd Harry Potter movie when Harry and Ron come back from questioning Malfoy.

COPIES:
Gandalf= Dumbledore (completely and utterly)
Frodo= Harry
Sam= Ron and Hermione
Legolas and gimli= Nevillie, luna etc
aragorn= Sirius (their story is pretty much exacty the same)
Dumbledore's army= The Fellowship

and theres A LOT more.

In more detail:
Gandalf and Dumbledore:
Gandalf has a mysterious past, dark secrets, (you only know if you've read the book) they look the same, where almost the same clothing, act the same way, both have legendary weapons, both extraordinarily powerful wizards. Both very close to the main character, both die. both are very old, AND THE LOST GOES ON AND ON...

Frodo= Harry
Both come from places that have nothing to do with the unknown world to them. Shire and Muggle world. "smaller people" they are made to look weaker than the more powerful characters. Harry has glasses, and frodo is a peaceful little hobbit. both at some time are getting taken over by the villain, (frodo and the ring/ harry and the mind connection with voldermort). Both leave with only small group of friends. For frodo, Merry, piipin and Sam. Harry has Ron and Hermione. Both are given powerful gifts from their fathers. Harry gets the invisibility cloak, Frodo gets the mithril vest and sting. or if you want to put it another way, he was given a CLOAK by the elves that would disgiuse him. What a copy...AND THE LIST GOES ON AND ON....

I would like to add here, it is possible, as time travel is real that tolkein went forward in time and copied rowlings ideas.

Sam= Ron and Hermione
Both are peaceful and kind. Ron lives relativity poorly, just like Sam did in the Shire. Ron and hermione are the ones that carry Harry through dark times, same with sam to frodo. Ron is slightly clumsy like Sam and has an Inner strength, like Sam. AND THE LIST GOES ON AND ON...

Legolas and gimli= Nevillie, luna etc
Both are characters that form a powerful bond together. Dumbledores army and Legolas and Gimli's friendship. Gimli has a secret about his father Gloin that he wantys revenge for, Nevillie had his parents killed and wants revenge. Both have the same humour.

aragorn= Sirius (their story is pretty much exacty the same)
Aragorn and sirius are INCREDIBLY alike. When Sirius meets Harry, Ron and Hermione they are terrified of him because of what people of heard of him. Same with when frodo meets Aragorn, they are scared of him. both are ashamed of a great happening. Sirius of how he let Peter pettigrew escape and aragorn how his ancestor, islildur didnt destroy the ring. sirius is an animagi, and therefore can track people well and is reasonably powerful wizard. Aragorn is a ranger at the begining, very good at tracking and can avoid being seen if he wishes, JUST LIKE SIRIUS.

Dumbledore's army= The Fellowship
both were formed in the time where their need was most desperate. Both made in a based in a place the enenmy wouldn't find (Rivendell/Room of requirement) The "leaders, harry or Gandalf leave. Or in gandalf's case, dies. Both roups are then taken over by another secondary person. Neville and Aragorn.

"Never laugh at live dragons" - hobbit
"Never Tickle a Sleeping Dragon " - hogwarts

Well what about the de-luminator which Dumbeldore gave to Ron in the deathly hallows? "in the hope that when things seem most dark it will show him the light." Does nobody else see the similarity between this and the light of Earendil, the "most beloved star" which Galadriel gave to Frodo? "may it be a light for you in dark places, when all other lights go out"

Rowlings just read the Tolkien's trilogy, and transposed the whole thing to her "original" Harry Potter stories... Simple. Ha-Ha-Ha for the story that she came up with the idea of Harry Potter on a train....