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

I'm sorry but this is one of the dumbest arguments I have ever read. I don't even think you should have been allowed to post this considering it is quite obvious you never even read the books. I would be willing to bet everything I own that these were the only two fantasies you have ever seen or read. Go read any single fantasy novel in existence with wizards and such. If you consider what Rowling did to be copying from Tolkien, then you will be shocked to find that in your opinion, every author that has ever written a fantasy novel copied from every other author that came before them.

i think the writer of the above argument is a damn fool who does not know what he is talking about.

omg I NOTICED IT TOO!!!!!
woot go you!

Pretty much all of the 'characters' described in the table are mythological creatures which occur not only in Tolkien's works, but in a vast array of other fantasy novels as well. For example, Gandalf and Dumbledore are just two stereotypical and traditional representation of the wizard. The word wizard is derived from the word 'wise', so it is not exactly strange that these particular figures act as mentors to a younger generation. Characters such as these occur also in many other books such as a the 'Earthsea' series by Ursula Le Guin. However, it seems that many people base their opinions on a very limited range of fantasy books. For this reason i will point out a character who is probably one of the best known wizards of all time. Ever heard of Merlin? There are many, many authors out there who's leading figures are similar. It is unfortunate to see that we live in a rather vindictive society, with individuals who seethe in the success of others. People are constantly trying to challenge popular culture and what they don't realise is that there is a whole mob of other non-conformists out there doing exactly what they are. Irony much? I think so. Maybe it is just one of many of the human flaws that is stopping us from accepting the fact that we are not all equal. Some people are bound to excell to greater hights than others in a variety of fields, be it writing or any other art form. As for the giant spiders, the goblins, the dragons, the unlikely hero and the Villian... well these are just conventional features and creatures who's origins lay in the myth and legends that long surpass the existence of any modern fantasy story. It is time to realise that the similarities between different novels enable us to classify them into a genre. Without these, the genre of fantasy could not exist. It seems in any case, that the differences and details of a novel are the things that allow us to judge it, love it or hate it.

And by the way, if you want to convey a convincing argument, it might be good if your audience thinks you know what you are on about. You really must be an inexperienced reader, or maybe you just can't spell. Either way, these don't credit the cause. It's Hagrid, not Hagred. Read up my friend, you have much to learn.

...and I couldn't help but be struck by similarities to LOTR. Yes, I'll give Rowling a pass on the fact that she includes mythical beings in her work that are part of a rich folklore tradition that Tolkien tapped, too. But what about themes and specific plot twists? Besides the ones that others have been mentioning, what about:
- a forest community that doesn't trust the world of wizards, but comes through on the side of good in the end (Ents and Centaurs)
- an evil piece of jewelry that changes the personality of the wearer (the Ring and the locket Horcrux)
- a small seemingly insignificant hero who nonetheless has access into the evil lord's mind (Frodo can tune in Sauron's thoughts when he's wearing the Ring; ditto Harry through his scar)
- a small hero who has the benefit of a cloak which lends invisibility to its wearer (Elven cloak and Invisibility Cloak)
- the greatest wizard of the age being thrown down to his death from a high point (Gandalf from Zirakzigil and Dumbledore from the Astronomy Tower)
- the greatest wizard is resurrected (Gandalf as White Wizard and Dumbledore in the glowing white "King's Cross" station)
- although the final battle seems dramatic and momentous, what really matters is the journey of the hero, creeping along to what he thinks is certain death (Battle of Black Gate and Battle of Hogwarts; Frodo reaching Mt. Doom and Harry answering Voldemort's summons)