Some things that rowling *might* have copied from other authors

[Narya]

I'm sure some of you noticed that too, the similarities between her work and Tolkien's. But you know, she might have been inspired by other authors, too, and she might have copied some stuffs from other authors. (or I could just be making this up to have something to talk about here.)

Anyways, the things that I noticed so far are the following:



DEMENTORS and SPECTRES. The description of the two entities are strikingly similar and while the Dementors are in Harry's world, the Spectres are in Lyra's (The Subtle Knife, His Dark Materials trilogy, Phillip Pullman). They actually basically do the same thing: suck out people's soul, leaving behind an empty, zombie-like shell.
THE KNIGHT BUS and CROWLEY'S CAR. Both have the uncanny ability to squeeze through the busy London traffic without anyone (Muggles or humans) noticing them. Only difference is, the Knight Bus is public transportation, while Crowley's 1926 black Bentley is for his own personal use only, and is an extension of his person in a way. He is capable of operating it without physically driving it and has kept the car scratch-free for over sixty years. (Edit: Crowley is the devil from GOOD OMENS, by Gaiman and Pratchett).
HARRY POTTER and TIMOTHY HUNTER. Hunter, like Potter, is also the main character in the books series penned by NEIL GAIMAN called, BOOKS OF MAGIC (*gasp!*). And both characters have glasses, both need to learn magic, both have a giant for a friend, and well, you judge: here is a picture of TIMOTHY HUNTER (http://www.chromewaves.net/images/interface/booksOfMagic.jpg). As you can see, the similarity is right down to the pet owl (only Tim has a macho barn owl while Harry has a sissy white owl :D)
(http://www.chromewaves.net/images/interface/booksOfMagic.jpg)



I'm sure there are others, but I'm want to make this fun for everyone. Post your own observations.

[Majimaune]

I gotta read that one by Gaiman, he is such a good writter. Love his stuff.

Um I can't think of anything off the top of my head but wait a bit and I will.

[Narya]

I gotta read that one by Gaiman, he is such a good writter. Love his stuff.

Um I can't think of anything off the top of my head but wait a bit and I will.


HEY! I miss you! How are things at chronicles?

[Majimaune]

I miss you too! Chrons is booming as always. I stick to the Lounge area a lot now though. Not letting myself into George RR Martin section until I have read them all. I now consider myself an old member there because there aren't that many active pre 2006.

This is a stretch but Winterfell and that place the Durmstrung people come from.

[Narya]

ooohhhh, look at this site: JK ROWLING AND PLAGIARISM (http://www.geocities.com/versetrue/rowling.htm)

Interesting, no?

[Prince of Cats]

Thanks for the link, Narya! :)

That's pretty crazy the '86 movie with a magic-learning Harry Potter

[Illuin]

Is that for real? Wow, that is pretty crazy! Cloning Tolkien wasn’t enough I guess; jeez :rolleyes:.

[Narya]

Is that for real? Wow, that is pretty crazy! Cloning Tolkien wasn’t enough I guess; jeez :rolleyes:.



Oh, and by the way, she doesn't believe she's copied anyone...

[Eledhwen]

I think 'copied' is a bit strong.

There are many similarities with a number of other stories, but if you subscribe to the theory of The Hero with a Thousand Faces (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hero_with_a_Thousand_Faces) (which itself claims modern authorship, but bears remarkable similarities to Aristotle's theories (http://www.cnr.edu/home/bmcmanus/poetics.html) to which the author only makes passing reference); you quickly realise that there is little an author can do to avoid similarities with the works of others.

Rowling chose to use existing magical creatures, wizard legends, history and a sort of pidgin Latin for her stories. Someone else was bound to have done likewise. Tolkien himself has been accused of nicking chunks from the Kalevala, Beowulf and the Ring Cycle. He denied it; but admitted the influence, especially of Finnish language and myths. When you stand in the glass house of literature and throw stones, you won't just break J K Rowling's windows.

I notice striking parallels with Tolkien's work in Harry Potter, and have considered reading through and noting them down; but I'm pretty sure someone else already has (probably on Hogwartsprofessor.com)